Ed Dunlop’s incredible mare Snow Fairy has been ruled out of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the rest of the season after suffering a setback.

The humour improved this week after I managed to finally get a winner with Parramatta at Laytown on Thursday.

The attempt by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to avoid extradition from Britain took a dramatic turn yesterday, as he was granted political asylum by the government of Ecuador.

The Wikileaks founder is being sheltered by a nation that cracks down on journalists, but Ecuador is no stranger to facing down world powers, writes Dan Buckley

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been granted political asylum by Ecuador after taking refuge in the country’s embassy in London.

The diplomatic row between the UK and Ecuador over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has deepened after the Foreign Office said the Government would seek to extradite him even if he is granted political asylum by the South American nation.

In the two months since Julian Assange ducked into Ecuador's London embassy to seek political asylum, president Rafael Correa has been consistently deferential to Britain while insisting on his right to protect a free speech advocate facing persecution.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has hired Spanish jurist Baltasar Garzon as a legal adviser as he seeks political asylum in Ecuador, the country’s foreign minister Ricardo Patino said.

Successful with Princess Highway at Royal Ascot last week, Dermot Weld struck with another high-class three-year-old filly when Caponata landed the listed Naas Oaks Trial in Naas last night.

Lawyers convened by Ecuador’s government are studying the political and legal implications of granting asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the country’s foreign minister said.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange last night applied for political asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after failing in his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden to face sex crime allegations.

Snow Fairy will remain in training next season - but is set to be on the sidelines for a lengthy spell.

SNOW FAIRY will remain in training next season – but is set to be on the sidelines for a lengthy spell.

Snow Fairy is to stay in training as a five-year-old following her fine effort in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

CONNECTIONS of Snow Fairy are favouring the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 3 as the next port of call for the accomplished filly.

GRAEME McDOWELL has joined the world’s top ten for the first time in his career after his hard-earned victory in the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama.

HOW MANY times have I written about the ups and downs of this game? It’s a cliché of course but like most clichés it is based on truth.

BERG BAHN, in the colours carried to Investec Oaks glory by Snow Fairy, proved a shock winner of the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse last night.

River Plate have rejected an offer from Crystal Palace for midfielder Jairo Patino, but the player’s agent is confident negotiations will continue in June.

SERGIO Garcia bristled here last night when it was put to him that he was now the best player in golf never to have won a major championship.