Joseph O’Brien is not expecting any fireworks from Starspangledbanner as he makes his first start since coming out of retirement in tomorrow’s P. O’´Leary Memorial Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh.

LEADING British trainer Mark Johnston gave Dundalk a strong thumbs-up after watching his Below Zero make all to land the Bar One Racing Handicap over six furlongs at the County Louth track yesterday.

THE rapidly-improving Boynagh Joy proved a shock 12/1 winner of the listed Cooley Fillies Stakes at Dundalk last night.

IN-FORM Jim Bolger dominated last night’s action at Gowran Park, saddling a 55/1 treble with Majestic Dancer, Buiateoir and Book Of Numbers to follow-up his double at Naas on Wednesday.

CALL me a hard-hearted old cynic, but there was something almost perversely refreshing about Wayne Rooney being struck down by the dreaded curse of the fractured metatarsal.