After a game and well-deserved success in last night’s feature, the Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders’ Handicap, the Jessica Harrington-trained Modem will bid to emulate Athy Spirit (1990) and Try A Brandy (1988) by adding Thursday’s Galway Hurdle to his spoils.

William Buick expects the Curragh course to suit hot favourite Jack Hobbs in Saturday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Andrew Balding is in bullish mood as Elm Park bids to provide the trainer with a first domestic Group One victory in over a decade in this afternoon’s Racing Post Trophy (3.50 Doncaster).

James Nash reports his Guinness Kerry National hero Your Busy to be in flying form following Wednesday’s big-race success and is looking forward to further glory over the big fences at Aintree.

Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen struck again when Carla Bianca landed the featured Naas Oaks Trial in Naas last night.

Karezak should give John Oxx and Declan McDonogh a pre-Epsom boost by landing the Follow Tipperary Races Median Auction Maiden on tonight’s mixed card in Tipperary.

John Gosden has expressed his delight with Kingman as the colt attempts to step up on his Newmarket second in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh today.

We learned plenty at the Curragh last Sunday.

An impressive all-the-way win for Oklahoma City proved the highlight of a spectacular 191/1 five-timer for Aidan O’Brien in Naas last night, four of his winners ridden by his son Joseph and the fifth by his younger daughter Ana.

Sacred Aspect is set to tackle the minimum trip for the first time in search of a Listed success at Tipperary on Saturday.

Van Der Neer and Just The Judge will be strongly fancied to uphold English Guineas form in the Irish equivalents at the Curragh this weekend.

Voler La Vedette will face four opponents as she bids to repeat last year’s victory in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse tomorrow.

Dessie Hughes is hoping Magnanimity can gain a confidence-boosting success at Thurles a week on Thursday before stepping him back up in grade.

Back In Focus, formerly in the care of Howard Johnson and having a second outing for Willie Mullins, made an excellent debut over fences in the Kevin McManus Beginners Chase at Listowel yesterday.

Troubled TD Michael Lowry could soon have a million reasons to celebrate after an unlikely gamble on the horses paid off.

Count Of Limonade should make it third-time-lucky in the opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden in Roscommon this evening.

Curragh general manager Paul Hensey believes the first ever Irish Derby to take place on a Saturday evening has to go down as a big success.

Aidan O’Brien has hailed Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby favourite Camelot as “unique” as he bids to conquer unfavourable ground and maintain his unbeaten record at the Curragh on Saturday.

Local riders Davy Condon and Paul Townend shared the honours with doubles in Tramore last night.

Henry Cecil is confident Frankel is fit enough to do himself justice ahead of his return to action in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Dermot Weld’s sole Festival success came in the Triumph Hurdle in 1990 with Rare Holiday, but the Master of Rosewell House played down the win claims of his runner Hisaabaat, who won the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, in today’s renewal.

Rock Jock could be York bound after landing a well-deserved success in a Listed race at Chester on Sunday.

Henry Cecil believes Midday is a better horse this year as she attempts to win the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood for a third successive season.

NEXT year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be run on a Saturday (June 30) for the first time since 1987.

BANIMPIRE, beaten a short head by Blue Bunting in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday, could join the star line-up for the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on July 30.

Ed Dunlop is confident Native Khan can improve on his promising fifth in the Derby at Epsom when he goes for glory in Sunday’s Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Irish equivalent.

BARACK gave veteran Curragh trainer Frank Ennis his first success of the season when gaining a narrow victory over Duff in the listed Glencairn Stakes, feature of last night’s action at Leopardstown.

John Oxx expects to have two runners in the Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 22.

JOHN OXX is to allow Zanughan to take his chance in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 8 following a cosy victory on Sunday.

Arctic could return to France in November, granted suitable ground conditions, following a fine comeback run at Longchamp on Sunday.

PAT QUINLAN has suffered many disappointments in his 14 years representing Portumna in various inter-club competitions, so it was all the sweeter for the man from Ballinderry in North Tipperary that he should clinch their first Bulmers Irish Junior Cup triumph at Castlebar yesterday.

MICK Halford will wait to see what ground conditions are like before deciding which of his two representatives will run in the Goffs Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

Mick Halford will wait to see what ground conditions are like before deciding which of his two representatives will run in the Goffs Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

Last year’s Portland handicap winner Santo Padre is in the minority of the Irish-trained runners attempting to keep Sunday’s Goffs Flying Five Stakes on home soil.

VERY soft ground could scupper Yeats’ appearance in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh on September 12.

Three players sharing the lead after the opening round of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Bangor Golf Club today.

TONY MULLINS, who has been finding winners hard to come by, got back to the big-time at Ballybrit last night when Rock And Roll Kid, partnered by his son, Danny, strode to victory in the featured Tote Galway Mile EBF Handicap.

A warm Friday and a positive weather forecast provided hope for the organisers of Sunday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby that Sea The Stars will be among the line-up.

Godolphin are in no rush to make definite plans for Flying Cloud following her runaway success in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday.

Delegator could bid for Classic compensation in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.

RIGHT then, hands up anyone else who is seriously underwhelmed by the prospect of the forthcoming flat season.

LEINSTER include the three outstanding players of the amateur season so far — Shane Lowry, Niall Kearney and Paul O’Hanlon — in their side for the Interprovincial Championship getting under way at Athlone tomorrow.

Regime will bid to enhance his Curragh record when lining up in Saturday’s Keeneland International Stakes.