Jessica Harrington has certainly stood the test of time, writes Pat Keane.

When Michael O’Leary gave Davy Russell the bullet, on New Years’ Eve 2013, one might have expected the rider to pull out his pipe, put on the slippers and take his place among the majority of jockeys, the journeymen, writes Pat Keane.

The real Trials Days take place at Leopardstown and you can bet the tank it will produce a share of Cheltenham winners, writes Pat Keane

There were many treats over the last four days in Ireland and Britain, but for me the biggest star to emerge was Willie Mullins’ Footpad in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on Tuesday, writes Pat Keane.

I don’t think it is any great exaggeration to describe Willie Mullins’ Djakadam as having developed into something of a professional loser.

He is, quite simply, the most hyped horse since Golden Cygnet. It is just as well Gordon Elliott’s Samcro isn’t human, because, if he was, the weight of expectation might overwhelm him, writes Pat Keane.

As the Melbourne Cup unfolded, shortly after 4.00 on Tuesday morning, you’d imagine the Australian handicapper was starting to feel decidedly uneasy.