The Grand National champion says she never thought that 'being a jockey could be a career for me'

John Nallen is a former owner of Minella Times and Minella Indo, who won the most prestigious races in national hunt this year

The first thing you notice about Thurles Racecourse when you arrive at the entrance are two gunmetal grey stands. Once you enter into the ground, you soon realise concrete steps leading from the bottom to the top of each stand are its seats.

There was no roof-raising roar as Falberto claimed the opening Shropshire Mind Novices’ Claiming Hurdle

Ryan Moore’s brief quarantine in Tipperary came to a quick and early close on Thursday morning when the news broke that submissions made to government by HRI had been accepted and that jockeys who were booked to ride in either Group or ...

Calidus Mirabilis can make his experience count in opener

Having waited more than 20 years to win a Group One in his homeland, Ger Lyons wasted no time in doubling his tally - and now has his sights set on the Qatar Sussex Stakes with Siskin.

Arthurian Fame can make a winning return to National Hunt racing in the second division of the Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Maiden Hurdle.

There is a decent card this afternoon in Navan and Nullifier get the nap to take the Bohermeen Handicap for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane.

Donnacha O’Brien, fresh from Classic success in France, won the two juvenile maidens on last night’s card in Gowran, while jockey Gavin Ryan, who has made a great start to association with that stable, was in the plate for one and added another to complete his own double.

National Hunt action at Bellewstown gets the day’s racing underway in Ireland and Rachael Blackmore can guide Loudest Whisper to an overdue first success when they contest the second division of the Thanks To The Frontline Workers Handicap.

Peregrine Run is a credit to himself and to connections, and he once again showed his liking for Killarney when completing back-to-back wins in the Grade 3 Boylesports An Riocht Chase.

Al Boum Photo and Cyrname share top billing in this year’s Anglo-Irish Jump Classifications.

The Limerick jockey was having just his ninth ride of the season in the Classic.

Killarney hosts the National Hunt action, with the Grade 3 Boylesports An Riocht Chase the feature, while the day’s action starts in Roscommon, where the listed Lenabane Stakes is the feature on a seven-race Flat card.

In a remarkable year, primarily for the wrong reasons, one of the least remarkable results of 2020 came on Saturday at Epsom when Aidan O’Brien saddled the winner of the Derby.

Serpentine sprang a 25-1 surprise as he made all for a famous victory in the Investec Derby at Epsom.

Today's 2020 Investec Derby will be a strange event, devoid of spectators, on-course bookmakers, and the man who could become the most successful trainer in the race’s iconic 240-year history.

Four meetings this weekend, three of which are on the level, but the nap comes in the closing race on the National Hunt card at Bellewstown, in the shape of Tullybeg.

A 15lb hike up the handicap for a facile success at Leopardstown was not enough to prevent a second success of the season for Patrick Sarsfield, who took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nasrullah Premier Handicap for Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh at Navan yesterday.

Jockey Tom Marquand was born five years after the release of the first Jurassic Park movie so at best it’s even-money that the promising 22-year-old rider has seen the film.

Donnacha O’Brien saddled his first winner on turf when Great House won at Limerick earlier this week and he can double up with Hazel, who can take the opening race on today’s card in Navan.

Two Flat meetings to keep Irish racing fans busy most of the day, and King Of Stars should get punters off to the perfect start by taking the first race at Bellewstown, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Johnny Murtagh’s team is in irresistible form right now and Know It All ran out and impressive winner of the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Fillies’ Stakes at Leopardstown.

Another day of 16 Irish races to enjoy, and the nap comes in Leopardstown, where Blackcatblackitten can get the mark in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies’ Maiden.

Killenaule, Co Tipperary, jockey Gavin Ryan rode a double last week at Fairyhouse and the 20-year-old added two more at Limerick to continue his impressive run.

Killenaule has been revelling in the achievements of Rachael Blackmore just as much as those of star hurler, John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer in the Tipperary jersey in the past few years, and the elite jump jockey’s debut in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby today has certainly captured the imagination of her neighbours.

Frenetic looked a colt with great natural speed when winning on debut and he can follow up in the listed Gain First Flier Stakes, the sixth race on today’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby card at the Curragh.

Two meetings today in Ireland, and the nap comes over the jumps at Tipperary where Shanroe should prove himself well ahead of his handicap mark when contesting the Oola Handicap Hurdle.

Owners will be allowed back on Irish racecourses next month, as part of new measures which will ease current strict protocols in place to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

Musalsal was unlucky in running on his most recent outing and can gain compensation in the first division of the Follow Fairyhouse On Social Media Handicap, the fourth of eight races today at Fairyhouse.

There is a good card in Naas this afternoon and Ger Lyons has found some good opportunities back in maiden company for a couple of highly tried runners.

Royal Ascot hero Santiago is one of 19 horses confirmed for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Liam Treadwell sprang one of the biggest surprises in Grand National history when riding 100-1 outsider Mon Mome to victory in 2009.

Limerick hosted the return of National Hunt racing and right away there were familiar colours in the winner’s enclosure as Filon D’oudairies, owned by JP McManus, trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Mark Walsh, made all the running to take the first division of the two-mile maiden hurdle.

The Blue Panther can make it third time lucky when he lines up for the second race, the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden, on today’s card in Navan.

Wilderness was an impressive winner on Friday night at Gowran Park and can follow up under the mandatory 6lb penalty when he contests the second division of the roscommonracecourse.ie Handicap.

The six-furlong handicap on today’s card in Naas looks particularly competitive, but the nature of the race should suit Master Matt. Trained by shrewd handler Matt Smith, the now four-year-old didn’t enjoy much luck in running last season, but performed very well on a number of occasions, most notably when runner-up to Make A Challenge on soft ground at the Curragh.

Interesting races on both of today’s cards in Ireland, and the nap goes to Keats, who can get off the mark at the third time of asking by taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Gowran Park.

The each-way players will be out in force to side with Technician in the Ascot Gold Cup, particularly if there is any further softening of the ground to inconvenience odds-on favourite Stradivarius.

Richard Hannon took the first race on the opening day of Royal Ascot and can repeat the feat this afternoon by taking the Silver Royal Hunt Cup with Ouzo.

Royal Ascot will be unusual viewing, with none of the pomp nor ceremony we associate with it, but there is, as always, top-class racing to enjoy and Skardu makes plenty of each-way appeal at around 16-1 for this afternoon’s Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.

There will be plenty of very noticeable differences at Royal Ascot this year with the meeting taking place behind closed doors - but the sight of Frankie Dettori producing fireworks on the track will almost certainly not be one of them.

Colin Keane and Ger Lyons rounded off a weekend they will never forget when landing both Listed prizes at Leopardstown today.