You’d imagine the next time Jessica Harrington is looking for a jockey that Davy Russell will figure towards the top of her list.

Rebel Fitz is set for a busy summer after capitalising on Ballycasey’s fall to lift the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

Briar Hill appears likely to go up in trip when he returns to the Cheltenham Festival in March following his rather workmanlike victory in the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

Willie Mullins’ Blood Cotil, in the McCarthy Insurance Group Beginners Chase, is easily the most interesting horse on show at Cork this afternoon.

Well, I was all set to be off on my travels again today to ride three horses for Willie Mullins at Sandown, but the meeting was abandoned yesterday afternoon.

Lord Of Lords, who missed what looked a suitable opportunity because of a stone bruise at Wexford nine days ago, has obviously made a quick recovery and gets the nap in the Holycross Maiden Hurdle at Thurles this afternoon.

On a day when the John Berry-trained Cootamundra proved a shock winner of the Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase, enthusiasts in Navan witnessed impressive victories by exciting novices and potential stars Apache Stronghold, Moyle Park and Ballycasey.

Punters at Wexford this afternoon are in for a treat, with the potentially top class Briar Hill set to make his seasonal debut in the opening Supporters’ Club AGM And Table Quiz Maiden Hurdle.

Urano, second three times in-a-row, gets the nap in the J J Delaney And Kilkenny Vintners’ Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park this evening.

Nicky Henderson has six chances of hitting the target in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury today, among them a former Champion Hurdle hero and a live candidate for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Mad Brian gets the nap to beat Defy Logic in the Great Value Corporate Hospitality @ Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle at the Meath track this afternoon, should the meeting survive an 8am inspection.

The Willie Mullins-trained Mozoltov booked his ticket to Cheltenham when getting the better of favourite Don Cossack in a tremendous tussle for the Grade 2 Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott admits today (Sunday) will tell him much more about immediate targets for Don Cossack as he bids to regain the winning thread in what looks a fascinating Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead will step up Sizing Europe’s Cheltenham Festival preparations when he runs the 11-year-old in the Grade 2 Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.

A week ago I said here that the only way Sanctuaire could beat Sprinter Sacre in the Victor Chandler at Ascot, which was postponed and subsequently rescheduled to Cheltenham this afternoon, was if Nicky Henderson’s headman forgot to load their horse into the box.

It will be a major surprise should Hurricane Fly fail to cement his place near the top of the Champion Hurdle market in the BHP Insurance-sponsored Irish equivalent at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Sizing Europe will be given entries in three championship races at Cheltenham - the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Ryanair Chase and the Betfred Gold Cup.

Not too many jockeys have the capacity to divide opinion like Sam Waley-Cohen.

Willie Mullins’ Arvika Ligeonniere, so impressive in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse previously, added to that success in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday, but you would have to say was less than impressive.

Arvika Ligeonniere has secured his second consecutive Grade One prize with another fine front-running display in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins’ Blood Cotil can land the Grade 2 Q8 Oils Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.

Noel Meade will consider stepping Monksland up to three miles on his next appearance following a fine run in defeat in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

Mount Benbulben got his fencing career back on track with a smooth success in the Nicky Connors – Lifetime In Racing Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse.

If the magnificent National Hunt racing we have been watching over the last week or so hasn’t got the juices flowing then you really are in the wrong game.

A good start is half the battle and, hopefully, Maxim Gorky can give us just that in the HotelMeyrick.ie and theghotel.ie Handicap Hurdle at the opening stage of the Galway Festival this evening.