A momentous National Hunt campaign climaxes in style at Punchestown this week. It is Irish jump racing’s ultimate shop-window, a stage for the great and the good to show off their stuff to a wider audience. And come the weekend the focus will switch to the flat, which has no such shop-window at all, and really could do with one. (more…)

By definition Kieren Fallon knows more about riding Epsom than most. It’s his job, and one he can do brilliantly. But most of us in the reporting business listened to the jockey’s comments on Recital’s Derby prospects after Leopardstown at the weekend and detected more than a whiff of “Shinola.” (more…)

Television’s all-consuming power means the famous old line dismissing it as chewing gum for the eyes is way off the mark practically, whatever about theoretically.

So when RTE came-a-calling to Punchestown, wanting the schedule for the 2009 festival changed round to facilitate its coverage, they were never likely to be disappointed. (more…)