WHEN I set myself the challenge of visiting all 26 Irish racecourses on a raceday in 2017, I didn’t imagine that it would catch the imagination of so many people. The attention it garnered extended to Britain also. Someone, tongue in cheek, suggested that my next challenge would be to visit all the British tracks too, but I think I will settle for conquering the home turf.

Thurles on Thursday, October 12th will bring the curtain down on this particular challenge and I will be sorry to see it end. Fear not, I will be still be racing all the time, in case you thought I would be putting my feet up for the autumn and winter!