An Irish paramedic working in Australia close to the bushfires has said the rural fire fighters are “unpaid heroes.”

Often, in these crazy times on all fronts globally, I devoutly wish that I could deploy my most expressive language by far, to inform you fully of how I’m totally flummoxed and bamboozled, these days in the wake of April Fool’s Day.

Aidan O’Brien has three runners as he bids to maintain his stranglehold on the Centennial Celebration-MBNA Chester Vase Stakes on the Roodee today.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has backed Raheem Sterling to shine on his Anfield return as the England man play at Liverpool for the first time since his acrimonious £49m departure last summer.

According to Australian Police, he died after his car hit a tree around 11am on Sunday morming.

A woman who previously dated the man accused of fatally shooting her, her husband and six children texted her mother before her death that she was being held at gunpoint.

A woman who previously dated the man accused of fatally shooting her, her husband and six children had texted her mother before her death that she was being held at gunpoint.

Six children and their parents were fatally shot in the head at their Houston home by a man with a violent criminal history who was previously in a stormy relationship with the mother, police said.

Two young brothers were last night celebrating being back on dry land, having circumnavigated the country in an open deck dinghy to raise awareness for a good cause.

If you’re looking for a summer read with brains, this is the perfect book.

After impressing with his Sir Henrys play, Cork actor Ray Scannell is again delving into Ireland’s recent past, writes Padraic Killeen

Godolphin have signalled their intent for 2015 by recruiting William Buick and James Doyle to ride as joint-number one jockeys.

Nine people have been killed in a house fire in western Kentucky, state police said.

Breaking Bad, Gatsby and Game of Thrones have all inspired baby names in the UK this year, while the desire not to be seen as a “Kate copycat” had led to a decline in the popularity of royal names, according to website BabyCentre.

He’s renowned for his downhill prowess, but a celebrity US skier is facing an uphill struggle to wrest custody of his son from the child’s mother.

WHEN Philip and Amy Keohane stood in Cork City centre last summer, watching scores of saddle-weary cyclists struggle up the near-vertical height of Patrick’s Hill, they cried.

Six-times Group One winner Snow Fairy has been retired, trainer Ed Dunlop said in a statement.

Frankie Dettori has been appointed as the new retained rider for leading owner Sheikh Joaan Al Thani.

Frankel has been named Cartier Horse Of The Year for the second time at an awards ceremony in London.

Frankel was at his majestic best as he made it a perfect 14 victories in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe insists she has not formulated a masterplan in which Cirrus Des Aigles inflicts a first career defeat upon Frankel at Ascot on Saturday.

Aidan O’Brien has spoken of his delight at having Frankie Dettori on board Camelot in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp tomorrow.

An email to the Racing Post this week posed the question: “Will Camelot now win the ‘Arc by default, it’s the only way I can see him winning?”

Camelot has emerged as clear favourite for tomorrow’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp after faring far better than market rival Orfevre in the draw for stalls positions.

Frankie Dettori will sensationally partner Camelot in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

Camelot faces a crucial workout this morning as trainer Aidan O’Brien insists he is looking “very strongly” at running his Classic hero in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Camelot faces a crucial workout on Wednesday morning as trainer Aidan O’Brien insists he is looking “very strongly” at running his Classic hero in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Ed Dunlop fears the current spell of wet weather may force him to rethink his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe plans for Snow Fairy.

Snow Fairy stole the show at Leopardstown with an emotional victory over fellow British raider Nathaniel in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes this afternoon.

Trainer Ed Dunlop believes “all the signs are good” for Snow Fairy as she bids for a seventh Group One success in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown this evening.

The September Stakes at Kempton (2.30) catches the eye this afternoon and it provides a nice opportunity for last year’s winner, Modun, to return to winning ways.

As Camelot prepares for his date with destiny in next weekend’s Doncaster St Leger, Aidan O’Brien says the public focus on Frankel suits him just fine.

Snow Fairy gets the vote ahead of Nathaniel in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown this evening.

Connections of Main Sequence will wait until next week before deciding whether to aim the Investec Derby runner-up at the Ladbrokes St Leger.

British raiders Nathaniel and Snow Fairy feature among a final field of six declared runners in tomorrow’s Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

William Buick remains hopeful he will be able to ride both Nathaniel and Ortensia in their respective Group One targets this weekend.

Nathaniel and Snow Fairy appear among the 12 entries for Saturday’s Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Leopardstown’s Racing and Operations manager Nessa Joyce is expecting next weekend’s Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes to be run on a sound surface.

Cirrus Des Aigles will not run in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next Saturday.

Connections of Coral-Eclipse winner Nathaniel are unlikely to take on Frankel in next Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes unless there is significant rain at York.

Frankel could face at least one stern rival when he lines up for the Juddmonte International in the shape of St Nicholas Abbey.

The Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes is a possible target for Reliable Man following his fine run in last month’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Frankel will attract rather more attention the next time he appears than in this frenetic fortnight of sporting drama, but maintained his standing as the undisputed champion of his own discipline in the Qipco Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Frankel has long ceased to be a lucrative betting option but very few will be hoping for anything other than another impressive victory for the world’s top racehorse as he lines up in the Qipco Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Elusive Kate gave jockey William Buick and trainer John Gosden yet another Group One winner in a golden summer after making all the running in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville today.

The Sky Bet York Stakes (3.10) is one of the features on a modest Saturday afternoon’s racing but it provides a great opportunity for the Luca Cumani-trained Afsare to make the breakthrough in Group company.