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.

You’d have to say that last weekend was rather a good one for Irish racing, with over 16,000 at the National at Fairyhouse on Monday and 6,000 plus at Cork on Sunday.

Those who love flat racing, and there are plenty of us, can only pray that Kingman and Australia take each other on in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, May 3.

The Punchestown festival will see the end of the National Hunt season in the dying days of this month and into early May.

You’d love to have been sitting behind the Ballydoyle contingent on the plane back from Dubai last weekend.

If watching the Aidan O’Brien horses gallop after racing at the Curragh on Sunday, and took what was on offer at face value, then there is no way you would want to be with Australia this season.