AFTER the first two days of the National Hunt Festival had failed to throw up a winning favourite, punters could have been forgiven for holding bookies in the same regard as bankers.

This year's Irish National Hunt Festival is set to feature a total of 11 Grade one races throughout the five days.

The famous Irish roar at Cheltenham may be a little less loud than usual this year as cash-strapped punters are forced to keep their hands in their pockets, organisers said today.

LISTOWEL has become yet another victim of the dreadful weather and their Festival, due to start this coming Sunday, has been put back to the following Tuesday.

AN Irish company is aiming to revolutionise ticketing at sporting events worldwide.

Punchestown racecourse is to stage the richest handicap hurdle ever run in Europe as part of this year's National Hunt Festival.

Ladbrokes have been confirmed as the new title sponsor for the third day of the 2008 Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown.

BUM steers and beaten dockets — bad memories of Ballybrit evaporated in the slipstream of the jet that hurtled us towards the Cotswolds.

SORBIESHARRY made his own bit of unfortunate history when winning the last race at Wolverhampton yesterday.

Sorbiesharry made his own bit of unfortunate history when winning the last race at Wolverhampton today.

Cheltenham is expected to ride on the slow side of good for the opening day of the National Hunt Festival.

Watering at Cheltenham is on hold ahead of the National Hunt Festival, which starts on Tuesday, with heavy rain forecast over the weekend.

A half a century ago, a swashbuckling playboy, the 17th Marquis de Portago, rode Garde Toi to third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. But that was only one chapter in a remarkable sporting life. Simon Lewis reports.

A record number of entries have been made for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival next week.

A record number of 125 horses have been entered for the JCB Triumph Hurdle on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival on March 18.

With 13 days to go to the National Hunt Festival, officials at Punchestown have announced that an extensive watering programme has commenced following the dry conditions of recent weeks.

PUNCHESTOWN racecourse is introducing a range of incentives to boost the appeal of its National Hunt Festival this spring outside Ireland.

Rooster Booster tops the weights unveiled today for the Listed Rehabilitation of Racehorses Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday week.

Cheltenham have announced the introduction of supplementary stages for each of the four championship races at the Festival this season.

Horse racing fans were flocking to Cheltenham today for the start of the town’s eagerly anticipated National Hunt Festival.

Any chance of Cheltenham watering the course ahead of the three-day National Hunt Festival have been abandoned.

Letheby & Christopher, the Cheltenham racecourse caterers, are prepared for a hectic time at next week’s National Hunt Festival.

Florida Pearl will bid for an historic fourth successive win in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup as racing finally resumes at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Jonjo O’Neill has always been a man to look out for on his journeys south to Cheltenham.

Istabraq is quoted the 2-1 favourite by the Tote as he bids for a record fourth consecutive win in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Aidan O'Brien's Istabraq heads 40 entries for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 12.

Officials at Cheltenham racecourse are still waiting to hear from the British Horseracing Board whether the rescheduled National Hunt Festival will be allowed to go ahead.

It has been revealed that Cheltenham is within an exclusion zone after a farm five miles from the track has come under investigation for a possible case of foot-and-mouth disease.

Tony McCoy has admitted See More Business would be a "dream" ride to pick up in next month's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Hot favourite Jair du Cochet headed 123 entries revealed today for the Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle in March.

Well Ridden won a trip to Cheltenham in March with victory in the opening race at Leopardstown today.