Fifa world rankings: Wales’ staggering performance against the odds summed up in two charts April 9, 2015 Wales' football team have risen to their highest ever Fifa world ranking thanks to a strong start to their quest for qualification for Euro 2016. Rising to 22nd in the world, Wales are now ranked above countries such as the Ivory Coast, Russia, USA, Australia and Ghana. After winning three of five games in Euro [...]
Grand National 2015: Why an AP McCoy win could cause bookies share price collapse April 9, 2015 No one would begrudge AP McCoy victory in his 20th, and final, Grand National on Saturday – no one except the bookies, that is They could face a £50m payout if the popular jockey and race favourite triumphs at Aintree this Saturday. “The betting clouds are building,” said William Hill spokesman Jon Ivan-Duke. “We won’t be running for [...]
FA Cup: Rodgers: Cup win can offer league boost April 8, 2015 BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 LIVERPOOL 1 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers believes his side’s FA Cup quarter-final replay success over Blackburn Rovers last night can reinvigorate their stumbling Premier League campaign following successive defeats. Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho proved the match-winner with a second-half clincher to set up a semi-final clash against Aston Villa, enhancing his reputation [...]
Spieth: I’ll tame my Masters jitters April 8, 2015 GOLF’S most in-form player, Jordan Spieth, has vowed not to let anxiety come between him and Masters glory when he tees off at Augusta National today for only the second time. Spieth came close to winning the fabled Green Jacket on debut last year, only to see a two-stroke lead disappear in the final two [...]
Lord’s upheaval could pave way for return of KP April 8, 2015 FORMER Test captains Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart last night emerged as the leading candidates to take up a new high-powered role in English cricket following Paul Downton’s sacking. Downton’s position of managing director at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was dissolved yesterday just 15 months into his tenure following a [...]
Cricket Comment: Pack leader Jimmy can rack up 500 wickets April 8, 2015 ENGLAND seamer Jimmy Anderson is a class act. He got a bit of stick over the winter in the one-day format but he is one of the best bowlers this country has ever produced, if not the best. He has taken 380 Test wickets and only needs another three to equal Sir Ian Botham’s all-time [...]
Streelman nets par three Augusta victory April 8, 2015 Kevin Streelman last night won the traditional Par Three tournament at Augusta, which precedes the Masters, by beating Camilo VilLegas in a play-off. no-one has yet followed success in the Par Three by winning the Masters.
Ma Filleule can silence big guns up at Aintree April 8, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE OPENING DAY OF THE CRABBIE’S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING AT AINTREE ANYONE who witnessed Holywell’s demolition of the Mildmay Novices’ Chase field at this meeting 12 months ago will find it pretty hard to oppose the AP McCoy-ridden eight-year-old in the Betfred Bowl (2.50pm) at Aintree this afternoon. He jumped and galloped [...]
Improving Arctic Fire can give Mullins and Walsh yet another big win April 8, 2015 WILLIE Mullins and Ruby Walsh carried all before them at last month’s Cheltenham Festival and I expect them to continue in the same vein in today’s Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle (3.25pm). ARCTIC FIRE was the stable’s supposed third string in the Champion Hurdle, but he flew past his rivals up the home straight to chase [...]
Birmingham City receivers weigh up seven takeover bids April 8, 2015 Birmingham City fans could soon see their club freed from years of boardroom turmoil after the club's parent company announced it had received two more takeover offers on top of the five already confirmed. In a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, receivers Ernst and Yong who have been running Birmingham International Holdings Limited [...]