FOR petrolheads, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, every summer, is a magnet. It showcases the rarest and most exotic of racing cars and allows legendary drivers, old and young, to display their talents in driving these uber-machines up the famous hill-climb, up the driveway of Lord Charles March’s fantastic country pile.

As Ireland make the final preparations for their first game of the Euro 2016 campaign, keen to set the right tone, the team are likely to hear something like this.

Just like any good politician he came out fighting

Plastic bank notes planned

Cameron rebukes MP for Putin tweet

The wasp may not be the most welcome summer visitor but its buzzing presence has been strangely absent in Ireland this year.

Joseph O’Brien believes the experience of Stubbs could be a major asset as the exciting juvenile goes for glory in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot today.

A final decision on Magician’s participation in the St James’s Palace Stakes will be made on Sunday after the colt sustained minor bruising following a knock on Thursday, Coolmore said.

It was a bit of a frustrating week even though Weather Watch came in at Tipperary on Thursday.

You’d imagine William Buick won’t be called upon any time soon to ride a horse for Ballydoyle.

Favourites Stubbs and Sandiva emulated Dawn Approach and Sky Lantern respectively when justifying favouritism in the listed two-year-old races in Naas yesterday.

The victory of Rehn’s Nest in the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes proved the highlight of a spectacular opening day of the 2013 turf flat season for trainer Jim Bolger at the Curragh yesterday.

Katell made a winning debut for Linda Stubbs in the Racing UK On Sky 432 Maiden Auction Stakes at Beverley today.

A new website goes live today for the public to have their say on keeping high-rise buildings off the Dublin skyline.

Jamie Osborne ensured his annus horribilis is well behind him as he sent out a 272-1 double courtesy of Media Stars and Ladies Dancing at Lingfield.

Tributes flowed in for Four Tops frontman Levi Stubbs, whose dynamic and emotive voice drove such Motown hits as 'Reach Out (I’ll Be There)' and 'Baby I Need Your Loving', after he died yesterday aged 72.

Linda Stubbs further advertised her competence with juveniles when Huxaar caused a minor stir in the Beverley rain.

Races in places as far apart as Ascot, Maisons-Laffitte and Istanbul are being considered for Stubbs Art after he missed the Juddmonte International.

IT is a measure of a footballer’s calibre that his age becomes an irrelevance. Gael Clichy may still look no older than his meagre 22 years, but in a tumultuous season for Arsenal, he has performed with the unruffled expertise of a veteran.

Derby manager Paul Jewell will hand a late fitness test to David Jones ahead of Monday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal.

AFTER narrowly avoiding relegation, most fans would celebrate a top-half finish with the sort of gusto usually reserved for Champions League winners.

West Ham 2 Derby 1

Mile Sterjovski and Marc Edworthy could return to Derby’s squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to West Ham.

Derby manager Paul Jewell will select from an unchanged squad against West Ham.

Derby goalkeeper Roy Carroll is fit to face Middlesbrough in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash at the Riverside.

Derby defender Alan Stubbs is certain to miss tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash against Manchester United at Pride Park.

Derby manager Paul Jewell could hand a recall to skipper Robbie Savage for the Barclays Premier League trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

Derby 0 Sunderland 0

Derby midfielder Giles Barnes will miss tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League game with Sunderland at Pride Park.

Jay McEveley is poised to return to the Derby side for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan after a seven-week lay-off with a knee injury.

IF Robbie Keane’s ambitions are realised, and Tottenham do end the season with two new cups in White Hart Lane’s dusty trophy cabinet, it is clear the club’s physios will be as crucial as their coaches.

Derby boss Paul Jewell faces mounting defensive problems ahead of Tottenham’s visit to Pride Park in the Barclays Premier League tomorrow.

Derby manager Paul Jewell today hit out at what he believes are inconsistencies in the transfer system.

New signing Alan Stubbs and Roy Carroll are expected to make their Derby debuts in the Barclays Premier League clash with Birmingham at St Andrews.

Derby have signed Everton defender Alan Stubbs on an 18-month contract, the Rams have announced on their website.

ROBBIE KEANE wasted a golden opportunity to extend his impressive goalscoring burst at Goodison Park last night, but the Republic of Ireland striker will not have been too downhearted as he helped Tottenham to a heard-earned point against a team which increasingly looks as though it could be competing in the Champions League next season.

Everton have only the long-term injury to Leighton Baines to contend with ahead of their home clash with Tottenham tomorrow.

Everton trio Leon Osman, Manuel Fernandes and Andrew Johnson all passed late fitness tests to face holders Chelsea in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg tonight.

TITUS BRAMBLE added another horrific defensive error to his lengthy CV as Everton clinically ground out a third straight Premiership win to add even more weight to David Moyes’ claims that his team can last the course in the race for fourth place.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce makes just one change to his side for the visit of Everton to the JJB Stadium today.

Striker Andrew Johnson is set to return to Everton’s squad for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League match against Wigan having recovered from the knock he received in training which forced him to miss last week’s victory over Manchester City.

THIS will hardly feature in a highlights video of Liverpool’s year as Europe’s capital of culture but while that moniker has always split those who prioritise finance over arts, Everton were happy to bank three points.

Everton will welcome back key midfielder Mikel Arteta from suspension for tomorrow’s Premier League clash against Manchester City.

Manuel Fernandes will undergo his Everton medical today and is therefore highly unlikely to be involved in the Barclays Premier League home clash with Manchester City tomorrow.