When Willie Mullins won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with the mare Tourist Attraction in 1995 you would have needed more than a crystal ball to predict how dominant he would become in the world of National Hunt racing.

Fingal Bay, who remains the only horse to have beaten Simonsig under Rules, is out to finally fulfil his potential in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury this afternoon.

Ruby Walsh thinks Djakadam has a “favourite’s chance” of creating history by becoming the first five-year-old to win the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Philip Hobbs is not concerned about any of the other runners in Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury as he prepares Fingal Bay for the big race on a "workable mark".

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.

Kevin Prendergast’s Pixie Hollow can land the nap in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Auction Maiden at Sligo tonight.

It was a bit of a frustrating week even though Weather Watch came in at Tipperary on Thursday.

It was a weekend of firsts for Irish champion jockey, Davy Russell.

Wednesday's meeting at Down Royal is subject to an 8am inspection tomorrow morning.

Venture Capital, which created a big impression on his debut Fairyhouse a year ago before flopping in the Grade 1 bumper at the Punchestown Festival, made a winning start to his hurdling career in the opening Mount Leinster Maiden Hurdle at Wexford yesterday.

Kauto Star may be nicely tucked up in his box enjoying retirement, but Paul Nicholls could still have an embarrassment of riches come Boxing Day at Kempton.

Anyone else find last weekend's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita a complete bore?

Battleroftheboyne, having a 26th outing of his young life, gets the nap in the Foley’s Bar And Off Licence Handicap at Sligo this evening.

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.

THE IRISH flat season doesn’t come to an end until tomorrow week but with Bostons Angel, Oscars Well and Saludos all making their seasonal reappearances at Down Royal, it’s probably best to look back at what has thankfully been another very successful campaign for me.

TWO particularly tricky cards at Down Royal and Wexford tonight will test the skills of punters, but one who is fancied to oblige is Fountain Of Honour in the last up north, the Guinness EBF Maiden for fillies.

NOTRE PERE is set to miss the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday due to the prolonged dry spell.

Down Royal's meeting on St Stephen's Day has been postponed until Thursday, December 30.

Edward O’Grady is among a legion of Irish trainers gladdened by a break in the weather as his Tranquil Sea returns to the track seeking his first Grade One win in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at Fairyhouse.

GHETTO GOSPEL is the nap choice to complete a real rags-to-riches story in the valuable Specsavers 2 for 1 Ulster Harp Derby at Down Royal this afternoon.

JOCKEY Francis Lawlor was critically ill last night after suffering serious head injuries following a fall at Down Royal.

CAN Adajal defy the handicapper one more time and complete a four-timer at Cork tonight?

Sunday's rearranged meeting at Down Royal is subject to a 3pm inspection today.

Down Royal will stage a further inspection at 6pm this evening to assess the prospects of racing on St Stephen's Day.

PAUL NICHOLLS’ gut instinct is that Denman will do no better than finish fourth or fifth under top weight in Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury – a race in which fellow pacesetter Carruthers has been declared a non-runner.

SPORTS LINE gets the nap to make a winning debut over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Beginners Chase at Navan tomorrow.

Sarteano achieved his primary objective with victory in Down Royal’s opener, the A.Bartlett & Sons (Airdrie) Ltd Maiden Hurdle.

Officials at Down Royal are excited about the prospect of top-class racing at their two-day festival this weekend.

Paul Nicholls has confirmed former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kauto Star will head to Down Royal on Saturday week to contest the JNwine.com Champion Chase - ground permitting.

Lingfield's National Hunt meeting tomorrow has been abandoned due to waterlogging.

Limerick will stage a precautionary inspection at 8.30am on Sunday ahead of their scheduled afternoon fixture.

THE week after Cheltenham provides sufficient refuge for the needy and the greedy, with next Saturday seeing the start of the turf Flat season.

French Accordion is unlikely to bid for a four-timer in Ascot’s valuable United House Gold Cup on Saturday.

Taranis and The Listener could run in Saturday’s James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Officials at Down Royal have delayed their planned 7.30am inspection until 10am.

Down Royal have called a precautionary inspection for 7.30am ahead of their meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

NOEL MEADE has decided to sidestep Sunday's Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown with Harchibald and Iktitaf will do duty for the stable instead.

Beef Or Salmon was an encouraging second on his seasonal debut in the Ratoath College Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

JOHNNY MURTAGH, setting a scorching pace at the head of the jockeys' championship, can consolidate his position by landing a double at Bellewstown this evening.

The St Stehpen's Day meeting at the Down Royal Racecourse in Northern Ireland was evacuated today because of a bomb alert.