Thurles CBS 0-14 Abbey CBS 0-9: It was not an afternoon for aesthetics as Thurles CBS ground out a five-point win over John Kiely’s Abbey CBS side in greasy conditions to book their place in the last eight of the Dr Harty Cup.

Monaghan’s Josh Moffett (Ford Fiesta R5) and co-driver Emmet Sherry led from flagfall to win the Murroe based Lyons of Limerick Forest Rally the penultimate round of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship.

With a clean sweep of the fastest times on all eight stages, the Antrim/Cork combination of Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Skoda Fabia R5) won the Abbey Hotel Munster Moonraker Rally in Ballyvourney, Co Cork, the second round of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally series.

You can observe a lot just by watching,” the quote machine that is Yoggi Berra offered and reading a book on and with Dennis Bergkamp in recent days, we’re guessing the Dutchman would agree.

A bus driver has been hailed a hero after his driving skills helped to save the lives of more than 50 elderly people who were on a pensioners’ outing.

Scenes from a never before staged play by WB Yeats will be performed for the first time next month.

FAME and fortune led Alex “Hurricane” Higgins down a destructive path of alcohol abuse, which ultimately caused his death.

TIMMY Murphy, who is still on cloud nine after winning the John Smith’s Grand National aboard Comply Or Die, says the famous triumph gave him an “unbelievable feeling”.

Mick Fitzgerald was taken to hospital with back injuries after falling from L’Ami in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Tom Mullins believes John Smith’s Grand National candidate Chelsea Harbour ticks all the right boxes for Saturday’s Aintree spectacular.

PAUL Nicholls is doing his best to secure the services of Ruby Walsh for Turko, whom he fancies “quite strongly” for the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

GEORGE M McKelvey has been named as US observer to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI).

Cloudy Lane, ante-post favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National on April 5, features among the 115 horses still engaged in the Aintree marathon.

Nodforms Paula created a fair impression when running out an easy winner of the State Rox Off Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster.

McKelvey is likely to have two prep races over hurdles ahead of his bid to go one place better in the John Smith’s Grand National.

Snowy Morning is now the 10-1 clear favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National following the publication of the weights.

Mr Pointment will have to defy a welter of statistics if he is to claim John Smith’s Grand National glory at Aintree.

ANTE-POST punters have suffered a blow yesterday when trainer Martin Brassil revealed Numbersixvalverde had not been entered for the John Smith’s Grand National after failing to make sufficient progress from injury.

Tribal Venture can go a few places better than last year in the Britannia Building Society English Summer National at Uttoxeter.

Silver Birch is set for a well-earned summer break after his John Smith’s Grand National victory.

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

Irish raider Silver Birch caused a minor surprise as he claimed the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Peter Bowen is hoping the success of Dunbrody Millar in the John Smith’s Topham Chase is a good omen for his dual raid on tomorrow’s Grand National with McKelvey and Ballycassidy.

WILLIE MULLINS is predicting a bold show from Hedgehunter in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Peter Bowen’s halcyon summer jumps campaign scaled dazzling new heights after Yes Sir hacked up in the valuable totesport.com Summer Plate Handicap Chase at Market Rasen.

INVESTIGATIONS are underway in three Cork secondary schools amid claims that students are buying into controversial pyramid schemes.

Richard Johnson faces a race against time to be fit to partner ante-post favourite One Knight in the Coral Welsh National after a heavy fall at Sandown.

Peter Bowen has confirmed leading ante-post fancy Mckelvey on course for the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow next week.

Quazar provided further evidence that Jonjo O’Neill’s horses have finally escaped the doldrums when he formed the highlight of a 62-1 treble for Tony McCoy at Cheltenham today.

FREE GIFT has been pushed out to 8-1 for the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival following a surprise defeat at Folkestone yesterday.

THE Federal Reserve, mindful the US economy is struggling to add jobs, will repeat a pledge to leave interest rates low for a "considerable period" at its meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a survey of the majority of Wall Street's largest bond-trading firms.

THE number of Americans filing first-time applications for state unemployment benefits fell to 339,000 last week, the lowest in almost three years, suggesting job prospects are improving.