David Nagle’s stable star Maarek could be in for a busy week, with tomorrow’s Midsummer Sprint at Cork a possible warm-up for a trip to Royal Ascot.

Evanna McCutcheon has built up a tremendous rapport with her own horse Long Strand of late and the pair recorded their fifth success of the season in the open lightweight at the North Kerry Harriers point-to-point fixture outside Ballybunion on Saturday.

The nominees for the 2012 Horse Racing Ireland awards were announced yesterday and includes a new category – Racecourse of the Year.

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

Mark Enright is likely to be handed the ride on William Hill Ayr Gold Cup top-weight Maarek on Saturday.

Jockey plans for the Darley July Cup have been taking shape with Ryan Moore, Luke Morris and Jimmy Fortune all being booked for the six-furlong championship at Newmarket on Saturday.

DOUBLES for champion jockey Johnny Murtagh and Niall McCullagh, along with trainer Eddie Lynam, proved the highlights of Dundalk’s first meeting of 2012 last night.

KEVIN Manning and Michael Hussey shared the riding honours when recording doubles at last night’s pre-Christmas meeting in Dundalk.

FAMOUS Name, which struggled in Group 1 company last time, bounced back to winning form when coasting to an easy six lengths victory over Jan Vermeer in the featured Group 3 Irish Daily Mail International at the Curragh last night.

FAME AND GLORY had to work a shade harder than might have been expected when emerging victorious in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan yesterday.

Fame And Glory had to work a shade harder than might have been expected when emerging victorious in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.

Positive tactics gained handsome dividends for Chris Hayes when Lechevalier Choisi claimed the opener at Navan today.

TIGER WOODS and a whole host of other US Tour players were due at Shannon Airport this morning ahead of the JP McManus pro-am at Adare Manor Golf Hotel and Resort.