The Steve Mahon-trained Usa made a spectacular return to action when bolting-up in the Fundraising Events At Tipperary Races Rated Novice Chase in Tipperary yesterday.

On an evening when Mikey Fogarty was concussed and sustained an injury to his right knee in a fall before being removed to nearby South Tipperary General Hospital, the Tom Taaffe-trained Gold Bullet landed the featured Suir Valley Chase in Clonmel.

Flemenstar will make his long-awaited return in Saturday’s Webster Cup at Navan.

Rubi Light got the better of He’llberemembered after a titanic tussle to land the featured Arctic Tack Stud Veterans Handicap Chase in Wexford yesterday.

I Shot The Sheriff will be expected to land the Micheal O Murchadha Memorial Rated Hurdle in Wexford for Tony Martin and Ruby Walsh today.

Vautour was most impressive in the 2014 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and, despite his blip at Leopardstown in December, remains really exciting. The quicker conditions should prompt improvement, and recent reports are positive.

Vautour can get punters off to a flying start by taking the opening JLT Novices’ Chase for the in-form team of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.

Very Wood booked his ticket for a return visit to Cheltenham when hitting form with victory in the Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan yesterday.

Two rides at Fairyhouse today and four at Punchestown tomorrow make up my weekend, says Ruby Walsh.

Jockey Noel Fehily is in confident mood as Silviniaco Conti prepares to defend his crown in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Friday.

Shark Hanlon is keeping his fingers crossed there is some ease in the ground at the Punchestown Festival later this month ahead of Hidden Cyclone’s intended appearance in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase.

Leading Cheltenham contenders Big Buck’s and Silviniaco Conti could enjoy a workout after racing at Exeter on Friday, if the ground is suitable.

Willie Mullins is happy to take small steps with Un De Sceaux as he attempts to maintain his unbeaten record in the Red Mill Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park today.

This is my first column of the winter campaign and I have to start by talking about Limerick on Monday and an afternoon that is going to be dedicated to John Thomas McNamara and Jonjo Bright.

The Paul Townend-ridden Pires gained a last-gasp victory in the featured Water Towers Chase in Ballinrobe, continuing the superb form of trainer Tony Martin.

Carlingford Lough got into thetote.com Galway Plate as first reserve yesterday and then proceeded to land the massive prize, after developing into a major order both in the betting ring and on the exchanges.

Diplomat booked his ticket to join Dermot Weld’s all-conquering Galway Festival team with an easy victory in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle at Sligo yesterday.

Noel Meade’s Benemeade is the nap choice in the Easyfix Rubber Products Novice Hurdle at Roscommon this evening.

Pale Mimosa gave trainer Dermot Weld his eighth win in the Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes with a gutsy display at Leopardstown last night.

Willie Mullins feels testing conditions could give Back In Focus the edge over stable companion Boston Bob in tomorrow's Growise Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival.

Here’s one who is a big fan of Battle Of Marengo and, right now, would not want to be on any other horse for the Epsom Derby.

Gold Bullet proved himself an exciting prospect when making a successful handicap debut in the featured Henry Shefflin & Ashgrove Stables Handicap Hurdle in Gowran Park yesterday.

Charles Byrnes indicated at Limerick yesterday that Solwhit, so impressive at Aintree on Saturday, is likely to tackle Quevega in a three-mile Grade 1 hurdle at Punchestown later this month.

The Tom Taaffe-trained Argocat captured the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase, feature of the St. Stephen’s Day action in Limerick yesterday.

Tammys Hill remains firmly on course for the Foxhunters Tammys Hill remains firmly on course for the Foxhunters at Cheltenham, having confirmed his superiority over last year’s winner Salsify in the Dark Horse Café & Wine Bar Hunters Chase in Down Royal yesterday.

Former champion apprentice Gary Carroll ended the 2012 campaign at Dundalk on a high when completing a double on Lily Of Kenmare and Shukhov last night.

Raz De Maree gave trainer Dessie Hughes his first Ladbrokes Munster National when, delivered with a perfectly-timed challenge by Bryan Cooper, he mastered Quietly Fancied and joint favourite Questions Answered in Limerick yesterday.

The David Wachman trained Aloof, whose two previous career successes were achieved on Dundalk’s polytrack surface, proved a shock 12/1 winner of the Denny Cordell-Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes in Gowran Park yesterday.

A tilt at the Guinness Kerry National in Listowel is on the cards for the Philip Fenton-trained Caim Hill following his gutsy victory in the Castleview Homes Mullacurry Cup Handicap Hurdle in Bellewstown last evening.

Dermot Weld has a particularly strong hand at Galway tonight and is fancied to land a treble.

Its fortunes may have waned in recent years but it’s still a case of who you know if you want to get into the K Club.

A smooth odds-on winner at Kilbeggan last time, Tasitiocht should continue Willie Mullins’ rich vein of form by following-up in tonight’s bumper in Cork, the August Bank Holiday Flat Race.

Tom Taaffe’s Distant Memories has his sights considerably lowered at Ballinrobe this evening and is the nap choice in the Treacys’ Pharmacy Hurdle.

The Ward Union Hunt point-to-point returned after a 38-year absence to The Folly outside the village of Oldtown in north Co Dublin on Saturday.

Kauto Star continues to make strides in his race to be primed for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday week.

MIDNIGHT GAME gets the nap to land a fascinating little four-runner Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Irish Racing Writers’ Novice Hurdle at Naas this afternoon.

APT APPROACH got the full Ruby Walsh treatment to justify strong market support in the Grade 2 Matty Ryan Memorial Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles yesterday.

BOOKMAKERS are generally rather coy about admitting they have had a good day, or a good meeting, but this week a number accepted that Leopardstown at Christmas had been rather tasty for them.

HAVING missed the ‘cut’ for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, the Ted Walsh-trained Seabass gained a degree of compensation when making virtually all the running to land the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick yesterday.

Former smart Flat performer Distant Memories made a winning debut over timber in the Roches Feeds Maiden Hurdle at Limerick.

Quel Esprit and Havingotascoobydo were the most notable absentees at the final 48-hour declaration stage for the Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

PAUL Nicholls believes Mon Parrain has to improve to break the champion trainer’s Paddy Power Gold Cup hoodoo.

Top-weight Poquelin heads the 32 five-day acceptors for Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Sizing Europe profited from the final-fence fall of Rubi Light when running out a fortuitous winner of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Champion Chase at Gowran Park.