25 January 2024 , 11:53
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A Catholic priest has confessed to tipping a big race winner to his flock from his pulpit.
Father Paddy Byrne, from Abbeyleix in Co Laois, Ireland, is the parish priest of the Kildare and Leighlin Diocese, but is also a horse racing enthusiast. During mass before Christmas his message to the congregation included a tip for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, the historic jumps race run at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
He recommended an investment on Irish trained Hewick and prayers were answered when the popular jumper delivered, coming from last to first to pull off a remarkable victory at odds of 12-1.
Byrne told the story during a guest appearance on the Champ.ie podcast which was previewing Thyestes Chase day at Gowran Park. “On Christmas Eve I was celebrating lots of masses and I was telling an old story about the piece of straw and the crib," he said.
“Our father and mother used to say at Christmas time if you go to the crib and take home a bit of the straw you will have prosperity and more importantly health for the year to come.
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“So I said I have a Christmas present for you all. There is a little horse, and I love this horse and a great trainer called Shark Hanlon.
Gavin Sheehan salutes the crowd after winning on Hewick (Getty Images)“The horse is called Hewick and he is running in the King George on Tuesday which was St Stephen’s Day.
“My little present to you all 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.”