Notre Pere ploughed through the mud to claim the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup and earn a 10-1 quote with totesport for the equivalent race at Cheltenham next March.

FOR many people it is the romance of racing that is the attraction; of being part of – or merely witnessing – fabled stories which are ultimately woven into the very fabric of the sport and become legend.

THE Christy Roche-trained Clarkey got off the mark at the 13th time of asking when taking the Holy Cross Maiden Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

Pat Keane

TONY MULLINS, fresh from a splendid Christmas, topped up at Tramore yesterday when Barrow Drive won the featured Wilf Dooly Chase in the hands of Barry Geraghty.