Irish Grand National-winning jockey Robbie Power says that horse racing’s updated Non-Trier rule means that jockeys will be riding for punters and stewards rather than horses and their connections, and admits that riders will have to be harder than they would like and risk the futures of young horses, to avoid falling foul of the regulation.

It will be a surprise should the somewhat draconian penalties be allowed to stand, writes Pat Keane.

In-form local trainer Eric McNamara and Gordon Elliott shared the training honours in Limerick last night.

Federici proved himself on course for next week’s Punchestown Festival when coasting to an emphatic victory in the Next racing At Fairyhouse June 2nd Handicap Hurdle in Fairyhouse yesterday.

Trainer Stuart Crawford made the long journey from his Co Antrim stable worthwhile when taking the featured Imperial Call Chase with Fine Rightly at an extremely busy Mallow racecourse yesterday afternoon.

Anything but dull was the final meeting of the season at Thurles, with last-obstacle fallers, a neat gamble landed, a classy performance from a bright prospect, a mare adding further success to her cv with the breeding sheds firmly in sight, and a reversed result to wrap up proceedings.

Dual Irish champion Flat jockey Joseph O’Brien has decided not to ride at all this year and to concentrate on his new role as a trainer.

On December 31, 2014 a horse called Sadler’s Risk won over flights at Punchestown.

Colm’s Dream gave trainer Karl Thornton the biggest success of his training career when landing the €50,000 TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase, feature of yesterday’s card, om drying ground, at Leopardstown.

Trainer Tony Curran is more hopeful than confident that Irish challenger Flemenstar can win an “away game” in today’s Betfair Ascot Chase.

Without a win since landing the Grade One Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown a year ago, Gitane Du Berlais made all to capture the listed BBA Ireland Ltd Opera Hat Mares Chase in Naas yesterday.

The progressive Prince Of Scars caused an upset when landing the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday under a beautifully judged ride from Davy Russell.

Dan Skelton is considering stepping Baradari into Grade One company at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Hurricane Fly is collecting the pension. Douvan is going chasing and Jezki is injured and out for the foreseeable future so it looks like it is going to be a drab hurdling season. Think again. There will be a thousand great stories through the winter and ten of them could be here.

Identity Thief made all to land the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle in Down Royal, part of doubles for trainer Henry de Bromhead and rider Bryan Cooper and middle leg of a treble for Gigginstown House Stud.

The winter season got underway in near summery conditions, on fast ground, at Thurles yesterday afternoon and, for the third consecutive year, sprightly veteran He’llberemembered landed the featured Premier County Hurdle for trainer Paul Fahey.

The return of Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful Don Cossack is the highlight of today’s action at Punchestown, and the Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old is impossible to oppose in the Grade 3 Irish Daily Star Chase.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Sadler’s Risk belied his relative inexperience over fences when taking an eventful renewal of the Ladbrokes Munster National yesterday afternoon at Limerick racecourse.

Jockeys Paul Townend and Luke Dempsey made the headlines, for contrasting reasons, in Ballinrobe last night.

The four-day August festival at Tramore drew to a close yesterday afternoon with a series of doubles, highlighted by the second victory at the meeting for Collen Beag, who was an impressive winner here on Friday night.

Athenry highlights O’Brien five-timer

Tony Mullins followed-up his six wins at the Galway Festival when saddling Beau Et Sublime to land the Eurona BriskNet Maiden Hurdle for Gigginstown House Stud in Roscommon last night.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Sizing Platinum made a successful chasing debut and denied Barry Geraghty a win on his first day back after injury and as retained rider for J McManus when landing the Book Online At Limerickraces.ie Beginners Chase in Limerick yesterday.

While enjoying another successful week in Royal Ascot, Aidan O’Brien doubled-up with Jacobean and Loved, both ridden by Seamus Heffernan, in Limerick last night.

Tempo Mac justified hefty support to continue the tremendous form of both Gordon Elliott and Bryan Cooper in the Family Fun Evening At Clonmel Races Handicap Hurdle in Clonmel last night.

It was a night of mixed luck for trainer Gordon Elliott in Ballinrobe last night as Eshtiaal bolted-up in the Audi Ballina Handicap Hurdle, compensation following the defeat of both odds-on favourite Vercingetorix and Hostile Fire in the earlier Sheridan Electric 4-y-0 Hurdle.

On his first ride back, having been shaken in a fall at Limerick on Sunday, Paul Townend triumphed for his trainer/father Tim on Kala Brandy in the opening Ladies Free Admission This Evening Mares Maiden Hurdle in Clonmel last night.

Andrew Lynch was in sparkling form in Tramore last evening, completing a superb treble on Punch Bag, Master Appeal and Miss Peacetime.

The Jim Dreaper-trained Los Amigo has a rock-solid each-way chance in today’s Boylesports Irish Grand National.