Grumeti can bounce back from Cheltenham defeat April 11, 2012 AINTREE’S prestigious three-day Grand National meeting gets underway this afternoon and it may be worth finding a TV just after 2pm to watch the remarkable Big Buck’s beat Sir Ken’s (one of the great Champion Hurdlers from the 1950s) unbeaten sequence of 16. Now, Paul Nicholls’ four-time World Hurdle winner is a best-priced 1/4 with [...]
Boxer Georg can land a punch in the Fox Hunters’ April 11, 2012 The first taste racegoers get of the Grand National fences at this year’s meeting comes in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase at 3.40pm. Paul Nicholls last won this race 10 years ago with Torduff Express and he saddles the likely favourite Gwanako who was pitting his wits against Big Buck’s at this meeting last [...]
Carroll lifts Dalglish as Reds keeper crisis grows April 10, 2012 PREMIER LEAGUE BLACKBURN 2 vs LIVERPOOL 3 LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish sidestepped another refereeing row last night after an evening of mixed fortunes saw £35m misfit Andy Carroll snatch a late winner but the Reds’ goalkeeping crisis deepen. Carroll headed home in injury time to claim his first Premier League goal since January and earn [...]
Ivanovic faces ban after day of shock calls April 10, 2012 CHELSEA defender Branislav Ivanovic is facing a three-match ban and QPR have failed in an appeal against Shaun Derry’s controversial red card after a day of surprising decisions by the Football Association. Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will also face no further action over his knee-high challenge on Arsenal’s Alex Song, meaning he could return [...]
Twenty20 blow as Broad told he’ll miss IPL April 10, 2012 ENGLAND’S 20-over captain Stuart Broad is set to miss valuable short-form cricket practice ahead of this year’s World Twenty20 after being ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League season. Nottinghamshire paceman Broad, who flew home early from the recent tour of Sri Lanka with a calf strain, is not expected to recover [...]
Bahrain GP will go ahead, says Ecclestone April 10, 2012 FORMULA One boss Bernie Eccelstone has attempted to brush aside growing concerns that this month’s Bahrain Grand Prix will have to be cancelled for a second consecutive year because of security fears. Ecclestone’s remarks came after further political unrest in the troubled Arab state, where a home-made bomb injured seven policemen during a protest near [...]
Silva, not Balotelli, is real reason for City’s collapse April 10, 2012 LARGER than life Mario Balotelli has borne the brunt of the blame for the collapse of Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge, but he is just one of the reasons for their dramatic slide, and not the biggest. Losing influential midfielder Yaya Toure in January during the African Cup of Nations was a massive loss [...]
QUEEN’S IS STILL KING OF WIMBLEDON WARM-UPS FOR MURRAY April 10, 2012 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray has given Queen’s Club a much-needed boost after agreeing a five-year deal with the tournament. Domestic tax laws on endorsement income have led to stars such as Rafael Nadal opting out of the pre-Wimbledon event. Reigning champion Murray, though, is sticking with the tournament he loves. The Scot said: “I’m looking [...]
RFL boss lands Wimbledon job April 10, 2012 TENNIS: Rugby Football League chairman Richard Lewis has been appointed chief executive of Wimbledon. After 10 years in charge, Lewis, who is also chair of Sport England, said he felt “a mixture of sadness but also excitement at taking up another exciting opportunity”.
Big Buck’s aims to extend run April 10, 2012 HORSE RACING: Big Buck’s will face seven rivals in the BGC Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on Thursday as he goes for a 17th consecutive win. Owner Andy Stewart is confident that his fine form will continue, insisting his charge is in top shape. He said: “Obviously he had a race at Cheltenham [the World Hurdle], [...]