HURRICANE FLY wasn’t the only much-lauded Irish success at Cheltenham as Mark Boylan (13) from Banagher, Co Offaly, kicked off Channel 4’s racing coverage with a performance of his hit YouTube song about the festival.
Inspired by a trip to Cheltenham 12 months ago, the song has had more than 10,000 views online.
As a result of its success, Mark had already appeared on TV3 and RTÉ before his Channel 4 performance.
“I never thought anything like this would happen,” he said following his performance yesterday.
“It has been the most amazing experience. There has just been so much happening and it has all been brilliant.”
Mark, who says he is a massive racing fan, will be staying for the duration of the festival and already knew his pick of the week, Time for Rupert, running in the 2.40 today.
The young musician attended the 2010 festival meeting after his cover version of a charity song for injured jockeys caught the ear of the song’s producer.
Mark was then flown out to see the races at Cheltenham for himself, an experience that inspired him to write his song The Festival.
“The atmosphere and excitement [at the festival] was brilliant,” said Mark.
“I think the song is passionate and it is something that racing fans would understand.”
Mark’s father, David Boylan – who is on his 15th trip to Cheltenham – said that although there has been a lot of attention over the song, his level-headed son has not been overwhelmed.
“I’m very proud of the way he has been able to conduct himself,” he said. “He has shown great character during all of this. That has been the best thing about the experience.”
Some of that attention has come from the very top of the racing world.
“I ain’t no Simon Cowell but how good is 13-year-old Mark Boylan’s song about the cheltenham festival?” wrote leading jockey AP McCoy via his Twitter account.
That sentiment was echoed by Gold Cup-winning jockey Paddy Brennan who texted Mark about the song.
“We had no idea it was going to be like this. It’s unbelievable,” said David, who recalled that Mark had been singing since the age of three.
“As a person, Mark has never been any bother. He loves school, loves history and we’re very proud of him,” he said.
The song can be viewed on YouTube or downloaded from racingpost.com.