Twenty years hence, when the producers of Reeling in the Years are choosing the sounds and sights to represent the stories of 2019 they shouldn’t face too arduous a task.

Ruby Walsh produced a brilliant ride on Easy Game in Navan last Sunday, silencing the gutless social media critics who were quick to write him off as he struggled to come back after a series of injuries, writes Pat Keane

Great and all as the Irish, Scottish and Welsh versions are, nothing quite compares with the Aintree Grand National.

In keeping with other years, Willie wasn’t really keen on me riding this weekend, and when Lareena won it took a bit of pressure off everybody, so I’m sitting out the remainder of the week.

Donegal’s Donagh Kelly has won numerous Irish rallies some of which culminated in National and Tarmac Championship titles — one of three drivers to win both in the same season. Yet, the one rally that has eluded him is, ironically, the Joule Donegal International Rally.

It has gone down in racing history as one of the most unlikely yet successful comebacks, and it all started at Tipperary.

The Trainers’ Championship in Britain is going down the wire, but it would be some achievement from Willie Mullins were he to win it, considering he’s based in Ireland.

A frustrated Donald Trump stepped up his presidential campaign after a rough week and found himself on the defensive just two days before the closely watched primary in Wisconsin.

With the Cheltenham festival stabled and fed for another year, many of Ireland’s top jump jockeys will head to Youghal, Co Cork, on Friday for the next great challenge.

Gordon Elliott has outlined his ambition to overcome the seemingly unstoppable Willie Mullins and become Ireland’s top National Hunt trainer.

Galway 2-15  Cork 2-12: Galway defeated All-Ireland champions Cork to claim their first National Camogie League Division 1 title in 10 years at Semple Stadium.

It’s four years since Gavin Sheehan left Ireland to try his hand abroad and yesterday’s triumph in the World Hurdle on Cole Harden is proof that the grass can actually be greener on the other side, writes Brendan O’Brien.

The New One’s Stan James Champion Hurdle preparations neared completion yesterday with a satisfactory schooling session.

Motorsport: A spin midway through the final stage of Rally Sweden, the second round of the World Rally Championship denied the Irish pair of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) the opportunity of finishing sixth.

He may have a fair way to go to be in the Willie Mullins league, but Gordon Elliott is getting there - and quickly writes Pat Keane.

I have been asked several times of late, by a number of punters, as to why there is such a lack of racing for much of December, on the lead-in to Christmas.

Colm Murphy faces a race against time to ready The Westener Boy for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. The seven-year-old missed the majority of 2013 after picking up an injury when falling in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran, for which he was joint-favourite, and returned to action over hurdles earlier this year.

Henry de Bromhead admitted: "You dream of days like this," after chasing debutant Sizing Granite beat odds-on favourite Lieutenant Colonel in the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Beginners Chase in Naas to complete the trainer’s first treble.

This weekend promises plenty, as Willie Mullins takes the wraps off some of his better horses, with an ease in the ground finally arriving.

Frustration grows and grows for Shane Lowry. Last week he dropped three shots in the final three holes of the second round of the US Open at Pinehurst to miss the cut by a shot and yesterday at Fota Island he lost his chance of regaining the Irish Open that he captured as an amateur in 2009 by finishing one over par for 36 holes at Fota Island.

Not content with having another shot at winning the Crabbie’s Grand National, Across The Bay’s localowners have even begun writing their own headlines.

The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) has confirmed that six samples taken from runners at this year’s National Meeting in Clonmel have tested positive for banned substances.

Pass The Hat threw his cap into the ring for the Irish Grand National when holding the challenge of Kylecrue to capture the Carrickmines Handicap Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

On their debut for the factory Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, Dungannon’s Kris Meeke and Killarney’s Paul Nagle netted a podium finish along with a bonus point from the Power Stage of Rallye Monte Carlo, the first round of the World Rally Championship.

Plans have been made to stage the Tolworth Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday week.

Tipperary's Brendan Cummins has retired after an 18-year stint as the senior hurling goalkeeper with the Premier County, having made his debut in 1995.

It has been nice having a few winners in recent weeks but we have also been talking quite a bit about hitting the bar and it’s pretty incredible the number of seconds and thirds I have had.

Deep thinkers are in short supply among the golfing elite but Graeme McDowell could never be accused of failing to think outside the box when it comes to the fate of the beleaguered European Tour.

Bookmakers were celebrating in the Aintree sunshine as Auroras Encore silenced the majority of the packed grandstands with a 66-1 success in the John Smith’s Grand National.

Tony McCoy has decided to ride the Ted Walsh-trained Colbert Station in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

One of the main reasons Ireland will travel to the Cheltenham Festival in March with a powerful team is the buying power of five major owners.

Mouse Morris is set to saddle both Hennessy Gold Cup third First Lieutenant and the returning China Rock in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

Esther N McCarthy dips, wheels and whirls to pick cute, clever and crafty gifts for everyone this festive season.

Popular Irish chaser Forpadydeplasterer recorded his first victory in well over three years with a stylish performance in the Glen Chase at Thurles.

Three Irish Examiner journalists are in the running for prestigious prizes at the National Newspapers of Ireland annual awards.

A moving forward of the start of the John Smith’s Grand National by 90 yards was one of the most significant changes announced by Aintree and the British Horseracing Authority.

Paul Gilligan has another festival date in mind for Wellforth following last week’s Galway success before he can start thinking even bigger.

Simenon gave leading National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins his first taste of Royal Ascot success when careering away with the Ascot Stakes in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Early Aintree casualty Junior could bid for swift compensation in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday.

Midnight Haze will take his chance in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 14 rather than the Irish equivalent.

Only for the Mullins family this week, with some help from Rodger Sweeney, Ireland would have been sunk without trace.

John Smith’s Grand National favourite Junior is likely to have his first run of the season at Newbury on Friday as he builds up to the greatest race of them all.

DESSIE HUGHES believes Rivage D’Or’s ability to handle testing conditions will stand him in good stead at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

THE economy is in tatters, the dole offices are packed, many at work are on reduced wages, but racing, thank you very much, is swinging along just nicely.

DENIS O’REGAN performed miracles on Australia Day to the relief of favourite backers at Huntingdon yesterday.