Leeside legend completed the Cheltenham-Punchestown double with superstars Allaho and Energumene.

THE Punchestown Festival brings the curtain down on another extraordinary national hunt season with the five day meeting commencing on Tuesday.

THE annual Killeady Harriers point-to-point meeting takes place at Dromahane this Sunday and, with some 167 entries, there are likely to be a couple of divides.

Power partnered 9-2 favourite Our Duke to an emphatic victory in the 2017 Irish National and the 40-year-old is optimistic that last year’s Midlands Grand National winner can hold his own.

Bryan Cooper’s mount led all the way and despite an untidy jump at the final obstacle, had plenty in hand in beating Doctor Duffy by a comfortable eight lengths.

THE three-day Easter festival takes place at Cork this weekend, running from Saturday through to bank holiday Monday.  There’s a flat card on Saturday and jumps enthusiasts are well catered for on Sunday and Monday.

Major yards are in the hunt for national glory while Easter Festival in Cork is also set to draw the crowds

The Easter week Inch point-to-point meeting took place on a new right-handed course at Ballyknock

THE traditional Inch Easter week point-to-point meeting, run under the auspices of the Killeagh Harriers, takes place on a new track at Ballyknock today.There may well be a few divides and, with proceedings commencing at 1.30pm, the Jimmy ...

O’Connor, who was most meritoriously riding his 405th points winner, was earlier on the mark aboard the aforementioned Terence Leonard’s Moviddy (4/1) in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Jack Singleton offers his tips ahead of the Grand National on Saturday

Lisgoold jockey was on top form again at Cheltenham with a strong Cork connection in State Man

Commander Of Fleet upset the odds in the Coral Cup with Fitzgerald edging another Corkonian Darragh O'Keeffe to be first past the post at Prestbury Park

'We have 21 syndicates. There are 10 shares in each horse and each person buying the share is buying 10 percent of the cost of the horse, plus they pay £279 a month for vets fees and training fees...'

An epic week at Prestbury Park ended with Rachael Blackmore making history in the Gold Cup

Cork jockey recorded his fourth and fifth victories at the Festival

The favourites are A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore along with Paul Townend on dual winner Al Boum Photo.

Lisgoold jockey Paul Townend will be in the saddle for Willie Mullins

Burke rode his first winner at the festival for another Rebel in Fehily

Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs put their unbeaten records over fences on the line at today's festival

Day three of the festival starts with the Turners Novice Chase

Darragh O'Keefe and Davy Russell were pipped at the post in an exciting afternoon's racing

Commander Of Fleet upset the odds in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

Kerry jockey Jack Kennedy crossed the line first in the Glenfarclas Chase

Second win on the second day of the festival for Lisgoold jockey

Lisgoold jockey guided the favourite to success in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle

Saint Felicien is worthy of strong each-way support in today's 2. 50pm at the Festival, the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle.  The x-French selection scored impressively on yard bow at Gowran before finishing a fine second to Darasso in Limestone Lad at Naas.

YOUGHAL'S Davy Russell and Tiger Roll will be reunited for one last time in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham today.  The dual Grand National winner has been an extraordinary horse and is chasing a sixth victory at the festival.

Picking between Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi ahead of the Champion Chase was nearly impossible. I have just gone with the younger horse, Energumene, for the rematch. 

Meanwhile, It Came To Pass and Maxine O’Sullivan are on course for the Foxhunters Chase on Friday afternoon. 

The Henry de Bromhead-trained eight-year-old, who was sent off the 8-11 favourite, took up the running turning for home and powered three and a half lengths clear of 2020 winner Epatante and Zanahiyr. 

Willie Mullins is the man to follow in the 4.50 pm, Gaelic Warrior is selected to land the spoils in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. 

Honeysuckle looks unopposable in her quest for a second Champion Hurdle and a 15th consecutive victory. 

On Friday, Jesse Evans will be a leading player in the County Hurdle and for the Singleton family and friends they are hoping he can produce his best form on the biggest stage of all.

Jonbon comfortably won a bumper in Newbury and then followed up in a Maiden hurdle impressively beating a good Sam Thomas horse. 

The first day is very important to us. We have a lot of big guns to fire and they all have real solid chances. It could be a very good day…hopefully not a very bad one.

Ireland won a staggering 23 races last season and the English total of five winners was a real embarrassment for the hosts

Doneraile native has already ridden over 50 winners this season and will have opportunities in the handicaps at Cheltenham

The 66/1 outsider stormed up the famous hill under a patient and brilliant ride from Maxine O'Sullivan to win in 2020 

Ballinora native is revelling in new role as a bloodstock agent and can't wait for the Festival

Coppeen native won six races at the Festival from 2012 to 2019

The Shanballymore native opened his account aboard Declan Queally’s admirable servant Fenno’s Storm in the open lightweight.

The whispers were building towards a crescendo following a disappointing run that ended with big guns Frodon and Greaneteen running below par in Ireland last weekend, and the Ditcheat stable had drawn stumps over the last six days.

Rachael Blackmore wooed the crowds on Honeysuckle but Townend had five winners across the meeting while Russell followed up his Irish Gold Cup success with a double

The teenager instigated his brace aboard Alan Ahern’s quietly-supported newcomer She’s A Saint (4/1 – 3/1) in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden. 

'I don't know if many horses have broken their maiden in a Grade 1 but it's a nice achievement for him anyhow'

Second time Russell lifted the Gold Cup, this time on an 18/1 

Cork's Paul Townend and Davy Russell are expected to feature among the winners across the two days

It was a red-letter occasion for 25-year-old Hannah Philipps from Fethard as she joined forces with Hattons Gardens’ owner/trainer Tom Keating to win the first division of this same contest aboard De Nordener (9/2). 

After serious injury, Condon rode a winner at Down Royal this week

Cork native has conceded defeat in his year-long battle to return to race-riding after a fall on Vegas Blue

La Feline delivered a stylish win under jockey Derek O'Connor's guidance

Popular butcher and businessman from Fairhill Jerry Nolan passed away suddenly before Christmas

Rebel Early was also among the winners on a heavy course on Saturday

THE Irish challenge for the Cheltenham Festival looks very strong after some stirring performances over the Christmas holidays.

THERE is a weekend of national hunt action for Leeside jumps fans this weekend as there’s a meeting at Cork racecourse on Saturday whilst on Sunday, all roads will lead to Aghabullogue for the Muskerry Foxhounds annual point-to-point fixture.

United Hunt event wasn't staged last year but drew the crowds again at Ballindenisk

Leeside jockeys recorded big wins on Al Boum Photo and Mount Ida

Despite the terrible conditions the fare was impressive in the last meet of 2021

Kevin Murphy reviews a busy Christmas period for those involved in Cork racing

Tipperary native was in top form all year, including a thrilling win in the Aintree Grand National

The public voted to recognise the Doneraile native for his winning effort on A Plus Tard 

Araglen native won with Fons Vivus and Copperfasten at Sunday's meet

Energumene won two Grade 1 chases last season, but missed out on the Cheltenham Festival in March due to a muscle injury. 

Joy for Conna-based trainer Patsy Leahy in the event run by the United Hunt

Enjoying three winners over hurdles, three over fences and one in a bumper, Elliott’s achievement was made all the more special as Navan is the track closest to his Co Meath stable

Kevin Murphy previews all the major action this weekend

The 18-year-old was credited with his initial success ‘between the flags’ courtesy of Burning Ambition in the open lightweight.

Rachael Blackmore showed her class once more

“When I was injured and it looked like it might be hard for me to come back, there was a hole there I wasn’t sure how I was going to fill." 

Next Sunday, the point-to-point action will move to Boulta for the West Waterford Foxhounds annual autumn fixture (planned 12 noon start).

Dry weather won't help Chatham Street Lad's chances in the Betfair Chase at Haydock

A spectacular front-running performance by Magic Daze in the Irish Stallion Farms Mares Beginners Chase in Cork proved part of an across-the-card treble for Henry de Bromhead yesterday.

Big crowd attended the Duhallow-Kanturk meeting on Sunday

The rider was originally booked to ride British-trained runner Away He Goes before an injury ruled him out last week and McDonald described his win as a "fairytale".

The easy-to-back 16/1 shot relished the step up in trip to three and a half miles and looked to be going best of all when taking it up at the second last, being pushed out to account for Screaming Colours by three lengths.

Heavy conditions to suit some of the top horses in action at Cork Racecourse on Sunday, explains Kevin Murphy

THE crowds returned to Cork racecourse on Sunday for its Co-Op Superstores race day, with an estimated attendance of between 1,500 and 2,000 racegoers enjoying the action where Poseidon took the plaudits in the sponsor’s race to complete a double ...

THERE was some competitive fare at yesterday’s flat fixture at Cork racecourse and Bagenalstown-based handler Pat Foley, who took over the licence held by his late father Tom of Danoli earlier this year, will forever treasure fond memories of the ...

Victory on Chemical Energy after an 11-month absence

Drombeg Banner and Affable deliver for Ballyhea trainer in Mallow

THE annual August bank holiday Monday jumps meeting at Cork racecourse took place yesterday and, on an afternoon that saw all eight favourites getting beaten, the James Dullea-trained Sweet Sixteen was a most impressive winner of the Kanturk ...

'Coming home from here last year we said to ourselves we’d make this the plan again.'

The entries for the big two races are dominated by the leading trainers, Willie Mullins, Henry De Bromhead and Denise Foster

Talacre and Frenetic both won at the flat fixture in Mallow

'The form is good, but heat and humidity will be a factor. I’m lucky in that I live in Florida, so I will be acclimatised for Tokyo'

Joy for Doneraile handler John Joe Walsh and Cloyne's James Motherway as well

'I’d be well able to get back by the end of the week, but you have to jump through a lot of hoops and there’s a lot of red-tape.'

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is a pilot event for supporters as sport copes with Covid

Joy for Drimoleague's Derry McCarthy after impressive display

IT was fantastic to see Michael Winters back in the winners’ enclosure again this week at the summer jumps. The Kanturk-based handler had to travel all the way to Downpatrick with his quirky Arizona Flyer who justified his odds of 9/2 favourite.

At 54-years-old, the veteran jockey can still deliver

Almost €5,000 has been raised in three days for well-known Cork wheelchair athlete Jerry Forde, who needs a new race chair after his current chair was badly damaged in a road incident. Jerry was involved in a collision with a car while training.

THEY say on a fine day you can see Florida from Goleen in West Cork and owners from both had winners at the Dunmanway Harness Races on Sunday. The IHRA Apprentice Championship third leg was a four runner affair but was a cracking contest.

Outsider stunned the field to cross the line first in the Fermoy Handicap