Recently back from a stint in Japan, Shane Foley celebrated his 28th birthday in style when completing a double on Russian Soul and Hat Alnasar for his boss Michael Halford in Dundalk last night.

Well-backed all day and sent off 11/10 favourite, Love Potion made a successful debut for J P McManus and David Wachman in the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden in wet and windy Dundalk last night.

Seamus Heffernan enjoyed a welcome change of luck when doubling-up on favourites Façade and Tithonus in Dundalk last night.

The David Griffiths-trained Take Cover bounced back from a below par run in the Abbaye at Longchamp last time when landing the listed Mercury Stakes in Dundalk last night.

Trainer Patrick Prendergast introduced a very promising filly, Queen Blossom, to make a winning debut in the median auction maiden on yesterday’s seven-race card at Cork.

“We’ll leave Kerry happy now,” said in-form trainer Willie McCreery, following the victory of Fact Or Folklore in the featured Guinness Premier Handicap on day four of the Listowel Festival.

John Cullen recorded his first success as a full-time trainer when landing yesterday’s feature race, the €36,000-to-the-winner Ladbrokes Island Handicap Hurdle with the game Misty Lady.

Robbie Downey, chasing 2013 champion Connor King in the race for the apprentice title, rode out his 5lb. claim when partnering Go Kart to a convincing win in the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden at Down Royal yesterday.

There’s a decent card this evening at Down Royal, where Anania can earn reward for three very good efforts by taking the opening maiden, over five furlongs.

Fran Berry starred with a big-race double on Hint Of A Tint and Bocca Baciata at the Curragh yesterday.

Trainer Michael Halford took the honours when saddling a mixed double, with Shamash and Shadagann in Sligo last night.

Easter, ridden by Seamus Heffernan, captured the listed Hurry Harriet Stakes in Gowran Park last night, completing a double for Aidan O’Brien.

The stoutly-bred Herald The Dawn looks bound for bigger and better things after opening his account in style in at Naas yesterday.

The sun was a non-runner on a dank summer’s day in Ballybrit, but a colourful Mad Hatters competition lit up the final instalment of Galway Race Week.

Dermot Weld was the Galway Festival’s top trainer for the 29th time in the last 30 years. He had five winners, while Willie Mullins trained eight winners and Tony Martin saddled six.

Fresh from his Galway Hurdle exploits, trainer Tony Martin dominated day five at the Galway Festival, recording a near 144-1 treble with Vive La France, Tudor City and Dark Crusader.

Surprisingly, the only winning favourite on day five of the Galway Festival came in the ultra-competitive Arthur Guinness Handicap, but it was no shock to punters who backed the Tony Martin-trained Tudor City down from a high of 7-1, to a starting price of 5-2. There were a couple of anxious seconds before he prevailed in the cool hands of Fran Berry.

Letters Of Note, trained by Michael O’Callaghan for Pearl Bloodstock, proved a narrow winner of the listed Yeomanstown Stud Dark Angel Stakes in Naas last night.

Marshall Jennings can earn a first victory since his switch to Jessica Harrington, by taking the www.thetote.com handicap at Ballinrobe tonight.

Erlkonig benefited from a patient and well-executed ride from Danny Mullins when causing a 16-1 upset in the Bunkers Bar and Restaurant Killorglin Handicap Hurdle on day three at Killarney.

The David Wachman-trained Off Limits returned to her best with an impressive victory in the listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes on day one of Killarney’s July festival.

Ger Lyons is looking to the future with Ainippe after she relished the step up to seven furlongs to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Beaten by Tanava on her debut, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Minding impressed when landing the two-year-old fillies maiden in Leopardstown last night.

The in foal Oceania Queen, trained by Pat Martin for his mother-in-law Nuala Brennan, captured the €22,500 Vaughanshoes.ie European Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap, feature of last night’s action in Ballinrobe.

In top form in Royal Ascot during the week, seven-times champion Pat Smullen partnered favourite Laviniad to a convincing victory in the featured www.gowranpark.ie Handicap in Gowran Park yesterday.

Off the track for almost a year, since making an impressive debut at the Curragh, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Words captured the Group 3 Munster Oaks, feature of yesterday’s action in Cork.

Tamadhor gave Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas form a boost when landing the Book Tickets On-Line @fairyhouse.ie Race for Kevin Prendergast and Chris Hayes in Fairyhouse last night.

Wicklow Brave proved himself on course for the marathon Queen Alexandra Stakes in Royal Ascot when recording an effortless, odds-on victory in the Bryan MacMahon Amateur Race, yesterday’s finale in Listowel.

Pleascach is set for the Irish Derby after repelling hot favourite Found to claim Classic glory in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh yesterday.

The Dermot Weld-trained Kaleefa earned a valuable winning bracket when justifying 5/6 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden in Roscommon last night.

Colin Keane proved the hero in sunny Killarney last night, registering the third treble of his career on board Bertie Le Belge and Sacrificial for his boss Ger Lyons and following-up on Paul Flynn’s Jackie Ellis.

Highly Toxic must be strongly-fancied to give trainer Pat Flynn his first success of 2015 in the Fethard Maiden in Clonmel.

Great Minds showed the benefit of his recent return at the Curragh when running out an easy winner of the Listed Cork Stakes at Mallow yesterday.

Convergence captured the listed Patton Stakes for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane in Dundalk last night, denying favourite War Envoy, Ryan Moore’s first ride on the track, by a length.

Progressive grey Togoville struck again for Georgios Pakidis and Gary Carroll in the featured At The Races Price Rush On Facebook Handicap as Dundalk’s winter season closed last night.

It was a night to remember for apprentice David Simmonson in Dundalk last night as he registered his first win since April 2013 on board top-weight Have A Nice Day in the seven-furlong Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap. 

I have been asked several times of late, by a number of punters, as to why there is such a lack of racing for much of December, on the lead-in to Christmas.

The Andy Oliver-trained debutant Vitally Important looked a smart prospect when bolting-up in the Dundalk Stadium – Light Up Your Night Maiden in Dundalk last night.

Solomon Northup sets a decent standard in the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden in Dundalk tonight.