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If you want to look at the cold hard facts, the Kansas City Royals are now the only team in the Majors with a longer post-season drought than the Blue Jays. Austin Allen Jersey . The Royals, who shrunk over the years from model franchise to annual also-rans, havent made it to the playoffs since 1985, the year they beat the Blue Jays in the American League Championship series en route to winning their one and only World Series title under the late Dick Howser. The past few years though, theyve developed a wealth of young home-grown talent, including catcher Salvador Perez, outfielders Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain, third baseman Mike Moustakas, shortstop Alcides Escobar and DH Billy Butler, not to mention outfielder Wil Meyers, who was dealt to Tampa Bay for pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis last year. The Royals are continuing their playoff push this off-season. They signed GM Dayton Moore to a two-year extension and then veteran lefty Jason Vargas to a four-year deal and this week, they traded for a needed lead-off hitter, getting Norichika Aoki from Milwaukee to play right field. The next move may be their boldest yet if they can bring back outfielder Carlos Beltran on a three-year deal. The bottom line is, even if they dont win the Central, theyd have to be a favourite for one of the two Wild Card slots, making it even more difficult for the Blue Jays to make it into the post-season. The Jays have been fairly quiet so far, non-tendering catcher J.P. Arencibia, signing catcher Dioner Navarro and then trading reliever Brad Lincoln to the Phillies for catcher Eric Kratz and lefty reliever Rob Rasmussen. Not exactly earth-shattering moves. GM Alex Anthopoulos is already dampening expectations for next weeks Winter Meetings at Orlando a bit by telling the Toronto chapter of the BBWAA that he doesnt expect to add any more than one starting pitcher from outside the organization in the off-season, when most believe they need two. I trust Alex still has a few tricks up his sleeve, but if the Jays arent aggressive enough, they could find themselves with the longest post-season drought of all at 21 years and counting after the coming season. Lone Ranger? From all reports coming out of Texas, it sounds as though Arencibia is going to wind up in Texas as the back-up catcher to Geovany Soto and maybe a part-time DH. The Texas ballpark is made to order for J.P.s power stroke, and heres hoping he can rediscover or rebuild the rest of his game. Hes too good a person to flame-out in this game so soon. On The Move? Dont rule out the possibility of the Blue Jays dealing Adam Lind next week. Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay both want free agent first baseman James Loney. But the team that doesnt get him might come a-calling about Lind. Names From the Past A few more ex-Jays in the news this week include former 2B Kelly Johnson, who is reportedly close to signing a one-year deal with the Yankees in a utility role. Eric Hinske, who won the Rookie of the Year Award as the Blue Jays third baseman in 2002, retired to become the Chicago Cubs first base coach. Finally Dave Winfield, one of the Jays World Series heroes of 1992, left his front office post with San Diego to become special advisor to Tony Clark, the new Executive Director of the Players Association. Winfield and Clark are two of the most impressive and imposing men Ive ever met, both charismatic and intelligent and just dominant in size when they enter a room with Winfield at 66" and Clark at 68". The Players Association is in good hands after the tragic passing of Michael Weiner at 51 after a long battle with brain cancer. Josh Naylor Jersey . Both sides of the deal have formally announced acquisitions: TFC introduced Jozy Altidore as a designated player on Friday, while their counterparts announced a three-and-a-half-year deal with Jermain Defoe. Khalil Greene Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens goaltender has won three of his four games since returning from a lower-body injury that kept him out from the end of the Olympic break until March 15. https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/2093m-luis-urias-jersey-padres.html . Its been a successful Games for Canada, which will finish near the top of the medal standings again. From repeat gold medal winners to multiple medal winners to undefeated teams to acts that define the Olympic spirit, there are many solid candidates who could be considered to receive the honour.Nine of the 11 Grade 1 winners from Aintrees Grand National meeting have been entered at the Punchestown Festival, while nine of the 13 Grade 1 winners from last months Cheltenham Festival are also engaged. A vintage jump season looks set to end on a high with a potential clash between Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Don Cossack, Cue Card and Vautour in the €200,000 Grade 1 Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday, April 27.The latter, part of a sizeable potential Punchestown raiding party trained in Dorset by Colin Tizzard, fell at Cheltenham but made amends in style when winning the Grade 1 Betfred Bowl by nine lengths at Aintree. Cue Card and Don Cossack are among 20 entries that also include the Cheltenham second, third and fourth - Djakadam, Don Poli and Carlingford Lough. Ryanair Chase winner Vautour, a faller at Aintree last week, could step back up in trip for this contest.Both Tizzard and Don Cossacks trainer, Gordon Elliott, are looking forward to the big race.The plan always was to go on to Punchestown and I dont see any reason to change that, Tizzard said.He fell at Cheltenham and mentally didnt have a hard race. He also didnt have too hard a race at Aintree and hes come out of it all fine.From three out to two out at Aintree he came through a gap and came eight lengths clear without ever seeming to do too much.Hes in the form of his life so theres no reason not to go.Speaking about Don Cossack, he added: Hopefully they both jump a clear round. Don Cossacks fallen once, weve fallen once and hopefully they both jump clear and well see who finishes in front. Sky Racing Tickets Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you Gordon Elliott, trainer of Don Cossack, reports his charge to be in good shape, as he bids for back-to-back victories in the race. He worked Don Cossack work over a mile and a half alongside stable companion Cause Of Causes in front of media at Punchestown on Monday.He said: We havent done anything serious with him since then and today was the first time that hes really stretched his legs since Cheltenham.Cue Card is a horse Ive got massive respect for. Its going to be a very good race at Punchestown.He (Don Cossack) will have one more good bit of work and then its all systems go.The Punchestown Gold Cup promises to be the most enthralling race of this years Festival, with brilliant Ryanair Chase hero Vautour, who suffered a shock fall at Aintree last Friday, also a likely runner.Trainer Willie Mullins said: Theres a very good chance Vautour will run in the Gold Cup.Hes as fit as a flea and as long as hes sparkling at home, hell take his chance.Sprinter Sacre has been entered for the Grade 1 €200,000 BoyleSports Champion Chase on Tuesday, April 26. Nicky Hendersons brilliant performer won the Punchestown contest in 2013 and looked as good as ever when winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month.Punchestowns racing manager Richie Galway revealed that Henderson has not yet ruled out a return to Ireland with his stable star, who claimed the same prize in 2013.Galway said: Myself and Shona Dreaper met Nicky in Newbury recently and we said weve love to have Sprinter Sacre running.He said the day that he won in Punchestown for himself and the owners was one of the great days they had with Sprinter Sacre.Cheltenham runner-up Un De Sceaux and third Special Tiara, trained by Henry de Bromhead, are also engaged, as well as Sprinter Sacres stablemate Simonsig, who has not run since November, and Kerry Lees recent Normans Grove Chase winner Top Gamble.Other highlights on Tuesday include the Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle over two miles. It could feature a clash between the Willie Mullins-trained Yorkhill, a Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham and Aintree this year, and the Henderson-trained Buveur DAir, winner of a Grade 1 novicce hurdle at Aintree on Friday. Eric Hosmer Jersey. here are 30 entered for the Grade 1 Growise Champion Novice Chase the same day. Native River, winner of the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices Chase at Aintree, is set to represent Colin Tizzard in the 3m 1f contest, while Sandy Thomsons stable star Seeyouatmidnight is another possible runner from Britain.Alongside the Bibby Financial Services Punchestown Gold Cup, Wednesday also features the Grade 1 Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle.Among the 36 entries is Yorkhill, who could step up to three miles for this event, while the Ben Pauling-trained Barters Hill, winner of the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury, is among those expected to travel over from Britain.All eyes will be on the brilliant Thistlecrack on Thursday when he is expected to start in the €200,000 Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle.Colin Tizzards brilliant hurdler ran at last years Punchestown Festival, where he came second in the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle, and he has not been beaten since. Having won Saturdays Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at Aintree and the Grade 1 Ryanair World Hurdle at Cheltenham, he is set to bid to complete a rare treble at Punchestown.Willie Mullins has given his star mares Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag this option - although the former is more likely to stay at two miles - while the Coral Cup winner Diamond King could bid to continue his upward career trajectory for trainer Gordon Elliott. The Dan Skelton-trained Value At Risk, winner of the Grade 2 Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle at Fairyhouse on April 28, is in the reckoning to bid for another fruitful foray to Ireland.The fantastic Douvan heads the entries in the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase.Despite being only six, he has already won six times in Grade 1 company, including effortless displays at Cheltenham and Aintree. His potential opponents include Kylemough Lough, who gave rookie British trainer Kerry Lee a first Grade 1 success in the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on March 27.No less eagerly awaited will be the expected appearance of the great Annie Power in the €200,000 Grade 1 Betdaq Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday.She would line up in the race on the back of superb wins in the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and by 18 lengths in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle. The runner-up on both occasions, My Tent Or Yours, could reoppose for trainer Nicky Henderson.Mullins confirmed on Monday that Annie Power was on course to run.Annie Power seems fine and the plan is to go for the Champion Hurdle, he said. It will only be her fourth run of the season.I imagine all the top guns will run as its the last big Festival of the season.Yorkhill must have some engine to do what he did in Aintree the other day. If hes recovered, he could go to Punchestown. Hes a good eater and he drinks well and hell get a good rest before then.Apples Jade was a revelation at Aintree. She had some training problems after Christmas and (in hindsight) we obviously didnt have her as straight as wed want at Cheltenham.Theres a bumper 39-strong entry for the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle with the likes of Barters Hills, Buveur DAir and the aforementioned Yorkhill all being given this option.Improving Brain Power is another entered by Nicky Henderson, Aidan OBrien could run recent Fairyhouse Grade 2 winner Slowmotion, and Apples Jade has also been entered.Dick OSullivan, Punchestowns General Manager, said: These are vintage times for jump racing with some fantastic horses based both in Ireland and across the water in Britain.Weve seen a series of great performances at Cheltenham and Aintree, as well as at home, in recent weeks and we are obviously thrilled that so many of the top horses look set to line up at the 2016 Punchestown Festival. There are some fantastic showdowns in prospect at what promises to be five magical days of racing. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports ' ' '