THERE’s an acronym commonly used to describe people who agree with some new plans or additions that will benefit the community as a whole, but, who do not want said development causing any personal inconvenience. They are termed NIMBYs. The ‘Not In My Back Yards’.

Now, we also can have a situation where we have a crowd of YIMBYs - the ‘Yes In My Back Yards’.

And that’s where we look to be with the arrival of the new all-weather racetrack in Tipperary. Of course, all the Tipperary and southern trainers gave it a great welcome.

But, with the 2027 fixtures allocated last week, it remains to be seen how the all-weather balance is struck between the existing track at Dundalk and the new one in the southern half of the country.

The first of the Dundalk winter dates on September 18th had winning trainers from Tipperary, Kilkenny (2) and Waterford. Last Friday saw two winners from Limerick and three from Tipperary. They will be happy to have a shorter distance to travel to Tipperary. (Dundalk is closer for Charlie Appleby!).

The new Tipperary track kicks off with its first meeting on Saturday, October 23rd next year and has been allotted nine meetings from then until Christmas. HRI has increased the total number of fixtures in the year by six to accommodate the new all-weather track. The 396 fixtures scheduled for 2027 are the highest-ever number of annual fixtures in Ireland.

With nine fixtures in total at Tipperary next year, it signals a strategic investment in all-weather racing from Horse Racing Ireland, and the creation of increased opportunity for racing’s stakeholders, was the HRI statement.

This year, there are six Dundalk meetings in December and next year, in that four weeks before Christmas, there will be nine all-weather meetings from Tipperary on Monday, November 29th to Tipperary again on Tuesday, December 21st. That’s four new Tipperary dates in that period.

The first week in November, Tipperary goes Monday, Dundalk goes Wednesday and Friday and then in the week beginning November 15th, we again have three all-weather meetings: Tipperary Monday, Dundalk Wednesday and Friday. It’s the same for the week beginning November 29th (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and, in the week beginning December 13th, there are three more - Dundalk Wednesday, Tipperary Thursday, Dundalk Friday - before a Christmas break.

Dundalk’s four meetings in the three weeks to Christmas in 2025 did all have double figure fields. But how the balance of play between the two tracks, and how Dundalk fares will be interesting.

ONCE upon a time, I hated the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe because you could generally predict that the best horse of the season would not win. The death recently of Sheikh Ahmed recalled the vexation caused by Mtoto losing to Tony Bin. And don’t mention Ardross!

But times have changed somewhat. Sea The Stars and Enable brought joyous days and even backing some outsiders reaped other rewards. With decent going expected tomorrow, it looks like the draw is the only impediment to a clean, fair fight. The first and second from last year return, but who could possibly have foreseen that Daryz would return at 7/4 and Minnie Hauk at 20/1?

Daryz had done it before, and the balance of his form this season shows no reason to think he is less the horse. But it’s a strong field, and he has a stable companion worth considering.

Kalpana is on the Bluestocking path, gradually improving and impressive in beating the world’s best horse Calandagan in the King George. Benvenuto Cellini and Maltese Cross represent the three-year-old colts, Diamond Necklace and Thundering On the three-year-old fillies - getting 7lb from Daryz.

With Epsom classics being run on softer going, it’s just hard to fit the form and Christmas Day’s poor Leger run into play. But just on the basis of her King George win, Kalpana looked overpriced at 7/1 and her favourable draw has seen her price gone to 5/1.

There are a few horses over-priced, but need softer going, Saaddad perhaps being one, while Varandir gives the Aga Khan Studs a second chance and he could be the equivalent of what Daryz was last season, an underestimated late improver. At the odds, I have to take Kalpana as the main bet, with a small each-way play on Varandir.

IT can be amusing what catches your eye flicking through a newspaper. This week, a glance at the international breeding lists (see page 76) made me wonder where was the remotest place an Irish-bred horse had won. And it would take some guessing that it was Malaysia, where a Space Blues gelding named Mega Fortune was a winner. And as we move into a big international season from Australia to America, it is worth noting how the (IRE) suffix takes Irish-bred horses to all the big events in the racing world. Currently, of the top 30 entered eligible to run in the Melbourne Cup, nine are Irish-bred in the race that stops a nation, on the other side of the world. Birdman, Trustyourinstinct, Goodie Two Shoes, Changingoftheguard, Royal Supremacy, Enfjaar, Soul Of Spain, Hopewell Rock and Zahrann were all born here. Never more proof of what a contribution to the industry Irish bloodstock can make worldwide.

Brian Keenan@keenan_brian

We were on the ropes for most of the week but come out with our noses in front @ListowelRaces. Thanks to everyone who had a bet with us. Remarkable crowds - Remarkable atmosphere. What a place. Put it on the to do list for 2027. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Justin Flood@JustinFlood17

Super week in Listowel not a profitable one but just got the xs. The crowds came and the sun shone all week.Think about 90% of the shorties won so the punters were happy. Book early for next year as there will be a spill over from the golf. Well done to all involved.