Willie Mullins confirmed last night that Footpad is likely to head for Aintree after being taken out out of the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

Last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Sizing John, may not be here to defend his crown but trainer Jessica Harrington has an able deputy in the shape of Our Duke, who can land racing’s blue riband on the final day of another very successful Festival for Irish-trained runners.

I don’t think it is any great exaggeration to describe Willie Mullins’ Djakadam as having developed into something of a professional loser.

IT can’t be pleasant, reading your own obituary, but jockey Declan Murphy’s injuries were so severe after falling at Haydock Park in 1994 that the Racing Post subsequently led with the headline ‘Declan Murphy Dies After Horror Fall’.

Colm Greaves examines three things we’ll learn on day four at Cheltenham...

Had Pat Donnelly not been on the bench the last time a Limerick minor hurler lifted the Irish Press Cup, he probably wouldn’t be standing on the sideline tomorrow.

Life has been as good to Richard Dunwoody since retiring from the saddle as it was in it. 

Ibis Du Rheu battled on bravely to outpoint Flying Angel in a close finish to the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Ivanovick Gorbatov likely to appreciate better ground

Things didn’t all go to plan yesterday but you won’t complain with two winners nonetheless. I picked the wrong one big time in the Champion Chase and my hope that Champagne Fever might reproduce his best form proved unfounded. It was 50-50 with Felix Yonger and it didn’t surprise me that he stuck it out so well in the end.

And so, on a routine Sandown Saturday it all came to an end and AP McCoy’s last competitive ride, Box Office will enjoy an historic legacy way above his ability as a racehorse.

In-form Luke Dempsey again proved his star quality when partnering Thunder Zone, the outsider of just three runners, in the CIT race Week Hurdle on Student Race Day in Cork yesterday.

Top Notch represents a good value bet in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, writes Tommy Lyons.

It’s here! And I’m losing already.

Richie McLernon has guided Holywell to Cheltenham Festival glory for the last two seasons and trainer Jonjo O’Neill is banking on the combination coming good once more in the Gold Cup.

Ladbroke Hurdle winner Bayan is on target for the Prix Juigne at Auteuil on March 1 which would make him unlikely to take up his entry in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

Ruby Walsh, arguably Tony McCoy’s rival to the tag of greatest jumps rider ever, paid tribute to his close friend today following the news that the multiple champion jockey is to retire from racing at the end of the season.

David Bridgwater was in the news for the right reasons at Plumpton yesterday when Bravo Riquet followed up a recent victory at the course in the TV Focus At timeform.com Handicap Chase.

Gordon Elliott famously burst on to the scene by training Grand National winner Silver Birch in 2007. Now he is Willie Mullins’ closest challenger.

Dual Grade One-winning hurdler The Tullow Tank makes his eagerly-anticipated debut over fences at Fairyhouse today.

Tony McCoy finally overtook Martin Pipe on Saturday night after setting a new personal best aboard It’s A Gimme in the Betfred Summer Plate to pass the career total of 4,191 winners recorded by his old ally.

Tony McCoy equalled Martin Pipe’s career tally of 4,191 winners with a typically powerful ride to get On The Record home first at Uttoxeter yesterday.

A hat-trick for Tom Scudamore stole the show from Tony McCoy at Newton Abbot yesterday as the champion jockey’s wait to reach Martin Pipe’s phenomenal record goes on.

Barney Curley has admitted his part in the January betting coup which allegedly cost bookmakers in the region of £2million.

The Tullow Tank will not run at the Cheltenham Festival due to the “uncertainty” surrounding trainer Philip Fenton’s ongoing case for alleged possession of anabolic steroids, said his owner Barry Connell.

Leading Cheltenham contenders Big Buck’s and Silviniaco Conti could enjoy a workout after racing at Exeter on Friday, if the ground is suitable.

Dunguib is all set for a return to Cheltenham after a heartwarming victory in the Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle at Navan yesterday almost three years to the day since his last win.

A motion tabled in the UK's House of Commons has stated Tony McCoy is a “great ambassador” for racing after he notched up his 4,000th career win over jumps aboard Mountain Tunes at Towcester yesterday.

Tony McCoy has one booked ride at Southwell today as he sets out on the road to what could be another 1,000 winners to add to the record haul of 4,000 he reached at Towcester with a trademark ride on Mountain Tunes.

There have been plenty of National Hunt jockeys with far more talent than Tony McCoy, but none with the almost savage will to win, durability and the sheer bloody- mindedness of the man most refer to as AP.

Tony McCoy has ruled out any notion of retirement when he reaches 4,000 career wins over jumps.

Tony McCoy has ruled out any notion of retirement when he reaches 4,000 career wins over jumps.

Make Your Mark might be good enough to register his second hurdle success in the Friday Evening Racing Hurdle in Cork tonight.

Champion jockey-elect Richard Hughes is hoping lightning can strike twice in the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket today.