It hasn’t been the easiest few years for Denis O’Regan but the Youghal jockey served a reminder of his undoubted talents with the winning ride on Cape Tribulation in yesterday’s Pertemps Final.

HOWARD Johnson plans to retire from training after being banned for four years yesterday by the British Horseracing Authority after being found in breach of charges relating to horse welfare and the administering of steroids to horses in his care.

Howard Johnson plans to retire from training after being banned for four years today by the British Horseracing Authority after being found in breach of charges relating to horse welfare and the administering of steroids to horses in his care.

Horse trainer Howard Johnson has had his licence revoked for four years after being found in breach of racing’s rules relating to horse welfare.

Ruby Walsh drove Big Buck’s to victory in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle at sun-kissed Cheltenham yesterday and then exclaimed “St Patrick must have been looking down on me”.

FOR a while there, it looked like War of Attrition might just pull off what would have been a heart-warming and unlikely postscript to a storied career in yesterday’s featured World Hurdle.

DENIS O’Regan is under no illusions as to the task facing Tidal Bay in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Denis O’Regan is under no illusions as to the task facing Tidal Bay in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Tidal Bay and Howard Johnson returned like ghosts from Cheltenham past to plunder the Betfair Cleeve Hurdle.

LAST YEAR’S winner Big Buck’s features among 35 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Last year’s winner Big Buck’s features among 35 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

NATIONAL Hunt Racing is mourning a jumps legend after three-time World Hurdle hero Inglis Drever died yesterday morning.

Three-time World Hurdle hero Inglis Drever has died.

LADBROKES World Hurdle hero Big Buck’s has earned a higher rating than three-time winner Inglis Drever thanks to his performance at Cheltenham last week.

KASBAH BLISS is the nap choice to strike a blow for France in the Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

FRANCOIS Doumen admits he would not swap Kasbah Bliss for any other horse as the French handler goes in search of his third success in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Ante-post favourite Kasbah Bliss leads 14 contenders for Thursday’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Barry Geraghty admits Kasbah Bliss will be hard to beat in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle but is keen to have a crack at him with Punchestowns.

IT’S amazing how much interest the traditional after-racing gallop at Leopardstown last Sunday generated.

Henry Daly was thrilled with World Hurdle aspirant Mighty Man following a pleasing workout after racing at Bangor on Wednesday.

United is in sparkling form ahead of her challenge in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Denis O’Regan was in cracking form at Ayr with a treble highlighted by imposing Cheltenham hope Quwetwo in the Blue Square Poker Novices’ Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls plundered his second big prize at Doncaster in as many weeks when I’msingingtheblues landed the williamhill.com Handicap Chase.

TONY McCOY faces an even stiffer task than was first expected as he goes in search of his 3,000th jumps winner at Sandown today after one of his three intended mounts was declared a non-runner.

Nicky Henderson’s Punchestowns will put his Ladbrokes World Hurdle credentials on the line in the Byrne Group Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Lucinda Russell was left singing the praises of her conditional jockey Campbell Gillies after the victory of Nelliedonethat at Musselburgh.

JOCKEY Denis O’Regan counts himself fortunate to have played his part in the epic story of Inglis Drever, who has been retired.

Triple World Hurdle hero Inglis Drever has been retired.

Inglis Drever and last year’s runner-up Kasbah Bliss head a total of 36 entries for the World Hurdle.

THE last four winners of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle could reoppose at the Cheltenham Festival as Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Sublimity and Katchit are among 34 possibles for this year’s renewal.

Nicky Henderson will be forced to make an about-turn with plans for Duc De Regniere, who provided the trainer with part of an extraordinary 404-1 four-timer at Newbury.

DESSIE HUGHES has decided to let Hardy Eustace take his chance in Sunday’s Bar-One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Alan King’s Blazing Bailey ran out an impressive winner of the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle to follow up his success at Aintree.

COOLDINE steps into the big league in the ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown today and gets the nap to come through with flying colours.

Kazal and Don’t Be Bitin will have Grade One targets at Punchestown as they spearhead a strong Eoin Griffin raid on the upcoming Festival.

Paul Nicholls was left kicking himself after getting the tactics wrong with Kauto Star as his ace was nailed by Our Vic in a thrilling totesport Bowl at Aintree.

BLAZING Bailey exacted his revenge on Inglis Drever as the champion stayer again failed to fire at Aintree yesterday in the John Smith’s Great Float Social Club Liverpool Hurdle.

Blinkers worked the oracle for Blazing Bailey as Alan King’s charge took the opener on the first day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

The final field for Saturday's Aintree Grand National is due to be confirmed this morning, with the Irish challenge expected to amount to a quarter of the runners.

Three-time Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever stands as a giant obstacle in the way of Lough Derg picking up more Order Of Merit points in the John Smith´s Great Float Social Club Liverpool Hurdle on Thursday.

Alan King is readying a strong team for Aintree’s upcoming three-day meeting.

Nicky Richards is likely to send a strong team to Aintree next week, with the Robert Ogden-owned Palomar among his brighter hopes.

DENIS O’REGAN will be looking to continue his recent run of big-race success when he gets the leg-up on Priests Leap in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National on Monday.

BERNADETTE Coffey went to the church in Bantry yesterday morning and lit a candle for Paddy.