I was a little surprised at how much negativity there was about after Sprinter Sacre’s return at Ascot last Saturday, says Pat Keane.

If the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle were taking place at Cheltenham tomorrow wouldn’t you sell out on Douvan at 5-2?

When Mckinley landed a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Naas last Sunday, you would have expected connections to be absolutely thrilled, writes Pat Keane,

Fears that Willie Mullins would completely dominate the National Hunt campaign have proved largely unfounded.

It really is silly season in Britain, with all sorts of people calling for horses to be disqualified should the winning jockey transgress the whip rules.

I have been asked several times of late, by a number of punters, as to why there is such a lack of racing for much of December, on the lead-in to Christmas.

There are plenty, it seems, who think the bookmakers overreacted to Faugheen’s smooth success at Ascot last Saturday and that having him as the 9-4 favourite for the Champion Hurdle is far too tight.

Horses like Sizing Europe certainly don’t come around too often and when the veteran performed poorly at Clonmel recently his trainer, Henry de Bromhead, must have wondered, at least momentarily, if he might ever be lucky enough to come across one like him again.

Last Saturday at Naas the stewards flexed their collective muscles when a mare called Mount Corkish Girl was the medium of an inquiry, after finishing eighth of 25 in the maiden hurdle won by the impressive Free Expression.

Last Monday the Racing Post produced a pullout detailing the ammunition currently residing at Willie Mullins’ Co Carlow base.