Irish Examiner racing correspondent Pat Keane joined Channel 4 experts Jim McGrath, Graham Cunningham, Tanya Stevenson and Mick Fitzgerald, along with Racing UK presenters Rishi Persad, Oli Bell and Gordon Brown and former jockey Kirsty Milczarek, to offer some guidance and insight into who and what to look out for in the year ahead.

Constant building makes an architect of the mason — Turkish proverb

Ireland’s Dan Martin suffered one of the biggest disappointments of his career yesterday when he crashed within sight of the line in the iconic one-day Belgian classic, Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Whether or not Gary Neville has any interest in horses, his influence will be felt around the Cotswolds next week.

Horse Racing tycoon JP McManus made the largest bid at a private auction that has raised around over €100,000 for paralysed Limerick jockey JT McNamara.

Grand National-winning jockey Mick Fitzgerald believes previous experience over the famous fences is a vital asset for this year’s winner.

Grand National-winning rider Mick Fitzgerald has spoken of his sadness and of the risks involved in racing after it was revealed by the family of rider JT McNamara that the serious neck injury he suffered in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival has led to paralysis.

The preview nights have started in earnest and it’s a case of counting down the days to Cheltenham, after so long ticking off the weeks.

Trainer Peter Casey has no doubt three miles is well within Flemenstar’s range following his fantastic performance at Punchestown on Sunday.

Former An Post/Sean Kelly rider Páidí O’Brien blasted to victory in the opening stage of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan in Killorglin last night, putting his deadly finishing kick to good use on the sharp uphill finish to outsprint Denis Bakker (Ruiter Dakkapellen) and local man Dan Clifford (DID Dunboyne).

When Mick Fitzgerald was forced to retire, Nicky Henderson must have wondered if he would ever find a jockey with the style, the swagger and the ability to replace him.

Aintree legend Ginger McCain, trainer of the great Red Rum, has died aged 80, his wife Beryl McCain has said in a statement.

MUSKERRY entered this Cork SHC tie with three championship wins under their belt, but apart from the opening five minutes, during which the sides were level twice, it was Carrigtwohill who looked the more menacing.

SEAN LACEY of the Edge Racing cycling team did what many deemed improbable when he claimed a sensational overall win at the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan in Killorglin yesterday.

LAST YEAR’S Kerry Group Rás Mumhan winner Timmy Barry has ruled out any chance of reclaiming the title and insists a stage win is about as much as he can aspire to, given the quality of the start-list for the race which begins today in Killorglin (4pm).

NICKY HENDERSON must wake up most mornings and thank his lucky stars he had the foresight to appoint Barry Geraghty as his number one rider.

Trainer Peter Monteith was found dead at his home in Scotland last night.

FORMER Kerry star forward Mike Frank Russell scored 1-4 as Laune Rangers booked their place in the third round of the AIB Kerry SFC at the expense of Spa.

TIGER WOODS insisted yesterday that the delightful atmosphere of the JP McManus Pro-Am had lifted his spirits no end but his body language when he spoke to the media at Adare suggested that he is still a little uncomfortable and struggling to come to grips with the notoriety that has enveloped his life over the past seven months.

Tiger Woods met any questions about his private life with moody silences and terse, short answers as he appeared in front of the media today at the JP McManus Pro-Am event at Adare Manor.

A six-year-old schoolgirl broke through heavy security around Tiger Woods today to get her hero’s autograph during one of his rare public outings.

GRAND NATIONAL hero Tony McCoy and Brendan Mullin, a key member of the Irish rugby team that won the Triple Crown in 1985, are among those who will enjoy the privilege of partnering world number one Tiger Woods over the next two days in the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort.

Carrigtwohill 2-14 Killeagh 1-10

NEW ZEALAND are to enter a team for the first time in the prestigious FBD Rás (May 23-30).

Nicky Henderson is fearful of the challenge posed by his former inmate Khyber Kim in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle – despite playing a three-strong hand tomorrow with Punjabi, Zaynar and Binocular.

Leading National Hunt trainer Nicky Henderson branded as “harsh” the British Horseracing Authority’s decision to stop him from making entries for three months.

JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry insists there is no rush for Tony McCoy to decide which of the owner’s four entries he will ride in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

David Elsworth's travelling head lad Peter Maughan has been named as Employee of the Year at the fifth annual Stud and Stable Staff Awards.

The story of an Irish Formula One driver whose life careered off the track after he shared the pits with some of motor racing’s greatest names was today unveiled as the best sports book of the year.

Chomba Womba’s victory in the Coral Ascot Hurdle proved the highlight of a 15-1 treble for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Barry Geraghty at the Berkshire venue.

MICK Fitzgerald admits he was lucky to retire in one piece after calling time on his near 20-year career yesterday.

Mick Fitzgerald has announced his retirement from the saddle following the latest in a series of major injuries.

A brilliant tactical ride by Barry Geraghty saw Nicky Henderson’s Punjabi decisively land the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

MICK Fitzgerald is reported to be in a “comfortable” position in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Mick Fitzgerald is reported to be in a “comfortable” position in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Mick Fitzgerald was taken to hospital with back injuries after falling from L’Ami in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

THE ex-French horse Quevega is napped to beat the progressive Mourne Rambler in the Duggan Profiles Novice Hurdle at Gowran Park this evening.

HARDY ANNUALS were in plentiful supply at Cheltenham yesterday as the racing and betting extravaganza got under way for 2008. Not in the flower beds, mind, but among the throng of national hunt fans who gathered for their annual splurge.

ALL is well in the Sublimity camp after last year’s Champion Hurdle hero warmed up for his repeat bid with a pleasing racecourse gallop at Leopardstown.

High-quality stayer Galient got his hurdling career off to a winning start with a game performance at Fontwell.

Pigeon Island, who is retaining his form despite an incredibly arduous campaign, flew right away with the Anglo Irish Bank Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton.

Katchit boosted his claims for the Champion Hurdle with a solid victory in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

Colin Tizzard banished a 33-day losing run when Mister Quasimodo put his rivals to the sword in the Kempton Park Graduation Chase.

The British Horseracing Authority confirmed several changes to the start of this year’s John Smith’s Grand National.