The Flat season is not long under way but already, Mark Gallagher is making a claim to providing one of the outstanding narratives of the campaign.

For the third consecutive year, the fifth time in the last 10 runnings, and a record ninth time in total, the familiar green and gold colours of JP McManus were carried to victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Owner Philip Reynolds is “counting down the days” to the Cheltenham Festival as he eyes Magners Gold Cup glory with Presenting Percy.

That was an interesting feature, written by Daragh Ó Conchúir, on trainer Tom Mullins, in last Saturday’s Irish Field.

Irish riders netted three-star Grand Prix victories on both sides of the Atlantic at the weekend, with Paul O’Shea scoring in Tryon, North Carolina, and Darragh Kenny coming out on top at Montpellier in France.

Twenty-three years ago, Limerick jockey Declan Murphy’s skull was so badly fractured in a fall at Haydock Park that his death was confirmed by the Racing Post. Prematurely as it happened, writes Colm Greaves.

It has gone down in racing history as one of the most unlikely yet successful comebacks, and it all started at Tipperary.

It’s rarely mentioned now, but Ruby Walsh’s first ride at the Cheltenham Festival wasn’t exactly smooth.

Former Government press secretary Frank Dunlop has made a near €430,000 tax settlement with the Revenue Commissioners, it emerged yesterday.

The Game Changer has been a revelation since embarking on his chasing career and will be strongly-fancied to complete a hat-trick over the bigger obstacles in the Stena Line Horizon Chase in Wexford tonight.

There’s plenty to be learned from the races, and here are three nuggets Tuesday’s Cheltenham fixtures taught us.

Venitien de Mai, a long way removed from being the fastest horse in training, is fancied to grind it out and land the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.

Charlie Swan expects Ruby Walsh to desert Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, despite his historic fifth victory in the Irish equivalent on Sunday.

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

Annie Power tops a list of 48 entries for the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle which will be run as a Grade One contest for the first time at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Charlie Swan is to retire from the training ranks at the end of this month.

The Charlie Swan-trained Make A Track made all under Brian Cawley to turn over even money favourite Noble Endeavor in the Clonmel Rated Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

John Oxx will not look back on 2014 with any great relish, but he might provide the bet of the night at Dundalk with Kadayma in the concluding mile and a half maiden.

A sparkling reappearance from Ladbrokes Ireland Fortria Chase winner Twinlight was the highlight of trebles for the formidable combination of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh at Navan yesterday.

One of the more interesting horses in training right now is Willie Mullins’ Clondaw Warrrior.

It was Donnacha’s day at Dundalk yesterday as Aidan O’Brien’s younger son registered his first success in the saddle when producing odds-on favourite Quartz with a well-timed late challenge to foil Duchess Andorra by a half-length in the Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Maiden.

Versatile veteran Fosters Cross proved, again, that he retains plenty of his ability when landing the featured Donal Downes Water Towers Chase in Ballinrobe last night.

"You wouldn’t have given him a better ride than that yourself," quipped course commentator Dessie Scahill to Charlie Swan in the winner’s enclosure, after Jonathan Burke had partnered the trainer’s The Game Change to land the featured Download The Free Racing Post Mobile App Handicap Hurdle at Killarney last night.

Grandma Dotty, dashingly ridden by Fran Berry, turned over hot-pot Clondaw Warrior in the Sean Cleary Memorial Handicap in Roscommon last night.

Six days after his Galway Plate success with Road To Riches, Noel Meade saddled first and second in last night’s Roscommon GAA/Club Rossie Beginners Chase in Roscommon last night as Bose Ikard registered a smooth success over Please Talk.

An enterprising, front-running ride by Brian Cawley saw the versatile Rodriguez land the featured Leo Dolan Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Roscommon last night.

Tom Gibney, who won the 2012 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse with Lion Na Bearnai, was on the mark at Limerick yesterday when the consistent Circe’s Island landed the Follow Us On Twitter Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.

Aerlite Supreme gained a gutsy win over the flattering Usa in the featured P & D Lydon Plant Hire Rated Hurdle in Ballinrobe yesterday, completing a double for trainer Michael Hourigan and Adrian Heskin.

Veteran trainer Bill Harney can enjoy a turn with Bonzo Bing in the Lisronagh Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel this afternoon.

Willie Mullins further strengthened his formidable hand for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next month as Killultagh Vic produced a scintillating display at Naas yesterday.

DAVID CASEY is one of Ireland’s top jump jockeys. He has won a string of races and titles, including the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

Crabbie’s Grand National entry Goonyella is to have his first start of the year in Thursday’s Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.

Dunguib is all set for a return to Cheltenham after a heartwarming victory in the Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle at Navan yesterday almost three years to the day since his last win.

Bryan Cooper rode his first ever winner for Willie Mullins when guiding Gigginstown House Stud’s Don Poli to victory in the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

The Eoin Doyle-trained Mazuri Cowboy proved a shock and fortunate winner of a dramatic Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

Charlie Swan is in no rush to commit The Game Changer to future targets following his impressive display at Punchestown on Sunday.

It’s a busy weekend for Willie Mullins’ stable, with runners at four meetings, including this afternoon at Aintree, but I’m staying at home to ride at Navan, where the exciting Faugheen and Felix Yonger hold very strong claims.

Rubi Ball, the winner of 16 races in his native France, made a less than auspicious start in this country when going under by a head to Foildubh in the Rock Of Cashel Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.