Courcey Rovers 3-18 Inniscarra 0-19: Ultimately, it was Seán Twomey’s first-half hat-trick that propelled Courcey Rovers into the third round of the Cork PIHC in this proverbial game of two halves played at the pristine Ballygarvan venue yesterday.

Off the track for 714 days, Killultagh Vic landed the Free Festival Upgrade Ticket Offer Hurdle, the highlight of the New Year’s Eve card in Punchestown, writes John Ryan

"I just wish I could return to my old life. The one where the love of my life was still alive and we were expecting our first child. My life after my wife’s death has been a never-ending nightmare."

Anything but dull was the final meeting of the season at Thurles, with last-obstacle fallers, a neat gamble landed, a classy performance from a bright prospect, a mare adding further success to her cv with the breeding sheds firmly in sight, and a reversed result to wrap up proceedings.

Annie Power is the new favourite for next month’s Stan James Champion Hurdle following her comeback victory in Punchestown yesterday and news that reigning champion Faugheen has been ruled out of the race due to a suspensory injury.

Willie Mullins’ Champagne Fever made an excellent seasonal debut at Clonmel yesterday when landing the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase with the minimum of fuss.

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.

Stephen Nolan would love to run Prince Rudi in the Irish National next spring after his stable stalwart landed the feature race on the sixth day of the Galway Festival on Saturday.

Prince Rudi rolled back the years to land the feature race on the sixth day of the Galway Festival.

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

Trainer/rider Denis Hogan completed a double with odds-on favourite San Gabriel and Ocean Glandore at Ballinrobe last night.

Cillian’s Return, bought out of Bill Farrell’s by J P McManus after taking a bumper at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day, made a winning start for his new connections when easily taking the Michael Maher Building And Construction Services Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary last night.

Long odds-on favourite Briar Hill brushed aside the challenge of sole rival Azorian to land the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle in Navan yesterday.

On her first ride on the unique track, Jane Mangan partnered he Peter Fahey-trained mare Saratoga Baby to an emphatic win in the Marquees Nationwide Amateur Handicap at sunny Laytown yesterday.

Armagh went out of the All-Ireland football championship on Saturday, but Jimmy Lambe struck a blow for the county when saddling 25-1 shot Silk Hall to land the featured Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary yesterday.

The progressive Eddie Harty-trained Dressedtothenines completed a hat-trick of successes with her best win to date in the Grade 2 Keelings’ Irish Strawberry Hurdle at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Raised 10lb. for a repeat win in a handicap hurdle in Limerick over Christmas, the Eddie Harty-trained Fahamore followed-up when foiling the Willie Mullins-trained favourite Abbey Lane in the Buy Tickets On-Line Rated Hurdle in Fairyhouse yesterday.

The highly-regarded Rule The World coasted to an impressive victory in the Grade 2 Slaney Novice Hurdle in Naas yesterday as 1/4 favourite Champagne Fever flopped badly, trailing in a distant third before being found to have “a respiratory tract infection”.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh suffered a rare reversal in the Annual Membership At Naas Maiden Hurdle this afternoon as the odds-on favourite Upazo was run out of it close home by Jennies Jewel (6-1).

Hurricane Fly advanced his claims to regain his Cheltenham crown with a 13th Grade One triumph in the Istabraq Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.

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.

A major market drifter, Discoteca defied the odds when completing a hurdling hat-trick for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud in the jogforjockeys.ie Hurdle in Bellewstown yesterday.

Former champion Pat Smullen was seen at his brilliant and determined best when getting odds-on favourite Ceol Rua home a narrow winner of the Ladies Day At Ballinrobe Maiden in Ballinrobe last night.

CONDITIONS were horrendous for last evening’s truncated card at Punchestown, but the show went ahead with the Irish Daily Mirror War Of Attrition Novice Hurdle completely dominated by Willie Mullins.

Champion Irish trainer Willie Mullins dominated on a truncated run in gruelling conditions at Punchestown.

Shamiran got the better of British raider Weekend Millionair in a gruelling opening race as Punchestown’s depleted all hurdles and bumper card got under way in difficult conditions.

A matter of inches prevented Glenstal causing a sensational victory over holders Rockwell in an exciting Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup game at Clanwilliam Park, Tipperary.

Rockwell open their Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup title defence against Glenstal in Tipperary today (Clanwilliam Park, 3pm).

AT the Punchestown festival in May, Apt Approach was in front when falling at the final fence in a valuable handicap chase eventually won by Scotsirish.

THE talented Michael Winters trained Rebel Fitz lit up Cork yesterday with a fine display of front-running to land the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Novice Hurdle.

SUN Disc credited Curragh trainer Dessie Hughes with his 17th winner of the campaign when the filly won the opening maiden hurdle at Down Royal yesterday.

FREE WORLD, in the Kato Star colours of Clive Smith, gave trainer Arthur Moore his 1,100 career success when winning the Eater Towers Chase in Ballinrobe yesterday.

CORK boss Brian Cuthbert has made three changes for tomorrow night’s Munster MFC semi-final against Clare in Ennis from the team that previously defeated the Banner outfit in the first round last month.

CBC CORK coach Peter Melia had warned his side that Glenstal can’t be taken lightly anymore, and he was emphatically proved right as the Murroe school pushed his troops all the way in this Avonmore Milk Munster Senior Schools Cup quarter-final at Temple Hill yesterday.

PRESENTATION Brothers College, Cork made a positive start to the Avonmore Munster Schools Senior Cup campaign with a resounding triumph against Glenstal Abbey at the Cork Institute of Technology grounds yesterday.

TRALEE CBS’s penchant for striking goals was instrumental in a comfortable success against St Flannan’s in yesterday afternoon’s Munster Colleges Frewen Cup quarter-final in Glin.

ALAIVAN is a best-priced 8/1 favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in the wake of his impressive hurdle debut victory at Gowran Park yesterday.

TWENTY-ONE race maiden Red Rock Canyon finally opened his account when justifying odds-on favouritism in the Tote Jackpot Races 3 To 6 Maiden at Roscommon last night.

DAVY RUSSELL was seen at his strongest when driving Clan Tara to victory in the Grade 2 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

Glenstal Abbey 10 Rockwell College 3

CASEY JONES could prove the best bet, on what looks a very difficult card, in the Stoneyford Beginners Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.