Tony Mullins has a horse called Pedrobob running in the Novice Hurdle race on Friday that I'll be looking forward to. Apart from that, though, you'll be talking about handicaps and there's never any shortage of them at Punchestown. Artist's Muse might go, Mister Hight as well. I know Paul Nicholls isn't taking anything over to the festival which, although it probably simplifies matters a bit, is also a shame because since this is the last week of the season, a few of Paul's runners would do me no harm in the race for the jockeys' title.

It's funny. You go out every day of the season, you work away with your head down and it's never really until this weekend that you actually properly realise the state of play in the jockeys' championship. Myself and Barry Geraghty are neck and neck now so unless I go mad at Sligo today it'll be Punchestown that decides matters. It definitely adds an extra spice to the week, gives it an extra bit of interest.

I've been in Britain all week riding for Paul and I was worried that I might come home and find that Barry had overtaken me. But he had a fall in the first race at Thurles on Friday evening and got a kick in the face so had to be stood down for the rest of the card.

I've heard he won't ride again until Tuesday. So I'm at an advantage and I'd much rather be three ahead than three behind. But it'll go down to the wire because although I'll have an extra day over him today, he'll be at Punchestown next Saturday while I'm at Sandown.

It's great that it has come down to this between us. We basically started out at the same time . . . when I was an amateur, he was conditional and we both turned professional in the same year. We travel together all the time, we share taxis, plane rides, hotels. I'd say I've spent as much time in his company over the past six or seven years as I have in the company of some of my family.

We've raced through airports together countless times and we nearly always sit side-by-side in the weigh room.

Actually, probably the only place we don't sit together is Punchestown because I always sit just inside the door, in the same spot as I sat as an amateur. So the coming week will be great, a nice friendly rivalry to finish off the season.

Yesterday was the Scottish Grand National in Ayr where I rode Ladalko.

It was the scene of a real disappointment for me last year when Cornish Rebel was only just touched off by Joes Edge for a race that would have given me all four Grand Nationals in one season. I know it looked like I was overly abrupt with Derek Thompson of Channel Four that time when he came over to me after that race to get my reaction but I have to say I felt it was very wrong of him to come to me at all.

Keith Mercer was after having a big win, one of the biggest of his career, and Channel Four decided I was the story.

I just thought that a fella who wins a race like that should get the respect he deserves. I know it looked like I was being grumpy and ungracious because I lost but that wasn't it at all. It was the winner's day.

I know if I'd won the race and the television people rushed over to the secondplaced jockey, I'd be rightly disappointed. It was only a small thing in the end that looked probably a bit worse than it was. I'd know Mark Jackson, one of the producers, quite well and we spoke about it afterwards and we've been grand ever since. It was a pain at the time, though.

That is all in the past, though. Here and now, it's Sligo today and Punchestown for the rest of the week. I think today might be the key. If I can pick up a couple of wins . . . and Masamiyr and Hearthstead Dream have really good chances . . . it'll leave it very hard for Barry because Punchestown is a lot less predictable.

Here's hoping, anyway.