Scalzo can prove money well spent for his new owner June 11, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND’S RACING IT IS a predictably quiet weekend seeing as we’re just four days away from Ascot. A winner is a winner, though, and there is some competitive action at York, Sandown and Musselburgh. The highlight is the Charity Sprint at York (3.45pm) where northern trainers have won [...]
Back speedy Waady to return to winning ways at Sandown June 11, 2015 JOHN Gosden’s speedster WAADY was far too keen when stepped up in trip at Newbury in the Carnarvon Stakes last month and is interesting now back down to five furlongs in tomorrow’s Scurry Stakes at Sandown (2.55pm). He caught my eye when whizzing up over course and distance in a Class Two handicap off a [...]
England set for scrap in Slovenia as they search for six wins on the spin June 11, 2015 BEN CLEMINSON LOOKS AT THE EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS HAVING won all five of their European Championship qualifiers to date, England are well-fancied to add a sixth victory against Slovenia on Sunday night. They have also beaten their opponents in their three previous meetings. Any repetition will see them go nine points clear at the top [...]
Belgium to emerge on the right side of a Cardiff thriller June 11, 2015 ON PAPER, tonight’s Group B qualifier between joint leaders Wales and Belgium in Cardiff appears to be something of a mismatch. The visitors are ranked second in the world, were 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists, and haven’t lost to their hosts in five encounters. However, while Belgium should still be fancied, Wales are in fine form, [...]
Maximum excitement on euro 2016 qualifiers June 11, 2015 GOALS galore or bore draw? Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifier between Wales and Belgium could go either way. Level with Marc Wilmots’ men on 11 points at the top of the table, the Dragons have given themselves a clear chance of reaching the finals in France, but have only scored seven times in five fixtures. By [...]
Rangers fans call for boycott as Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct wins EGM injunction June 11, 2015 A Rangers fans' group has called for a merchandise boycott after Mike Ashley won an injunction preventing the club's board from revealing confidential information about its retail deal with Sports Direct. Rangers shareholders will meet at Ibrox tomorrow after Ashley called an extraordinary general meeting to demand the repayment of a £5m loan. At the [...]
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney named Europe’s second most marketable footballer after Cristiano Ronaldo June 11, 2015 Cristiano Ronaldo has been named Europe's most marketable footballer in a new study measuring players' reputation across the globe – with Wayne Rooney following relatively close behind. The Real Madrid star, who will earn $27m from endorsements this year according to Forbes, enjoys fame and acclaim around the world encouraging sponsors to attach his famous [...]
Newcastle to pay McClaren trophy bonus June 10, 2015 FORMER England manager Steve McClaren stands to pocket a significant bonus if he ends Newcastle’s 46–year wait for a major trophy, Magpies managing director Lee Charnley has revealed. McClaren completed a return to the Premier League yesterday by signing a three-year contract and, in an unusual move, taking up a seat on the board at [...]
Messi facing day in court on £3m tax bill charge June 10, 2015 BARCELONA superstar Lionel Messi is on course to stand trial in Spain over allegations that he avoided paying €4.2m (£3m) in tax on a string of lucrative endorsements. Messi, 27, and his father Jorge are accused of using companies registered in Belize and Uruguay to circumvent tax on image rights earnings between 2006 and 2009. [...]
Midfielder Obiang becomes first signing for West Ham under Bilic June 10, 2015 WEST Ham have followed up the appointment of Slaven Bilic as manager with their first major signing of the summer, luring Spain Under-21 midfielder Pedro Obiang to Upton Park from Sampdoria. Tough-tackling Obiang, 23, came through Atletico Madrid’s youth system but left for Italy aged 16 and established himself in the first team at the [...]