Tim O’Connor returns from the kitchen with a pot of tea and two slices of currant cake before being drawn to a stack of sheets piled on the living room table.

ACAMBO must shoulder top weight as he bids to book his ticket for the Cheltenham Festival in tomorrow’s totesport Trophy.

Robert Tyner pulled off a remarkable long-term coup as Spring The Que caused a 16-1 upset in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown.

WE round off the pre-Christmas fare in Ireland this weekend with two rather disappointing meetings at Navan and Thurles and if the expenses haven’t been accumulated by now then it is probably all too late!

THE Gerry Cully-trained Markason landed a tidy gamble in a division of the Clonee Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse yesterday, providing jockey Davy Condon with his first triumph over hurdles.