It showed fantastic initiative and execution from the IRIS team and all involved to come up with the idea of covering the racing at fog-bound Thurles on Thursday with a crew driving alongside the runners with camera mounted on the car.

Not only did it give excellent pictures but it made the races even more dramatic for TV viewers.

It looked like the runners were heading down the Melling Road in the National. We’ll be hoping for fog at the next meeting again.

Derby desire

It was surprising to see that the Investec Derby came in third in the British top 10 races by betting turnover in 2014 in the figures revealed this week. Only the Grand National and the Gold Cup came ahead of it with only the Qipco 2000 Guineas making the top 10 from the flat. Australia started at 11/8, Kingston Hill 15/2 with only True Story (8/1) at under 10/1. Perhaps the race hasn’t moved out of the public consciousness yet after all.

Roy roars

It’s the Late Late Toy Show next week. Is there any truth in the rumour that a new toy is to be revealed? It’s the Roy Bear. You simply set it in the middle of the table. It comes with a set of long sticks marked Media. Players sit around the table and the aim of the game is to prod the Roy Bear until it snaps and takes a chunk off your stick. The winner is the one with any stick left. It might catch on.

Let sleeping jocks lie: Jockeys these days - what are they coming to! Sam Twiston-Davies spends evenings in a onesie in the Twiston-Davies colours. Although, if Tom Queally happened to have been dressed in the same fashion, it might have added another element to his sleep walking defence!

Quote of the week: John Ferguson - I’ve had my arse kicked many times so it’s nice to win a race or two.