Duff seen to good effect

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend again took the leading trainer and jockey awards at the Cheltenham Festival this week and both return to domestic action at Thurles this afternoon where a seven-race card gets underway at 1.55.

I'm from Rathmullan in Co Donegal and I started off in my grandfather's riding school. I spent all my time there really. I rode about 30 winners pony racing. I rode for my grandfather first and for most of the lads up around Donegal. They were all very good to me after he passed away in 2015 and they all gave me a hand out. You can see the results in the weigh room - anyone who is riding winners week in and week out has been there and done it in pony racing. Those ponies take a bit of riding when you are 16 and under. When my grandfather died, I spent another year in school and then I moved down to Jim Bolger's after that.

Stephen Thorne has made a blistering start to his training career and could take it to a new high in the €100,000 Nua Healthcare Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh tomorrow where he saddles the favourite Gleneagle Bay.