Ireland's rich pick a pony for charity

Howard Lake | 15 March 2006 | News

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• Ireland

Some of Ireland’s super rich will be at Cheltenham this week looking to pick a few winners for themselves and charity. Online bookie SportsSpread.com has generously agreed to pony up some charity bets for some of the biggest names in Irish business. Each gambler has been given a ‚€100 charity bet to place on a horse running in the festival. Any winnings will be donated to the charity of their choice by SportsSpread.com .

DERMOT DESMOND

The ace financier will be rooting for Fota Island in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. He’s chosen the horse because his pal JP McManus recommended it to him. Desmond’s winnings are earmarked for Respect.

MICHAEL SMURFIT

The doctor will be hoping that the rain stays away. His company Kappa Smurfit is sponsoring the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday. But Smurfit fancies the chances of Dermot Weld’s American bred Dasher Reilly in the Champion Bumper the following day. Smurfit’s winnings are set for the Sunshine House in Ballbriggan.

TOM BAILEY

The Bovale Developments man fancies the Willie Mullins-trained Equus Maximus, also in Wednesday’s Bumper. Bailey is sticking ‚€50 on the nose to win. Temple Street Children’s Hospital is the beneficiary of any winnings.

PHILIP LYNCH

The former IAWS boss and chairman of One51 fancies another Noel Meade-trained horse. He’s sweet on Harbour Pilot on the Foxhunters Chase on Friday. Lynch’s winnings are earmarked for Focus Ireland.

BRIAN COWEN

The Finance Minister knows a thing or two about horses. His choice for the Gold Cup is Michael Hourigan’s Beef or Salmon. Any winnings are bound for the St Vincent de Paul.

SEAN MULRYAN

The Ballymore Properties supremo owns a number of serious Cheltenham contenders this year.

Mulryan is putting ‚€15 each way on both his horses. Any winnings will be donated to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation.

About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.