Cheltenham chiefs admit the start of yesterday’s JLT Novices’ Chase “looked untidy” —but insist starting procedures had been followed correctly.

We look at the best of the Irish in today’s action at Cheltenham.

Old people’s bodies aren’t more susceptible to disease argues a new book. It’s just the longer you live the more likely you are to pick something up along the way writes Margaret Jennings.

INVERNESS CT  3 CELTIC 2: Celtic boss Ronny Deila pointed the finger at official Alan Muir for missing a controversial penalty incident in his side’s 3-2 William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Inverness which ended hopes of a treble.

JOHN Muir, the “father of the National Parks” who “saved the American soul from total surrender to materialism”, died a century ago this year. 2014 will be marked by Muir celebrations in the US and his native Scotland. April 21 has been designated John Muir day.

Joe Schmidt has chosen New Zealander John Plumtree as the man to take charge of Ireland’s forwards and the 48-year-old will join the Irish coaching set-up next month.

Five stroke victims have shown small signs of recovery following pioneering stem cell therapy.

St Mirren 1 Celtic 2

Ray Winstone played pranks on his castmates while filming 'Snow White and the Huntsman'.

British Horseracing Authority (BHA) officials have stressed they “greatly value” their relationship with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in the wake of the latest changes to the controversial whip rules.

Motherwell 3 Dunfermline 1

Land giveaways are rare in Ireland. Oliver Moore reports on the thinking behind octogenarian David Rowe’s decision to donate his entire five-acre holding in Co Carlow to a land trust.

The in-form Muirhead leads a four-pronged Irish challenge on the United House Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

The future of New Zealand’s national news agency was thrown into doubt today when major subscriber and shareholder Fairfax Media announced it was pulling out of the cooperative.

SHAMROCK ROVERs eased their way to the Setanta Cup semi-finals by beating Irish League side Distillery in last night’s quarter-final, second leg at Tallaght Stadium.

SOUTH AFRICA’S backs coach Dick Muir admits the Springboks management team could face the axe if they lose to England at Twickenham on Saturday.

DOCTORS injected cells into the brain of a patient in the “world’s first” stem cell trial for stroke victims, it was announced yesterday.

South Africa will mull over making changes to their backline to face Wales on Saturday after Francois Steyn joined up with the Springbok squad yesterday.

Celtic 9 Aberdeen 0

Martin Dwyer suffered a nasty fall at Leicester when Red Lite jinked and unseated him when holding every chance in the second division of the Aston Flamville Fillies' Nursery.

Noel Meade is keeping his fingers crossed that Muirhead can show his true colours in the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas tomorrow.

South Africa captain Chiliboy Ralepelle admits the team’s new players will have to learn the harsh lessons of international tours after their humbling by Guinness Premiership champions Leicester.

While Peter Chapple-Hyam contemplates a Ladbrokes St Leger tilt with Monitor Closely, Zaahy kick-started his juvenile team with a classy display in the tagworldwide.com Novice Stakes at Lingfield today.

Mark Johnston continued his red-hot streak of form by sending out Shakespearean to win the Variety Club Children's Charity Solario Stakes at Sandown today.

WILLIAM Muir reports Enroller to be at the top of his game for the Princess of Wales’s Blue Square Stakes at Newmarket today.

A SECOND British and Irish Lions tour has ended prematurely for Brian O’Driscoll, who returns home today after being ruled out of the third and final Test against South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday.

THE Emerging Springboks bid to heap more misery on the shell-shocked British and Irish Lions at Newlands tonight (6.10pm).

ASSISTANT coach Dick Muir believes South Africa are well prepared for the first Test against the Lions despite the absence of Schalk Burger for the opening match in Durban on Saturday.

Willie Muir had to send Nemo Spirit on a 400-mile round trip to find suitable ground but the journey paid off as he put up a brave front-running performance to win the £17,000 (€19,950) Blue Square Stakes under William Buick at York.

David Nicholls has his team in good form and he wasted no time in adding to his score when Falasteen gained a convincing success in the opening Acturis EBF Maiden Stakes at York.

FREDERIC Michalak’s omission from the 30-strong France training squad for the Six Nations is neither a surprise nor a shock as the French rugby establishment opt once again to shun his mercurial talents for more predictable playmakers.

Pretty Polly Stakes winner Saphira’s Fire is nearing her first run since finishing down the field in the Juddmonte Oaks.

South Africa’s most-capped player Percy Montgomery announced his retirement from international rugby after the Springboks’ 53-8 win over Australia at Coca-Cola Park today.

Willie Muir experienced plenty of ’seconditis’ at this time last year but admitted after We Have A Dream’s gutsy triumph in Folkestone’s Bet Romania v France – Betdaq Handicap that the cards are falling in his favour this time around.

Getaway is on course to further enhance Andre Fabre’s superb record in the Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday.

Willie Muir believes Saphira’s Fire deserves a shot at Classic glory in Friday’s Juddmonte Oaks at Epsom.

Turbo Linn is set to make the leap to Group One company in Friday’s Juddmonte Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Alan King has few equals in reputation during the jumps season but the Barbury Castle yard’s small Flat string continue to excel and Spring Dream proved the latest example at Bath.

Willie Muir achieved quite a feat in the Alex And Peter Hatfield Handicap at Folkestone as his three runners managed to finish first, third and fourth.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insists he will not spend time dwelling on his side's recent slump in form.

Big Robert earned himself a rise in class with trainer Willie Muir eyeing the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood for the colt following his victory at Leicester.

William Muir has booked Kieren Fallon to ride Big Robert in the Prix Pelleas at Chantilly on Saturday.

William Muir expects stable star Enforcer to be fit for the Group One IVG Preis Von Europa in Germany later this month.

Willie Muir’s tough and consistent four-year-old Enforcer has been withdrawn from the Juddmonte International Stakes due to lameness.