Evergreen Jermain Defoe earns England recall three and half years after his last cap as Gareth Southgate trials Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse March 16, 2017 England manager Gareth Southgate has praised Jermain Defoe’s enduring effectiveness after recalling the evergreen Sunderland striker for next week’s fixtures against Germany and Lithuania. Defoe, 34, is in line for a first cap since November 2013 after his 14 Premier League goals for the struggling Black Cats earned him the nod over the rusty Wayne [...]
Ireland v England stats preview: Have Eddie Jones’s men been less impressive Six Nations winners than last year? March 16, 2017 Eddie Jones demanded improvement from his England side ahead of this year's Six Nations — a tough ask of reigning Grand Slam champions. Until last weekend's demolition of Scotland at Twickenham, there were few signs his calls had been heeded. England have been accused of only playing well in spurts, of struggling to consistently match some of [...]
Monaco 3, Manchester City 1 (Agg: 6-6): City suffer European crash as Ligue 1 leaders reach quarter-finals on away goals March 15, 2017 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola blamed an anonymous first-half performance after his side succumbed to a Monaco fightback and failed to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Despite leading 5-3 from the first leg, Guardiola had promised to attack the Ligue 1 leaders, although there was little sign of that in a tepid opening period for [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Yorkhill can prove a class apart for Mullins and Walsh March 15, 2017 WE HAVE become accustomed to Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh dominating the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. Although that didn’t happen this year, they also don’t have a bad record on the Thursday. They won three races 12 months ago, including the opening JLT Novices’ Chase (1.30pm), and I expect them to take today’s [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Put your faith in Hobbs and Johnson For Good Measure March 15, 2017 FINDING the winner of the 24-runner Pertemps Final (2.10pm) is yet another impossible task, especially with my original fancy Presenting Percy having been clobbered by the handicapper. He represents last year’s winning owner/trainer/jockey combination and I still wouldn’t be surprised if he goes very close, although at as short as 6/1 in a place, the [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Empire to strike back in the Ryanair Chase March 15, 2017 THIS time last week there was still genuine talk of a soft ground Cheltenham Festival. Now there is every chance that clerk of the course Simon Claisse will be forced to water this evening – ahead of Gold Cup day tomorrow – if no rain materialises. That is bad news for fans of Ryanair Chase [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Venetia looks all set for the last Tango in Cheltenham March 15, 2017 GORDON Elliott has had a remarkable season. He is set to win his first Irish trainer’s title and is also on course to be crowned leading trainer at this year’s Festival. Undoubtedly one of his leading fancies this time is Diamond King in this afternoon’s Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Plate (4.10pm). The nine-year-old was a [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Cole Harden and Ballyoptic value alternatives if Unowhatimean March 15, 2017 LIKE Thistlecrack in this very race 12 months ago, it is very hard to oppose favourite Unowhatimeanharry in this afternoon’s Stayers Hurdle (3.30pm). Harry Fry’s nine-year-old continues to improve with every start and has added three decent victories this campaign to his Albert Bartlett victory at this meeting last season. All of those wins have [...]
There will always be hurdles to clear but English domestic Twenty20 franchise system is perfect vision March 15, 2017 There are always upfront hurdles to overcome with projects and it has been suggested that the new domestic Twenty20 franchise tournament, set to begin in 2020, could lose organisers £15m in its first year. Australia’s Big Bash League also took a few years to establish itself and it might take a while for our competition [...]
Cheltenham Festival 2017: Special Tiara lands shock Champion Chase win as Douvan flop costs one punter £500,000 March 15, 2017 Jockey Noel Fehily admitted his shock after piloting Special Tiara to victory over red-hot favourite Douvan in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday. Henry de Bromhead-trained 11/1 chance Special Tiara held off the fast-finishing Fox Norton to win by a head and claim success in the race at the fourth [...]