Quiz Answers

1. Henry de Bromhead in 2021 - Honeysuckle, Put The Kettle On, Minella Indo, Minella Times

2. Arkle. All ridden by Pat Taaffe to win the Broadway Chase.

3. El Fabiolo (2/9) and Galopin Des Champs (5/6) Turners.

4. Nomadic Way

5. Champion Hurdle

6. (a) Forgive And Forget (b) Charter Party (c) Alverton (d) Silver Buck

7. Ballyadam

8. Avro Anson disqualified from 1st place for interference of Balasani. Hasn't happened since.

9. Patrick Neville (The Real Whacker)

10. Pat Muldoon

11. Ruby Walsh in the Supreme 2013-15. Douvan, Vautour and Champagne Fever

12. Jamie Osborne and Simon Christian

13. Galopin Des Champs

14. Persian War

15. Boodles

Personal update. On the Saturday before the 2024 Festival I collapsed and fainted in the street on the way to meet friends and watch the England v Ireland Six Nations match. Some have said it was lucky I missed the Marcus Smith final play drop goal to win the game. After being coaxed into an ambulance, it was then discovered in the Ulster Hospital that I had a serious problem with my aortic valve. This controls the flow of blood to and from your heart. It seems that mine was about to close over completely. And then everything stops. Believed to be an hereditary issue. On Friday 29th March I underwent open heart surgery in the Royal Victoria, Belfast. The valve was replaced by a cow's heart aortic valve. Everything appears to have been a success. Six days later on Thursday 4th, I was released to go home into Sheelah's care. I'm fine now, thanx.

Two things. In my total of 26 days in the two hospitals, I met and was cared for by a fantastic group of NHS Professionals, doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists, ambulance personnel, nurses, ICU nurses, nursing assistants, cleaners et al. The list seemed endless. I have stayed in worse 4 star hotels than the single rooms in the Ulster Hospital. As I went along, I made a conscious effort to learn Christian names, as all I could offer in return was politeness and gratitude. I have nothing but praise and thanks for the amazing treatment I received, both the speed and the quality. Here's to Rick, Trinde, Horst, Amore, Gwynne, Gwathy, Bbebe, Catherine, Charlene, Babu, Stephanie, Benj, Christine, Andrew, Maggie, Iain, Ryan amongst many others. Great, great people. We are so fortunate to have this health service. Sheelah and I have estimated that to get this work done in the private sector would have cost circa £40k. I am now aware that reciprocal operations are carried out on an all Ireland basis both for patients in Dublin and in Belfast. Important but little known.

Not to put too fine a point on it but the luck I've had here doesn't bear thinking about. If something is not quite right with your health, or odd things are happening, please GO AND SEE A DOCTOR. None of us are indestructible. Sheelah, my wife, has very strong stats that suggest men are particularly stupid at this.

Thanks to everyone (many who I have never met) for the kind messages.

Bryan.

2024 Quiz Answers

1. Tiger Roll, Quevega, Golden Miller

2. King George at Kempton

3. Robert Choc Thornton and Tom Scudamore

4. Put The Kettle On, Duc De Genievres, Western Warhorse

5. Zemsky, Any Second Now, Minella Rocco and Chicago Grey

6. What's Up Boys

7. Shantou Flyer

8. All runners in the Champion Bumper have since have won a race. Chosen Witness the final one to complete the set.

9. Graham Bradley

10. 23

10. T O'Brien, J Burke

11. Langer Dan

12. Sea Pigeon, Hurricane Fly

13. Facile Vega (anagram)

14. Uxizandre, Ned Buntline

15. Peter Easterby (5)

16. They were the first GB trained horses to finish.

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