After three abandoned meetings, the horse racing action returns at Limerick this afternoon, and punters can get their reward early by siding with Plain Talking in the opener and Pakman in the second race.

The first of Cork’s three-day meeting takes place this afternoon, and Sr Carthage can make the most of the conditions to take the valuable Cork Handicap for Jim Bolger.

A new Easter festival envisages thousands of people retracing their ancestral christian heritage on Ireland’s ancient pilgrim paths.

Altiepix, despite the fact he could only manage fifth of six on his latest appearance, is the nap choice in the Next Racing At Fairyhouse Saturday January 31st Hurdle at Fairyhouse today.

Horse Racing Ireland has announced it’s fixture list for 2015 with the total number of fixtures remaining unchanged at 349.

A schoolteacher from west Cork and a village community group in the Muskerry gaeltacht were the overall winners in Cork County Council’s Mayor’s Community Awards Scheme.

Horse Racing Ireland has announced the 2014 Fixture List which revealed 349 meetings will take place, the same as in the previous two seasons, with an ’Irish Champions Weekend’ scheduled for the first time.

SATURDAY

It’s all about horsepower at the Racing Home for Easter Festival in Mallow.

Bob Lingo continued the tremendous run of owner JP McManus when bagging the €75,000 Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase on the final day of the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse.

The Ladbrokes Irish Grand National is one of the most precious jewels in Ireland’s racing crown, and it was Lion Na Bearnai who came up trumps, returning at odds of 33/1, with the crowds happy to cheer him into the winners’ enclosure with his popular local trainer Tom Gibney.

It may centre on three days of bumper-packed horse racing but the Easter weekend in Mallow will offer festival fun for all the family.

Galileo’s Choice proved himself on course for the William Hill Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham when scoring a smooth success in the Easter Festival 8th-10th April Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Galileo's Choice duly landed the odds with the minimum of fuss in the Easter Festival 8th-10th April Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

NEXT year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be run on a Saturday (June 30) for the first time since 1987.

JONJO O’NEILL’S Synchronised, the Welsh Grand National winner, heads a 51-strong list of initial acceptors for the €250,000 Ladbrokes’ Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

WILLIE MULLINS reports Hurricane Fly in good form ahead of his FRBHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle run on Sunday.

FAIRYHOUSE bowed to the inevitable yesterday when cancelling its triple Grade 1 meeting due to be run tomorrow.

The good thing about being involved in horse racing is that you don’t get a complex about things going wrong for you. Racing is a great leveller so you’re just used to things not going your way.

Fairyhouse Racecourse have announced Ladbrokes as the new sponsor of the Irish Grand National.

PERCE Rock gave Tony McCoy and J P McManus a timely boost following the fatal fall of Wichita Lineman in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National on Monday when landing the Tattersalls Ireland Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Aran Concerto further enhanced his reputation when coming out on top in a thrilling finish to the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

THE range and quality of Irish food and drink will be promoted around the world by Bord Bia this week as millions of people take part in traditional celebrations organised around St Patrick’s Day.

TIMMY MURPHY earned all the plaudits when giving Hi Cloy an ice-cool ride to take the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse yesterday.

BEEF OR SALMON, a costly failure for many Irish punters at the Cheltenham Festival last month, will be the star attraction at Fairyhouse this day week when he is expected to line up in the featured Powers Gold Cup.