Colourful trainer Oliver Brady died peacefully in his sleep on Monday evening following a long battle with cancer. He was 75.

Irish trainer Oliver Brady died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening following a long battle with cancer, Horse Racing Ireland has confirmed.

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

If we saw a star of the future in action at Limerick yesterday then it was surely the Tony Martin-trained Noble Emperor in the INH Stallion Owners' EBF Maiden Hurdle.

On a day when Adrian Heskin and trainer-rider John Cullen shared the riding honours with doubles, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Sizing Codelco looked the day’s best prospect for the future when justifying odds-on favouritism in the €25 Punters Pack Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The progressive Willie Mullins-trained Arvika Ligeonniere was far too good for his five rivals in the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

Morning Assembly, winner of a Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival last April, returned to the County Kildare track to make a successful chasing debut yesterday, justifying 2/1 favouritism in the Ballymore Christmas Fair & Family Fun November Festival Beginners Chase.

The Paul Townend-ridden Pires gained a last-gasp victory in the featured Water Towers Chase in Ballinrobe, continuing the superb form of trainer Tony Martin.

Mystery surrounded an eyecatching gamble and subsequent stewards’ withdrawal of Like A Diamond in the Tote Win 24% Better Than Bookmakers SP Maiden at Ballinrobe last night after officials announced they were concerned the three-year-old was not in the care of his stated trainer.

Ruby Walsh struck for the first time at Killarney this week when Shamar followed his recent success at Cork by landing the Dawn Milk Omega Novice Hurdle before a massive crowd yesterday.

The David O’Brien-trained Ballinahow Lady (pictured) cropped up at 10-1 in the featured eight- runner Miceal Fitzgibbon Memorial EBF Mares’ Novice Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Noel Meade and Paul Carberry completed a near 110/1 double with North Star Lad and chasing debutant Dark Prospect in Downpatrick yesterday.

On a day which saw Ruby Walsh double-up on The Folkes Choice and Devil’s Elbow, the Tony Mullins-trained Clarach booked her ticket to the Guinness Galway Hurdle when coasting to a comfortable victory over the Walsh-ridden Pires in the Adare Festival Weekend Rated Hurdle in Limerick yesterday.

JIM DREAPER’S Mobile Sizer, having only a second outing and a first over jumps, took the first division of the two mile Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary last night.

WILLIE MULLINS set the opening stage of Leopardstown alight yesterday with a fine double, including Blackstairmountain in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase.

DERINLAUR opened his account over fences, at the seventh attempt, when making all under Denis Hogan to win the www.tipperaryraces.ie Beginners Chase at Tipperary yesterday.

THE Colm Murphy trained Future All Star, patiently handled by John Cullen, foiled front-running longshot Flemross to land the €50,000 Gigginstouse Houe Midlands National in Kilbeggan last night.

GOING descriptions in Ireland have long been a major bone of contention, but the topic reached a new low at Limerick last night.

RUBY WALSH pulled rank on his baby sister, Katie, at Punchestown last night when brilliant mare Quevega beat Mourad in the Grade 1 ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle.

Amateur Ciaran Murphy will remember St. Patrick’s Day 2011 for a long time, having completed a fine double on Good Egg and Shadow Eile at Down Royal.

A new collection of essays from Irish academics attempts to put our financial crisis into perspective, but there is still a palpable anger in the book over what was allowed to happen, writes Brian O’Grady

FOR BILL got her campaign back on track with an impeccable display of jumping to outclass the opposition in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Mares Beginners Chase at Thurles yesterday.

STAYING ARTICLE, runaway winner of a recent Punchestown bumper on his debut, collared odds-on favourite Rivage D’Or close home to land the Racing Again At Naas On 24th November Maiden Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

BELORD, having only a second outing for John Joe Walsh, was much too good for the opposition in the Winter Wonderland Maiden Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

STREETS OF GOLD, trained by Christy Roche for J P McManus, dug deep to land the paddypower.com Grand National at Cork yesterday.

IRISH racing, which has been dragged through the mud since the Saturday of Listowel, reached a new low at Clonmel yesterday.

Glenstal Abbey maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a ready victory in the John F. McGuire Novice Chase at Listowel.

THE report of the Limerick Local Government Committee was one of the most radical ever drawn up to overhaul dysfunctional local government in this country.

IT’S long way from Donegal to Waterford, but the trip paid off for rookie trainer, Emmet Butterly, when Cybersnow landed the Irish Racegoers’ Club Handicap Hurdle with plenty to spare at Tramore last night.

Rising star Joseph O'Brien bagged another big Galway winner as he finished with a wet sail on the Charlie Swan-trained Rajik to land the feature Guinness Handicap on the fifth day of the festival meeting.

THE Tom Mullins trained King’s Vintage ran away with the Corcorans’ Furniture and Carpets Handicap at Killarney last night.

IT’S A puzzle, a real puzzle! At Fairyhouse last month, Chris Hayes was suspended for two days, having been found guilty of careless riding, after he had won on a horse called Laldie.

FORMER Kildare senior footballer, Willie McCreery, is rapidly making a name for himself as a trainer.

PAUL CARBERRY ended a lean spell, stretching back to a double at Gowran Park on March 20, when registering a double on Cottage Oak and What’s Up Gorden at Punchestown last night.

CHARLES BYRNES struck again when Cyborg landed a substantial morning gamble in the opening Western People Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe yesterday.

NAAS Racecourse & Horse Racing Ireland will stage a novel event during the annual paddypower.com Cheltenham Trial day this Sunday.

John Cullen steps in for the injured Andrew McNamara as Preists Leap bids to land the Tendrleen Thyestes Handicap Chase for the third year running at Gowran Park tomorrow.

AVAILING of a window in his thirty-day ban, Paul Carberry guided Oscar Looby to victory in the Grade 2 Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase at Naas yesterday.

BILL HARNEY, currently hospitalised, had a welcome boost when Prairie Call landed the Cashel Mares Maiden Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

WHAT a job Willie Mullins has done with Our Monty.

IN COMPLIANCE, having his first run since December of 2007, made a stunning return in the Thurles Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Former FAS chief Rody Molloy today resigned as the face of the country’s public sector best practice institute.