A tough and consistent mare, Surrounding made her breakthrough at Group 3 level when landing the Brownstown Stakes for Michael Halford, Ronan Whelan, and the Newell family at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Trethias, whose form includes a defeat of Investec Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood at the Curragh last year, lived-up to her trainer Jessica Harrington’s expectations when landing the listed Naas Oaks Trial in Naas last night.

Sunday Sovereign was the star turn at Tipperary, the youngster enhancing his reputation with another deeply impressive display.

Seven is the magic number for Aidan O’Brien at Epsom today as he sends out seven runners in search of his seventh victory in the Investec Derby.

After the conspicuous lack of success on Day One I’m twitchy.

With the rain that fell yesterday afternoon and all that is expected today, Sams Profile can reverse recent form over Battleoverdoyen when they renew rivalry in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

Peter Jackson gets over the gain line, behind the headline.

Billy Holland will make his 200th appearance for Munster when he lines out against Connacht in Saturday’s crucial Guinness PRO14 game at the Galway Sportsground.

Some familiar faces await Niall Scannell this Saturday at Thomond Park. Gerbrandt Grobler was a teammate last year, and now he’s a Gloucester player.

Over the course of eight years and more than a century of appearances for his home province, Simon Zebo quickly realised European rugby was “everything” at Munster.

From podcasts to TV programmes and forums, mums are breaking with tradition and freely talking about the trials of labour. But is this always a good thing, asks Sharon Ní Chonchúir.

Even in death, Emma Mhic Mhathúna would not be silenced.

On a day which provided across-the-card trebles for Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien, progressive Ballydoyle colt Lucius Tiberius came from last to first to record a last-gasp victory in the Irish Stallions Farms EBF Nasrullah Handicap in Leopardstown.

Kerry mother Emma Mhic Mhathúna and her five children who sued over CervicalCheck smears have settled their legal action for €7.5m.

Surrounding, ridden for Michael Halford and the Newell family from nearby Ratoath by Conor Hoban, pounced late to land the featured Toals.com Bookmakers Fillies Race in Fairyhouse.

The Nenagh man accompanied co-coach Laurent Travers and captain Yannick Nyanga to yesterday’s media event and found himself facing 50% of the enquiries from the floor.

Donnacha Ryan likes to lose himself in Paris when he isn’t doing his day job with Racing 92.

Devin Toner is already the proud owner of three Heineken Cup medals and yet there is a sense that a first Champions Cup trinket would outweigh them all.

Donnacha Ryan is a favourite son of Nenagh and he will have significant support in Bilbao this weekend as Racing 92 set out to topple tournament favourites Leinster in the European decider.

Keith Earls has had better Mondays.

Racing 92 star Yannick Nyanga admitted his side might not have beaten Munster without the presence of Donnacha Ryan.

Racing 92 star Yannick Nyanga admitted his side might not have beaten Munster without the presence of Donnacha Ryan.

Christchurch feels very safe and secure. And the Ireland in me had forgotten how much you savour those things. The contrast from Paris is huge. There is no anger in this world. On the RER in Paris, every nationality in the world is around you.

Munster boss Johann van Graan has challenged his forwards to reach for new heights this weekend in order to counter a Racing 92 lineout defence he rates as second only to the All Blacks.

Former Munster and Ireland lock Donnacha O’Callaghan will bring the curtain down on his illustrious career at the end of this season.

After seven months on the sidelines, Jean Kleyn had more reason than most to celebrate the start of the new season and the lock could not have wished for a better re- introduction to the Munster jersey.

Curragh-based Japanese trainer Takashi Kodama described the outcome as “unbelievable” after saddling 25/1 shot Elusive Time to win the €100,000 Tote Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh yesterday.

Acclaimed contemporary Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy speaks to Cathy Desmond ahead of the world premiere of his prize-winning opera ‘The Second Violinist’.

Joe Schmidt says the IRFU offered Donnacha Ryan a financial deal similar to the package he was already on but the second row decided to leave Munster for Racing 92 next season for a combination of professional and personal reasons.

Munster boss Rassie Erasmus hailed departing Donnacha Ryan as “10 times more a Munster man than I'll ever be” after the Ireland lock helped his native province reach next week's Guinness Pro12 final today.

Aidan O'Brien chalked up a record eighth triumph in the Qipco 2000 Guineas as Churchill justified favouritism in the first Classic of the season at Newmarket.

Joe Schmidt has warned Donnacha Ryan that his move to France to join Racing 92 will make it “more difficult” for the second row to continue to be selected for Ireland.

Rassie Erasmus is no more than “hopeful” of having a full deck from to choose from when Munster take on holders Saracens in the semi-final of the European Champions Cup at the Aviva Stadium on April 22. 

Rassie Erasmus has sent a shockwave through Munster Rugby by choosing not to unequivocally shoot down speculation he is in talks with South African Rugby about a return to his previous role as high performance manager in his homeland.

The Munster Indoor Masters Championships drew a wealth of experience to the Nenagh track last weekend. Stephen Barry was there to watch veteran track and field stars who remain forever young.

Reports Springbok centre Jaco Taute is on the brink of joining Munster on a short-term contract appear premature with the province waiting for Stormers to give the the go-ahead.