Bookmakers were left reeling after day one of Royal Ascot as brilliant milers Toronado (pictured) and Kingman led the way for punters.

Punters who took a gamble and placed a bet on golfer Rory McIlroy becoming engaged to his Danish tennis player girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki also have reasons to celebrate the New Year.

Punters at an upcoming raceday at Tipperary will enjoy high-class racing and also help raise funds for tourism projects in the county.

Davy Russell, on his first day back following an operation to repair a lung, drove Mr Cracker to victory in the featured Kevin Broderick Memorial Handicap Chase at Listowel yesterday.

Tickets for the Killers’ gig at the O2 in Dublin went on sale this morning.

Punters didn’t have things easy in the opening round of the College Causeway/ Killahan Phanter Easter Cup and they can expect more of the same at Shelbourne Park this evening.

Nicky Henderson’s view of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup does not differ vastly from the bookmakers, with the trainer predicting an ultra-close fifth clash between Long Run and Kauto Star.

AFTER a long week of hats and high heels, winners and losers and champagne by the bucket load, yesterday was a far more relaxed affair in Ballybrit.

BIG BUCK’S once again lived up to his name when raking in the cash for punters with a third successive win the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Mike Tindall warned Warren Gatland that England have invoked the spirit of the Three Musketeers and are ready to make Wales pay for his verbal attack on Dylan Hartley.

Punters placed their faith in the rock-solid combination of Frankie Dettori and Mark Johnston as St Moritz became the first successful favourite in the 32Red Trophy at Newmarket since 2003.

LONE British raider Muhannak, ridden by Pat Smullen, landed the listed Diamond Stakes at Dundalk last night.

Dane O’Neill described Leicester as his lucky course after riding his second treble in successive months at the East Midlands track.

BOOKMAKERS left Ascot in good shape after getting the better of the opening salvo with the punters on the first day of Royal Ascot yesterday.

Lush Lashes left the Juddmonte Oaks market in a state of flux after her striking success in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York.

Punters looking to get stuck into the ante-post Vodafone Derby market are sure to face a clearer picture after the totesport.com Dante Stakes has taken centre stage at York on Thursday.

Punters attending the Punchestown Festival could be in for a treat after Paul Nicholls revealed stunning Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Master Minded could run at the meeting.

Mick Mullineaux's Danzig Fox ran out a shock 50-1 winner of the Slater Menswear Median Auction Maiden Stakes at sun-baked Ayr today.

PUNTERS have struggled all week, but fortunes were taken out of the ring by Wichita Lineman in the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday, giving Tony McCoy a much needed change of fortune.

Sublimity and Philip Carberry landed odds of 16-1 in a thrilling renewal of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, the feature race on the opening day of the 2007 Cheltenham Festival.

Punters at Southwell were left scratching their heads when Tioga Gold produced a 125-1 shock in the Pontin’s Holiday Handicap.

PUNTERS can have a winning start at Clonmel this afternoon by supporting Mordor in the opening Cahir Maiden Hurdle.

With Royal Ascot just around the corner, Brian Meehan confirmed the well-being of his powerful string when saddling Sans Reward to success at Salisbury.

BRIAN MEEHAN has his team brimming with good health ahead of Royal Ascot and the Manton trainer had more to celebrate when Sans Reward landed the George Smith Horseboxes Maiden Auction Stakes at Salisbury yesterday.

Aidan O’Brien insists he is happy with the form of his Classic big guns as the build-up continues to the Stan James Guineas Festival at the weekend.

Punters faced another disappointing Saturday as the high-profile meetings at Newbury and Warwick fell victim to the weather.

Punters should be keen to support Englishtown as he tackles the £40,000 (€59,100)-added totesport Summer Festival Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot tomorrow.

Punters should keep on the right side of Michael Stoute’s progressive Rohaani when he contests the HSS Hire Handicap at York tomorrow.

THREE incidents over the past week have clearly highlighted the huge advantage of wagering in the offices, rather than on-track.

HOMER nodded - much to cost of punters in the first semi-final of the Irish & European Stakes at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

Punters pinning their hopes on the favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National received a boost yesterday as trainer Jonjo O’Neill said that he would be doing everything in his power to see that Clan Royal makes the starting line-up on April 9.

CONNECTIONS of Strong Flow have again warned that the leading Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate will not be in peak condition when he makes his long-awaited racecourse return at Warwick today.

A METICULOUS plan by Dermot Weld to preserve Ansar’s handicap mark paid a huge dividend at Ballybrit yesterday when the course specialist (he’s won six times from eight races on the track) stormed to a tremendous success in the Galway Plate.

Star Of Normandie won for the third time in her last four starts at Lingfield yesterday and is turning into a real money-spinner for Newmarket trainer George Margarson.

Punters have latched on to Martin Pipe’s Don Fernando as they look towards the big betting race of the weekend, the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

TIMMY MURPHY, fresh from a brilliant victory aboard Beef Or Salmon in the Ericsson at Leopardstown on Saturday, kept his tremendous run going when partnering Rathgar Beau to a cantering win in the Prestige Driveways Beginners ’Chase at Limerick yesterday.

England captain David Beckham today thanked the thousands of well-wishers who are praying his broken foot mends in record time.

Punters can get stuck into some decent action tomorrow when veteran campaigner See More Business can show he still has what it takes at Wincanton’s televised meeting.

Punters continued to plunge on Londoner for the JCB Triumph Hurdle and the gelding is now the general 10-1 favourite for the March 14 contest.