We are coming off a desperate bout of seconditis at the moment, with four horses going very close but just not having their heads in front on the line in the past week.

THE IRISH flat season doesn’t come to an end until tomorrow week but with Bostons Angel, Oscars Well and Saludos all making their seasonal reappearances at Down Royal, it’s probably best to look back at what has thankfully been another very successful campaign for me.

YOU can say you’re into the national hunt season proper when you get to October, although it looks like Down Royal at the beginning of November will be when Bostons Angel, Oscars Well and Saludos will make their seasonal reappearances.

AIDAN O’Brien introduced another potentially high-class prospect in Kissed to justify strong support in the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden in Navan yesterday.

The well-related Kissed made a most impressive start to her racing career in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Navan.

YOU know you’re back into the national hunt season when the weather makes a fool of you, the plans you’ve made have been ruined because you took the forecasters at their word and you have to make new plans very quickly.

I HAVE been away for most of the week at the Keeneland Sales in Kentucky and it was a useful exercise.