Quartz to land Plate March 16, 2011 THE Byrne Group Plate (4.00pm) is a fiendishly difficult handicap to unravel, but it’s always worth keeping an eye out for Venetia Williams’ runners in races like this. She saddles the progressive chaser QUARTZ DE THAIX this afternoon and he must have a big chance at 15/2 with Sportingbet. He has some excellent hurdles form [...]
Poquelin set to go one better than last year March 16, 2011 IT will be interesting to see how many of the 14 declared for this afternoon’s Ryanair Chase actually line-up come 2.40pm. Captain Cee Bee, Somersby and Rare Bob all look certain non-runners which means a maximum field of 11. As the ground continues to dry out, the most obvious starting point is last year’s winner [...]
Walsh and Nicholls to rule the World again March 16, 2011 THE Ladbrokes World Hurdle has been won by some brilliant horses in the past decade. Both Baracouda and Inglis Drever thrilled the crowds with their withering late runs, but this afternoon BIG BUCK’S has the potential to permanently etch his name into the Cheltenham history books. Andy Stewart’s eight-year-old has won all 10 of his [...]
Little Pea shooter March 15, 2011 MANCHESTER UTD 2 vs MARSEILLE 1 Man Utd win 2-1 on aggregate MANCHESTER?UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the blossoming partnership between match-winner Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney as his side booked their place in quarter finals of the Champions League for the fifth year in a row. Mexico poacher Hernandez struck a goal in [...]
Carlo cools Terry row March 15, 2011 CHELSEA 2 vs FC COPENHAGEN 0 CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti insists he is not interested in the debate over John Terry being reinstated as England captain, but admits the move would hand his player a lift. England head coach Fabio Capello looks set to hand Terry the armband for this month’s Euro 2012 qualifier against [...]
Hurricane Fly helps make it Ruby Tuesday March 15, 2011 CHAMPION jockey Ruby Walsh celebrated a hat-trick on day one of the Cheltenham Festival including a victory aboard Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle. Walsh, who only returned to the saddle last month having recovered from a broken leg, kicked the meeting off with victory aboard 10-1 chance Al Ferof in the opening Supreme Novices’ [...]
London 2012 clock breaks March 15, 2011 OLYMPICS: London 2012 organisers suffered further embarrassment yesterday when the clock counting down to next year’s Games stopped. The digital display in Trafalgar Square broke less than 24 hours after it was unveiled on Monday to mark 500 days until the event begins. A spokesman for the clock’s makers Omega said: “We are obviously very [...]
Strauss and Swann fitness boost March 15, 2011 CRICKET: England captain Andrew Strauss and spinner Graeme Swann are both expected to shake off stomach bugs and feature in tomorrow’s must-win World Cup Group B match against West Indies in Chennai. To qualify for the quarter-finals England must beat the men from the Caribbean and hope South Africa, who secured their place in the [...]
O’Gara writes off England hopes March 15, 2011 RUGBY?UNION: Ireland fly-half Ronan O’Gara has questioned whether England have the stamina and staying power to clear the final hurdle and close out their first Grand Slam in eight years against Ireland on Saturday. “In my experience Grand Slam winners often stagger over the finishing line and we intend to make England go the full [...]
Big Zeb is horse to beat in the Queen Mother March 15, 2011 Today’s big race, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, is one of my favourite races of the year. These are the fastest jumps horses, jumping at full pace over two miles. If you make a mistake in the Queen Mum your chance is gone. Big Zeb is the reigning champ and I think he’ll go in [...]