Downton star hoping for luck of the Irish

Downton Abbey star Allen Leech is attending the Melbourne Cup today as a guest of the Seven Network.

Leech, who plays chauffeur turned family member, Tom Branson, is on his first visit to Melbourne, but not to Australia.

“I came to Australia 14 years ago on a family holiday, to Sydney and Cairns,” the Irish-born actor told TV Tonight.

“There’s a lot of Irish out here now.

“It’s been crazy. I bumped into a guy who was ahead of me in school. He said ‘Alright Leechy how’s it going?’ And I was like ‘What?’

“And another guy texted me to say ‘I just saw you were going to be on The Morning Show. I live in Melbourne now!’ So I had a coffee with him yesterday. It’s crazy!”

Leech has a genuine interest in horses and won’t need any coaxing to be enthusiastic today at Flemington. If fate looks his way, he may even have a little bit of Irish luck.

Or maybe that’s just a cliche?

“I haven’t kissed a Blarney Stone which everyone finds surprising.”