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

John Cullen steps in for the injured Andrew McNamara as Preists Leap bids to land the Tendrleen Thyestes Handicap Chase for the third year running at Gowran Park tomorrow.

THE ups-and-downs of racing were never better illustrated that at Clonmel yesterday when the Ruby Walsh bandwagon came to a partial halt. Walsh has been on a terrific roll, following his Cheltenham exploits, and came to the meeting with nine winners in the bag for three racing days since returning home.

SEAMUS LYNCH’S Itsallaracket is the nap choice in the EBF Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Downpatrick this afternoon.

CAIM HILL, off the track since September, and On The Way Out, ninth in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown, dead-heated at the end of a thriller for the Listed Surehaul Mercedes Novice Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

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.

RUBY WALSH and Clear Gold teamed up to land a grief-stricken McEligott’s Landrover Handicap Chase at Killarney last night.

Declan Kidney last night predicted that Peter Stringer will bounce back from his disappointments this season.

DENIS O’REGAN will be looking to continue his recent run of big-race success when he gets the leg-up on Priests Leap in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National on Monday.

Denis O’Regan will be looking to continue his recent run of big-race success when he gets the leg-up on Priests Leap in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National on Monday.

Kicking King has breathed new life into the Cheltenham Gold Cup market with his sparkling return to action at Gowran Park following a 759-day layoff.

CLONAKILTY, Co Cork handler, Thomas O’Leary, enjoyed the biggest success of his career when 20-1 shot Preists Leap stormed away with the Ellen Construction Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park yesterday.

DAVY RUSSELL continued his relentless pursuit of a first jockey’s title when guiding well-backed Kingsmaster to a smooth successs in the Waterford and Tramore Supporters’ Club Maiden Hurdle at the final stage of the Tramore Festival yesterday.

DAVY RUSSELL continued his relentless pursuit of a first jockey’s title when guiding well-backed Kingsmaster to a smooth successs in the Waterford and Tramore Supporters’ Club Maiden Hurdle at the final stage of the Tramore Festival yesterday.

DAVY RUSSELL got off to the perfect start for the New Year when producing a magical piece of riding on Cloudy Bays in the featured Wilf Dooly Chase at Tramore yesterday.

CHAMPIONS Shannon returned to the summit of AIL Division One with a 16-3 demolition of St Mary’s at Thomond Park on Saturday.

THOMAS O’Leary holds the halter of stable star Scarthy Lad in one hand, while the other hoses the ‘Stay Sound’ compound from the horse’s off foreleg. There’s a wistful, but resigned, look on his face as the plaster-esque substance dilutes and runs down the drain.

Munster coach Declan Kidney willl have to make do without Jeremy Manning, Ronan O'Gara, Christian Cullen, Marcus Horan and Denis Leamy for the Celtic League clash with Edinburgh Gunners at Thomond Park on Saturday next (7.30pm).

TRAINER, Pat Hughes, lashed out at an on-course bookmaker after his newcomer, Farmer Brown, had landed a gamble in the Kevin McManus Champion Bumper at Limerick yesterday.

FEATURE event at Leopardstown tomorrow is the Pierse Hurdle, where only a super optimist could be in any confident about finding the winner.

THE Thomas O’Leary trained Newmill left a disappointing first pop over fences at Naas firmly behind with a fine performance to land the Fethard Beginners Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

NEWMILL, easily the best horse on show, will be the focus of much attention in the Fethard Beginners Chase at Clonmel this afternoon.

Like-A-Butterfly returns to the racecourse following a 595-day absence in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase at Naas tomorrow afternoon.

WILLIE MULLINS’ Major Vernon duly outclassed his rivals in the first division of the Cashel Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday, giving the impression there was plenty in the locker.

Clontarf 26 Cork Con 29

Reigning champions Ballymena top the AIB League Division One following their second bonus point win in the space of seven days, with this afternoon’s 32-6 rout of Galwegians at Crowley Park.

FRANCES CROWLEY’S Hidden Genius, taken from some 5-4 to evens and the medium of one bet of €12,500 to €10,000 with leading layer David Hyland, was given a confident drive by Shay Barry to win the Saltan Properties Maiden Hurdle at a bitterly cold Tramore yesterday.

CONOR O’DWYER, looking forward to partnering Native Upmanship in the King George at Kempton on Thursday, could be the pilot to follow at Navan this afternoon.

CONOR O’DWYER completed a double at Thurles yesterday, enjoying armchair rides aboard Scarthy Lad and Eskimo Jack.