Are we there yet? The halfway point of the general election campaign is kicking in this weekend. Yet a cursory examination of the ground traversed since the election was called on January 14 would suggest that in some respects things haven’t really got motoring.

Imokilly and Duhallow have voiced strong opposition to suggestions from Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan to address the dominance of “juggernaut” divisional teams in Cork.

Looking ahead to the thetote.com Galway Plate and the Guinness Galway Hurdle – the twin features of this week’s Galway festival – Ruby Walsh talks to racing correspondent Tommy Lyons.

Tommy Lyons Three days of action in Cork, with Flat racing today, National Hunt tomorrow, and National Hunt with a bent towards the point to point fields on Monday.

If you’re determined to win green this week, stick with this trio, says our top tipster Tommy Lyons

The winter season in Thurles swung into gear yesterday and there was a familiar feel to proceedings.

Clonmel’s six-race hurdle card proved a profitable one for favourite backers, with odds-on chances obliging in the first three races, but the feature event, the www.grahamnorris.com Memorial Handicap Hurdle, went to one of the outsiders, Time For Mabel.

Willie Mullins made it a fourth feature race success in five days at the 2018 Galway Festival and the theme of it not being the leading market fancy from the yard continued as Nessun Dorma caused an upset in the Guinness Handicap in the hands of Billy Lee.

After another successful Royal Ascot, jockey Frankie Dettori took time off this week to enjoy the sunshine in Sardinia with his family, but it will be back to business this weekend as the big-race jockey is to be tasked with helping Knight To Behold bounce back from his Epsom disappointment when he contests the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby this Saturday at The Curragh.

Aside from Footpad’s crystal-clear claims in the Ryanair Novice Chase, today’s card looks quite difficult for punters.

An open-looking renewal of the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup is the feature on day two of the Punchestown festival.

The finale to the National Hunt season could hardly start on a better note, with three fantastic Grade Ones on the seven-race card on the first day of the Punchestown Festival.

Ruby Walsh, who aggravated an old injury at last week’s Cheltenham Festival, has ruled out making a return in time for Aintree.

Tommy Lyons picks out three horses worth a punt at Cheltenham this week.

Here's your morning news bulletin...

There are moments when you are compelled to sit up and take note.

In preparation for the start of the winter National Hunt season in Cork, Cork Racecourse Mallow are holding a free preview evening ‘A Celebration of Cork Racing’.

The world was a much different place in May 2001, when Stephen Cluxton made his first Championship appearance for Dublin, writes Paul Keane.

Pat Flanagan has revealed that it was his wife who informed him that he had been axed as Offaly senior football team manager on Tuesday evening.

Ciarán Kilkenny says the Dublin team want to move on from the Diarmuid Connolly controversy just as the player himself has done.

Irish-trained runners were utterly dominant at the Cheltenham Festival, recording a record haul, but the British-based trainers are fighting back on the return trip, to Punchestown, writes Tommy Lyons.

Tommy Lyons’ time as Dublin manager couldn’t be more removed from Jim Gavin’s tenure. But the Mayo native is in a good place to comment on the brilliance of a man he introduced to inter-county management.

The UCC Don’t Step On The Crest Handicap Hurdle was the feature event on Students’ Raceday in Mallow, writes Tommy Lyons, and local trainer Eoghan O’Grady landed the spoils with the game Westerner Point, ridden by Philip Enright.

There was a time when the mention of Dublin’s senior footballers in a Kerry pub didn’t compel patrons to drink deep (to paraphrase the Austin Clarke poem). That was when the idea of a Dublin manager extending his record against Kerry to seven wins from eight meetings would have been ridiculed.

Ruby Walsh talks to Irish Examiner Racing Correspondent Tommy Lyons about his prospects tomorrow at Cheltenham.

Here's your lunchtime bulletin.

Here's your lunchtime bulletin.

Two of our racing gurus debate whether or not Sizing John is on for glory at this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Tommy Lyons takes a look at the recent victory of Sizing John and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Our writers debate Faugheen’s chances of regaining his title...

Stephen Cluxton’s long-time auxiliary John Leonard’s award-winning Dub Sub Confidential autobiography last year gave the greatest insight into the goalkeeper. 

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Winning times are down - but how much of it is due to better track maintenance, asks Tommy Lyons.