With only one winning favourite on the seven-race programme, bookmakers got an early Christmas present at Thurles, where 20-1 chance Seabass turned back the clock when running away with the David O’Halloran Memorial Rated Novice Hurdle in the hands of Katie Walsh.

It was a night of mixed luck for trainer Gordon Elliott in Ballinrobe last night as Eshtiaal bolted-up in the Audi Ballina Handicap Hurdle, compensation following the defeat of both odds-on favourite Vercingetorix and Hostile Fire in the earlier Sheridan Electric 4-y-0 Hurdle.

Debutant Sizinguptheamazon proved the star of yesterday’s action in Clonmel, turning over odds-on favourite Augustin in the bumper, the Ardfinnan Flat Race.

Virtually on the eve of the Cheltenham festival, where he hopes to have about fifteen runners, trainer Gordon Elliott doubled-up with favourites Akorakor and Alberta in Downpatrick yesterday.

Augustin sets a decent standard in the Ardfinnan Flat Race, the bumper on today’s Clonmel card.

What a terrific servant the venerable Fosters Cross has been to connections.

Gentleman Duke, trained for JP McManus by Arthur Moore, landed the inaugural running of the John Mulhern Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe’s final meeting of 2014.

The Tony Mullins-trained Sammy Black and John Ryan’s Kilcarry Bridge captured the big ‘pots’ on McHale day at Ballinrobe last night.

Robert Tyner and Philip Enright combined for a spectacular 404-1 treble at Clonmel yesterday, the first time the pair have enjoyed three winners on the one-day.

Philip Rothwell enjoyed an excellent afternoon at a very wet Down Royal yesterday, with Mark Me Up’s triumph in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase initiating a 53-1 double on the afternoon for the trainer.

Trainer John Kiely is considering the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for Carlingford Lough following his last-gasp defeat of Morning Assembly in the Topaz Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

The connections of Jezki - second in the Ryanair Hurdle - had better luck when the rapidly improving Galway Plate winner, John Kiely’s Carlingford Lough, also owned by McManus, landed the Grade 1 Topaz Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Un De Sceaux, going off at odds of 1-16, dismissed his two rivals with the minimum of fuss in the Horse And Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

Ruby Walsh made his way to Thurles yesterday for just one ride, Noble Prince, in the featured John Meagher Memorial Chase and it duly obliged.

The Willie Mullins-trained French import Noble Inn and Gordon Elliott’s Gigginstown-owned newcomer Charcam looked two decent juvenile hurdling prospects when fighting out the finish of the Ballinrobe Members Club 2014 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle in Ballinrobe yesterday.

Donie Hassett’s Shantalla gets the nap in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase at Ballinrobe this evening.

Last year’s Galway Hurdle winner, Rebel Fitz, opened his account over fences, at the second attempt, when coasting to victory in the Irish Stallion Farms Beginners Chase in Ballinrobe last night.

Disappointing on his recent chasing debut in Killarney, Rebel Fitz should make amends in the Irish Stallion Farms Beginners Chase in Ballinrobe this evening.

Charles Byrnes indicated at Limerick yesterday that Solwhit, so impressive at Aintree on Saturday, is likely to tackle Quevega in a three-mile Grade 1 hurdle at Punchestown later this month.

Gallant Oscar, suspended for 42 days after finishing fourth at Punchestown previously, toyed with the opposition on his way to landing the Slievenamon Beginners Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

Hurricane Fly advanced his claims to regain his Cheltenham crown with a 13th Grade One triumph in the Istabraq Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Tarquinius made virtually all the running when grinding out victory in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase at Leopardstown.

The Listed four-runner Horse And Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles yesterday developed into a real battle of tactics and it was Davy Russell on Willie Mullins’ Midnight Game who got it spot-on.

Willie Mullins looks to have acquired another talented French import for owners Rich and Susannah Ricci in Unika La Reconce after she made an impressive Irish debut at Thurles.

Gordon Elliott’s Roi Du Mee toyed with the opposition on his way to landing the featured John Meagher Memorial Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Paul Carberry has really taken a liking to Ballinrobe this year and, having completed a superb treble at the Co. Mayo venue four weeks ago, again took the riding honours last night, completing an early double on Usa and Mickelson.

Davy Russell will remember yesterday’s meeting at Tramore, but for all of the wrong reasons.

BRYAN COOPER gave further evidence of his growing standing within the game when producing Frisco Depot with impeccable timing to take the Grade 2 Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase at Limerick yesterday.

COLM MURPHY got a little boost, on the lead-in to Big Zeb’s challenge for next week’s Champion Chase at Cheltenham, when Dangan Daylight landed the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins achieved another notable milestone in his remarkable career when the Ruby Walsh ridden Soll justified odds-on favouritism in the N.I. Hotels Federation Beginners Chase at Down Royal yesterday.

SOLL is fancied to continue Willie Mullins’ terrific run in the N.I. Hotels Federation Beginners Chase at Down Royal this afternoon.

Classy filly Unaccompanied showed the boys the way home with an impressive performance in the Istabraq Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.

RUBY WALSH was quite brilliant in driving Bishopsfurze to victory in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fund Beginners Chase at Thurles yesterday, one of three winners for the former champion jockey and Willie Mullins.

THE potentially top-class Joncol, a horse who has been plagued by problems, made a fine start to the season when taking the John Meagher Memorial Chase at Thurles yesterday.

IN-FORM John ‘Shark’ Hanlon completed his second double in a week when Streets Of Newyork and Ardglen triumphed at Ballinrobe last evening.

PAUL CARBERRY delighted punters in Ballinrobe last night when completing an early double on Sublime Talent and Jim Will Fix It.

RUBY WALSH, out of luck on The Midnight Club in the National at Aintree on Saturday, journeyed to Tramore yesterday for just one ride, Uncle Junior in the Waterford and Tramore Disrectors’ Chase, and it duly obliged.

WE may have seen a couple of future stars in action at Limerick yesterday in the Happy Mother’s Day Novice Hurdle.

THE Davy Russell-Gigginstown House Stud success story continued at Cork yesterday when Stonemaster battled on strongly to land the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Hurdle.

THE Henry de Bromhead-trained Days Hotel stormed away with the Lisronagh Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

THE father and son team of Willie and Patrick Mullins can combine with Pickapocketortwo to land the Lisronagh Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel this afternoon.

DESSIE HUGHES stole the show at Thurles yesterday, completing a 70/1 treble with Rick, Western Charmer and Quiet Thought.

GLENCOVE MARINA came back to something approaching his best form when landing the Listed Thurles Chase at the Tipperary track yesterday.

THE Dessie Hughes-trained Quiet Word proved the equine star of last night’s action in sun-drenched Ballinrobe, the Bryan Cooper-ridden gelding scoring a smooth success over Lend A Hand Son in the Irish Stallion Farms Novice Hurdle.