Eve Hewson is reportedly in the running for the female lead in a new Robin Hood film that will be like the Dark Knight

For any business, customer loyalty is vital, particularly during a summer routinely described as a washout. However, as Noel Baker discovered, one West Cork town is ensuring rain is not a spoiler by offering visitors more cultural events and a greater choice of eateries

Inherent Vice ***

THE sign on road heading into Bantry could be read as one offering reassurance. As the tarmac undergoes resurfacing, the cardboard sign declares ‘Bantry House, business as usual’.

The descendants of the great houses of the South-West, whose social life once revolved around each other, gathered for the first time in more than 100 years at Muckross House in Killarney over the weekend.

WESTLIN’ Winds is on course for a crack at the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday week.

Darkness could make a return to the track in around a month’s time.

Ironside helped keep the Colin Tizzard bandwagon rolling when making all to plunder the £25,000 skybet.com Sussex National at Plumpton.

Colin Tizzard has started 2008 in the same rich vein of form he ended last year and Ironside netted another valuable prize for his West Country stable in the £25,000 skybet.com Sussex National at Plumpton.

Arctic conditions continue to savage the fixture list but Plumpton’s use of frost covers ensured their meeting went ahead and allowed Kruguyrova to take the Betfair SP As It Should Be Novices’ Chase.

Tony McCoy was seen at his brilliant best when driving home Soliya to win the Dermot Ffrench Memorial Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Newbury.

Luca Cumani has a big couple of weeks coming up what with Purple Moon going for glory Down Under, but he can walk away with a nice prize at Doncaster courtesy of Kahara.

Mick Channon is keen to run Youmzain in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe despite the colt’s fourth placing behind Quijano in the Grosser Preis Von Baden in Germany yesterday.

Youmzain could finish only fourth in his attempt to secure a second Group One success in Germany.

Vinando will miss the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday.

Gordon Elliott is hoping Silver Birch's Grand National win can kickstart his fledgling training career.

Red Cape seems to be striking form at the right time to make his presence felt in the pontins.com Handicap at Southwell tomorrow.

Promising chaser Darkness has sustained a tendon injury which will force him to miss the whole of the current campaign.

MARCUS TREGONING could leave it as late as Thursday morning before deciding whether Sir Percy will take his chance in Sunday's Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

Charles Egerton fears Royal Ascot may come too soon for Art Deco following his good run in the French Derby.

DARSI gave crack Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon a birthday to remember with a third success in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly yesterday.

CONDITIONS on the Roodee should be perfect for tomorrow’s totesport Chester Cup, for which a maximum field of 18 has been declared for what is the showpiece of the three-day meeting.

Conditions on the Roodee should be perfect for Wednesday’s totesport Chester Cup, for which a maximum field of 18 has been declared for what is the showpiece of the three-day meeting.

Charles Egerton has confirmed leading Royal & Sun Alliance Chase fancy Darkness is well on course for Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Presumptuous, part-owned by former trainer Jack Berry and his son Sam, landed his second race over timber in the hands of David O’Meara in the Betfred Handicap Hurdle at Southwell.

Royal and SunAlliance Chase favourite Darkness is set to go straight to Cheltenham without a prep run.

Charles Egerton is looking for an improved effort from Graphic Approach at Sandown on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson has used the cantorspreadfair.com Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle to great effect in recent years and he stuck again when Restless D’Artaix gained a comfortable eight-length victory.

Retired trainer Nick Gaselee was back in the winner’s enclosure after The Local proved a star turn at a wet and windy Wincanton.

PAUL NICHOLLS yesterday confirmed that he intends to run all three of his contenders in Saturday’s £150,000 attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown.