“He is a lovely horse to work with,” continued Bolger. “There are no holes in this fellow.” Ah that explains it then. He only ran like he’d been shot.
Events
Your chance to win a million Dollars with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
The Moodie Tipster, our infamous anonymous horse racing expert, is, we hope, going to guide one lucky reader towards a fabulous US$1 million prize.
Read More
Airports
Travel. As much as you can. As far as you can.
Can airports restore that love? Or at least some of it? Can they too nurture a sense of destination, of journey, of marvel – and not just of process? Can they excite and delight and not simply infuriate?
Read More
Airports
Airside excellence at Budapest Airport marred by sub-standard landside experience
The pictures and video on this page tell their own wretched story. Dwell time is being killed at Budapest by check-in staff who just don’t seem to care (the British Airways queue system was a joke) and an absolutely haphazard security system.
Read More
Events
Muguruza captures French hearts with unlikely triumph
The moment of victory, captured on the giant screens around the arena, will stay with those of us who were there for a long time. Garbine Muguruza’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open in disbelief as she realised that she had won the French Open, defeating arguably the greatest of all women’s tennis champions,
Read More
Airports
Free of duty in the land of ice and fire
With some nice Icelandic Indie in the background (I was tempted to play Paul Simon’s 50 Ways to leave your Lava or something by Wishbone Ash), it’s hard to imagine the sheer violence with which Eyjafjallajökull erupted so recently.
Read More
Miscellaneous
The West’s Awake as Connacht dreams come true
As Leicester City’s wonderful story of triumph in the English Premier League was taking shape over the past nine months, another unlikely tale of an underdog made good was unfolding in the world of European rugby. And it reached its climax on Saturday night last. Then, Connacht – the oft-forgotten fourth Irish province behind Leinster,
Read More
Airports
On a Wine Goose chase around a Loop at Dublin Airport
I’m on a Wine Goose Chase at Dublin Airport. Surely I mean Grey Goose (as in the vodka), or Wild Geese (as in the Irish whiskey)? Nope, for while returning to London through Dublin Airport Terminal 1 after the recent Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, I came across one of the most novel takes on the
Read More
People
A tale of two travel retail salespeople
He shrugs his shoulders and looks away. Let me repeat those seemingly bland words. He shrugs his shoulders and looks away.
Read More
Events
Rory roars but Matt moves mountains
So here’s to you Matt Southgate. You’re the adopted son of travel retail now. And here’s to brave Hattie Seymour. Together you’re showing us all how to beat the odds.
Read More
Miscellaneous
A prayer to the golfing gods at the K Club
My throat is dry, my stomach is doing flips and I can’t feel my legs. Worse, I can’t keep a firm grip on the golf club that’s shaking in my hands and the ball sitting on the tee three feet away looks no bigger than a tiny white marble. “Go on, you just need one good
Read More
People
Ice-cool Mandy shows how to overcome her fears
Many readers of this Blog will remember with fondness one of the key members of The Moodie Report (before it became The Moodie Davitt Report) over many years, a certain young woman named Mandy Sime. Mandy joined the team in 2002, our inaugural year, and as Commercial Director played a crucial role in our development until 2014
Read More
Airports
Another stor(e)y takes shape in the garden of Changi
Changi Airport is more than a passenger gateway or a commercial centre, though it does play both roles brilliantly. It is also an unexpected oasis of calm.