Secret looks pearl of a bet in wide-open sprint June 16, 2014 THERE IS definitely an element of déjà vu about this afternoon’s King’s Stand Stakes (3.45pm) with last year’s first four home all lining up again. Sole Power, victorious 12 months ago, bounced back from a couple of average runs in Dubai to win last month’s Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. The globe-trotting seven-year-old will be [...]
Adaay can prove himself leading juvenile in the Coventry June 16, 2014 THE COVENTRY Stakes (3.05pm) is typically one of the strongest two-year-old races on the calendar and the winner generally finds himself prominent in the betting for next year’s 2000 Guineas. Dawn Approach, Canford Cliffs and Power have all followed up Coventry victories with success in either the British or Irish Guineas in recent years and [...]
England will still get out of tough group, says Hodgson June 15, 2014 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson is upbeat about his team’s chances of reaching the World Cup knockout stages, following their performance in Saturday’s defeat to Italy. A second-half header from former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli earned Italy three points, after Daniel Sturridge had cancelled out Claudio Marchisio’s earlier strike. But England played much of the [...]
Sport Comment: Three Lions are a team to take pride in again June 15, 2014 FOR so long, England being a crushing disappointment had been synonymous with World Cups; part of the competition’s very fabric, like an African nation threatening not to turn up over a pay dispute, or the Dutch squad descending into civil war. In fact every major international tournament for the last decade had been a source [...]
Gerrard doubts Uruguay, even with Suarez fit June 15, 2014 HAVING been put to the sword by Costa Rica, England captain Steven Gerrard believes Uruguay are beatable, even if Liverpool clubmate Luis Suarez recovers from a knee injury in time to feature. The losers of Thursday’s clash are almost certain to face an early World Cup exit following the first round of results in Group [...]
Football Comment: Eagerness to be hero hurting Rooney’s game June 15, 2014 ENGLAND and Roy Hodgson deserve nothing but praise for their display against Italy on Saturday night. Despite losing, there was so much to cheer. It was pacy, some of the passing was excellent, players looked as comfortable in possession as they have for a long time. England recognised they were at a World Cup and [...]
World Cup in brief June 15, 2014 Ronaldo fit to play Germany ■ PORTUGAL captain Cristiano Ronaldo has declared himself fit to take on Germany today following a recent knee injury. Ronaldo limped out of training on Friday with an ice pack on his left knee, but said last night: “I’m ready, I’m feeling well, I don’t have anything to prove.” Sanctions [...]
World Cup: Messi makes World Cup mark as Argentina made to toil by Bosnia June 15, 2014 ARGENTINA 2 BOSNIA 1 ARGENTINA superstar Lionel Messi lit up the Maracana Stadium last night with a sensational second-half strike to help see off stubborn Bosnia. The two-time World Cup winners struggled to break down Bosnia after taking the lead through an early Sead Kolasinac own goal, until Messi stormed through the defence to fire [...]
Peerless Kaymer cruises to US Open victory June 15, 2014 GERMANY’S Martin Kaymer completed one of the great Major tournament performances last night to claim the US Open at Pinehurst by eight shots. The 29-year-old, who led by five shots overnight, carded a final round of 69 to finish nine under par and land his second career Major, following his breakthrough success at the 2010 [...]
World Cup: Benzema’s double and Palacios red help French sink Honduras June 15, 2014 FRANCE 3 HONDURAS 0 STRIKER Karim Benzema came within inches of a hat-trick on his World Cup debut as France brushed off roughhouse tactics from 10-man Honduras to secure a winning start in Group E. Benzema put Les Bleus ahead from the penalty spot just before half-time and prompted the second moments after the restart, [...]