Trainer-jockey Johnny Murtagh believes Royal Diamond is in even better form now than he was a year ago as the admirable stayer prepares to defend his crown in tomorrow's GAIN Irish St Leger at the Curragh.

Olympic Glory is one of 24 horses to stand their ground at the latest forfeit stage for Sunday’s French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp.

Exciting Irish colt Fort Knox has been bought by Sheikh Mohammed, according to jockey Johnny Murtagh.

Battle Of Marengo proved a convincing winner of the Group 3 PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes, the highlight of a treble for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien in testing ground at Leopardstown yesterday.

Battle Of Marengo laid down an early marker for the Investec Derby with a determined triumph in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.

Aidan O’Brien has mapped out an early-season plan for his dual Derby winner Camelot that will culminate with an appearance at Royal Ascot.

The victory of Rehn’s Nest in the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes proved the highlight of a spectacular opening day of the 2013 turf flat season for trainer Jim Bolger at the Curragh yesterday.

Crowned champion-jockey for the first time last April, Davy Russell ended 2012 on a high when completing a double for Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud at Punchestown yesterday, highlighted by Bog Warrior’s emphatic defeat of long-absent Solwhit in the Follow Punchestown On Facebook Hurdle.

Teenager Luke Dempsey has quickly emerged as the apprentice find of the season and rode his third winner in the last ten days when the gambled-on Spirituality got up close home to foil favourite Captain Joy in the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Package Handicap in Dundalk last night.

Fast-improving three-year-old Seventh Sign aims to complete a four-timer in the ultra-competitive Hacketts Bookmakers Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh tomorrow.

Lines Of Battle landed the listed Star Appeal 2-Y-0 Stakes for Ballydoyle in convincing style in Dundalk last night.

Kingsbarns made an impressive debut when landing the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden at Navan yesterday.

Ursa Major is unlikely to run again this season following a creditable effort in his first Group One race in the Ladbrokes St Leger.

Connections of Royal Diamond paid tribute to his former trainer Jonjo O’Neill after he completed the transformation from beaten Fakenham hurdler to Classic winner in less than nine months.

Tommy Carmody’s Royal Diamond, runner-up in the Ebor at York, stepped up to Group One level to claim the Gain Horse Feeds Irish St Leger in a pulsating finish at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien admits it would be beyond his wildest dreams if Camelot can ensure his place in racing legend and secure Triple Crown glory in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster today.

Ladbrokes feel they are “dangling a carrot” for punters by easing Camelot’s odds ahead of his bid for Triple Crown glory in tomorrow’s St Leger at Doncaster.

Ladbrokes feel they are “dangling a carrot” for punters by easing Camelot’s odds ahead of his bid for Triple Crown glory in Saturday’s St Leger at Doncaster.

Johnny Murtagh is likely to team up with Ursa Major as he seeks to win the Ladbrokes St Leger for the first time at Doncaster on Saturday.

Johnny Murtagh is likely to team up with Ursa Major as he seeks to win the Ladbrokes St Leger for the first time at Doncaster on Saturday.

Cul Baire, who was a costly failure at Wexford last month, gets the nap to redress the balance in the www.gowranpark.ie Maiden at the Co Kilkenny track this evening.

Johnny Murtagh returns from a spell on the sidelines for one ride at Gowran Park on Wednesday.

Mystery surrounds the termination yesterday of Johnny Murtagh’s contract as retained jockey for the Aga Khan’s Irish-trained horses.

Punters enjoyed a bonanza in Ballinrobe last night as five favourites, including two odds-on shots, obliged.

Leopardstown could be the next port of call for Snow Fairy following her triumphant return from injury at Deauville.

Orgilgo Bay gets the nap in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden at Killarney this evening, a contest that would not be out of place at say the Curragh or Leopardstown.

The Irish St Leger and the Melbourne Cup are potential options for Royal Diamond following his superb run in Saturday’s Ebor at York.

Michael Winters, who has enjoyed a dream summer with high-class hurdler Rebel Fitz, can provide us with a winning nap in the shape of Missunited in the Tote Jackpot Races 3 to 6 Maiden at Ballinrobe this evening.

The Jim Bolger-trained Annie Power sent punters home happy when powering to victory in the Enniscorthy Mares Flat Race in rain-soaked Wexford last night.

Connections of the ante-post favourite breathed a sigh of relief after Motivado just made the cut for the Betfred Ebor at York on Saturday.

Willie Mullins took his score for the truncated Tramore festival to six when Sweet My Lord made an excellent start over fences in the Beginners Chase yesterday.

Hall Of Mirrors should prove hard to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden for colts and geldings at Leopardstown tonight.

Niall ‘Boots’ Madden continued his amazing run of success for owner J P McManus when Whatever It Takes landed a tidy gamble in the featured E.P.S. Pumps Handicap Hurdle in Ballinrobe last night.

On a night when apprentice Conor Hoban took the riding honours with a double, the Jim Bolger-trained three-year-old Livia Galilei landed the Connacht Oaks in Sligo last night.

The annual challenge between Irish and Australian national hunt jockeys takes place at the end of the month and the lucky quartet representing the Tricolour were named in Galway yesterday.

Pat Flynn and Danny Grant shared a 69/1 double with Final Flashback and Al Mancillia in sunny Wexford last night.

Tommy Carmody, one of the finest National Hunt jockeys ever produced by this country, has made a decent impression since returning to the training ranks.

Classy hurdler Steps To Freedom proved the equine star of yesterday’s action in Dundalk, defying top-weight of 10-3 and justifying strong support in the two-mile Boylesports.com Handicap to spark a double for trainer Jessica Harrington and Fran Berry.

Ursa Major captured the opening night feature, the Derby Festival Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap, when the three-year-old ran out a determined winner at the expense of Buy Back Bob at the Curragh last night.

Sharestan landed his first listed victory when getting the better of front-running Defining Year in the Coolmore Stud China Ireland Friendship Silver Srakes at the Curragh yesterday.

Michael Halford is looking forward to Defining Year having another crack at Sharestan in Sunday’s Coolmore Stud China Ire.Friendship Silver Stakes at the Curragh.

Former top jockey Tommy Carmody made a dream return to the training ranks, ten years after his last winner, when Miss Mediator landed the opening bookings@dundalkstadium.com Fillies Maiden in Dundalk last night.

JOHNNYS LEGACY is the hopeful nap choice to defy top weight in the Winter Racing At Dundalk Apprentice Handicap on the all-weather tonight.

AIDAN O’BRIEN has won the three classics run in Ireland so far this season and can make it number four with Wonder Of Wonders in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh tomorrow.