Nicholls to kick off the last day with big double March 17, 2011 PAUL Nicholls started the 2011 Cheltenham Festival with a bang thanks to Al Ferof’s victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and he could end it in style this afternoon. The champion trainer won the Triumph Hurdle in 2008 with Celestial Halo and he holds outstanding claims this afternoon with SAM WINNER, Zarkandar and Brampour. Ruby [...]
IN-RUNNING TRADING HINTS March 17, 2011 The Cheltenham Gold Cup is arguably the most eagerly anticipated race of the week for in-running players because of the presence of both Kauto Star and Denman. The pair are household names and I’d be staggered if they are sent off as big as the respective 7.5 and 8.5 currently available on Betdaq. If the [...]
Alaivan and On The Fringe can strike for Ireland on final day March 17, 2011 It’s been a memorable week for the Irish already having been responsible for half of the 20 winners so far and their good fortune can continue on the final day of the meeting. The County Hurdle (2.05pm) looks as competitive as ever and it’s impossible to be really confident about any one of the 28 [...]
TIPS FROM THE TOP WITH March 17, 2011 Hopefully ou’ve reached the final day of The Festival with your wallets – and livers – in good shape as we approach the meeting highlight, the Gold Cup. It could be an absolute cracker with some rising stars meeting some declining legends at perhaps the same levels of talent. But I’m trying to go with [...]
Spirited England can secure a clean sweep with narrow win in Dublin March 17, 2011 IRELAND vs ENGLAND TOMORROW – 5.00PM BBC1 GRAND Slam, Grand Slam, Grand Slam. These words will be skipping through the minds of every England player before tomorrow’s clash gets underway at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Their last two performances against Scotland and France tempered a lot of the hyperbole about this England XV being a great [...]
Expect conservative City to aim for draw at Bridge March 17, 2011 CHELSEA vs MANCHESTER CITY SUNDAY – 4.00PM SKY SPORTS 1 THE salvage operation began just in time to save Chelsea’s season from total meltdown, but it looks too late to keep the Premier League trophy at Stamford Bridge, and any flickering hope will go with defeat at home to Manchester City on Sunday. Even the [...]
FA chiefs hit Sir Alex with five game ban March 16, 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be consigned to the stands for the entire month of April after Football Association chiefs threw the book at him for repeatedly criticising referees. Ferguson has been ordered to serve a five-match touchline ban and pay a hefty fine of £30,000 for remarks he made about referee Martin [...]
Carlo: Goals will come March 16, 2011 CHELSEA 0 vs FC COPENHAGEN 0 Chelsea win 2-0 on aggregate CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti defended his misfiring strikers after his three main men failed to find a way past FC Copenhagen in last night’s Champions League stalemate. Having gone five games without a goal for his new club since his record-breaking £50m move from [...]
THRILLER AT THE COTTAGE March 16, 2011 FULHAM have announced plans to unveil a statue of deceased pop icon Michael Jackson outside Craven Cottage next month, on 3 April. Cottagers chairman Mohamed Al Fayed, a friend of the superstar, had planned to house the memorial, which may look like the one above, in Harrods but has switched venues having sold the store [...]
Champion display from Lynch and Sizing Europe March 16, 2011 SIZING EUROPE capped a fantastic day for the Irish at Cheltenham as the 10-1 shot landed the Queen Mother Champion Chase in impressive style. Last year’s Arkle winner led from a long way out for jockey Andrew Lynch and battled on bravely to hold the title-holder and 3-1 jolly Big Zeb. Captain Cee Bee was [...]