Looking forward, looking back...

Looking forward - next week's highlight is the Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival. Here's a taste of what's in store...

Tuesday April 20th features The Boylesports.com Champion Steeplechase (6.05 pm) over two miles;

Wednesday April 21st - The Guinness Gold Cup over three miles one furlong;

Thursday April 22nd - The Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle over three miles;

Friday April 23rd - The Rabobank Champion Hurdle over two miles;

Saturday April 24th is Family Day - the feature is The Airshow Champion Four Year Old Hurdle over two miles.

Further details are available from the Punchestown website.

Some snippets which may be of interest...

Dunguib is to be aimed at the Rabobank Champion Hurdle on Friday;
Denman is set to run in the Guinness Gold Cup on Wednesday;
Paul Nicholls is also sending over Twist Magic for Tuesday's Champion Chase - in the ante-post market there isn't a lot to choose between Kalahari King, Sizing Europe, Forpadydeplasterer and Twist Magic;
Barry Geraghty missed his booked rides at Ascot earlier today 'so he can be 100% for the Punchestown Festival that starts on Tuesday';
With European air travel still affected by the volcanic eruptions in Iceland, connections of British runners have made alternative travel arrangements for their charges;
Quevega has been installed favourite for the World Series Hurdle;
Wednesday's Guinness Gold Cup will be War Of Attrition's last run;
Nick Williams is to send over Reve De Sivola for Friday's Cathal Ryan Memrial Novices' Hurdle and Cornas for Tuesday's Champion Chase.

And a few moments to look back - earlier today it was announced Denis O'Regan is to split with Howard Johnson at the end of the season while Greville Starkey's obituary brought back some fond memories.