Opinion
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Box-office John Durkan has justified its new slot - now it’s time to apply the same smart thinking to the Morgiana
Richard Forristal on the implications of a weekend of top-class racing
Richard ForristalIreland editor
Gaelic Warrior (far side ) gets the better of a thrilling John Durkan duel with Fact To FileCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
Sunday's epic John Durkan Memorial Chase has for the most part been lauded as a duel for the ages, and it is worth acknowledging the transformative upshot of the Punchestown race being brought forward a fortnight in the calendar since 2023.
Horse Racing Ireland takes enough stick for its missteps (see below), so it's only fair to acknowledge the good stuff.
As we saw again on Sunday, in general terms the change compels trainers to run horses in the Grade 1 ahead of the Christmas period.
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Published on inRichard Forristal
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Copymore inRichard Forristal
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more inRichard Forristal
- 33 runners per meeting? Summer jumping has hit rock bottom and British racing can't just accept this as the norm
- The crowds are still coming - just in racing's own peculiar way
- It wasn't just about the superpowers - here are my ten leftfield highlights of the jumps season
- Willie Mullins might have waved the white flag in Britain - but his familiar surge means it's game on in two Irish title races
- It's irresponsible and short-sighted to stand idly by while the activists go after greyhound racing - they'll be coming for us next