Oisin Murphy is not afraid to celebrate on the big occasion and should Roaring Lion land the Investec Derby on Saturday, plenty more joyous scenes can be expected.

Irish jockey Leighton Aspell bids for racing immortality this afternoon as he chases a third consecutive Grand National victory. But long before his Aintree successes catapulted him into the media spotlight Aspell’s talents had won him a devoted band of followers...

If great commentaries make great races then Peter O’Sullevan’s voice hangs heavy on racing history. 

Paul Nicholls hailed Kauto Star a “once in a lifetime” horse after the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner had to be put down due to injuries sustained in a paddock accident.

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.

AP McCoy has revealed it is extremely doubtful he will hang up his saddle at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Oliver Sherwood insists he has his feet firmly on the ground as Many Clouds attempts to take the next step up the chasing ladder in today’s BetBright Cup Chase at Cheltenham.

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.

Willie Mullins admits Simenon faces a tough task from his wide draw in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan on Saturday.

A total of 115 entries, the highest since 2009, have been attracted to the first £1m Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5.

A total of 115 entries, the highest since 2009, have been attracted to the first £1m (€1.2m) Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5.

Sprinter Sacre was dramatically pulled up halfway through his comeback outing in yesterday afternoon’s williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton with what veterinary advice diagnosed to be an irregular heartbeat.

The British Horseracing Authority has confirmed it has approved the principle of racing on Good Friday next year ahead of the publication of the 2014 fixture list.

Trainer Charlie Hills believes Just The Judge will be suited by the track at the Curragh as the filly has her second chance at Classic glory in the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas tomorrow.

Nicky Henderson endured another frustrating morning yesterday but after finally getting to gallop Simonsig, he described the grey’s work as “simply fantastic”.

Nicky Henderson feels he has not spotted an exceptional rival from another stable to prevent him from lifting the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup once again.

Last March, West Corkman Conor Murphy scooped £1 million on an accumulator bet at Cheltenham and followed his dream of setting up his own stables — in the United States

Racing was united by sadness at Folkestone on Tuesday as the Kent circuit shut its doors after 114 years of racing.

Noel Fehily is having an operation on his broken leg today following his fall from State Of Play in the John Smith's Grand National.

The cold seeps deep into our bones, and darkness begins to roll across Lambourn, the small village which calls itself the Valley of the Racehorse, but Tony McCoy is already high in the sunlit hills of his latest ambition.

Many 28-year-olds lucky enough to become millionaires overnight might be tempted to take the next week off work while blowing much of their newfound fortune on a series of all-night parties.

It says a lot about a man who has just scooped over €1.5m when he says his Ford Focus will do fine for another while, he’ll continue his 6am work regime, and he has no intention of packing up the arduous hours of a stable lad.

The Cork stable lad who scooped about €1.5m on a Cheltenham accumulator bet joked last night about being called ‘Heskey’ because of his poor strike rate in front of goal.

Seven Barrows is the place to be right now if you’re a horse, and it’s not a bad place to be as a guest of Nicky Henderson’s either.

I arrived in Lambourn last evening safe and sound, but more important was the fact that Steps To Freedom, Oscars Well and Jezki were well settled in at Cheltenham racecourse by that stage ahead of their engagements on the first two days of the festival.

I have said before how nervous I get leading up to big races and major festivals.

Tony McCoy admits he does not yet feel ready to return to race riding following his fall at Taunton at the end of December.

Sensible placing from trainer Tor Sturgis saw Fulgora land her second consecutive race in the Happy New Year Claiming Hurdle at Taunton this afternoon.

Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Mark Bradburne has decided to call time on his career in the saddle.

Cathy Gannon has taken encouragement from the return of her friendly rival Hayley Turner as she continues to make progress from her broken leg.

WILLIAMS believes his charge is in prime condition, even though he has not been seen since winning last year’s Hennessy at Newbury.

NOEL Fehily hopes to be back in action shortly after being sidelined by a wrist injury since November.

Beacon Lodge has a choice of engagements this month as trainer Clive Cox looks for some cut in the ground for his consistent performer.

Peter Toole and Richard Hawkins, the two jockeys injured in falls in April, are both reported to be well on the road to recovery.

Peter Toole is no longer in a medically-induced coma as he continues to recover from his fall at Aintree on Grand National day.

IRISH conditional jockey Peter Toole remains stable in hospital following his fall at Aintree on Grand National day.

Peter Toole remains stable in hospital following his fall at Aintree on Grand National day.

JOCKEY Peter Toole was woken from an induced coma on Monday night as he continues to recover from serious injury in hospital.

Jockey Peter Toole was woken from an induced coma on Monday night as he continues to recover from serious injury in hospital.

Tony McCoy was left beaming from ear to ear after a schooling session with Binocular this morning.

Totesport Gold Cup winner Long Run received a warm welcome at his home in Berkshire on Saturday morning.

PAT Murphy’s training career has not exactly been littered with top National Hunt prizes, but he won the Welsh Grand National with Supreme Glory in 2001 and he tells Declan Colley how he plans to repeat the feat today with his lightly-raced nine-year-old Maktu.

Jason Maguire said today that he is delighted to be making his return to race-riding at Haydock tomorrow after almost four months on the sidelines with injury.

CHARLIE SWAN was crowned king of the legends after making all the running on Miami Gator to win the Fudge And Smudge Leger Legends Classified Stakes at Doncaster yesterday.

A victory at the Galway Festival would have been rather more enjoyable than one on a quiet afternoon at Lingfield but connections of First In The Queue had to settle for the latter.

Marcus Tregoning has decided not to run Rumoush in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York next week and is eyeing an autumn campaign for the filly.