Part of me would love to see the National launched shortly after Christmas, with the Cheltenham Festival being the cut-off date for the new qualifications I would introduce.

Micheal O’Sullivan's background is the backbone of this sport, and whatever he learnt and saw as a boy, his dream was to ride the jockey's roller coaster 

It's hard to believe that a sport as big as horse racing has its first all-ticket event this weekend, but it does, and it's not before time.

At Gowran Park on Thursday, Nick Rockett's win in the Thyestes showed the joy that National Hunt racing can bring. 

Ruby Wlahs can't understand why more UK-based trainers haven’t realised Irish handicaps are winnable with English horses, especially in the two-mile chase division. Today’s Dan Moore chase is ripe to be plucked by the superior English two-mile handicappers, yet not even one was entered.

Should he ride a winner before the Savills Chase, any interview will be conducted by using the word ‘we’ rather than ‘I’.

Juntos Ganamos could represent each-way value in a truly international contest.

Leopardstown’s St Stephen’s Day card and Limerick’s from the 28th would be a great day on the 23rd, giving everyone a two-day hiatus before three days racing on the bounce.

Madarra can turn the tables on Il Ridoto in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

He will be back, and the sport will be all the better for it, but the only solace Jack would get right now would be something or anything that would force racing to shut down.