THERE IS no doubt this recession has started to bite hard as far as racing is concerned.

PAUL CARBERRY, never too far from controversy, has been banned for 30 race days for failing a breath test at Naas on October 31.

IF racing at Clonmel survives an 8am inspection this morning it may pay to follow Dessie Hughes, who can continue his terrific campaign by saddling Vic Venturi to land the featured Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase.

BATTLEOFTRAFALGAR can get off the mark at the fourth attempt in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden at Dundalk tonight.

RIGOUR Back Bob, a promising fourth at Cork on his debut over flights, strolled to victory in the Adare Maiden Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

THE major prize at Down Royal today is the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase, but there’s no solid reason top be overly optimistic about finding the winner so let’s concentrate, for the moment, on the Grade 2 ladbrokes.com Chase.

VOLER La Vedette gets the nap to land a cracking five-runner Grade 3 WKD Core Hurdle at Down Royal this afternoon.

IN COMPLIANCE, having his first run since December of 2007, made a stunning return in the Thurles Chase at Thurles yesterday.

ON Monday morning a large number of the press corps made their way to Co. Carlow for a 10.30am rendezvous with Willie Mullins.

TOM MULLINS’ Chelsea Harbour should prove hard to beat in the featured Thurles Chase at the Tipperary track this afternoon.