Hollywood star Colm Meaney ramps up the Irish-British rivalry in Paddy Power advert ahead of Cheltenham Festival

WITH the Cheltenham Festival just around the corner, Paddy Power have ramped up the Anglo-Irish rivalry.

In an advert fronted by Hollywood star Colm Meaney, Irish frustrations about their English neighbours are underlined in no uncertain terms.

From hijacking the use of ‘banter’, to constantly mocking how the Irish say “thirty-three” and even bemoaning the inability of the English to pour a good pint.

Yet, as Meaney highlights, the Irish will always have the satisfaction of coming to Cheltenham every year to watch their horses slam England’s.

Last year’s festival was one of the most lopsided in history, with Ireland taking the Prestbury Cup 23-5 over the four days.

And many are predicting a similar outcome this year, with Irish horses filling the top spots in the market for 23 of the meeting’s 28 races.

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What will be different his year though is the return of the travelling army of Irish fans to Prestbury Park.

Last year’s meeting took place behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions but next week will see a return to the packed enclosures and stands with which the festival is best associated.

The Anglo-Irish rivalry should already be at fever pitch come next Tuesday, with the countries set to meet in the Six Nations at Twickenham this Saturday.

Spokesman Paddy Power said: “There’s only so many potato jokes us Irish can take before it gets a bit boring. So, for one week each year, it’s nice to head over to Cheltenham and put the English back in their box.

“And, with England and Ireland also facing each other in the Six Nations the weekend before Cheltenham, there’s a real opportunity for a full sporting takeover.

“We’d like to thank Colm Meaney for being the star of the show, and we’re sure that featuring in an ad complaining that Brits serve baked beans with fries definitely tops his other career highs, such as staring alongside Gerrard Butler and Jamie Foxx in Law Abiding Citizen.”

Looking to the Cheltenham Festival, Paddy Power continued: “We’re expecting another successful Festival from Ireland, with Irish horses favourites for almost every race – not least because of the incredible Rachael Blackmore, who is very definitely Irish by the way. Don’t even think about it.”

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