Sport (Page 196)

Riknnah, heavily-backed, concluded what became a troublesome week of missed opportunities when prevailing narrowly Saturday night, on Lingfield polytrack; how significant and ironic! Injustice of over-watering turf racecourses surfaced dramatically (yet again!) at Epsom where starting prices, positioning of runners was farcical as jockeys were again completely mystified by underfoot conditions, which one specified in this column yesterday; just look at the huge, unbelievable starting prices and race-times.  Don’t take my word for the angst of discussing indiscriminate application of sprinklers on already damaged ground, the data is superbly illustrated in the Sporting Life/Racing Post online publications and it’s a right storyteller. A long time ago I decided to nigh on give up selecting/backing racehorses on English grass tracks, apartContinue Reading

‘Never bet two-year-olds seriously until after Royal Ascot’ was advice proffered in this column several years ago, after events at the weekend I’m likely to exercise even more patience this year; in the last week or so juvenile form just hasn’t made sense and I’m still bleating on about how cold it’s become and indeed how backward so man thoroughbreds seem to be in this first week of June. Only last Thursday an excellent weather forecast missive was delivered by an experienced BBC weatherman Nick Miller and he left me in no doubt a prevailing jetstream is affecting temperatures; ‘not a time to visit English coasts for sunbathing purposes’ he insisted. I’m not a ‘climate change’ geek by any meansContinue Reading

Welcome to the Friends Arena in Stockholm for our live coverage of the international friendly between Sweden and Armenia. With the European Championships now just six days away, this weekend brings the latest – and last – warm-up match for players to boost their fitness and prove their worth before the finals. For Sweden coach Janne Andersson, it’s an opportunity to give as many of his squad some minutes before the action starts for real with a match against Spain in Seville on Monday week. There is no Zlatan, of course, after the talismanic striker’s return to the international scene was cut short by injury, and so the Blue and Yellows invest their hope in youth; tonight’s strikeforce of AlexanderContinue Reading

One Ruler is strongly-fancied by trainer Charlie Appleby for the Epsom Derby over twelve furlongs of famous ‘Downs which are expected to ride ‘good to firm’ following a deal of watering which doesn’t make sense; how can watering be equally spread over hills and specific undulations? It’s a misnomer saturating turf to ‘maintain growth of grass’, an original instruction of a one-time powerful Jockey Club and, as mentioned in this column several times, too many racecourses have been ruined by the ‘root cause’ of over-watering; it seems there’s little any representation can do to stop such irresponsibility. Clerks of courses have become a law unto themselves, so supercilious when challenged. Originally my strong fancy for the ‘Worlds’ greatest horserace’ wasContinue Reading

Now do you understand why ante-post betting is a ‘no-go’ area for this experienced columnist? Last Monday nineteen were declared for the Epsom Derby on Saturday but in a completely unexpected interview two days later Irish maestro Aidan O’Brien stated Ryan Moore-ridden Bolshoi Ballet would be his only runner from six declarations; anyone speculating on so-called strongly-fancied, heavily-backed ‘Dante’ third, High Definition, experienced that sickening feeling knowing ‘money had gone down the drain!’ It’s happened so many times before but don’t tell me bookmakers didn’t have an inkling about Ballydoyle plans; they have the ‘Sport Of Kings’ stitched up beyond the hem and, not surprisingly, I’ve developed a hatred for the cynical, disgusting way the one time ‘enemy’ conduct themselvesContinue Reading

HT: UKRAINE 1-0 NORTHERN IRELAND Ukraine lead at Dnipro Arena following a dominating first half in front of their home crowd. The hosts opened the scoring after just 10 minutes when Oleksandr Karavayev’s cross found Oleksandr Zubkov unmarked inside the box and the winger beat Bailey Peacock-Farrell with a stunning header. Andriy Shevchenko’s men had the chance to double their lead with shots by Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk. It was quite a hapless first half for Northern Ireland but Ian Baraclough’s men came close to an equaliser when Paddy McNair’s free-kick found Ciaron Brown, whose header forced a spectacular save from Heorhiy Bushchan Credit: APContinue Reading

‘You’re nearer to heaven in a garden than anywhere else on earth’ and so I’m wondering are these angels, constantly flying into this garden, giving huge entertainment as they feed and squabble (territorially!) over matters of obvious huge concern? highlight of Spring has been nesting and fledging of magpies high in an adjacent tree which appeared to involve a deal of stress as crows, jackdaws and wood pigeons made their uncomfortable presence known during several tense weeks. Thankfully survival was achieved but, as we know from watching Springwatch, featuring the excellent Chris Packham and friends, all birds, animals have to be ready and not complacent on various perches; a bit like punting which is about being prepared for pleasure, pitfallsContinue Reading

Roscioli is a ‘double-died’ certainty for division two of the Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs of Kempton polytrack tonight, if we can overlook an ignominious fourth (of four!) at Newmarket last time out which, actually, wasn’t quite as bad as it reads! Remember the race in which Mutasaabeq so impressed, when winning unchallenged over seven furlongs at Newmarket fifty days ago, we subsequently napped Charles Hills’ charge to win the 2000 Guineas? Approaching the two furlongs marker Roscioli was bang in contention but then, unaccountably, champion jockey Oisin Murphy applied the brakes and the Territories colt was eased down, beaten TWENTY-THREE LENGTHS! There’s a reason for everything and since Roscioli has undergone wind surgery by Andrew Balding’s vet; you canContinue Reading

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‘Ne’er cast a clout until May is out’ is an old, wise saying and this morning, I have done so on the first day of ‘Flaming June’ in anticipation of all that’s good at this time of year in England, once the best and most prosperous country on our beleaguered planet; so many factors have served to demean status but having travelled this World so many times nothing and nowhere compares to sitting in our ‘created’ garden alongside flowers, shrubs and a variety of wonderful ubiquitous birds. Every type seems to come in here. It all adds to relaxation and calm as one plots and sometimes plunders the English racing scene which, next Saturday, hosts the Epsom Derby with aContinue Reading