Punchestown may be the focus of attention right now but the spate of serious injuries suffered by jockeys recently is exercising the minds of the experienced pilots in the Weigh Room.

AP McCoy calls time on the most successful career in the history of jump racing today and I would have made sure I was in Sandown for it to join in on the celebrations, whether I had a ride or not, writes Ruby Walsh

Davy Condon insists he feels “very lucky” despite being forced to retire from the saddle due to a spinal injury.

On an evening when Mikey Fogarty was concussed and sustained an injury to his right knee in a fall before being removed to nearby South Tipperary General Hospital, the Tom Taaffe-trained Gold Bullet landed the featured Suir Valley Chase in Clonmel.

Riverside City swooped late to foil top-weight Man From Van in the featured Toals Bookmakers Ulster Grad National in Downpatrick yesterday, providing the highlight of a double for Gordon Elliott and Davy Condon.

The going was decidedly more firm than Cheltenham and the Cotswolds course will never present the challenge of newly-laid main drainage overlay, but the on-street battle for glory that is Youghal’s Donkey Derby had punters in East Cork smiling last night.

Having conquered the slopes of Cheltenham, some of Ireland’s top jockeys will face the streets of Youghal in east Cork on Friday when they go to post for the town’s fourth annual donkey derby.

It’s four years since Gavin Sheehan left Ireland to try his hand abroad and yesterday’s triumph in the World Hurdle on Cole Harden is proof that the grass can actually be greener on the other side, writes Brendan O’Brien.

Jim Dreaper plans to target Los Amigos at the Irish Grand National after the eight-year-old made a triumphant return following a 328-day absence at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Versatile veteran He’llberemembered, ridden by Jonathan Burke, was awarded the featured Free Festival Upgrade Ticket Offer Hurdle in bizarre circumstances in Punchestown yesterday.

The Edward O’Grady-trained Kitten Rock oozed class as he justified 4/5 favouritism in the listed Irish Independent Hurdle, feature of yesterday’s action in Limerick.

It really is silly season in Britain, with all sorts of people calling for horses to be disqualified should the winning jockey transgress the whip rules.

The contentious issue of the whip reared its head again after a pulsating finish to The Ladbroke at Ascot.

Davy Condon has decided not to appeal against the 15-day suspension and £3,150 fine handed to him by the Ascot stewards on Saturday.

Davy Condon is nearing a return to competitive action after riding out on Wednesday morning for the first time since suffering a heavy fall at Cork in August.

Cheltenham Festival-winning rider Davy Condon, who fractured three vertebrae in the middle of his back in a fall at Cork in August, has been given the green light to return to the saddle from the middle of this month.

Jonathan Burke made the perfect start in his new role as Alan and Ann Potts’ retained jockey when partnering the Henry de Bromhead-trained Loosen My Load to a convincing win in the Ryans Cleaning Chase in Galway yesterday.

Noel Meade is set to make plans for the Kerry National nearer to the big Listowel event.

Desertmore Stream survived a blunder at the second last flight to land the Kilbeggan Patrons Club Hurdle at Kilbeggan’s final meeting of 2014 last night, providing trainer Philip Fenton with a timely boost and giving jockey Brian O’Connell the second leg of a near 40/1 double.

Gordon Elliott’s admirably consistent Clara Mc Cloud can land the Patrons’ Club Hurdle at Kilbeggan tonight.

Davy Condon is waiting to be discharged from Cork University Hospital as he continues to make progress following his heavy fall at the local track on Sunday.

Henry de Bromhead’s Darwins Fox made virtually all of the running to land the J P McManus Rated Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

Galway Plate hero Shane Shortall continued in top form when registering a double on Cassells Rock and Point Of Rescue in Bellewstown last night but also incurred a two-day whip ban.

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

Shutter Island got up late on to land the most valuable race on Ballinrobe’s card, the E. P. S. Pumps Handicap Hurdle 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.

Gordon Elliott tells Caroline Whelan that he’s really looking forward to next week’s Galway Festival…

Paul Carberry stole the show again on the final day of Bellewstown’s three-day July Meeting, completing a fine double on Quarton and Aranhill Chief.

Paul Carberry was seen at his patient and masterful best on board Xsquared in the featured Fast Shipping Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle last night.

A fledgling jockey from a racing heartland on the Cork-Waterford border is making waves within the Irish National Hunt racing scene.

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.

Pageboy, ridden by Paul Townend, gave trainer David Wachman his first chase success in almost eight years (since Manjoe won at Navan in June 2006) when landing the Free Admission For Under 18’s At All Meetings Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse last evening.

Gordon Elliott’s Toner D’Oudairies justified favouritism with a game display to land the Grade 3 Imperial Call Chase before a more than satisfactory attendance in excess of 6,000 at Cork yesterday.

Gordon Elliott’s consistent Toner D’Oudairies benefited from a power-packed Davy Condon ride to steal the Imperial Call Chase at Cork from under the nose of Noble Prince.

If we saw a star of the future in action at Limerick yesterday then it was surely the Tony Martin-trained Noble Emperor in the INH Stallion Owners' EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Gold Cup hero and triple- winning Cheltenham jockey Davy Russell swapped the sweeping Cotswolds for a street circuit and the pandemonium of a donkey derby in his native Youghal last night.

Caoimhe’s Delight gave trainer, Sean O’Brien, his first success in graded company when landing the Grade 2 INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Dawn Run Mares’ Novice Chase at Limerick yesterday.

Exciting chasing prospects Defy Logic and Don Cossack should make a successful start to their careers over the larger obstacles in Naas and Galway respectively today.

Toner D’Oudairies upstaged fellow Gigginstown-owned performers Roi Do Mee and First Lieutenant in the Grade 3 Star Chase in Punchestown yesterday.

The John McConnell trained Orgilgo Bay made a highly encouraging debut over hurdles when turning over odds-on favourite Clarcam in the Go Racing In Kildare 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle when Punchestown began its winter season yesterday.

Gordon Elliot’s Bayan justified favouritism with a game display in the featured Races Supporters’ Club Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel yesterday.

Mikey Fogarty, who recently relinquished his amateur status, has certainly made a cracking start as a professional.

The Mullins brothers, Tony and Willie, and cousins, Danny and Emmet, were on the mark with Sam Da Vinci and Dr.Schultz respectively at yesterday’s Bank Holiday meeting in Downpatriclk.

Charles Byrnes’ Domination toyed with the opposition on the way to landing the featured J P McManus Hurdle at Cork yesterday.