SPORT | IN BRIEF
Planet is out of this world
RACING: Planet of Sound pulled off a surprise victory in the Grade One Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown, beating former Cheltenham king Denman into fourth.
The 14-1 shot, trained by Phillip Hobbs and ridden by Richard Johnson, battled gamely to hold off 20-1 chance War of Attrition, who was racing for the final time before retiring.
Cooldine came home third ahead of a disappointing Denman, who did little to dispel the myth that he struggles when travelling right-handed as he proved virtually unsteerable for mount Tony McCoy in finishing fourth.
Woods back for Players’
GOLF: Tiger Woods has confirmed he will compete at the Players’ Championship next month.
Woods vowed to take more time off after the Masters a fortnight ago but last week confirmed he would make his comeback at the Quail Hollow Championship from 29 April to 2 May – a week prior to the Sawgrass event.
Samaranch dies aged 89
OLYMPICS: Former International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch has died at the age of 89 after a short illness.
The Spaniard was widely regarded as the most powerful man in sport when he headed the IOC from 1980 to 2001.
His successor, Jacques Rogge, said: “I cannot find the words to express the distress of the Olympic family.”
Robertson wins epic duel
SNOOKER: Australia’s Neil Robertson was made to work before finally seeing off Fergal O’Brien 10-5 to reach the World Championship last 16 in Sheffield.
One marathon frame last 69 minutes – six shy of the Crucible record – before Robertson secured his passage.
He was joined in the next round by Ding Junhui, Mark Davis, who beat world No6 Ryan Day, and Graeme Dott.