Bryan Cooper was back in the winners enclosure on Casey Top at Killarney this evening.

Casey Top landed a gamble this evening in the McSweeney Arms Hotel handicap Steeplechase at Killarney this evening.

Ridden by the talented Bryan Cooper, Casey Top was available as big as 14/1 this morning and was sent off the 5/1 joint favourite at the off.

The Leonard Whitmore trained nine year old who was last seen contesting the Munster National last October took the lead off Derinlaur rounding the home turn, with Tranquil Sea in hot pursuit.

Under a confident ride from Bryan Cooper, Casey Top ran right the way to the line and, try as Tranquil Sea might, the steadier of 11st 10lb proved too much as he passed the post still four and a half lengths adrift.

The nine year son of Topanoora clearly has a liking for the county Kerry venue as his form around here now reads 1231.

Winning trainer Leonard Whitmore said “He runs well fresh and he won first time out last year as well but didn’t win again after that. It’s nice to be in the winner’s enclosure again.”

The county Wexford based trainer added “We will try and keep him fresh for the season. He might be a bit low to get into any of the big handicap chases but we might run him in a winners of two and then hopefully he would sneak into the Galway Plate.”

It was winner number four of the 2012/13 National Hunt season for the county Kerry native Bryan Cooper.

Liam Glynn

Willie Mullins trains 4 out of the 5 declared runners in tomorrows Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

Willie Mullins is no stranger to winning the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown and holds an excellent chance of winning the race for the third year in a row tomorrow at Punchestown as he makes up the field with four of the five declared runners.

Hurricane Fly has won the race for the champion trainer the last two years and bids for a hat trick tomorrow. Speaking about Hurricane Fly who finished third to Rock On Ruby at Cheltenham, Mullins said “I’d be hoping for a lot more tomorrow (Friday) than at Cheltenham. He’s been working well and seems in good form. Hopefully he can produce a good performance.”

Mullins also saddles Thousand Stars who has finished runner up to Hurricane Fly on many occasions and nearly got the better of Oscar Whiskey in the Aintree Hurdle two weeks ago. Thousand Stars who won the French Champion Hurdle last year is reunited with Katie Walsh tomorrow.

Zaidpour will be ridden by last year’s Champion jockey Paul Townend and will relish the ground conditions.

The Clonsutton trainer added “If I get one then that would be a start! Both Zaidpour and Thousand Stars have run good, solid races this season. They are both fit and well and will like the ground.”

Quevega remains in the declarations as a safety in case of a miss hap in today’s Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle.

The only other runner is the Edward O’Grady trained The Real Article who will be ridden by Edward O’Grady.  Jockey Barry Geraghty told AtTheRaces today “He’s a good horse and is competitive at the level but Hurricane Fly will be very hard to beat. If Hurricane Fly turns up in his usual form, then he looks a shoo-in.”

The notable absentee from the race is Donald McCain’s Overturn due to ground conditions.

Liam Glynn

Oscars Well will bid to win his first race this season tomorrow at Fairyhouse.

Eight runners have been declared for the Grade Two Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle tomorrow at Fairyhouse.

Jessica Harrington’s Moone stable has been in tremendous form and Oscars Well will bid to record his first win of the season tomorrow at the county Meath track.

Oscars Well was last seen finishing sixth behind Rock On Ruby in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and had beaten all but Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion hurdle at Leopardstown in January.

The seven year old was very impressive last season when winning two Grade One Novice Hurdles at Navan and Leopardstown.

Speaking at Fairyhouse today about Oscars Well Harrington said “He seems in good form and we’re stepping him back up to two and a half miles, which should suit. It won’t be easy, as he’s got to give weight away to some good horses. I’m happy with him at home, so we’ll let him take his chance and see how we get on.”

A major danger in tomorrow’s race looks to be the Jonjo O’Neill trained Get Me Out Of Here who was last seen finishing second to Son Of Flicka in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

The English raider is owned by JP McManus and speaking today at Fairyhouse JP McManus’s racing manager Frank Berry said “The conditions of this race suit him quite well and he always runs a blinder. Hopefully he’ll do the same tomorrow and it would be nice to see him get his head in front.”

McManus is also represented by the Edward Harty trained Karabak in tomorrow’s Grade Two.

Edward O’Grady’s The Real Article is another interesting runner with Barry Geraghty booked to ride.

The first of eight races goes to post at 2:40 tomorrow at Fairyhouse with the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National taking place at 4:50.

Liam Glynn

Edward O'Grady holds strong chances with Sportsmaster and Cash And Go at Leopardstown on Sunday

Edward O Grady’s Sportsmaster is set to be tested as he steps up in company and takes his chances in the Grade One Spring juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Sportsmaster won his maiden hurdle nicely at Naas last time out and had been unlucky before that when brought down at the fourth hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

12 runners have been declared for Sunday’s Grade One and these include the Willie Mullins trained Ut De Sivola, Dermot Welds unlucky Hisaabaat, Gordon Elliott’s His Excellency and Kieran Purcell’s Gowran park winner His Excellency.

All twelve runners have won before and ¼ of the field has a presence from England with Asaid, Countrywide Flame and Crafty Roberto aiming to raid the €45,000 first prize.

Speaking to AtTheRaces Sportsmaster trainer Edward O’Grady seemed very happy but said “It was his first race over hurdles in many respects as he was an early casualty first time out. I’m not sure what the race was like, though. They went no pace and it was a bit of a sprint finish, so although the second horse Hisaabaat gives us a bit of a form line, I’m not taking that form too literally.”

O‘Grady also runs Cash And Go in the Grade One Deloitte Novice Hurdle and he face stiff opposition from the supplemented Nicky Henderson runner Captain Conan and the Willie Mullins trained Sous les Cieux.

Cash And Go was an impressive winner of the Paddy Power Future Novices Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and seems to on the way up.

BoyleSports go 5/2 for Cash And Go and captain Conan with Sous Les Cieux currently trading at 11/4.

Liam Glynn

Final Approach one of the 2 Irish trained horses remaining in Saturday's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

Jessica Harrington’s Citizenship is a notable absentee for Saturday’s Betfair Hurdle at Newbury at the latest six day stage.

Citizenship was an impressive winner of the BoyleSports Hurdle at Leopardstown in January and was as low as 8/1 for the featured race at Newbury on Saturday but has been taken out.

Ruby Walsh got excellent news today that he can ride Triumph Hurdle winner Zarkandar in the race and the Paul Nicholls trained five year old now looks set to go off the clear favourite for Saturdays feature event.

Zarkandar could also be joined by stable mates Empire Levant and Greatwood Handicap Hurdle winner Brampour.

All the notable entries still remain and these include the Nicky Henderson threesome of Ericht, Darlan and Soldatino.

Only two notable Irish entrants remain and one of these is the Paddy Wilmott owned and Edward O’Grady trained Sailors Warn who was last seen finishing seventh behind Raya Star at Ascot last December. Alan King’s Raya Star also holds a notable entry as well as a nice weight of ten stone three pounds.

Willie Mullins County Hurdle winner Final Approach is the only other Irish entry left and may be worth a second look if declared to run despite having a high weight.

Final Approach is owned by Douglas Taylor who made the headlines in June 2010 when his horse D Four Dave was the subject of an amazing well planned gamble at Kilbeggan. Having been available at odds of 14/1 in the morning these odds were quickly slashed as Douglas Taylor who owns MCR recruitment, recruited couriers to place bets on his horse all around the country. The Conor O’Dwyer trained horse romped in and returned at 5/1.

No doubt if Final Approach runs on Saturday, it may be worth noting any money that comes for him.

Liam Glynn

Edward O'Grady

Edward O’ Grady is hoping that Sportsmaster can turn out to be a major contender for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

The former Andrew Oliver trained four year old was relatively smart on the flat and recorded wins at Roscommon and The Curragh last year.

Now owned by JP McManus and trained by Edward O’Grady, the son of Ad Valorem got off the mark over hurdles at Naas last time out when recording a length win over the Dermot Weld trained Hisaabaat

According to his trainer, he will be given the chance to go for the Grade One Spring Four Year Old Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown next month and the outcome of this will then decide if he is good enough to run in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Speaking to AtTheRaces, O’Grady said “I’m pleased with him. I would hope he might make a Triumph Hurdle horse”. O’Grady also mentioned “It was disappointing he got hampered and unseated at Christmas so we had to change plans a bit. He seemed to win a muddling race at Naas, but the form seems to have been franked quite well.”

Sportsmaster is as big as 25/1 with some firms for the JCB Triumph Hurdleand no doubt will shorten if running a nice race at Leopardstown in February.

Other Irish interest in the JCB Triumph Hurdle is the Willie Mullins trained Ut De Sivola who is generally around a 10/1 chance with most firms.   The French import has made two winning starts over hurdles in Ireland and looks to be a lively contender for the JCB Triumph Hurdle in March.

Liam Glynn

Edward O’Grady’s charge led two out and pulled away to score by four lengths from Psycho, with Tharawaat 10 lengths back in third and Leanne last of the four runners.

Tharawaat made the running but he was hassled all along for the lead by Leanne with Tranquil Sea and Psycho in touch.

Tranquil Sea hit a flat spot on the second circuit, but once the race began in earnest the 5-4 favourite responded to Barry Geraghty’s urgings on his first start since unseating in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup in May.

The nine-year-old’s next target is likely to be the Grade One John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown next month, which he also won last year.

O’Grady said: “I had it in my mind that if he won here today that he would go back for the John Durkan and he’ll probably go there now.

“If he had been beaten I was thinking of the Grand Sefton at Aintree.

“Barry said he took a blow across the top and missed one but he got his lungs filled coming down the hill.

“I was very disappointed when he schooled at Punchestown recently but he did two very nice pieces of work since.

“If I hadn’t seen him at Punchestown I would have fancied him a lot today.”

Blazing Tempo (2-1) also repeated her 2010 success in the EBF TA Morris Memorial Mares’ Chase – but only after surviving mayhem over the last two fences.

Her chance appeared to have gone when she was badly hampered, when lying in second, by Our Victoria who came down after jumping the final fence.

That seemed to hand the race to the favourite Shop Dj but she fell at the last and brought down Definite Class.

Ruby Walsh took full advantage of the chaos to get to the line three and a half lengths ahead of Gentle Alice, with For Bill the only other finisher.

The winner was making a quick reappearance having been third behind Kauto Stone at Down Royal on Saturday.

“I thought coming down the hill that the last race had taken it out of her,” said winning trainer Willie Mullins.

“But she got back into contention and obviously everyone saw what happened after.

“There isn’t a lot of races to run her in at the moment and that’s why she ran again so quickly.

“Last Saturday was the plan but she got compensation today.”

Walsh and O’Grady completed doubles when teaming up with Out Now (4-1) in the Prior Park Service Station Handicap Chase.

Texas Jack (8-13 favourite) took his unbeaten record to three with a cheeky length and a quarter success under Paul Carberry in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle.

“I was half worried at the top of the hill but I knew Paul knew what he was doing,” said trainer Noel Meade.

Navan looks next with Meade considering the Grade Two Monksfield Novice Hurdle on 27 November and the Grade One Navan Novice Hurdle on 18 December.

The nine-year-old made an impressive return to action in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade Two 12 months ago, a year on from winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in brilliant style.

O’Grady has been pleased with his star chaser’s preparation for the new campaign but is refusing to look beyond this seasonal reappearance.

“We’re hopeful. He seems in good form and won this race well last year,” said O’Grady.

“He’s won first time out the last couple of seasons so we’ll see how we get on. We’ll get this race out of the way before we make any plans for the rest of the season.”

Tranquil Sea faces just three rivals, including Tony Martin’s enigmatic performer Psycho.

The 10-year-old won at Killarney back in May but disappointed on his two subsequent starts during the summer.

“He seems in good form and it’s a nice place to start him back and we’ll see where we go from here,” said Martin.

“I blame myself a bit for his last couple of runs as I made some bad decisions.

“I should never have gone to Galway with him and then I just ran him back too quick in Ballinrobe last time. These were things I learnt after the event.

“Anyway he’s had a nice break since and seems in good nick, so we’ll see what happens.”

Gordon Elliott’s Tharawaat and Willie Harney’s mare Leanne complete the field.

The son of Definite Article benefitted from a typically assured Geraghty ride, from a position where he appeared to be struggling at the second-last flight.

Most eyes were firmly locked on the Jessica Harrington inmate Oscars Well, who was making his seasonal reappearance, and when he jumped to the front two out, he appeared the most likely winner.

However, The Real Article rallied strongly and got back up to shrug off the late challenge of Kalann.

Dazzling Susie was all the rage in the Grade 3 European Breeders Fund Lough Construction Ltd. Mares Novices Hurdle but she had nothing to offer in the finish and a patient Geraghty ride prevailed aboard Miss Nomer.

The 13/2 chance took full advantage of the weight-for-age concession and was always travelling the strongest when she joined the hot favourite and Noras Fancy at the penultimate flight.

Exciting prospect Ipsos Du Berlais justified odds-on favouritism (4-5) hard on the bridle in the Allianz Maiden Hurdle.

Noel Meade’s grey was settled beautifully by Davy Russell and despite the best efforts of a loose horse in hindering a smooth passage to the line, the five-year-old maintained his unbeaten record with ease.

That completed another double on the card, with Meade also saddling Blue Cannon (15-2) to land the Eventsec 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle. Davy Condon’s mount appeared to benefit from a final-flight blunder from Experimentalist, who was travelling menacingly for Gordon Elliot.

The Porter & Co. Beginners Chase went the way of the prominently-ridden Four Commanders (13-8) before I Hear A Symphony (20-1) produced a shock result in landing the Robinson Services Handicap Chase.

Edward O’Grady’s charge was among 14 possibles for the Grade Two contest over two and a half miles.

“He’s on course for Thursday. He did one piece of work we were disappointed with, but his latest one was much more promising,” O’Grady told At The Races.

“I think we’ll be lucky to win it first time out. He’s got to carry a Grade One penalty this time.

“I think he’ll have it all to do but he’s in great shape and we’ll make plans for later in the season on how he performs on Thursday.”

Other entries include Sizing Europe, Quito De La Roque, Roi Du Mee, Cooldine, Tharawaat and Quel Esprit, though several will have been in action before Thursday’s contest.

“Looking at the entries, the renewal of this year’s race would look to be a hell of a lot stronger than last year’s,” O’Grady went on.

“If they all run, it’s a Ryanair Chase rehearsal. There are some very good horses in it.

“After that it will either be the John Durkan (which he won last year) or the Grand Sefton.

“A lot will depend on what happens but those will be the options. I’d like to see him over two miles, five and a half furlongs round the Aintree course. He’s good jumper and goes well left-handed.

“That would be quite exciting if we don’t think the Durkan is the place to go.”