The College Causeway team will be anxious in advance of tomorrow’s Paddypower.com Irish Derby semi-finals at Shelbourne. A year ago their star tracker was a very strong favourite in advance of the semis but trouble down the far side saw him bid farewell to his prospects.

A massive gamble on Deutschland, in the Arthur Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit yesterday, went astray when he proved no match for the Pat Flynn-trained 20-1 shot Bahrain Storm.

The Tracey Collins-trained Arctic maintained his unbeaten record with an impressive success in the Grangecon Stud Stakes at the Curragh.

RICHARD Hannon yet again dominates the Weatherbys Super Sprint field with five of the 25 runners at Newbury today.

A HUGE crowd looks certain to pour through the stiles at Dundalk tomorrow night for one of the most anticipated races of the year, the 2009 Boylesports Dundalk International.

The Irish Greyhound Board has confirmed Anthony Spencer will be stepping down as General Manager of Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium at the end of this month.

CASHMANS Bookmakers will again be sponsoring the Laurels at Curraheen Park this year.

Clive Cox swept past his total for the whole of 2008 before summer has even officially begun as promising two-year-old Xtension headed a double on the day at Goodwood.

Lady Of The Desert made a promising debut when running out a smooth winner of the EBF ladbrokes.com Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Leicester.

DAVID Wachman believes Again is a stronger filly this season as she prepares to make her return to action in the Boylesports.com Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday.

OWNER Poilin Good is keeping her fingers crossed Delegator will handle the testing conditions as he bids for glory in the Boylesports.com Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh today.

AIDAN O’Brien is in no rush to finalise running plans as he goes in search of a third success in the Investec Derby at Epsom next month.

Arazan will miss the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas a week on Saturday due to a temperature.

SILVER Frost ran out an impressive winner of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at Longchamp yesterday.

FAME And Glory bids to confirm Ballysax Stakes form and enhance his Classic credentials in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown tomorrow.

FREE Agent has a bruised foot and will miss today’s Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes at Chester.

Golden Sword proved the sharper of Aidan O'Brien's two runners in the Virgin Money Chester Vase today as the 25-1 chance denied his stablemate and red-hot favourite Masterofthehorse on Ladies' Day at Chester.

ANY doubts about Fiveforthree staying three miles were totally dispelled when he ran away with the Grade 1 ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

SIZING Europe will attempt to end the campaign on a high in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown today.

Any doubts over Fiveforthree tackling three miles in the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle were quickly dispelled as the grey steamrollered his way home in the feature race on day three of the Punchestown Festival.

NOTRE PERE jumped and galloped his rivals silly to take the Guinness Gold Cup by a whopping 13 lengths at Punchestown last night.

MASTER MINDED was supposed to cruise through last evening’s Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown and then skip back across the Irish Sea with another €124,000 plus to his credit.

Made In Japan ended a barren run stretching back to 2004 at Cheltenham – the scene of his Triumph Hurdle victory in the very same year.

Aran Concerto further enhanced his reputation when coming out on top in a thrilling finish to the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

RECHARGE foiled Intense Focus with a game win over the Dewhurst victor in the Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial yesterday.

FOUR more winners, including a three-timer for Ruby (which he predicted in his column in these pages yesterday) left the Irish at Prestbury Park in disbelief.

WILLIE Mullins’ Sicilian Secret came in for plenty of support following a stylish piece of work after racing at Leopardstown yesterday and is now 4-1 favourite with William Hill and Cashmans for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Lightning Strike was left unchanged at 40-1 with Cashmans for the RSA Chase despite setting out his Cheltenham Festival stall with victory at Leicester.

QUEVEGA will be aimed at the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham following her impressive seasonal debut victory in the Book The Punchestown Pavilion At The Festival Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Mr Thriller made it two from two for the David Pipe yard by overcoming a howler at the second-last to take the Docker Hughes Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Fontwell.

Willie Mullins strengthened his hand in the novice hurdling department with the victory of Quiscover Fontaine at Limerick.

GOLDEN SILVER, owned by Violet and Archie O’Leary, sprang a minor surprise when landing the Grade 1 Arkle Perpetual Cup at Leopardstown yesterday.

THOMAS O’LEARY produced an extraordinary training performance to win back-to back Ellen Construction Thyestes Handicap Chases with Preists Leap at Gowran Park yesterday.

A huge ante-post gamble on Tony Martin’s Psycho was foiled by 50-1 outsider Penny’s Bill in a dramatic renewal of the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.

NEWMILL will be required to carry top weight should John Murphy let his charge take his chance in Sunday’s Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Underfoot conditions at Cheltenham in March are likely to determine whether Mikael D’Haguenet takes his chance in the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle.

CRANKY Corner might be part of Willie Mullins’ team for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham following a smooth success in the Welcome To 2009 Pro-Am Flat Race at Fairyhouse yesterday.

JUMBO Rio was given a 33/1 quote by Cashmans for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham after making a winning start to his hurdling career at Punchestown yesterday.

SUBLIMITY, the Champion Hurdle winner of 2007, showed he is far from a back number when landing the Grade 1 Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

Legendary punter JP McManus strengthened his Cheltenham Festival squad as top-class bumper prospect Sweeps Hill opened his account in the Kilternan INH Flat Race at Leopardstown.

A switch away from Kempton on St Stephen's Day provided Exotic Dancer with the chance to break through at the top level as Jonjo O’Neill’s stable star struck in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Hurricane Fly is just 7-2 with Cashmans for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle next spring after registering another Grade One prize at Leopardstown.

Hurricane Fly was labelled a “serious machine” by Willie Mullins after breezing home for a second Grade One success in the paddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Davy Russell believes there is no pressure on him as he bids to extend his 100% record to three on War Of Attrition in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.