Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary is back spending millions on racehorses after going cold turkey for a number of years.
O'Leary made the shock decision in May 2019 that he was going to stop buying national hunt horses after years of being one of the leading owners in the sport.
The airline tycoon announced that he was winding his operation “over an extended four or five-year period” and cited a desire to spend more time with his family.
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O'Leary, who owns Gigginstown House Stud with his brother Eddie, managed to stick to this promise, although in July 2019 he admitted he was struggling to stop buying racehorses.
He said at the time: "A few weeks ago the Land Rovers Sale was on and I had to throw the catalogue in the bin.
"It's like gambling or Alcoholics Anonymous, you have to stay out of the pub so you don't drink.
"It's very difficult to go cold turkey and say, 'No, that's it, but that is it from a purchasing point of view."
Nevertheless O'Leary stuck to his word and has sold hundreds of Gigginstown's lesser performers at various sales over the past couple of years.
In early 2021, O'Leary stuck by the trainer Gordon Elliott after the latter was banned from training after a photograph emerged of the trainer sitting on a dead horse.
And in show of support for Elliott, O'Leary bought a few young horses for the Cullentra handler, including the £175,000 purchase Cool Survivor.
It was a purchase seemed to whet the appetite of the Westmeath man.
The clearest signal that Gigginstown were replenishing their stock came this September when it was announced that they were sending horses to Willie Mullins once more after a high-profile split between the two parties.
Gigginstown have bought Clonmel bumper scorer Shanbally Kid for £190,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale to go to Mullins' yard.
Admitting that they were somewhat back in the buying game, Eddie O'Leary told Thoroughbred Daily News: "All I will say is that it is a long road that doesn't turn.
“We've had some great days with Willie and we are looking forward to having a couple with him this season again. Shanbally Kid will be the first of them. We bought him after he won his bumper at Clonmel.”
This seems a bit of an understatement though. At the same sale, Gigginstown forked out £200,000 for point-to-point winner Search For Glory, who has gone to Elliott's yard.
Previously at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale in March, Gigginstown paid a mammoth £310,000 for Stellar Story, who won a point-to-point at Castlelands and is a brother of the prolific winner The Storyteller.
Elliott said: “He looked a nice horse and we've been lucky with the brother. He's a proper staying chaser and is a horse for next year.”
Also going to Elliott's yard is the €235,000 purchase Miss Agusta at the Goffs Punchestown Sale after her debut second in the Land Rover.
While other recent Gigginstown buys include King of Kingsfield, who made a winning start under rules at Down Royal earlier this month, and Bestaline, a three-year-old bought from France, who has also been sent to Elliott's yard.
Eddie O'Leary added: "We bought a few bumper horses and got a couple at the store sales so it will be a small and select approach going forward."
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