IN recent years, if you look away from the Ballydoyle two-year-olds, you are as likely to see a classic winner on the all-weather in December as at Newmarket in October.

It’s particularly true of John Gosden, who started Enable with a run at Newcastle in November. His 2018 Group 1 winner Without Parole first appeared in December as did Jack Hobbs.

The best one yet is the Kerrygold Irish Oaks heroine Star Catcher who was only sixth, beaten six and three-quarter lengths at Chelmsford just before Christmas last year. She went off at 4/5 favourite, but you can see how the trainer complained that he entry dates were far too early for our classics.

Comedy is an error!

THERE was some outrage last week when a filly appeared on the race card in Britain by the name of Golden Cygnet.

And it didn’t stop there, we have another such liberty, with a French-bred filly already named Comedy Of Errors, in the Tattersalls August Sale. Surely Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle winners deserve to have their names preserved and the authorities could ask that a horse registered with such a name in one country, can have it changed before it runs? We could have another Faugheen or Annie Power in a few years.

King George jokers?

THE pacemakers Highest and Kinglet played a part in the most famous King George of the last century, Grundy beating Bustino. Today’s race could match it and with 11 runners, there could be traffic problems. What can Ballydoyle do to swing the race in their favour with their four runners? Hunting Horn and Norway are presumably pacemakers. What does Magic Wand do? We know Enable and Crystal Ocean can race forwardly but at what pace, and who kicks first? It’s worth waiting for.

Two Teds go to war

THERE’S only one Ted Walsh. We’ve known that for many a long time.

But hold on, what’s this? Are RTÉ are taking the mickey by scheduling Ted 2 on Monday night just after the one and only signs off from Galway?

Quote of the week

“WHEN I started riding the only two dominant females riding were probably Cathy Gannon and Hayley. I was fixated on the pair of them growing up” – This was Hollie Doyle on Luck On Sunday last weekend. Despite some opinions to the contrary, it shows why we do need to highlight female riders – we all need role models, and females even more so, as they are still in very much a minority. Successs brings attention, I’d bet there’s an an increase in the sale of golf clubs in Co Offaly this week.