Tip from Laois priest at Mass forced bookies to close
Fr Paddy Byrne recounted the tale of tipping Hewick for the King George on Champ.ie podcast
The well-known Parish Priest of Abbeyleix has recounted a Christmas tip he gave to parishioners which had a knock-on impact on the local bookmakers.
Fr Paddy Byrne urged those in attendance at mass on Christmas Eve to "put a few bob" on Hewick to win the King George on St Stephen's Day, if they could afford it. Hewick, which was bought for just €850, has now won over €500,000 in prize money.
"I told the congregation I have a little Christmas present for ye all," the Carlow-born priest told those at Mass.
"I said 'there's a little horse, and I love this horse, and a great trainer called Shark (John) Hanlon, and the horse is called Hewick, and he's running in the King George on Tuesday,' which was St Stephen's Day.
"'And my little Christmas present to you is if you can afford it, put a few bob on it'.
"The race we know what happened. The bookies in Abbeyleix had to close down at four o'clock that afternoon and I think everyone had a fairly prosperous day," Fr Paddy said.
Hewick is now preparing to head to the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March following his King George win on St Stephen's Day.
It's possible Fr Paddy could be there as he's enjoyed a day out at the races in the past including a big day in Cheltenham.
Hanlon's little horse is a former winner of the Galway Plate and US Grand National but the King George in Kempton Park was the biggest win to date.
Hanlon trains the horse at his stables on the Kilkenny Carlow border.