WHEN invited to press events, the media gather to hear what the great leader has to say. But there’s a new dimension to everything in the current news climate. BHP Insurances launched their seventh year in sponsoring the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown this week with some of the leading trainers in attendance. It was another chance to get a handle on Willie Mullins’ thoughts on his top horses.

The next day the Racing Post led with a possible meeting of Annie Power and Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle but there was a Donald Trump photograph a few inches away!