MOST READ (2024): Priest's tip on Kilkenny horse forces bookies to close!
Originally published in early January 2024
A priest gave a festive present to his congregation when he tipped Kilkenny horse Hewick to win the King George on St Stephen's Day in 2023.
Fr Paddy Byrne, Abbeyleix, urged those in attendance at mass on Christmas Eve to "put a few bob" on the horse, 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," he said.
I said 'there's a little horse, and I love this horse, and a great trainer called Shark 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.