COLM MURPHY must be very pleased with himself following the exploits of two more of his stable stars last weekend.

Saddling 'Voler La Vedette' and 'Big Zeb' at Navan, the Killenagh-based trainer saw both of them confirm their form when making successful seasonal debuts.

'Big Zeb', a now rising eleven-year-old son of 'Oscar' saw off 'Noble Prince' and 'Forpaddytheplasterer' in the Grade 2 Fortria Chase.

Ridden by Robbie Power on this occasion, the Paddy Redmond-owned horse was winning his twelfth race of an illustrious career which has seen him win at the highest level at Cheltenham.

With this rousing win under his belt, a season similar to last will be mapped out, as he does seem to perform best when he has had 'a rest' between races.

Earlier in the day, Murphy saw his good mare, 'Voler La Vedette', a seven-year-old by 'Kings Theatre', take the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle under Andrew Lynch.

This mare if memory serves me right was to head to the breeding sheds this year, but has now returned to win her eleventh race in total.

Murphy will race on with this mare for the winter and there are sure to be many more good days for this three-time Grade 2 winner in the interim.

Murphy really has his stars on the march and hopefully we will hear and see much, much more of them all this season.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

The flat season finally came to an end with Aidan O'brien being crowned the country's leading trainer with 93 winners and an astonishing €4.8m in prize money on this island alone.

This level of prize money puts him over €3.1m ahead of the next leading trainer, Dermot Weld, with Jim Bolger in third place on 48 winners and €1.2m.

Joseph O'brien rode 57 winners to take third place in the overall jockeys' title race, behind J.P. Murtagh and Pat Smullen, but it also sees him crowned as the top apprentice or claiming rider of the year. A great achievement by both of these men.

BETWEEN THE FLAGS

The Wexford Foxhounds unveil their new track at Moorfields, Ballinaboola, on Sunday next.

With the traditional six-race card down for decision, it will be interesting to see how well the track is received by trainers, jockeys, owners and the racing public, with only the horses themselves not being asked for their opinion!

With a start time of 12 noon, the idea would be to get there early before the crowds arrivie.

On the track it is good to note the return of James Rath to the winners' enclosure, with the young Screen man booting home a double at the Kilkenny Foxhound meeting on November 6.

Taking the third division of five-year-old geldings' maiden on the Joe Moranowned, bred and trained 'Edmundo', Rath kept the horse up to his business to win.

It was like lightning striking twice as in the very next race, the first division of the mares' maiden, we saw the same jockey, owner, breeder and trainer repeat it all, this time with 'Forgot To Dance'.

This 'Bishop Of Cashel' five-year-old made all the running and stayed on to win, giving Rath a welcome return to the winners' enclosure.

At the same meeting, Churchtown man William Codd saddled a nice double with Jason Mckeown in the saddle.

This North of Ireland-based jockey has come in for the rides from Codd's yard following the injury sustained by stable jockey, Jamie Codd.

Riding 'The Amerillo Kid' in the first divide of the six-year-old geldings' maiden, the 'Milan' gelding got his head in front on the run-in and held it to the line.

The same partnership then took the Open Lightweight with 'Breedsbreeze'.

This nine-year-old son of 'Fresh Breeze' was a top-class performer on the track in Britain, and now racing in the colours of the winning trainer it will be more than interesting to see where he is placed from here.

DIARY DATES

Racing: November 16, Fairyhouse; November 17, Thurles; November 18, Dundalk (e); November 19, Punchestown; November 24, Thurles; November 25, Dundalk (e); November 26, Gowran Park; November 27, Navan, Wexford. Point-to-points: November 19, North Down (F); November 20, Dungarvan (H), Wexford (F); November 26, Co. Down (S); November 27, West Waterford (F), Co. Roscommon (H).

- with DICK WHITE