There were two winners for Eric McNamara and three for Willie Mullins, but Midleton jockey Paul Townend stole the show with a four-timer on the opening day of the 2018 Harvest Festival in Listowel.

Seven years ago three-time All-Ireland winner David Hickey, then a Dublin selector, told friends his county would become the first team to complete the illustrious five in a row. Undaunted by the defeats to Mayo and Donegal in 2012 and 2014 respectively, he repeated those claims as one of their team doctors two years ago. Now as a supporter, his joy is unbridled seeing the team on the cusp of that achievement.

Dermot Weld and Declan McDonogh led the way with a double on the opening day of Killarney August meeting, Aidan O’Brien pitched in with a brilliant winner of the feature, Jessica Harrington was on the mark with a progressive colt, and John Murphy continued his fine run at this track with another winner.

On the final day of the August festival in Tramore, trainer Willie Mullins recorded a double, while championship rival Gordon Elliott took the feature, the McCarthy’s Irish Bar Lexington Handicap Chase with the well-treated Mill Quest.

Snow Falcon more than made amends for his luckless effort in the Galway Plate by taking the Guinness Kerry National in front of a crowd of 25,610 at Listowel track.

Aubrey McMahon hit the headlines in 2017 when winning the Connacht Hotel Handicap, the feature on the opening day of the Galway festival, on his father’s Whiskey Sour, and there was a distinct sense of déjà vu yesterday evening as the young rider carried his father Luke’s colours to victory for the second consecutive year, this time aboard Uradel.

By Paul Keane

By Tommy Lyons

After another successful Royal Ascot, jockey Frankie Dettori took time off this week to enjoy the sunshine in Sardinia with his family, but it will be back to business this weekend as the big-race jockey is to be tasked with helping Knight To Behold bounce back from his Epsom disappointment when he contests the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby this Saturday at The Curragh.

A James Doyle masterclass aboard Sea Of Class ensured the remarkable record of overseas runners in the Darley Irish Oaks continued — and that was the theme for the day, as British-based trainers won all three group races and four in total on Saturday afternoon at the Curragh.

Nine the last 14 runnings of the Darley Irish Oaks have gone for export but all five which have been kept at home have been done so by trainer Aidan O’Brien, whose haul of five winners leaves him just one shy of the record currently held by Michael Stoute.

I Can Fly got her season back on track with victory in a listed race at Killarney and can make a successful step up to Group 3 company in the Coolmore Stud Fairy Bridge Stakes on this evening’s card in Tipperary.

Ireland missed out on a clean sweep on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival when Missed Approach made virtually all the running in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase.

Terrefort can get punters off to the perfect start by taking the JLT Novices’ Chase for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Daryl Jacob, suggests racing correspondent Tommy Lyons.

Tommy Lyons picks out three horses worth a punt at Cheltenham this week.

Ruby Walsh, who aggravated an old injury at last week’s Cheltenham Festival, has ruled out making a return in time for Aintree.

Aside from Footpad’s crystal-clear claims in the Ryanair Novice Chase, today’s card looks quite difficult for punters.

An open-looking renewal of the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup is the feature on day two of the Punchestown festival.

The finale to the National Hunt season could hardly start on a better note, with three fantastic Grade Ones on the seven-race card on the first day of the Punchestown Festival.

Richard Hannon’s Kool Kompany, so disappointing at Royal Ascot in the Coventry, streaked away with the Group 2 Gain Railway Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.