Willie Mullins enjoyed a clean sweep of the Grade 1 events on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival, but some second-string representatives were called upon to help deliver the treble in front of a record opening-day crowd of 20,214.

The Steve Mahon-trained Usa made a spectacular return to action when bolting-up in the Fundraising Events At Tipperary Races Rated Novice Chase in Tipperary yesterday.

Top Spin, trained locally by Colm Murphy, appeals in the Chef Phelim Byrne The Ivy Room Handicap Hurdle in Wexford tonight.

It was a case of the best wine being kept until last in Punchestown yesterday as the Noel Meade-trained debutant Disko proved the undoubted star of the show when bolting-up in the bumper.

Marito and Roi Du Mee filled the first two places in the Listed At The Races Chase last year and the pair clash again in the Tramore feature today.

A sparkling reappearance from Ladbrokes Ireland Fortria Chase winner Twinlight was the highlight of trebles for the formidable combination of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh at Navan yesterday.

Henry de Bromhead’s Aupcharlie got back on track at Clonmel yesterday when landing the Suir Valley Chase.

The Crawford brothers, Stuart and Stephen, struck on the double with Man With Van and debutante Twentrtytwo’s Taken in Down Royal yesterday.

Don Cossack staked an early claim for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham by making a pleasing start to his career over fences at Galway yesterday.

Mullahoran’s defence of the Cavan SFC looks to be on shaky ground after they suffered a 0-11 to 1-11 defeat at Kingspan/Breffni Park to in-form Ramor United.

The days when Noel Meade was a major force at Galway are in the distant past, but he showed last night he hasn’t lost the touch when saddling Curley Bill to land the featured Guinness Handicap.

The conditions of the contest aren’t exactly in his favour, but Eddie Lynam’s Akasaka is still the nap choice in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey And Trainer Championship Race at Dundalk tonight.

Dessie Hughes’ Raz De Maree followed his recent success in the Munster National at Limerick by adding the Paddy Power Cork Grand National at Cork yesterday.

The Colm Murphy-trained Rye Martini continued the impressive early season form being enjoyed by Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud when making a successful racecourse debut in the opening maiden hurdle on yesterday’s truncated card at Tipperary.

Princeton Plains is a hopeful choice in a savagely competitive looking Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit this afternoon.

Racegoers were treated to a display of vintage Paul Carberry on the opening day of the new jumps season in Ballirnobe last night as former champion Paul Carberry completed a magnificent 927/1 four-timer on Six Stone Ned, Fairymount Lord, Turnonthegas and Corskeagh Royale, his first and last winner trained by Noel Meade.

FEATURE event at Cork yesterday was the Imperial Call Chase, but this was a Grade 3 in name only after a really pathetic response by trainers.

Former top jockey Tommy Carmody made a dream return to the training ranks, ten years after his last winner, when Miss Mediator landed the opening bookings@dundalkstadium.com Fillies Maiden in Dundalk last night.

CONOR O’DWYER, whose record at Cheltenham is winning two Gold Cups and two Champion Hurdles, could be on the trail of the great Festival again next month.

Sir Des Champs looked a fortunate winner of the Greenmount Park Novice Chase at Limerick after Knockfierna crashed out at the second-last.

AINAMA looks the safest bet — on a very poor card — in the P.Flannery Plant Hire Group London Chase at Ballinrobe this evening.

THE featured Guinness Handicap Hurdle at Listowel yesterday saw Princeton Plains give trainer Eddie Harty a first winner at the track.

WINS NOW, far from reliable, is the nap choice in the Westmeath Hurdle, on a typically low-grade programme at Kilbeggan this evening.

DEVIL’S Elbow looks the banker bet on this evening’s mixed card in Roscommon.

LOCAL trainer Pat Flynn is very well represented at this evening’s meeting at Tramore and his Dancing Bird looks to have solid claims in the mares’ maiden hurdle.

IT was business as usual at Galway last night, as Dermot Weld’s Stunning View landed the valuable Topaz Mile EBF Handicap, one of three winners for the Rosewell House maestro.

PRINCETON PLAINS, who failed to win a maiden over flights or on the flat, broke his duck in style with a last-gasp success in the valuable ladbrokes.com Handicap Hurdle at Killarney yesterday.

Garde Champetre repeated his win of 2008 in the Glenfarclass P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase at Punchestown this afternoon.

TAKE a chance on Elyaadi surprising likely hot-pot Voler La Vedette in the Listed Grabel Mares’ Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

IN all the years of covering racing, I have to say this was the worst decision I have seen.

ODDS-ON Alpine Eagle proved a costly failure in the Kerrymaid Hurdle at the first stage of the Listowel Festival yesterday, trailing in a well beaten third behind Red Key.

TAKE a chance on the Dermot Weld trained Northern Rocked on the beach at Laytown this evening.

Francis Flood’s Slievecorragh recorded his fifth win over timber with a battling display in the J.P. McManus Hurdle at Cork.

CHARLIE SWAN, who won three Champion Hurdles on Istabraq for Aidan O’Brien, teamed up with the Ballydoyle trainer’s son, Joseph, to land the featured Guinness Handicap with Rajik at Galway last night.

BARRY Geraghty was seen at his strongest when powering Beau Michael to a neck victory over Armaramak in the St James’ Gate Novice Chase at Galway yesterday, writes Pat Keane.

Ireland’s top stars Johnny Murtagh and Ruby Walsh will captain the teams in the Flat v Jump Jockeys Challenge on Gaisce Raceday at Leopardstown on May 30.

PAUL NOLAN’S classy Cuan Na Grai toyed with the opposition on the way to landing the Supermacs’ Drive Thru Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

The panel for the Irish senior men's volleyball squad to travel next month’s European Championships has been announced at the Red Cow Hotel this afternoon.

LONG odds-on Apt Approach had to dig deep to beat Taradoun in the Lisronagh Beginners Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

Osana booked his ticket for a Christmas trip to Leopardstown with a comfortable victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase at Navan today.

TADRIAN Maguire’s Mr Warbucks made a fine start over fences when easily beating Whatuthink in the Thurles Beginners Chase yesterday.

PAUL Nicholls is keeping his fingers crossed conditions do not become too testing as he bids for back-to-back successes in the William Hill Galway Plate with Roby De Cimbre today.

Paul Nicholls is keeping his fingers crossed conditions do not become too testing as he bids for back-to-back successes in the William Hill Galway Plate with Roby De Cimbre tomorrow.

ON an afternoon when Niall Madden enjoyed a first ever four-timer, Jumbo Rio, fresh from two cracking efforts behind the high-class Rendons Grace at Auteuil, showed what a game customer he is when taking the featured Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary yesterday.