Day 3 of the Punchestown Festival has the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle run over 3 miles as the feature race at 17.30 pm this evening. This will be a slog in the the heavy ground and might well suit Brave Inca (pictured) who will be running over the distance for only the second time. He has the services of Tony McCoy who might well be able to galvanize him into a place. Fivefourthree the mount of Ruby Walsh looks a worthy favourite and should provide trainer Willie Mullins with yet another winner. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The centre piece of the 5 day Punchestown Festival in Ireland is the Guinness Gold Cup which will be run over 3 miles 1 furlong this evening at 18.05 pm. It looks a fairly open race with Notre Pere (pictured) the likely favourite. He will definitely stay the distance in the rain softened going as will Snowy Morning who ran a really good race in the Aintree Grand National. His trainer, Willie Mullins, stated before the National that "Snowy Morning had been alloted too much weight, but the run should put him spot on for Punchestown". Snowy Morning ran second to Neptune Collonges in this race last year after finishing third in the 2008 Aintree Grand National. David Casey who seems to get on well with him takes the ride. Air Force One is the only course and distance winner in the field but he has been rather disappointing since his fine run against Madison Du Berlais in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury last November. Notre Pere should win but at the odds Snowy Morning makes more appeal as an each way bet. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The Punchestown 5 Day Festival gets underway at 15.45 pm this afternoon when the Irish racegoers will have the added attraction of seeing Master Minded (pictured) running in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at 18.05 pm this evening. He is a very warm order to win this race for owner Clive Smith, trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh. Ruby Walsh will be on two other well fancied horses for Willie Mullins in Cooldine and Hurricane Fly. Cooldine was impressive at Cheltenham and he runs over the 3 miles 1 furlong Boylesports.com Champion Novice Chase. This race was won last year by Air Force One who runs tomorrow in the Punchestown Guiness Gold Cup. Hurricane Fly never made the trip to Cheltenham due to injury but is expected to win the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle this afternoon. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

It is three weeks since all the drama and excitement of the Aintree Grand National Meeting and although we have had the Irish and Scottish Grand Nationals together with the Classic Trials for the Guineas since, the racing to me has been low key. However the two day Bet 365 Meeting gets underway on Friday the 24th at Sandown Park with the feature race on Saturday the 25th being the Bet 365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase worth £165,000 and run over 3 miles and 5 furlongs. To us old timers this is still referred to as the "Whitbread". There is nothing like the class of past winners Arkle, Mill House or Desert Orchid in the field. Mill House won the race in 1967 when brilliantly ridden by the late David Nicholson. The picture shows Mill House jumping the last at Sandown Park on his way to winning the Gainsborough Chase. He was ridden by his regular partner, Willie Robinson, on this occasion. This years race looks a very open affair. Lacdoudal won this race in 2006 from Eric's Charm and My Will. His trainer, Phillip Hobbs, also won the race last year with Monkerhostin. Lacdoudal looked as though he was coming back to form on his last run behind Wichita Lineman at Cheltenham. Oodachee has come in for plenty of support in the antepost market and is probably worth a saver. It promises to be a great afternoons racing at Sandown Park. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The John Smith's Handicap Chase worth £70,000 and run over 3 miles 1 furlong will be the race before the Grand National on Saturday. The connections of Maljimar (pictured at Cheltenham Trials last year) are undoubtly disappointed at not getting in the Grand National field but they might well get a 'consolation' prize here. The John Smith's Aintree Hurdle worth £170,000 and run over 2 miles 4 furlongs should be another cracking race to watch. Al Eile will be trying to win the race for the fourth time. Favourite is sure to be Celestial Halo only just beaten in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle. The mares Whiteoak and United get a 7lb allowance from the other runners. Whiteoak is a course and distance winner and could run into a place at long odds. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Well the wait is nearly over and this years Grand National will get under way at 4.15 pm on Saturday. My short list mentioned in earlier blogs has been reduced down to State of Play, but I have added Snowy Morning (pictured) who ran third last year. He will be my 'saver'. Willie Mullins the trainer believes he has too much weight and he will know a lot more about it than me but in my opinion the field is not as classy as last year and if Snowy Morning is fit and well I am sure he can run a big race again. State of Play comes here a fresh horse. He won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury in 2006 and his trainer, Evan Williams, reports that he is in great form. All the latest news from Aintree can be found on their we site. Be lucky! For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The feature race on Day 2 of the Grand National Meeting is the John Smiths Melling Chase worth £200,000 run over 2 miles 4 furlongs. Voy Por Ustedes (pictured) won this race last year and would be a popular winner for Sir Robert Ogden after the tragic loss of his Exotic Dancer on Thursday. Voy Por Ustedes' trainer, Alan King, has his horses in fine form with two winners on Thursday. The John Smiths Topham Chase worth £110,000 and run over 2 miles 5 furlongs has 30 runners and looks difficult to solve. Ping Pong Sivola just got beat by her stable companion at Cheltenham and could run well here off her low weight. Finger on the Pulse was behind her that day and reopposes her again. He runs in the Kicking King colours and is trained by Tom Taaffe. I hope he can make the frame this time. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The Grand National Meeting gets underway at Aintree tomorrow with Denman (pictured) putting in an appearance in the Totesport Bowl Chase worth £160,000 run over 3 miles 1 furlong. He ran a terrific race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but connections did say he would not run again this season. Lets hope he can win. I just remember Master Minded and Kauto Star not running to form after their exertions at Cheltenham last year. Denman might have most to fear from Exotic Dancer although he is also declared for the more valuable John Smiths Melling Chase on Friday. Air Force One ran well for a long way in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and might be better suited to this flatter track and 'good' going. He receives 5lbs from Denman as does Albertas Run who will also like the going. The first race is the John Smiths Liverpool Hurdle worth £100,000 run over 3 miles for which Big Bucks will be a warm order. He again had a hard race at Cheltenham. In the Matalan Novices Hurdle worth £130,000 run over 2 miles Walk On and Starluck renew rivalry again. Walk On should win this but he again will be favourite. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".