Sire De Grugy claims Champion Chase in Cheltenham fairytale March 12, 2014 SIRE De Grugy was the toast of Cheltenham yesterday after the 11-4 favourite answered his doubters with a convincing – and fairytale – victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The eight-year-old, trained and ridden by father-and-son team Gary and Jamie Moore, clinched a fifth win in half a dozen races with a six-length victory [...]
Trott excited by return to London 2012 velodrome March 12, 2014 OLYMPIC champion Laura Trott is hoping for another capacity crowd this weekend when she makes an emotional first competitive return to her favourite track: London’s velodrome. Trott, who won gold in both the team pursuit and omnium during the 2012 Games, is set to race in the final round of the Revolution Series at the [...]
Murray suffers Indian Wells exit March 12, 2014 TENNIS: Britain’s Andy Murray lost to world No11 Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells last night.
Krueger named Saints chairman March 12, 2014 FOOTBALL: Southampton unveiled Ralph Krueger as their new chairman yesterday. The 54-year-old, former ice hockey player succeeds Nicola Cortese.
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 [...]