Balder looks primed to give Alan King a second Ascot Chase success February 12, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND RACING ACTION WITH just over three weeks to go until the start of the Cheltenham Festival, the excitement is really starting to build. Most of the key protagonists have now had their prep runs but there are still a couple of decent trials to look forward to, [...]
Road to Cheltenham February 12, 2015 THE purpose of this column is to find horses that are going to turn up at the Festival at a shorter price and the Ryanair Chase has an attractive look to it from a betting perspective. Don Cossack is the 4/1 favourite, but I’m keen to take him on. He’s four from four this season, [...]
In-form Australia should prove too hot to handle for inconsistent England February 12, 2015 HARRY MADLEY PREVIEWS ENGLAND’S CRICKET WORLD CUP OPENER AND PATRICK CALLAGHAN LOOKS AT IRELAND V FRANCE IT’S PROBABLY the longest, hardest and most engaging sporting rivalry that there has ever been. Covering numerous sports and exemplified by countless battles – England versus Australia always attracts the attention of fans across the globe. Tomorrow morning, England [...]
France unlikely to roll over in Dublin as Six Nations heats up February 12, 2015 IRELAND were scrappy rather than fluid in Rome as they started their defence of the Six Nations. Italy put up a better fight than the 26-3 scoreline suggests and if it hadn’t been for hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini getting sin-binned in the second half – which helped Ireland to finally penetrate an impressive home defence – [...]
Maximum excitement on the CWC with sporting index February 12, 2015 WITH nearly 20 specials markets for England’s Cricket World Cup opener against Australia, Sporting Index really does have something for everyone. As well as total wides, total sixes and total fours, there are also unique markets like 50-Ups, Ton-Ups, Zero Tolerance and Full English. 50-Ton-Ups are a prediction on the aggregate total of players’ runs [...]
Premier League: Spotlight falls on Ivanovic in headbutt row February 11, 2015 CHELSEA 1 EVERTON 0 EVERTON manager Roberto Martinez insisted Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic should have been sent off for violent conduct after the Premier League leaders struck late to maintain their seven-point advantage last night. Attacking midfielder Willian’s 89th-minute deflected shot snatched the points, moments after the visitors had seen midfielder Gareth Barry sent off [...]
Struggling Villa bring Lambert’s reign to an end February 11, 2015 ASTON Villa have begun their search for a new manager after last night sacking Paul Lambert following a disastrous run of form which sees the club embroiled in a battle for Premier League survival. A 2-0 reverse to fellow strugglers Hull City on Tuesday evening meant a fifth successive Premier League defeat and 10th league [...]
Premier League: Carroll injury recurrence blights West Ham’s stoic defensive show February 11, 2015 SOUTHAMPTON 0 WEST HAM UNITED 0 WEST Ham boss Sam Allardyce bemoaned his growing injury woe after Andy Carroll limped though the final stages of his side’s stalemate with high-flying Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium last night. The eighth-placed Hammers defended resolutely and salvaged a well-earned point following the dismissal of Spanish keeper Adrian on [...]
Premier League: Campbell leveller saves Pardew from embarrassing Magpies loss February 11, 2015 CRYSTAL PALACE 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 CRYSTAL Palace boss Alan Pardew declared himself satisfied with a point against his former club after substitute Fraizer Campbell salvaged a share of the spoils last night. Newcastle opened the scoring with their first effort on target as Papiss Cisse nodded in Daryl Janmaat’s cross, only for Campbell – a [...]
Cricket Comment: Underdog status in England’s favour February 11, 2015 Our new columnist on the chances of England upsetting the odds and lifting their first World Cup. England are unlikely to win the World Cup but you just never know. They are certainly going in the right direction and the chances of success are a lot higher than they were a couple of months [...]