WHEN I walked out of Cork University Hospital exactly two weeks ago there was only one thing on my mind, the Galway Plate and Blazing Tempo.

DONALD McCAIN’S Overturn will have to defy a stone extra if the versatile performer is to repeat last year’s emphatic victory in the Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle, the richest National Hunt race in Ireland this year, at Ballybrit on Thursday fortnight.

THIS Grand National is one of the most open there has been in years. The weather in Aintree was beautiful yesterday, with a very big crowd on ladies day, and some of those ladies even wearing bikinis.

DERMOT WELD is to have his first Grand National runner for 16 years after confirming Majestic Concorde a definite starter in the John Smith’s-sponsored showpiece at Aintree on Saturday.

COUNTY CLARE owner/trainer Noel Glynn is set to launch a double assault at Aintree next week, with Becauseicouldntsee and Gonebeyondrecall on course to take on the famous National fences at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting.

EDWARD O’Grady must have despaired when the runners for today’s Connolly’s Red Mills Thyestes Handicap Chase were revealed yesterday morning.

THE Connollys’ Red Mills-sponsored Thyestes Handicap Chase, scheduled for Gowran Park today, has been postponed until this coming Saturday.

Mikael D’haguenet was sunk without trace in the Grade 1 Bord na Mona With Nature Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday, victory going to Realt Dubh.

Hurricane Fly is now William Hill’s outright Champion Hurdle favourite following his comprehensive defeat of old nemesis Solwhit in the paddypower.com iPhone App Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.

BIG ZEB boosted his Cheltenham prospects with a fine success in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

LEADING Irish fancies Admiral Barry and Universal Truth feature among a final field of 32 runners in thetotesport.com Cesarewitch at Newmarket tomorrow.

Leading Irish fancies Admiral Barry and Universal Truth feature among a final field of 32 runners in the totesport.com Cesarewitch at Newmarket on Saturday.

THEY say that truth is stranger than fiction and it was surely never better illustrated than by the circumstances which saw Tony McCoy pilot Finger Onthe Pulse to victory in the www.thetote.com Galway Plate yesterday.

Yesterday’s matinee meeting at Ballybrit was certainly well attended but one would wonder whether those present were in attendance to join the festivities and celebrate all that’s good about Irish racing or there out of a deep-rooted compulsion just to be there.

BOOKIES were jumping for joy in Ballybrit as a rank outsider ridden by the legendary Tony McCoy raced home to win the Galway Plate.

Tony McCoy brilliantly recorded his first victory in the www.thetote.com Galway Plate with a gutsy success aboard Finger Onthe Pulse.

Themoonandsixpence is the choice to give Willie Mullins a first ever success in the www.thetote.com Galway Plate at Ballybrit this afternoon.

IT’S nice to be back with you this morning, if only briefly, having been on the sidelines of this great game of ours since last April.

BARRY Hills was denied a fifth totesport.com Chester Cup with Tastahil as dual-purpose performer Mamlook swooped for glory on the Roodee yesterday.

Barry Hills was denied a fifth totesport.com Chester Cup with Tastahil as dual-purpose performer Mamlook swooped for glory on the Roodee.

MAJESTIC Concorde should register his second success over fences in the Martin Reilly Hyundai Steeplechase at Sligo today.

Dermot Weld quickly has completed a double at the Galway Races as Ghimaar defied top-weight in the carlton.ie/galwaycity (QR) Handicap over two miles.

GLENFINN CAPTAIN, who has enjoyed a fine campaign, can keep the momentum going by landing the Grade 3 Irish Form Book An Uaimh Chase at Navan this afternoon.

HURRICANE Fly will be sorely missed if he does not make it to Cheltenham, should Go Native’s ready victory at Naas be anything to go by.

Edward O’Grady is no clearer to deciding Catch Me’s Cheltenham Festival - despite his bloodless victory at Navan.

The Guinness Galway Hurdle is the feature race on day four of the Galway Festival in Ballybrit today.

JOHN KIELY’S Indian Pace should go close in the Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit this afternoon and gets a sporting nap vote.

Bobs Pride heads the weights in a maximum 20-strong field for the Guinness Galway Hurdle on Thursday.

“I’M a natural lightweight”, quipped Robbie McNamara, very much tongue-in-cheek, after the 19-year-old had powered Dermot Weld’s Majestic Concorde to victory in the GPT Handicap at the first stage of the Galway Festival last night.

The annual Galway Races get underway this afternoon, with thousands of spectators expected to descent on the Balybrit racecourse in the next seven days.

GENERAL ante-post favourite King Rama is a doubt for next week’s Guinness Galway Hurdle after sustaining a muscle injury at Leopardstown on Thursday night.

DENIS O’Regan hailed Ansar as a “very, very special” horse as the 12-year-old prepares for yet another Galway Festival.

Denis O’Regan hailed Ansar as a “very, very special” horse as the 12-year-old prepares for yet another Galway Festival.

A field of 16 will go to post for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

THERE is a possibility of a somewhat truncated programme at Cork this afternoon, with racing subject to a 7.30 a.m inspection.

Tony Mullins believes the prospect of good ground will boost the chance of Aranleigh in the paddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

EDWARD O’Grady and Andrew McNamara are rapidly developing into a potent combination and the duo can combine to provide us with a winning nap in the shape of Tranquil Sea in the Durkan New Homes Maiden Hurdle at Leopardsstown on St Stephen’s Day.

LILYWHITEDANCER earned a 16/1 quote, from Cashmans, for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham when making an impressive debut at Gowran Park yesterday.

Ninetieth Minute looks a good bet in the Xmas Vouchers Gowran Park Golf Shop Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park today.

Cheltenham Gold Cup third Forget The Past capitalised on a lenient timber rating by making a winning reappearance in the VCBet Hurdle over two and a half miles at Punchestown.

KEVIN PRENDERGAST’S Rio can leave a minor bout of seconditis behind by landing the Munster Maiden at Limerick this afternoon.

CONNA CASTLE rounded off an excellent campaign with a smooth success in the Laurels Bar Hurdle at Killarney last night.