Venitien De Mai and Goonyella provided Jim Dreaper and owners Ann and Alan Potts with a one-two in the €50,000 Woodlands 100 Club Leinster National, the feature race of yesterday’s action in Naas.

Not too many trainers can be chasing Cheltenham festival glory 41 years after enjoying their initial success at the meeting.

The Colin Bowe-trained Shantou Flyer denied Willie Mullins a four-timer of opening-race successes when landing some nice wagers in the opening Guinness Dublin Porter Beginners’ Chase at Galway yesterday.

Henry De Bromhead may have finished third in the day’s feature race, but the trainer’s first point of order when the 10 runners in the Queen Mother Champion Chase returned was to make for the losers’ area.

Rich Ricci is slightly favouring the chances of Pylonthepressure as he prepares to unleash a powerful team of four runners in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival today.

Debutant Sizinguptheamazon proved the star of yesterday’s action in Clonmel, turning over odds-on favourite Augustin in the bumper, the Ardfinnan Flat Race.

I was a little surprised at how much negativity there was about after Sprinter Sacre’s return at Ascot last Saturday, says Pat Keane.

Jonathan Burke has been appointed first jockey to one of the biggest owners of National Hunt horses in this country, Alan and Ann Potts, replacing Andrew Lynch.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead has revealed multiple Group One-winning chaser Sizing Europe will return to training in the coming weeks with a view to running in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park in early October.

Faugheen, over a two-mile trip believed to be well short of his best, was hugely impressive in winning the Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Willie Mullins plans to run Smashing in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

A press-room colleague texted last weekend to say that Willie Mullins, if his horses remain fit and healthy, will win 15 races at the Cheltenham festival.

I’m hoping to win my third Galway Plate this afternoon aboard Terminal for Willie Mullins.

I think today is my weakest book of rides of the week and will be delighted to get among the winners.

Jadanli prevailed in a tight finish to the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase to propel trainer Paul Gilligan back into the limelight.

One of the main reasons Ireland will travel to the Cheltenham Festival in March with a powerful team is the buying power of five major owners.

On a miserably wet afternoon for all concerned, the Pat Doyle-trained Serious Mixture lit up yesterday’s Kilkenny Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Grennan Castle outside Thomastown by recording a gallant pillar-to-post success in a competitive first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

THELEZE, who has proved a bit frustrating since arriving from France to Willie Mullins’ yard, can do the business in the Munster Supporters’ Club Mares Maiden Hurdle at Limerick this afternoon.

ANDREW Lynch, who will be re-united with two-mile champion chaser Sizing Europe when he makes his seasonal debut in today’s Group 2 feature at Gowran Park, received a timely boost when completing a double on Absolutlyfantastic and Cavita Beta at the Kilkenny track yesterday, where conditions deteriorated due to torrential rain.

ST. DEVOTE, under a strong ride from Barry Geraghty, proved best in the Grade 3 Kilbegnet Novice Chase at Roscommon yesterday.

THAT’S the beauty of Cheltenham. For every disappointment – and there were plenty yesterday, starting with Dunguib – there is a heart-warming tale to soften the blow of those worthless dockets trampled underfoot.

SIZING EUROPE finally delivered on the biggest stage of all when landing the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham yesterday.

THERE were only a few enthusiasts left in the stand ten minutes after the first race at Punchestown yesterday. Their attention was held by the activity behind the large blue screen around an apparently stricken horse which had fallen at the last fence.

Irish Champion Hurdle winner Sizing Europe is set for another winter over timber with connections having virtually ruled out a novice chase campaign.

HENRY de Bromhead admits there are days he feels like pinching himself when realising he actually trains the favourite for the Champion Hurdle, Sizing Europe.

SIZING EUROPE, regarded as very much a future chaser and marking time over flights, one suspected, jumped to the head of the Champion Hurdle betting with a stunning display in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

PADDY POWER and Cashmans have both promoted Sizing Europe to favouritism for Sunday’s AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, after yesterday’s forfeit and supplementary stage.