Russian boss of Gazprom-backed boxing body AIBA turns to man who lifted lid on Russian state-sponsored doping to lead corruption probes June 17, 2021 Richard McLaren, the Canadian law professor and sports investigator, is best known for exposing Russia for state-sponsored doping. So eyebrows were raised this week when it emerged that McLaren had been hired by one of Russia’s most powerful sports administrators. Umar Kremlev has called on McLaren Global Sports Solutions as part of his bid to [...]
EP: 67 Royal Ascot – Friday – Day 4 June 17, 2021 It’s Day 4 of our special daily Royal Ascot podcasts, previewing each of the five days racing Trainer Clive Cox won the Commonwealth Cup 12 months ago and he runs Supremacy, Diligent Harry and Isabella Giles in this year’s renewal. Ed Walker has the exciting filly Primo Bacio in the Coronation Stakes and both trainers [...]
US Open prize money 2021: How much can the stars of men’s golf win at Torrey Pines? June 17, 2021 US Open prize money reflects the event’s reputation as perhaps the most difficult of the four men’s majors. Whoever triumphs at Torrey Pines this week will take home a winners’ prize of $2.25m from a total pot of $12.5m. Those sums – frozen from last year – mean that US Open prize money remains the [...]
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 [...]