One of the principle reasons that National Hunt racing is more popular than the flat is that you build relationships with horses that can sustain for years and this was proved again and again this week.

Not 26 years old yet and Joseph O’Brien already enjoys the ultimate badge of acceptance within the racing community. He is known simply as ‘Joseph.’ Of course, as the eldest son of Aidan and Anne-Marie O’Brien, he has had his advantages in the sport, certainly during his riding career, but as a trainer he is very much his own man.

To mark World Book Day, we asked Irish sports stars for their favourite reads.

When Michael O’Leary gave Davy Russell the bullet, on New Years’ Eve 2013, one might have expected the rider to pull out his pipe, put on the slippers and take his place among the majority of jockeys, the journeymen, writes Pat Keane.

Scott Evans announced his retirement from international badminton this week. The three-time Olympian was a star of the Rio Games for his dramatic victories and shirtless celebrations. His final competition will be next week’s European Team Championships.

Irish riders netted three-star Grand Prix victories on both sides of the Atlantic at the weekend, with Paul O’Shea scoring in Tryon, North Carolina, and Darragh Kenny coming out on top at Montpellier in France.

John Buckingham, who steered 100-1 shot Foinavon to a sensational victory in the 1967 Grand National, has died at the age of 76.

Anthony McCoy likened Sprinter Sacre to a Ferrari following the retirement of the dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero.

Had Pat Donnelly not been on the bench the last time a Limerick minor hurler lifted the Irish Press Cup, he probably wouldn’t be standing on the sideline tomorrow.

To say Paul Carberry has had a colourful career is a massive understatement.

There were heartbreaking scenes as the young son of champion jockey John Thomas McNamara asked angels to look after his dad, who passed away last Tuesday from injuries sustained three years ago, in a horror fall at Cheltenham.

With multiple times British champion jump jockey Tony McCoy judging the Racehorse to Riding Horse class at last week’s Dublin Horse Show, he chose Forpadydeplasterer, shown by Joanne Quirke, Ashbourne, Co Meath as this year’s winner.

Enda Bolger led the tributes to JT McNamara after the former leading amateur rider died aged 41.

Yesterday morning the racing world woke to the sad news that John Thomas McNamara had passed away. The 41-year-old former leading amateur, who suffered a horrific fall from Galaxy Rock in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival of 2013, lost the one battle he could never win.

Tony McCoy joked he was nervous about receiving his knighthood in case friend and fellow racing enthusiast the Princess Royal threatened to “let the sword slip”.

Champion jockey AP McCoy can console himself in his retirement from horse racing with accumulated profits at his firm last year jumping to €2.85m.

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

There is a perception in Irish racing that when the stewards spring into serious action you can be reasonably certain those on the receiving end will qualify as “little guys’’.

In the past 24 hours the main social media streams have been alive with rumours Vautour will head to the Ryanair Chase rather than the Gold Cup. With little expectation of immediate confirmation from the stable, it remains pure speculation, but is there a credible source?

Willie Mullins struck gold with his first ever runner at Taunton as Myska kept her unbeaten record intact in the Happy New Year From totepool Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle yesterday.

There are 14 top-class chasers remaining in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Monday.

Phil Taylor began his pursuit of a 17th World Darts Championship title with a comfortable first-round victory at Alexandra Palace.

Tony McCoy is to join Channel 4’s racing team from November to coincide with the start of the National Hunt season.

It has always been about winning for Tony McCoy and even in the name of charity the 20-times champion National Hunt jockey made a triumphant one-off return to the saddle on Gannicus for the Clipper Logistics Leger Legends Race at Doncaster yesterday.

Classic heroes Golden Horn and Gleneagles star among nine horses confirmed for a mouthwatering renewal of the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Cirrus Des Aigles could have a first run in Ireland next month ahead of his intended outing in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Richard Johnson reached his quickest 50 in his quest to land his first jump jockeys’ championship when steering Easily Pleased to victory at Newton Abbot.

Recently, in the Racing Post, Tom Segal described Aidan O’Brien as "the best flat trainer in my lifetime.’’

Ryan Moore will partner plunge horse Giovanni Canaletto in the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

As his broadcast from his private jet earlier this month proved beyond doubt, Rory McIlroy’s bank manager has little reason to worry about the world number’s one golfer’s balance.

Don Cossack capped a memorable campaign for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud with a brilliant display in the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup.

Jason Maguire will today undergo an operation in a bid to save his career.