No reason to oppose Behkabad in the Arc September 30, 2010 PARIS was hit by so much rain earlier in the week that Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will almost certainly be run on bottomless ground. Connections of the top three in the betting have all moaned about the weather over the last few days, but strangely all three have wins under their belts on [...]
the INSIDER September 30, 2010 After a short trip to Las Vegas the clock inside my body is all at sea. But it was back in 2004 that a horse running at this time of year paid for a massive trip to the gambling capital and a stop at the Breeders Cup, that animal was Something Exciting and we need [...]
EXCLUSIVE: Strauss lifts lid on fixing furore September 30, 2010 England captain tells why Pakistani allegations about his team were ‘a massive slap in the face’ STRAUSS ON… Being accused of throwing matches “It is the worst thing anyone can say to you. If they’re bringing your integrity as a cricketer into question – especially in the context of what had been going on this [...]
Westwood to lead Europe into combat September 30, 2010 ENGLAND’S Lee Westwood and Germany’s Martin Kaymer will launch Europe’s challenge to reclaim the Ryder Cup when they face Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson of the United States in this morning’s opening fourball. Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy did not get the clash with world No1 Tiger Woods that he craved, the youngster and his partner, [...]
Contador blames positive drugs test on a contaminated meal September 30, 2010 TOUR de France winner Alberto Contador last night blamed contaminated meat for the failed drug test that threatens to destroy his reputation. It emerged yesterday that three-time Tour winner Contador tested positive for the steroid clenbuterol during this year’s race, with a ‘B’ sample confirming the results. But the amount of the banned substance was [...]
Johnson earns City point September 30, 2010 MANCHESTER CITY (1) vs JUVENTUS (1) ENGLAND winger Adam Johnson scored the equaliser as Manchester City came from behind to earn a draw in the Europa League. Juventus took the lead after just 10 minutes when striker Vincenzo Iaquinta cut in from the wing and unleashed a 35-yard shot that clipped Kolo Toure on its [...]
Reds fail to end winless run in Dutch stalemate September 30, 2010 LIVERPOOL failed to win for a fourth successive match last night when they scraped a 0-0 draw at Utrecht. The result in Holland keeps Roy Hodgson’s men top of Europa League Group K, but does little for the team’s fragile confidence. Captain Steven Gerrard may have been rested but it was an otherwise strong side [...]
Van der Vaart relief after 10-man Spurs win thriller September 29, 2010 TOTTENHAM (4) vs FC TWENTE (1) TOTTENHAM tasted Champions League victory at White Hart Lane for the first time, but only after a helter-skelter night of extreme drama typified by Rafael van der Vaart missing a penalty, scoring a goal and then being sent off. Forward Roman Pavlyuchenko was more successful from the spot, twice [...]
Butt retracts England fixing claims, but doesn’t say sorry September 29, 2010 PAKISTAN Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt last night officially retracted his allegation that England players accepted “enormous amounts of money” to throw a match. Butt spent yesterday in talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board, which had threatened to launch legal action against him unless he made a “full and unreserved apology”. That apology [...]
Easy peasy: Hernandez is a Fergie fave September 29, 2010 VALENCIA (0) vs MANCHESTER UTD (1) MANCHESTER UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson bizarrely claimed Javier Hernandez finished “as if he was shelling a pea – it was so natural” after the Mexican hit a late winner. Hernandez, whose nickname Chicharito means ‘Little Pea’, fired his first competitive goal for the club with five minutes to [...]