Why Fifa’s 2026 World Cup U-turn risks a fresh player welfare row March 14, 2023 Fifa is set to risk a new player welfare row by redesigning the format of the next men’s World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, according to reports. Football’s world governing body had planned to divide the 48 teams at the expanded 2026 tournament into 16 groups of three, in order to allay fears [...]
UK government’s letter to Visa, Deloitte and Allianz prompts rebuke from Olympic chiefs March 14, 2023 Olympic chiefs have issued a rebuke to the UK government over its lobbying of sponsors including Visa, Deloitte and Allianz for Russia to remain banned from sport. The UK has been among the most vocal and active opponents of the International Olympic Committee’s plan to lift the suspension of Russia and its ally Belarus. Culture [...]
What’s that coming over the Hill? It is a monster! March 14, 2023 TIMING is a huge thing in sport. Imagine how many more Grand Slams Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic would have won if the other two hadn’t been around. In the aftermath of day one at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, there was plenty of controversy comparing the Supreme Novices’ winner CONSTITUTION HILL with dual [...]
Jon looks a très Bon bet to land the Arkle March 14, 2023 NICKY Henderson and Willie Mullins have won seven of the last 10 runnings of the Sporting Life Arkle (2.10pm) and it will be a huge shock if one of them doesn’t land the prize again this year. The two stables are responsible for the first four in the market and even though Mullins saddles four [...]
Connell set for Nationale service as he shoots for biggest winner as a trainer March 14, 2023 BEFORE analysing the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.30pm), I have to declare that I head up the syndicate that owns RARE EDITION, trained by Charlie Longsdon. He has been a dream horse for us, winning four of his five starts under rules, with the second coming last time out in the Sydney Banks [...]
Marie’s looks Rock solid in bid for Mares’ Hurdle repeat success March 14, 2023 MANY are billing this year’s renewal of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (4.10pm) as the race of the meeting. Last year’s first and second home are joined by two previous Champion Hurdle winners in Honeysuckle and Epatante, not to mention Grade One winners Brandy Love and Echoes In Rain. Throw in last year’s Mares Novices’ [...]
Cheltenham Diary March 14, 2023 NEW ‘TRACK’ FOR 2023 FESTIVAL You’ve got the New Course and the Old Course, but there’s another track that everyone’s talking about at Prestbury Park this year. In conjunction with The Jockey Club, UK producer DJ Cuddles has remixed the famous Cheltenham Roar to create a dance anthem titled ‘Roar Remix’! Whether you wince, laugh [...]
Be part of something Glorious this Summer March 14, 2023 | Sponsored The Qatar Goodwood Festival, which takes place from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 August, is one of the undisputed highlights of the British sporting calendar and social. The Racing As one of Britain’s oldest and most prestigious horseracing amphitheatres, the hallowed turf of Goodwood Racecourse hosted its first public race meeting in 1802. Today, 19 days of [...]
Six Nations: From Ireland to Italy, how has each team got on this year March 14, 2023 It has been a truly compelling Six Nations thus far and Super Saturday is still to come. Two sides are still in the mix for the Championship – Ireland and France – but there is something for every other team to take away, too. So each with one match to go, how has this year’s [...]
Six Nations: What Ireland and France need to win the Championship title March 13, 2023 Only Ireland and France are in with a shout of winning the 2023 Six Nations this weekend. It was so nearly a three-horse race going into round five but results last weekend ensured that Scotland would not be in the mix for a title. We’ve broken down who needs what to win the title. Ireland [...]