Cork hurling manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy enjoyed fine success on the coursing fields on Sunday when his Jacksons Lane, trained by Michael O’Donovan in Tipperary town, won the Derby Trial Stake at Abbeyfeale.

JAMES O’Donovan took thefinal honours of 2012 when he beat Christy Mullins by a bowl in the RNLI benefit at Castletownbere for €24,400 on Friday.

The Kerry Agri-Business St Leger gets underway at Limerick tonight and Derby champion Skywalker Puma returns to competitive action for the first time since his stunning success in Ireland’s premier classic.

The dreadful weather conditions yesterday made things difficult for some trainers heading for the English Derby at Wimbledon which starts tomorrow night with 11 Irish runners in action in the first session.

The Irish team has made a fine start to the Scottish Derby and three members will be in action in the semi-finals at Shawfield on Saturday.

THE weather continues to paralyse the Irish racing scene with Cork and Clonmel the only southern tracks able to race last night and already as many as six of tonight’s meetings cancelled.

The Williamhill.com English Derby will reach the semi-final stage next Saturday when the third round is run at Wimbledon and hopes of an Irish victory in the classic are sky high following another very successful weekend for the raiding party.

TWO of the leading contenders for outright honours go head-to-head when the first round of the Cashman Irish Laurels is completed at Curraheen Park tonight.