Davy Russell is already past the post in the race for the Irish jump jockeys championship as far as bookmakers Stan James are concerned.

TRAINING honours on the final day of a successful Fairyhouse Easter Festival (crowds were up 20% over the three days) yesterday went to Willie Mullins, who completed a double in graded hurdles with Twinlight and Lambro.

FAIRYHOUSE Racecourse yesterday announced Ladbrokes as the new sponsor of Ireland’s richest handicap steeplechase, The Irish Grand National.

HORSE RACING meetings in Ireland will fall next year for the first time this decade, according to Horse Racing Ireland.

THE father and daugher team of Dick and Liz Lalor can combine to take the Ashbourne Mares’ Chase with Carrigeen Kalmia at the final stage of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival this afternoon.

DIAMONDS really are a girl’s best friend, as a fashionable woman from Kildare can testify.

PUNTERS took a St. Patrick’s Day pasting at both Down Royal and Wexford yesterday as a succession of favourites, three of them at odds-on, were turned over.

CHASING CARS is the nap choice to take the Bumper at the final stage of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival this afternoon.

Ireland will stage an extra eight fixtures next year to take the overall figure to 313.