The Robbie Hennessy trained 5/2 joint-favourite Rubi Light made his Grade 1 breakthrough when beating 2009 winner Joncol in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in Punchestown yesterday.

CUTS to judges’ pay are long overdue.

IT SEMES like an eternity since I smashed my leg at Down Royal way back on November 6, but I’m now ready and raring to go and the only question is what day will I return next week.

Colin Tizzard has confirmed his stable star Cue Card is an intended runner in the Stan James Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham rather than the Champion Hurdle.

DENMAN has been left at the head of the weights and is one of 34 remaining entries for the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday week.

NINA CARBERRY can create history aboard Character Building by becoming the first female winner of the John Smith’s Grand National.

SWEET MY LORD should help fund punters’ Easter weekend by landing the opening Buttevant Maiden Hurdle at Cork.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy looks set to partner Jonjo O’Neill’s Can’t Buy Time as he chases an elusive first success in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Morning Supreme maintained her unbeaten record over jumps with a game all-the-way win in the Dawn Omega Milk EBF Mares Novice Hurdle at Limerick.

I have seven rides for the weekend and the hope is to walk out of Limerick tomorrow unscathed and fit and raring to go for the biggest four days of the season at Cheltenham.

EVERY year we travel to Cheltenham it’s taken as a given that one of ours will definitely win the Bumper.

I suppose you could best describe my weekend as the storm before the calm!

Iran’s supreme leader today said Iran’s disputed presidential vote had not been rigged, sternly warning protesters to halt massive demonstrations demanding a new election or be held responsible for creating chaos.

Jonjo O’Neill has hit the ground running in 2009 and sent out a 64-1 double courtesy of Supreme Keano and Carnival Town at Chepstow.

King Supreme orchestrated the perfect moment to curtail a long run of seconds and thirds with victory in the £20,000 totesport.com Brighton Challenge Cup.

Kauto Star and Denman head a high-class entry of 42 for the most prestigious prize in steeplechasing, the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Solerina notched up her 22nd career success when seeing off four rivals in the Cedar Building Hurdle at Naas.

Rule Supreme’s racing career is in the balance after the Willie Mullins-trained gelding picked up a tendon injury that will keep him on the sidelines for over a year.

Beyonce Knowles has auditioned for a new movie which is based on a Broadway tribute to Diana Ross and the Supremes.

BRIAN HASSETT kept his many supporters happy by partnering a double at his local Co Clare Hunt point-to-point meeting at Dromoland yesterday.

WILLIE MULLINS’ Rule Supreme can have Irish eyes smiling on St Patrick’s Day by landing the Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

KICKING KING in and Best Mate out is the latest twist to next Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Eamon Sheehy is looking forward to running his smart novice hurdler Justified in the Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next week.

Beau Supreme continued on an upward curve at Ludlow yesterday and left trainer Chris Down wondering whether a trip to the Cheltenham Festival might be in order.

CHILE'S Supreme Court ruled yesterday that murder and kidnapping charges against General Augusto Pinochet can move forward, a decision that brings the former dictator one step closer to trial in a major human rights case.

BEST MATE will face a maximum of seven rivals when he bids for back-to-back victories in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown next Tuesday.

Willie Mullins planning at crack at Saturday’s Telectronics Systems Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor with Rule Supreme.

BARACOUDA has been installed as the red-hot 1-3 favourite by Cashmans to record a fourth success in the Telectronics Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor on Saturday.

Leading Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup hope Simply Supreme will miss next Saturday’s Newbury showpiece.

CASHMANS have dipped their toes in the ante-post market for the €180,000 Heineken Gold Cup at Punchestown next Wednesday.

Rule Supreme will bid to follow up his Cheltenham Festival success in the Martell Cognac Sainsbury's Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree tomorrow.

Brave Inca, trained by Colm Murphy and ridden by Barry Cash, won the opening Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

Beef Or Salmon has recovered from a slight setback and is on course for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

A man was pulled alive from the rubble of Iran’s devastating earthquake today as relief workers restored some electricity and rushed more aid into the ruined ancient city of Bam.

Timmy Murphy will be out of action for at least seven days after a crashing fall at Fairyhouse on Sunday.