WE may be in the middle of the worst recession in the history of this state, but it really made little or no difference to Galway this week.

IT was business as usual at Galway last night, as Dermot Weld’s Stunning View landed the valuable Topaz Mile EBF Handicap, one of three winners for the Rosewell House maestro.

Stunning View swamped brave front-runner Royal Blue Star in the final strides to land the Topaz Mile EBF Handicap, the feature event on the second day of the Galway Festival.

THE last race at Galway tonight, the Caulfieldindustrial.com EBF Maiden, houses the safest wager in the shape of Dermot Weld’s Catch The Eye.

Green Destiny, one of the leading contenders for tomorrow’s Royal Hunt Cup, is set to miss the mile handicap.

Sweet Lightning could try to land a second big handicap over a mile following his convincing victory in the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday.

DERMOT WELD can start the final two days of the Galway Festival in style this afternoon by landing the opening Jockeys’ Association Maiden Hurdle with Gentleman Jeff.

Last year's winner Forgotten Voice heads 56 horses confirmed for the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.

David Marnane will decide later in the week on plans for Dandy Boy following his game victory in the Victoria Cup at Ascot on Saturday.

Paul Dixon, president of the Racehorse Owners Association president and the Horsemen’s Group chairman, has called for an inquiry into the Royal Hunt Cup start which led to three horses being withdrawn.

Bookmakers continue to count the cost of Royal Ascot despite making a bright start to day two.

There were plenty of Royal Ascot clues on show at Newmarket as a three-day meeting kicked off with Martyr, Bell’s Ocean and Roaring Forte all bound for the Queen’s course next month.

Roaring Forte will head to Royal Ascot after leading from pillar to post in the Edmondson Hall Solicitors & Sports Lawyers Handicap over seven furlongs at Newmarket.

Forgotten Voice served notice that he could be one of Jeremy Noseda's major players at Royal Ascot when preserving his unbeaten record under Shane Kelly in the williamhill.com - Choosing Chelsea? Jubilee Handicap at Kempton today.

Sam Waley-Cohen guided Tricky Trickster to victory in the 139th Year Of The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham.

Bankable sailed across the line in the On The House Stakes at Goodwood to earn a quote of just 2-1 with Coral for the Royal Hunt Cup on the second day of Royal Ascot.

Capable Guest is likely to seek more big-race glory at Royal Ascot after running out a shock 25-1 winner of the totesport betXtra Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar.

Capable Guest ran out a shock 25-1 winner of the totesport betXtra Zetland Gold Cup in the hands of old acquaintance Joe Fanning at Redcar.

Promising Lead looks set for a successful campaign in Pattern races after making an impressive reappearance in the totepoolscoop6 Special Middleton Stakes at York.

Duntulm gave an extraordinary performance to win Newmarket’s opener on 2000 Guineas day after apparently wrecking his chance in the stalls.

Supporters of leading stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas hope Spacious received a boost after her galloping companion Cesare recorded back-to-back wins in the Britain’s Got Talent Paradise Stakes at Ascot.

Fresh from finishing third in the National Hunt trainers’ championship, Alan King sent out his first Group winner on the level as Shipmaster landed the Woodcote Stud Sagaro Stakes at Ascot.

Henry Cecil expects to take a team of five to Royal Ascot next week, with Sound Of Nature in line for the Wolferton Handicap rather than the Royal Hunt Cup.

It was not quite barbecue weather at Ascot but a bit of rain failed to prevent an Australian domination at the Berkshire track.

Sir Gerard and Hinterland head the 66 entries to have stood their ground at the latest confirmation stage for the totesport Mile at Goodwood on August 4.

Stronghold could be set for a step into Group company at Glorious Goodwood.

Luca Cumani is looking forward to next week’s action at Royal Ascot, where he expects to be well represented in the high-profile handicaps.

Gerard Butler has outlined his team for Royal Ascot with Buckingham Palace Stakes hopeful Bayeux heading the quartet.

No racecourse generates greater betting turnover than Ascot during its Royal Meeting and so it was apt that Partners In Jazz landed a gamble in the totesport Victoria Cup, the feature event as racing returned following a gap of a year and a half for redevelopment.

Kieren Fallon was in double form at Goodwood on Tuesday with seven-furlong specialist Arakan highlighting the brace with victory in the Merbury Catering Consultants Supreme Stakes.

New Seeker is set to drop back to Listed company for the Dubai Duty Free Cup at Newbury on September 16.

Eisteddfod may be upped in class after defying top weight of 9st 7lb for the second race running at the weekend.

Johnny Murtagh had an up and down afternoon at Leicester today but still managed to complete a 27-1 double for trainer Amanda Perrett.

Gay Kelleway has snapped up Frankie Dettori for Vortex in the totesport International Stakes at Ascot tomorrow.

Mine, trained by James Bethell and ridden by Richard Quinn, has won the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot.

Norton is set to complete his preparations for Saturday’s £150,000 (€234,000) Tote International with a final piece of work tomorrow.