RACING: Mick Kinane, who fractured his right wrist in two places after a fall last month, is hoping to have the plaster cast removed today.
The leading Irish jockey was involved in a nasty incident at the Curragh which caused the break, where he was brought down when another horse slipped and fell.
Fran Berry, the other jockey involved in the collision, suffered neck injuries while Kinane has been forced to sit out high-profile rides such as Azamour in the Irish Champion Stakes.
Meanwhile, John Oxx has confirmed Azamour is back on track for a tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 2nd.
The King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes hero was last seen finishing fifth behind Oratorio in the Irish Champion Stakes.
A tweaked back muscle was discovered the day after the race at Leopardstown, but Oxx revealed his four-year-old is now on the comeback trail ahead of the Group One event in Longchamp.
"At this stage, I would expect him to be okay for the Arc, but he'll need the ground to be suitable if he's to run."
ATHLETICS: World and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin powered to victory in the men's 100 metres in Japan yesterday.
The American clocked 10.04 seconds in Yokohama to beat Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba and Jamaica's Christopher Williams who both tied for second in 10.13.
The biggest surprise in Yokohama was world champion Yelena Isinbayeva's flop in the women's pole vault. The Russian world record holder bowed out after failing to clear 4.50 metres.
Australia's Tatiana Grigorieva won the event after clearing4.10.
TENNIS: Wimbledon's slowing grass courts are hastening the end of serve-volley in tennis, former world number one Mats Wilander said yesterday.
"I'm personally very disappointed (at) the way they are making Wimbledon these days. We're slowly losing the style of playing tennis which is the serve and volley."
Wimbledon is the only grand slam tournament to be played on grass. The French Open is played on clay and the Australian and US Opens on hard courts.
Wilander said such courts did not help Britain realise their dream of producing a first men's champion since Fred Perry won Wimbledon and the US Open in 1936.
CYCLING: Robin Seymour added the Irish marathon MTB championship to his numerous cross-country and cyclo-cross titles in the Cooley Mountains yesterday, dominating the Elite men's event.
The Team Worc rider finished 24 minutes and 12 seconds ahead of closest rival Niall Davis (IMBRC) and over 34 minutes up on Lewis Ferguson (BHB).
Jenny McCauley (Bikin' Cyprus) won the women's title from Raleigh rider Beth McCluskey, while John Crowley (Killarney), Robbie Lamont (XMTB) and Damien Cox were best of those in the Masters, Veterans and Sports categories.
Meanwhile Philip Deignan - the Irish medal hope for the world road race championships this week in Madrid - had a scare when he crashed heavily during a race in Italy over the weekend.
He landed on his wrist and initially thought it was broken, but the injury appears to be less serious than he feared.
He should to be able to line out in the under-23 championships this Saturday.
