The Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle - the feature race on day three of the Punchestown Festival - was a tale of one jockey who can practically do no wrong this season and another who can barely catch a break this week, writes Darren Norris.

Let the madness of Grand National Day begin. Unfortunately for me, after my fall from Blood Cotil in the Topham I sustained a wrist injury and won’t be involved in the way I had hoped.

Morning Assembly is firmly on course for the Crabbie’s Grand National after returning home safe and sound following an excellent run at last week’s Cheltenham Festival.

Bookies versus punters

Well, I’m off to Paris this morning ready for action and very much looking forward to partnering Un de Sceaux at Auteuil in the afternoon.

You’d have to say that last weekend was rather a good one for Irish racing, with over 16,000 at the National at Fairyhouse on Monday and 6,000 plus at Cork on Sunday.

Seven Barrows is the place to be right now if you’re a horse, and it’s not a bad place to be as a guest of Nicky Henderson’s either.

WHEN I was asked this week to write about the highs and lows of 2011 my immediate reaction was to focus on the new whip rules brought in by the BHA across the water.

WILLIE MULLINS’ So Young enjoyed his anticipated lap of honour in the Listed Horse And Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

THE legendary Vincent O’Brien, who celebrated his 92nd birthday yesterday, had his colours carried to victory by Lastkingofscotland in the Breeze-Up Bonus EBF Maiden at Tipperary last night.

A TRUE superstar of the racing game was born last week at Cheltenham in the shape of Ruby Walsh.

NEWMILL could face two of the three horses that finished ahead of him at Cheltenham last month as he bids for back-to-back victories in Punchestown’s Kerrygold Champion Chase later this month.

Leading jump jockey Mick Fitzgerald is to retire at the end of the season.

DERMOT WELD, fresh from another profitable Galway, where he had seven winners, was on the mark at Cork yesterday when Reform Act turned in a game display to land the €45,000 plus to the winner Listed Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Give Thanks Stakes.

Jonjo O’Neill was giving out few clues to ante-post punters as his yard became the latest to throw its doors open to the media.

Baracouda will miss Tuesday’s totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow after suffering a minor setback.

Baracouda will miss Tuesday’s totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow after suffering a minor setback.

IRIS’S GIFT returns to the scene of his biggest success over hurdles when he continues his chasing career at Cheltenham today.

Iris’s Gift returns to the scene of his biggest success over hurdles when he continues his chasing career at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Solerina, one of the most popular horses in training, will step back up to three miles in tomorrow’s Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown.

THE clash of Emotional Moment and Solerina in the McCabes’ Builders Ltd Boyne Hurdle at Navan tomorrow, is the race of the weekend in Ireland.

Baracouda remains the 7-4 favourite with the sponsors for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

BARACOUDA has been installed as the red-hot 1-3 favourite by Cashmans to record a fourth success in the Telectronics Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor on Saturday.

Baracouda, who will be bidding for back-to-back wins in Saturday’s Ballymore Properties Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, looks like facing a strong challenge with both Telemoss and Crystal d’Ainay set to take their chance.

Cheltenham have unveiled a major name change and a boost in prize money for the Stayers’ Hurdle at next year’s Festival meeting.

BRAVE little Solerina, fresh from her fourth to Iris’s Gift in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, can enjoy a first ever success on the level in the Peter Byrne Kildare Race at the Curragh tomorrow.

ALEX FERGUSON has pleaded with Manchester United fans to call off their planned protest on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day.

Baracouda runs in Britain for the second time this season when he turns up for his annual tilt at the Cantor Sport Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot tomorrow and it is difficult to imagine this amazing stayer being beaten.