“There’s no taking away from the fact that it wasn’t that long ago people were saying women shouldn’t ride in the National - but personally it’s never been an experience I’ve had, and it should be something that racing is very proud of.”

Bolshoi Ballet was cut to single figures in the ante-post market for the Epsom Derby after an impressive return to action in the Group 3 PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.

A sensational jockey, but not an overnight sensation, Rachael Blackmore's relentless pursuit of her own progress has helped to carry the sport forward

For Rachael Blackmore the aftermath of the Grand National was something akin to an outer body experience.

Just three short weeks ago, she admitted to “pinching herself” after she became the first female jockey to be leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Blackmore led home a one-two for trainer Henry de Bromhead, winning at 11-1 from 100-1 runner-up Balko Des Flos

Nicky Henderson's exciting prospect may not have been as impressive as in previous races, but the 1-8 favourite got the job done

Dermot Weld’s horse ran in three maidens last year and performed quite well without threatening to get involved in a finish.

The unpredictability of the fare, such as when the riderless Paddy’s Return took out most of the nine victims at the Canal Turn, assuredly left much to chance too

Colin Tizzard’s horse has long been a useful performer, showing versatility with regard to ground and trip

Twice the price of the National favourite, the Willie Mullins-trained Burrows Saint looks an appealing alternative to Cloth Cap

We rate the chances of each of the 40 runners in Saturday's Randox Grand National

The Mean Queen one to note in mares' hurdle - if she gets into the race 

Nicky Henderson can claim the first Grade One of the day, the Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle, courtesy of the exciting Dusart.

Roman Empire can make  Ryan Moore's  trip worthwhile by landing  Irish Stallion Farms Race

Under apprentice Mikey Sheehy and, picking up well, Queenship stretched clear to slam fellow 3/1 joint-favourite Elizabethan by five lengths.

Probe, well-touted before making his debut at the Curragh recently, can take the seven-furlong  Maiden

The five-time Cheltenham Festival winner and dual Grand National hero has become a household name without taking on top staying chasers at level weights

Irish runners won a staggering 23 of the 28 races run at the Cheltenham Festival last month – including the Champion Hurdle

Townend is due to partner second-favourite Burrows Saint in the Randox Grand National at Aintree

Willie Mullins totalled eight winners but there were also fine successes for some of our lower-profile trainers, namely Karl Thornton and Francis Casey

“My father had a bit of a knockout before Christmas, so this will give him a boost,” said Dinny Spillane, representing his father, at Cork Racecourse

Dermot McLoughlin’s charge is the longest-priced winner in the history of the race

Shanroe will love the quick ground and can take the Novice Handicap Hurdle

With some big-priced contenders carrying less than 11st, it may pay to look away from the top end of the market.

The winning jockey tasted his only previous top-grade success aboard Great Field, at the 2017 Punchestown festival

Shock of the day came in the three-mile Munster Waste Management Handicap Hurdle when Enda Bolger’s thirteen-year-old former cross-country specialist Josies Orders, ridden by Phidelma Elvin, landed the spoils at odds of 100/1

Connections decided not to take on Monkfish again at Cheltenham last month, having suffered defeat in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle last year

Hennelly is part of the cornerstone of the racing industry, one of the approximately 6,500 breeders in Ireland that own five broodmares or less

McCoy has repeatedly insisted he would never have set the records he managed in his career without Johnson pushing him all the way

The Galway Hurdle, a race in which Hearts Are Trumps finished second last year, is again on the agenda this summer

The winner looks to have a bright future for Paddy Twomey

Hobbs and Johnson enjoyed countless big-race wins together, including a Champion Hurdle with Rooster Booster and a Champion Chase through Flagship Uberalles

The 43-year-old announced his unexpected decision after his final ride on Brother Tedd

The 16-1 outsider found a rare turn of foot and soon quickened clear to win by a decisive two lengths

Running just 15 days after her ding-dong Cheltenham Festival battle with stablemate Colreevy, the 8-15 delivered in gritty fashion

Moore's tone can’t fully disguise an astonishment that someone would even think that a career as an international soccer player might be preferable to mucking out thoroughbred horses in mid-winter

Mirann, with the step up to ten furlongs a big help, can carry top weight to victory

The dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll will head back to Aintree instead next week for the Betway Bowl.

Tony Mullins is 'thinking big' as Princess Zoe makes her seasonal reappearance in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Noblesse Stakes at Cork.

The Sam Curling-trained Shanteusse looked to have a touch of class when winning the Next Race Meeting May 13 Bumper, the final race on the matinee meeting in Clonmel.

Under the agreement, RTÉ will broadcast 31 days of live racing in 2021, rising to 32 live days in 2022 and in 2023.

Walsh still rates winning the Aintree Grand National for his Dad in 2000 as his greatest day in horse racing

Stolen Moment was an eyecatcher last time and can take the Tote.ie Home Of The Placepot Handicap Hurdle

The fixtures confirmed for April so far are at Cork, Tipperary, and Fairyhouse

The hugely popular 11-year-old proved he is no back number with a brilliant display in the Glenfarclas Chase on his latest outing - his fifth Cheltenham Festival success

Zara Mac can make the most of great draw in Median Auction Maiden 

A video posted online which shows rising star Benoit de la Sayette in the presence of cocaine has been described as “malicious” by the Professional Jockeys Association.

No fewer than 13 of the 28 winners at the recent Cheltenham Festival began their career in Irish point-to-points.

In a most productive season for the nine-year-old, who was making a quick return after finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, he took the step up to three miles in his stride.