FOOTBALL IN BRIEF June 18, 2009 Vermaelen has Arsenal medicalARSENAL will wrap up the £10m signing of Ajax captain Thomas Vermaelen today, according to the player. Centre-back Vermaelen, 23, is set to become the Gunners’ first signing of what is expected to be a busy summer at the Emirates Stadium. “On Friday I will fly to London to undergo a medical. [...]
We’re ready to bash the ‘Boks, says coach Geech June 18, 2009 COACH Ian McGeechan leads his British and Irish Lions side into the crunch first Test with South Africa tomorrow insisting preparation could not have gone any better. Tuesday’s bruising 20-8 success over the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth ensured the Lions arrive in Durban with six provincial victories out of six under their belts – [...]
JUST FOUR-MIDABLE June 18, 2009 THE Aidan O’Brien-trained Yeats made history yesterday by claiming a fourth Gold Cup success at Royal Ascot. Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, the 6/4 favourite kicked away at the final bend to cruise to his record win – surpassing the achievement of Sagaro in the last 1970’s. Ryan Moore’s mount Patkai (9/2) was three lengths behind [...]
Chiefs point to Monday finish after heavy rain June 18, 2009 US OPEN officials believe a Monday night finish is a distinct possibility after torrential rain washed out the opening round at Bethpage Black. Play was suspended after just three hours 15 minutes following sustained heavy rain in New York, before a complete halt was called around 2pm local time. Half of the 156-man field had [...]
Geordieland can scupper Yeats’ historic fourth Ascot Gold Cup bid June 17, 2009 Yeats is just 9/4 with Boylesports to land a fourth consecutive Ascot Gold Cup this afternoon and there won’t be a more popular winner if he manages to secure his position among racing’s true greats. Aidan O’Brien’s eight-year-old has won 14 of his 23 lifetime starts, netting a stunning £1,146,977 along the way, and has [...]
Stoute’s Leocorno looks the banker on Ladies Day June 17, 2009 Sir Michael Stoute opted to bypass the Investec Oaks with LEOCORNO and she showed at Sandown last time that she is a filly right out of the top drawer. It may have only been a 0-80 handicap she won that day, but the daughter of Pivotal quickened away in the style of a very useful [...]
The INSIDER June 17, 2009 We had a great start to the Royal Meeting with Canford Cliffs and now it is the turn of stable mate MONSIEUR CHEVALIER to win the Norfolk Stakes. I had a lovely horse lined up for the Britannia Handicap, but he’s a non-runner so in his absence there are two beasts I fancy. First up [...]
Drogba hit by six match ban as Uefa throw book at Blues June 17, 2009 CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba was last night hit with a huge six-match European ban for his expletive-laden remonstration following last season’s Champions League exit to Barcelona. Defender Jose Bosingwa also received a four-match ban for comments about the referee while Chelsea were handed an £85,000 fine, as governing body Uefa threw the book at the [...]
Concussion fear puts Hook’s tour in jeopardy June 17, 2009 FLY-HALF James Hook faces an anxious wait to see if his British & Irish Lions tour is over after suffering head and neck injuries in Tuesday’s bruising tour match with Southern Lions. Hook has already been ruled out of Saturday’s first Test with world champions South Africa and must now visit a neurosurgeon next week [...]
Hull of a first game for new Chelsea boss June 17, 2009 CARLO ANCELOTTI opens his account as Chelsea manager with a home clash with last season’s strugglers Hull City when the 2009/10 Premier League season gets underway on 15 August. In a relatively low-profile opening five games, Ancelotti’s Blues also host newcomers Burnley and make trips to Sunderland, Fulham and Stoke City before hosting a London [...]