Racing TV or Sky Sports Racing? Clock's ticking on key decision for Irish racing

One of the hazards of writing a column is the constant fear of being gazumped shortly after publishing.

It's a threat you have to learn to live with, doing your best to avoid the landmines but accepting the day will come when one detonates as soon as the last copy of the next day's edition slips off the printing presses. Race-writing roulette, you could call it.

At the time of writing, we still await news of who will hold the various media rights for Irish racing from 2024 and beyond. For most of us, the primary consequence is that we also don't know whether the direct-to-home pictures will be broadcast by Racing TV or Sky Sports Racing.