Saturday Sport, with Joe Mallon Motors, Sallins Rd., Naas

Kildare Hurlers open their Christy Ring Cup campaign.

The Kildare Senior Hurlers begin their  Christy Ring Cup campaign at Markievicz Park this afternoon.

Manager Brian Dowling is without his Under 20s players but has still named a strong team for the game away to Sligo.

Throw in is 1pm.

There will be live updates on Kfm with Seamus Dillion reporting.

Manguard Park is the venue for the Minor Footballers Leinster Championship Group 2, Round 3 match against Louth.

It is a top of the table clash with both sides heading into the game following back to back wins.

Throw in is at 2 o’clock.

RACING

The 184th Grand National takes place at Aintree this afternoon.

Last year's winner 'Corach Rambler' leads a field of 34 horse for the day's feature which goes to post at 4-o'clock.

Willie Mullins has eight runners with Paul Townend set to ride 'I Am Maximus.'

There is also an eight race card at Dundalk, where the first goes the post at 4.20.

RUGBY

Leinster and La Rochelle resume their rivalry in the Champions Cup quarter-finals this evening.

Leo Cullen’s men take on the Ronan O'Gara’s defending champions, the side they have lost to  consecutive finals, but beat them in France earlier this season.

Kick-off at the Aviva Stadium is at half-past-5.

Elsewhere in the last-8 today Harlequins are away to Bordeaux from 3-o'clock while Northampton Saints host the Bulls this evening.

In the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup Ulster are away to Clermont Auvergne from half-pas5-12 this afternoon.

The Women's Six Nations resumes today.

Ireland welcome Wales to Virgin Media Park as they once again go for their first win of the campaign.

Kick-off is at 4:45 and hooker Cliodhna Moloney is on the bench, 2and-a-half years after her last international appearance.

Elsewhere Scotland entertain England from 2:15.

American trio Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa all share the lead at the halfway point of the Masters at 6-under par.

On three over par, Shane Lowry is nine shots behind the leaders.

Rory McIlroy is a further shot back.

SOCCER

Newcastle and Tottenham get the day's Premier League action underway this lunchtime.

Kick-off at St. James' Park is at half-past-12.

A win for Spurs would see them strengthen their position in fourth with Aston Villa not playing until tomorrow.

At 3-o'clock Brentford host Sheffield United, Wolves go to Nottingham Forest and Burnley play Brighton.

Manchester City meanwhile will go top of the league, for 24 hours at least, if they beat relegation fighting Luton Town at the Etihad.

This evening Bournemouth welcome Manchester United to the Vitality.

Leaders Shelbourne suffered their first defeat of this SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season last night.

They were beaten 2-1 by Bohemians at Tolka Park where Jordan Flores scored twice in the space of three minutes, once from the penalty spot.

The win saw the Gypsies go fifth in the table.

Elsewhere champions Shamrock Rovers got back to winning ways.

They enjoyed an impressive 3-0 win over Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

Aaron Greene found the back of the net twice there for Stephen Bradley's side.

Dundalk meanwhile remain bottom after they played out a scoreless draw with St. Pat's at Oriel Park, Drogheda and Derry finished 2-2 and Waterford and Galway United was a nil-all draw.