In the hands of Colin Keane, the now four-year-old, was a neck winner over Maxux (9/2) from the Joseph O’Brien stable, with the Jessica Harrington-trained Village Voice (4/1) a further half-length back in third.

The Tattersalls Gold Cup back at The Curragh is now a likely target for the Joseph Murphy-handled son of Ulysses.

White Birch is BACK!

The gorgeous grey wins on his seasonal debut in the https://t.co/U91pumStve Alleged Stakes (Group 3) under @ctkjockey for trainer John Joseph Murphy @thetotecom | @ToteRacing pic.twitter.com/9yQHE22svd

— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) April 20, 2024

The win was the second part of a double for rider Colin Keane, who earlier successfully teamed up with his father, Gerry, when race topweight Crystal Black (4/1) landed the Hytech Eq Ultra Handicap over a mile.

The gelded son of Teofilo battled on under 10 stone to beat Earls by a short-nose, with a further short-head back to Casanova in third.

Zaynab (10/1) gave Irish National Stud stallion Phoenix Of Spain his third winner of the week, when appropriately claiming the Nando Parrado at the Irish National Stud Irish EBF Maiden on Saturday.

In colours more usually seen at a National Hunt meeting, those of Bective Stud, the Gordon Elliott-trained three-year-old battled at the death to beat the race favourite, Igor Stravinsky (15/8f), on the line.

Bid For Chester (4/1) landed the Download The New Tote App Rated Race for Limerick rider Wesley Joyce and trainer Mick Mulvaney.

Chemistry won at the second time of asking for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore as the son of Kingman broke his maiden as 8/13 favourite.

Chemistry (Kingman) finds the right formula up in trip in the @IrishNatStud @IrishEBF_ Maiden for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien at @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/kxUdSt2Rwp

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 20, 2024

The post White Birch wins Alleged Stakes on seasonal debut appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

A squad update from Pete Wilkins and his coaching team ahead of Saturday’s game at away to Lions in Round 10 of the BKT United Rugby Championship

Squad update has plenty of positives with Mack Hansen due back at end of April.

Colm Reilly (ankle) – Available

Shane Jennings (ankle) – Available

Diarmuid Kilgallen (thigh) – Available

Oisin McCormack (thigh) – Available

Shayne Bolton (ankle) – early April.

Oisin Dowling (ankle) – mid April.

Mack Hansen (shoulder) – end of April

Santiago Cordero (knee) – end of May

John Porch (knee) return to training in the coming weeks.

Dylan Tierney-Martin (neck) has a consultancy review this week.

The post Connacht Rugby Squad – Injury updates for 2024/25 Season appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Ireland extended their record to 19th successive home success this afternoon, a victory that is a 40th win in the last 42 games at the Aviva Stadium, dating back to 2016.

It was the home side’s 10^th successive win against their Celtic neighbours, and their 71 in all since the two sides first met in Belfast in 1877.

Opening half lacked energy from Ireland

An opening half that was characterised by handling errors, Ireland look a pale version of the energetic side that began this Six Nations tournament a few weeks ago.

Finn Russell opened the scoring in the 143^rd test match between Ireland and Scotland with a penalty in the 8^th minute of the game. Russell was reliable as usual from the kicking tee and dissected the posts for the game’s opening score.

Sheehan fifth try of the tournament

Dan Sheehan scored his 5th try of this season’s Guinness Six Nations when being the grateful recipient from a line-out throw in. The Ireland hooker, crashed over for his 10th career test try to put Ireland into the lead for the first time in the game. A successful Jack Crowley conversion put the home side into a 7-3 lead with just 14 minutes on the clock.

𝐃𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐇𝐀𝐍!

Steals a Scottish lineout and there’s no stopping him from there!#IREvSCO | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/4Ki6rSM0iK

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 16, 2024

Joe McCarthy conceded a penalty minutes later, his second of the game, and gave Russell an opportunity to bridge the gap, which he duly did with his second successful kick for the posts in the test match.

Jack Crowley had a penalty attempt from inside the Scottish half to extend the Irish lead with 5 minutes to play in the opening half, but the kicker’s effort went left and wide of the uprights.

Half-time: Ireland 7  Scotland 6.

With Ireland making an energetic start to the second half, Scotland were penalised on 42 minutes for being off their feet directly in front of the posts. Crowley had an easy task of slotting over to push Andy Farrell’s side into a 10-6 lead.

Officials deny Furlong a try

Tadhg Furlong looked to have added to the Ireland score-line approaching the 50 minute mark. The prop drove for the line, and though he initially looked to have touched down successfully for the score, the referee Matthew Carley stated the on-field decision was ‘no try’ as he went to his TMO for clarification. Despite the fact that Scotland’s Finn Russell seemed to be in an offside position, therefore preventing Furlong from scoring, the English referee maintained his original decision, much to the frustration of the home crowd.

Porter try secures Irish victory

Ireland went of a short penalty tap and succeed in crossing the try-scoring line, with Scotland having a man in the sin-bin. Despite incessant Irish pressure prior to that, they failed to achieve another score which might settle the result of this match. Andrew Porter scored his sixth international try to settle Irish nerves. The front-row burst through the Scottish defensive effort and with a successful conversion attempt from Jack Crowley, Ireland took a 17-6 advantage into the final 13 minutes of the test match.

𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘!

Ireland finally breach that brilliant Scottish defence through Andrew Porter!#IREvSCO | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/ggSbILafcJ

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 16, 2024

Scottish centre Huw Jones gave his side some late hope when racing in for a five-pointer with three minutes remaining on the clock. Russell added the extras to leave just four points between the sides, with an extra man on the pitch following the earlier sin-binning of Harry Byrne.

𝗜𝗧 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗚𝗢𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚!

A piece of brilliance from Huw Jones gives Scotland a late try and move within four points!#IREvSCO | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/RPdKB5dTB3

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 16, 2024

Full-time: Ireland 17  Scotland 13

The post IRELAND WIN SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Canadian course designer Peter Grant set the track for the evening’s competition, where 15 horse-and-rider combinations from an international field jumped clear in the opening round.

The jump-off came down to a battle between Coyle and American Aaron Vale, who each qualified their two mounts for the short course.

In the end, it was Coyle and Farrel that stopped the clock in an unbeatable 37.24 seconds to take the victory.

Vale was runner-up with Obi Wan in 38.07 seconds, with Coyle also taking third with 14-year-old Quintin, in a time of 38.52 seconds, while Vale claimed fourth with Prescott in 39.74 seconds.

Winning rider Daniel Coyle said:

“On Farrel, you can turn on half a stride. He’s an amazing horse to turn back to a vertical. He’s very handy. Turning back so tight to the second to last jump, that’s all to do with the horse there. Aaron [Vale] would have done the same thing. We both took risks, but at the end it comes back to the horse and if you can nail it

The post Daniel Coyle and Farrel win $100,000 Grand Prix in Florida appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

With two tries in each half from the home side, and a perfect goal-kicking performance from Jack Crowley today, Andy Farrell’s men maintained their grip on this season’s Championship.

Wales’ only score of the game was a penalty try awarded by referee Andrea Piardi, but despite the final scoreboard, it was far from Ireland’s best performance under Farrell.

Ireland dominate territory and possession early on

Jack Crowley opened the scoring in the 6th minute of this Guinness Six Nations Championship game, the 125 time Ireland and Wales clashed in the Five/Six Nations Championship, when successfully kicking a penalty from 42m out.

With Ireland dominating territory (74%) and possession (69%) in the opening 15 minutes, the home side would not be happy to have only a penalty separating the sides at that stage of the game.

Fourth try of the Championship for Sheehan

Dan Sheehan, with three tries already in this season’s championship, added another when crashing over in the 20th minute. With Ireland successfully winning the line out, the green maul drove for the Welsh line, but with the defending side struggling to cope, Sheehan touched down for the five-pointer, much to the relief of the anxious Irish crowd.

Ireland have their first try on the board against Wales as Dan Sheehan powers over #IREvWAL #SixNations

Updates – https://t.co/yTLOjzwo3W
Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/BpWHhzKobP

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 24, 2024

Jack Crowley made it two successful kicks at the posts from two, as he added the conversion for a 10-0 advantage to Ireland.

James Lowe settles nervous Irish crowd

Winger James Lowe settled the nerves of the home crowd even further when scoring his 14th international try on 32 minutes.

Ireland had Wales under pressure for the preceding two minutes, with the men from the principality stoutly defending on their own line. Ireland had won the lineout but Wales held their line and forced the home side to go all the way right to Calvin Nash, before playing the ball back to the opposite wing to Lowe.

With only one defender to beat, Lowe easily touched the ball down, before Crowley maintained his 100% record at kicking for the posts this afternoon, dissecting the posts this time from a more difficult angle.

Ireland have tightened their grip on the match as they go 17-0 clear of Wales after James Lowe scores try number two #IREvWAL #SixNations

Updates – https://t.co/yTLOjzwo3W
Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/BwGcrOKxrG

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 24, 2024

With the extra two points added, Andy Farrell’s side were ahead 17-0 by the half-time break.

Half-time: Ireland 17 Wales 0

Penalty-try for Wales as Beirne sin-binned

Tadhg Beirne was sent to the sin bin in the 43rd minute as Wales drove for the Irish line. The Ireland number 5 was found guilty of illegally binding to prevent Wales progressing toward the home side’s line.

Referee Andrea Piardi, the first Italian to referee a Guinness Six Nations game, consulted with his TMO to see if Warren Gatland’s side had grounded the ball. With TV footage unclear of a successful grounding, the Italian awarded a penalty try to the visitors, reducing Ireland’s lead to 10 points.

First international try for Frawley

Ireland sucked in the Welsh defence on 67 minutes, allowing fullback Ciaran Frawley to race in for his first International try, on only his third senior International appearance. The UCD man found himself unmarked as he crossed the line and raced behind the post to score.

Jack Crowley had his easiest kick of the day, and his conversion put Ireland 24-7 ahead just over 10 minutes to play.

Ireland have got a third try and it’s Ciarán Frawley who gets over as Andy Farrell’s side establish a 24-7 lead over Wales #IREvWAL #SixNations

Updates – https://t.co/yTLOjzwo3W
Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/kEKVMO3JkW

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 24, 2024

James Ryan sat out the final 4 minutes of the game in the sin bin as Ireland conceded three consecutive penalties, with Wales camped on the Irish try-scoring line. Despite their best effort Warren Gatland’s side failed to score, with Cian Healy and Ronan Kelleher working in unison to hold up the Welsh-attempted touch down.

Bonus-point try for Tadhg Beirne

With Andy Farrell’s men in search of a fourth, and bonus-point try, Tadhg Beirne, who had been yellow carded earlier in the game, found himself at the end of a great team effort as he achieved the crucial score with the clock in red.

Crowley, who had been perfect kicking all afternoon, ended the game with another successful conversion, giving Ireland a 31-7 bonus-point victory over Wales.

FT: Ireland 31-7 Wales

Tadhg Beirne’s bonus-point try puts the icing on the cake for Ireland as Andy Farrell’s side make it three wins from three #SixNations #IREvWAL

Updates – https://t.co/yTLOjzwo3W
Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/jNWXU1cDjT

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 24, 2024

Ireland improve record against Wales

Ireland are now unbeaten at home against Wales in their last six Guinness Six Nations Championship fixtures, a new record, with wins in 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2022, and a draw in 2016.

Captain Peter O’Mahony feels Wales deserve plenty of credit for the way in which they stymied his side at times during the second half of Ireland’s 31-7 win #SixNations #IREvWAL

Updates – https://t.co/yTLOjzwo3W
Watch live – https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/Rody1Ig5pA

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 24, 2024

The Irish team is now three wins from three in the 2024 Championship, and will head to Twickenham next to play England, before the final game against Scotland back in Dublin next month.

Full-time: Ireland 31 Wales 7

The post Late try gives Ireland bonus-point 31-7 win over Wales appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Six tries from Ireland, including two on the day from Dan Sheehan, saw the home side dominate the game, despite the far from perfect performance from Andy Farrell’s men.

FIRST HALF
Three Irish tries in opening half

In an opening half where Ireland dominated possession 59% to 41% and edged territory (51% to 49%), it was Italy that had an early chance to open the scoring. With referee Luke Pearse blowing Ireland in the ruck, the visiting scrum-half Alessandro Garbisi had a chance to give his side the lead, but his five minute penalty attempt went wide of the uprights.

First International try for Crowley

Jack Crowley scored his first international try when touching down on seven minutes. With Ireland effectively and quickly recycling ball in the lead up to the score, the Cork Constitution man was involved three times in the move, before finishing it off and claiming the five-pointer. Unfortunately, the Corkman was unsuccessful with his attempt at converting.

𝗝𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗟𝗘𝗬!

His first international try!#IREvITA | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/7DcuV8L2I3

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 11, 2024

Two tries in two games for Dan Sheehan

Hooker Dan Sheehan claimed his second try of this season’s Six Nations Championship when scoring in the corner on 25 minutes. The score, Sheehan’s seventh try of his international career to date, doubled the home side’s advantage over Italy, before Jack Crowley successfully added the extras for a 12-0 Ireland lead.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐇𝐀𝐍!

MAGIC FROM IRELAND! MAGIC FROM JACK CROWLEY!

12-0 #IREVITA | #GUINNESSSIXNATIONS PIC.TWITTER.COM/FYVLYQ8L1X

— VIRGIN MEDIA SPORT (@VMSPORTIE) FEBRUARY 11, 2024

Conan touches down for third Ireland

Ireland number 8 Jack Conan brought the Irish try-haul to three, within minutes of the half-time whistle. The Old Belvedere clubman achieved his 10th try in international rugby before Crowley again converted for a 19-0 lead to Ireland at half-time.

𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐍!

SCORES HIS 10TH INTERNATIONAL TRY!

19-0 #IREVITA | #GUINNESSSIXNATIONS PIC.TWITTER.COM/8R3TBGJ9WC

— VIRGIN MEDIA SPORT (@VMSPORTIE) FEBRUARY 11, 2024

Half-time: Ireland 19  Italy 0

SECOND HALF

Second try of the day for Sheehan

Dan Sheehan claimed his second try of the game when the Irish pack were merciless as they drove the visits backwards. The powerful Ireland drive saw the hooker touch down at the end of the move, but for the second time in the game. Jack Crowley failed to convert Sheehan’s bonus-point try, leaving Andy Farrell’s team with a 24-0 advantage.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍!

HIS SECOND OF THE GAME, HIS THIRD OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP!

A DARK HORSE FOR TOP TRY SCORER THIS YEAR?

BONUS POINT SECURED!#IREVITA | #GUINNESSSIXNATIONS PIC.TWITTER.COM/UJHVR9NWDX

— VIRGIN MEDIA SPORT (@VMSPORTIE) FEBRUARY 11, 2024

Henshaw effort disallowed

Robbie Henshaw thought he had scored his 11th international try when using all of his frame to stretch for the line. Referee Luke Pearse decided to consult with his TMO, however, to check if there had been a double movement. The decision was that he had been initially held, so the score was disallowed.

Lowe adds to try haul

James Lowe was the next Ireland player to get his name on the scoresheet when the winger fought had to reach for the line, and moved the home side’s score to 29 points on the afternoon. For the third time in the game, kicker Crowley failed to convert.

𝐉𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄!

THAT’S A BRILLIANT BIT OF FINISHING!#IREVITA | #GUINNESSSIXNATIONS PIC.TWITTER.COM/XUZBIBCDST

— VIRGIN MEDIA SPORT (@VMSPORTIE) FEBRUARY 11, 2024

Winger Calvin Nash completed the rout, with his second try in two games, before replacement kicker Harry Byrne added the extras for a 36-0 Irish victory.

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐕𝐈𝐍 𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐇!

TWO GAMES! TWO TRIES!

HE IS LOVING LIFE IN THE SIX NATIONS!#IREVITA | #GUINNESSSIXNATIONS PIC.TWITTER.COM/WD4UP4JO5D

— VIRGIN MEDIA SPORT (@VMSPORTIE) FEBRUARY 11, 2024

Final score: Ireland 36  Italy 0

This afternoon’s success was an unprecedented 17th successive home win for Ireland, and a 38th victory in the last 40 games played at home.

The post IRELAND 36 ITALY 0 in Guinness Six Nations appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Ireland Women become the first side from the Ireland Sevens Programme to win a World Series title, as Eve Higgins pounced for a decisive 13th-minute try in an epic 19-14 Cup final victory over Australia, the current table toppers.

Having lost to the Australians in their only previous Cup final appearance in Seville two years ago, Allan Temple-Jones’ Irish side gained revenge with stalwarts Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe and Lucy Mulhall both touching down during the first half.

Earlier Mulhall had starred with two tries during an impressive 31-7 semi-final defeat of Britain, despite Ireland previously having a poor semi-final record of just one win from seven at that stage of competition.

In Sunday’s final, captain Mulhall capitalised on Charlotte Caslick’s sin-binning in the final to squeeze in under the posts just before half-time.

Ireland lead 14-7 at half-time

Ireland’s 14-7 interval lead was erased when Teagan Levi evaded a diving tackle from Higgins for a breakaway ninth-minute effort, yet Mulhall, the HSBC player of the final, and her team-mates brilliantly held their nerve in a tense end-game.

They got back on the front foot, with Béibhinn Parsons accelerating through into the opposition 22, before replacement Aoibheann Reilly fed Higgins on the left wing and she stepped inside Isabella Nasser, shrugging off her attempted tackle to score.

Mulhall pushed her conversion narrowly wide, but it was not needed in the end as Australia knocked on from the restart. Reilly got the ball out of the scrum swiftly, allowing her skipper to kick the ball dead and crown a superb team performance.

“This is massive for Irish women’s rugby”

Ireland coach Alan Temple-Jones was almost speechless:

“Playing Australia is an unbelievable opportunity for the girls. We’re extremely chuffed … lost for words. We’ve had a good focus these last two weeks. We had a lot to improve on after Dubai and Cape Town … unreal.”

The Irish captain Amy Mulhall said the victory had been “a long time coming,” before adding, “It means a lot and we’ve been on a long journey. This is massive for Irish women’s rugby; we’ll be sure to celebrate.”

Ireland now move up to fourth position in the overall SVNS standings, with Australia still clear at the top.

Men win 3rd place play-off

As well as the Ireland Women adding to the silver (Seville) and bronze (Langford) they won during the 2021/’22 season, the previous match had seen the Ireland Men overcome Fiji 24-7 in brilliant fashion to win the 3rd place play-off.

After bowing out of the Cup competition to SVNS Series leaders Argentina, they took on the Fijians without injured captain Harry McNulty, and fell behind to a Josese Batirerega try.

The talismanic Terry Kennedy hit back with two touchdowns either side of half-time, and it was Ireland who produced the stronger finish with their bench becoming a crucial factor.

Lively replacement Gavin Mullin ran in a brace of tries in the 11th and 14th minutes to seal the result and delight the vocal Irish support in Western Australia’s capital city.

It is the fourth SVNS Series medal that the Ireland Men have won – they have picked up three since becoming a core team. Their first one was secured back in London in 2018 when they were bronze medallists as an invitational outfit.

Like their female counterparts, the most recent SVNS Series podium finishes for James Topping’s side were in 2022 when they earned silver in Toulouse, and did likewise in Dubai during the second leg of the 2022/’23 season.

The two Ireland squads have certainly hit the ground running at the start of 2024, giving themselves a timely boost as the countdown continues to the Women’s Olympic debut in Paris, where the Men will compete for the second time after their maiden qualification in Tokyo.

The 2024 SVNS Series continues in February and March with a double-header in Vancouver and Los Angeles.

The post Ireland Women’s Sevens win first ever HSBC SVNS Series tournament appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Co Down native claimed a maiden Rolex Series crown at this event 12 months ago but came into the weekend ten shots back before a stunning third-round 63 put him into the final group on Sunday.

McIlroy turned a two-shot deficit into a four-shot lead with six holes to play before a bogey on the 13th gave the chasing Adrian Meronk, a fomrer Irish Open winner, and US golfer Cameron Young, a glimmer of hope.

Meronk reduced the lead to one in the eighth Race to Dubai tournament of the season, as he signed for a 71. Rory McIlroy held his nerve down the back stretch and signed for a 70 and a 14 under par total, to give him a one-shot victory in the $9 million tournament.

“I didn’t really think about that during the round”

Rory McIlroy reacts to his historic fourth win at the Dubai Desert Classic pic.twitter.com/ISjBFLP2C1

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) January 21, 2024

“It’s a great start to the season,” McIlroy admitted. “I started well last year with the win here. A couple of little things still to work on but these weeks are great. You learn a ton from them and obviously great to get the competition and come out on top as well.

“I thought on Friday night, I thought ten under for the weekend, I would have a really good chance to win. I shot 11 and ended up winning by one.

I’ve played the game long enough to sort of know how these things are going to go. Thankfully I played the golf I needed to and it’s just incredible to get my fourth win here at the Emirates.

“The pivotal point for me came on the eighth and ninth hole – making two threes there, that sort of set me up to try to control it on the way in.

“I made that one blunder on 13 and made bogey there but felt like I steadied the ship well over the last few holes and it was one of those days where there wasn’t a ton of fireworks just because the course was so difficult. I held on as best as I could and thankfully no one around the top of the leaderboard made much of a run.”

American Young finished with a 74 for 12 under, two shots ahead of Canadian Aaron Cockerill, Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal and Chilean Joaquin Niemann.

The win takes McIlroy past Ernie Els’ hat-trick of Desert Classic victories and hands him his third Rolex Series triumph, having won three of the last five blue riband events.

The Irish golfer becomes just the second player to successfully defend this title after Stephen Gallacher lifted the Dallah Trophy in 2013 and 2014 and makes it six wins in Dubai with his two victories at the DP World Tour Championship.

That winning feeling pic.twitter.com/BGOzUCg6F8

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) January 21, 2024

Discussing his historic victory, the Holywood golfer said:

“Just to think like 18 years ago, and what it meant to come here and play in this event, to be sitting here, you know, having won it four times, and all the great experiences that I’ve had in Dubai and the friends that I’ve met and everything sort of along the way, it’s always been a place where I come back to and reminisce about my career because I really feel like it’s where everything started. 

“So it’s amazing to sit here. The first Desert Classic, I took a media credential and I walked inside the ropes to follow Tiger and Ernie and Thomas Bjorn, and then just to think about even the arc of that: Thomas Bjorn was my Ryder Cup Captain; I ended up buying Ernie Els’s house; I’ve become really good friends with Tiger Woods. It’s just amazing to think back on the last 18 years and sort of where I find myself. 

!I certainly don’t take anything for granted, and I always appreciate the opportunity to be able to do what I do.”

The 34-year-old has started the defence of his Race to Dubai Rankings with a runner-up finish and a win as he looks to become Europe’s Number One for a sixth time, moving to the top of the Rankings for the 2024 title and the International Swing.

Both Tom McKibbin and Pádraig Harrington finished the tournament on 282.

Select Final scores
 274 R MCILROY) 71 70 63 70, 
 275 A MERONK (POL) 68 66 70 71, 
 276 C YOUNG (USA) 67 64 71 74, 
 278 P LARRAZ?BAL (ESP) 73 69 70 66, A COCKERILL (CAN) 71 67 72 68, J NIEMANN (CHI) 69 72 67 70,

The post Rory McIlroy wins fourth Dubai Desert Classic appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Cracking performance

Relentless from Caldwell Potter who emulates his late brother Mighty Potter with glory in the G1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle@LeopardstownRC | @gelliott_racing | @jackkennedy15 pic.twitter.com/JsVvHL8LXo

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2023

In a field of nine runners, the Caldwell Construction Ltd.-owned son of Martaline was a six and a half length winner over Gigginstown House Stud’s Predators Gold (Patrick and Willie Mullins), while Down Memory Lane (Mr Derek O’Connor/Gordon Elliott) came home in third, 38 lengths behind the runner-up, with only five of the nine starters completing the 2 mile contest in very testing conditions.

Gordon Elliott pays tribute to Caldwell Potter and Jack Kennedy after their success at Leopardstown. pic.twitter.com/6fcS4CnfNi

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 27, 2023

1-2-3 for McManus and Mullins

Owner J.P. McManus had a 1-2-3 in the Grade 1 The Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase over 2 miles 1 furlong as Dinoblue (9/4) defeated Gentleman De Mee (11/2) by seven and a half lengths, with Saint Roi (16/1) another 39 lengths back in third.

A dramatic renewal of the G1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase as Dinoblue leads home a JP McManus & @williemullinsnh 1-2-3 at @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/xJ2eYieavB

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2023

In the five-runner field, the only three finishers all carried the colours of the Limerick-born J.P. McManus, all coming from from the stable of champion National Hunt trainer, Willie Mullins.

The race favourite, Captain Guinness (6/4), from the Henry de Bromhead yard, pulled up, while the other runner Dysart Dynamo – also from the Willie Mullins yard – fell.

The post Caldwell Potter and Dinoblue claim Leopardstown Grade 1s appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Sent into the lead early by jockey Michael O’Sullivan, last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner at Cheltenham was challenged for a while by Feu Du Bresil from the Willie Mullins yard.

The Barry Connell-owned and trained son of French Navy, Marine Nationale, ran his rivals into submission to run out a very comfortable eight and a half-length winner over 8/1 chance Firm Footings (Jack Kennedy/Gordon Elliott), with Walk With Paul (22/1) a further 12 lengths behind in third for Conor and Martin Brassil.

Marine Nationale – back with a bang

Six runs
Six wins
Successful chasing debut
G1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
G1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle@LeopardstownRC | @Michael_OSull pic.twitter.com/w7cxNwxYph

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2023

“I don’t think he made a mistake” admitted Barry Connell. “He was very efficient, he just popped and popped, he never had to ask him for one. So, back here for the Irish Arkle and on to the Arkle.

“We’re thrilled to have him back. He’s the horse of a lifetime, he really is the horse of a lifetime, and I’m just blessed that he came into out yard.

“They’re one in ten thousand these horses. You only get one in a lifetime if you’re lucky. The big yards maybe get 10 a lifetime. This horse is exceptional – we’re only a custodian of him. Hopefully he can go on unbeaten during the season. All the good horses get beaten … anything can happen. It’s a massive relief.”

“He was foot-perfect everywhere.”@Michael_OSull on ‘class horse’ Marine Nationale following his chasing debut at @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/7EchTln1aY

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2023

Last season’s Grade 1 Royal Bond winner, Marine Nationale, is now six wins from six in his career to date.

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