A rare January hurricane in the Atlantic is closing in on the Azores, with authorities in the Portuguese islands warning of waves up to 60ft high, wind gusts up to 100mph and torrential rain.

JOHNNY MURTAGH registered his first successes since being crowned champion jockey for the fifth time earlier this month when doubling-up on Fantasy King and Maggie Neary at Dundalk last night.

THE David Wachman trained Azores can recoup the losses incurred on her debut at Cork in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden at Gowran Park tonight.

Wildfires fanned by high winds burned out of control across Portugal today as the country suffered its worst drought in years.