IRISH sporting organisations are cautiously optimistic regarding their fixtures for the next week as the cold snap begins to ease.

THE Irish horse and greyhound racing industries look set to suffer heavy financial blows due to postponements brought on by the wintry weather.

FISH and chips at ten in the morning and Guinness by 11. When racegoers at Cheltenham talk about the need for stamina, it isn’t the horses they’re thinking of.

AGRICULTURE Minister Joe Walsh enjoyed the Royal Ascot races on the same day as the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party gathered to discuss the crushing election defeat at the weekend.