Columns - Irish Examiner

Pat Keane

Now is the time to tread carefully at Cheltenham

It really would be the ultimate irony should Willie Mullins finally land the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Djakadam next Friday, writes Pat Keane.

Sun, 12 Mar, 2017

Finally, there is real hope for the future

Two things happened in Irish racing over the last eight days that offer real hope for the future, writes Pat Keane.

Sat, 04 Mar, 2017

Melon form full of holes

Riddle me this, how is Willie Mullins’ Melon still favourite for Cheltenham’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?

Sat, 25 Feb, 2017

Sizing John case makes you wonder how many horses are running over clearly unsuitable trips?

It seems rather obvious now that Sizing John has been running over the wrong trip for most of his life.

Sat, 18 Feb, 2017

BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle Day - Lepoardstown Races

Don’t expect any Cheltenham festival clues from Irish Gold Cup

For a number of years now the Irish Gold Cup has become increasingly irrelevant as a Cheltenham trial and this renewal is more notable for those that are missing, rather than those who are running, writes Pat Keane.

Sat, 11 Feb, 2017

Testing times for Rich Ricci

The difference colourful American racehorse owner, Rich Ricci, has made to the Willie Mullins yard cannot be underestimated.

Sat, 04 Feb, 2017

Erratic Yorkhill one to be avoided at all costs

There’s no dressing it up, that was simply a very disappointing effort on the part of Yorkhill at Leopardstown last Sunday.

Sat, 28 Jan, 2017

Unsung Mark Walsh makes his mark

Mark Walsh is rapidly developing into one of the unsung heroes of Irish National Hunt racing.

Sat, 21 Jan, 2017

Is this any way to run the racing business?

National Hunt racing is on a high in Ireland and recent evidence suggests the public cannot get enough of the game.

Sun, 15 Jan, 2017

Valseur Lido stays three miles - he just needs testing ground

When Gigginstown’s Valseur Lido faded, rather dramatically, from the final fence in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown the general reaction was that he simply didn’t stay the three miles.

Sat, 07 Jan, 2017