Canter wins Badminton Horse Trials for second time
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BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Celtic 4-1 Falkirk: Have your say
Holders Celtic scored three goals in 10 second-half minutes to ease into the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals, as Falkirk were given another insight into how tough life will be against top-flight the full match report your say here.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He's always looked a Group horse' – Templegate's 3-1 NAP is all class
TEMPLEGATE tackles Saturday's racing confident of keeping his hot run going - and building the bank for York next week. Back a horse by clicking their odds. MORE THUNDER (3.35 Newbury, nap) Can go like lightning in the Hungerford Stakes. Trainer William Haggas has a fantastic record in this Group 2 with three wins since 2015 including last year with Tiber Flow. More Thunder looks more than capable of delivering at this level after his battling Bunbury Cup win at Newmarket last time. That came after six furlongs proved a couple of yards too short when he flew home for second in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. He's looked potentially more than a handicapper all season after he kicked off with back-to-back wins at Newmarket in the style of a classy performer. He deserves his chance at this level and looks well up to it. Can shine for Clive Cox. He has been in flying form all season and looks hard to beat. I go through all the runners for this race below. Can star in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap. He was an excellent third in the race 12 months ago for trainer Bryan Smart who has given him a little break since a good second at Thirsk last time out. The five-year-old is back from just 3lb higher than last year but his rider's claim takes care of that. He's drawn well in stall 11 and ticks all the boxes for this competitive contest. 1.50 PINHOLE looked a lot more than a handicapper when bolting up at Ascot last time. That was just his third run for Ralph Beckett and he stormed home over 1m4f to suggest this longer trip would bring further improvement. He deserves another crack at this stronger company. Epic Poet didn't enjoy 1m4f in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot after going close in the Yorkshire Cup and will be happier at this distance. Nightime Dancer chased home potential superstar Scandinavia here last time and should find this challenge a bit simpler. Candleford has a Listed win on his CV this season but needs to bounce back from a moderate effort at Goodwood last time. 2.25 RHYTHM N HOOVES is music to my ears. Robert Cowell's speedster looked right back to his best when flashing home for second in a hot Ascot sprint last month. He's well-handicapped from just 2lb higher, thrives on fast ground and Billy Loughnane knows exactly how to deliver him late. A truly-run race should see him swooping past tiring rivals in the final 100 yards. Getreadytorumble is a big danger after a string of good efforts at this distance, while Glamorous Breeze has the class to pounce if the gaps open. Sugar Hill Babe, drawn in stall one, could give them plenty to think about from the front but she's likely to set things up nicely for the tip. 3.00 I'VE got a Cracking bet on the box at Newbury. CRACKING GOLD (3.00, nb) was an impressive winner here two runs ago before close close at Goodwood. He can take another step forward for Clive Cox. Classic, Consolidation and Leadman can give him most to do. Here's my guide to the field, where I rate them out of one (worst) and five (best) stars: CRACKING GOLD 5 GOLD star. Looked better than ever with a strong Goodwood second in a big field last time. He's suited by pace and trip, handles all ground and runs well fresh. Reliable and progressive profile suggests he's the one to beat. HAVANA PUSEY 2 HAV to pass. Likes to be up with the pace and held her own in a Group 3 latest after earlier handicap wins over this trip. Track and ground ideal, but needs to improve on last Goodwood showing. CLASSIC 4 CLASSIC case. Thriving this summer with strong Ascot second and earlier Sandown win. That form looks rock solid, 7f ideal, handles ground, and has track form. Very likely to go close again. LOU LOU'S GIFT 3 GIFT horse. Lightly raced filly, shaped better than result in a messy Ascot Group 3 last time. Down in grade, strong pace helps. Still has more to come at 7f. Place shout JUMBY 3 BY law. Game veteran. Big run in Newmarket handicap latest and has tumbled down the weights. This is his trip but long losing run remains a concern. No surprise to see him in the frame. WOLF OF BADENOCH 1 WOLF whistle. Well held at Ascot on turf return and cheekpieces stay on. Was useful as a two-year-old but may not have trained on. Others bring stronger current claims and more proven handicapping efforts. CONSOLIDATION 4 NO Con. Career-best win at Goodwood two back, unlucky latest when getting stuck in traffic. Goes well on quick ground and 7f suits. Still unexposed and could well bounce back with a cleaner trip. OBELIX 3 LIX not licked. Had no chance at Wolver last time from a wide draw on the back of a good York win. He likes this trip on quick ground and isn't ruled out from 7lb higher. LEADMAN 4 GOOD Man. Won nicely here before getting no luck at Goodwood last time. He's best over 7f and his form ties in well with others here. His handicap mark is fair and he's high on the shortlist. COGITATE 2 SMALL Cog. Not disgraced in hot Ascot handicap last time but he's not the easiest ride. Has come down weights but needs a step forward to score in this company. DOCUMENTING 1 WHAT'S up Doc? Almost a teenager but is still competitive with good efforts this season in big fields. His fifth behind Obelix at York reads well but there's no obvious reason why he'll turn that around. 3.35 MORE THUNDER never wins by very far but he keeps producing the goods like when winning the Bunbury Cup here by a short-head last time. That build on his staying-on Wokingham second and two other smart wins on the Rowley course this season. He looks well up to Group 2 standard and proved his liking for this trip last time. King's Gamble came home strongly when just denied over six furlongs at Newbury last time. That was his first run in 11 months and moving back up in trip makes him the main danger. Witness Stand won the Lennox nicely at Goodwood and goes well here too. He's in the mix while Spy Chief was far from disgraced in the July Cup and is likely to go hard on the front end. RIPON 2.45 NOVELLO LAD has won two of his past three and looks capable of another step forward. He saves his best for six furlongs on quick ground and his double-figure draw is another plus. The handicapper must have been in a good mood when hiking him only 2lb for scoring at Pontefract last time. Paul Midgley does well at Ripon and can add to his tally. Wreck It Ryley saves his best for Ripon and was less than two lengths off the pace at Yarmouth last time. He looks a good price to make the frame. Ziggy's Ariel landed his last win here in April and is only 2lb higher today which makes him competitive. Likely favourite Fortamour is a good performer at this level but he's yet to win on quick ground which has to be a worry for the nine-year-old. Dicko The Legend was good at York last time and is well drawn. 3.20 SECRET GUEST was third in this last season and is primed to go two better. Trainer Bryan Smart seems to have laid him out for the race and has given him a break since his close second at Thirsk in early July. He's only 3lb higher than his last win and this trip and track are ideal. You want to be drawn high and he's handy in stall 11. Rock Opera comes from box 14 and was a close-up third in good company at York last time. That was over this trip on fast ground so he should be on the premises again. Grant Wood won the Silver Cup on this card last year and has clearly been aimed at this race. He's a big price to make the frame despite a low draw. Similar comments apply to Intervention who ran well at Chepstow last time and looks on a fair mark. Prince Of Pillo is in stall 16 and likes this track. His trainer Richard Fahey won this race 12 months ago so he's a threat. NEWMARKET 2.05 BINHAREER made a mockery of his opening turf handicap mark when strolling to victory at Ayr last month. His jockey had the luxury of dropping his whip but it made no difference as he hammered his rivals over this trip. The ground was softer that day but he doesn't need it on breeding and looks a typical William Haggas improver. He's up 8lb for that smooth success but that won't put the brakes on as there's a lot more to come. Archduke Ferdinand looks a fair each-way price with his rider's claim taking him below his last winning mark. He is best over this trip and likes fast ground. Addison Grey made a promising start to his handicapping career when beaten less than a length at Chepstow nine days ago. This trip suits and there's more to come after just four runs. Silver Samurai ran better than fifth place suggests at Doncaster latest. That was over seven furlongs but he has enough pace to figure. Templegate's tips Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Just imagine what Liverpool will be like when Arne Slot's rebuild is complete
Imagine what Liverpool will be like when they are the finished product. It is a statement which could have been applied for the past 12 months. There will come a point during his reign when Arne Slot considers his conquests and truly believes he has reached the pinnacle with a fully formed, perfectly balanced team. If it takes successive league championships to attain such a moment of satisfaction, so be it. If anything, the addition of four new outfield players has made Liverpool even more of a team in transition than when they began defying the odds a year ago. Liverpool's challengers spent the first seven months of last season convincing themselves Slot's restructured team were too flawed, too fragile in the event of suffering injuries, and too prone to scrapping their way to three points to sustain a title charge. By March, they all realised they had underestimated Slot as his side galloped away, the Dutch coach's ability to navigate a route to glory ensuring the early-season confidence of others dissipated as the Anfield bubble refused to burst. One can imagine those same emotions in north London, Stamford Bridge and the blue side of Manchester seeing Slot's side claim an opening-night win. It is inconceivable they will defend their crown playing as open as this, the game more reminiscent of the early years of Jürgen Klopp's roller-coaster rides than the stylistic, possession game that Slot evolved in his debut campaign. The most withering criticism that could be directed at Liverpool when they squandered a two-goal lead was to query if Slot wanted to fill the void left by Ange Postecoglou's demise at Tottenham Hotspur. To lose a goal on the counter-attack when 2-0 up could be considered unfortunate; conceding two in such a fashion was rank stupidity. Rich in entertainment, low on tactical sense. Slot, the manager hailed in his early months for his canny substitutions, was also indulging in odd experiments such as deciding holding midfielder Wataru Endo can play right-back (a mercifully short-lived expedition). And with the utmost respect to match-winner Federico Chiesa, even he seemed to have been sent on in hope more than expectation as the game was in danger of drifting entirely Bournemouth's way. Yet this team and this stadium have an uncanny habit of making it all seem scripted, as if a point needed to be reiterated that their slight imperfections are outweighed by their almighty strengths. 'Winning the league here will be more impressive than beating Bournemouth, but those last six minutes… wow,' said Slot, as players and supporters formed a familiar, powerful union. Liverpool's hunger for more silverware is insatiable. When the moments of truth come, the match-winners are queuing up, in this case Chiesa. The Italian has been more of a lucky charm than a stellar signing. It would be no surprise if his game-changing volley was a farewell gift if the right offer materialises before the end of the month, although Slot may be inclined to keep him for his ability to prompt the Kop into vibrancy. Chiesa needs only to warm-up to get the crowd going. This winner cements his cult status. As the chant of 'champions' raised the Anfield decibel level to somewhere akin to last May's title party, it was easy to flirt with the clichés. Elite teams always find a way, even if when Antoine Semenyo equalised for Bournemouth it was they who looked the more accomplished team and most likely to collect three points. Winning in the 90th minute is what title-holders tend to do, the hands of the clock seemingly existing to usher them towards the last, meaningful contributions before applauding the victorious players off. That will not alter the fact Slot has problems to solve, the introduction of Florian Wirtz adding glitz while the absence of the suspended Ryan Gravenberch added a glitch. Wirtz is a symbol of Liverpool's transition. He is so adept at finding space he could be employed by Nasa, and such is the delicacy of his touch, it is rather like he is dribbling with porcelain. But two games into his Liverpool career, the world is awaiting the first spectacular exhibition of his artistry. He is like a ballet dancer building up to his first pirouette. You sense it is coming, but so far there is more anticipation when he takes possession than a final product. Much of this is because of acclimatisation. Wirtz was often in position for a team-mate's pass, but the safer option was chosen. This will alter when the rest of the team realise that Wirtz being shadowed ought not to dissuade them from picking him out, given his ability to receive possession and glide from a marker. Next week's reintroduction of Gravenberch will demonstrate if Liverpool's openness is a minor malfunction, or structural defect. Most likely it is the former. There is so much talent at Slot's disposal, with the promise of more to come, that Liverpool's capacity to thrill should continue without such vulnerability. When they get it right at both ends, they might be the hottest ticket in Europe.
