THEY say that truth is stranger than fiction and it was surely never better illustrated than by the circumstances which saw Tony McCoy pilot Finger Onthe Pulse to victory in the www.thetote.com Galway Plate yesterday.

Today is Guinness Gold Cup today at the Punchestown Festival in Co Kildare.

Owner Jim Lewis has warned that this year’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner will only be borrowing the title until Best Mate is back on form.

Barry Geraghty was once again the star of the show at Leopardstown today as he took the two most valuable races of the afternoon courtesy of Essex and Newmill.

A huge array of young talent has been entered for the two novice features at the Cheltenham Festival, the Irish Independent Arkle Chase and the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.