RACING:Ruby Walsh is available to ride Brave Inca in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle - but connections of the defending champion stressed riding arrangements have yet to be decided. Walsh appeared set to partner Desert Quest in the two-mile Cheltenham Festival showpiece but handler Paul Nicholls announced his charge will not line up on March 13th.
The seven-year-old is instead likely to bid for back-to-back victories in the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle, with the likely soft going forcing Nicholls' hand.
Speculation continues to mount as to who will partner Colm Murphy's teak-tough stable star in the Champion Hurdle, with regular ally Tony McCoy set to be claimed by his retainer JP McManus, who owns Straw Bear.
Craddockstown wanted
GOLF:Members of Craddockstown Golf Club, outside Naas in Co Kildare, are to be offered a €45 million carrot by property developers to uproot, writes Philip Reid. The club's 850 members have been asked to attend an emergency general meeting next month, where the proposed buy-out of the 100 acre course will be on the table.
Established in the early-1990s by breakaway members of Bodenstown, Craddockstown, designed by Arthur Spring, is built on an old stud farm. The land is currently zoned Amenity and Recreational and falls equally under the planning area of Naas Town Council and Kildare County Council. It is understood that approaches have been made to Dunmurray Springs which only opened for play last year to facilitate the members of Craddockstown.
Rooney wins in Salzburg
SQUASH:Irishman John Rooney secured his first international tour title by beating fellow qualifier Ricky Davies in the final of the Salzburg Squash Open. At the beginning of the opening game of the final, the rallies were close and level, but from the middle of the game Rooney took control and went on to secure an 11-6, 11-2, 11-2 victory.
New class for Punchestown
EQUESTRIAN SPORT:Eventing Ireland confirmed yesterday that the Punchestown three-day event will run a one-star competition as well as its traditional two and three-star classes, writes Grania Willis. The new class provides an opportunity for producers to showcase the talent of younger, less experienced horses on the international stage.
Punchestown finishes nine days before the Tattersalls three-day event in Co Meath, which won the Eventing Ireland award for the best event of 2006, its first year of operation.
Tattersalls also runs one and two-star competitions, as well as juniors and ponies, and there have been concerns expressed that the addition of a one-star class at Punchestown could reduce entries for Tattersalls. However, Punchestown's event director Gillian Kyle stated yesterday there would be a limit on entries for Punchestown.
