Why Manchester City’s Champions League tie with Monaco could make or break Pep Guardiola’s first season March 14, 2017 In a season of dramatic change on and off the pitch under Pep Guardiola, Wednesday night's Champions League trip to Monaco has taken on huge significance for Manchester City and the Spaniard. It hasn’t been an easy first season for Guardiola, who had a far smoother ride at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, where his team [...]
Cheltenham Festival tips: Moon can star in a weak looking Champion Hurdle March 14, 2017 WITH no Faugheen or Annie Power in this afternoon’s Champion Hurdle (3.30pm), there doesn’t appear to be an obvious superstar ready to carry on where that injured pair left off. Yanworth heads the betting at 5/2 with 188BET on the back of three wins so far this campaign, but looks opposable. He isn’t the slickest [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Limini to give Mullins an incredible ninth Mares’ Hurdle March 14, 2017 TRAINER Willie Mullins has won the last eight renewals of the Mares’ Hurdle (4.10pm) and with both LIMINI and Vroum Vroum Mag declared to line-up, I’d be shocked if he didn’t make it nine. Regular followers of this column will know how highly I rate last year’s winner Vroum Vroum Mag. Not only did I [...]
Cheltenham Festival betting tips: Charbel set to chase Altior home in Arkle March 14, 2017 IN THE past five years there have been four odds-on favourites for the Racing Post Arkle – two trained by Willie Mullins and two by Nicky Henderson. All four have won. Altior looks set to go off almost as short as 1/4 shot Douvan did 12 months ago and his credentials are equally strong. Last [...]
Cheltenham Festival tips: Ballyandy looks Supreme bet to squash Melon March 14, 2017 TAKING on a well-fancied Willie Mullins horse in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1.30pm) sounds like risky business. The Irish trainer has a remarkable record in the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser, responsible for three winners and a second in the last four years. However, backing his charge this time around requires a huge leap of faith. With [...]
Chelsea 1, Manchester United 0: Jose Mourinho hits back at Blues fans over ‘Judas’ taunts as Chelsea beat 10-man United to set up FA Cup semi-final with Tottenham March 13, 2017 Chelsea 1, Manchester United 0 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho hit back at Chelsea fans who taunted him with cries of "Judas" as his latest return to Stamford Bridge ended on another sour note. Midfielder N'Golo Kante fired Chelsea into a Wembley FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham with only his second goal for the club, [...]
Wales’s Six Nations resurgence against Ireland defers debate over Rob Howley’s tactical rigidity March 13, 2017 In the build-up to Friday's fixture in Cardiff, when Wales overcame Ireland 22-9, their former flanker Martyn Williams pointed to the "stubborn" management team as a factor in explaining their patchy form of late. Coaches are often caught in a dilemma between whether to stick with the status quo or delve deeper into the squad [...]
Chris Froome breaks silence over Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford March 13, 2017 Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome has broken his silence on embattled Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford, insisting the all-conquering British outfit would not survive without its figurehead. Froome was conspicuous by his absence last week as several Team Sky riders, including Geraint Thomas, tweeted their support for the under-fire Brailsford amid a [...]
Betting: Shakespeare has the script for Leicester’s Champions League success March 13, 2017 The story of Leicester City is one that even the most ambitious playwright wouldn’t have scripted, but they could face yet another dramatic act when they take on Sevilla in the Champions League this evening. Since losing the first leg 2-1 in Spain, Premier League winning boss Claudio Ranieri has been sacked, with assistant Craig [...]
Olympic Stadium investigation: Beancounters net fees, findings to be made public this summer March 13, 2017 The mid-tier accountancy firm undertaking the forensic investigation into the London Stadium overspend will net at least £140,000, according to documents published by City Hall. Moore Stephens was appointed in February to perform a review of how the cost to transform the Olympic Stadium into the multi-use London Stadium increased from an original budget of £115m to £323m. The firm plans to deliver [...]