Native Jack gave the Irish their third winner on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in the Sporting Index Handicap Chase over the cross-country course.

THE three-day May meeting got underway in glorious sunshine at Killarney yesterday, and young Athlone claimer Mark Watts enjoyed by far his biggest win when partnering Calorando to take the featured Murphys Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle.

Le Coudray heads the 39 entries remaining in the €250,000 Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National following today’s forfeit stage.

MICHAEL HOURIGAN yesterday confirmed that Beef Or Salmon will definitely miss the €60,000 Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase at the Tipperary track next Thursday.

THIRTEEN horses remain in Saturday’s eagerly awaited James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal, following yesterday’s supplementary and forfeit stage.

Beef Or Salmon is a short-priced favourite to take the Anglo Irish Bank Munster National at Limerick on Sunday.

Trainer Ferdy Murphy was a happy man yesterday after his 10-year-old Granit d’Estruval sprung a 33-1 surprise in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

English raider Artic Jack heads the weights on 12st for the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National on Monday after 30 horses were today declared for the €112,820 contest.

Timbera looks set to run in Monday’s Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse after pleasing trainer Dessie Hughes in a gallop this morning.

IRISH bookmakers cannot agree about the chances of Xenophon in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, with Paddy Power installing him 5-1 favourite and Cashmans going 14-1.

Bookmakers cannot agree about the chances of Xenophon in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, with Paddy Power installing him 5-1 favourite and Cashmans going 14-1.

HARBOUR PILOT, third in the last two runnings of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been allotted top weight of 12st in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on April 12.

Connections of Be My Belle are confident of a bold show from the mare as she goes in search of back-to-back victories in the Goulding Thyestes Handicap Chase tomorrow.

A field of 23, headed by Aintree absentee Davids Lad, will go to post for the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

ARTHUR MOORE and Conor O’Dwyer can combine to land a double with Back Nine and Native Jack at Punchestown today.

THE UNEXPOSED Xenophon built on his solid debut in handicap company last time out to easily land the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

Paul Carberry again stood himself down after aggravating a painful thumb injury when winning on Rathgar Beau at Thurles.