The Irish Oaks at the Curragh last Saturday, or at least the delay in getting the race away, was a bit of a farce.

Dermot Weld has been leading trainer at the Galway festival on 27 occasions.

Well, who would have believed it, the German Derby winner rated 2lbs better than the dual winner of the Epsom and Irish Derbies?

This is a big weekend for Ballydoyle and not just with Australia.

Here’s a horse to follow for the rest of the season, Aidan O’Brien’s American import, Verrazano.

Those of us who enjoyed a minor pay-day with Australia in last Saturday’s Epsom Derby can thank our lucky stars!

Aidan O’Brien is back on the Gold Cup trail at Ascot with Leading Light and it is going to be fascinating to see how this pans out next month.

Australia has to do more than just win the Epsom Derby on June 7, he has to virtually bolt in if Aidan O’Brien’s blushes are to be saved.

Anyone else think the displays by both Australia and Magician were just a bit below what we might have expected?

After Faugheen had won in a canter at Punchestown on Tuesday, the bookmakers wasted no time introducing him into the Champion Hurdle market.