LaLiga's handling of the "absolutely disgraceful" instances of racist abuse towards Vinicius Junior has been "completely inadequate".
That was the message from Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari after Vinicius was subjected to more abuse by sections of the crowd at Valencia's win over Real Madrid last Sunday.
Valencia's punishments for the incident were reduced on appeal, with the partial closure of Mestalla Stadium cut from five matches to three and their financial penalty also sliced.
Bhandari, chair of the organisation aiming to eradicate racism from football, says the Spanish Football Federation and LaLiga president Javier Tebas have failed to support Vinicius.
"I think the treatment we've seen of Vinicius has been absolutely disgraceful," Bhandari told Stats Perform at the Football Business Awards.
"It's 10 or 11 games, it's not just this last weekend, it's been happening over the course of the last two seasons.
"The response of the Spanish authorities has been completely inadequate and it's actually been worse than inadequate because it's made the matter worse.
"The way Javier Tebas, who runs LaLiga, responded trying to blame Vinicius and treating him as if he's a problem when actually he's the victim… it's really sort of going back 30 or 40 years."
Tebas was a vocal critic after Vinicius labelled LaLiga racist, the league's president criticising the 22-year-old for "not informing himself properly" before subsequently apologising for those comments.
The incident – and Tebas' reaction to it – sparked widespread condemnation of LaLiga and Spanish football's relationship with race, with Bhandari calling for further action on the issues.
He added: "They need to get on with taking more concrete steps to kick discrimination out of Spanish football, it's not acceptable to have whole stands of fans doing monkey chants.
"Making monkey noises and shouting monkey to Vinicius, that's totally unacceptable and there shouldn't be any deflection and making excuses for that kind of behaviour, which is what we have seen.
"They need to get on it and if that means closing the stand, that's a good step. We welcome that and fines are a move in the right direction.
"But if it doesn't stop that should move to points deductions and further sanctions."
Rodrygo scored a deadly double as Real Madrid battled from behind to win 2-1 at 10-man Sevilla in LaLiga on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti's side strengthened their grasp on second place in the league after recovering from an early setback to triumph at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Rodrygo's free-kick cancelled out Rafa Mir's early opener in an entertaining first half in Andalusia, where Madrid played without their star duo of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior.
Rodrygo's second goal with just over 20 minutes remaining proved decisive before Marcos Acuna was dismissed as Madrid moved four points clear of rivals Atletico Madrid, who host Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Mir fired Sevilla into a third-minute lead after reacting quickly to sweep into the top-left corner when Bryan Gil's initial effort ricocheted kindly into his path.
Rodrygo spurned a glorious opportunity to equalise shortly after, dragging wide when unmarked from Lucas Vazquez's low cross – but the Madrid winger soon made amends.
An unsighted Yassine Bounou was deceived as Rodrygo whipped a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom-right corner after 29 minutes, although Sevilla should have been ahead at half-time.
Erik Lamela volleyed against the post with Thibaut Courtois stranded, before the forward lifted a back-post chance over after an inviting Alejandro Gomez delivery.
Rodrygo somehow lofted over when one-on-one with Bounou after the break, while Mir turned narrowly wide from Acuna's pinpoint centre.
Yet Rodrygo proved the difference after 69 minutes, coolly finishing a rapid counter-attack by sliding into the bottom-right corner to down Sevilla, who saw Acuna dismissed later on for a mindless lunge on Vazquez.
Luton completed their fairy-tale rise from non-league to Premier League with a dramatic, sudden-death penalty shoot-out victory against Coventry in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final.
Just nine years on from ending their five-season stretch in the Conference Premier, the Hatters are celebrating returning to the top-flight for the first time since 1992.
Previous point deductions and disappointments were left in the rear-view mirror at Wembley, where Jordan Clark’s opener was cancelled out by Coventry favourite Gustavo Hamer.
The match finished 1-1 after extra-time and Fankaty Dabo’s penalty miss meant a famous 6-5 sudden-death shoot-out victory for jubilant Luton.
Jim Goodwin has been appointed as Dundee United manager on a permanent basis on the eve of Sunday’s decisive fixtures in their battle to avoid the drop from the cinch Premiership.
United’s fate is out of their hands – they need to win at Motherwell and hope Kilmarnock beat Ross Count and wipe out the Staggies’ eight-goal advantage – but Goodwin and the Tannadice club have committed to one another regardless with a two-year deal.
Whether United survive or not, the club are planning a major overhaul in the summer, with Goodwin seen as the best man to lead it.
“I’m really pleased to have been able to get things agreed with the club,” the 41-year-old said. “I’m also incredibly grateful to the chairman and the rest of the board for offering me the position in the first place.
“This is a terrific football club with a great history and there are a lot of things to be positive about, albeit we’ve had a difficult season.
“It is now my job to make the necessary changes to ensure the club improves and moves forward in the right manner. Every decision I make during my time at Dundee United will be in the best interests of the club.
“Recruitment is pivotal at any football club. I recognise where the weaknesses have been this season and understand the key areas we need to improve and strengthen in the summer. I think that’s something for the supporters to look forward to.”
Chief executive Luigi Capuano said it was important to secure Goodwin’s position early in order to focus on the challenges ahead.
“As a club, we believed it was important to have him in place as soon as possible to allow the crucial rebuilding process to begin ahead of the 2023/24 season immediately,” he said.
“Since his initial appointment in March, Jim has been an example of professionalism, displaying all of the key attributes we feel are necessary to lead the football club and deliver on-field success in the future.”
Although the odds appear to be against United, midfielder Dylan Levitt claims he has seen “madder things happen in football” than the events it would take for them to avoid the drop.
The Wales midfielder said: “We need to go there and win, that’s the main thing first and foremost for the fans coming, for personal pride, to get a win before the end of the season.
“And then obviously football, you never know what can happen. You never know. But we are just going to go there and hopefully finish on a high.
“I have seen madder things happen in football, I think everyone has.
“Very slim chance but we need to go there and win the game more important than anything, just for yourself, the family and the fans.
“Going out and losing the last game of the season, no-one wants that.”
Bayern Munich have parted company with chief executive Oliver Kahn and board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic hours after clinching an 11th successive Bundesliga title.
Former Germany goalkeeper Kahn, who made more than 350 appearances for Bayern, and one-time team-mate Salihamidzic were relieved of their duties on Saturday evening with the dust still settling on a dramatic finale to the season as they edged past Borussia Dortmund to retain their crown.
Vice-chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen will take over from Kahn, while Salihamidzic’s replacement is yet to be appointed.
A statement on the club’s official website said: “Oliver Kahn is no longer CEO of FC Bayern Munchen AG. Hasan Salihamidzic will also be replaced as board member for sport. This was decided by the club’s supervisory board.
“Kahn will be replaced by the current vice-chairman of the board Jan-Christian Dreesen. Salihamidzic’s successor is still to be decided.”
Kahn joined the board in January 2020 and took over as CEO in July the following year, presiding over two league title wins as well as Champions League, European Super Cup, DFB Cup and DFL Supercup success.
Herbert Hainer, chairman of Bayern’s supervisory board, said: “The decision to part with Oliver Kahn was anything but easy for the supervisory board. Nevertheless, due to the overall development, we have come to the decision to make a new appointment at the top of the executive board.
“We would like to thank Oliver Kahn for his commitment, his ideas and for everything we have achieved together. He will always remain a great figure at FC Bayern. We wish him all the best for his future.”
Former midfielder Salihamidzic returned to the club as sporting director in August 2017 and was promoted to the post of board member for sport three years later.
He said: “It has been a great journey, which I would have liked to continue, but I respect the decision of the supervisory board. FC Bayern stands above everything else, and I wish our team and our fans cohesion and success.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff suggested marshals had turned the Monaco Grand Prix into a circus act following their unusual removal of Lewis Hamilton’s car.
Hamilton crashed out of final practice on Saturday after he lost control of his Mercedes under braking at Mirabeau.
Hamilton’s stricken machine was hoisted high into the air by a crane, allowing photographers to capture the underbelly of the seven-time world champion’s upgraded machine.
The car’s floor is a heavily guarded secret in Formula One, but Mercedes’ new design – which broke cover for the first time here in the principality – was put on show for their rivals to see.
“Whoever performed the crane has probably worked for Cirque du Soleil before,” said Wolff.
“Honestly, that I don’t even comprehend. The car was on the road. You could have put it on a truck. You’re showcasing a car to everyone in the world. That was suboptimal for us, to say the least.”
Wolff added: “We should not thrash the stewards. Everybody is doing their best and I don’t want to be a team principal that lashes out at stewards who are doing their job.”
After giving up on this season’s car on the eve of the opening race in Bahrain, Mercedes have spent the ensuing dozen weeks working on a new design philosophy.
The Silver Arrows have abandoned their controversial zero-sidepod concept and introduced a new front suspension, new floor and cooling system in a drastic change of development on a car which has contributed to the longest losing streak of Hamilton’s career.
Mercedes are keen not to draw too many conclusions at this week’s unique Monte Carlo configuration – and believe the following round at the well-trodden Circuit de Catalunya venue on the outskirts of Barcelona will present them with a better understanding of where they stand.
Hamilton starts fifth on Sunday following Charles Leclerc’s three-place grid penalty. George Russell lines up eighth in the other Mercedes.
“This car is a son of a gun,” said Hamilton. “I was pushing so hard and overdriving which is the worst place to be.
“If I underdrive, or I drive the car to its limit, we might not get into the top 10. But the upgrades were good this weekend, so I’m grateful for those.”
Owen Farrell insists there is plenty more to come from Saracens after guiding the club to Gallagher Premiership glory with a 35-25 success over Sale at Twickenham.
Sarries’ 35-25 victory made amends for last season’s last-gasp final defeat by Leicester to deliver their first silverware since being relegated for salary cap breaches in 2020.
England skipper Farrell dismissed the notion of redemption for that painful loss to the Tigers as he outlined his optimism for the future.
Asked about the result in the context of Saracens’ recent setbacks, the fly-half said: “It feels important but I’m not too sure, if I’m honest.
“I think what’s more important is how we’ve been all season. The difference that we made at the start of the year, the difference in raising our ceiling of where we can go.
“And, at this moment in time, regardless of how today went, it still feels like there is a lot for this young team now still to go.
“There is a feeling of wanting to get the best out of ourselves and that will carry on for a long time now.”
Saracens defied a spirited Sale, mini injury crisis and climate activists to become champions for a sixth time.
Two Just Stop Oil protestors brought a halt to the game in the first half when they ran on to the pitch to throw orange paint powder before being led away by stewards amid jeers from the crowd.
A penalty try and scores from Max Malins, Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl helped the London side to victory in blazing sunshine, aided by 13 points from the boot of man of the match Farrell.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall believes his skipper is playing the “best rugby of his life” and has taken his leadership to “a whole new level”.
“If you spent a week at our training ground, you wouldn’t believe just how influential he is, how clear he is with the playing group, how emotive he is, what standards he sets, how supportive he is to team-mates young and old,” McCall said of Farrell.
“He’s playing the best rugby of his life at the moment but his leadership has gone to a whole new level.
“When the game was in the balance and it was 25-23 (to Sale) and we lacked a bit of energy, our senior players grasped the nettle really and saw us through very well in the last 15 or 20 minutes.
“We had a lot of control in that period of time and I think that’s down to their experience in those situations. They’ve been there and done it before and they showed a lot of experience when we needed it most.”
Fernando Alonso hopes he can take advantage of Max Verstappen’s inconsistent starts to end his 10-year wait for victory at Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.
The evergreen Alonso, 41, lines up behind Verstappen following an exhilarating qualifying session in the sun-cooked principality.
Home favourite Charles Leclerc will be third on the grid for Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell sixth and eighth respectively in their revamped Mercedes machines.
Alonso took his last pole at the 2012 German Grand Prix, but he looked destined to end his 3,961-day losing streak when he moved to the top of the time charts in the closing stages.
Verstappen was the only driver who could spoil the dreams of Alonso, and his Aston Martin mechanics, who had already celebrated wildly in the belief that their man had captured pole.
Verstappen trailed Alonso by two tenths before he delivered a mesmerising final sector on the most famous streets in Formula One to take pole by just 0.084 seconds.
“We will try to win,” said Alonso, who claimed his 32nd and final victory in Spain a decade ago. “We need some help from Max but I am not going to take it for granted.
“It’s a very short run into Turn 1. We normally have a good start. Max is a bit inconsistent, so maybe he has one of those bad ones tomorrow.”
Qualifying is crucial in Monte Carlo given how troublesome it is to pass at this tight and twisty venue.
However, the omens are encouraging for Alonso. In the last seven years, the driver starting from second has won on more occasions than the man on pole.
The last time Alonso started a race in Monaco from the front row – back in 2007 – he won. Rain could also be a factor.
A victory for Alonso would be a popular one in the sport. But Verstappen’s team has won every race this season, and the Dutchman’s Red Bull is so often imperious over the course of a race distance, rather than a single lap.
“I would like to see Fernando win,” admitted Verstappen. “But I would like to win, too, so we will see.
“In qualifying you need to go all out and risk it all. My first sector wasn’t ideal in my final lap and I was a bit cautious, but then I knew I was behind so in the last sector I just gave it everything I had, clipping a few barriers along the way.”
Further back, Mercedes were banking on their much-anticipated upgrade providing them with a springboard to challenge the grid’s all-conquering Red Bull team. But on its grand unveiling here, Hamilton was at odds with his new car.
Hamilton, who earlier crashed in final practice on Saturday following a mistake at the right-hander Mirabeau, missed the chicane in the opening stage of qualifying – only avoiding an early bath with his final lap – before scrambling into Q3 after he grazed the wall at the swimming pool chicane.
“Man this car is hard to drive,” said the seven-time world champion, who also reported there was “something wrong” with his right-rear suspension.
He eventually finished 0.360 secs behind Verstappen, with team-mate Russell six tenths adrift.
Sergio Perez is Verstappen’s closest championship challenger, but the Mexican will start Sunday’s 78-lap race at the back of the pack after he crashed out of qualifying.
The running was just six minutes old when Perez – 14 points adrift of Verstappen in the standings – carried too much speed through the opening Sainte Devote corner and thudded into the wall before coming to a standstill in the middle of the circuit.
Union Berlin secured Champions League qualification for the first time in their history as Schalke suffered relegation from Bundesliga on the final day of the season.
Rani Khedira's 81st-minute winner at home to Werder Bremen saw Union pip Freiburg to fourth place in the German top flight, with Urs Fischer's side booking their spot in UEFA's top club competition for next season.
There was no such good fortune for Schalke, though, as they dropped back down to 2. Bundesliga following a 4-2 defeat to third-placed RB Leipzig on Saturday.
As Bayern Munich celebrated edging out Borussia Dortmund for the title on goal difference, Stuttgart will be left to fight for their top-flight status in a play-off after a 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim.
Stuttgart will face either Hamburg or Heidenheim, with whoever finishes third in the German second division due to battle with Sebastian Hoeness' men for a place in Bundesliga next term.
Had Stuttgart won, Augsburg would have been in that play-off after a 2-0 final-day defeat at Borussia Monchengladbach, while Bochum pulled clear of danger with a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
Kycia Knight starred with an unbeaten half-century as Barbados defeated the Leeward Islands by eight wickets to claim the CWI Women’s T20 Blaze title, adding to their Super 50 crown won last week.
The Leewards batted first at Warner Park on Saturday, making 121-5 off their 20 overs thanks to a 50-ball 33* from Divya Saxena.
Theanny Herbert-Mayers was the best bowler on the day for the Bajans with figures of 2-12 from her four overs.
The Barbados chase was then anchored be an 80-run opening stand between Knight and Aaliyah Alleyne who made 32.
In the end, Barbados claimed victory in 17.3 overs, reaching 122-2. Knight faced 51 balls for her 66*, hitting nine boundaries.
At St. Paul’s Sports Complex, Guyana won an extraordinary match against Trinidad & Tobago by one run to secure second place.
Guyana took first strike and were bowled out for a horrendous 39 in 19.3 overs with only skipper Shemaine Campbelle reaching double figures with 13 against an excellent four-over spell from Anisa Mohammed which saw her claim four wickets while conceding just five runs.
Steffie Soogrim and Shalini Samaroo also bowled eight overs between them, taking 2-7 and 2-10, respectively.
Then, amazingly, Guyana was able to defend the paltry total, bowling out T&T for 38 in 18.4 overs.
Mandy Mangru led the way with the ball with 4-11 from 3.4 overs while Ashmini Munisar took 2-8 from three overs.
At Conaree Sports Club, the Windward Islands beat Jamaica by six wickets.
Jamaica made 102-6 off their 20 overs batting first. Keneshia Ferron led the way with 32 off 41 balls while captain Stafanie Taylor made 22.
Afy Fletcher took 2-11 off her four overs for the Windwards.
The Windwards then needed only 17 overs to overhaul Jamaica’s total, reaching 103-4.
Zaida James led the way with 28 while Fletcher got 23.
The final points table saw Barbados and Guyana level on 16 points, followed by the Windwards (12), Jamaica (8), Trinidad & Tobago (8) and the Leewards (0).
Geraint Thomas saw the pink jersey snatched away on the penultimate day of the Giro d’Italia as Primoz Roglic overcame a mechanical problem to win a punishing time trial to the summit of Monte Lussari.
Roglic dropped his chain midway up the cruel concrete road to the top but still had enough in reserve to beat Thomas by 40 seconds, overturning the 26-second advantage the Welshman took into the day.
And that gives the Slovenian a 14-second lead ahead of Sunday’s flat run into Rome, the title his barring any incident.
For Thomas, it dashes his dream of become the oldest ever winner of the Giro in the week he celebrated his 37th birthday.
But for Roglic it was redemption, three years after he lost the lead of the Tour de France one day before Paris on a mountain time trial to La Planche des Belles Filles. He will add the Giro to his three Vuelta a Espana titles.
Within sight of the Slovenian border in north-eastern Italy, Roglic was roared on by screaming hoards of his compatriots.
They had hearts in mouths when Roglic ran over a pothole and dropped his chain. A 16-second advantage over Thomas evaporated but he still had plenty more to give.
“It’s just something amazing,” the 33-year-old said. “It’s not in the end about the win but the people and the energy here. It’s so incredible, really moments to live and remember.
“I dropped the chain, it’s part of it, but I didn’t fear it at all. I put it back, I started and I just went. For sure I don’t want this to happen but I could put the chain back and restart.
“I had the legs and the people gave me extra watts so it’s fine, just enjoying it. There’s one more day to go, one more focus because I think the lap (in Rome) is quite technical. It’s not over until it’s finished but it looks good.”
The stage started in Tarvisio, where a young Roglic once took victory in the Junior World Ski-Jumping Championships, his last victory in that sport before he took up cycling full time.
This 18.6km race against the clock was all about the final climb, 7.4km long at an average gradient of 12 per cent, but starting with more than five kilometres where the average was over 15.
Riders swapped from time trial bikes to climbing machines at the foot, as mechanics followed them up the road on motorbikes with spare bikes over their shoulders, with cars not allowed on the narrow roads.
While Roglic exorcised the demons of La Planche des Belles Filles, this was more heartache for Thomas in the Giro.
It had finally looked like his year. In 2017 his bid for glory was effectively ended when he crashed with a police motorbike on the Blockhaus, then in 2020 he crashed out on stage three when he struck a stray water bottle.
With all that behind him, the 2018 Tour de France winner appeared on course for a second career Grand Tour win as he spent eight days in pink.
“People I know need to stop bugging me, I’m getting emotional,” Thomas told Eurosport after personally congratulating Roglic. “I could feel my legs going a kilometre and a half from the top.
“I don’t want to make excuses but I didn’t feel like I had that real grunt. It was nice to lose by that much rather than a second or two. That would be worse. At least he smashed me.
“Primoz deserves that, he had a mechanical and he put 40 seconds into me. Chapeau.
“If you’d told me in February or March (I’d be second) I’d have bitten your hand off but now I’m devastated.”
The absence of his great rival Rafael Nadal from the French Open draw has left Novak Djokovic with mixed feelings as he chases more history at Roland Garros.
The Serbian can become the first man to win 23 grand slam singles titles if he lifts the Coupe des Mousquetaires for the third time in a fortnight.
Djokovic is the only player to beat Nadal twice at Roland Garros but he has also lost eight times to the Spaniard, including in three finals.
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“I don’t miss him being in the draw,” he said with a smile as he reflected on the hip problem that has kept Nadal out since January and prompted his announcement earlier this month that next season is set to be his swansong.
“I don’t like seeing him in the draw of Roland Garros. I have had not so much success against him. I have managed to beat him twice but I had to leave my heart and my guts out on the court to achieve that.”
Nadal and Djokovic have played each other 59 times, more than any two men in ATP Tour history, and the Serbian said: “When he announced that he’s going to have his last season of his career, I felt part of me is leaving with him too.
“Because of the rivalry that we had, and that we still have, I feel that he was one of the most impactful people that I have ever had in my career, the growth of my career, and me as a player.
“Definitely a great motivational factor for me to keep playing and keep competing and keep pushing each other, who’s going to achieve more, who’s going to do better.
“It made me think about my career and how long I’m going to play. I’m not going to make any announcement today, but just reflecting on it, I felt also a little bit emotional about what he was saying.”
Djokovic now finds himself fighting a lone battle against a host of young pretenders, led by 20-year-old world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
And Djokovic was keen to slap the favourite’s tag firmly on his young rival’s forehead despite the vast difference in their grand slam experience.
Alcaraz certainly has the better recent form, with Djokovic having struggled on clay so far amid concerns over an elbow problem, but he declared himself fully fit, and it is no secret that the slams are the titles he really cares about at this stage of his career.
“Every grand slam at this stage of my career is like a present for me, so I’ll try to use the opportunity as best as possible,” he said.
“Leading into Roland Garros, I haven’t had too much success in clay court events but a grand slam is like a different sport. I feel always extra motivated and confident in grand slams.
“It’s no secret that one of the main reasons I play today and compete in professional tennis is to try to break more records and make more history in tennis. That’s extremely motivating and inspiring for me.
“But things are different than they were 10 years ago in terms of how my body is maybe responding to the schedule. I’m feeling good at the moment. I don’t have any physical issues that worry me. So that’s most important for me.
“I think the tournament is quite open. Maybe a few guys that are at the top of the favourites’ list, but anyone can take it. I’m hoping it can be me.”
Roger Teal’s Chipstead came out on top at York with a career-best victory in the William Hill Epic Boost Handicap.
The five-year-old, who is full brother to Teal’s sprint star Oxted, was a 12-1 chance for the contest after being well beaten on his seasonal debut in the Palace House Stakes.
Back in handicap company under 3lb-claimer Frederick Larson, the bay blazed to a three-quarter-length victory over Mondammej with Fine Wine a further neck behind in third.
“We like him a lot, he’s Oxted’s full brother but he never really produces until the back end of the season,” said Harry Teal, son and assistant to Roger.
“He’s gone and proved us wrong and it’s good to get one early.
“These are the ones that count, on the Saturdays, it’s nice to be back in the winners’ enclosure with this sort of horse and hopefully he can step up next time.
“We’re in the King’s Stand, but I think the Wokingham looks the more likely route that we’ll go at Royal Ascot, I’d say that’ll be our next stop.”
Native American may have also thrown his hat in the ring for the Royal meeting with a straightforward success in the Collective Green Energy EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.
Trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Oisin Orr, the Sioux Nation colt was making his debut in the six-furlong event won last year by Bradsell.
Bradsell went on to land the Coventry at Royal Ascot and Native American is now a 33-1 chance for the same contest after a five-and-a-half-length victory on the Knavesmire at 10-1.
“He’s shown plenty at home before today, but he probably will stay further in time, so we weren’t sure about six furlongs today,” said Orr.
“He’s quickened up and put the race to bed nicely. He’s definitely going to improve off that.”
The favourite, Richard Hannon’s The Line, was withdrawn after unseating Danny Tudhope at the start.
Geoff Oldroyd’s Doctor Khan Junior was a poignant winner of the William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive Handicap at York.
The four-year-old, who has undergone lengthy injury rehabilitation, was bred by Pocklington-based businessman Reg Bond before his death in 2021.
Bond’s son Charlie has taken up the reins and sponsored the final race on the card in honour of his father – the Reg Bond ‘Always And Forever’ Stakes.
It was the first race in which the family silks were seen crossing the line ahead, however, as Doctor Khan Junior defied a price of 28-1 to prevail under Harry Russell.
The horse is named in homage to Dr Mohammad Muneeb Khan, the oncologist who treated Reg Bond’s brain tumour.
“My dad and Dr Khan had a great relationship, he was treating his tumour for many years and got it under control, which gave many years of life to my dad,” said Charlie Bond.
“My dad named the horse, I’m sure he was pushing him home today, especially with it being his memorial day with the race later on.
“It was all about my dad today and to have a winner here is unbelievable.”
The aforementioned closing race was won by Saeed bin Suroor’s Shining Blue, who carried Daniel Muscutt to a convincing win when prevailing by four lengths.
Richard Hannon’s Starnberg (8-1) was the winner of the William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Handicap under Jim Crowley, coming home comfortably ahead of his rivals to claim a three-and-a-half-length triumph.
“We went out in front and I thought they’d get to him, but he’s stuck on really well,” said Crowley.
“He made his mind up for me, but seven furlongs is probably his trip.”
Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan, on the mark with River Of Stars in the Bronte Cup, claimed a second success on the card as Quantum Impact justified his status as the 100-30 favourite in the Royal Yorkshire Regiment Handicap.
Saracens defied a spirited Sale, mini injury crisis and climate activists to clinch the Gallagher Premiership title for a sixth time at Twickenham.
A 35-25 victory over the Sharks made amends for last season’s last-gasp defeat by Leicester at the same stage and delivers their first silverware since being relegated for salary cap breaches in 2020.
Two Just Stop Oil protestors brought a halt to the game in the first half when they ran on to the pitch, letting off orange smoke bombs before being led away by stewards amid jeers from the crowd.
Both were arrested and while orange patches were still evident on the pitch at the final whistle, the interruption failed to take the shine off an enthralling climax to the season.
Saracens threatened to pull clear before and after half-time but Sale stayed in the fight and then pounced in a dominant third quarter that saw tries by Tom Roebuck and Bevan Rodd seize the lead.
But drawing on all the experience accumulated during 13 years of Premiership and European finals, Saracens showed their resolve to hit back through Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl.
Daly’s 67th-minute try, born out of Joe Carpenter’s charged-down kick, will make painful viewing for Sale as the moment when the lead and momentum of the game swung dramatically.
The blazing sunshine sapped the players’ energy and Saracens had to deal with the additional early challenge of losing a second England front-rower after Jamie George’s afternoon was ended by a possible concussion sustained during a tackle by Tom Curry.
Shortly before kick-off prop Mako Vunipola was withdrawn from the bench through injury yet for all the disruption, the score was tied at 6-6 heading into the second quarter.
Farrell had shaded the early phase of his duel with Ford but Manu Tuilagi’s forceful runs through Saracens’ midfield marked him out as the most dangerous player on the field.
The arrival of the two protestors ignited an eventful spell as after they were dealt with by stewards, play resumed with last year’s runners-up taking the lead through a penalty try.
Alex Goode threaded a bobbling kick down the right touchline and with Max Malins about to grab the ball and fall over, he was tackled by Curry to deny a certain try. Curry was sin-binned to compound matters.
Wing Sean Maitland was the latest Saracen to depart injured and the frantic pace continued with Sale’s Akker van der Merwe crossing from close range before Malins touched down after Farrell had drawn an attempted big hit from Tuilagi.
The first half finished with the London club launching a series of high-tempo raids and Sale needed to score soon to stop them marauding out of sight.
The try came in the 45th minute when a defensive error by Daly allowed Tom Roebuck over and moments later Daly saw what should have been a routine score disallowed for a foot in touch.
Farrell kicked a penalty but Sale were over again through a move started when Tuilagi careered through the midfield and that ended with Rodd appearing at scrum-half to pounce from short range.
The Sharks were dominating but when a clearance was charged down Saracens reacted in a flash, winning the ball and feeding it wide where Daly was waiting to score.
And the turnaround was completed when a training ground move sent Malins into space for Van Zyl to finish, with the TMO confirming the match-settling score.
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