Three weeks down, three more to go in the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby and, of the first half of the classic, one thing is certain: Ballymac Matt has been dominant.

Ant-Man is coming out soon, and it promises to be a much smaller movie than the overblown excess of something like Age of Ultron.

Avengers Age of Ultron is just arriving in cinemas but as everything is connected in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that means we're starting to hear about films coming down the line in a couple of years.

Odds-on favourite Highland Reel provided Aidan O’Brien with his tenth winner in five days when bolting up in the opening two-year maiden in Gowran Park last evening, undoubtedly the best performance on the card.

Off the field business has provided another unwelcome diversion from Munster’s crucial RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park tonight, with news of a second loan move by Peter Stringer fromSaracens to Newcastle Falcons.

Munster have announced that Peter Stringer is to go to Guinness Premiership side Newcastle Falcons until the end of the season.

TRAINING honours on the final day of a successful Fairyhouse Easter Festival (crowds were up 20% over the three days) yesterday went to Willie Mullins, who completed a double in graded hurdles with Twinlight and Lambro.

BUSINESSMAN Brendan Mallon made a frantic phonecall to his wife after surviving the ill-fated flight NM 7100 crash which claimed the lives of six other passengers.

Mikael D’haguenet was sunk without trace in the Grade 1 Bord na Mona With Nature Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday, victory going to Realt Dubh.

AS A tactic to impress the Twickenham hierarchy, sending your entire team out to get drunk together on Sunday night is an unusual one, even for Jim Mallinder.

THE mother and father behind a hoax that saw the world following a wayward balloon in which their son was feared trapped were jailed yesterday.

The mother and father behind a hoax that saw the world following a wayward balloon in which their son was feared trapped were jailed today.

The parents of a six-year-old boy who was feared to have floated off in a flying saucer-shaped balloon in Colorado will plead guilty to some hoax charges to keep the family together.

The mother of the six-year-old US boy once feared missing inside a runaway helium balloon admitted the whole saga was a hoax, according to court documents.

AUTHORITIES investigating the family accused of perpetrating the balloon boy hoax to promote a reality show said yesterday they don’t expect to bring possible charges until at least next week.

The father accused of masterminding a hoax in which emergency services chased an out-of-control balloon in which his son was feared to be trapped could be charged as early as today, his lawyer has said.

The boy-in-a-balloon story that sparked a frantic search in Colorado was a hoax concocted to land a reality television show, authorities said.

A SHERIFF has said he was pursuing criminal charges in Colorado’s “balloon boy” saga, which first sparked fear for the child, then relief and now suspicions of a hoax.

Police searched the home of the parents of Colorado’s “balloon boy” early today after the sheriff said he was pursuing criminal charges.

Police are to reinterview a Colorado couple today as speculation mounted that the balloon drama that sparked a frenzied search for their six-year-old son was a huge publicity stunt.

THE father of a 6-year-old boy who was thought to be in a helium balloon that floated away and was pursued by military helicopters said yesterday accusations that the ordeal was a publicity stunt are “extremely pathetic”.

The father of a boy feared to have been carried away in a balloon today angrily denied the drama which gripped millions was a publicity stunt.

There was a thrilling finish to the Subscribe Online At racinguk.com Handicap at Beverley as Pacific Pride pipped last year's winner Baybshambles by a nose today.

Tony McCoy edged a little closer to his 3,000th career success over jumps after a thrilling victory aboard his only ride of the day.

It may be 364 days before he hangs his stocking again, but there were no St Stephen's Day blues for Peter Maddison as Lothian Falcon flew to victory in the £50,000 skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby.

FLYING FALCON looks the one to beat in the Sunderlands Imperial Cup – the feature event on Sandown’s traditional pre-Cheltenham Saturday card.

A US base in southern Baghdad was hit by a mortar round fired by insurgents, which set off a series of explosions from detonating tank and artillery shells that shook buildings miles away.

A fire at a US army base in Iraq set off a series of explosions by detonating tank and artillery shells, causing buildings miles away to shake.

JONJO O’NEILL was giving out few clues to ante-post punters as his yard became the latest to throw its doors open to the media yesterday.

Longford PV’s Falcons 76 Team Blarney Park 58

Intersky Falcon will face seven rivals when he bids for his third victory in the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Sandown Park on Boxing Day.

Harchibald’s dramatic defeat in last season’s Champion Hurdle faded in the memory as he made amends with a dominant display to take the totesport Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King is one of a clutch of big names among the possible runners at this month’s Punchestown Festival after entries for nine of the 10 Grade One races were revealed today.

ANTE-POST favourite Hardy Eustace will face 14 rivals as he bids for a second successive win in tomorrow’s Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Australian forward Owen Finegan has agreed a two-year deal with the Newcastle Falcons.

Intersky Falcon is likely to head to the Smurfit Champion Hurdle without a prep run, according to part-owner Terry McDermott.

CHAMPION chaser Flagship Uberalles will be out again early in 2005 despite managing only fifth in the O’Connell Warehousing Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday.

Alan King described himself has “extremely fortunate” after Massac made virtually every yard of the running to land the featured Grade Two Life From Coloroll Chase at Windsor.

Dual Christmas Hurdle winner Intersky Falcon will miss his intended seasonal debut in the RHT 40th Anniversary Hurdle at Kempton Park on Saturday.

INTERSKY FALCON heads a field of eight for the £70,000 Concept Hurdle at Sandown today.

ROOSTER BOOSTER, runner-up to Sacundai in the Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle 12 months ago, will bid to go one better in the Grade One contest tomorrow.