Ireland's recently-acquired Test status has added to their number of home fixtures.

Former Crucible runner-up Matthew Stevens booked a return to the World Snooker Championship with a nail-biting 10-9 victory over Ireland’s Fergal O’Brien in a match decided on the final black.

Baracouda runs in Britain for the second time this season when he turns up for his annual tilt at the Cantor Sport Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot tomorrow and it is difficult to imagine this amazing stayer being beaten.