I have a day off today, but there is National Hunt racing at Wexford and Willie’s only runner is Pont De Alma, in the bumper.

Western Boy could go for the Tote Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh on October 11 before going back over jumps following his fine effort at Leopardstown.

Colin Keane, now a clear second behind Pat Smullen in the Jockeys Championship race, provided his boss Ger Lyons with a first and last race double on Mint Chai and Chapter Seven in Bellewstown last night.

Miracle jockey Brian Toomey is set to be in action at next week’s Galway Festival after trainer Phil Kirby confirmed Kings Grey an intended runner at Ballybrit.

The Red Mills Unraced Bitch Stake series, run in conjunction with the individual track supporters’ clubs, continues be a great success, and last Friday night’s victory for Badminton Rossa, in the Youghal renewal, was further testament to that.

On a relatively quiet week on the greyhound front, it was good to hear a sponsor has been secured for the Laurels, albeit on a short-term basis. 

Tony Martin is once again likely to be the toast of punters if Quick Jack (right) can deliver for favourite-backers in the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Tony Martin-trained Quick Jack has been cut to 6-1 favourite (from 7) with the sponsors for Saturday’s Betfred Cesarewitch after standing his ground yesterday for the marathon handicap.

Peter Niven had many great times as a jockey but is just as excited for the biggest moment of his training career as he saddles the well-fancied Clever Cookie in today’s Betfred Ebor at York.

Mick Kinane has hailed Vintage Crop as an "iconic stayer" after the Melbourne Cup hero passed away at the age of 27.

Mick Kinane has hailed Vintage Crop as an “iconic stayer” after the Melbourne Cup hero passed away at the age of 27.

Charismatic owner Dr Marwan Koukash states every year that the StanJames.com Chester Cup is his ‘Derby’ and he knew from some way out he would be adding to his collection as Suegioo swooped late to deny Angel Gabrial on the Roodee.

Boylesports Hero, trained by Brendan Matthews for John Boyle, of Boylesports, ran out a most deserving winner of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial on Saturday night at Limerick, justifying favouritism in some style.

Tidal Bay heads a final field of 19 runners for tomorrow’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

The Dermot Weld-trained Voleuse De Coeurs gave Tuam-born apprentice Leigh Roche the biggest win of his career when justifying 6/1 favouritism in the Hacketts Bookmakers Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh yesterday.

Fast-improving three-year-old Seventh Sign aims to complete a four-timer in the ultra-competitive Hacketts Bookmakers Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh tomorrow.

Champion jockey-elect Richard Hughes is hoping lightning can strike twice in the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket today.

Connections of Olympiad will wait until nearer the time before making a definite decision on his participation in the Betfred Cesarewitch.

The remarkable Inis Meain, a tremendous success story over the last few months for Denis Hogan, did it again at Listowel yesterday when landing the featured Guinness Handicap.

A shock defeat for Droopys Jet and the elimination of that great old veteran Tyrur Big Mike were the major talking points last night at Shelbourne when the first eight heats in the second round of the Ladbrokes Irish Derby were run.

Luca Cumani is hoping a change of plan for Mount Athos pays dividends when the stayer lines up for the Coral Marathon at Sandown today.

How times change!

Overturn has been handed stall eight as he bids to land back-to-back victories in the StanJames.com Chester Cup on the Roodee on Wednesday.

MINSK justified favouritism in the Hacketts Bookmakers Irish Cesarewitch in impressive style at the Curragh yesterday, highlight of a superb treble for trainer John Oxx.

REIZOVIC should make a winning start to his hurdling career in the New Tote Sports Lounge Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse today.

NICKY Henderson does not spend too many afternoons at Newmarket but he has been known to grace Rowley Mile winner’s enclosure after the Betfred Cesarewitch and returns today with two live chances.

WITH the Derby now history for another year, the focus down south will now swing to the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels which will kick off at Curraheen Park on Friday night of next week.

Mark Johnston’s Fox Hunt has been allotted top weight for the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket on October 8.

Most Improved lit up a wet and miserable afternoon at Newmarket as he marked himself as a potential Classic contender in the EBF “Dutch Art” Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Maiden Stakes.

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD mare End Of The Affair outstayed her rivals to register the six win of her career in the featured boylesports.com Handicap over two miles at Dundalk yesterday.

HAVING completed an historic Cesarewitch double earlier in the year, Definate Opinion completed yet another amazing double at Dundalk last night when retaining his Boylesports Champion Stakes title in tremendous fashion.

A tilt at the Cesarewitch is on the agenda for Petara Bay following his excellent effort in Saturday‘s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

THE death has taken place of former lightweight jockey Richard Fox.

FRANKEL will next run at Royal Ascot after Henry Cecil said that the remarkable 2000 Guineas winner would not line up in the Investec Derby.

Johnny Murtagh has been booked to ride Eoin Griffin’s Chester Cup hope Admiral Barry.

It’s another very exciting week with top class open racing at many venues.

THE anticipated announcement of the new chairman of the Irish Greyhound Board didn’t materialise yesterday but word is now expected before the end of the week.

The greyhound followers in the south-east will be in upbeat mood tonight as Enniscorthy Track reopens its doors after a period of great uncertainty.

FRAN BERRY ended the 2010 turf season on a high with a spectacular 150/1 treble at Leopardstown yesterday, highlighted by the emphatic victory of three-year-old filly What A Charm in the Leopardstownm November Handicap and Luisant’s success in the listed Knockaire Stakes.

EOIN GRIFFIN feels Admiral Barry has been done no favours by a potentially uncompromising draw in the totesport.com Cesarewitch.

John Ryan has high hopes of a big run from Ocean’s Minstrel in the totesport.com Cesarewitch at Newmarket tomorrow.

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.