Richard Johnson has been booked by the Grand National-winning team of Sue and Harvey Smith for Hennessy Gold Cup contender Cloudy Too.

Irish interests in the 23-strong field for Saturday’s hugely prestigious Hennessy Gold Cupstaying handicap at Newbury are spiked by the likely participation of last season’s RSA Chase winner Lord Windermere, who represents the Jim Culloty team.

Eoin O’Sullivan (17) will treasure fond memories of yesterday’s Kilkenny Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Grennan Castle outside Thomastown as he partnered his initial career winner aboard his father Eugene’s The Hollinwell in the open lightweight.

Auroras Encore could bid to emulate the legendary Red Rum by attempting to complete a rare National double in the same season.

Bookmakers were celebrating in the Aintree sunshine as Auroras Encore silenced the majority of the packed grandstands with a 66-1 success in the John Smith’s Grand National.

Trainer Sue Smith reports Auroras Encore to be "unbelievably well" the morning after his glorious triumph in the John Smith's Grand National yesterday.

Sue Smith became only the third female in history to train the winner of the John Smith’s Grand National as 66-1 outsider Auroras Encore claimed the Aintree spectacular.

Brian Ellison enjoyed a bumper pay-day when winning two big Betfair-sponsored prizes with cast-offs Sound Accord and Hada Men at Haydock.

SEEMS they were jumpier than Harvey Smith listening to Van Halen yesterday morning at Fine Gael HQ.

HEDGEHUNTER is a general 4-1 favourite with the English firms, although Irish bookmakers Cashmans and Paddy Power buck the trend with a 5-1 offer, to land back-to-back runnings of the John Smith’s Grand National after heading the list of 84 horses left in the Aintree spectacular at the five-day confirmation stage.

Boulders Beach has justified odds-on favouritism in the Kelso Members "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.

Irish racing may have a new training hero before Cheltenham is over. John Murphy may not be a well known name outside the racing fraternity, but Declan Colley says that could change in today’s Queen Mother Champion Chase with Newmill.

Ginger McCain’s runners have hit a rich vein of form since the turn of the year and the Aintree legend kept up the good work with a 25-1 double thanks to wins from Vicario and West Hill at Sedgefield on Monday.

Jessica Kuerten will be the second last to compete in this evening's individual show jumping final at Athens' Markopoulo centre after a stunning clear round on ten-year-old mare Castle Forbes Maike earlier.

THE problem about being given a goat in Africa is getting it home.

THERE’S something odd about this Munster odyssey. It may not have the fairytale ending we’re all waiting for.

Sue and Harvey Smith certainly have an eye for a bargain and they completed a double at Kelso today with Royal Emperor and Cill Churnain, who between them cost less than 6,000gns.

THE memories will come galloping back at the Green Glens of Millstreet over the next four days as 30 years of the celebrated horse show are marked.

The row caused by plans to allow the Taoiseach spend less time answering Dáil questioning is continuing.