Follow Captain’s orders in tomorrow’s Ascot Chase February 14, 2013 WE are now less than a month away from the start of the Cheltenham Festival and trainers are beginning to put the finishing touches to their charges. The ground is going to be extremely testing all over the country again this weekend, highlighting the need to find horses that truly stay and handle conditions. Ascot [...]
The Road to Cheltenham February 14, 2013 NICKY Henderson has trained more Cheltenham Festival winners than anyone, including a record seven last year. However, he hasn’t been very lucky in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – his last win in the race came 21 years ago. The performance of My Tent Or Yours at Newbury last weekend suggests this hoodoo may finally [...]
Non-league Hatters can make Lions mad February 14, 2013 BLUE Square Bet Premier side Luton pulled off the shock of the FA Cup fourth round with a heroic win at Norwich and have been rewarded with a home tie against Millwall tomorrow. The Hatters have been through relegation, points deductions and financial difficulties over the past few years, but this season’s FA Cup has [...]
Blue Square Bet Winter Carnival February 14, 2013 We’RE now just over a week away from the Blue Square Bet Sprint Series Grand Final and tomorrow’s racing will be the last chance for a few horses to earn enough points to make the £17,500 showpiece at Lingfield Park Racecourse. Looking at the Blue Square Bet Sprint Series action tomorrow, I have to side [...]
It’s United’s to lose now, insists Ferguson February 13, 2013 REAL MADRID 1 vs MANCHESTER UNITED 1 MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes his team have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after they held Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last night. Danny Welbeck headed the visitors in front with 20 minutes played in the last 16, first leg tie, but United old [...]
Evans and De Gea make case for the defence February 13, 2013 PEOPLE like to criticise him because he is not a big name, but Jonny Evans showed last night he has the character to stand up and be counted in Manchester United’s biggest games. The centre-back was strong and played an important role in organising an excellent defensive display against a talented Real Madrid attack that [...]
Benitez ready to offer goal shy Torres a helping hand in attack February 13, 2013 CHELSEA manager Rafael Benitez is preparing to deploy winger Victor Moses as an emergency striker to ease the burden on misfiring forward Fernando Torres. Nigeria international Moses returned triumphant from the Africa Cup of Nations this week and will miss tonight’s Europa League round of 32, first leg game at Sparta Prague. But Benitez has [...]
Prove you belong in European elite, Villas-Boas urges Spurs February 13, 2013 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas believes tonight’s Europa League clash with Lyon will be a perfect test of his team’s Champions League credentials. Lyon’s appearance in this year’s Europa League ends 13 consecutive seasons of playing Champions League football. And Villas-Boas, whose Spurs side currently occupy fourth place in the Premier League, feels the French giants [...]
Six Nations turns sour for Ireland as Healy is found guilty of stamp February 13, 2013 PROP Cian Healy will miss Ireland’s next two RBS Six Nations fixtures after being found guilty of stamping on England’s Dan Cole during their 12-6 defeat in Dublin on Sunday. The 25-year-old trod on Cole’s ankle in the 14th minute of the match at the Aviva Stadium after an Ireland maul collapsed, though match referee [...]
Mourinho: We will score two at Old Trafford February 13, 2013 REAL Madrid manager Jose Mourinho insists his team will score more than one goal at Manchester United in the second leg and expects their Champions League last 16 tie to go right down to the last minute. United’s 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital last night would appear to make them favourites to progress to [...]