For footy fans who might be more accustomed to a North London Derby than a Tipperary race meeting – the two are not as different as you might think!
Here are a few terms that may seem familiar as racing hits Thurles on Saturday.
VAR
Though there might not be quite as many opportunities for racing referees to reach for their back pocket, photo-finishes can often require officials to go upstairs.
The closer the climax, the more likely the third umpire will be called in to decide which horse has come out on top.
DIVES
No Neymar-esque histrionics on show in racing, with the dives you’re likely to see very much last resort stuff.
Jockeys can often find themselves far-flung from the saddle, and it’s up to them to try and find themselves a soft landing.
TOWERING LEAPS!
No Cristiano Ronaldo jumping high above the Turin defence here, but instead sit back and enjoy equine athletes at their best.
Hurdles won’t give you much of a view but once the horses hit the heights over fences, that’s when you can really see them for the wonderful species they are.
GREAT SAVES
Some of the great sights of modern times include watching a Nigel Martyn or a Fabien Barthez flying across the goal to tip one over the bar.
On Saturday it’ll be the turn of a Rachael Blackmore or a Paul Townend, and you can be sure there will be a couple of fine saves from the saddle if one of them hits a fence too hard.
CLASSIC KITS
More used to home and away? Forget that, with jockey silks you get more kits than you can shake a stick at.
Watch out for the green and gold and the pink with green spots – you can’t go far wrong if you follow them.
MUDDY PITCHES
They don’t come muddier than Thurles, and you’d have to head down to the lower leagues to get pitches quite as bad.
Still, the muddier it is the better for most Irish horses, and the slop and silt will be flying by the end, you can be sure of that.
