There were heartbreaking scenes as the young son of champion jockey John Thomas McNamara asked angels to look after his dad, who passed away last Tuesday from injuries sustained three years ago, in a horror fall at Cheltenham.

Grand National-winning rider Mick Fitzgerald has spoken of his sadness and of the risks involved in racing after it was revealed by the family of rider JT McNamara that the serious neck injury he suffered in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival has led to paralysis.

Enda Bolger has not won Cheltenham’s cross-country race since 2009, but aims to put that right today.

Enda Bolger has not won Cheltenham’s cross-country race since 2009, but aims to put that right today.

Enda Bolger believes the increasing quality of the cross-country sphere is making Cheltenham’s Glenfarclas Chase more difficult to win year on year.

IN 2010, Enda Bolger’s complete domination of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase was interrupted for just the second time since its inception in 2005.

CAPTAIN Cee Bee is reported to be in fine shape ahead of his bid for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

Enda Bolger’s two cross-country stars Garde Champetre and L’Ami are to make a belated return to the track over hurdles at Naas this Saturday.

Cross-country grand master Garde Champetre is to make his traditional reappearance in the Vendee Hurdle at Thurles on October 21 before chasing further Cheltenham glory.

QUEVEGA emerged as a realistic Stayers’ Hurdle challenger to the champion, Big Buck’s, when totally outclassing the opposition in yesterday’s Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown.

Ted and Katie Walsh have combined to take the Ernst & Young Handicap Chase at Punchestown with 25-1 chance Battlefront running out a wide-margin winner.

PUNCHESTOWN so far this week has been nothing short of a minefield for punters and today promises more of the same.

A New Story ended Enda Bolger’s domination in the cross-country races at Cheltenham when coming home in front in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase today.

FOR a horse that fell on his first outing at Cheltenham, Garde Champetre has come a long way.

Enda Bolger is responsible for five of the 16 runners as he seeks to continue his dominance of the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow.

ENDA Bolger and owner JP McManus must never have thought they would find a horse to replace Spot Thedifference but Garde Champetre edged closer to surpassing his achievements at Cheltenham yesterday.

HENRY de Bromhead was back in the winner’s circle at Cheltenham for the first time since Sizing Europe’s Greatwood Hurdle win two years ago as Loosen My Load struck in the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle yesterday.

Garde Champetre and Heads Onthe Ground will represent owner JP McManus in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.

Ruby Walsh will go in search of a third John Smith’s Grand National victory on board My Will, who is likely to go off favourite at Aintree today.

TONY McCoy has been confirmed as the rider of the Butler’s Cabin in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Tony McCoy has been confirmed as the rider of the Butler’s Cabin in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

BETWEEN now and Saturday the question which is going to be on just about everyone’s lips is “what’s going to win the National?’

JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry insists there is no rush for Tony McCoy to decide which of the owner’s four entries he will ride in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

AS A gambling novice, after a day on a high stool in a city centre pub in Cork, ‘studying’ the form like a monkey with an abacus, I ended the day’s racing yesterday with a recession-busting total of €15.36.

Nina Carberry repeated her victory of 12 months ago on Garde Champetre (7-2) in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Irish assault on Prestbury Park is part of what makes the Cheltenham Festival what it is – the highlight of the racing calendar.

PAUL Nolan believes Dix Villez could be the one to upset the Enda Bolger applecart in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase at Cheltenham next month.

Mikael D’Haguenet is not a definite runner at the Cheltenham Festival – despite maintaining his unbeaten record over hurdles at Punchestown.

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MICK Fitzgerald admits he was lucky to retire in one piece after calling time on his near 20-year career yesterday.

A brilliant tactical ride by Barry Geraghty saw Nicky Henderson’s Punjabi decisively land the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Mick Fitzgerald is reported to be in a “comfortable” position in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Mick Fitzgerald was taken to hospital with back injuries after falling from L’Ami in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Tom Mullins believes John Smith’s Grand National candidate Chelsea Harbour ticks all the right boxes for Saturday’s Aintree spectacular.

JACK THE GIANT will miss the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

WILLIE MULLINS could saddle as many as five runners in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday after 68 horses stood their ground at the five-day confirmation stage yesterday.

Ossmoses has been ruled out of the John Smith’s Grand National.

My Will has been allotted top weight of 11st 12lb in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on April 21.

PAT HUGHES has reported Point Barrow to be in top shape after his recent exertions as money continues to pour in for the John Smith’s Grand National hope.

Kauto Star silenced his critics in scintillating fashion and propelled himself into the upper echelons of racing history when careering away with the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

KAUTO STAR is the best horse in this afternoon’s Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup but there are too many question marks for me to back him at such a short price.

Paul Nicholls believes Kauto Star deserves to be sent off a short-priced favourite in tomorrow’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Kauto Star tops a list of 24 horses left in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at the confirmation stage.

Tony McCoy has opted to partner Exotic Dancer in next week’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Exotic Dancer and Hedgehunter have been allocated joint top weight of 11st 12lb for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National.

Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Kauto Star was made to pull out all the stops as L’Ami pushed him right to the line in a dramatic Aon Chase at Newbury.

Bookmakers can see little danger to Kauto Star in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Kauto Star heads a list of 12 possibles for Saturday’s Aon Chase at Newbury.

A high-class entry featuring 119 hopefuls has been revealed for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 14.

Kauto Star could face the first three home from last season’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in his bid to join the racing legends at Prestbury Park in March.