Silvestre De Sousa returns to the big stage in Britain as Johan bids for more success in the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster.

Jack Channon’s seven-year-old won the season-opening showpiece back in 2022 – when he was trained by the handler’s father Mick – and will have what appears optimum conditions on Town Moor as he attempts a repeat.

De Sousa was in the saddle for that 2022 success and after a spell in Hong Kong blighted by a 10-month suspension, the three-times British champion jockey is set for his biggest mount since his UK comeback earlier this month.

“James Doyle rode him when he won (at Goodwood) last year but with him not being back, it was an obvious choice for me,” said Channon on De Sousa’s return to the saddle.

“Silvestre got on well with him the year before and it’s nice to have someone who knows the horse. He’s very straightforward, but it’s still nice to have someone who knows him.

“We know he handles cut in the ground and I think if we get a couple of dry days that will be ideal for him, just soft, good to soft will be absolutely ideal for him, but we know he handles it really soft as well so ground shouldn’t be a problem for him.”

A full field of 22 will head to post for the one-mile event that starts the Flat turf season and Johan is joined by defending champion Migration towards the top of the weights.

Last year’s runner-up Awaal is amongst the market leaders for Simon and Ed Crisford, while Chazzesmee is an interesting runner for Fozzy Stack having landed the Irish equivalent at the Curragh on Monday and will be attempting the double under a 5lb penalty for that success.

Fellow Irish challenger Blues Emperor was a narrow second in the Irish Cambridgeshire on his penultimate start and represents Johnny Murtagh, with Karl Burke’s track-and-trip winner Liberty Lane and Charlie Johnston’s Balmoral winner The Gatekeeper other names of note.

Irish Lincolnshire third Raadobarg and John and Thady Gosden’s Mostabshir, were the key names not declared on Thursday morning for the £150,000 event.

Harry Redknapp’s Cheltenham Festival hero Shakem Up’Arry has a date with Aintree’s Grand National fences on the agenda – but time will tell whether he lines up for the big race itself or the Randox Topham Handicap Chase 24 hours earlier.

The Ben Pauling-trained 10-year-old – who is named after a West Ham supporter who used to instruct the former Irons manager to ‘Shakem Up’Arry’ on matchdays – gave the well-known football boss his first victory at National Hunt’s showpiece meeting with a brilliant display in the TrustATrader Plate.

It was a performance which backed up his win at Prestbury Park on New Year’s Day and while in the form of his life, connections are relishing the prospect of tackling Aintree’s famous spruce next month.

“He’s got an entry in the National and the Topham and he will run in one of them,” said Pauling.

“A lot will depend on the next confirmation stage of the National when we will see where we are, but we don’t have to make a decision until nearer the time and to be honest he’s only going to be ticking over and pop over one or two fences in preparation.

“He’s come out of Cheltenham really well and we’re looking forward to Aintree with him.”

Shakem Up’Arry has never won over further than an extended two and a half miles in his career to date, but Pauling believes his Festival champion would not let the side down if Redknapp decides to take a shot at the world’s most famous steeplechase.

“First off we need to get into the National and if we did, which race he runs in will come down to the personal preference of Harry and if he wants a runner in the National or whether he wants to go to the Topham,” explained Pauling.

“You never know if a horse is going to stay the trip of a National, but he travels and jumps so well you could see him probably running a big race. It’s just a case of what happens when you cross the Melling Road and go to another level.

“It will be a case of weighing up the pros and cons, but you would think he would be a good sight over the fences, he certainly wouldn’t be backing off them, that’s for sure.”

Pauling was finding the scoresheet at the Festival for the fourth time with Shakem Up’Arry, but was thrilled to see one of his long-time supporters break his duck with a horse who has always been a popular member of the the handler’s Naunton Downs string.

He said: “You want success for all your owners, but for someone like Harry who has been a competitive man throughout his life in the football industry, it was amazing to give him a day like that on the biggest stage in racing which he adores so much and is a big supporter of.

“We are just delighted for the horse, he is always one we have adored and to get some big victories into him like the last two means the world really.

“He improved to win at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and we knew he would need to improve again and he did. It appears the wind op we did in the summer has worked nicely and it was a foot-perfect round of jumping. He was big and bold when he needed to be over the last few before staying on strongly up the hill.”

Although there was joy for Shakem Up’Arry, there was agony a day later when what looked like a Festival double for Paling and Redknapp courtesy of The Jukebox Man was thwarted at the very last moment by the rallying Stellar Story.

The Challow Hurdle third proved he is very much a high-class performer in the making when making the running in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, the six-year-old and his pilot Kielan Woods leaving many well-touted rivals trailing in their wake before being reeled in late in the day.

However, Pauling is taking plenty of positives from the narrow reversal and is excited for next year’s novice chasing campaign after one more possible outing this term.

“He’s always been a horse we have liked and I think the Albert Bartlett has told us an awful lot really – it’s put him on the map as a proper Grade One contender going forward,” he added.

“I think he will be better for a fence, he lost nothing in defeat and he’s an exciting one for next year.

“We purposely gave him plenty of time between the Challow and Albert Bartlett because I thought the Challow would take a bit out of him and it did. But he seems to have come out of this one very well.

“Whether he goes to Aintree for the Sefton or over to Punchestown, I’m not sure. But we will take each day as it comes and he has sort of done his job this year I think.

“However, if he was in sparkling form the week before Aintree we might just give him an entry and see where we are.”

Jamaica’s rising sprint sensation, Natrece East of Wolmer’s Girls, is setting her sights on gold at the upcoming 2024 Carifta Games in Grenada, buoyed by her impressive performance at the 2024 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships held at the National Stadium in Kingston on Wednesday night.

East showcased her exceptional talent by clinching the Class 3 Girls 100m title in commanding fashion, crossing the finish line in a personal best time of 11.42 seconds. Her electrifying run secured the gold medal, leaving Adora Campbell of St Jago High School trailing behind with a time of 11.52 seconds, earning her the silver. Kerelle Etienne from Edwin Allen High School claimed the bronze with a time of 11.73 seconds.

Notably, East's winning time surpassed the performance of Carifta U17 girls champion Jamiah Nabbie from the Bahamas, who clocked 11.67 seconds to claim gold in her home country last year. East's improvement from her fourth-place finish last year, where she ran 11.97 seconds, has boosted her confidence for the upcoming Carifta Games.

Reflecting on her victory and the significant improvement in her time, East expressed her optimism, stating, “It does [boost my confidence], my time is better this year so I am hoping for the best. A new personal best and also a new season’s best; I’m really proud of myself and I hope to continue going forward.”

Despite facing stiff competition, East remained unfazed and focused on her goal. She credited her support system for helping her stay composed, saying, “I know that all my friends and family, especially my mom and my dad were right there behind me pushing me and supporting me along the way so I didn’t feel pressured, I just knew what I had to do and I came out here to do it today.”

 

Excelsior High’s Damor Miller and Hydel High’s Alliah Baker won the respective Class One boys and girls 100m titles on day two of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Wednesday.

Miller, who before Wednesday had never medaled at ‘champs’, produced a personal best 10.31 to take gold ahead of Calabar’s Khamani Gordon (10.37) and KC’s Yourie Lawrence-Clarke (10.45).

Hydel tasted success in the girls Class One final through their captain Baker who joined the club as one of the few ‘champs’ athletes to win medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m by running a big personal best 11.34 to win ahead of Edwin Allen’s Jounee Armstrong (11.52) and Wolmer’s Girls’ Mickayla Gardener (11.59).

KC’s Nyrone Wade held his composure to run a personal best 10.43 to take gold in the boys Class Two final ahead of Excelsior’s Malike Nugent (10.52) and Herbert Morrison’s Tavaine Stewart (10.56).

The girls Class Two event saw event favorite Theianna-Lee Terrelonge recover from a poor start to produce a personal best 11.22 to win gold ahead of Lacovia’s Sabrina Dockery (11.36) and St. Jago’s Briana Campbell (11.48).

Dockery also joined the club of athletes to win ‘champs’ medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m.

Mario Ross continued his excellent form this season with a brilliant personal best 10.88 to win boys Class Three gold ahead of Calabar’s fast-finishing Ched Brown (10.90) and St. George’s College’s Naethan Bryan (11.02).

Natrece East of Wolmer’s Girls rebounded from silver last year to claim gold this year in the girls Class Three final in a personal best 11.42. St. Jago’s Adora Campbell was second in 11.52 while Edwin Allen’s Kerelle Etienne was third in 11.73.

Hydel’s Teixiera Johnson won a drama-filled Class Four final in 11.87 ahead of Mick-Kayla Gardener of Wolmer’s Girls (12.27) and pre-event favorite Rihanna Scott of Ferncourt High (12.31).

The drama started just before the race when Scott pulled up with an injury while warming up before eventually taking her place in the field and eventually securing bronze.

Edwin Allen’s Rickeisha Simms and Kingston College’s Brian Kiprop were among winners of the respective 1,500m finals on day two of the 113th ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

Simms, who was overwhelmingly favoured to cop the girls Class one crown, was not to be denied, as she blazed to 4:30.36 to win. Cindy Rose (4:32.79) of Holmwood Technical finished second, and Hydel High’s Kaydeen Johnson (4:33.71) rounded out the top three with.

In his first year in Class one, Kingston College’s Kiprop copped gold to go with the Class two title he won last year. Kiprop clocked 3:56.81 for victory ahead of Jamaica College rival Kemarrio Bygrave (3:57.34) and St Elizabeth Technical’s Barrain Smith (3:59.08).

Vere Technical’s Ashara Frater stormed to victory in the girls Class two event in 4:42.76. Holmwood Technical’s Jovi Rose (4:43.59) was second, while Bellefield’s Rhodonna Prince (4:49.19) claimed the bronze medal.

The boys Class two title went to Jamaica College’s Samuel Creary, who timed his race perfectly to claim the top spot at the line in 4:04.01. Kingston College’s Nahashon Ruto, who looked unstoppable this season, had to settle for second in 4:04.03, while Raheem Palmer (4:08.57) of Alphansus Davis was third.

Meanwhile, Alphansus Davis’ Alikay Reynolds successfully defended her Class three title, as she clocked 4:43.92 in victory. Edwin Allen’s Denique Palmer (4:44.37) and St Mary High’s Dallia Fairweather (4:46.74) were the runners-up.

Jamaica College’s Cavel Nooks copped the boys Class three honours, as he stormed to victory in 4:20.79. St Jago’s Phillip Palmer (4:21.42) and another Jamaica College athlete Bevin Daley (4:22.78), took the minor placing.

A four-wicket haul from Jason Holder put the Barbados Pride in a strong position over the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at stumps on day one of their fifth round 2024 West Indies Championship fixture at the Queen’s Park Oval on Wednesday.

Holder starred with 4-47 from 17 overs as the Pride restricted the Red Force to 172 all out from just 53.5 overs after the Red Force won the toss.

Amidst the carnage, Amir Jangoo played brilliantly to finish 93* off 159 balls including 14 fours.

Chemar Holder and Shaquille Cumberbatch provided good support for Holder with 3-28 off 10.5 overs and 3-50 off 11 overs, respectively.

At stumps, the Pride reached 99-4 off 35.4 overs. Zachary McCaskie top scored with 46 while captain Kraigg Brathwaite made 30.

Khary Pierre has so far taken 2-18 from 12 overs.

Full Scores: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 172 off 53.5 overs (Amir Jangoo 93*, Jason Holder 4-47, Chemar Holder 3-28, Shaquille Cumberbatch 3-50)

Barbados Pride 99-4 off 35.4 overs (Zachary McCaskie 46, Kraigg Brathwaite 30, Khary Pierre 2-18)

At Coolidge, leaders Windward Islands Volcanoes trail the Guyana Harpy Eagles by 296 runs at stumps on day one.

Full Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 308 off 80.5 overs (Kevin Sinclair 74, Kevlon Anderson 48, Gudakesh Motie 46, Veerasammy Permaul 30, Darel Cyrus 5-67)

Windward Islands Volcanoes 12-0 off four overs

At Sabina Park, the Jamaica Scorpions were 173-6 off 51.4 overs at stumps.

Full Scores: Jamaica Scorpions 173-6 off 51.4 overs (Carlos Brown 68*, Romaine Morris 42, Jeremiah Louis 3-34, Collin Archibald 2-23)

At the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, Combined Campuses and Colleges trail West Indies Academy by 289 runs at stumps.

Full Scores: West Indies Academy 300 all out off 78.3 overs (Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 76*, Johan Layne 63, Joshua Dorne 36, Joshua Bishop 32, Yannic Ottley 5-47, Jediah Blades 3-59)

Combined Campuses and Colleges 11-1 off five overs

Jamaica College jumped out to an early lead on day two of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships at the National Stadium on Wednesday with a 1-2 finish in the boys Class Two long jump.

Michael-Andre Edwards successfully defended his title with a best jump of 7.18m while his teammate Jaivar Cato produced 6.85m for second.

KC’s Amani Phillips was close behind in third with 6.78m. Excelsior’s Michael Graham (6.75m) and KC’s Omarian Miller (6.74m) rounded out the top five.

As a result, JC tallied 16 points while KC managed to score 10.

 

Night Raider enhanced his Classic credentials with a bloodless victory on the Tapeta at Southwell.

An impressive nine-length winner over the track and trip on debut in December, Karl Burke’s colt was sent off the 1-4 favourite for his second start, with connections eyeing a shot at the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

Sent immediately to the front by Daniel Tudhope, he had most of the seven-strong field covered rounding the turn for home and once shaken up with two furlongs to go scorched to a most impressive success, with Charlie Hills’ 93-rated Cogitate five-lengths adrift in second.

With 2000 Guineas odds ranging between 20-1 and 33s prior to his run in the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Novice Stakes, the son of Dark Angel was trimmed into 14-1 by Paddy Power and Coral post-race, with Sky Bet even shorter at 10-1. The Aidan O’Brien-trained City Of Troy is the red-hot favourite.

He will now have one final tune-up for his Newmarket objective on May 4, with the Spigot Lodge handler nominating a trip to the Rowley Mile next month for either a conditions event or a racecourse gallop to bank some further experience.

“He’s a horse of huge potential, we know that and he’s not fully wound up by any stretch of the imagination,” Burke told Sky Sports Racing.

“His weight was identical to first time out and all of ours improve for their first time out. Nadir who leads him up said he has taken more of a blow tonight than he did the first time. He was a second and a half faster this time and I don’t know if that is down to ability or the track riding faster.

“I don’t think I would take 8-1 (about the Guineas), but the 40-1 I had a couple of months ago is a bit better! Lets hope he is an 8-1 shot and he’s obviously a very good horse and his future is in front of him. The Guineas isn’t the be all and end all for him and he’s a horse with a big future.”

On a further outing before the Guineas, he added: “He may have been on grass at the beginning of his two-year-old career, but he certainly wouldn’t have been on grass in the last 10 months or so.

“The idea was to go to the Guineas with a racecourse gallop at the Craven meeting – I don’t want to go a mile or go for the Craven itself and if we went for the seven-furlong race at Newbury (Greenham), that only gives us two weeks before the Guineas – or there is a seven-furlong conditions race for horses that haven’t run more than twice, and I have to speak to connections, but if we do go anywhere, I would be pointing that way.

“Danny just said there he could do with another run. He’s still green in front and was lugging away up the straight. Another run is probably the right way to go.

“Laurens was pretty good in her first two runs, but he’s a lovely horse with a great temperament and there’s a lot of scope there, so we’ve just got to look after him, do the right thing by him and hopefully he reaches his full potential.”

Burke also provided an update on fellow Clipper Logistics-owned three-year-old Fallen Angel, with the daughter of Too Darn Hot disputing favouritism in places for the Qipco 1000 Guineas.

Off the track since landing the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh, she is poised for a racecourse gallop before the opening fillies Classic of the campaign.

“There’s another six weeks to get a horse there and that is a long time in a racehorse’s life,” added Burke.

“She’s in great heart at the moment and great form and we’re probably ahead of schedule of where we need to be.

“The plan is probably to go to the Craven meeting for a racecourse gallop and that will hopefully tee her up for the Guineas.

“I was quite keen to go for the Fillies’ Mile, Steve Parkin her owner was the opposite and put her away, and as it turned out the very heavy ground the Fillies’ Mile was run in would not have been ideal so it was the right decision to put her away.

“She had a good rest, went back to Brampton Court and come back looking fantastic. She’s filled her frame, she was always a big filly, but she has filmed her frame nicely. She’s very strong and she’s in great shape.”

Burke also said he was feeling “fit and well” after completing a course of chemotherapy.

He explained: “Chemo finished on December 16 and that wasn’t much fun, as anyone who has been through it knows.

“Since then every week has felt better. We had a good holiday, went away and I’m feeling fit and fell, all good.”

There were no real surprises among the finalists for the 400m, as the main protagonists safely navigated their respective semi-finals on Wednesday’s second day of the 113th ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.

Edwin Allen’s Tonyan Beckford and Kingston College’s Marcinho Rose headline qualifiers for the Class one events.

Beckford running in the third semi-final, won easily in 53.37s, followed by Quana Walker (54.49s) of St Jago, while Excelsior’s Diandra Kelly (54.64s), took one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers spots.

Hydel High’s Abigail Campbell (53.70s) was also comfortable in her semi-final, which she won ahead of Anecia Campbell (54.55s) of Bellefield High, with St Mary’s Ryana Dennis (54.91s) taking the other non-automatic qualifying spot by time, while St Elizabeth Technical’s Shaquane Williams (54.03s) and Natasha Fox (54.98s) of Edwin Allen will complete the field.

Rose cruised to 46.93s in semi-final two of the boys’ Class one event, pulling Daniel Francis (48.38s) of Alphansus Davis with him. Amal Glasgow (47.45s) ensured, Kingston College has double the chance of landing gold, as he and Edwin Allen’s Ryheem Mighten (48.76s) booked the top two spots from their semi-final.

Jamaica College’s Omary Robinson (47.60s) topped the other semi-final, ahead of Zachary Wallace (47.92s) of Maggotty High, with St Elizabeth Technical’s Lushane Blake (48.39s) and Vere Technical’s Omar James (48.58s), also making the final by time.

Over in girls’ Class two, Muschett’s Shanoya Douglas (52.96s), Edwin Allen’s Kellyann Carr (53.40s) and the Hydel pair of Jody-Ann Daley (53.63s) and Nastassia Fletcher (53.91s), will be joined by Shevaughn Thomas (54.33s) of Vere Technical, Excelsior’s Breana Brown (54.97s), St Mary’s Shagay Sheppy (54.83s) and Abrina Wright (55.61s) of Holmwood Technical, in the final.

On the boys’ side, Calabar High’s Nickecoy Bramwell, the only Class two boy to run sub-47 seconds in the event this year, headline finalists for that class, after cruising to 49.31s. Excelsior’s Demarco Bennett (48.40s) and Gregory McFarlane (49.23s), Rashad Buckle (49.11s) of St Jago, Port Antonio’s Dantae Simpson (49.23s), Markel Smith (48.07s) of Kingston College, William Knibb’s Jabari Matheson (48.36s) and Troydian Flemmings (48.68s) of Manchester High (48.68) are the other finalists.

Meanwhile, the girls’ Class three finalists are led by Hydel High’s Sashana Johnson (55.25s) and Port Antonio’s Kevina Bourne (55.41s). They are joined by Hydel’s Trisaenia Cohen (56.74s), the St Jago pair of Alyssa Carty (57.64s) and Shannia Campbell (57.58), Tracey-Ann Evans (55.83s) of Holmwood Technical, Clarendon College’s Tresha-Lee Sutherland (57.07s) and Shannaty Burke (57.57s) of Ferncourt High.

The boys’ Class three finalists are St Jago’s Rushaine Richards (50.40s) and Raneil Burke (51.89s), Jamaica College’s Kyle Thompson (50.81s) and Oneil Lawrence (50.75s), Calabar High’s Diwayne Sharpe (51.73s), Kingston College’s Roshane Howard (51.89s) and Jason Pitter (51.15s) and Rayvon Black (50.76s) of Denbigh High.

The 400m finals are scheduled for Thursday evening.

Joseph O’Brien could be racking up the air miles with “exciting” new recruit Rogue Millennium this season.

The five-year-old mare was a star performer for Tom Clover last term, winning the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot and finishing second to Tahiyra in Leopardstown’s Matron Stakes at elite level.

Having initially been snapped up for just 35,000gns by the Rogues Gallery syndicate, the daughter of Dubawi was sold for 1,650,000gns in December and will now be trained by O’Brien in County Kilkenny.

In a stable tour on Attheraces.com, her new handler said: “We are very happy with her. She looks great. Her training is all going smoothly, and she’s been impressing.

“She gives the impression that she’ll always appreciate better ground and she shows plenty of pace.

“We won’t be shy about travelling her and have a long list of potential options for her in America where we think the style of racing will suit her. She’s a very exciting prospect to have in the yard.”

O’Brien is also looking forward to Lumiere Rock’s four-year-old campaign, with a crack at his father Aidan’s dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin on the cards in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

The Saxon Warrior filly was a Group Two victor in the Blandford Stakes at that track last season, as well as being placed in the Ribblesdale and the Prix de l’Opera before finishing off with a solid sixth behind Inspiral at the Breeders’ Cup.

“She had a busy campaign last season, but never let us down and kept improving,” said O’Brien.

“We all got a real thrill from her win in the Blandford Stakes, and it was great that her owner Michael O’Flynn was there on the day to enjoy it with us.

“We are looking at the Tattersalls Gold Cup as an early-season target and will drive on from there.”

Irish Cesarewitch winner Magellan Strait has already got off the mark in 2024 with a Dundalk triumph in January and may be heading to the UK in search of more success.

O’Brien added: “He’s a solid staying horse that gave us all a great day when springing a very pleasant surprise in the Irish Cesarewitch.

“He could be one for the Chester Cup. We’ll see what happens between now and then, but the Ascot Stakes or Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot would be options for him too.”

Last season’s Queen Alexandra Stakes star Dawn Rising went on to finish third in the Irish St Leger in the colours of JP McManus.

“At this stage, it looks likely that we’ll stick to the Flat with him,” said O’Brien. “He gave everyone a real thrill by winning at Royal Ascot last season and we’ll look to get him back to the Queen Alexandra Stakes again this year. He came back from a break in great shape and we’re looking forward to him.”

Al Riffa has not been seen since chasing home Ace Impact at Deauville last August but the 2022 National Stakes victor is very much on the comeback trail.

O’Brien declared: “We are delighted with him. He was always a tall, rangy horse and has filled out into a magnificent athlete now.

“We were very sweet on him for the Irish Champion Stakes, but a little issue the day before meant we couldn’t run. Everything has gone very smoothly with him this preparation and we are steadily stepping up his work.

“We are working him towards the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp in late April. Longer term, I could see him stepping up to a mile and a half.

“He won a Group One over seven furlongs as a two-year-old and has never looked short of pace, but he has the most lovely, relaxed way of going and it will give him a great chance to carry his pace over further if we ask him to. I’d be very hopeful he can win another Group One.”

Among the three-year-olds at Owning Hill, Atlantic Coast is being aimed at the Irish 2,000 Guineas or the French equivalent, while Stromberg could take in a Derby trial.

Reggae Boyz forward Renaldo Cephas expects the team’s mentality and mindset to serve them well as they aim to make history in the semi-finals of the Concacaf Nations League.

Jamaica will be looking to make it to their first Nations League final when they tackle defending champions USA at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Thursday.

“I’m happy that I’m here to try and make history for Jamaica,” Cephas said in an interview on Tuesday.

“I think with the players mindset and mentality right now, we will do well in this game,” he added.

The 24-year-old made his debut for the Reggae Boyz in a Nations League fixture against Honduras on September 9 last year at the National Stadium in Kingston.

He played eight minutes in the game that Jamaica won 1-0.

“That was a great moment. To know that the coach believed in me and put me out there made me so happy,” he said.

Cephas was also an unused substitute in a 2-2 draw against Haiti at the same venue four days later.

This marks the first time he’s been called up to the national squad since those games.

“It’s a good feeling to be back with the national team. We have great players here so I’m really happy to be back,” he said.

At club level, Cephas is currently representing Turkish Super Lig club MKE Ankaragucu. He started his career with Jamaica Premier League club Arnett Gardens from 2019-2022 before moving to Macedonian club Shkupi.

He spent only one season there, scoring 11 goals in 29 games before moving to Ankaragucu in 2023.

This season, he has scored three goals and had three assists in 27 games as his club currently sits 16th out of 20 teams in the league.

“It’s good in Turkey because I’ve been there a good while now. The players are like my family no so I think I’m well settled there. I think next season I can do some great things in Turkey,” he said before comparing the football in Turkey to Macedonia.

“It’s a different level of football. Turkey is much better. You have top players playing in Turkey whereas in Macedonia you don’t really have that,” he said.

You can watch the semi-finals of the Concacaf Nations League live on SportsMax on March 21.

Auguste Rodin is set to have a busy first half of the season, which will kick off with a run in the Sheema Classic in Dubai.

Aidan O’Brien’s dual Derby and Breeders’ Cup winner is then scheduled to take in the Tattersalls Gold Cup closer to home at the Curragh before a trip to Royal Ascot, after which connections will take stock.

Being by Deep Impact, a race on dirt would not usually be considered, but O’Brien was so taken by the way he acted on the surface in the mornings when preparing for the Breeders’ Cup, that he is giving the idea some serious thought.

“Auguste Rodin has another bit of work to do before he goes on Saturday, but everything looks good at the moment. It’s his first run of the year but we’re very happy with him,” he said.

“The plan was he goes there, then he could go to the Curragh for the Tattersalls and then Ascot for the Prince of Wales’s.

“After that, we could have a look at a dirt race with him after that, we’ll see how that goes. He could go to Saratoga. The world has gone small now.

“His season will be split in two really, with a busy first half and then a break.

“As a rule, Deep Impacts are mainly turf horses, but we were surprised how well he worked on the dirt at the Breeders’ Cup, he floated over it. He has an unusual action, so it will be interesting to see.”

Another stalwart of the yard due to return is Kyprios, who missed the majority of last season before finishing second in the Irish St Leger and at Ascot on Champions Day.

The usual O’Brien route to the Gold Cup back at Ascot will be taken, with the Vintage Crop Stakes and the Saval Beg early targets.

“It was amazing he came back, I couldn’t believe it. He seems in good form, he’ll go to Navan and then he’ll go to Leopardstown, that’s the plan, the usual Ascot (Gold Cup) route,” said O’Brien.

As for the two-year-olds, none have been named to date but there are several catching the studious eyes at Ballydoyle.

“None of the two-year-olds are named yet, but we think we have two good Justifys, out of two sisters (Fabulous and Butterflies),” said O’Brien.

“We’ve some nice Wootton Bassetts this year, more than we’ve had before. We’re starting (the season) earlier and I was conscious that I didn’t want to have them ready to run in that ground because they have to be very fit, so if they are, they won’t make it through the summer.

“The Wootton Bassett out of Immortal Verse looks very smart, as does the Wootton Bassett out of Ennistymon. We’re just going gently with them.

“Wootton Bassett looks very different, we only had two colts last year and they were both very good – River Tiber and Unquestionable.”

If ever reigning champions Hydel and former champions Calabar required additional motivation ahead of the 113th ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, they would have received it from multiple World and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

The iconic sprinter, a Digicel ambassador, who has long been an inspiration to athletes both locally and internationally, visited the Corey Bennett-coached teams training session recently to deliver some last-minute encouragement.  

Fraser-Pryce, affectionately known as the "Pocket Rocket" for her explosive speed on the track, urged the athletes to give of their best, but also to remain humble and focused in the process.

“Everybody knows its Champs; people are even flying down for it. People bring their A game at Champs, you know this. Some of you have been there before, some of you are already champions and have been champions more than once and you are trying to do it again, but don’t let the moment of the occasion get to you,” the decorated Fraser-Pryce shared.

“Remember also that nobody owes you anything and nothing is put down out there for you either, so you have to work hard,” she added to the acknowledgement of the young athletes.

After playing bridesmaid for several years, Hydel inevitably claimed the girls crown when they dethroned many-time champions Edwin Allen by two-points in a nail-biting battle last year, and they will be aiming to put up another fight on this occasion.

Calabar, also under Bennett’s guidance, faltered to third behind Kingston College and Jamaica College last year. Though going through a rebuilding phase, the perennial challengers, should still produce some exciting performances, especially after Fraser-Pryce’s charge.

Beyond that, Fraser-Pryce also went down memory lane, as she posted a photo of her alongside her statue at the National Stadium.

“Not bad for an athlete that won her first and only individual gold medal in the 100m in Class 2 at Champs in 2004," the caption read.

Aidan O’Brien believes the best is still to come from last season’s Coventry Stakes winner River Tiber.

He suffered a scare in the days leading up to him finishing third to Vandeek in the Prix Morny at Deauville and then filled the same position behind the same horse in the Middle Park.

O’Brien felt he was not at his best in either race, though, and he was also a late withdrawal at the Breeders’ Cup, when he was meant to take on his stablemate Unquestionable in the Juvenile Turf, who ran out the winner.

“River Tiber always worked very good. He wasn’t right in Deauville or in the Middle Park, he wasn’t 100 per cent, so there’s a good chance there’s more to come from him. I think he’s a miler, he’s fast, I couldn’t see him getting much further,” said O’Brien.

“Unquestionable could go to the French Guineas, he’s done very well. He’ll go to Naas on Sunday (after racing) and he could go for a trial in France before going back for the Guineas – and he could be a French Derby horse, he’s not as quick as the others, so he could get a bit further.

“When we went to America with them last year, River Tiber was five lengths better than the winner. He’s not rated that way, but if you put the two of them together, that is what will happen.”

Another promising colt for the season ahead is the unbeaten Henry Longfellow, who could also have the French Classics on his agenda.

“Henry Longfellow could stretch out but he looks like a miler the way he’s going, so how much further he’d get, I’m not sure,” added O’Brien.

“He could be a French Derby horse, as could Diego Velazquez, he might be more that than a Guineas horse, but he’ll go with them (to Naas) as well, so it will be interesting.”

One going further afield is Henry Adams, who is heading to Dubai.

“Henry Adams is lovely and has done very well and he is down to go to Dubai to run in the UAE Derby on the dirt. He’s a No Nay Never so will be interesting on the dirt,” said O’Brien.

As for his Derby team, as usual there are several who at this stage would appear to have all the right credentials.

Leopardstown winner Ocean Of Dreams, from the family of the great Urban Sea, is certainly bred for the job.

“Ocean Of Dreams is getting ready for the Ballysax. He worked yesterday and worked lovely but he’s a bit of a baby because he’s only had one run, so he needs to get out,” continued O’Brien.

“He looks a lovely horse, he won very easily. He has a very good pedigree, he goes back to Urban Sea, I think he’s a Derby trial horse, no doubt about that.

“Los Angeles is a big, strong, powerful horse. He always worked much quicker than he should have been from the day we started working him, he showed loads. He’s very big and shouldn’t have shown as much as he was, but he always did.

“Then he ran in Tipperary and won in Saint-Cloud and Christophe (Soumillon) was impressed the day he rode him. He’ll go for a Derby trial and we’ll see what will happen. He’ll probably go to Naas on Sunday as well. He could be a Curragh (Irish Derby) horse.

“Grosvenor Square could be a very interesting horse. I think he’d have no problem with better ground. He’s not a heavy-framed horse, he’s a good mover. He’ll go for a Derby trial.”

As for the fillies, O’Brien was dealt a blow when news broke recently that Opera Singer, undoubtedly the best prospect in the division, was likely to miss Newmarket, but there are other options.

“Content was impressive last year, she had a lovely run first time but then went to Ascot and lost her way, we had to slow her down and get her to relax,” said O’Brien.

“She won at the Curragh and came home very well (fourth) in the Breeders’ Cup. She could be a very nice filly, you just have to take your time with her, as she has plenty of speed.

“I like Ylang Ylang a lot. She did very well to do what she did because everything went wrong with her the third day, she was too keen. She had to come back to Newmarket and relax but then to go back and do what she did in the Fillies’ Mile, you’d have to like her a lot.

“She could get a mile and a half, she’s out of a Shamardal mare, so there’s every chance she could and the way she likes to be ridden will help her.

“I don’t think if Opera Singer was going to make the Guineas it would have been a difficult choice for Ryan (Moore) though, she (Opera Singer) is very good. What she did in the Boussac…she’s another Justify, set her off in front and follow me if you want.

“The other filly is very good but you have to take your time with her. That’s what makes the Justifys so good, they are so uncomplicated.

“Opera Singer is cantering but missed a few weeks, so I imagine the Irish Guineas would be the earliest, we’d just have to rush her too much otherwise. The year is long.”

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