Bell to replace injured Root at World Twenty20 March 10, 2014 ENGLAND batsman Joe Root will be replaced by Ian Bell for this month’s World Twenty20, after scans revealed the severity of his thumb injury yesterday. Root suffered a multiple fracture during last week’s series-clinching one-day international against West Indies, though remained at the crease and scored 107 runs. The 23-year-old flew back to England and [...]
Gallagher wins Britain’s first gold March 10, 2014 PARALYMPICS: Skier Kelly Gallagher was crowned Britain’s first-ever Paralympic Winter Games champion yesterday, winning gold alongside guide Charlotte Evans in the visually impaired Super-G. Compatriot Jade Etherington took bronze in the same event while Anna Turney was fourth in the sitting Super-G. Britain’s curlers thrashed previously unbeaten Slovakia 12-2.
England set to be unchanged in Italy March 10, 2014 RUGBY UNION: England head coach Stuart Lancaster has hinted he will stick with the team that beat Wales for the final match of the Six Nations championship against Italy on Saturday. England will be champions if they win and Ireland lose to France, or if they can win by 50 more points than Ireland do. [...]
Vautour can get Mullins and Walsh off to a Supreme start March 10, 2014 THERE is no better sound in racing than the roar that kicks off the Cheltenham Festival as the tapes go up for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Last year’s event was a top-class renewal with today’s Arkle favourite Champagne Fever, and leading Champion Hurdle contenders My Tent Or Yours and Jezki fighting out the [...]
Get the bubbly on ice as Champagne Fever is primed for more Festival glory March 10, 2014 AFTER a quiet period of winning favourites in the Racing Post Arkle, the cream has certainly risen to the top in the last two years with the outstanding Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig claiming the prize. Nicky Henderson will be going for a third straight Arkle with Grandouet, but the seven-year-old hasn’t looked a natural over [...]
Top Tips from Paddy Power March 10, 2014 I DON’T know if it’s wise or not to have your best bet of the week in the very first race, but I do think that VAUTOUR is banker material. I have a feeling that the race is going to be a carbon copy of last year with Ruby Walsh in front on Vautour with [...]
Hurricane Fly set to defy age and land an historic third Champion Hurdle March 10, 2014 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE CHAMPION HURDLE AND THE MARES’ HURDLE RARELY has a horse been more eagerly awaited than this year’s renewal of the Stan James Champion Hurdle. With the obvious exception of Annie Power, the “who’s who” of the two-mile hurdling division all make the journey to Prestbury Park to take part in this [...]
Cockney Sparrow each-way value against wonder mare March 10, 2014 ANYONE who witnessed Quevega’s incredible fifth successive win in this race 12 months ago would have had serious doubts about the Willie Mullins-trained mare making it six wins on the bounce in 2014. Yet, here we are one year on and the 10-year-old is a best-priced 8/11 with BetBright to become the most successful horse [...]
Green and gold of JP McManus set to be among the winners once more March 10, 2014 NO OWNER’S colours have been carried to the Festival’s winner’s enclosure more frequently than those of JP McManus. The Irish business magnate, infamous among the betting ring for legendary gambles, has had 39 Festival heroes and is odds-on across the board to be leading owner once more this week. He has two outstanding chances in [...]
Star Sports: Lay of the day March 10, 2014 THE WAITING is finally over and at last it’s time for the best four days in the racing calendar. Now, I’ve been warned that all you punters are desperate to back the four Ruby Walsh-ridden “good things” on day one and we’re ready and waiting. In fact, if that’s you, we’ve got an unbelievably generous [...]