Mark Walsh proved the hero on Student Day in Sligo, completing a magnificent 33/1 treble on Pretty Woman, Badgerfort and Shantou Flyer.

Bryan Cooper admitted he could be on the wrong horse in the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Gold Cup at Punchestown today having picked Road To Riches over Don Cossack.

Solita, locally trained by Paul Nolan, gave punters plenty to cheer about in sunny Wexford yesterday as she came from last to first under Luke Dempsey to justify favouritism in the Courtown Rated Novice Hurdle.

The Steve Mahon-trained Usa made a spectacular return to action when bolting-up in the Fundraising Events At Tipperary Races Rated Novice Chase in Tipperary yesterday.

Andrew Lynch was in sparkling form in Tramore last evening, completing a superb treble on Punch Bag, Master Appeal and Miss Peacetime.

The tough and remarkably consistent Roi Du Mee completed a hat-trick when making all the running to beat just two rivals in the Daily Mirror Chase in Down Royal yesterday.

Equestrian: Lady luck is capricious, as show jumper Cameron Hanley will attest.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is banking on receiving €1m annually in EU aid to fund discussion groups for sport horse breeders.

Orgilgo Bay should prove hard to catch in the four-runner Follow On Twitter & Facebook Rated Hurdle in Punchestown today.

Aidan O’Brien saddled his seventeenth winner of the National Hunt campaign when Egyptian Warrior landed the opening novice hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

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.

The John McConnell trained Orgilgo Bay made a highly encouraging debut over hurdles when turning over odds-on favourite Clarcam in the Go Racing In Kildare 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle when Punchestown began its winter season yesterday.

Punters are in for a rare mid-summer treat at Killarney tonight with Beachdale Lad and Rebel Fitz set to take each other on in the Christy McSweeney Memorial Novice Chase.

It is rare enough for one to be overly impressed by a National Hunt horse in the summer, but Jessica Harrington’s Beachdale Lad was a rare exception at Kilbeggan last Monday night.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Beachdale Lad, impressive on his chasing debut at Roscommon recently, enhanced his reputation when landing the Tyrrellspass Novice Chase in Kilbeggan last night.

Beachdale Lad gets the nap to land a cracking Tyrrellspass Novice Chase at Kilbeggan tonight.

Veteran course specialist Fit The Cove proved the toast of punters on the final day of the 2012 Galway Festival as Harry Rogers’ charge landed the Galway Shopping Centre Handicap in courageous style, providing jockey Chris Hayes with the first leg of a double and proving the only successful favourite on Family Day at Ballybrit.

A then 13-year-old boy, who beat a Pakistani national with a metal pole during an unprovoked gang attack in Dublin, has been remanded on bail pending sentence.

Former champion Paul Carberry has started the new season in blistering form and brought his tally for the campaign to ten with a superb 129/1 treble on Court Lexi, Zaralabad and Victrix Gale in Limerick yesterday.

Barry Geraghty, fresh from five Grade 1 successes at Cheltenham, continued his terrific run when guiding Charles Byrnes’ Knockfierna to victory in the Grade 3 ITBA Fillies Scheme EBF Dawn Run Mares’ Chase at Limerick yesterday.

THERE was no dream return to racing for Ruby Walsh when his only mount of the afternoon, Salute Him, trailed in fourth of four behind Plan A in the Kerrymaid Hurdle at the opening stage of the Listowel festival yesterday.

BULLOCK HARBOUR, fresh from his win on the flat under Conor O’Dwyer at Bellewstown last week, put up a decent effort to take the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Novice Hurdle at Killarney last night.

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

TRAINER Colin McBratney and in-form rider Eddie O’Connell were in double form at Downpatrick yesterday, sharing in the victory of Bachelor Lad in the featured Blue Ridge Rosebank Novice Hurdle.

IT’S the start of another frantic month which will end with the Guineas and after watching Laughing Lashes work at The Curragh yesterday, I can report that she is very well. Pathwork has done three pieces of work to date and they both appear to be on course for Newmarket.

SENIOR rider Michael Ryan says Eventing Ireland must have good cause if it chooses to redirect the money it annually allocates for high performance.

We’re coming off a great week’s work at last and it’s brilliant to be able to say that after the period we’ve had with the weather.

THE Dessie Hughes-trained Quiet Word proved the equine star of last night’s action in sun-drenched Ballinrobe, the Bryan Cooper-ridden gelding scoring a smooth success over Lend A Hand Son in the Irish Stallion Farms Novice Hurdle.

BATTLE AXE proved a 25/1 shocker in the featured Shamrock Handicap Chase on a day of surprises at Gowran Park yesterday.

OLIVER Sherwood will use Mark Bolger to take a valuable few pounds from Eric’s Charm’s back in the Ellen Construction Thyestes Chase.

TAKE a chance on Western Gale having a going day in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Novice Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.

WILLIE MULLINS’ Cooldine made a spectacular start over fences with a stunning 19 lengths success in the Beginners Chase at Thurles yesterday.

P’tit Fute made amends for a disappointing run on the opening day of the Galway Festival with victory back at Ballybrit today.

PHILIP ROTHWELL’S The God Of Love jusitifed favouritism with a smooth success in the Tipperary Town Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary last night.

TWO-year-olds Aaroness and Bushranger stole the show when opening their respective accounts at Tipperary last night.

TIMMY HYDE’S Like A Duke is heading for the sales ring, following his easy victory in the All Ireland Corporate Games Maiden Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

JESSICA HARRINGTON is within about €3,000 of hitting the million mark in prizemoney for the season, following the smooth success of Top Of The Rock in the Powerstown Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

TOP Of The Rock has solid claims in the Powerstown Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel this afternoon.

KIEREN FALLON, suffering from a sore neck, missed Cork yesterday and was replaced aboard Beauty Bright in the opening Coolmore Stud Choisir EBF Maiden by Ballydoyle apprentice, Sean Levey.