Racegoer Pat goes viral after surprising TV hosts Fran Berry and Gary O'Brien

A racegoer became the star of the show when he joined two presenters for a chat as they were summing up the action. The man named Pat stood behind Fran Berry and Gary O'Brien while the pair spoke about the results at Thurles on Thursday afternoon.

He began waving to the Racing TV camera, which seemed to alert retired jockey Berry, who has worked in the media since injury forced him to retire in 2019. Amusingly Pat, who said he was visiting the County Tipperary course with friends, did not recognise the Group One-winning rider.

"Which one are you?" he said, after mentioning he backed the last winner on the seven-race card, Grann's Boy (7-4f) in the www.thurlesraces.ie Handicap.

O'Brien, who welcomed Pat into their discussion, told him that Berry had some luck earlier on in the afternoon and could give him some tips for Dundalk on Friday.

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"I'll give you a total run through the card," said Berry, as the men chatted about where they are from.

Shortly after impromptu visitor Pat, who said he was enjoying his day out, exited the screen and left the hosts to carry on. The clip of it has since gone viral on the Racing TV social channels, with it captioned 'When you make a new friend @Franmberry @thurlesraces' on X.

Many racing fans praised Berry and O'Brien for including the punter in their review of the card, after the races run on good to yielding ground. "National hunt racing highlight of the year already thanks to two gentlemen not taking life too seriously. Fair play men," one person wrote.

A second user of the social media platform posted: "THAT IS GOLD! Well done lads and fair play for creating one of the all time racing interviews!"

And a third comment read: "This is superb!"