The performance of Silviniaco Conti in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby today is going to be particularly important as far as I’m concerned.

The legendary Fergie Sutherland, best known as the trainer of the 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Call, died yesterday in Marymount Hospice, Cork following a long illness. He was 81.

YOU would have to say Monday’s Irish Grand National meeting at Fairyhouse was a bit disappointing.

ON FEBRUARY 8, 1998, Imperial Call ran his final race under the guidance of Fergie Sutherland, who had famously trained him to success in the 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

THOUGHTS drifted back to the great Imperial Call and his tremendous Cheltenham Gold Cup victory in 1996 after Lisselan Eagle won the Clarina Maiden at Limerick last evening.

IF ever a horse has future Cheltenham Gold Cup prospect written all over him it is surely Jonjo O'Neill's Black Jack Ketchum.

THE Gold Cup was a magnificent spectacle with a great young horse in War Of Attrition being ridden to perfection by a fantastic old soldier in Conor O’Dwyer. And we had an Irish 1-2-3. Happy days.

MENTION retirement to Conor O'Dwyer and you quickly realise he regards such a notion as, well, quite preposterous.

BARRY GERAGHTY must have allowed himself a wry smile on Monday, as he flicked through the morning papers.

THE RETURNING Irish, who have made their money abroad, are under-pinning the Irish country house market.

ALMOST a year to the day since it went to market, Belline House in Co Kilkenny has been sold, for close to €4 million.