Having experienced an emotional year split between tragedy and triumph, Mouse Morris reflects on the dark days and then the poignant National wins. Declan Colley takes it all on board.

YOUNG READERS: Eason is hoping to engage and inspire young readers during this year’s Children’s SpringFest, with its first ever Read-a-thon.

David Mullins admits he’s still struggling to finding the right words to sum up how it feels to be one of of the youngest Grand National winning jockeys ever.

Two very different but equally brilliant rides provided for a tremendous climax to the Boylesports Irish National yesterday afternoon Fairyhouse racecourse. And it was Ger Fox, renewing his association with the Mouse Morris-trained Rogue Angel, which he rode to win the Kerry National in September, who the photo showed to have prevailed by a short head from the Ruby Walsh-ridden Bless The Wings.

The son of a leading Irish race horse trainer has died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning while travelling in South America.

The son of leading Irish race horse trainer, Michael 'Mouse' Morris, has died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning while travelling in South America.

The gutsy seven-year-old Ravished bagged the €40,000 McSweeney Arms Hotel Killarney National for Mouse Morris, Gigginstown House Stud and Bryan Cooper in Killarney last night.

The Monday morning after Aintree, a couple of weeks before the Punchestown festival, I spoke to Ruby Walsh.

AP McCoy is likely to be more sought-after than ever as he unexpectedly became available for a ride in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on the final day of the jumps season.

Modest Mouse’s first album after a baffling eight-year silence may be their best yet, writes Ed Power.

Willie Mullins expects Boston Bob to strip a bit fitter for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown tomorrow than he did for the Lexus Chase at the same venue over Christmas.

Big Hero 6 is almost in cinemas here and we got the chance to sit down with one of its co-directors Don Hall for a chat.

The Edward O’Grady-trained Kitten Rock oozed class as he justified 4/5 favouritism in the listed Irish Independent Hurdle, feature of yesterday’s action in Limerick.

What do you expect when the world’s funniest man meets puppet aliens?

Champion jockey Tony McCoy expects Last Instalment to be in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup shake-up following his Irish Hennessy win.

The veteran West Cork-born artist Patrick Scott is the subject of a major retrospective in Dublin and Carlow, Tina Darb O’Sullivan reports

Willie Mullins plans to “keep things simple” with Hurricane Fly, with the dual Champion Hurdle hero likely to make his seasonal return in next month’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

He may have only beaten the well-exposed Baily Green by two and a quarter lengths in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy, but do not doubt that Nicky Henderson’s Simonsig is the real deal.

Trainer Mouse Morris would prefer to run First Lieutenant in the Betfred Gold Cup rather than the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next month.

Whoever had the foresight to name Rule The World must, at least secretly, be congratulating themselves.

Trainer Mouse Morris will wait until the middle of the week before deciding whether to let First Lieutenant take his chance in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Former champion Pat Smullen was seen at his brilliant and determined best when getting odds-on favourite Ceol Rua home a narrow winner of the Ladies Day At Ballinrobe Maiden in Ballinrobe last night.

The J P McManus-owned Ainama provided the Madden family with a victory to savour when landing the competitive thetote.com Connacht National Handicap Chase in Roscommon last night.

China Rock made a swift reappearance pay as he triumphed in thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup.

Bubble’s in Trouble, by Ag Jatowska (Caterpillar Books; €8.35 HB) is the story of a puffer fish that gets stuck in the porthole of a sunken ship.

Very Special Friends, by Jane Chapman (Little Tiger; €13.03 HB).

Four Commanders is set to tackle the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on April 9.

CHINA Rock has been given a clean bill of health following his fine comeback run at Punchestown on Saturday.

MOUSE MORRIS is pleased there is no lasting damage to his Cheltenham Festival winner First Lieutenant after his bad mistake in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

I PROBABLY love flat racing more than most, but you have got to say it is terrific to see the National Hunt game now getting into full swing.

LUCKY Little Mouse! by AH Benjamin (Little Tiger; €5.92 HB) follows a Mouse as he makes his way homeward unaware of the hidden, lip-smacking, hungry predators that lie in wait.

NIALL ‘Slippers’ Madden, out with a head injury since March, made a successful return to action when partnering Salesin to a hard-earned, all-the-way victory in the Black Point Handicap Hurdle at Wexford last night.

THE Punchestown executive must be smacking their collective lips in expectation of a massive spin-off from Cheltenham for their forthcoming festival.

IN an interview in the Irish Examiner on Monday, Davy Russell said he wasn’t jumping up and down about anything for the week, but had a fighting chance of a winner.

First Lieutenant pulled victory from out of the fire with a narrow verdict over Rock On Ruby in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

WHEN the World Was Waiting for You by Gillian Shields (Bloomsbury; €13.03 HB) is just the children’s book to have when a new baby is imminent.

IF Kauto Star is anywhere near the horse he has been throughout his career then you’d have to think him capable of dismissing the opposition at Down Royal today.

ADRIAN MAGUIRE’S Golden Kite will bid for a National double at Cork on Sunday.

Adrian Maguire's Golden Kite will bid for a National double at Cork on Sunday.

TOP-CLASS novice Dunguib is set to take his chance in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.