Cobh’s Ardcullen is a spacious and gracious Victorian home that has been restored but has maintained its essence, says Tommy Barker.

For years the hardest place in the world to tip a winner was Cheltenham. For years the hardest place in the world to back a winner was Cheltenham.

Every phase of your life contributes to who you are but if I had to say what was the making of me, I think it was the six years in Deerpark school in Cork.

THE largest collection of artefacts salvaged from the Titanic is to be put up for auction next year — the 100th anniversary of the world’s most famous shipwreck.

ARTS

HIS fans always hoped that one fine day gorgeous George would come visit the land of his ancestors and finally their dreams are to come true.

THERE was no dream return to racing for Ruby Walsh when his only mount of the afternoon, Salute Him, trailed in fourth of four behind Plan A in the Kerrymaid Hurdle at the opening stage of the Listowel festival yesterday.

IT’S another big weekend, ahead of a very busy week but when you’re a dual-purpose yard, it’s always busy. You’ve got to love it, or you wouldn’t do it otherwise.

ENGLISH invader Lilbourne Lad out battled the rather ironically named Tough As Nails in the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Railway Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

FOR the second time in a few weeks, champion jockey Pat Smullen gave Sense Of Purpose a superb, front-running ride to land a stakes prize at Leopardstown last night, the Galileo filly holding the late challenges of Marsmanship and Bob Le Beau to land the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes.

IT was business as usual at Galway last night, as Dermot Weld’s Stunning View landed the valuable Topaz Mile EBF Handicap, one of three winners for the Rosewell House maestro.

ON his first visit to Sligo since the eighties, John Oxx saddled both winner and runner-up, Cape Of Good Grace and Sceal Nua, in the feautured Irish Stallion Farms Connacht Oaks last night.

DEVIL’S Elbow looks the banker bet on this evening’s mixed card in Roscommon.

PATHFORK has been withdrawn from the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh today as he suffered a bit of a setback.

KEN CONDON moved his total for the week at the track to three when Peaks Of Fire took the Dawn Omega Milk Maiden at the final stage of Killarney yesterday.

DAVID MARNANE continued his excellent run when Syannn popped up at 14-1 in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Handicap at Killarney last night.

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD mare End Of The Affair outstayed her rivals to register the six win of her career in the featured boylesports.com Handicap over two miles at Dundalk yesterday.

When the Lusitania first went into service in September 1907 it was the biggest ocean liner ever built. It sailed from Liverpool to New York and back with a stop at Queenstown (now Cobh) on each voyage.

It was wet and damp as crowds gathered at Pier 54 in the heart of New York City on May Day in 1915.

The season’s leading rider, Mark Walsh, started the New Year in great style when completing a fine treble on Missyspet, Noble Emperor and Sword Fish in Fairyhouse yesterday.