In the build-up to this year’s Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show in the RDS (which gets underway today), 20-year-old Bertram Allen has undoubtedly been the main focus of attention.

Five-time champion-jockey and four-time Irish Derby winner, Johnny Murtagh savoured his first Derby success as a trainer when 20/1 shot Jocular proved best in a blanket-finish to the Done Deal Apprentice Derby at the Curragh last night.

Serena Williams bounced back from her embarrassing loss to Simona Halep by beating Eugenie Bouchard in comprehensive fashion at the WTA Finals.

Yesterday’s Prix d’Aumale at Chantilly was due to be a warm-up for Al Naamah ahead of next month’s Prix Marcel Boussac but Al Shaqab Racing might have a different contender altogether after pacemaker Shahah caused a mighty turn-up.

It was her request for them to separate that sent him to his death, according to the distraught wife of the suicidal Polish taxi driver who caused multiple deaths when he deliberately ploughed into the car of a Cork family.

Estimate provided Queen Elizabeth with a famous triumph when she captured the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot yesterday.

John Oxx says there is no hurry to find a replacement for Johnny Murtagh as retained rider for the Aga Khan’s Irish-trained horses.

Trainer Michael Halford is convinced Massiyn has a bright future after he was just touched off in the Gain Horse Feeds Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Saturday.

Johnny Murtagh returns from a spell on the sidelines for one ride at Gowran Park on Wednesday.

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.

Serena Williams insists she will not be taking Agnieszka Radwanska lightly in today’s Wimbledon women’s final.

Agnieszka Radwanska yesterday blamed the miserable British summer for the illness which threatens to turn her dream Wimbledon final against Serena Williams into an impossible mission.

Winner of his maiden in heavy ground over course and distance three weeks ago, the John Oxx-trained Hartani followed-up when producing a gutsy front-running display in the opening Follow TipperaryRaces On Twitter Race at Tipperary last night, sparking a double for champion jockey Johnny Murtagh.

Time Of My Life is impossible to oppose in tonight’s Roscommon Handicap in Roscommon.

John Oxx’s Akeed Mofeed is one of five new entries for the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 2.

John Oxx’s Akeed Mofeed is one of five new entries for the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 2.

The start of the 48th Annual Guinness Trophy brings a tangible touch of class to proceedings at Curraheen Park and it looks like the ladies could dominate the opening night.

CHAMPION jockey Johnny Murtagh doubled-up on Sindjara and Billyford at a bitterly cold Dundalk last night.

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.

JOHNNY MURTAGH consolidated his position at the top of the jockeys’ championshipwhen guiding Adiynara to a smooth success in the 2011 Pride Of Tipperary Launch Race at Tipperary last night.

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

The maker of iconic cast iron Aga cookers today said it was on track to meet forecasts for this year after a seasonal pick-up in sales.

Shareen showed plenty of guts to defy the late thrust of She’s Our Mark in the Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes at Gowran.

BERG BAHN, in the colours carried to Investec Oaks glory by Snow Fairy, proved a shock winner of the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse last night.

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

SUPERSTAR filly Zarkava has been retired to stud.

HANDICAP king Tony Martin won the Heart Of Down Ulster Cesarewitch for the fourth time in nine years when Green Mile justified favouritism in the Downpatrick marathon yesterday.

All-rounder Kevin O’Brien steered Ireland to another victory as they booked their place at next year’s World Twenty20 in England with a four-wicket win over Kenya.

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.

Jean-Claude Rouget hopes Battle Paint can give a good account of himself when he tackles the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp on Sunday.

French Derby winner Darsi has been bought by Highflyer Bloodstock to stand at stud.

CONNECTIONS of Visindar do not anticipate the unique track or the big-race ballyhoo being a problem for the Vodafone Derby favourite at Epsom on Saturday week.

ANTE-POST activity on the Vodafone Derby hotted up with Visindar cementing his claims with an emphatic victory in the Group Two Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud while some bookmakers have removed Hala Bek and Sir Percy from their lists.

TRAINER Willie Mullins has lost an English High Court action over “a serious injustice” he says occurred when Be My Royal was disqualified from first place in the 2002 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

Shawanda has been found to have sustained a pelvic injury following her slightly disappointing run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Shawanda has been found to have sustained a pelvic injury following her slightly disappointing run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Mick Kinane brought Azamour from last to first to land the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

Lingo went to the head of the market for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after winning the feature race at Sandown Park yesterday.

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

DALAKHANI is as short as 4-9 favourite with Paddy Power (4-6 with Cashmans) for the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.