Jack and Wes. The neighbour’s lad and our own. We clung to these slight men this week with a need that might have looked a touch desperate.

Davy Condon always wanted to be a star jockey, but the only thing is that he thought he would ply his trade on the flat rather than over fences. As Declan Colley discovered, it never worked out that way and on Monday he rides one of the big fancies in the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

Samizdat picked just the right moment to take advantage of the handicapper's leniency as he struck at Catterick today.

Australia 34 England 14

THERE’S a feisty chick lit author, the Muslim son of a bus driver and a swashbuckling ex-diplomat who braved the Taliban to hike across Afghanistan alone.

France remain on course to join the Tri-Nations Series in 2009 despite their World Cup flop, according to Rugby Football League executive chairman Richard Lewis.

SIMON FINNIGAN insists Ireland will overcome the “devastation” of their two-point defeat by Tonga to make another important contribution to the 2008 World Cup.

Ireland 20 Tonga 22

Ireland 20 Tonga 22

Paul Nicholls has no worries about running Kauto Star in the totesport Bowl Chase at Aintree tomorrow.

Rory McIlroy’s remarkable start to life as a professional golfer continued in the third round of the Madrid Open today.

Jean Van de Velde became the latest member of the Rory McIlroy fan club after moving into contention for a third European Tour title in the Madrid Open.

Wigan prop Iafeta Palea’aesina has turned his back on New Zealand by opting to help Samoa qualify for the 2008 World Cup.

Barry Hume moved to within a stroke of second round leader Jyoti Randhawa at the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters after carding a three-under-par 69 in the second round at Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

TOUR America continues to offer cut-price deals but you’ll have to be quick to catch the best of the bargains on sale between Monday and Saturday.

Nicky Richards is looking forward to taking on hot favourite Kauto Star in the Stan James King George VI Chase with Monet’s Garden.

ALAN KING reported Voy Por Ustedes to be “nice and bright” yesterday morning after finishing second to the brilliant Kauto Star in the William Hill – Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Nicky Richards is looking forward to taking on hot favourite Kauto Star in the Stan James King George VI Chase with Monet’s Garden.

Crystal d’Ainay will wear a visor for only the second time over hurdles when he bids for back-to-back victories in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock tomorrow.

BRIAN McELHINNEY is the only Irish player on the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to defend the trophy in Chicago.

Union leaders voiced fears about job losses and other cuts at supermarket giant Asda today after store managers and other officials were called to meetings with company bosses.

Brian McElhinney is the sole Irish representative in the Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to defend the trophy in Chicago on August 13 and 14.

BARACOUDA has been installed as the red-hot 1-3 favourite by Cashmans to record a fourth success in the Telectronics Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor on Saturday.

GARY WOLSTENHOLME, the only Britain and Ireland amateur to feature on four winning Walker Cup teams, has been named in a provisional 29-strong squad for next August’s defence of the trophy in Chicago.

R&A selection chairman Peter McEvoy has named an initial squad of 29 players for next August's 40th Walker Cup, to be held at the Chicago Golf Club, Illinois.

Martin Todhunter is on the way to a seasonal best after recording his first treble at Newcastle.

Veteran lock Olivier Brouzet has been ruled out of France’s World Cup opener with Fiji in Brisbane on Saturday.

WILDFIRES broke out in forestland around Sydney as high temperatures and gusting winds fanned more than 100 blazes in eastern Australia, officials said yesterday.

Wildfires broke out in forestland around Sydney as high temperatures and gusting winds fanned more than 100 blazes in eastern Australia, officials said today.

Jonjo O’Neill has always been a man to look out for on his journeys south to Cheltenham.

British government vets have lifted tight foot-and-mouth restrictions on Northumberland farmers after completing extensive blood sampling of bloodstock.

Six new cases of foot-and-mouth have been confirmed as the latest surge of the outbreak continues.

A farmer claims a prevention and cure for foot-and-mouth is available and currently in everyday use.

Preparations are under way in Cumbria for the mass cull of animals near foot-and-mouth infected areas.

The British Army are to be deployed in Devon, England to help clear the bodies of animals culled to combat the spread of foot-and-mouth.

Chief vet Jim Scudamore has been greeted with a slow hand clap as he arrived in Cumbria to discuss the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Chief vet Jim Scudamore is meeting farmers whose animals face compulsory slaughter after the highest daily total of foot-and-mouth outbreaks.

The British Government is facing further calls to abandon plans for a mass slaughter of healthy animals which may have come into contact with foot-and-mouth disease.

The number of outbreaks of foot and mouth in the United Kingdom has risen to 200.

Nine more cases of foot-and-mouth were confirmed today, including the first outbreak in the West Midlands, said Britain's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.