Ruby Walsh: How I'd add extra sparkle to Grand National 

The first would be that every horse must run twice between the January launch and the end of Cheltenham. With the weights set at the launch, any winner thereafter would get into the Aintree showpiece without a penalty, but any horse who falls more than three pounds would be eliminated from the line-up. The idea should be to have the most in-form 34, not the top-rated 34, lining up at the start in April.

So what if 8,10, or even 12 horses are ‘well-in’ because each one would generate conversation, debate and, most importantly, make the races that are currently before the weights launch competitive. It's a bit left field, but the race needs some added sparkle.

Sir Gino became the latest absentee from the Festival in March when he ended up in the veterinary hospital on Sunday last with a deep-rooted infection. His absence is a loss to the Cheltenham meeting, let alone connections. That Irish-Anglo clash in the Arkle has been shoved onto the back boiler, but such is sport, and hopefully the future will still be bright for Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old.

He won't be the last horse to meet a setback in the coming weeks, but it's time to concentrate on the here and now, and Red Mills Day at Gowran Park takes centre stage this afternoon. The title sponsors sponsor the gate today, too, so it's free entry if you are near Kilkenny and are looking for a good day out.

For those who haven’t managed to get to Kitzbuhel for skiing at mid-term, the four-legged version should be worth watching at 1.55. This giant grey doesn't look overly big until you are beside him, but his impressive victory at Punchestown in early December marked him down as a horse to follow. Willie Mullins has removed him from the Champion Hurdle, but hopefully he can throw his hat into the ring for a bid at an Aintree Hurdle with a victory this afternoon.

Over at Wincanton, Burdett Road and Golden Ace will go at it in the Kingwell Hurdle at 1.36, both bidding to enhance their March prospects. Burdett Road put in a career-best run last time out, in the Christmas Hurdle, when he chased home Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth, but Golden Ace is the only horse to have ever downed Brighterdaysahead. She gets 8lbs from her rival today and could be the one to beat.

Corbetts Cross puts his Gold Cup credentials on the line at Ascot at 3.37 when he lines up over a trip that could be short of his best. However, if he is going to threaten Galopin Des Champs in a month, he will need to make Pic D’orhy and L’Homme Presse work today, and Emmet Mullins' charge could do that.

Jingko Blue looks the pick in the Reynoldstown at 1.50 and, up at Haydock, Beaufort looks the pick in the Rendlesham at 2.40. Back at Gowran Park, Saint Sam should deliver in the Red Mills Chase at 3.05, and Blizzard Of Oz could make it third time lucky in the beginners’ chase at 3.42. On Sunday at Punchestown, High Class Hero and William Munny stand out for me.

I don't understand why stewards' enquiries on race days that don't involve the result must be investigated, deliberated on, and sanctioned on the day.

To put this in plain English, race stewards should only pass judgment on an enquiry that affects the finishing positions of a race so that the winners or placed horses can be called on the day and any winning bets paid out.

All other misdemeanours or anything that catches the eye of the race-day stewards should be forwarded to the governing body to be thoroughly investigated, deliberated, and judged at a feature date, just like every other sport.

It makes little sense to me that sanctions are continuously handed out on race days, which will go to appeal and, more often than not, be reduced when new or counter-evidence is introduced – but this is the path racing is sticking with.

I know this is not the first time I have touched on this subject, but a robust integrity system starts on solid grounding, and passing judgment on any event without all the evidence is as flimsy as it gets.

I do not disagree with the Clonmel stewards' initial decision on Thursday when they dealt with Mount Ferns running and riding in the 4.05. But, if spending 10 minutes on my computer yesterday morning watching all of Mount Ferns' career starts explained to me why Conor McNamara couldn’t ride him down the hill, it should to those making judgements too.

It doesn't wholly exonerate the ride and would raise the question of why he ran on such an undulating track, but that evidence paints a different picture of the situation and doesn't look kindly on the chosen sanctions.

In a nutshell, a sledgehammer was used to crack a nut, but with an appeal expected, we shall leave it there for now and hope the system gets an overhaul.