Search results

I think we've seen an average winner dominate a field of mostly non-stayers.

If Philip Byrnes continues to insist that was a genuine fall his jockey's licence should be revoked on grounds of incompetence. He should be told not to reapply until he's learned to ride properly.

Ruby Walsh (before the race) and then Aidan himself (after the race) explained it on RTV. Ryan Moore waited for Calandagan to join him two furlongs out because he wanted to get Calandagan into a duel. Jan Brueghel relishes a battle and stays better than the runner up.

My only bet on the Derby so far has been a wee tickle on Tuscan Hills this morning, at 80/1. I don't think I'll be having a serious bet on any horse in the race given the doubts about stamina and going.

Imagine the controversy if there was a Triple Crown winner this year, with the third leg being over 10f at Saratoga rather than the usual 12f at Belmont.

Indeed. The time for the race was two seconds below standard, so what to make of the bunch finish?

Fair play, in particular to Megan Nicholls, for not backing out.

In my experience, when favourite dishes have not spread in popularity beyond their home region it’s usually not hard to see why.

Do they still have a stall selling jellied eels and whelks there? And if so, did you partake?

No haggis last night for Byrnes Jr, then?

Ian, there’s soft and then there’s runny, scuttery even

I saw Monksfield win the Huzzar Vodka Handicap Hurdle at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting. I loved that horse. Hurricane Flyer has probably come closest since to taking over as my all time favourite, and I saw plenty of him. Best Mate made a big impression on me when he came to Leopardstown the...

It's when you have a dominant market position and use it to eliminate competition by setting prices at an impossibly low rate for a temporary period until they are forced out of the market.

The French Derby is usually on the same weekend as the Epsom one, so that’s too soon as well. I think they might stay at home and go to the Curragh for the Irish version at the end of June.

Although very valuable for a Group 3, on paper today’s Musidora looked weak beforehand. No horse in the field had achieved either a three-figure OR or RPR. Essentially the hope was that one or two horses would prove better than they appeared on paper. The only one to achieve that today was the...

For purely selfish reasons I'm sorry to be hearing this news, I will miss her. But of course I am also pleased for her. She has been a top class jockey and deserves a happy retirement.

Until 2023 the Prix St Alary was a Group 1 race. Now it's a Group 2, halved in value, and this year has only four runners. I guess the flat season for the top horses starts later than it used to because of increased attractions in the autumn such as breeders cups, champions days and weekends...

I like this meeting a lot and I enjoyed my visit there. The setting is great, hard by the city walls and the River Dee. The track is tight for sure, and horses must be able to race at close quarters and quicken when called on.

Given the improvements in weather forecasting with satellites and digital processing, and ground management across all sports (think how barren football pitches used to look in the past at this time of year), it is a perfectly natural step to go to 72 hour decs for big races. Yes, things can...