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A certain cohort of racing fans, myself included, still lament the old days of the pin-sticking unpredictability of the Grand National with 40 moderate horses and their riders trying to negotiate 30 monstrous obstacles in an attempt to etch their names into the history books.
These days the majority of the fences are smaller than on a standard park course and with six fewer runners to get in each other's way, it has become a far more predictable affair, but surprisingly none of this has diminished its public appeal. At least not in Ireland.
My Racing StorySponsored By Tote
I'm from Moyglass, Co Tipperary and I had a pony at home which I rode out around the gallop at my grandfather's (trainer Matty Tynan) place. I'd see the lads riding out at home and I'd want to ride out with them. I kept asking my grandad and uncle, and they kept saying to wait a while, so I rode the ponies for a few years. Even before I started riding out, my grandad would come out with me after school every day on the pony. He taught me what to do and what not to do. He also helped me a lot when I was pony racing and he has been great in giving me that start.
A review of the past week's racing stories
Watch our latest Irish Angle podcast where the panel discuss Albert Einstein, Thurles Racecourse and the disqualification of an Irish-trained winner at Aintree.
By Gary Carson - Four-time course and distance winner COMFORT LINE has been running well and may be able to bag another victory here. The nine-year-old ran a big race in Leopardstown recently, when making the running and eventually finishing a close third. A similar effort should see him bang there at his favourite venue. Cosmic Force hasn’t been far away on his last few visits here and was third off this mark 13 days ago. He looks like an obvious danger. Desert Of The Sea weakened after getting hampered here last time and may benefit from stepping back up in trip. He’s another to consider.
