The Grand National was a great race and a credit to everyone involved, says Ruby Walsh.

The hurling and the horses are two quintessential Irish pastimes — but the fastest field game on the planet got some serious horsepower when the sports were combined for the first time.

Jockey Andrew McNamara has announced he is to retire from the saddle at the age of 32.

There was some terrific Irish racing on ATR last Sunday, from Navan and Limerick, but for many of us the real highlight came at the end of the programme when Gary O’Brien interviewed Robbie McNamara.

Injured jockey Robbie McNamara was at Navan yesterday to cheer on Forgotten Rules.

Punchestown may be the focus of attention right now but the spate of serious injuries suffered by jockeys recently is exercising the minds of the experienced pilots in the Weigh Room.

In a marquee at Sandown Park at the conclusion of one of the most beautiful, emotional tear-stained goodbyes any great sportsman can ever wished to have been accorded came the dreaded, nagging question. What the hell will A.P McCoy do now?

AP McCoy calls time on the most successful career in the history of jump racing today and I would have made sure I was in Sandown for it to join in on the celebrations, whether I had a ride or not, writes Ruby Walsh

Davy Condon insists he feels “very lucky” despite being forced to retire from the saddle due to a spinal injury.

Jonjo O’Neill feels Shutthefrontdoor has the right credentials to give AP McCoy an unforgettable final ride in the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

Top amateur Robbie McNamara has decided to turn professional and will have his first rides in his new capacity at Gowran Park tomorrow.

Safest wager at Thurles this afternoon should be Noel Meade’s Couleur France in the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle.

Henry de Bromhead admitted: "You dream of days like this," after chasing debutant Sizing Granite beat odds-on favourite Lieutenant Colonel in the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Beginners Chase in Naas to complete the trainer’s first treble.

Back at the scene of an effortless bumper success at the Festival, the classy Windsor Park proved the star of yesterday’s action in Galway, coasting to a smooth success over Marchese Marconi in the www.swordsecurity.com Amateur Race.

Ireland houses two rather drab programmes this weekend, but a winner is a winner and Dessie Hughes’ Icy Reply is fancied to deliver in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Mares’ Hurdle at Navan this afternoon.

Gordon Elliott’s admirably consistent Clara Mc Cloud can land the Patrons’ Club Hurdle at Kilbeggan tonight.

The highlight of the Galway festival, strictly with the future in mind, was surely the display of Dermot Weld’s Forgotten Rules on the Friday night.

Brian Ellison vowed to return to Galway after Baraweez and Pacific Heights gave him a one-three in the €100,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ahonoora Handicap on the final day of the Festival.

In Britain they are becoming increasingly worried about field sizes, believing that a small number of runners in races are a turn-off for punters and bookmakers alike.

Pageboy, ridden by Paul Townend, gave trainer David Wachman his first chase success in almost eight years (since Manjoe won at Navan in June 2006) when landing the Free Admission For Under 18’s At All Meetings Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse last evening.

Marinero, a costly failure at Fairyhouse on Grand National day, gets the nap in the Bumper, back at the Co Meath track tonight.

After Faugheen had won in a canter at Punchestown on Tuesday, the bookmakers wasted no time introducing him into the Champion Hurdle market.

Tom George was thrilled to enjoy a welcome change of luck at the Punchestown Festival as God’s Own caused a huge surprise in the Ryanair Novice Chase in the hands of the irrepressible Barry Geraghty.

Faugheen, over a two-mile trip believed to be well short of his best, was hugely impressive in winning the Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Aerlite Supreme gained a gutsy win over the flattering Usa in the featured P & D Lydon Plant Hire Rated Hurdle in Ballinrobe yesterday, completing a double for trainer Michael Hourigan and Adrian Heskin.

Dermot Weld’s Cheltenham hero Silver Concorde will bid to complete a Festival double in the championship bumper at Punchestown next month.

Michael O’Leary was flying higher than Ryanair’s fleet of Boeing 737-800s yesterday after his Gigginstown Stud operation claimed four winners on a crazy and at times controversial closing day of the Cheltenham Festival.

If there is one thing worse than having to go through St Patrick’s Day and all its tacky manifestations every year, it is surely having to do it twice.

Robbie McNamara, first cousin of John Thomas McNamara, so tragically paralysed in a fall at the meeting a year ago, rode his first Festival winner when taking the Weatherbys’ Champion Bumper on the Dermot Weld-trained Silver Concorde.

The Irish spent the second day at the Cheltenham Festival struggling to make up ground on the locals who claimed five of the seven races and it was a case of much the same off the track on Ladies Day.

Patrick Mullins has let his heart rule his head in his decision to partner Black Hercules in today’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.15) at Cheltenham.

Willie Mullins further strengthened his formidable hand for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next month as Killultagh Vic produced a scintillating display at Naas yesterday.

Bryan Cooper’s decision to partner Gigginstown House Stud’s Trifolium, in preference to Mozoltov, reaped a rich dividend in the Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors’ Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Richard Johnson has been booked by the Grand National-winning team of Sue and Harvey Smith for Hennessy Gold Cup contender Cloudy Too.

Irish interests in the 23-strong field for Saturday’s hugely prestigious Hennessy Gold Cupstaying handicap at Newbury are spiked by the likely participation of last season’s RSA Chase winner Lord Windermere, who represents the Jim Culloty team.

Michael Winters continued his splendid run when Jansboy landed the Join The Tipperary Supporters’ Club 2014 Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary yesterday.

Trainer Andy Oliver doubled up with impressive winners All Set To Go and Jazz Girl in Roscommon last night.

Charles Byrnes’ Domination toyed with the opposition on the way to landing the featured J P McManus Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

Busted Tycoon and Notable Graduate provided Tony Martin and Dermot Weld respectively with further success on the final day of the 2013 Galway Festival in Ballybrit yesterday.

What a wizard this Michael Winters is! A year ago he produced Rebel Fitz to land the Guinness Galway Hurdle and returned to Ballybrit yesterday to win the race again, this time with the cracking mare Missunited.

Aerlite Supreme, not for the faint-hearted, is the nap choice in the Bumper at Cork this evening.