Hales: Our new style is winning over supporters June 16, 2015 POWER-HITTING opener Alex Hales believes England’s new-found brand of attacking one-day cricket has turned the tide of public opinion in their favour after the dismay of slipping to a humiliating group-stage exit at the World Cup. Despite trailing New Zealand 2-1 in the five-match series heading into today’s penultimate fixture at Trent Bridge, England’s change [...]
France’s bastareaud reveals suicide attempt June 16, 2015 FRANCE centre Mathieu Bastareaud has revealed that he attempted suicide six years ago after lying about being assaulted during the 2009 tour of New Zealand. The 26-year-old Toulon back details in his forthcoming autobiography how heavy drinking led to an attempt on his own life. He said: “I took a big knife and slit my [...]
Royal Ascot 2015: Free Eagle to land another major prize for Dermot Weld June 16, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE PRINCE OF WALES’S AND QUEEN MARY STAKES There are plenty of good trainers in the UK and Ireland, but only a handful have managed to stay at the top of their game for a long period. Dermot Weld is one of them. The first European to win a race in [...]
Go loco when Acapulco scoots away from her rivals June 16, 2015 IF it is Dermot Weld who has changed the travelling habits of European trainers, then Wesley Ward holds the honour of chief U.S. ambassador to Royal Ascot. It was back in 2009 when he took this meeting by storm, becoming the first Stateside trainer to win at this historic event. He took the Windsor Castle [...]
Classy Ivawood to take the Jersey June 16, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE JERSEY AND DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES LAST week I had the pleasure of visiting Richard Hannon’s stable in Wiltshire and the one horse on virtually everyone’s lips was IVAWOOD who lines up in this afternoon’s Jersey Stakes (2.30pm). The son of Zebedee has yet to visit the winner’s enclosure in three [...]
Integral hard to beat but get on Rizeena each-way June 16, 2015 When Sir Michael Stoute’s Integral waltzed away with last year’s renewal of the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (3.40pm), she did so in the style of a filly who looked more than able to mix it up with the very best of the boys over a mile. And one year on, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned mare [...]
The ATP World Tour Finals could stay at the O2 Arena for three more years June 16, 2015 British tennis fans could be treated to a further two years of the ATP Tour World Finals, the season curtain closer that takes place at the O2 Arena every November. The tournament attracted over 260,000 fans to Greenwich last year to fill the 17,500 capacity arena, and according to The Telegraph, the Association of Tennis [...]
Home factor lifts Murray’s grass hopes June 15, 2015 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray is hoping that a welcome return to home comforts inspires him to success in a landmark grass-court season that gets underway today at Queen’s Club. Murray estimates that he has spent just “nine or 10” nights in his own bed this year, having sacrificed a lengthy honeymoon in April in favour of [...]
Queen’s exit for Briton Ward as Raonic retaliates June 15, 2015 BRITAIN’S James Ward crashed out of the Aegon Championships first round but not before handing a first-set fright to big-serving third seed Milos Raonic at Queen’s Club yesterday. World No109 Ward snatched the opening set before succumbing 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 to Canada’s Raonic, who is playing his first tournament since April’s Madrid Open after undergoing [...]
England reunite Overton twins and consider historic selection June 15, 2015 ENGLAND have added fast bowler Jamie Overton to their one-day squad ahead of tomorrow’s pivotal clash with New Zealand at Trent Bridge in a move which could see twins represent the national side in the same match for the first time. Seamer Jamie has replaced side-strain victim Liam Plunkett and joins his brother, all-rounder Craig, [...]