VICTORY in the Tote Jackpot Maiden Hurdle at Naas yesterday, in which Ruby Walsh was lucky to walk away from a nasty fall (see page 25), went to longshot First Impressions, ridden by Tim Carroll and trained by Mick Mulvany.

THE Danny O’Sullivan-trained Benefit Night romped to a shock, all-the-way success in the featured Lucan Racing Leinster National at Naas yesterday.

Benefit Night set himself up for a crack at the Midlands Grand National with a pillar-to-post success in the Lucan Racing Leinster National at Naas.

HIDDEN CYCLONE continued his rise up the ranks with a gusty display to land the Grade 2 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

Dessie Hughes, fighting flu’ all week, completed a fine big-race chase double at Leopardstown yesterday with Magnanimity and Rare Bob.

THE 2007 Champion Hurdle hero, Sublimity, turned back the clock at Cork yesterday with a game success in the McCarthy Insurance Group Hurdle.

WILLIE AUSTIN, a man who has long known the time of day, produced 12-1 shot Mossey Joe to land the Grade 3 O’Connell Group Stayers’ Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

DESSIE HUGHES stole the show at Thurles yesterday, completing a 70/1 treble with Rick, Western Charmer and Quiet Thought.

SIZING AUSTRALIA finally got off the mark over fences when producing a game display to land the Liams Legends 2010 Beginners Chase at Thurles yesterday.

ALAIN CAWLEY, having a first ride back since dislocating his shoulder on August 19, powered Far Away So Close to victory in the Visit Tipperary Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary yesterday.

The Goffs Land Rover Sales were on Wednesday and Thursday and while the official figures would indicate that it was a success, given slight increases on 2009, I still think it was tricky enough.

THE Thomas O’Leary-trained Tawnies dug deep to land the Dromahane Chase at Cork last night.

AIB LEAGUE DIVISION 2 FINAL:

Brian Harding has confirmed he has broken his arm after a fall at Kelso yesterday.

ROGER LOUGHRAN will take the plum spare ride on Vic Venturi in today’s Grand National after jockey Paddy Flood suffered a broken collarbone.

Roger Loughran will take the plum spare ride on Vic Venturi in the John Smith’s Grand National after Paddy Flood suffered a broken collarbone.

By Ashley Iveson, Press Association Sport

RUBY Walsh produced Kempes with a perfectly-timed challenge to foil gambled-on favourite Jagoes Mills in the Grade 2 Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase (re-scheduled from Naas last Sunday) on an all-chase card at Thurles yesterday.

FORPADYDEPLASTERER moved a step closer to lining up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase after coming through a workout on the Curragh yesterday with flying colours.

RITE Of Passage hardened as favourite for the Neptune Investments Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham after recording what his trainer Dermot Weld described as a “satisfactory” win in the Book Your Festival Tickets Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

NAAS Racecourse & Horse Racing Ireland will stage a novel event during the annual paddypower.com Cheltenham Trial day this Sunday.

Footy Facts (9-4) ran out an easy winner of the Kathleen Clarke 80th Birthday Hurdle at snow-swept Punchestown.

Sizing Europe maintained his unbeaten record over fences in the Grade One Board na Mona – With Nature Novice Chase at Leopardstown – but not without a scare.

IN COMPLIANCE, having his first run since December of 2007, made a stunning return in the Thurles Chase at Thurles yesterday.

“THERE was great pleasure in that”, remarked Tom Cooper, after he watched his son, Bryan, guide the trainer’s Rossdara to success in the Cahir Mares Maiden hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

Andrew McNamara was taken to hospital for precautionary x-rays after injuring his ankle at Galway.

ERIC McNAMARA’S Faltering Fullback made a smashing debut over fences when taking the Kevin McManus Beginners Chase at Listowel yesterday.

Fit The Cove put up a tremendously gutsy display to land the feature Connacht Tribune Centenary Handicap on the final day of the Galway Festival today.

CUAN Na Grai, taken out twice of late because of quick ground by Paul Nolan, found conditions to his liking in the Festival 18th and 19th July Hurdle at Tipperary last night.

ANOTHER page in the remarkable history of the Mullins racing dynasty was written at Clonmel last night when Bachelor Affair provided Gerard Mullins with his first training success.

FALTERING FULLBACK buckled down in fine style to land the McSweeney Arms’ Hotel Hurdle at Killarney last night.

THE Francis Flood-trained Slievecorragh got off the mark on the flat when landing the featured Kedrah House Stud Well Chosen Tipperary Perpetual Cup at Clonmel last night.

DROIM TOLL is a token nap choice to win the Fundraising Opportunities Handicap Chase at Tipperary tonight, on what looks an especially difficult programme for punters.

THE tough Smoking Aces can land the Come On Ireland Novice Hurdle at Gowran Park this afternoon.

RUBY WALSH and Willie Mullins continued in irresistible form when sharing a treble at Navan yesterday, scoring with odds-on shots Lilywhitedancer and Barker and marker-drifter Palace Merano, which needed all of Walsh’s strength to land the Irish Stallion Farms Novice Hurdle.

Ninetieth Minute helped move Ireland closer to a record haul at the Cheltenham Festival when his dogged Coral Cup success formed the third leg of a second-day four-timer for the Irish raiders.

Ninetieth Minute gave the Irish their seventh winner of the Cheltenham Festival as he powered clear in the hands of Paddy Flood to win the Coral Cup.

WILLIE MULLINS continued his build-up to next week’s Cheltenham Festival by recording a double with odds-on favourites Apt Approach and Citizen Vic at Fairyhouse yesterday.

EBAZIYAN will return to the scene of his finest hour for a crack at the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle following his return to winning form under Ruby Walsh at Leopardstown yesterday.

Mikael D’Haguenet is not a definite runner at the Cheltenham Festival – despite maintaining his unbeaten record over hurdles at Punchestown.

NIALL MADDEN emerged from yesterday’s Grade 2 MacLochlainn Road Markings Ltd Kinloch Brae Chase with great credit, guiding Cailin Alainn to a clever success.

THERE’S little doubt the most promising horse on view at Limerick yesterday was Willie Mullins’ Quiscover Fontaine and he duly completed a hat-trick of wins in the Greenmount Racing Club Novice Hurdle.

The entries for the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National have been revealed, with last year’s Gold Cup winner Denman the headline act from a total of 123.

THOMAS O’LEARY produced an extraordinary training performance to win back-to back Ellen Construction Thyestes Handicap Chases with Preists Leap at Gowran Park yesterday.