Johnny Murtagh has started 2016 in flying form and registered a 71/1 double with Russet and Maronella in Dundalk last night.

A filly by the brilliant Frankel out of the 2007 English and Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Finsceal Beo has been sold for €1.8 million at Goffs November Sale, a record for a foal at public auction in Ireland.

Colin Keane, who returned to action after a 14-day ban at Roscommon on Monday, starred in Fairyhouse yesterday, completing the first treble of his career, on Buenos Y Bobos, Chocolate Diamond and Azurite for his boss Ger Lyons, to bring his seasonal tally to 49.

Aidan O’Brien has two good reasons to give Tapestry her next start in the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 13.

Paul Cashman appears to have an outstanding prospect on his hands in the form of Hills Of Dubai who made a made a stunning winning debut in the opening four-year-old maiden at yesterday’s well-attended Tallow point-to-point fixture.

Eugene O’Sullivan’s The Blarney Rose lit up yesterday’s extremely wet Boulta point-to-point fixture by destroying the opposition in the open lightweight.

AA Roadwatch have advised Oxegen festival-goers to begin planning their transport options for the event this weekend.

THE finishing touches are being put to one of Europe’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll weekends with promises of continued sunshine for tens of thousands of eager music fans.

Jollywood provided further cheer for the Richard Hannon team with victory in the EBF/Sponsorship Opportunity With High Five Racing Maiden Stakes at Bath today.

REVELLERS continued to arrive in their thousands for Ireland’s biggest rock festival weekend yesterday lugging air beds, tents, boxes of food and those all-important wellies.

Vicky Haigh has high hopes of landing the biggest prize of her career with bargain buy Rosabee in the skybet.com Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Due to persistent rainfall An Garda Síochána and Oxegen promoters MCD have announced the closure of all car parks at the Punchestown site with immediate effect.

Around 80,000 music fans are due to make the annual pilgrimage to Punchestown this weekend for the Oxegen festival.

AURA OF CALM, a theoretical certainty, duly lived up to that exalted billing with a smooth success in the Killetra (Ladies) Handicap at Cork yesterday.

THE Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) executive has been issued with draft proposals on the setting up of an umbrella body for the equine industry as the initiative gains momentum.

THERE was unbridled joy in a Cork stable yesterday as a Cheltenham champion was welcomed home.

Trainer John Oxx, who leaves this morning for New York where he'll saddle Azamour for the Breeders Cup Turf at Belmont on Saturday, received a timely boost at the Curragh yesterday when Lifetime Romance, Artist's Muse and Redstone Dancer provided him with a treble.

Pat Keane

CIAN O’CONNOR’S solicitor has tightened security at his Naas office following the extraordinary break-in at the headquarters of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland.

MICHAEL HOURIGAN’S Hehasalife left a series of frustrating efforts behind with a clear-cut success in the Live 95FM Maiden Hurdle at Limerick last night.

Newmarket trainer Rae Guest saddled his first winner in Ireland when 7-1 chance Miss Anabaa finished strongly to take the featured Naas Sprint Stakes at Naas.

MINGUN gets the vote to strike another minor blow for Ballydoyle in the Irishtown Maiden at Leopardstown tonight.

AIDAN O’BRIEN and Michael Kinane, who made an excellent start to the flat campaign when teaming-up for a double at the Curragh last Sunday, have live prospects of a treble at Leopardstown this afternoon.

The Coolmore partnership who struck at the double over the weekend at the highest level on the Flat with Landseer in America and Hold That Tiger at Longchamp played up their earnings at the first session of the Orby Sale at Goffs.

The Coolmore partnership which struck at the double over the weekend at the highest level on the flat with Landseer in America and Hold That Tiger at Longchamp played up their earnings at today’s first session of the Orby Sale at Goffs in Co Kildare.

Ken Doherty would love nothing better than to complete a hat-trick of major title successes in his own back yard.