Rivals to fall under the spell of the Fairy in the Irish Champion Stakes September 6, 2012 ACROSS the Irish Sea, Leopardstown hosts a top-quality card featuring two Group One contests. The most prestigious of these is the richly-endowed Irish Champion Stakes and Nathaniel bids to continue John Gosden and William Buick’s golden season. Having won the Coral Eclipse on his seasonal reappearance, Nathaniel was just denied successive King George VI Stakes [...]
Frankie’s thoughts September 6, 2012 I START off at Haydock tomorrow for the Betfred Sprint Cup and then fly off to Leopardstown with William Buick to ride Snow Fairy in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes. My Haydock mount Soul needs a bit of cut in the ground which I don’t think we are going to get. Even though he [...]
Three Lions to bag three points in Moldova despite striker shortage September 6, 2012 MOLDOVA vs ENGLAND Zimbru Stadium, Kick-off: 1945 SURELY it’s a joke at our expense? I can’t think of any other way to describe England sitting third – their highest ever placing – in the FIFA world rankings. In fact, the Three Lions have now held on to their place for a second straight month, in [...]
Murray has the mentality to finally make Grand Slam breakthrough September 6, 2012 NOT only did Andy Murray do much to endear himself to the nation when he won the Olympic gold in such stunning fashion at London 2012 last month, but in the minds of many, he also made the mental breakthrough that would allow him to win one of the biggest tournaments in tennis, a Grand [...]
Peacock powers to 100m record on golden GB day September 6, 2012 GREAT Britain’s Jonnie Peacock last night broke the Paralympic Games 100m record to beat South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius to the T44 gold. The 19-year-old produced a sensationally powerful start before significantly extending his lead in the race’s final 30m to secure a new record of 10.90 seconds and add greater misery to the South African [...]
Berdych blocks Murray’s Major path to victory September 6, 2012 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray could be forgiven for feeling that the stars were beginning to align for that long-awaited first grand slam triumph at the US Open this weekend. The Scot arrived in New York fresh from the biggest victory of his career, that gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics, and, despite finding himself [...]
Welsh wiser for Quins contest September 6, 2012 LONDON Welsh full-back Tom Arscott insists his team-mates are relishing the challenge of testing themselves against the best the Aviva Premiership has to offer, as they prepare to visit champions Harlequins tonight. Arscott, who scored the top-flight newcomers’ first ever Premiership try in their 38-13 defeat to Leicester last weekend, said: “A lot’s been said [...]
Hopeless Flintoff is fighting only for money, says Hearn September 6, 2012 FIGHT promoter Eddie Hearn has dismissed Andrew Flintoff’s decision to delve into heavyweight boxing as a money-making exercise and believes him to lack the necessary talent and discipline needed to become a success. The former England cricket captain is to appear in the reality television series The Gloves Are Off and make his professional boxing [...]
Warwickshire ease title pain September 6, 2012 WARWICKSHIRE captain Jim Troughton pinpointed last year’s final day agony as the inspiration after his men sealed the County Championship with a game to spare by beating local rivals Worcestershire yesterday. The home side won the derby by an innings and 202 runs, effectively relegating their neighbours to Division Two, just 12 months after Warwickshire [...]
Premier League clubs’ appetite for recruiting best foreign striking talent has taken its toll September 6, 2012 POSSESSION is the key area in which England must improve, so I was happy to see Roy Hodgson adopt an ability-over-age policy in selecting his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Moldova, tonight, and Ukraine. Sometimes we discard older players too readily but the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Michael Carrick have [...]