The loss of yet another meeting to the weather this week - Limerick on Wednesday - highlighted one of the problems National Hunt racing has in this country.

Prize money in Ireland is to be increased by €5m in 2015 to €53.9m.

Training great Dessie Hughes has died, aged 71.

If Roger Varian decides not to run Kingston Hill in this evening’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh then that will obviously rob the race of much of its interest.

Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh believes Irish Champions Weekend is an ideal chance to put racing in Ireland in the spotlight.

The Comer Group will sponsor the Irish St Leger for the next three years.

Leading Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby contender Sugar Boy has been sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

All the leading protagonists in a potentially thrilling renewal of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby have been reported to be thriving and on target for the Curragh highlight on Saturday evening.

Narrowly beaten by Sky Lantern in the English equivalent, 2/1 favourite Just The Judge gained ample compensation when landing the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guinea at the Curragh yesterday.

Exciting Irish colt Fort Knox has been bought by Sheikh Mohammed, according to jockey Johnny Murtagh.

Fame And Glory will be aiming to give the Ballydoyle team a Classic double as he leads nine contenders for tomorrow’s Gain Horse Feeds Irish St Leger at the Curragh.

This year’s Gain Horse Feeds Irish St Leger will be run in an early-evening slot in a bid to heighten the profile of the Group One race.

Aidan O’Brien admits conditions at the Curragh tonight will not be ideal as Camelot defends his unbeaten record in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Jean-Claude Rouget has ruled out supplementing his unbeaten French Oaks heroine Valyra for the Darley-sponsored Irish equivalent at the Curragh next month.

LONGSHOT La Collina gave veteran Curragh trainer Kevin Prendergast his fourth Keeneland Phoenix Stakes success when swooping late to foil the Aidan O’Brien trained favourite Power in yesterday’s Group 1 feature at the Curragh.

I DID not enjoy the Curragh last Sunday one little bit and I’ll tell you why: noise, noise and more noise!

AN overnight text from his brother, Freddie, coach to the Munster Branch, proved invaluable as Dwayne Twomey fashioned an unlikely win for Bandon over Co Sligo in yesterday’s semi-final of the Bulmers Irish Senior Cup at Castlebar.

FRANK Ennis believes Sebastian Flyte is not a complete no-hoper in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.

ADAJAL, in the colours of JP McManus, completed a quick hat-trick when landing the Oran Handicap Chase in impressive style at Roscommon last night.

CHINESE White scored her second Listed race success when landing the Hurry Harriet Stakes, named after the great Paddy Mullins 1973 Newmarket Champion Stakes winner, at Gowran Park last night.

The Curragh has regained the seven fixtures transferred from the Kildare venue next season after a redevelopment of the track was put on hold.

Trainers Paul Cole and Jim Bolger are out to retain their hold on the Parknasilla Hotel Goffs Millions races at the Curragh on Sunday.

Hacketts Bookmakers are to sponsor the Irish autumn double at the Curragh this year.

The Curragh's Paul O'Hanlon and Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney will meet in this afternoon's final of the South Of Ireland Championship at Lahinch.

THE first six home in the Epsom Derby could all lock horns once again in the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Irish version at the Curragh on Sunday.

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs took advantage of perfect early morning conditions to scorch to a six-under par 66 and a two stroke lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at County Louth.

British raider Benbaun continued his love affair with the Curragh when proving most game in holding off Dandy Man in the Nolan & Brophy Auctioneers Flying Five.

BENBAUN goes in search of a third successive victory in the Nolan & Brophy Auctioneers Flying Five at the Curragh tomorrow.

Mick Channon’s Championship Point faces a stiff test as he attempts to complete a hat-trick in the UAE Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

Some of the races that were lost from Saturday and Sunday's race programme at the Curragh Racecourse due to bad weather are to be transferred to Leopardstown and Fairyhouse next week.

Cockney Rebel and Vital Equine spearhead the 20 horses still engaged in Saturday’s Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas at the five-day confirmation stage.

Tom Hogan could be double-handed in the Ladbrokes Irish Lincolnshire on the opening day of the Irish Flat season at the Curragh on Sunday.

Wait Watcher, disqualified after beating Silk Blossom in a valuable sales race at the Curragh, may seek compensation in a Group One race in Italy.

Trinity College, already as low as 16-1 with the sponsors for the Stan James 2000 Guineas, will try to maintain his unbeaten record at the Curragh tomorrow.

Aidan O’Brien’s Ace heads a 19-strong entry for the Ladbrokes.com International Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday, where he may be joined by stablemates Hurricane Cat, Major Commitment and Marcus Andronicus.

DALUCCI gets the nap to beat House Of Bourbon in the Sand and Gravel Maiden at Bellewstown this evening.

Chile's Hugo Leon carded a brilliant five-under-par 67 to grab the clubhouse lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Open at Baltray.

Co Louth's B Reddan leads the Irish Seniors Amateur Open Championship after the first round at Limerick Golf Club.

CONNECTIONS of leading Boylesports Irish 1000 Guineas contenders Confidential Lady and Flashy Wings will wait until later in the week before confirming their participation in the Curragh Classic.

A decision on whether Connections of Speciosa will participate in the Vodafone Oaks will be made next week.

England's David Horsey fired a four under par 67 on his 21st birthday to grab the first-round lead in strokeplay qualifying for the Radisson SAS West of Ireland Championship.

Sheikh Mohammed led the tributes to Michael Osborne, a former senior steward of the Irish Turf Club and leading figure in international racing, who died on Wednesday after a short illness at the age of 71.

GRANTS totalling €65,000 were awarded by the Irish Sports Council to leading Irish golfers.