Name: Pat Walker

Valyra, the unbeaten French Oaks winner, has been put down after suffering a serious injury while being prepared for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Katie Taylor had her Bray bash, John Joe Nevin was feted in Mullingar, while Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan got the red carpet treatment in Belfast.

Curragh trainer John Oxx landed the listed Lenebane Stakes for the fourth time in five years in Roscommon last night as 12/1 shot Aklan held the late surge of the Michael Halford-trained favourite Massiyn, also owned by the Aga Khan, by a short-head in a thrilling blanket-finish.

Parish Hall attempts the first leg of a remarkable Classic double in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh day.

EMULOUS oozed class as she justified favouritism for Dermot Weld and owner Khalid Abdullah in the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes, the feature of last night’s action at Fairyhouse.

Olivier Peslier is unable to partner Ed Dunlop’s Native Khan in the Investec Derby as he is retained to ride in France on the same day.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will visit the country's flagship horse breeding centre today as she continues her four-day Irish tour.

Colm O’Donoghue is the new favourite to become Coolmore’s number one jockey after Christophe Soumillon ruled himself out of the job.

Johnny Murtagh has been retained to ride all of the Aga Khan’s Irish-trained horses in 2011.

TITLE-CHASING Fran Berry and Pat Smullen dominated last night’s action at Leopardstown, Berry taking the honours with a fine treble on Smart Striking, Napa Starr and Simkane while former champion Smullen had to settle for a brace, on Be My Storm and Aladdin’s Cave.

Rosanara and Siyouni will bid to put their French Guineas hard luck stories behind them at Royal Ascot later this month.

Tommy Stack’s whirlwind start to the new Flat campaign continued with a 571/2-1 double at Leopardstown.

Future plans for the unbeaten super filly Zarkava have yet to be decided as the dust settles on her stunning Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe success at Longchamp.

Connections of Viva Pataca hope to emulate fellow Hong Kong raider Vengeance Of Rain by winning the Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba.

OVER the years diverse theories have sprung up about what happened to Shergar, with everyone from Colonel Gadaffi to a New Orleans mafia outfit to Charles Haughey accused of involvement.

Christophe Soumillon believes Shamdala, his mount in the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks, has the potential to be as good as Irish Oaks winner Shawanda.

John Tynan

Michael Stoute is set to be without a runner in next Saturday’s Vodafone Derby after ruling out both Kalamkar and Mountain High from the blue riband.

JOHNNY MURTAGH will miss York’s prestigious Ebor meeting this week after the recurrence of a back problem, it emerged yesterday.

JOHN OXX introduced an imposing newcomer in Alamshar, owned by the Aga Khan, to land the Harvest Festival EBF Maiden at Listowel yesterday.

A fierce gun battle erupted early today between Israeli forces and Palestinians near a block of Jewish settlements in Gaza, wounding at least 25 Palestinians .