The Bell brothers celebrate their great grandfather's win in first Galway Plate

The Galway Plate, the feature event at Ballybrit, is 150 years old and among the thousands who will throng the enclosures on Wednesday will be two farrier brothers from County Kildare with a direct link to the first running of the race in 1869.

Gerry and Sean Bell are heading west as their great grandfather, Richard, did all those years ago when he owned and trained Absentee, who was ridden by his son, William, to win the inaugural running of the famous steeplechase for a first prize of £100.

Galway: the Bell family has a long association with the trackCredit: Patrick McCann

Gerry said on Tuesday: "I haven't been to the Galway races for about 30 years, but myself and Sean will be there tomorrow. The Galway management sent us two tickets and we’re going to enjoy the occasion.

"I've often wondered over the years how our great grandfather got Absentee to Galway from the Curragh where he trained.

"Our family has had a long association with racing. Three years after Absentee won the Plate our great grandfather won the race again with a mare named Belle and Kevin Bell, our uncle, also trained a Plate winner – Bunclody Tiger, ridden by the late Tommy Browne, who won the race in 1974."

Gerry was farrier to Dessie Hughes amongst other Curragh trainers, while Sean is farrier to Kevin Prendergast.

"Our mother's brother used to be private farrier to Fulke Walwyn and also worked for other trainers including Fred Winter and Barry Hills," Bell recalled.

Gerry Bell reshod Shergar at Ballymany Stud in 1983 just days before he was kidnappedCredit: Gerry Cranham

Gerry also had a brief association with one of the most famous racehorses of the 20th century whose fame as a multiple Group 1 winner was surpassed by the mystery that surrounded him after he was retired from racing.

"Back in 1983 I got a call to go to Ballymany Stud to put a shoe on Shergar's near foreleg. It was on a Friday evening in February and it was the last time Shergar was shod before he was stolen the following week."

Sean enjoyed Galway success as an owner two years ago when Gallahers Cross, trained by Peter Fahey and ridden by Katie Walsh, won a bumper at the October meeting before being sold to continue his career in Britain.

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