The last time we managed to get across to Ireland for the Punchestown Festival was in 2005. The meeting gets underway this year on Tuesday 22nd and runs through to Saturday 26th. In 2005 we were fortunate to see a splendid performance by Kicking King (pictured) who won the Punchestown Gold Cup and he goes for the race again on Wednesday. He will be a fresh horse and if he has retained a lot of his ability after recovering from injury he might well spring a surprise. Neptune Collonges won the race last year and will be a warm favourite to complete back to back wins. Another old favourite, Beef or Salmon, will be retired after running in the race. The Irish hospitality is brillant and the course entrance fees are much more reasonable than the fancy prices at the Cheltenham Festival. We will miss not being there again but we have a date with Constellation from Celebrity Cruise Lines. This means we will also miss the Sandown Park Gold Cup (the Whitbread to us old-timers) on Saturday 26th. Iris De Balme was a very easy winner of the Scottish Grand National last Saturday and could follow in the same footsteps of Hot Weld last year and complete the double. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The runners and riders for this years £200,000 Scottish Grand National still look a bit sketchy at the moment. The bookies are making Miko de Beauchene antepost favourite. He won the Welsh National and it was always the intention to go for the Scottish National. In the Welsh National he was receiving 21 pounds from Halcon Genelardais and only just beat him. Halcon Genelardais then ran a good race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, staying on well to be fourth. Provided he has recovered from that run he should take all the beating this Saturday at Ayr. The distance of four miles will be in his favour as will the soft ground which will make the race a thorough stamina test. Alan King, his trainer, also runs Old Benny who won over four miles at Cheltenham. Butlers Cabin could be another interesting runner. He was still travelling strongly when falling at Bechers second time around in the Aintree Grand National. However I am hoping Halcon Genelardais can turn the tables on Miko de Beauchene this Saturday. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The Grand National Meeting of 2008 was a very rewarding one for jockey Timmy Murphy, trainer David Pipe and owner David Johnson. Timmy Murphy rode a super race on Our Vic to catch Kauto Star right on the line in the Betfair Bowl Chase on the Thursday. Our Vic has been better than ever this season since sporting the headgear. The David Johnson colours were in the winners enclosure again after a thrilling Grand National. Timmy Murphy gave Comply or Die a very cool ride. He was always travelling well in the leading group of runners. Snowy Morning ran well to be third and still only eight I am sure he will be back next year. He helped recover some of my stake lost on Hedgehunter who completed the course again. His cause was not helped by D'Argent crashing into him when falling 4 fences out. Tony McCoy and Butlers Cabin were still travelling strongly when falling at Bechers second time round. I am sure Butlers Cabin will be back for another crack at the race next year. He is also still only eight. On the day the best horse won and I would expect Comply or Die, who is nine, will also be back at Aintree next year. Earlier in the afternoon the Irish owner Michael Ryan had "borrowed" Timmy Murphy to ride his Al Eile in the Aintree Hurdle. This was another smashing ride from Timmy Murphy and the partnership were winning the race for the third time. For me the Grand National signifies the end of the National Hunt season. Chasing and Hurdling is far more exciting than Flat Racing but I expect in a couple of weeks we will start talking about the first Classics to be run at Newmarket on the 3rd and 4th of May. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Well we now know the runners and riders for the Aintree Grand National of 2008. Hedgehunter carries top weight of 11-12 and he is the one Ruby Walsh has decided to ride. This will be Hedgehunter's fifth appearance in the great race. In 2004 with David Casey on board he tried to make all the running which drained his reserves and he fell at the last. This is the only time he has fallen in his career. In 2005 he fairly stormed to victory under Ruby Walsh and then in 2006 he was runner-up to Numbersixvalverde (pictured) carrying top weight of 11-12. Last year he had an interupted preparation due to a jarred knee and was off for 4 months. He ran a good race until 3 out when lack of condition told. This year he appears to have had a trouble free preparation. His trainer Willie Mullins is happy with him and although Hedgehunter is now twelve years old, I believe he is the one to beat. The great Red Rum ran in the race five times. His record was three wins and two seconds. His third win came at the age of twelve carrying top weight. He was given a great ride by Tommy Stack. I hope that thirtyone years later Hedgehunter and Ruby Walsh can repeat the feat. Of all J.P.McManus's runners Tony McCoy has chosen to ride Butler's Cabin. He won the Irish Grand National last year and he will certainly stay the trip of four and a half miles. Snowy Morning also trained by Willie Mullins was antepost favourite for the Grand National at one stage and if you forget his last run he must also have a great chance. Of course Cloudy Lane in the same ownership as Hedgehunter is a very warm favourite after his three wins this season. He completes my short list of four. May it be a great race and all the horses come back safe and sound. Enjoy! For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".