Ciaran Murphy and Emily Taylor, Westmeath Hunt.

Stellar panel for Hunt's Cheltenham Preview Night in Bloomfield House Hotel

Some of the biggest names in the world of racing will be in Bloomfield House Hotel on Monday evening (March 4) for a special Cheltenham Preview Night to raise funds for the Westmeath Hunt.

Trainers Joseph O’Brien, Noel Meade and Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary will join jockey Rachel Blackmore on the panel to discuss this year’s Cheltenham Festival and to hopefully provide the crowd with some winning tips. 

The MC on the evening will be Racing TV’s Kevin O’Ryan.

Despite his relative youth, Joseph O’Brien (25), son of the legendary trainer Aidan, is already firmly established as one of the leading figures in Irish horse racing. 

Following a successful riding career, which included victories in the Irish Derby (2012, 2014), the Ascot Gold Cup (2014) and the 2,000 Guineas (2012), as well as two Champion Jockey titles (2012, 2013), O’Brien announced in March 2016 that he was focusing his attentions on training horses.

Some of his most noteworthy victories as a trainer include the Irish Gold Cup (2018), the Irish Derby (2018), the Melbourne Cup (2017) and the Fillies’ Mile (2018).

Meath’s Noel Meade has been one of Irish racing’s most successful trainers for more than four decades. 

He was Irish Champion Trainer on seven occasions and won five National Hunt trainer titles, and has enjoyed fruitful partnerships with a number of jockeys including Paul Carberry, Nina Carberry, Davy Condon and Jason McKeown.

In his role as racing manager, Eddie O’Leary has played a central role in Gigginstown House Stud’s stellar success. 

A renowned bloodstock expert, with his wife Wendy he also owns Lynn Lodge Stud near Killucan.

Jockey Rachel Blackmore is one of the stars of Jump Girls, the TG4 documentary that features some of the most influential women in Irish racing. 

The Tipperary native is currently enjoying her most successful season in the saddle and with 81 wins over jumps (at the time of writing) is challenging Paul Townend for the title of Irish Champion Jockey.

The event starts at 8pm. 

Tickets (€15) are available from Bloomfield House Hotel, Clarke’s Bar or from Westmeath Hunt’s Emily Taylor, who can be contacted by phone (085 7511920) or by email: emilyptaylor1980@gmail.com.