The TTIP promises major benefits to the EU and US, but can it possibly live up to the hype, removing barriers to trade between the continents and benefiting both. Peter O’Dwyer reports.

Eddie Lynam is keen to give Slade Power the chance to stamp himself the world’s best sprinter in Australia later this year after he continued his fantastic summer with a brilliant display in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday.

Dublin 0-11 Cavan 0-10

Silvestre de Sousa lit up a damp, grey final meeting at York today with a 1,983-1 four-timer on Oceanway, Bannock, Orsippus and Licence To Till.

DUBLIN will be the first team since Cork in 2000 to provide representatives in both All-Ireland minor finals after this victory for Dessie Farrell’s side against a Galway team that proved far stiffer opposition than some had expected.

THE splendour of their performances in Leinster led many to attach All-Ireland-winning credentials to this Dublin minor football team and in Portlaoise yesterday they offered more persuasive evidence they can this year land the county’s first national crown at this level since 1984.

THE Blue army may not have been on hand in their droves to witness it but a new era of Dublin dominance may just have been ushered in at Croke Park.

Previous experience at Goodwood was unnecessary for David England as Bugsy's Boy (15-2) gave him an armchair first ride at the course in the Three Musketeers Trophy today.

Plans to create 300,000 jobs over the next five years were today dismissed as reheated targets already published by state agencies.

Paul McCartney declared himself a fan of President Barack Obama and admitted performing at the White House was ’very exciting’.

FRANKIE DETTORI was at his peerless best as he rode an approximate 238-1 hat-trick to light up the Rowley Mile racecourse at Newmarket.

RETAIL sales have plunged 38% because of the adverse weather conditions which will cost the economy up to €300 million.

Tom Queally rounded off his breakthrough season at a snow-covered Lingfield with a confident ride aboard Tranquil Tiger.

Trade figures released by the CSO today indicate that Irish goods exported to China and Hong Kong in January 2008 increased to €261m, an increase of 62.7% on exports for the same month of 2007.

Bray Wanderers 1 Finn Harps 0

UCD take on Bray Wanderers in tonight's eircom League of Ireland Premier Division clash at Belfield Park, kick-off 7.45pm.

Richard Hughes could be expected to forgo the bread and butter of British racing for more tropical climes at this time of year.

Cork City 6 Bray Wanderers 0

Ascot racecourse will finally open its gates again on Saturday when a restricted crowd of 11,000 people will get to see the new grandstand close up.

Fasylitator earned his fourth win in the last 11 months – for his third different trainer – when lifting the first division of the betdirect Freephone 0800 211 222 Handicap by a neck.

Trainer Eoghan O’Neill has been one of the biggest success stories of this season and he can continue in his rich vein of form at Salisbury tomorrow.

Bombay-born Ismail Merchant, one of Hollywood’s top producers who mastered the period-piece genre in a 44-year filmmaking partnership with James Ivory, was buried today in his home town.

Employers' group IBEC has warned the limp US dollar is jeopardising the growth of the Irish economy.

Darryll Holland maintained his pursuit of Kieren Fallon in the jockeys’ championship by bagging a double at Ascot today.

De La Salle 0-17 Youghal CBS 0-3

Paul McCartney gave one of his biggest fans a thrill last night by changing the lyrics of a song at his show last night as a birthday treat.

Chris Wall nominated Bella Tusa the best juvenile filly he has trained after watching her complete a hat-trick in fine style in the Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr today.