Identity Thief made all to land the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle in Down Royal, part of doubles for trainer Henry de Bromhead and rider Bryan Cooper and middle leg of a treble for Gigginstown House Stud.

Black Label landed the €30,000 E.P.S. Handicap Hurdle, feature of last night’s Ballinrobe card for trainer Ado McGuinness and 7lb. claimer Jonathan Moore.

Conditions are likely to be quite testing at Ballinrobe this evening, and that should suit Blackandamber Vic, who gets the nap to take the Broderick’s Electrical Handicap Hurdle for trainer Norman Lee.

The ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained Luska Lad rolled back the years by destroying the opposition in the four-mile open at the opening session of the Kinsale point-to-point festival at a wet Farrangalway on Saturday evening.

No More Heroes can gain compensation for his near-miss in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham by landing this afternoon’s three-mile Grade 1 Novice Hurdle on day two of the Punchestown Festival.

Heavy overnight rainfall ensured that ground conditions were extremely demanding at yesterday’s Kildorrery point-to-point meeting, run under the auspices of the Duhallow Foxhounds on the Vaughan family’s lands at Rockmills Stud.

It was a red-letter occasion for 20-year-old Johnny Hurley at yesterday’s Avondhu Foxhounds point-to-point fixture at Knockanard for he rode his first winner aboard Jimmy Mangan’s Gabrielleamee in the closing six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

He may have a fair way to go to be in the Willie Mullins league, but Gordon Elliott is getting there - and quickly writes Pat Keane.

Mount Colah gave Banbridge, Co Down trainer, Jerry Cosgrave, his first success at Listed level when landing the Thurles Racecourse Supporters’ Club Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Lieutenant Colonel began a memorable day for Bryan Cooper when proving a very popular, and rather poignant, winner of the other Grade 1 on the card, the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

Call Rog and Spot Fine provided Mouse Morris with a 26/1 double on another successful Student Day in Sligo yesterday.

Andrew Lynch, who recently lost his job as first jockey to Alan and Ann Potts, struck for the first time this week when driving Portrade to land the featured Ladbrokes’ Handicap Hurdle at Listowel yesterday.

As the Curragh prepares to stage the 100th running of the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger, one famous horse can enjoy some down-time with his legacy secure for many more years to come.

The highlight of the Galway festival, strictly with the future in mind, was surely the display of Dermot Weld’s Forgotten Rules on the Friday night.

Aidan O’Brien’s Palace arrived late and fast to land the Listed Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes at Killarney last night.

The Eoin Doyle-trained Mazuri Cowboy proved a shock and fortunate winner of a dramatic Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

On a day which promised so much, Patrick Mullins salvaged a single win from his four rides in Gowran Park yesterday as he closes in on Billy Parkinson’s record, set in 1915, for the number of winners ridden by an amateur in a calendar year.

Successful twice on the flat recently and having only his second outing over fences this year, the Philip Fenton-trained Caim Hill landed the €50,000 Gigginstown House Midlands National in Kilbeggan last night.

Quel Esprit is set for a step up in class after a facile success in the Beamish Stout Phil Sweeney Memorial Chase at Thurles.

Class Is Class lived up to his name as he turned Haydock’s Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes into a procession under Kieren Fallon.

IT’S a safe wager that if Willie Mullins leaves Thurles empty-handed this afternoon punters will have taken a hiding!

UNCLE Junior should get off the mark over fences, at the age of nine, in the Irish Stallion Farms Beginners Chase at Thurles today.

THERE would surely be no more popular winner of the week than if Henry Cecil’s Manifest prevailed in the Ascot Gold Cup today.

Aidan O’Brien is looking to Age Of Aquarius to fill the huge void left by the legendary Yeats in tomorrow’s Ascot Gold Cup.

Henry Cecil’s Manifest will face 12 rivals as he bids to confirm the huge impression he made last time out in Thursday’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

EOIN GRIFFIN, without a success since Baracas won at Dundalk last November, finally ended his time in the wilderness when St Devote landed the Special Olympics Maiden Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

Connections of Fiftyfive Degrees believe there will be plenty more races to be won with the eight-year-old after he turned in an impressive performance at Newcastle.

SUBLIMITY, the Champion Hurdle winner of 2007, showed he is far from a back number when landing the Grade 1 Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

Nicky Henderson is hopeful Aigle D’Or can make his presence felt on his return to competitive action in the Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle on the final day of Cheltenham’s Open meeting tomorrow.

Yeats will face 10 rivals when he seeks a third successive victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

Rakeekah, a half-sister to a Classic winner, can reap the benefit of a promising debut by opening her account in division one of the Totesport 0800 221 221 Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Yarmouth.

JOCKEYS Robert Power and Fran Berry shared the riding honours when recording doubles at rain-soaked Naas yesterday.

TOM Taaffe’S once-raced Alexander Mobile can land the second division of the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Maiden Hurdle on a moderate six-race programme at Downpatrick, which is subject to a 7.30am inspection.

FORMER champion Ruby Walsh again proved the star of the show at Kilbeggan last night when recording a double on Shandon Star and Seagull Eile.

Papineau landed a fourth Gold Cup victory for the Godolphin team at Royal Ascot this afternoon.

Last year’s winner Mr Dinos heads 17 horses in the Ascot Gold Cup after today’s confirmation stage.

Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has declared Black Sam Bellamy for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

CHAMPION trainer Aidan O’Brien has declared Black Sam Bellamy for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot tomorrow.