An air of silence and sadness hung over the usually boisterous Ballybrit yesterday as the racing community mourned the passing of jockey John Thomas ‘JT’ McNamara.

With only one winning favourite on the seven-race programme, bookmakers got an early Christmas present at Thurles, where 20-1 chance Seabass turned back the clock when running away with the David O’Halloran Memorial Rated Novice Hurdle in the hands of Katie Walsh.

It was quite literally a life-changing moment.

John Thomas McNamara, who was paralysed in a fall at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, was in the intensive care unit of Limerick Regional Hospital last night, having been taken ill the previous day.

Robbie McNamara, first cousin of John Thomas McNamara, so tragically paralysed in a fall at the meeting a year ago, rode his first Festival winner when taking the Weatherbys’ Champion Bumper on the Dermot Weld-trained Silver Concorde.

Lawyers acting for honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani return to court today in the latest round of a legal battle against extradition.

He was there for JT’s big day with Caroline all those years ago, so there was no way he was missing JT’s big day with Jonjo yesterday.

This is my first column of the winter campaign and I have to start by talking about Limerick on Monday and an afternoon that is going to be dedicated to John Thomas McNamara and Jonjo Bright.

JT McNamara, the amateur jockey badly injured in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival, was transferred to hospital in Dublin yesterday having been treated in Bristol since March.

JT McNamara, the jockey left paralysed after a fall at the Cheltenham Festival, has been transferred to a hospital in Dublin.

Jockey Martin Ferris fits neatly into the journeyman category but today he gets a first opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream of riding in the Grand National - and make his late father proud.

I am in no way downbeat when it comes to John Thomas McNamara’s future.

Racing was the real winner, as Bobs Worth’s limitless stamina kicked in to land a decisive success in what was a fantastic Betfred Gold Cup at Cheltenham yesterday.

Barry Geraghty had retreated indoors cradling a hot cuppa and reflecting on his Gold Cup success on board Bob’s Worth when another reminder of National Hunt’s innate danger played itself out a few feet to his left.

Your heart had to go out to Jane Mangan, after she had victory dragged from her grasp in the Foxhunters yesterday.

Six-page letter from Annie MacSwiney, written from Brixton Prison on Aug 28, 1920 in regard to her brother, Terence MacSwiney.

New rules preventing demonstrators sleeping near the Houses of Parliament in London were upheld by the High Court in a landmark ruling today.

The highest court in the UK today granted permission for Julian Assange to appeal against his extradition to Sweden, where he faces sex crime allegations.

A “THANKFUL” Julian Assange has won a last chance to seek to block his extradition from Britain to Sweden, where he faces sex crime allegations.

The British High Court paved the way today for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to pursue his case against extradition to Sweden in the Supreme Court.

JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry insists there is no rush for Tony McCoy to decide which of the owner’s four entries he will ride in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

Gun battles and a bomb attack across Afghanistan killed seven Afghan security force members and 15 suspected militants, while police recaptured a district that had been taken over by the Taliban in the volatile south, officials said today.

A massive three-day battle in southern Afghanistan between Nato and Taliban militants has killed more than 100 people, including insurgents, civilians and police, Afghan officials said today.

PAT HUGHES has reported Point Barrow to be in top shape after his recent exertions as money continues to pour in for the John Smith’s Grand National hope.

Jonjo O’Neill has revealed John Smith’s Grand National regular Clan Royal will have a new partner when he has one last attempt at the Aintree spectacular.

JOHN THOMAS McNAMARA, who received widespread acclaim for his Cheltenham success on Spot Thedifference, was again seen at his strongest when winning the Garryrichard Stud Tertratema Cup yesterday on 8/1 shot Good Step.

WAR OF ATTRITION, for many the banker of the meeting for the visitors, was sunk without trace in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham yesterday.

ESPERADO, owned by Miss Grace Dorgan, and trained by Donal Dorgan in Kilworth, Co. Cork who was successful at Dawstown last Monday, chalked up another success when winning the Open Lighweight Race at the United Hunt Point To Point at Ballindenisk yesterday .

TIMMY MURPHY, fresh from a brilliant victory aboard Beef Or Salmon in the Ericsson at Leopardstown on Saturday, kept his tremendous run going when partnering Rathgar Beau to a cantering win in the Prestige Driveways Beginners ’Chase at Limerick yesterday.