On Saturday afternoon Leopardstown hosted an Irish Gold Cup meeting which threw many Cheltenham markets into complete disarray.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Sadler’s Risk belied his relative inexperience over fences when taking an eventful renewal of the Ladbrokes Munster National yesterday afternoon at Limerick racecourse.

Trainer Pat Fahy topped and tailed yesterday’s meeting at Clonmel with the victories for Eyes Of A Tiger and Ten Times Better, while their respective riders, Ruby and Katie Walsh, helped record a memorable day for the Walsh family as their father, Ted, was also on the mark, with Old Castletown.

The stars were out in force in Limerick at the weekend, attending a lavish retirement party for legendary jockey AP McCoy.

Leading Irish jockey Mark Walsh has been taken to hospital for X-rays after suffering an arm injury in a nasty fall at Thurles.

McKinley tore up the script as he floored his Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Tell Us More to cause a big upset in the Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

Mark Walsh has been lined up to ride Jezki in Sunday’s StanJames.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in the event Barry Geraghty is unavailable.

Jamie Spencer could bring the curtain down on his glittering riding career in Hong Kong next month.

Noel Meade is excited to see Apache Stronghold make his chasing debut in the Porter & Co Beginners Chase at Down Royal today.

Ante-post favourite Thomas Edison heads owner JP McManus’ assault on the Guinness Galway Hurdle at the Ballybrit track on Thursday.

A massive gamble went astray on Willie Mullins’ Annie Power, after the mare failed to get to grips with Jonjo O’Neill’s More Of That, brilliantly ridden by Barry Geraghty, in the Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday.

After a thrilling opening day at the Cheltenham Festival, today offers another feast of racing to look forward to.

Trainer Dessie Hughes is likely to run Lyreen Legend in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup rather than in the Ryanair Chase.

Nicky Henderson has pinpointed Silviniaco Conti and Last Instalment as dangers to Bobs Worth when his star bids to retain his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup crown next month.

Johns Spirit provided Richie McLernon with the biggest success of his career by gamely clinging on to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Trainer David Pipe admits Ballynagour is a “hard horse to predict” ahead of the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham today.

Jezki is back at trainer Jessica Harrington’s County Kildare base ahead of the new jumps season and a campaign that could lead to the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Two former champion hurdlers are set to clash at Leopardstown on Sunday, with Hurricane Fly and Binocular amongst six remaining possible runners in the BHP Irish Champion Hurdle.

Edward Harty saddles the JP McManus-owned Princeton Plains, who was last seen going down by a neck in a valuable handicap at Listowel in September in The Ladbroke, one of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the season at Ascot today.

Nicky Henderson’s assistant has warned defending champion Binocular is not a certain starter in the Williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Roi Du Mee, enterprisingly ridden by Paul Carberry, completed back-to-back wins in the Star ‘Best For Racing Coverage’ Chase, one of four Grade 3 events on yesterday’s card in Punchestown.

Alfie Sherrin claimed the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase at Cheltenham for Jonjo O’Neill.

FEW professionals attract as much sympathy as the English racing journalist.

This has traditionally been the time of year when Binocular causes Nicky Henderson a major problem, but the trainer believes his troublesome gelding could just be in the shape to redeem himself in the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Synchronised faces a crucial piece of work on Jonjo O’Neill’s gallops next week as connections mull whether to let the smart stayer take his chance in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Binocular is reported in fine shape ahead of the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on December 26.

David Pipe is intending to run Great Endeavour in the Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup at Cheltenham this weekend.

A NEW medallion is to be added to the mayoral chain of Limerick in honour of businessman JP McManus’ contribution towards sport in his native city.

THE Aviva Stadium and more than 30 other architectural wonders have been toppled by a tent-like structure which shelters Limerick’s historic Milk Market.

Tony McCoy was left beaming from ear to ear after a schooling session with Binocular this morning.

SOON enough the time for talking will be over but that won’t stop me as I’ll be here all next week to keep you up to date with what is happening in Cheltenham with my own runners, while offering some news from the rest of the Irish and anything else I might pick up along the way, as well as my opinion on the big races.

NICKY HENDERSON has nominated Hurricane Fly as the biggest threat to Binocular in his defence of the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

WEIRD AL can gatecrash the Denman party by winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury today.

CAPTAIN CEE BEE could start the winter campaign with a run in the Poplar Square Chase at Naas on Saturday week.

IT was a decent enough week of racing for me, with two winners, but with a bit of luck there could have been a couple of more.

WILLIE Mullins is thrilled with the condition of his Cheltenham Festival team after a large number enjoyed a schooling session at Naas on Tuesday.

Perennial champion jockey Tony McCoy ended 2009 on a high by signing off the year with a near 742-1 treble at Warwick courtesy of wins from Leo’s Lucky Star, Afistfullofpebbles and Prince Geeno.

Big Buck’s once again stamped his class with an authoritative display in the Racing UK On Virgin 536 Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury.

WICHITA Lineman is on course to attempt to follow up his dramatic Cheltenham Festival victory in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National.

Wichita Lineman is on course to attempt to follow up his dramatic Cheltenham Festival victory in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National.

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.