Ollie Phillips: England’s next two matches can make or break their Rugby World Cup hopes November 22, 2018 England’s autumn has gone well so far, with a lot of the negativity surrounding Eddie Jones and the team dissipating, yet they have been fortunate and cracks have, for now, just been papered over. They were very lucky to edge out a South Africa team who pummelled them in the first half; downpours played into [...]
Southampton’s slump: where has it all gone wrong for the Premier League’s model club? November 22, 2018 “Sometimes you just need something to fly off somebody’s head, it flies past the keeper who can’t do anything about it and you’re off and running.” Mark Hughes is convinced Southampton aren’t far off turning things around. They just need some good fortune, some decisions to fall their way, some momentum. That is the stage [...]
Horse racing: David Pipe on his runners over the weekend November 22, 2018 NO RUNNERS for us on Saturday, but we do send two to Ascot on Friday. MOON RACER is a hugely talented horse and makes his debut over fences for us in the opening novices’ chase (1.00pm) at the grand old age of nine. He made a pleasing reappearance over hurdles at Newbury earlier in the [...]
Horse racing betting tips: Politologue can carry on where he left off November 22, 2018 LAST season’s Tingle Creek winner POLITOLOGUE should prove hard to beat when he reappears in the Christy 1965 Chase (2.05pm). There’s no Altior in this field to outclass the seven-year-old who looked to relish the step up to 2m4f at Aintree in the Melling Chase. Connections have mentioned possible tilts at the King George [...]
Horse racing betting tips: Play it again Sam to give Gordon fifth straight Troytown November 22, 2018 SOME races mean more to trainers than others and Sunday’s Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase (2.30pm) at Navan is always one of those near the top of Gordon Elliott’s wishlist. He won his local race for the first time in 2014, landing a monster gamble with Balbriggan, and he has held on to the prize ever [...]
Horse racing betting tips: Back Minella to Bolt up in Berkshire November 22, 2018 PUNTERS will be rummaging through the racecard at Ascot on Friday in the hope of finding a few nice bets, but few will be drawn to trainer David Rees, who has a very good chance in the 2m5f handicap chase (2.40pm). The Welsh handler, who has just a handful of horses in training, somewhat slips [...]
Horse racing betting tips: Might have first Bite of million pound bonus November 22, 2018 IT COMES thick and fast at this time of year. Cheltenham whetted the appetite for the season ahead last weekend, the Betfair Chase (3.00pm) is Saturday's highlight, it’s then on to Newbury for the Ladbrokes Trophy, before Sandown hosts the Tingle Creek. It’s a feast of jump racing that never disappoints and the Jockey Club [...]
John Barnes interview: People want perfection but football isn’t like that November 22, 2018 When the two teams closest to his heart meet in the Premier League on Saturday, Liverpool and Watford great John Barnes knows what result he is expecting. “Of course it's going to be a hard game because Vicarage Road is a tough place to go. It's going to be an interesting game but hopefully it's [...]
Robert Kubica’s road back to Formula One has been filled with setbacks and pain November 22, 2018 It has been a long and difficult road for Robert Kubica but he has finally achieved his dream of returning to the Formula One grid, having been offered a seat at Williams for the 2019 season, more than eight years since he last raced in the series. The 33-year-old has missed what could be considered [...]
Chris Tremlett: Sri Lanka series win could prove the turning point for Joe Root’s England captaincy November 21, 2018 England’s series-clinching win in Kandy last week was full of positives for the away side, but no one will be happier than captain Joe Root. Root scored a magnificent 124 in the second innings, his first away from home as captain, to set Sri Lanka a tricky target and seal his maiden away series win [...]