It was a night of mixed luck for trainer Gordon Elliott in Ballinrobe last night as Eshtiaal bolted-up in the Audi Ballina Handicap Hurdle, compensation following the defeat of both odds-on favourite Vercingetorix and Hostile Fire in the earlier Sheridan Electric 4-y-0 Hurdle.

Chasing debutant Cara’s Oscar recovered from a blunder at the second last fence to land the Rockathon Returns To Fairyhouse September 5th Beginners Chase in Fairyhouse yesterday, giving jockey Robbie Power his 40th success of the season.

Tom Gibney is hoping a campaign centered around a crack at the Boylesports Irish Grand National will reap benefits for 2012 hero Lion Na Bearnai.

Davy Condon is nearing a return to competitive action after riding out on Wednesday morning for the first time since suffering a heavy fall at Cork in August.

The sponsors are unable to split Present View and Oscar Whisky at the five-day declaration stage for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Tom Gibney, who won the 2012 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse with Lion Na Bearnai, was on the mark at Limerick yesterday when the consistent Circe’s Island landed the Follow Us On Twitter Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.

Trainer Donald McCain is hoping to be triple-handed in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 6.

On a day when Aintree-bound Seabass made a hugely encouraging return to action, hurdling debutant Defy Logic and Rock Critic enhanced their credentials as exciting novices with victories in Fairyhouse yesterday.

Barry Geraghty will make a decision on his William Hill King George VI Chase mount “sooner rather than later” according to trainer Nicky Henderson.

Tom Gibney is still planning to run Lion Na Bearnai in the Hennessy Gold Cup Chase – although the trainer would have preferred to have been able to give this year’s Irish National winner a prep run in advance.

The nominees for the 2012 Horse Racing Ireland awards were announced yesterday and includes a new category – Racecourse of the Year.

It was sore heads all round in the small village of Kilskyre, Co Meath, as the place celebrated its unlikely Irish Grand National triumph.

Tom Gibney, who trains relatively locally at Kells in Co Meath, enjoyed his greatest success when Lion Na Bearnai sprang a 33-1 shock in the Ladbrokes’ Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse yesterday.

The Ladbrokes Irish Grand National is one of the most precious jewels in Ireland’s racing crown, and it was Lion Na Bearnai who came up trumps, returning at odds of 33/1, with the crowds happy to cheer him into the winners’ enclosure with his popular local trainer Tom Gibney.

There was a fairytale 33-1 success for the connections of Lion Na Bearnai in the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

Lion Na Bearnai provided trainer Tom Gibney and jockey Andrew Thornton with the biggest success of their careers in the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

A trip to Aintree is one of several options open to Rathlin, who has delighted trainer Mouse Morris by finally showing his true ability over fences.

Willie Mullins saddled a one-two in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle at Navan yesterday as Mourad, ridden by Paul Townend, turned over the Ruby Walsh-ridden 4/11 favourite Mikael D’Haguenet.

SUN Disc credited Curragh trainer Dessie Hughes with his 17th winner of the campaign when the filly won the opening maiden hurdle at Down Royal yesterday.

AMATEUR Kevin Power was suspended for fourteen days following his ride on runner-up Optimum Force in the Conyngham Cup at Punchestown last evening.