The week of the Musidora Stakes prompts memories for Ian Carnaby of the Sporting Life, which closed ten years ago. Life goes on, but a lot has changed since then.

There's never two without three, as they say in France. Ian Carnaby has been left pondering the truth of this, after two fatal falls and the injury to Malcolm Siberry at Haydock last week.

Iris De Balme was very well ridden in the Scottish Grand National by talented amateur Charlie Huxley. His 66-1 win wasn't such a surprise on a day that saw another big race won by an amateur.

Richard Johnson rode one of the finishes of the season at Ludlow recently. Ian Carnaby pays tribute to one of the best never yet to win a championship, and who, with Philip Hobbs, could have a good finish to the season.

He's only bred one horse, Lenny The Blade, but since the seven year old won at Newton Abbot on Saturday Ian Carnaby has been basking in the glow of being a successful breeder...

The Cheltenham Festival is over for another year - and Ian Carnaby is delighted that some of the statistics that tell us what can't happen were proved only too wrong by Katchit, Master Minded and Inglis Drever.

Cheltenham approaches, and Ian Carnaby once more is looking for a 50-1 winner. He reflects on a few chances he has missed - but remains determined to get one back on the bookies come the Festival...

The Donald McCain stable grows in strength and Ian Carnaby recommends following it closely. He also found a pointer to a decent each-way Gold Cup bet at Haydock on Saturday.

With the Grand National weights published, Ian Carnaby is not going to desert his first choice, despite being allocated more than the magic 11 stone. Age can matter more...

The weights for the Grand National are published next week, and Ian Carnaby hopes Simon gets a workable weight - though how Andrew Thornton was unseated at Cheltenham will be forever a mystery.

Warwick was just about raceable on Saturday, and threw up a runner worth following again in a Marathon Chase, says Ian Carnaby - who also has a few observations about the handicapper.

World Hurdle form was on display over Christmas and Sweet Kiln is the only horse preventing Inglis Drever from being the bet of the Festival in March. Ian Carnaby recommends an investment at the excellent odds now available...

The Welsh National is looming after Christmas, and Ian Carnaby wonders if last year's Hennessy form is more important than this year's - if so Preacher Boy could be a value bet...

Kieren Fallon has become too used to waltzing with danger, says Ian Carnaby - the ridiculous risk he took with drugs at Deaville shows that his time on stage is coming to an end.

There was enough going on at Haydock last week to fill several columns, with Exotic Dancer showing he's not far short of Kauto Star and opportunities aplenty for layers, says Ian Carnaby.

Plenty of folk are prepared to criticise the second last fence on Cheltenham's Old Course following the death of Granit Jack there - Ina Carnaby say forget the kenee-jerk criticism and trust the course to get it right.

Three grey winners in a row at Limerick Junction on Monday was quite an achievement for sire Linamix. Ian Carnaby recommends you keep a close eye on all his progeny from now on.

The eulogies over the death of George Washibgton, sad though that is, are excessive, says Ian Carnaby - his career record fell well short of true greatness.

1982 was a memorable year for Ian Carnaby, with Time Charter winning the Champion Stakes for Henry Candy - who embodies the Corinthian spirit.

A few hard races is insufficient excuse for Authorized's disappointing tenth in the Arc, says Ian Carnaby. Whilst the right handed track might have contibuted, the fact is the Derby form is poor.

The form of this year's Derby looks very poor to Ian Carnaby, who this week takes a detailed look at the Arc. Nevertheless, Authorized won by five lengths and should win in Paris.

Kieren Fallon will be the focus of attention as his trial at the Old Bailey gets underway - but Ian Carnaby expects the role of betting exchanges to become prominent, too.

Mahler was intelligently ridden in the St Leger says Ian Carnaby - that Jimmy Fortune won on Lucarno underlines how much he has improved as a jockey.

Ian Carnaby thinks Hughie Morrison made some fair points after Sakhee's Secret was a beaten favourite in the Haydock Sprint Cup on a track that did not need any extra moisture.

Ramonti faces his stiffest task yet in Sunday's Prix du Moulin says Ian Carnaby, who also advises moving quickly to take the each-way value for Saturday's Sprint Cup.