If ever a story sums up the utter madness of modern football it is the announcement, 24 hours after he and his children enjoyed a lap of honour at the Amex to celebrate staying in the Premier League, that Chris Hughton has been sacked by Brighton & Hove Albion.

Brighton owner Tony Bloom’s achievement of taking the club from League One strugglers to Premier League survivors is symbolised by tomorrow’s game against Manchester United at the Amex — but the fixture also underlines just how difficult it is to set long-term goals once you start to feel at home in the top flight.

Life as a hurdler hasn’t been plain sailing for former high-class Flat horse Penhill, but the seven-year-old has a happy knack of producing the goods on the days that matter.

Ireland's domination of the 2018 Cheltenham Festival reached new heights on St Patrick's Thursday, when trainers from the Emerald Isle saddled the first six winners to wrap up the BetBright Cup from Great Britain with a day to spare.

Willie Mullins has had to shelve plans to send Cheltenham Festival winner Penhill to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.

Chris Hughton, the quiet man of football, appears to be more than happy working under the radar, but his achievement of taking Brighton & Hove Albion to the Premier League is about to awaken a wider audience to his coaching talents and must surely place him on the FAI’s list of potential future appointments.

Sami Hyypia has resigned as manager of Brighton and Hove Albion just six months into his tenure at the Amex Stadium.

Having cast an eye over the Championship in general last time out, this week I would like to focus on my side, Brighton and Hove Albion, and offer insight into a club which I presume a lot of people may not know too much about but which, in my opinion, is destined for a very exciting future.

Brighton manager Gus Poyet has signed a new five-year contract.

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom has issued a hands-off warning to Portsmouth over manager Gus Poyet.

Michael Smith and his wife Sandra may combine farming with training racehorses “just for fun” but they spiked the big guns at Aintree when Orsippus won the £100,000 Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle.

Steele Tango was a mere extra at Sea The Stars' swansong in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but bounced back to play the starring role at Newmarket on Friday.

Brighton paid back something of a debt of gratitude to Tony Bloom by providing him with a winner at his local track.

Tom Dascombe has endured both highs and lows this year but the rising star of the training ranks is signing off 2008 in electric form and claimed the first treble of his career at Lingfield.