Ear To The Ground programme visits Kildare for story on a young jockey

The Ear to the Ground programme visits Punchestown as part of a feature on a young jockey. 

A programme spokesperson said: "As Cheltenham rolls around again, Ear To The Ground presenter Darragh Mc Cullough spent a day with one of Ireland’s up and coming young jockeys, 22 year old Darragh O’Keeffe from Doneraile in Co. Cork.

"Darragh met Darragh at the crack of dawn at the yard of trainer Enda Bolger near Bruree in Co Limerick where he was exercising horses that morning, before heading on to Punchestown in Co. Kildare where he had four aces that afternoon.

"It's a fascinating insight into the daily grind of a jobbing jockey as they work to forge a career in one of the toughest businesses around."

The programme will also feature alpacas in Co Roscommon. 

South African born Andrew Chilton runs a family farm with organic beef and vegetable in North Roscommon. Ten years ago he

also started farming and breeding alpacas.

Now with a herd of over 40 high quality animals, he sells them as live animals and utilises their valuable fleece to produce pillows and bedding.

Ella McSweeney pays a visit to Knockvicar Alpaca Farm to find out how these animals, originally from South America, are taking to the Irish climate.