COMMANCHE COURT, who won the Irish Grand National in 2000 for Ted Walsh, was put down yesterday at the age of 16.

Doctor Fremantle is making steady progress following a setback and could still make the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster next month.

Permit holder John Needham hopes to have the last laugh when he takes on the big boys with Another Joker at Cheltenham on Saturday.

FRANCES CROWLEY’S Hidden Genius, taken from some 5-4 to evens and the medium of one bet of €12,500 to €10,000 with leading layer David Hyland, was given a confident drive by Shay Barry to win the Saltan Properties Maiden Hurdle at a bitterly cold Tramore yesterday.