Horse racing trainer, John Oxx, has become involved in a planning row with a mobile phone company that plans to build a telecommunications mast in Kildare.

There’s a top and a bottom in every sport, and to suggest the top is killing the bottom in jump racing is, in my opinion, off the mark, writes Ruby Walsh.

It might be an exaggeration to say it represented a changing of the guard, but that unprecedented six-timer by Gordon Elliott at Navan last Sunday was some statement of intent.

David Wachman’s announcement this week that he is to retire from training at the end of the season, after some 20 years, encouraged one to reflect on various aspects of this great game.

Jockey Chris Hayes feels Sole Power has a good chance of breaking his Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye hoodoo should conditions continue to dry out at Longchamp.

Thierry Jarnet has dismissed claims from Golden Horn’s owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer that his star colt could beat Treve “easily” in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The Game Changer, trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Gordon Elliott, registered his fourth success over fences when getting the better of favourite Sizing Platinum in the Grade 3 Kilbegnet Novice Chase, the highlight of Roscommon’s final meeting of 2015.

Trainer Patrick Prendergast introduced a very promising filly, Queen Blossom, to make a winning debut in the median auction maiden on yesterday’s seven-race card at Cork.

In My Pocket can take the closing race for the in-form stable of John Oxx. The three-year-old colt made his debut at Navan back in April, and stayed on well to beat Cenotaph by more than two lengths. He wasn’t seen again until last month at Cork, where he reappeared to contest a listed race.

Rupert Lamb put previous frustrating runs over hurdles behind him with a very smart display in the featured Download The Free Racing Post Mobile App Handicap Hurdle last night at Killarney last night.

The progressive Algonquin completed a four-timer with a typically gamebattling display in the listed Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes last night at Killarney last night.

Easter, ridden by Seamus Heffernan, captured the listed Hurry Harriet Stakes in Gowran Park last night, completing a double for Aidan O’Brien.

Aidan O’Brien holds very strong claims in six of the seven races at Leopardstown this evening, and his The Crewmaster earns the nap selection to take the ten-furlong Bulmers Live Leopardstown Maiden.

On a very tough card at Sligo, Berlios can land the nap in the Ladies’ Day at Sligo 6th August Nursery.

The progressive, Aidan O’Brien-trained Fields Of Athenry proved a hugely impressive winner of the listed Challenge Stakes as continuous rain turned the ground yielding to soft in Leopardstown last night.

A little ‘Kerry drizzle’ accommodated a presidential opening to proceedings on day two at Killarney, as Aimhirgin Lass excelled in the prevailing conditions to earn her maiden victory.

Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning followed-up Wednesday’s treble in Naas with a double in Leopardstown last night, highlighted by the impressive victory of Sanus Per Aquam in the Racecourse Of The Year 2-Y-0 Race.

Successful off 75 in a handicap on this card last year (middle leg of a five-time in handicaps) and now rated 108, the Andy Oliver-trained Panama Hat landed the listed Lenabane Stakes in Roscommon last night under an inspired ride by Chris Hayes.

Ger Lyons is looking to the future with Ainippe after she relished the step up to seven furlongs to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Colm O’Donoghue, who hopes to team-up with his Investec Oaks winning mount Qualify in Saturday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, struck again when partnering Outstanding to win the listed Oaks Trial in Naas last night.

Curragh trainer Darren Bunyan is enjoying a fine strike-rate with his small string and introduced a promising filly — Enchanteresse — to land a significant gamble in the median auction maiden in Fairyhouse last night.

On his first ride back, having been shaken in a fall at Limerick on Sunday, Paul Townend triumphed for his trainer/father Tim on Kala Brandy in the opening Ladies Free Admission This Evening Mares Maiden Hurdle in Clonmel last night.

Greyscape will be strongly fancied to get off the mark at his third attempt in today’s opener in Cork, the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Auction Maiden.

Fascinating Rock might be capable of conceding weight to his six rivals in the listed Heritage Stakes on Student Race Day in Leopardstown tonight.

John Oxx might strike with his first runner of 2015, Pour Deux, in tonight’s finale in Dundalk.

Chances are that, like the vast majority of those who delve into the sports page for a daily dose of sustenance, your annual digression into the world of horse racing has come and gone in the past week.

If the betting firms are to be believed then this year’s Cheltenham Festival could well be the one which sees John Ferguson break his duck and saddle his first winner at the iconic meeting, writes Graham Clark.

Frankie Dettori shone in Qatar yesterday as Dubday landed the Emir’s Trophy, the highlight for thoroughbreds at the three-day HH The Emir International Equestrian Sword Festival.

TODAY 

Dolce N Karama, having a 13th outing, can finally get lucky and enjoy a belated turn in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey And Trainer Championship Rated Race at Dundalk tonight.

John Oxx will not look back on 2014 with any great relish, but he might provide the bet of the night at Dundalk with Kadayma in the concluding mile and a half maiden.

Brilliant bumper horse Shaneshill makes his eagerly-awaited debut over jumps in the Membership 2015 Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon and is hard to oppose.

Ask Dad, whose two previous wins were achieved for Richard Hannon back in 2012, landed a significant morning gamble when bolting up in the six-furlong Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Handicap for trainer Damien English and his father Joe at Dundalk last night.

Kevin Prendergast’s Sharaasa can land the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden at Dundalk tonight.

Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was.