NATIONAL TREASURE

LAYTOWN'S beach racetrack had its first meeting in 1868, the same year the Ardagh Chalice was found.

- BY DEREK FOLEY

That both are national treasures is indisputable but only one of them can be caught under a big, blue sky and beside the sea.

This year’s Laytown meeting had that blue sky on Thursday..mostly. There was a sudden downpour just before the gates opened and a repeat performance halfway through.

But that didn't dampen the spirits as local trainer Alan Delany, whose family run Laytown and Bellewstown racetracks, bridged a 65 gap back to winning the feature race in 1965.

Tt is absolutely brilliant, my grandfather Eamon trained the winner 60 years ago today and he was ridden by Francis Flood” said Delany (right) after watching his horse Lohengrin hug the inside rail throughout and storm home.

“Lwas looking for a horse because it was a race I wanted to get on my CV and we bought him in May, in the Claymore in Limerick.