TG4 and Touchline Media are delighted to announce that a new horseracing series ‘Laochra Na Rásaíochta’, featuring some of Ireland’s greatest National Hunt horses, has been specially commissioned by TG4 and will commence on Thursday 18 February with a one-hour documentary on the tale of the legendary Arkle, winner of three Cheltenham Gold Cups in the 1960’s. This is a repeat of the IFTA winner for Best Sports Documentary, first broadcast on TG4 in March 2014.
Episode Two of ‘Laochra Na Rásaíochta’ airs on February 25 and tells the stories of: L’Escargot – winner of the 1970 and 1971 Gold Cups and the 1975 Grand National. Captain Christy – winner of the 1974 Gold Cup. Brown Lad – the only horse ever to win three Irish Grand Nationals. Monksfield – who won back-to-back Champion Hurdles in 1978 and 1979. And Istabraq – the horse regarded by many as Ireland’s greatest ever hurdler, who won three Champion Hurdles in a row. It features contributions from Aidan O’Brien, JP McManus, Charlie Swan, Arthur Moore, Ted Walsh, Tom Taaffe, Jim Dreaper, Des McDonogh, Jonjo O’Neill, Sandra Hughes, Paul Carberry and Nina Carberry.
Episode Three of ‘Laochra Na Rásaíochta’ airs on March 4 and tells the stories of four horses much loved by Irish racing fans: Limestone Lad – bred, trained and owned by the Bowe family in Gathabawn, County Kilkenny. Danoli – regarded as ‘The People’s Champion’ – who was trained by Tom Foley near Bagenalstown in County Carlow. And Dorans Pride and Beef Or Salmon –who catapulted Limerick trainer Michael Hourigan into the racing limelight. It features contributions from Michael and John Bowe, Tom Foley, Tommy and Jim Treacy, Michael Hourigan, Kay Hourigan, Charlie Swan, Aidan O’Brien and Ted Walsh.
Episode Four of ‘Laochra Na Rásaíochta’ airs on March 11 and tells the stories of: Florida Pearl – the horse who put trainer Willie Mullins on the map and won a record four Irish Hennessy Gold Cups. Hardy Eustace – who won back-to-back Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham in 2004 & 2005, during a golden era for Irish hurdlers. And Moscow Flyer – trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Barry Geraghty – who won numerous Grade One races, including two Queen Mother Champion Chases at the Cheltenham Festival. It features contributions from Willie Mullins, Jessica Harrington, Barry Geraghty, Conor O’Dwyer, Davy Russell, David Casey, Sandra Hughes and Eamonn Leigh.
The final episode (episode five) of ‘Laochra Na Rásaíochta’ is another showing of a special Dawn Run documentary, featuring contributions from all the major characters in this incredible tale of promise, achievement, disappointment, glory and ultimately tragedy. It will be screened the night before the 35th anniversary of Dawn Run’s famous Gold Cup success. Contributors include the late Paddy Mullins, his wife Maureen, their sons Tony, Tom and Willie Mullins. Owner, the late Charmian Hill, and her son Jeremy Hill also feature, while jockey Jonjo O’Neill gives his unique perspective on one of racing’s most extraordinary tales. The Dawn Run documentary also features the never-to-be-forgotten 1986 match between Dawn Run and Buck House at Punchestown, with trainer Mouse Morris and jockey Tommy Carmody providing us with their memories of that special day.
Touchline Media’s ‘Laochra na Rásaíochta’serieswasdirected by Stephen Cullinane, produced by Denis Kirwan and Dave Keena, and director of photography was Peter Moffett.
“Apart from the incredible achievements of Arkle in the 60’s and the huge amount of Irish success in recent decades, there were also many lean years, occasionally brightened by some heroic horses on the biggest stages. ‘Laochra na Rásaíochta’ brings many of these great stories to life. Touchline Media are delighted to have been specially commissioned by TG4 to produce this important documentary series, which was filmed and edited over the past few months, despite the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. We are confident that racing fans will enjoy this fast-paced trip down memory lane. Similar to the hugely popular TG4 “Laochra Gael” series, we hope it will be enjoyed by sports fans both young and old” said Denis Kirwan, Producer, Touchline Media.
Touchline Media has a successful track record in producing racing documentaries; ‘Arkle – The Legend Lives On’, was the winner of the 2015 IFTA Sports Programme of the Year and also winner of the same category at the 2015 Celtic Media Awards. The same team also produced the IFTA-nominated sports documentary ‘Jump Boys’ in 2012 and the critically acclaimed ‘Jump Girls’ in February 2019.
