Brave Villa proved the highlight in a 43-1 treble for rising star Tom O’Brien when putting in an immaculate jumping display in the Weatherbys Insurance Novices’ Handicap Chase at Chepstow.

ON an afternoon when Ruby Walsh rode in excess of a 15-1 treble, the main talking point at Cork yesterday was the Mallow Handicap Chase.

ON a night when David Wachman landed his first ever treble, John Oxx ran two in the Group Three Blue Wind Stakes at Cork, the heavily-backed Zarafsha, partnered by Michael Kinane, and Hazarista, ridden by Fran Berry.

IF we saw a potential star of the future in action at Killarney last night then it was surely That’s An Idea, successful in the Vintners’ Maiden Hurdle.

THE rapidly improving Callow Lake struck a blow for the four-year-olds when leading his rivals a merry dance in the Nire Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

LIGHT On The Broom, a faller in two of his previous four outings over fences, produced an impeccable round of jumping to land the Killinan Beginners Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Florida Pearl could head to Ascot for his next start after making a successful reappearance at Fairyhouse.

MARK GRANT is in virtually unstoppable form at present and the Co Tipperary-born jockey brought his tally for the Limerick Christmas festival to five by partnering a double at the popular Greenmount venue yesterday.

TOM TAAFFE’S Emotional Moment produced a smooth performance to land the Horse and Jockey Beginners ’Chase at Thurles yesterday. Clearly benefitting from his first run of the campaign at Punchestown, the six-year-old proved far too good for this opposition.

JESSICA HARRINGTON was very pleased with Moscow Court's winning performance in the INH Stallion Farms EBF Novice at Thurles yesterday.

EDWARD O’GRADY’S Pizarro made a satisfactory debut over fences with a comfortable defeat of Atlantic Rhapsody in the Irish Stallion Farms’ Beginners Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

BARRY GERAGHTY is set to team up with Back In Front in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday week.

NOEL MEADE was loud in his praise of Paul Carberry, after the duo had combined to take the Sean Barrett Bloodstock Insurances-Aon Group Handicap Chase in front of an attendance of 3,500 at Tipperary last night.

PAT VERLING’S fine money-spinner Sabadilla won his third race, from four runs, when streaking away with the Braddisah Builders’ Handicap Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

TONY MULLINS’ Crusset, now a five-year-old, enjoyed his first success on the flat when taking the Templemore Maiden at Clonmel yesterday.

DESSIE HUGHES’ Central House got punters off to a flier when landing the opening Cashel Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

THE sixth race at Cork yesterday, the Pierse Rivervalley Beginners Chase, was abandoned in the interests of safety, after the stewards met a delegation of senior jockeys.

CHAMPION jockey Pat Smullen, fresh from a terrific weekend at the Curragh, wasted no time getting among the winners at Killarney yesterday when booting Dermot Weld’s Turn Of Phrase to victory in the opening Boylesports’ Handicap.