The stars are reappearing as the National Hunt season continues to gain pace in Ireland and the UK and this weekend Marine Nationale is top billing at Naas on Sunday. The exciting chaser makes his comeback in the Grade Three Barberstown Castle Chase following a spell on the sidelines due to a minor suspensory injury. It looks the perfect opportunity to get him back to winning ways.

Doncaster, Wincanton and Aintree stage quality cards this weekend in the UK and we have picked out three Irish contenders worth keeping an eye on.

I'm originally from Ballyboughal Co Dublin and I got into horses through a neighbour, Tommy Stafford - his son Paul trains. I started riding ponies for them and did a bit of hunting with the Fingal Harriers and Ward Union over the years. I came up through the ranks that way. I started riding track horses and point-to-pointers for Paul when he went on to train horses. As a young lad I always wanted to be a carpenter or something. Being a jockey was something I kind of fell into. I had no background in horses and none of my family were into horses. I just got hooked on them through the Staffords. I couldn't wait to get out of school. I wasn't bad at it but it just wasn't for me. I got bitten by the bug and kept at it.