Taghrooda loses unbeaten record August 21, 2014 TRAINER Aidan O’Brien enjoyed a second major success in as many days at York yesterday when 8-1 shot Tapestry shocked 1-5 favourite Taghrooda to win the Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Previously unbeaten Taghrooda took the lead two furlongs out but was tracked by Tapestry, and Ryan Moore conjured an extra kick from the filly in the [...]
Djokovic lurking for Murray at US August 21, 2014 FORMER Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will face Holland’s Robin Haase in the first round of the US Open, which starts at Flushing Meadows on Monday. The 27-year-old Scot, who won the New York grand slam in 2012, is seeded eighth this year with the draw paving the way for a potential meeting with world No1 [...]
Celebrate with a Pale Mimosa at York August 21, 2014 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS TODAY’S ACTION AT YORK ON day three of the Ebor meeting, York plays host to two races within the QIPCO British Champions Series, the first being the Group Two Lonsdale Cup (2:30pm). Dermot Weld has always been known for his shrewd placement of horses, so PALE MIMOSA’s trip across the Irish Sea [...]
A draw is best buoyant Arsenal can hope for at Goodison Park August 21, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS THE PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION AND BILL ESDAILE GIVES US HIS RACING BETS FOR TOMORROW ARSENAL fans have every right to be optimistic at the moment. The once tight-fisted Arsene Wenger splashed the cash again – on Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina and Calum Chambers – and the Gunners have made a [...]
Niven can prove he’s one Clever Cookie by landing the Ebor August 21, 2014 THE final day of York’s Ebor meeting features the richest handicap in Europe and the festival’s punting highlight, the Betfred Ebor (3:50pm). Such a prize always draws a high-class field, to the extent that the race has even come to be considered a trial for the Melbourne Cup. A trainer vying to win this lucrative [...]
Spurs target a Champions League place via back door August 20, 2014 TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino is focused on the bigger picture as Spurs take their first step towards securing Europa League football this season with a first-leg qualifier against AEL in Cyprus tonight. Pochettino dismissed the Europa League as an unattractive competition while in the Southampton hotseat but has changed his tune now a rule change [...]
Ban upheld but Barca can carry on splashing out August 20, 2014 BARCELONA could yet embark on another spending spree before next month’s deadline despite having their appeal against a year-long transfer embargo upheld yesterday. The Spanish club failed in a bid to overturn a ban on all player trading for two transfer windows, originally imposed in April by world governing body Fifa for breaking rules on [...]
Palace disarray deepens as Mackay talks stall August 20, 2014 CARETAKER manager Keith Millen looks increasingly likely to take charge of Crystal Palace’s Premier League match with West Ham on Saturday after negotiations with leading candidate Malky Mackay stalled yesterday. The former Cardiff City boss had seemed in pole position to succeed Tony Pulis in the Selhurst Park hotseat but doubts have emerged about whether [...]
Time for Murray to step up, says McEnroe, as Mauresmo partnership faces test at US Open August 20, 2014 FORMER world No1 John McEnroe believes next week’s US Open will provide a telling indication of the progress Britain’s Andy Murray has made under new coach Amelie Mauresmo. Murray has not reached a final in 16 tournaments since winning Wimbledon last year, during which time he has had surgery on a back injury and, in [...]
Return of our Germans will be just the Teutonic, says Wilshere August 20, 2014 ARSENAL midfielder Jack Wilshere expects the imminent return of the club’s World Cup-winning Germany stars to boost the Gunners as they approach a testing spell. Playmaker Mesut Ozil, vice-captain Per Mertesacker and forward Lukas Podolski are all set to be named in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Everton, having been given an extended holiday [...]