Gentleman Duke, trained for JP McManus by Arthur Moore, landed the inaugural running of the John Mulhern Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe’s final meeting of 2014.

It was a case of the veteran versus the baby, and no quarter was asked or given.

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.

Eight races and very moderate horses do not make Ballinrobe the most appetising of programmes this evening.

Hurricane Fly is among the six in contention for the Horse of the Year award after the nominees for the 11th annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards were announced yesterday.

Ancient Sands could bid to continue his winning streak in the Movember Handicap at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

Declaration Of War will retire to Coolmore Stud in County Tipperary after he has signed off his racing career in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday week.

Set to be crowed champion apprentice in two weeks, Cork teenager Connor King landed the October Handicap on Ancient Sands in fortuitous circumstances in Naas yesterday.

Aidan and Joseph O’Brien shared an early double with two-year-old fillies Dance With Another and Sparrow at the Curragh yesterday, a brace which brought the champion jockey’s tally to 121 domestic wins.

The Willie Mullins-trained French import Noble Inn and Gordon Elliott’s Gigginstown-owned newcomer Charcam looked two decent juvenile hurdling prospects when fighting out the finish of the Ballinrobe Members Club 2014 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle in Ballinrobe yesterday.

Appointed retained jockey for Prince Khalid Abdullah this week, James Doyle celebrated in style when guiding the Clive Brittain-trained Rizeena to victory in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

Inexperienced 7lb. claimer Thomas Doran received a massive 50-day ban following his handling of Massini’s Trap, third to The Ring Is King in the opening Paddy Smyth Memorial Maiden Hurdle in Ballinrobe last night.

Joanna Morgan believes her Britainnia Stakes hero Roca Tumu will handle a step back up in trip following his Royal Ascot success.

Narrowly denied over course and distance last Saturday, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Wilshire Boulevard opened his account at the third attempt when justifying odds-on favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms Median Auction 2-Y-0 Maiden in Navan last night.

Joseph O’Brien does not anticipate the small field posing any problems for Camelot in tomorrow’s Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

In Dubai where he saddled Lily’s Angel’s to triumph on the opening day of the 2013 Carnival in Meydan on Thursday, Ger Lyons missed seeing Machete Mark open his account — at the third attempt — in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Maiden in Dundalk last night.

Former champion apprentice Gary Carroll ended the 2012 campaign at Dundalk on a high when completing a double on Lily Of Kenmare and Shukhov last night.

Loch Garman, named after his trainer Jim Bolger’s beloved native county, proved himself an exciting prospect when making a successful debut in the Irish Tote Betting Now Available in Paddy Power Shops 2-Y-0 Maiden in Navan yesterday.

Teenager Luke Dempsey has quickly emerged as the apprentice find of the season and rode his third winner in the last ten days when the gambled-on Spirituality got up close home to foil favourite Captain Joy in the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Package Handicap in Dundalk last night.

Battle Of Marengo produced a workmanlike performance to land the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes and provide Aidan and Joseph O’Brien with the middle leg a of a treble at the Curragh yesterday

Punters enjoyed a bonanza in Ballinrobe last night as five favourites, including two odds-on shots, obliged.

Niall ‘Boots’ Madden continued his amazing run of success for owner J P McManus when Whatever It Takes landed a tidy gamble in the featured E.P.S. Pumps Handicap Hurdle in Ballinrobe last night.

Mulleady and Paul Townend, in the news after a recent outing at Roscommon, made the headlines again at Ballinrobe last night when romping to an emphatic win over Via Del Corso and disappointing favourite Chiltern Hills in the Mayo Advertiser Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Reformed character Xsquared could have earned himself a trip to the Galway Festival after his easy victory at Fairyhouse on Wednesday night.

The Michael Halford-trained Ondeafears might defy the handicapper in the featured Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Handicap in Gowran Park this evening.

Joseph O’Brien, who will be in the hot seat on favourite Camelot in Saturday’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas, proved himself in top form with a double in Dundalk last night.

Ahaaly, trained for Hamdan Al Maktoum by Kevin Prendergast, built on her promising debut run against Shebella at Limerick when romping to an impressive odds-on victory in the www.dundalkstradium.com Maiden in Dundalk last night.

Declan McDonogh doubled-up on course specialists An Saighduir and Billyford in Dundalk last night.

THE improving Charlie’s Vic gets the nod in the five-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Downpatrick this afternoon.

Back from a winter sojourn in Dubai, Moran Gra and Banna Boirche fought out the finish to the Hibernia Steel Ltd. Race at Dundalk last night, victory going to Joanna Morgan’s charge under a strong ride by apprentice Ronan Whelan.

THERE has been no racing in Ireland since last Sunday, when the offering was the all-weather at Dundalk, with the game resuming this evening at Laytown.

DAVY RUSSELL gave a masterclass of waiting in front aboard Royal Choice in the Tipperary Home Of Hurling Hurdle at Clonmel last night.

OUT of luck on Await The Dawn at York on Wednesday and set for a return to the Knavesmire today, Joseph O’Brien took the riding honours at Wexford last night, recording a last-gasp double on Snap Alam and Monte Carlo.

THE Joanna Morgan-trained Brough Academy should be worth waiting for in tonight’s bumper in Kilbeggan.

THE ‘Stars Go Racing’ programme on RTÉ 1 has been getting a good reaction and I’m glad to see that because anything that helps the profile of racing and offers an insight into the sport has to be welcomed.

WHEN Moon Dice won his maiden hurdle at Limerick a year ago trainer, Paul Flynn, described him as the best he’d ever had.

CURRAGH trainer Paul Deegan took the training honours in Wexford last night, registering a fine double with Beauty Express in the Gorey Race and following-up with Belleau in the claimer.

RTE’s new six-part reality series, in association with Horse Racing Ireland, comes to air on RTE One next Wednesday, July 20, at 8.30pm.

PAT SMULLEN was seen at his tactical best when guiding the Dermot Weld-trained Sapphire to a convincing all-the-way victory in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies race at Naas last night, highlight of a 134/1 treble for the champion jockey.

Moran Gra could be bound for Royal Ascot following a smooth success at Leopardstown on Sunday.

GITANO Hernando and Kieren Fallon swooped late to land the Group 3 Diamond Stakes at Dundalk last night and is set for a return to Group 1 action.

A day to forget for Davy Russell ended in drama as the star jockey was taken to Tralee General Hospital after suffering a bad fall at Listowel on Thursday.

BARRY GERAGHTY, hero of the Kerry National aboard Alfa Beat at Listowel on Wednesday, is one tough customer.