It is safe to say that, even allowing for 265 years of inflation, the prize fund of €500,000 for this year’s Irish Grand National is somewhat more than the value of the hogshead or cask of wine that two Corkmen competed for in the world’s first steeplechase.

Life has been as good to Richard Dunwoody since retiring from the saddle as it was in it. 

A leading medical expert on concussion in sport has cast doubts on rugby’s current reliance on Pitch Side Concussion Assessments (PSCAs) to determine whether players suspected of taking blows to the head should be removed from play.

The long-term effects of sports-related concussion are the focus of a major research project launched in Dublin yesterday.

There have been plenty of National Hunt jockeys with far more talent than Tony McCoy, but none with the almost savage will to win, durability and the sheer bloody- mindedness of the man most refer to as AP.

Tony McCoy once summed up the essential ingredient in the make-up of a champion jump jockey with searing simplicity.

Liam Mackey reflects on the twentieth anniversary of the infamous Grand National that got left at the start.

Miinnehoma, winner of the 1994 Grand National, has died at the age of 29, trainer David Pipe has announced.

ROBERT Thornton rode his 1,000th career winner, and his 50th of the season, when steering Araldur home in the Free Bets At gg.com Novices’ Hurdle at Towcester yesterday.

ADRIAN MAGUIRE didn’t half celebrate in style in the press room at Limerick last Sunday, after his Golden Kite had beaten Fisher Bridge a short head in the Munster National.

A RACEHORSE owner is putting up a £15,000 reward for the return of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, police in Britain said yesterday.

THE jeweller responsible for making the Cheltenham Gold Cup has offered his sympathies to Raymond Mould after the 1988 trophy won by Charter Party was stolen yesterday morning.

FOR about three minutes yesterday afternoon, Paul Barber was sure he had won another Gold Cup.

Richard Johnson has spent his career in the shadow of Tony McCoy, but the perennial champion was keen to proclaim his rival as an underrated force as he became just the second jump jockey to pass the 2,000-winner mark.

Richard Dunwoody became the second celebrity to be voted off ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ last night.

Tennis player Martina Hingis last night became the first celebrity to be voted off 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

The celebrities on 'Strictly Come Dancing' face their first public vote tonight, with actress Lynda Bellingham the most likely to be this year's John Sergeant.

Former Wimbledon champion Martina Hingis, who is banned from tennis for cocaine abuse, was revealed today as a contestant in this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

RICHARD Johnson and Philip Hobbs have a better record than any in the Racing Post Chase and the pair team up today through the grey Lacdoudal.

TWO sets of figures released yesterday are so unusually downbeat that they might cause a moment’s pause even among the bravest of punters at Cheltenham for today’s unique, nine-race Gold Cup day.

Kempton Park will stage a unique race that will bring together some of the greatest National Hunt jockeys of all time on October 21.

FARMER BROWN is the nap choice to land the Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit this afternoon.

NATIONAL HUNT icon Desert Orchid died peacefully yesterday morning at the age of 27.

Tony McCoy achieved yet another landmark in a glorious career when becoming the first jump jockey to ride 2500 winners.

MARTIN PIPE yesterday joined a growing list of leading figures within the British racing industry to pay tribute to old rival David Nicholson following the sad death of the former champion trainer at the age of 67.

Attracting new owners will be one of the priorities for David Pipe as he begins his reign as master of Pond House Stables.

The annual Lambourn Open Day proved one of the most memorable ever today as near record crowds flocked to the training centre and experienced vastly contrasting weather conditions.

TONY McCOY achieved yet another landmark in a glorious career when becoming the first jump jockey to ride 2500 winners.

The Listener gave an illustration of the old adage about jumping being the name of the game as he produced some thrilling leaps on his way to victory at Windsor.

Sandown Park is to stage an afternoon of sporting activities on Saturday when it plays host to the ‘Paddy Power Poker Raceday’.

Noel Meade today responded to racing pundits who described his Harchibald as “gutless” after he was narrowly beaten by Hardy Eustace in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle two weeks ago.

Irish jumping legend Florida Pearl has been retired by trainer Willie Mullins at the age of 12.

FLORIDA PEARL, one of the best horses to never win a Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been retired.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy is to quit his position as number one rider to Martin Pipe to take up a similar role with Jonjo O’Neill, whose major backer is leading Irish owner JP McManus.

Tony McCoy is to quit his position as stable-jockey to Martin Pipe to take up a similar role with Jonjo O’Neill.

RICHARD JOHNSON surpassed the total of John Francome to become the fourth winning-most jumps jockey of all time in Britain when scoring a double at Huntingdon yesterday.

Richard Johnson surpassed the total of John Francome to become the fourth winning-most jumps jockey of all time in Britain when scoring a double at Huntingdon today.

Few horses will ever match the popularity of Desert Orchid.

Richard Dunwoody and Desert Orchid, who enjoyed two victories together in the King George VI Chase, are to be reunited at Kempton Park on St Stephen's Day.

Richard Dunwoody and Desert Orchid, who enjoyed two victories together in the King George VI Chase, are to be reunited at Kempton Park on Boxing Day

Mick Fitzgerald joined an elite club of jockeys when he rode his 1,000th career winner aboard Orswell Crest at Sandown today.

A new Action Man doll which can burp is due to go on sale later this year, it emerged today.