I am sounding a bit like a broken record talking about the weather and ground here almost on a weekly basis, but readers will understand what a huge bearing it has on what we do.

Ballymena took the spoils in today's hotly-contested Ulster derby at Eaton Park, holding on to beat Ballynahinch 6-3 and leapfrog them at the top of Ulster Bank League Division 1B.

ROCKVIEW DIAMOND, the most experienced horse in the field, is the nap choice in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden at Bellewstown tonight.

THE horses continue to run well, which is very pleasing ahead of another big week for us and for Irish racing.

The Melbourne Cup is a possible long-term objective for Bob Le Beau after his Listed-race success at Limerick on Friday night.

MAGICAL MEMOIR can prove the bet of the weekend in the www.gowranpark.ie Hurdle at the Kilkenny track tomorrow.

The Derby festival is one of those racing weekends that you really look forward to and it’s no different this year.

NFL DIVISION 2:

A piece of work on Thursday will determine whether Changingoftheguard is prepared for the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

A maximum field of 20 will go to post for Wednesday’s totesport Ebor at York, including Aidan O’Brien’s ante-post favourite Changingoftheguard.

EYTARNA should build on her promising debut effort at the Curragh to land tonight’s Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden at Gowran Park.

ANOTHER weekend in Ireland where the emphasis is on quantity, and lots of it, with very little pretension towards quality.

HINDU Kush landed the featured Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes for Dandy Nicholls at Leopardstown last night.

Eircom League premier division champions Drogheda host FAI Cup holders Cork City in the Setanta Cup this evening at United Park.

MATTERS AT HAND can continue Dermot Weld’s excellent week by landing the Publicans’ EBF Maiden at Galway tonight.

EASILY the most interesting contest at Dundalk tonight is the Hanratty Oils Race, which will see two high-class timber-toppers, Harchibald and Al Eile, in action.

THE progressive Temlett can make a successful graduation to Listed company in the Jockey Club Of Turkey Challenge Stakes at Leopardstown tonight.

WILLIE MULLINS’ Temlett, a three-year-old on the upgrade, has a leading chance in the valuable Specsavers Ulster Derby Handicap at Down Royal this afternoon.

THE four day Tramore Racing Festival, which runs from tomorrow evening through to Sunday, is expected once more to deliver another major boost to the thriving racing scene in the south-east.

AMID THE CHAOS, back on his favoured fast ground, can take the AIB Westport Beginners Chase at Ballinrobe this evening.

DR JULIAN, trained locally by Michael Hourigan, can enjoy a first success over fences in the Holmes O’Malley Sexton Novice Chase at Limerick tonight.

FORMER champion Ruby Walsh again proved the hero at Navan last night when performing heroics to stay on board odds-on favourite King Of Foxrock before landing a division of the Texas Maiden Hurdle.

THE ground was drying out rapidly at Ballybrit yesterday and if the process continues then take a chance on Direct Bearing following up his success here yesterday, in this afternoon’s Guinness Galway Hurdle.