Rule The World can upset the big two in the World Hurdle March 12, 2014 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE WORLD HURDLE AND THE BYRNE GROUP PLATE THE big talking point in the build up to this year’s Cheltenham Festival was whether or not wonder mare Annie Power would drop back in trip to tackle the Champion Hurdle, stay at two-and-a-half miles for the Mares’ Hurdle, or go up to three [...]
Third Intention and Carrickboy look massive Plate value at 20/1 March 12, 2014 NEVER have the words “tread carefully” been more appropriately used when it comes to solving the betting mystery that is the Byrne Group Plate (4.00pm). The last six renewals have seen not only 66/1 and 50/1 winners, but also a 33/1 and 25/1 shot to add salt to the wounds of form students. In fact, [...]
Mullins to get another day off to a flyer with Felix Yonger in the JLT March 12, 2014 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE JLT NOVICES’ CHASE AND THE PERTEMPS FINAL IT’S a familiar sight seeing Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh in the winner’s enclosure at the Cheltenham Festival. With three wins already, the pair have almost certainly sewn up the leading jockey and trainer awards with two days still to go. The strength of [...]
Benefficient can give Ireland a long overdue success in the Ryanair March 12, 2014 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE RYANAIR CHASE AND THE KIM MUIR THE outspoken Michael O’Leary has made no secret of his desire to see one of his horses, running in the famous maroon Gigginstown Stud colours, win the race sponsored by the airline that made his fortune. Apart from the inaugural running of this Grade One [...]
Star Sports: Lay of the day March 12, 2014 Star Sports owner Ben Keith picks out one horse he’s happy to lay each day THIS column hasn’t exactly gone great so far. Vautour romped home on Tuesday for one of the most impressive Supreme Novices’ wins I’ve ever seen and Sire De Grugy was brilliant in the Champion Chase yesterday. Today’s main event is [...]
Champions League: Wenger blasts Robben as Arsenal suffer Euro exit March 11, 2014 BAYERN MUNICH 1 ARSENAL 1 (Bayern win 3-1 on aggregate) ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger hit out at Bayern winger Arjen Robben last night after his team failed to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for a fourth season in a row. Wenger accused Robben of diving in order to win a penalty in their 2-0 first-leg [...]
Seven games: Pardew’s ban March 11, 2014 NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew has been banned from the touchline until the final three games of the season after the Football Association deemed his headbutt on Hull’s David Meyler worthy of a seven-match suspension. Pardew is prohibited from even attending the stadium for Saturday’s trip to Fulham and the following home games against Crystal Palace [...]
Riga replaces sacked Powell March 11, 2014 CHARLTON have replaced Chris Powell with an unheralded Belgian coach after the popular manager was sacked for refusing to back owner Roland Duchatelet’s plans. Jose Riga, the former boss of another of Duchatelet’s clubs, Standard Liege, was last night confirmed as Powell’s successor at the Championship’s bottom club. Ex-Addicks defender Powell, 44, had been in [...]
Jezki leaves fancied rivals trailing in McManus Champion Hurdle 1-2 March 11, 2014 OWNER JP McManus hailed “a very special day” after claiming a one-two in the Champion Hurdle, 9-1 shot Jezki pipping the fancied My Tent Or Yours to win the feature race on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. Favourite Hurricane Fly got nowhere near a third victory in the race, as Barry Geraghty and [...]
England slump to series defeat March 11, 2014 ENGLAND’S stand-in Twenty20 captain Eoin Morgan has called on his team to beat West Indies tomorrow and go into the forthcoming World T20 on a high. Morgan last night saw his team suffer a second defeat in three days to lose the T20 series with a match to spare, but wants to leave Bridgetown for [...]