STEEPLECHASE TALE IS A CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Alex Gifford on a book that should be on any racing fan's 'wanted' list

- Alex Gifford

It's not a snappy title - in fact it is a bit of a mouthful.

But National Hunt and Point-to-Point Racing in Ireland: A History' does what it says on the can' - and so much more besides.

Frances Nolan is first and foremost a respected and accomplished historian with a wealth of academic work already under her belt and more in progress at University College Dublin

But when asked to apply her considerable skills to work on a history to mark the 150th anniversary of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase committee she was delighted to take it on.

The book is a splendid reference work for anyone interested in horse racing and at the same time a painstakingly researched historical work for a wider readership, illustrating the modern history of the nation as well as the sport in an original and compelling way.

Speaking after the book launch on her way in to the university, Dr Nolan added: “It is steeplechasing and the evolution of racing seen through the lens of political and social history - but it is also history seen through the lens of the sport of racing.