Big Buck’s set for real test in pursuit of fourth crown March 14, 2012 THERE won’t be a dry eye in the house if the unbelievable Big Buck’s can become the first horse ever to land the World Hurdle for four consecutive years. If he does win, it will be his sixteenth victory on the bounce and he’ll equal Sir Ken’s record that has stood since the 1950s. So, [...]
A pot of gold at the end of the Rainbow awaits for Finian’s March 14, 2012 THE Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase is always one of the most thrilling races of the National Hunt season, but this year’s renewal has already been written off as a poor contest. That is unfair on reigning champion Sizing Europe who slaughtered his rivals from the front in this race last year, following up his [...]
Monksland to outstay Henderson hotpot Simonsig in the Neptune March 14, 2012 SOMEONE asked me the other day if there was one horse I really fancied at this year’s Cheltenham Festival and without a moments delay I told him MONKSLAND in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle. Regular readers of this column may have followed my advice already and backed Noel Meade’s runner at 14/1 last month, [...]
The party will go on long into the night should New Year’s Eve win March 14, 2012 IRELAND have had a stranglehold on the Weatherbys Champion Bumper since the race was introduced in 1992 with 14 winners compared with Britain’s five. However, the home team have bounced back in recent years, winning the last two renewals with Cue Card and Cheltenian. That said, the one man all will fear is Willie Mullins [...]
Terry vows to complete Italian job March 14, 2012 Skipper quells talk of player power and calls for unity ahead of Champions League salvage mission CHELSEA 1 vs NAPOLI 3 CHELSEA captain John Terry believes a recent change of management has provided the club with the impetus and momentum that will propel them past Napoli this evening and into the quarter-finals of the Champions [...]
Blues must be patient to complete a comeback March 14, 2012 A FORTNIGHT ago you would have given Chelsea little chance of overturning a two-goal deficit against this vibrant Napoli side, but the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas has changed the atmosphere inside the club and complexion of this tie. The temptation will be for Chelsea to mimic Arsenal’s gung-ho approach against AC Milan last week, but [...]
Gerrard’s derby day hat-trick helps Liverpool rediscover winning habit March 14, 2012 LIVERPOOL 3 vs EVERTON 0 LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard insists last night’s morale-boosting victory in the Merseyside derby will count for nothing unless his side can discover a level of consistency that will turn them into Champions League contenders. Gerrard became the first player to score a hat-trick in this fixture since Ian Rush scored [...]
Hurricane Fly dethroned by Nicholls and Rock On Ruby March 14, 2012 THE Paul Nicholls-trained Rock On Ruby caused a major upset on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival by dethroning odds-on favourite Hurricane Fly and claim victory in the Champion Hurdle. Ridden by Noel Fehily, who missed the last two Cheltenham Festivals through injury, the 11-1 shot passed long-time leader Overrun, who finished second, and [...]
Khan: I won’t make the same mistakes twice March 14, 2012 FORMER WBA and IBF light-welterweight king Amir Khan insists he will prove December’s defeat against Lamont Peterson was a one-off when the pair meet again in two month’s time. The Bolton fighter admitted yesterday that he struggled to make the weight for the original bout in Washington which was shrouded in controversy. Khan aired concerns [...]
Tuilagi hoping Lancaster gets England role March 14, 2012 LEICESTER centre Manu Tuilagi remains hopeful that England’s interim head coach Stuart Lancaster will be appointed on a permanent basis by the Rugby Football Union. Tuilagi, who scored the opening try in last weekend’s victory over France in Paris, said: “Personally I hope he gets the job, but that’s not my decision to make.” Phil [...]