All roads lead to the festival for Pont AlexandreRACING: Only Hurricane Fly could elbow Pont Alexandre from centre-stage at Leopardstown yesterday after the unbeaten French …Mon Jan 28 2013 - 00:00
Deterring doping requires game plan from elite sports peopleTIPPING POINT: Self-regulation has got a bad pressMon Jan 28 2013 - 00:00
Gloomy 2012 figures include dramatic dip in on-course bettingRACING: On the eve of Irish racing’s eagerly anticipated first big weekend of 2013, the industry’s 2012 statistics provided …Sat Jan 26 2013 - 00:00
Top-notcher Hurricane Fly unlikely to fluff his linesRACING: Hurricane Fly may need to regain his Cheltenham crown in March to cement his place at the very top table in Irish hurdling…Sat Jan 26 2013 - 00:00
Il Fenomeno looks the each-way valueRACING: The rescheduled three-runner Grade One Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase jostles the BoylesportsSat Jan 26 2013 - 00:00
Bishopsfurze Thyestes favouriteBishopsfurze is as low as 6 to 1 favourite with some bookmakers ahead of tomorrow’s Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran, with layers…Wed Jan 23 2013 - 00:00
Grade One switch Arkle for SaturdayThe Grade One Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase will be run at Leopardstown on SaturdayWed Jan 23 2013 - 00:00
Walsh to get the best out of The Paparazzi KidLimerick’s management are confident of surviving an 8am inspection today and could have the jumping scene to themselves if they…Wed Jan 23 2013 - 00:00
Mullins and McManus to steal Leopardstown showSunday’s BHP Irish Champion Hurdle is set to revolve around the hat-trick seeking Hurricane Fly, but the €110,000 feature could…Wed Jan 23 2013 - 00:00
Weld to concentrate on mares' races with UnaccompaniedNothing got closer to Hurricane Fly on his last start than Unaccompanied but the dual-Grade One-winning mare will swerve the …Tue Jan 22 2013 - 00:00
Gowran and Leopardstown optimistic as weather looks like easing its gripRACING: Yesterday’s Fairyhouse card may have had to be cancelled but the weather looks like easing its grip ahead of this week…Mon Jan 21 2013 - 00:00
Anyone for tennis? No? Then let's just huddle closer to the fireTIPPING POINT: If winter really is nature’s way of saying ‘Up Yours!’ then consider me upped.Mon Jan 21 2013 - 00:00
Organisedconfusion for the Dan Moore ChaseRACING: Fairyhouse Organisedconfusion hasn’t won since the 2011 Irish Grand National and will have to shoulder topweight if …Wed Jan 16 2013 - 00:00
Outstanding Frankel crowned equine bestRACING: Thoroughbred rankings The normally rather dry number crunching of the World Thoroughbred Rankings had emotions running…Wed Jan 16 2013 - 00:00
Inis Meain tipped to make quick return for ConnellRACING: The big-race sponsors reckon new owner Barry Connell is set for an immediate return on his investment in Inis Meain …Wed Jan 16 2013 - 00:00
Hatton's Grace Hurdle winner Voler La Vedette retired to studThe Grade One winning mare Voler La Vedette has run her last race and will be retired to stud.Tue Jan 15 2013 - 00:00
Moore bides his time with TalbotRACING: Cheltenham may be the ultimate aim for most top horses but the highly rated youngster Talbot Road will swerve the festival…Mon Jan 14 2013 - 00:00
Na Bearnaí back on track in search for famous doubleRACING: The Irish Grand National hero Líon Na Bearnaí could return to the scene of his 2012 Easter triumph next month en route…Mon Jan 14 2013 - 00:00
Murphy calls time with VolerRacing: The Grade 1 winning mare Voler La Vedette has run her last race and will be retired to studMon Jan 14 2013 - 00:00
Touchy-feely Oprah unlikely to ask Lance those tough questionsTIPPING POINT: Many pertinent questions need to be pitched at Lance Armstrong when his eagerly awaited interview with Oprah …Mon Jan 14 2013 - 00:00
Flaxen Flare can light up Grade Three featureRACING: Cracking the Triumph Hurdle code can be a big-money business and Flaxen Flare could justify a six-figure purchase price…Sat Jan 12 2013 - 00:00
Alderwood should prove class will tellRACING: Conditions are set to be gruelling at Navan tomorrow but Alderwood can prove class will tell when he tries to make it…Sat Jan 12 2013 - 00:00
Dundalk awarded Guineas trialRACING: Dundalk’s all-weather circuit has been awarded a new Listed race, the Patron Stakes, which, it is planned, will be a…Sat Jan 12 2013 - 00:00
Harty looks set for doubleRACING: Edward Harty is one of the few trainers to boast a profit to a level stake on their runners this season and can boost…Wed Jan 09 2013 - 00:00
Winters keeping options open for Rebel FitzRACING: It appears to be slight odds-against about Rebel Fitz lining up in the Champion Hurdle in March but the Galway Hurdle…Wed Jan 09 2013 - 00:00
Rite likely to go for Gold Cup, says WeldRACING: Rite Of Passage continues to be quoted as low as 7 to 1 for a return to jumping in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in March…Wed Jan 09 2013 - 00:00
Sole Power off to Dubai againIt might be the middle of winter but the star Irish sprinter Sole Power can look forward to a break in the sun next month when…Tue Jan 08 2013 - 00:00
Elliott retains faith in Don Cossack despite the hype bubble burstingIt’s almost three weeks since the hype bubble surrounding Don Cossack was unceremoniously pricked at Navan and with no explanation…Tue Jan 08 2013 - 00:00
Williams may run Wishes at FairyhouseThe prolific William’s Wishes is on course to try to extend his winning run in Sunday week’s €75,000 Dan Moore Memorial Chase…Tue Jan 08 2013 - 00:00
Shoot to kill? Nothing sporting about such rules of engagementTIPPING POINT : Perusing the shelves in a newsagent’s recently, it dawned that there were a good half-dozen magazines on offer…Mon Dec 31 2012 - 00:00
Mullins smashes amateur recordRACING: The dominance that champion trainer Willie Mullins exerts over National Hunt racing in Ireland means big-day hat-tricks…Mon Dec 31 2012 - 00:00
Decision to bypass the Lexus could pay dividends for Martin's Bog WarriorRACING : Since one of the abiding Irish racing images of 2012 remains the monsoon-like conditions the Punchestown festival was…Mon Dec 31 2012 - 00:00
Carberry weaves his magic on MonkslandRACING: Ruby Walsh got the lion’s share of the big-race plaudits at Leopardstown yesterday but Paul Carberry proved the skills…Sat Dec 29 2012 - 00:00
Walsh squeezes Tidal Bay through gap to secure sensational Lexus triumphRACING: Anyone needing a reminder as to why Ruby Walsh is rated perhaps the finest jockey ever to steer a horse over an obstacle…Sat Dec 29 2012 - 00:00
Hurricane set to fly for MullinsRACING: If it’s anything but a “Lucky 13” for Hurricane Fly in today’s Istabraq Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown there will be…Sat Dec 29 2012 - 00:00
Colbert Station lands gamble for dream teamRACING: LEOPARDSTOWN FESTIVAL The sponsors reckoned Colbert Station’s gambled-on 5 to 1 success in yesterday’s Paddy Power Chase…Fri Dec 28 2012 - 00:00
Day of reckoning for Casey's FlemenstarRACING: LEOPARDSTOWN FESTIVAL With Flemenstar in today’s Lexus Chase, it comes down to a battle between the heart and the head…Fri Dec 28 2012 - 00:00
Europe the real deal but Jezki steals the showRACING: LEOPARDSTOWN FESTIVAL Sizing Europe proved yet again at Leopardstown yesterday he is the real deal with a seventh Grade…Fri Dec 28 2012 - 00:00
Aupcharlie likely in Topaz renewalRACING: LEOPARDSTOWN PREVIEW The combination of Ruby Walsh, Willie Mullins and an unbeaten-over-fences favourite like Back In…Fri Dec 28 2012 - 00:00
Our Vinnie should prove a tough nut to crack in testing conditionsRACING: LIMERICK PREVIEW Stamina is Our Vinnie’s forte, which is good news in terms of today’s Grade Three Limerick feature…Fri Dec 28 2012 - 00:00
Murphy's Glam Gerry can negotiate the minefield of Paddy Power ChaseRACING: On face value relying on a horse with a reputation for ropy jumping in a fiercely-competitive 28- runner three-mile …Thu Dec 27 2012 - 00:00
Ligeonniere's star continues to riseRACING: Any fears that champion trainer Willie Mullins would fail to come to the rescue of St Stephen’s Day punters were dismissed…Thu Dec 27 2012 - 00:00
Dial Sizing Europe for winning formulaRACING: Any hopes Henry De Bromhead had of trying Sizing Europe over three miles during this Christmas period have been dashed…Thu Dec 27 2012 - 00:00
Courtly Conduct can end long waitRACING: Curragh trainer Mark Roper hasn’t had a winner in over 1,500 days and his hope, Courtly Conduct, will have to beat a…Thu Dec 27 2012 - 00:00
Mullins and Townend deliver top gradesRACING: Ruby Walsh continues his Christmas sojourn at Kempton today which is good news for former champion jockey Paul Townend…Thu Dec 27 2012 - 00:00
Taaffe's Argocat looks the pickRACING: Champion jockey Davy Russell skips Leopardstown in favour of a trip to Limerick and three St Stephen’s Day rides for…Mon Dec 24 2012 - 00:00
Taylor rises above PR guff to show mark of Olympic championTIPPING POINT: It’s been awards season, that most wonderful time of the year, when the feats of Ireland’s great sportspeople…Mon Dec 24 2012 - 00:00
Irish tracks get ready to cash in but some weather worries in BritainRACING: It sounds like music to the ears for bookmakers but Leopardstown’s St Stephen’s Day advice to punters is to bring plenty…Mon Dec 24 2012 - 00:00
Promising Blood Cotil looks ready to be a major player for MullinsRACING: Leopardstown’s St Stephen’s Day meeting may be an Irish tradition but Blood Cotil and Urano can add a successful French…Mon Dec 24 2012 - 00:00
Oscars Well to upset Avrika apple cartRACING: The St Stephen’s Day hordes might head to Leopardstown with a bounce in their step but many of them will be hoping there…Mon Dec 24 2012 - 00:00
