Coolmore Stud have purchased a 50% interest in the unbeaten Shanghai Bobby ahead of his run in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Saturday.

JP Magnier is expected to remain in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for a few days after undergoing surgery on his back.

CAPE Blanco is to be retired to stud after sustaining a knee injury when winning at Belmont Park in America on Saturday.

Cape Blanco is to be retired to stud after sustaining a knee injury when winning at Belmont Park in America on Saturday.

BULLOCK HARBOUR, fresh from his win on the flat under Conor O’Dwyer at Bellewstown last week, put up a decent effort to take the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Novice Hurdle at Killarney last night.

THE Aidan O’Brien trained Quest For Peace made a successful transition from maiden to listed company when taking the featured Lenebane Stakes in Roscommon last night.

FAME And Glory justified 30/100 favouritism in the listed Seamus And Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday.

REIGNING champion Johnny Murtagh kept his slim chance of retaining the jockeys’ title alive with a double on Imperial Rome and Herostatus at Dundalk last night, but still trails Pat Smullen by six, 86-92, following the former champion’s win on Hawa Bali in the finale.

RONNIE O’LEARY’S Schelm outclassed his rivals to easily win the featured J and B O’Sullivan Builders’ Ltd Chase at Killarney last night.

Vincent O’Brien, perhaps the greatest trainer of all time, died earlier today, aged 92, at his home in Straffan, Co Kildare.

JOHNNY Murtagh had to settle for a double, from a strong book of rides, at Dundalk last night, scoring on Royal Entourage and Glowing.

JP McMANUS and his wife Noreen are planning a multi-million euro, Michael Flatley-style wedding bash for their daughter in Co Limerick next June.

Emirates Melbourne Cup favourites Tawqeet and Yeats have had their prospects of winning the Group One at Flemington on Tuesday enhanced by drawing favourably at Saturday’s ceremony.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Seamus Heffernan notched a big-race double as Dylan Thomas and Queen Cleopatra lifted both Classic trials at Leopardstown to cap a big day for the Ballydoyle team.

RUBY WALSH, who has been sidelined since taking a heavy fall at Gowran Park on January 26, is set to return to the saddle this weekend.

THREE days after his Grade 1 success on The Railway Man at Leopardstown, Davy Russell was back among the winners at Fairyhouse yesterday, bringing his total for the season to 60 with an easy win on Fools Rush In in the Advanced Hospitality Bookings Maiden Hurdle.

Jonjo O’Neill has warned that Rhinestone Cowboy is only 50-50 to make the line-up for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 16.

OSCAR’S ADVANCE proved far too good for Drunken Disorderly in the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Novice Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

THE season’s leading apprentice, Chris Hayes, achieved another milestone in his blossoming career when recording his first treble, at odd of 791/1, at Gowran Park last night.

Kieren Fallon will be reunited with crack Irish filly Damson in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot at York on Friday.

KIEREN FALLON will be reunited with David Wachman’s cracking filly Damson in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot at York on Friday.

Australian speedster Fastnet Rock has been retired after failing to recover from a bout of travel sickness following his arrival in England.

Top Australian sprinter Fastnet Rock will miss Royal Ascot at York next week as he has not recovered from a bout of travel sickness following his arrival in England.

Second-season trainer David Flood gained an unexpected first Group-race success as he returned to his native Ireland to take the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes with 8-1 chance Im Spartacus.

George Washington got the Virginia Waters team off to a winning start at the Curragh today.

Michael Hills believes Maids Causeway has improved for her second place in the 1000 Guineas but is not sure whether his mount will be able to reverse placings with Virginia Waters at the Curragh on Sunday.

Owner Michael Tabor will be hoping Bandini can cap a memorable eight days by taking the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs tomorrow night.

AIDAN O’BRIEN captured the only British Classic to have eluded him as Virginia Waters completed a famous double for the trainer and Kieren Fallon with victory in the UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket yesterday.

DAMSON, ante-post favourite for Sunday’s UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas, has been ruled out of the race having scoped badly after working at Newmarket yesterday.

Arkle Trophy contender Ned Kelly continued his preparations for Cheltenham with an easy all-the-way success at Fairyhouse today.

Tycoon, third in the Irish Derby behind Grey Swallow, could make his Dubai debut next month after being bought by Sheikh Rashid in a private deal.

Soviet Song won a thrilling battle for the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday as Attraction narrowly failed to exact revenge.

DAMSON, trained by David Wachman for Mrs. Sue Magnier, outclassed her five rivals in the listed Swordlestown Stud Sprint at Naas yesterday.

Rhinestone Cowboy got up in the shadow of the post to land the Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle.

ROOSTER BOOSTER, runner-up to Sacundai in the Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle 12 months ago, will bid to go one better in the Grade One contest tomorrow.

Rooster Booster, runner-up to Sacundai in the Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle 12 months ago, will bid to go one better in the Grade One contest on Saturday.

RHINESTONE COWBOY is all set to lead Jonjo O’Neill’s assault on Saturday’s Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle at the Liverpool course.

A record 648 yearlings have been entered for the 2005 Vodafone Derby at the initial entry stage.

Catcher In The Rye, runner-up in the French 2000 Guineas, may not race again after suffering a serious leg injury while exercising at home.

Kris Kin, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Kieren Fallon, has won the Vodafone Derby at Epsom this afternoon.

ROASTED bookies and smiling punters summed up a perfect start to the three-day Cheltenham Festival.