THE O’Donnell Kennels in Killenaule are back in the headlines with young puppy Skip Soda winning a lot of admirers in the Festival Open Unraced Stake at Clonmel.

JUST days into the New Year and already we have the draw for the first major open track event of the year, the Tyrur Kennels Open 575 which will kick-off at Shelbourne tonight.

THE summer staging of the London Olympics and the Euro Championships have had the combined effect of making the early season build-up to the English Derby a rather rushed affair.