The Colin Bowe-trained Shantou Flyer denied Willie Mullins a four-timer of opening-race successes when landing some nice wagers in the opening Guinness Dublin Porter Beginners’ Chase at Galway yesterday.

Jockey Pat Smullen is no stranger to the winner’s enclosure in Galway.

Jezki’s meritorious defeat of old adversary Hurricane Fly in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle, thrilling in its execution, proved a temporary interruption to the Willie Mullins Punchestown Show as the champion trainer completed a near 3,274-1 five-timer on the undercard on day three of the festival.

Chasing debutant Cara’s Oscar recovered from a blunder at the second last fence to land the Rockathon Returns To Fairyhouse September 5th Beginners Chase in Fairyhouse yesterday, giving jockey Robbie Power his 40th success of the season.

Paul Carberry (41 today) showed at Leopardstown yesterday that he is as good as ever when taking the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase on Apache Stronghold.

Point-To-Point

Six days after his Galway Plate success with Road To Riches, Noel Meade saddled first and second in last night’s Roscommon GAA/Club Rossie Beginners Chase in Roscommon last night as Bose Ikard registered a smooth success over Please Talk.

Jadanli will attempt to go two places better than last year in the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran on January 24.

Willie Mullins’ Tempo Du Camp looks the most interesting horse on show in the Racecourse Annual Membership Maiden Hurdle at Limerick this afternoon.

When Poungach fell at the first fence at Chepstow last month, I got such a surprise you could have knocked me over with a feather.

Andrew Lynch starred with a treble on Buckers Bridge, Mr Goodenough and Clonbanon Lad at Punchestown yesterday.

THE Willie Mullins-trained newcomer The Paparrazi Kid proved the only one of four odds-on favourites to triumph in Navan yesterday, the Milan gelding justifying odds of 30/100 in the bumper.

TRAINER Gordon Elliott enjoyed a double on the opening day of the four-day Tramore festival last night.

THE Henry de Bromhead-trained Days Hotel stormed away with the Lisronagh Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

THE 2007 Champion Hurdle hero, Sublimity, turned back the clock at Cork yesterday with a game success in the McCarthy Insurance Group Hurdle.

OUT of luck on sixth-placed Akdarena in the Investec Oaks at Epsom, Kevin Manning’s dash to the Curragh last night proved worthwhile when Irish Derby-bound Carraiglawn landed the listed Silver Stakes.

THE Francis Flood-trained Slievecorragh got off the mark on the flat when landing the featured Kedrah House Stud Well Chosen Tipperary Perpetual Cup at Clonmel last night.

THE ups-and-downs of racing were never better illustrated that at Clonmel yesterday when the Ruby Walsh bandwagon came to a partial halt. Walsh has been on a terrific roll, following his Cheltenham exploits, and came to the meeting with nine winners in the bag for three racing days since returning home.

CAPTAIN CONFLICT, a horse who has shown more than a hint of temperament on a couple of occasions, can get off the mark over fences in the Comeragh Beginners Chase at Clonmel this afternoon.

RUBY WALSH is a significant booking on Oscar Time, who is napped to land the 20% On Line Ticket Discount Novice Chase at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Nine senior Gretna players have been made redundant by the Scottish Premier League club’s administrators.

Fontstown in Athy, Co Kildare, is the property of former jockey Liam Cusack and Jane Tiffin, who have run a very successful business from their residential premises.

A WEBSITE has posted a photograph of what it claimed was a US soldier kidnapped in Iraq, but doubts were quickly raised about its authenticity as the US military said no soldiers were missing.

A website posted a photograph of what it claimed was a kidnapped US soldier kidnaped in Iraq, but doubts were quickly raised about its authenticity and the US military said no soldiers were missing.