Forecast rain could derail Stradivarius’ shot at history June 16, 2021 WHEN Yeats won his fourth Ascot Gold Cup (4.15pm) in 2009, few, if any, thought his incredible feat would be matched. However, in Stradivarius we have a genuine contender who could match him. John and Thady Gosden’s star stayer bids to make it five Royal Ascot wins in a row – one in the Queen’s [...]
Time for a Divinely good Ribblesdale bet June 16, 2021 THERE has been no more impressive performance on the Flat so far this season than Snowfall’s 16-length demolition job in the Oaks. Yet while Frankie Dettori was out in the clear saluting the crowds as he sluiced up the stand’s side rail, DIVINELY was withering her way through a mud-splattered field late on to finish third. Jockey Seamie Heffernan [...]
Sir Lamorak to arise to the occasion in King George June 16, 2021 WHEN trainer Aidan O’Brien saddled the 1-2-3 in the King George V Handicap (5.35pm) two years ago, I made a mental not not to underrate his unexposed three-year-old colts in this contest ever again. The pandemic prevented Irish trainers from travelling horses for handicaps 12 months ago, so that wasn’t a factor last year, but [...]
Sam Torrance: Phil Mickelson would be the fairytale winner but Jon Rahm has justified favourite status at the US Open June 16, 2021 Another month, another major and this time it’s the turn of the US Open at Torrey Pines. A revamped golf calendar has squeezed major season into just 15 weeks, which leaves the rest of the year a bit barren but is great when you are in the thick of it, as we are now. The [...]
EP: 66 Royal Ascot – Thursday – Day 3 June 16, 2021 We continue our special daily Royal Ascot podcasts, previewing each of the five days racing. Trainer Clive Cox runs his once-raced Instinctive Move in the 5-furlong Norfolk Stakes on Thursday. We speak to Clive about his chances in this Group 2 contest. City A.M. racing editor Bill Esdaile previews all of Thursday’s racing action alongside [...]
Premier League fixtures 2021-22: Manchester City face Tottenham Hotspur on opening weekend June 16, 2021 Champions Manchester City will begin their title defence at Tottenham Hotspur after the 2021-22 Premier League fixtures were announced today. Promoted Brentford welcome Arsenal to west London, while Manchester United host Leeds United. LIverpool visit Norwich City, Chelsea play Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge and West Ham United go to Newcastle United. The new Premier [...]
What’s The Hunt Cup Story, Matthew Flinders? June 15, 2021 THERE are puzzles and then there is the Royal Hunt Cup (5.00pm), a 30-runner cavalry charge up Ascot’s straight mile. As is often the case in this race, there are a number of unexposed four-year-olds towards the head of the market which is no surprise with five of the last six winners coming from that [...]
Queen Mary crown still Gleaming June 15, 2021 WHEN it comes to five furlongs and two-year-old fillies, you need look no further than Wesley Ward. Campanelle, Lady Aurelia, Acapulco and Jealous Again all burnt themselves into our memories with electric performances in the Queen Mary (2:30pm) over the past decade or so, and the American trainer appears to have another top class act wound up [...]
I’m Loving Double in Duke Of Cambridge June 15, 2021 IT WILL be fantastic to see one of the stars of the 2020 season, Love, back in action in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (4.20pm) on Wednesday afternoon. The daughter of Galileo rattled off the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks in just over two months and it was really unfortunate she wasn’t able to [...]
United Rugby Championship: Four South African teams join northern hemisphere sides in private equity shake-up of Pro14 June 15, 2021 Club rugby union is set for a private-equity-led shake-up later this year when the United Rugby Championship replaces the Pro14. Four South African teams will join the dozen Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Italian sides already part of the Pro14 to form a new 16-team tournament. The changes, which will incorporate lucrative new TV deals and [...]