A NEW concept for 2010 … joined-up thinking. The prolonged cold weather has shown us yet again how bad our quangos are. County councils have the responsibility for gritting our roads. So can we assume there is duplication in each county of the operational structures required to purchase, store and distribute the grit?

ARCTIC earned a crack at the listed Curragh Stakes when making a successful debut in the opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden over five furlongs at Bellewstown last night.

Amy Winehouse could return to the top of the album charts following her Brits performance, it was revealed today.

TWO deep-diving Russian mini-submarines descended more than 4km under North Pole ice to stake a flag on the ocean floor yesterday, as part of a quest to bolster Russian claims to much of the Arctic’s oil-and-mineral wealth.

ARCTIC conditions brought a cold finish to the national holiday weekend as biting winds caused disruption to some travel arrangements and festivities.

On trainer Alan Swinbank's first day out racing since Collier Hill won a £600,000 (€890,700) first prize in Hong Kong, Ring The Boss and Arctic Echo added a total of £8,132 (€12,100) to the stable coffers following two fine efforts at Catterick.

Tom Taaffe has high hopes that Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King can end his campaign on a winning note at Punchestown tomorrow.