Will Hayler of the London Evening Standard is on hand at Churchill Downs to bring you all the flavour and colour of the Breeders' Cup 2006. Stay logged on for more updates.

Saturday, November 4:

For a man who has just picked up a six-figure sum as his trainer's percentage, Brian Meehan doesn't look very happy. I wonder what it takes to light his fire.

My fire was lit by the anticipation of a life-changing win in the Pick6. Sadly the fire was extinguished in the Sprint. And the Mile. And the Distaff. And the Turf. And the Classic. All this from a perm with more than 1000 lines that was assembled by some of the greatest racing journalists Britain can offer. Idiots.

As it happens, I had a good night's punting, saved by a decent bet on Ouija Board and an inspired late bet on Red Rocks at 10-1. I thought he'd be suited by sitting just behind the pace and could pounce off the turn. The reasoning was wrong but the result was right - sometimes you've just got to take the breaks.

If Brian Meehan was celebrating only on the inside, Frankie Dettori's joy at winning twice was easy to see and even easier to understand after he had given Swain such a shocking ride here in 1998.

Dettori gave both winners 'percentage' rides, kicking on early enough aboard Ouija Board to make sure nothing was going to steal it from the front and sensibly reining Red Rocks right back in the early stages of the Turf after the jockeys in the front rank lost their minds and set off at suicide pace.

It's no wonder that Churchill Downs is the host to the Breeders' Cup more than any other track. The place is brilliantly run, has excellent facilities and a well-draining track with a proper home straight rather than those silly furlong-long run-ins.

The sad injury suffered by Pine Island in the Distaff will overshadow the meeting for many, while the apparent inside bias on the dirt track also proved a slightly uncomfortable talking point.

But Invasor and Bernadini fought the good fight in the Classic and Sheikh Mohammed can at least content himself that he owns Discreet Cat, who thrashed Invasor earlier in the year.

In the meantime it's back to the grind for me - the Standard have asked me to produce a preview for the Melbourne Cup so the Breeders' Cup stats books go in the bin tonight and I'll have to start weighing up Australian form about which I am truly no expert.

But before I try to tackle the traffic there's time for a quick beer... and none of that weak American crap.