It's the final day of the 2005-06 jumps season in Ireland and after securing a fourth jockeys title with a productive Punchestown festival, Ruby Walsh will hope to celebrate at Sandown with a Betfred Gold Cup triumph on board My Will.
Walsh winds the Irish season up with a total of 90 winners and a prizemoney haul of over €1.8 million which puts him clear on both counts of his nearest rival Barry Geraghty.
Overall, it's very much a case of "as you were" at the top of the jumping game in Ireland as Noel Meade is again the champion trainer with 95 winners and over €2 million in prizemoney up to today. Willie Mullins is runner-up with 70 winners and almost €1.5 million.
Nina Carberry is the leading amateur for the first time in her spectacular career with a haul of 36 winners to date including a first Grade One of her career on board Leading Run in Wednesday's Champion Bumper at Punchestown. Robbie Moran is the leading conditional rider.
JP McManus is the top owner having secured almost €800,000 in prizemoney up to now, nearly double that of his nearest rival, Gigginstown Stud, owned by Ryanair supremo Michael O'Leary.
Last year's Betfred Gold Cup winner Jack High will be joined today at Sandown by the Pat Hughes Montayral and there will also be Irish interest in the Group Two Betfred.com Mile with the Jim Bolger-trained Democratic Deficit. Michael Kinane will ride the likely favourite Rob Roy.
In today's action at Punchestown Noel Meade can secure yet another success in the three-mile handicap chase courtesy of Carndale. Proven on quick ground, the nine-year-old ran into an inspired outsider in Boom Economy at Fairyhouse last time but the going conditions shouldn't be an issue with Meade's capable contender.
The top yards are represented in the three-mile novice hurdle but they could all struggle against Sir Overbury who should be okay on the ground and who has bits of form that seem promising.
Michael Halford's Game Ball Ali returned to action with a second to Axinit on the flat at Tramore this month and that should set him up for an attempt on the two mile handicap hurdle.
