So much to look forward to at Punchestown
Essentially, it will end with Punchestown at the end of this month, but at least we can be comforted by the fact there are still some huge days to come.
The Irish National at Fairyhouse next Monday will be first, but there seems little point waffling about that until we see how the contest shapes up.
Many bookmakers are betting on the race, but it is really a complete waste of time for any punter to get involved before he knows exactly what weight the horse he fancies is likely to carry.
Tony Martin's Dun Doire might look attractive now with 10-1. But, unless Forget The Past (11-7) runs, Dun Doire could actually end up carrying top weight.
Waffling about Punchestown right now, however, is much easier. You'd imagine it is a meeting which is set to break all records.
Who can believe that the winners of the three major races at the Cheltenham Festival - War Of Attrition, Brave Inca and Newmill - are set to head for Punchestown. That, surely, can never have happened before!
If Tom Mullins decides to allow Asian Maze tackle the €200,000 ACC Bank Champion Hurdle on Friday, April 28 then this could well be the best race of the four days.
The prospect of Asian Maze, Brave Inca, Hardy Eustace and Macs Joy taking each other on is simply mouth-watering.
You can make all the excuses you like for Hardy Eustace at Aintree on Saturday, ground, whatever, but the fact is that Asian Maze just kicked him out of the way.
Yes you can argue dropping down half a mile in trip at Punchestown, to two miles, is hardly in her favour and she will only get a 5lbs allowance, as against 7lbs across the water.
But the possibility of her going head-to-head in front with Brave Inca, Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy, with Macs Joy waiting to pounce is enough to get anybody excited. You can be certain of one thing, there is no way Brave Inca will go off odds-on.
Could War Of Attrition be odds against in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup? Depends on the opposition, of course, but he will if Hedgehunter, Forget The Past and Beef Or Salmon face the starter.
Victor Chandler sponsor the VC Bet Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown and they didn't waste any time pricing up the race this week. They offer: 7-4 Straw Bear, 7-2 Sweet Wake, 4-1 Mounthenry, 6-1 Sublimity, 8-1 Parliament Square, Iktitaf, Jazz Messenger, O'Muircheartaigh, 14-1 bar. If all, or most, of those horses were to meet the engagement then that would be some contest.
It is worth noting as well that the runners for the four major contests of the meeting will have to be declared 48 hours in advance, instead of the usual 24. That will make a difference and will very much heighten interest in the big races.
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CORK on Saturday has attracted what can only be described as a savage entry, by my reckoning no less than 580 in total.
The Charleville Handicap Hurdle takes the biscuit with 151, pursued by 116 in the Buttevant Maiden Hurdle, 106 in the Mares Maiden Hurdle and 97 in the bumper.
The old balloting system is going to get a right good airing on Friday morning.
Anyway, wading through the final fields is certainly going to be some task, in an effort to find the odd winner or two!
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WASN'T it a right bit of gas watching them tying the tape together before the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, after the starter, Peter Haynes, had done his best to cock the whole thing up?
You wouldn't be human if you didn't allow yourself licence to enjoy a right giggle. It worked out in the end, though, with the recall system kicking in.
The BBC's coverage was most enjoyable, except for Peter Scudamore. He was a magnificent jockey, one of the best, but comes across on television as a bloody awful bore.
Oh, and did you read Alastair Down's piece on the National in Monday's Racing Post? Down's got guts and often puts in print what many others think, but wouldn't have the balls to say.
I really do wish, however, he would stop patronising this country. Alastair, seriously, there's only so much shite we can take.
