Punchestown may be the focus of attention right now but the spate of serious injuries suffered by jockeys recently is exercising the minds of the experienced pilots in the Weigh Room.

Speedy juvenile Washington DC and King Of Aragon provided Aidan and Joseph O’Brien with a short-priced double on last night’s mixed card in Tipperary where all seven favourites won.

The first session of the two-day Kanturk-Duhallow point-to-point fixture at Dromahane took place on Saturday and Sam Curling’s Grand Gold indicated that he’s set for a particularly productive campaign by easily winning the four-mile ladies open in the hands of the Liz Lalor.

Liz Doyle will consider a tilt at the Champion Bumper for Golan Lodge following his winning racecourse debut at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Heavy overnight rainfall ensured that ground conditions were extremely demanding at yesterday’s Kildorrery point-to-point meeting, run under the auspices of the Duhallow Foxhounds on the Vaughan family’s lands at Rockmills Stud.

In-form handler Michael Winters must have felt like Bill Murray’s character in the widely-acclaimed film Groundhog Day at yesterday’s well-attended Killeagh Harriers point-to-point meeting as, for the second Sunday running, he struck with a hugely-exciting newcomer that had many of those present searching for previously unused superlatives.

Mesmerising. That’s really the only way that one could justifiably describe the performance of the Michael Winters-trained For Carmel at yesterday’s well-attended Muskerry Foxhounds point-to-point fixture on Jack Murphy’s farm at Aghabullogue as the towering bay hardly broke sweat on his initial career outing in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Liam Burke-trained newcomer Nambour lit up yesterday’s well attended but bitterly cold Kanturk-Duhallow point-to-point meeting at Dromahane by destroying the opposition in the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Point-To-Point

Hot favourite Leading Light narrowly denied defending champion Estimate in a pulsating climax to the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot yesterday.

Michael Winters has busy summer plans for his two stable stars Missunited and Rebel Fitz, with both Royal Ascot and the Galway Festival on the agenda.

The epic battle between Derek O’Connor and Jamie Codd for the 2013/14 point-to-point riders’ championship moved to yesterday’s Dawstown fixture, run under the auspices of the Muskerry Foxhounds at Birch Hill outside Grenagh.

Galway Hurdle heroine Missunited was backed as if defeat was out of the question in the Summer Twilight Nights Race at Limerick yesterday, but could only finish third of three runners.

Rebel Fitz, having a first outing for 160 days, produced a smashing display to land the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Hurdle at the students’ meeting at Cork yesterday.

Michael Winters is experiencing a fine run at present and Missunited’s handler sent out two winners in his absence at yesterday’s well-attended Dungarvan Harriers point-to-point fixture at Affane.

There was an extraordinary reaction from the public to yesterday’s meeting at Limerick, held to boost the Emergency Jockeys’ Fund and the stricken John Thomas McNamara and Jonjo Bright.

Michael Winters continued his splendid run when Jansboy landed the Join The Tipperary Supporters’ Club 2014 Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary yesterday.

It was particularly interesting to note just how much goodwill there was towards John Oxx after his My Titania had won a Group 3 at the Curragh last Sunday.

Mikey Fogarty, who recently relinquished his amateur status, has certainly made a cracking start as a professional.

On an afternoon when the last two winners of the Galway Hurdle, Rebel Fitz and Missunited, both trained by Michael Winters, were paraded, it was appropriate that Anshan Dreams should land the Cork Handicap Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

What a wizard this Michael Winters is! A year ago he produced Rebel Fitz to land the Guinness Galway Hurdle and returned to Ballybrit yesterday to win the race again, this time with the cracking mare Missunited.

The eagerly-awaited clash between Rebel Fitz and Beachdale Lad in the Christy McSweeney Memorial Novice Chase at Killarney last night had a tragic outcome.

Plans remain fluid for vanquished Epsom Derby favourite Dawn Approach.

The Gordon Elliot-trained Nedzer’s Return showed no ill-effects from his victory at Tattersalls Farm on Saturday by winning the open lightweight at yesterday’s Clonakilty point-to-point meeting, staged under the auspices of the Carbery Hunt on Inchydoney Island.

Evanna McCutcheon has built up a tremendous rapport with her own horse Long Strand of late and the pair recorded their fifth success of the season in the open lightweight at the North Kerry Harriers point-to-point fixture outside Ballybunion on Saturday.

Davy Russell retained his title as champion jump jockey in Ireland with his third century and a hatful of winners for many trainers.

Today is all about one of my favourite horses, Hurricane Fly, in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle.

Willie Mullins feels “home advantage” further increases Hurricane Fly’s chances of victory in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown today.

With ground conditions extremely testing at yesterday’s Doneraile Hunt point-to-point meeting at Dromahane, it was a case of the best wine being left until last as the Mark Spillane-trained Lanespark cemented his position as one of the best front-runners, participating in points, at present by recording a pillar-to-post success in the closing novice riders’ open.

Willie Mullins’ Tarla proved far too good for Rebel Fitz in the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Hurdle at cold and wet Cork yesterday when thousands of students were on site.

Davy Russell makes a somewhat surprise return to the saddle at Cork this afternoon, having punctured a lung at Cheltenham a week ago.

“My first thoughts are with John Thomas McNamara”, said Michael Winters, after his Missunited got the best of a terrific battle with Twigline in the Grade 3 Kerry Group EBF Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

Trainer Peter Casey says Flemenstar is “very unlikely” to run at the Cheltenham Festival nest month after being found to have a lung infection.

Rebel Fitz could run in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran next month before a possible assault at the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

The nominees for the 2012 Horse Racing Ireland awards were announced yesterday and includes a new category – Racecourse of the Year.

On a miserably wet afternoon for all concerned, the Pat Doyle-trained Serious Mixture lit up yesterday’s Kilkenny Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Grennan Castle outside Thomastown by recording a gallant pillar-to-post success in a competitive first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Missunited can continue the remarkable run of her trainer, Michael Winters, by landing the Easyfix Rubber Products Novice Hurdle at Galway this evening.

The Mullinahone Maiden at Clonmel last night saw Aidan O’Brien’s Hail finally get off the mark, but the contest was more notable for a nasty incident at the two-furlong pole in which jockey Fran Berry suffered numerous injuries.

Looking at the reception afforded Rebel Fitz at Cork last Sunday made you almost yearn for the National Hunt season proper to kick into gear.

Michael Winters, who has enjoyed a dream summer with high-class hurdler Rebel Fitz, can provide us with a winning nap in the shape of Missunited in the Tote Jackpot Races 3 to 6 Maiden at Ballinrobe this evening.

Galway Hurdle hero Rebel Fitz returned to a tremendous reception, after coasting to victory in the J P McManus Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

Trainer Michael Winters is considering a trip to Cork later this month for Galway Hurdle hero Rebel Fitz.

This week confirmed something that has been nagging one for a while — it is actually easier to show a profit at Cheltenham than Galway.