Paul Nolan landed his third Guinness Galway Hurdle when Cuan Na Grai made all under super sub Paddy Flood on the fourth day of the festival meeting.

JOHNNY MURTAGH rode a masterful race from the front to guide Quinmaster to success in the inaugural running of the Tote Mile EBF Handicap, formerly the McDonogh Handicap, at Galway last night

PAUL CARBERRY, in second spot behind Ruby Walsh in the jockeys’ championship, began his afternoon at Thurles yesterday with a smooth success aboard The Screamer in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Beginners Chase, a contest run for the most part in thick fog.

THE Gerry Cully-trained Markason landed a tidy gamble in a division of the Clonee Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse yesterday, providing jockey Davy Condon with his first triumph over hurdles.

DUSTY SHEEHY, who watched in horror at Clonmel a week earlier as his clear leader Kahuna fell at the final fence, left the Tipperary track in far better form last night, after the trainer’s Rathgar Beau landed the valuable Clonmel Oil ’Chase.

TOM TAAFFE, very much looking forward to throwing down the gauntlet to Beef Or Salmon with Kicking King in Saturday’s James Nicholson at Down Royal, was on the mark at Clonmel yesterday when Man About Town justified favouritism in the John Costigan Memorial Novice Hurdle.

PAUL NOLAN, one of the up-and-coming young trainers in the country, took his second Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit yesterday when Cloone River landed a massive gamble.

LIGHT On The Broom, a faller in two of his previous four outings over fences, produced an impeccable round of jumping to land the Killinan Beginners Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Champion Hurdle favourite Rhinestone Cowboy flopped in the Bewleys Hotels December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown today as Golden Cross sprang a 66-1 shock.

BARRY GERAGHTY is set to team up with Back In Front in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday week.

DAVIDS LAD, sensationally banned for 42 days by the stewards at Naas last Sunday week, may yet contest the Aintree Grand National on April 5.

ENDA BOLGER’S Shady Lad, recent winner of a point-to-point, found plenty for Paul Carberry pressure to land the Molony Cup Handicap Chase at Thurles yesterday.

JESSICA HARRINGTON’S Mr Wong, fresh from a success over flights at Clonmel a week earlier, enjoyed a first ever victory on the level when easily taking the Raceline Maiden at Tipperary yesterday.

CLOYNE handler Andrew Lee enjoyed a welcome turn at the final stage of the Tramore Festival yesterday when Buzz Two produced a gutsy display to win the Unecol Oil Company Handicap.

IRISH racing hit a new low at Tramore yesterday when the first afternoon of the annual Festival had to be abandoned after the third race.