Dream of Melbourne is worth realising

TO be at Cheltenham for an Irish winner, to be at Aintree when you've managed to back the Grand National winner, to be at Leopardstown for Sea The Stars or to be at Punchestown when the likes of Sprinter Sacre or Moscow Flyer are winning in their prime are all great racing occasions that we remember fondly.

To be at Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup week is an experience – sporting or otherwise – you are never going to forget.

For most, it is an impossible dream and for that I will always count myself lucky, but for those of you who can make it happen, be it by saving for years and years, all I can do is promise you that you won't regret it.

Discussing the week with some of the top British racing journalists and also with some of my Irish colleagues who had been in the past and when Vintage Crop won in 1993, it was refreshing to hear each of them say 'you just cannot portray it, you have to witness it,' and that is so very true.

Companion

The dream of another Irish winner nearly became a reality and Simenon lost nothing in defeat Down Under.

If all things are equal and well he'll try again next year and I'd be surprised if he's the only one from this island, indeed I'd be surprised if he didn't have a stable companion to go with him.

For Luca Cumani winning the Melbourne Cup has become an obsession and it is easy to see why.

He's not the only one.