Goldikova to benefit from softening ground June 13, 2011 ONLY once in the last 17 years has the official going on the opening day of the Royal meeting been softer than good. Yet, Sunday’s heavy rainfall means that the Queen Anne Stakes, this afternoon’s opening race, could well be run on good to soft ground. Now, that is of significance because Canford Cliffs, as [...]
Mezmaar can strike for Hills in Coventry June 13, 2011 THIS afternoon’s Coventry Stakes (4.25pm) has gone to Richard Hannon for the past two years and I expect it to stay in the Lambourn Valley as Barry Hills’ MEZMAAR must have an excellent chance. Regular readers of this column will have backed the son of Teofilo at 6/1 with William Hill on Friday and he [...]
Canford Cliffs looks the best bet of the meeting June 12, 2011 OAKSEY House in Lambourn was the venue for one of only a handful of Royal Ascot preview evenings and the event was staged to raise money for the Injured Jockeys Fund. The six-strong panel was expertly marshalled by Channel Four Racing’s Tanya Stevenson and included current and former jockeys Richard Hughes, John Reid and Luke [...]
Overseas raiders ready to take Ascot by storm June 12, 2011 THIS year’s Royal Ascot will be more cosmopolitan and international than ever before with the arrival of arguably the strongest raiding party ever assembled. Tomorrow’s King’s Stand Stakes, possibly the world’s premier five furlong sprint, is packed full of horses from around the globe. The Barry Hills-trained Equiano broke a five-year sequence of non-British trained [...]
Button joy at greatest career win June 12, 2011 ● McLaren driver snatches victory on last lap ● Button wins despite clash with Hamilton ● Hamilton labelled ‘completely mad’ by Lauda BRITAIN’S Jenson Button toasted his finest ever win after putting a clash with team-mate Lewis Hamilton behind him to snatch a dramatic victory in a chaotic Canadian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver capitalised [...]
United fans urge Glazers to favour London listing June 12, 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED supporters have welcomed suggestions the club could be floated by its owners the Glazer family – but want any listing to take place in London rather than Hong Kong. Bankers are said to have told the Glazers that the Premier League champions could be valued at as much as £1.7bn if listed in [...]
Murray’s Queen’s hopes washed away June 12, 2011 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray will look to crown his Wimbledon preparations by claiming the AEGON Championship this afternoon after yesterday’s final at Queen’s Club was delayed by persistent rain. Murray is due to face Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at 12:30pm in his last competitive match before the season’s third grand slam gets underway a few miles [...]
Gazidis to feel heat of Usmanov’s blast June 12, 2011 ARSENAL chief executive Ivan Gazidis is facing a grilling from disgruntled fans tonight after Alisher Usmanov, the club’s second largest shareholder, turned up the heat on the board. Gazidis (below right), who is hosting a question and answer session with the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust, was already set for a mixed reception amid increasing criticism from [...]
RFU chiefs in warning to Woodward June 12, 2011 WORLD CUP winning former England boss Sir Clive Woodward has been warned he will have to relinquish his current role with the British Olympic Association if he wants the controversial job of performance director at the Rugby Football Union. Woodward is back in the frame for a return to Twickenham following the sudden departure of [...]
McLeish linked with shock move to Villa as Forest woo McClaren June 12, 2011 ASTON VILLA were last night tipped to make a surprise move for Alex McLeish, after the Scot resigned from city rivals Birmingham on a day of managerial upheaval. McLeish’s departure came as Championship side Nottingham Forest sacked Billy Davies and announced they were in talks with former England manager Steve McClaren. Birmingham confirmed McLeish (inset) [...]