Dundalk hosts an eight race card at the county Louth venue this evening with fist race due of to post at 5:50.

Only five runners will go to post in the open www.dundalkstadium.com Maiden and slight preference is for the Tommy Stack trained Almanack who finished a close third despite a poor draw last time out. Inform Wayne Lordan is booked to ride and the main danger looks to be the Aidan O’Brien trained newcomer Gale Force Ten who may need the run.

Dermot Weld’s stable is in great form lately and he can register another

Punchestown host a seven race card at the county Kildare venue with the first of seven races due off too post at 5:10.

The opening Dobbins Food Hall Maiden Hurdle has only attracted nine runners and it is likely that the Willie Mullins trained Balnaslow looks the one to beat at very short odds. Balnaslow was last seen winning the Racing Post P-to-P Flat Race at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival but was only awarded the race in the steward’s room as he got squeezed out by Rogue Angel. Goosing Around may be a good each way bet as the favourite looks to short priced to back.

The Tote Sports Lounge Handicap Hurdle looks a wide open race. Conor O’Dwyer and Ben Dalton team up to saddle Donttellmother and following a close third at Navan last time out, he looks to run another big race but the Fran Flood trained Tornant has also been running decent races and maybe another to consider with Mark Walsh booked to ride.

JP McManus is represented with five out of the nine runners in the Punchestown For Events Steeplechase and no doubt he will feature with one of them. Down Under looks to have a solid each way chance with Mark Walsh booked to ride. Willie Mullins saddles Arvika Ligeonniere who makes his chasing debut after a two year absence and he may be primed for this event but looks too short to be taking on.

The Breakfast With Hector On 2FM Handicap Steeplechase looks a wide open contest and slight preference is for the John Berry trained Give Us A Hand who has a nice weight and if he can bring back his form when he finished third to Cadogan at Navan; he looks a solid each way bet after Cadogan boosted form by winning at Punchestown again yesterday.

The KFM Bishopscourt Cup Hunters Steeplechase looks a wide open contest and slight preference is for the Tony Martin trained Top Four who won around the Punchestown point to point track in early February. Chris Cully takes the ride.

Rudi Trucker came back to form when finishing third at Fairyhouse at Easter and looks a solid each way bet in the Racing Post Champion Hunters Steeplechase. Enda Bolger’s On the Fringe fell over the banks last time out and may be the one to beat.

Operating looks the one to beat in the concluding May Evening Meetings Flat Race but stiff competition will come from the well bred newcomer Cross Avenue.

Punchestown Selections

5:10 Balnaslow (NAP) – Goosing Around each way

5:40 Tornant each way

6:10 Down Under each way

6:40 Give Us A Hand each way

7:15 Top Four each way

7:50 Rudi Trucker each way

8:20 Cross Avenue

Happy Punting – Giddy Up

Day Two of the Punchestown Festival looks to be a cracker with the feature Punchestown Gold Cup due off to post at 5:30 at the county Kildare venue.

The opening Martinstown Opportunity Final Handicap Hurdle looks a competitive affair with some English raiders crossing the water including the David Pipe trained Weekend Millonair and the Brendan Powell trained

Cork Racecourse hosts a seven race National Hunt card this evening with the first race off to post at 5:20 at the Mallow track.

The opening Follow Cork On Facebook Mares Maiden Hurdle see twenty four runners go to post and it is likely that Supreme Carolina may go off favourite for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh. Carrigeen Kariega looks to have a lively chance as well as the Michael Moran trained Ennisnag who will be ridden by Mick Darcy.

Cyprusormilan ran a decent race last time out at Gowran Park for trainer Jimmy Mangan and with his son Paddy taking five pounds off today he looks a solid each way bet in the Friday Evening Racing Maiden Hurdle. Dara Tango and Casimir Road look the possible dangers.

The Follow Us On Twitter Handicap Hurdle looks a very completive handicap and recent winner Saint Gervais looks set to run another big race for trainer John Kiely and jockey Andrew McNamara. Concrete And Clay ran a nice race at Leopardstown last time out to finish a close fourth and may be one to watch in the betting. Matthew Bowes claims a valuable five pounds of his back.

The maximum field of 24 runners go to post for the Fathers Day June 17^th Handicap Hurdle and it looks a very competitive field on paper. Recent course winner Doctor Henry looks a solid each way bet for Kieran Purcell and Tom Doyle whilst One In A Milan and Clashnabrook look like possible contenders.

The www.corkracecourse.ie Flat Race looks a tricky contest. Willie Mullins is represented with Peking To Paris who was a bit disappointing at Naas last time out whilst Noel Meade saddles Johannisberger who was last seen finishing fourth in the Goffs Bumper at the Punchestown Festival last year. Mallowney steps back to Bumper Company and could run another big race for trainer Timothy Doyle.

Henry De Bromhead’s Byerley Bear has ran bad on his last two starts but if he comes back to his form at Punchestown last November he will run another big race under Andrew Lynch. American Job and Gimli’s Rock look the dangers.

The concluding Munster Handicap Steeplechase looks a wide open contest and a chance may be taken with the Philip Rothwell trained In The Haven.

Don’t forget Punchestown starts tomorrow and we will have our regular Happy Hour and a very special Davy Russell Cash Back.

Cork Selections

5:20 Ennisnag each way

5:50 Cyprusormilan each way

6:20 Concrete And Clay each way

6:50 Doctor Henry each way

7:20 Mallowney each way

7:50 Byerley Bear each way

8:20 In The Haven each way

Happy Punting – Giddy Up

Aintree host day two of its Grand National Festival with the opening race due off to post at 2:00 at the Liverpool venue whist the fashion stakes will also be high as its Ladies Day.

The opening Grade Two Tangle Teezer Top Novices Hurdle looks a very completive race. Darlan and Prospect Wells both hold strong chances after finishing second and fourth behind Cinders And Ashes at Cheltenham. A chance may be taken with the Charlie Longsdon trained Vulcanite who could run into an each way place at a nice price.

Only five runners will go to post for the Grade Two John Smith’s Mildmay Novices Chase. Ruby Walsh is booked to ride the Paul Nicholls trained Silviniaco Conti and looks set to go off favourite but it looks like Champion Court may have the form in the race having

Fairyhouse hosts day two of its Easter Festival with the Irish Grand National been the feature race at 4:50. The first of an eight race card is due off to post at 2:40 at the county Meath venue.

The opening Grade Two Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle has attracted eight runners and all eyes will be on the Jessica Harrington trained Oscars Well who was last seen finishing sixth to Rock On Ruby in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Despite having to carry top weight he will take all the beating with

Cork hosts the opening day of its three day Easter Festival with a seven race flat card due off to post at 2:20 at the Mallow track.

The opening Handicap over six furlongs has attracted eight runners. Edward Lynam and Johnny Murtagh combine to saddle Slade Power who was last seen winning at Dundalk last December. A danger to Slade Power could be the David Marnane trained Seanie who is drawn from stall 2 and with Colm O’Donoghue booked to ride; he looks

Dundalk hosts another Friday night flat meeting tonight with the first of seven races due off to post at 6:20. Fran Berry makes a welcome return to racing after been on the sidelines for over four months after breaking his ankle whilst riding in Japan.

The opening Irish News Red Hand Top Tips Race has only attracted six runners and the Edward Lynam trained Balmont Mast looks set to go off favourite under champion jockey Johnny Murtagh but Katla and Celerina look dangers whilst in a very open race, David Marnane’s Santo Padre should be ignored at your own peril.

Seven runners go to post for the Irish News Against the Breeze Rated Race and Fran Berry could have a welcoming winner as he takes the ride on Jessica Harrington’s Fairy Wing who won nicely at the county Louth track last time out. David Marnane’s Cool

Cork hosts its annual student race day today with the first of seven races due off to post at 3:15 at the Mallow track.

The opening Explicit.ie Maiden Hurdle looks a wide open race but the Willie Mullins trained Tennis Cap has been frustrating to follow and looks the one to beat. Jessica Harrington saddles two runners whilst Van Diemens Land looks a solid each way bet.

Only five runners will go to post for the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Hurdle but it looks

After so many nights of sleep, Tuesday will be the best day of the year so far for me as I will be hearing the roar at Prestbury Park as the stampede of horses takes their chances in the opening race of Cheltenham 2012, The Supreme Novice Hurdle.

19 runners will go to post in the opening Supreme Novices Hurdle that could see the Irish get off to a great start. Word all around the country and over here at Prestbury Park is that Jessica Harrington’s Steps To freedom is in tremendous form and will take all the beating. Dermot Weld’s Galileo’s Choice also holds a strong chance whilst Willie Mullins Midnight Game shouldn’t be ignored either. The main home