Ground conditions remain key to Hukum’s participation at Royal Ascot next week, with a tilt at the Hardwicke considered more likely than supplementing for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Having suffered a career-threatening injury when breaking his Group One duck in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last term, the full-brother to the brilliant Baaeed made a successful return when inflicting defeat on last year’s Derby hero Desert Crown in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown last month.

That first career triumph over 10 furlongs has led some to question whether the six-year-old should having another shot at top-level honours in the Prince of Wales’s on Wednesday week instead of lining up for the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes over a mile and a half three days later.

However, the combination of an uncertain forecast and the fact Hukum would need to be supplemented for the Prince of Wales’s on Thursday at a cost of £70,000 means he looks set to take the perceived easier option, if he runs at the Royal meeting at all.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owner-breeders Shadwell, said: “We need rain, nobody has ever made any secret of that, and if the heavens suddenly opened and the ground did go very soft, various people have said we should be supplementing for the Prince of Wales’s.

“If I’m brutally honest, I don’t think we’ll get enough rain to warrant spending that sort of money, especially when he’s favourite for the Hardwicke three days later.

“It is very much ground dependent. We’ve spent a long time looking after this horse and getting him back, so we don’t want to risk him on unsuitable ground. We’ll see what the weather is going to do.

“We’ve always quietly thought that if he’s in one piece the King George is the primary target, so if we couldn’t run next week, we’ll just have to wait for that and hope we get some rain in July.”

Hukum could lead a quality Shadwell team into battle at the Royal meeting, with Mutasaabeq set to be the opening batsman in the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.

The Charlie Hills-trained entire dominated from the front in the bet365 Mile at Newmarket on his seasonal bow before finishing fifth, beaten three lengths, in the Lockinge at Newbury.

“We’ve just freshened him up a bit since Newbury and tried to keep him sweet mentally,” said Gold.

“He won very well first time out this year at Newmarket and on that run he deserves to take his chance.

“Various people thought he went too quick in the Lockinge, Jim (Crowley, jockey) himself felt the horse was a bit flat. He’s a horse who runs very well fresh, hence why we’ve tried to kid him into Royal Ascot and come in above himself a bit.

“He’d have to run a career-best to be winning a Queen Anne, but he was impressive on that first start so we’ll see how we get on.”

Mostabshir from John and Thady Gosden’s yard is also set for a Group One assignment on the opening day in what looks a red-hot renewal of the St James’s Palace Stakes.

The impressive York novice winner will have to take on 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean and Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Paddington, but connections are happy to roll the dice.

Gold said: “We have huge respect for the Guineas horses and all the other improving three-year-olds. You never know until they meet, I’m a big Chaldean fan and obviously Aidan O’Brien’s horse (Paddington) has improved and improved, but our horse was impressive at York and has worked very well since.

“I think he’s going in the right direction and we’ll find out where that takes him next week.

“The only thing that surprised me (at York) was the way he quickened – I hadn’t seen him do that before. It didn’t surprise me that he won, but it surprised me that he quickened as well as he did.”

Shadwell’s other intended Group One runner is Mostabshir’s stablemate Mostahdaf, who is being readied for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes in the assumption Hukum will not be added to the field.

The son of Frankel enjoyed a lucrative start to 2023, winning the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia before finishing fourth behind Japanese superstar Equinox in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

“I think he’ll run there, as things stand at the moment,” Gold added.

“He’d have to run out of his skin to be competitive in a Prince of Wales’s, but he’s won £1million this winter for us, he’s a fun horse and that’s why Sheikha Hissa kept him in training, to be contesting these good races, so we’ll let him take his chance and see how he gets on.

“He tried to serve it up to the Japanese horse off the bend in Dubai and paid the price against such a fantastic horse. He’d shown plenty of speed before then and they (Gosden team) just thought it was worth a try coming back in trip.”

Aaron Ramsey insists his focus is fully on Wales’ Euro 2024 ambitions amid uncertainty over his Nice future.

Ramsey has triggered a one-year contract extension at Nice after playing more than 30 games for the Ligue 1 club this season.

But it has been reported in the French media that the 32-year-old midfielder wants a longer deal to stay at Nice and that may not be forthcoming.

“I’m not sure what my future is at the moment,” Ramsey said ahead of Wales’ Euro 2024 double-header against Armenia and Turkey.

“The most important thing is for me to focus on these games.

“We will find out in a few weeks’ time, when everything has settled down a bit.

“My full focus is on Friday (against Armenia). I’ll have to keep you guys (the press) waiting a bit longer.”

Ramsey says his family, who have stayed in Cardiff while he has played in France and travelled to and from Wales, will be instrumental in the decision over his playing future.

It has led to speculation that Ramsey could return to Cardiff this summer, the Sky Bet Championship club where he began his career before moving to Arsenal in 2008 and spending 11 seasons in north London.

That particular rumour mill went into overdrive last week when Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman told supporters to expect an “exciting” signing this summer.

Ramsey said: “There’s always rumours going around, isn’t there? There is always that bit of noise.

“This season has been a success for me personally, I played a lot of games and some good football. The only thing missing was a few goals, but that will come again.

“The most challenging thing is being away from my family. That’s the situation I find myself in.

“I’ve been away from my family and seeing the kids growing up, missing out, it’s always difficult. Difficult for anyone to go through, I imagine.

“Whatever we do going forward, we will be reunited and back together.”

Wales host Armenia in Cardiff on Friday before heading to Turkey three days later, having made a positive start to Euro 2024 qualifying.

Rob Page’s side picked up four points from their opening two games in March, drawing away to World Cup semi-finalists Croatia before beating Latvia at home.

Ramsey said: “This is a massive camp for us. The World Cup was a huge disappointment for us, and it was important to get off to a good start.

“To bounce back straightaway in those two games sets us up nicely.

“It’s huge now to back that up against Armenia. It’s a game we need to win and all our attention is on that.”

Ramsey missed Nice’s last four games of the season with a calf problem.

But he is confident of playing roles against both Armenia and Turkey, saying: “The last couple of weeks I did not play, but before that I had a good run of games.

“I got myself in good shape so there’s not too much to be worried about.

“I’ve had a good season and we had a bit of a European run as well. I’m 100 per cent ready to play to help us win.”

Wakefield prop Hugo Salabio is facing a six-match ban for his tackle on Richie Myler in the Betfred Super League match against Leeds.

The 22-year-old trialist has been referred to a tribunal after his spear tackle on Leeds’ Myler in Sunday’s 24-14 victory over their Yorkshire neighbours – Wakefield’s first victory of the season.

The Frenchman was in possession of the ball in attack when facing a challenge from Myler before he appeared to pick up the Leeds scrum-half and drive him into the ground in the early stages of the second half.

Salabio made his debut on Sunday after joining the side on a 28-day trial and a lengthy suspension for a Grade F offence could end his chances of playing any further part for Wakefield.

There was further bad news for the club as Sam Hewitt and Sam Eseh were both given one-match bans for Grade B offences, a trip and dangerous contact respectively, and will not be available to face Hull KR in two weeks.

In the same fixture, Leeds back-rower James McDonnell was charged with Grade A dangerous contact but will not be disciplined further.

Leigh winger Josh Charnley has been charged with a Grade B high tackle for his challenge on Hull half-back Jake Clifford but has escaped any ban despite being ordered to pay a £250 fine, while Jez Litten was handed a fine of the same amount for Grade B kicking.

Salford’s King Vuniyayawa and Oliver Partington have escaped bans but landed £250 fines for dangerous contact in the 42-10 victory over Castleford, meaning both are available for the Challenge Cup quarter-final against Hull KR.

Catalans were handed a double blow following their crushing 38-4 win over Hull KR, as Mitchell Pearce and Matt Whitley were given suspensions.

Pearce has been given a three-game ban and £250 fine for Grade D kicking while team-mate Whitley will sit out the next match, against Leigh, after being charged with Grade C dangerous contact.

Castleford’s George Griffin escaped any punishment despite being charged with Grade A dangerous contact.

Alex McLeish stressed the need for Rangers “to get off to a flier” next season while Celtic reset following the departure of Ange Postecoglou.

The dominant Hoops claimed the domestic treble last season but are searching for a new boss after the former Australia manager left last week to join Tottenham.

Rangers manager Michael Beale is continuing the revamp of his squad with the recruitment of midfielder Kieran Dowell from Norwich, defender Dujon Sterling completing a move from Chelsea and goalkeeper Jack Butland joining after his release from Crystal Palace, with the promise of more to come.

McLeish, boss at Ibrox between 2001 and 2006, offered some advice to his former club, saying: “They have to make a great start.

“While Celtic may be with a new manager, new coaches, planning a strategy maybe not the same as Postecoglou’s, there could be a little bit of disruption and Rangers have to start extremely well.

“The big thing is recruitment.

“I am sure Michael has a good eye for players and if he has the right signings…they have to get off to a flier.

“I’m sure he has brought young and vibrant players in but when you come to a club like Rangers you’ve got to hit the ground running and that’s just the facts.”

Cicero’s Gift will step into the unknown as he lines up in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next Tuesday.

Though unbeaten in three starts, trainer Charlie Hills is keen to see how the inexperienced Muhaarar colt fares against the likes of 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean and Paddington, who won the Irish version.

Cicero’s Gift has made rapid strides this spring and is a general 3-1 third favourite for the Group One mile contest, run on the round course.

A unfancied 22-1 chance on his debut in a Newbury novices’ race in October, he ran on well to score with ease and returned in March to take a restricted novice over an extended mile on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.

It was his five-and-a-half-length win in a conditions race at Goodwood last time that propelled him into the reckoning for a mouthwatering clash with a pair of Classic winners, however.

Hills said: “He did it really well at Goodwood last time.

“I was delighted with it. He has improved with every run he’s had.

“Mentally, he has taken a bit of a while to come to himself. Last year we were nice and patient with him. Physically he has strengthened up. His is nice-looking horse, similar to his dad, probably a little bit bigger version.

“It is hard to know where we stack up against the others, as we have come through a different route, but hopefully he will run well.”

The Faringdon Place handler is no stranger to recent success at the meeting. Dark Shift (2022) and Afaak (2019) landed the Royal Hunt Cup, while Battaash struck in the King’s Stand (2020).

“We might have quite a big Royal Ascot team – about 20-odd this time,” said Hills. “We are still finalising plans, but we have a nice team.”

Galeron, who was fourth in the 2000 Guineas, did not get the cleanest of runs behind Paddington at the Curragh. He also holds an entry in the St James’s Palace, but could go elsewhere.

Hills added: “Galeron has done very well and they are two nice horses. Cicero’s Gift is less exposed.

“I’m not sure what race Galeron will go for – he’s in the Hampton Court as well. He wasn’t beaten far at the Curragh and was a little bit unlucky not to be closer, as he didn’t get the room when he needed it, and we got a little bit too far back in the race.”

Orazio is the general 8-1 market leader for the Wokingham Handicap. He has won three of five starts on the turf, including the last two, with a clear-cut victory over the same six-furlong course last month filling Hills with every confidence he can complete a hat-trick.

“I’m looking forward to Orazio running,” Hills added. “He is in the Wokingham and he would have a good chance, I would have thought. I think there is a little bit of rain in the forecast, and any rain wouldn’t go amiss for him.

“It was nice to get a bit of course-and-distance form last time. He had a bit of a problem last year, so he had a year off. He is a lightly-raced horse and he is unexposed, too.

“It is always hard to win at the meeting. Just one winner would be nice and if I had to pick one, I think Orazio would have a good chance.”

Tanmawwy could join his stablemate in the same race, despite having been a well-held favourite at Newmarket last month.

“Tanmawwy would like a little bit of cut in the ground as well. He ran in the Buckingham Palace last year and seven furlongs was a bit too far,” said the trainer.

Khaadem similarly holds a Wokingham entry. The consistent seven-year-old won the Group Two King George Stakes at Goodwood last July before finishing fourth in the Nunthorpe at York.

Touched off under hold-up tactics on his return to action at Salisbury, Hills would like quicker ground for him.

He said: “I was delighted with his run last time at Salisbury. We were just trying to run him a bit differently and he hit the line really well.

“We have a couple of other entries in the King’s Stand and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee, so we will just keep a weather watch.”

He added: “We also have a couple in the Britannia. Racingbreaks Ryder has won his last four starts and he might have a squeak. He won at Ascot last time over seven furlongs.

“Bodorgan, if he gets in, will have a chance in that as well. We have a couple of two-year-olds, but they have to step up from their last run, but we have a nice team and as always, we’re really looking forward to the meeting.”

Former Manchester City boss Joe Royle says Pep Guardiola’s current side is “one of, if not the best” English football has seen.

City completed the treble on Saturday night with victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final and Royle has no doubts where Guardiola’s class of 2023 ranks in the all-time list.

Royle, 74, who led City from the third tier to the Premier League after back-to-back promotions in 1999 and 2000, told the PA news agency: “There’s no doubt about it. They’re one of, if not the best English club side there has been.

“They’ve got to be talked of as one of them. They can play off the cuff or play in various systems and they can counter very quickly.

“They’ve got world-class individuals, they’ve got the team ethic and they’ve got a very, very strong squad, covering every position.”

Manchester United became the first English side to win the treble – league title, FA Cup and Champions League – under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999, the same year City dropped into the third tier for the first time in their history.

The debate will now rage among both clubs’ fans over which is the greater achievement and Royle said: “A treble is a treble.

“They’re both equally matched when compared to their rivals in their era and both City and United fans will rightfully claim that their side’s treble was the best.”

Under Royle, City ended their one season in the old Second Division, now League One, in thrilling fashion by beating Gillingham on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley.

Gillingham had led 2-0 in the final minute of normal time before last-gasp goals from City pair Kevin Horlock and Paul Dickov took the tie to extra-time and then penalties, with Royle’s side winning the shoot-out 3-1.

“It was an unforgettable way to win promotion,” Royle said. “And when you consider how far City have come since then, there’s no secret.

“The current ownership, with their financial support, have changed City from a side that did sink to the third tier.

“We got back into the Premier League, but we certainly didn’t have the funding that the side does today in order for us to stay there and we went straight back down again.

“But it’s been mostly on the up since then. It can never be too quick for a club to get in the Premier League.

“The current side, look where they’ve gone now. They’ve completed the treble and deservedly so. You can never get there too quickly.”

Guardiola’s City have been crowned English champions in five of the last six seasons, but, after finally securing the Champions League Royle, is not sure if they will now dominate Europe in a similar manner.

“Football is a season-by-season game isn’t it?” he added. “Certainly anyone who finishes ahead of them next season, in England or Europe, is going to be doing very well.

“The money has been spent very well. They’ve generally bought very well. It’s one thing having money and another thing using it wisely and City have been very good at that.”

Kieren Fallon knew from the very first moment Russian Rhythm was a special filly. And so she proved when storming to Royal Ascot glory 20 years ago.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Fallon first got to sit on the daughter of Kingmambo on the gallops in Newmarket at the beginning of her racing journey and it did not take him long to realise he was aboard a thoroughbred of the highest order, with his mind already drifting 12 months down the line to when she would get to contest the 1000 Guineas.

Having completed Fallon’s prophecy by securing Classic honours at Newmarket in the spring of 2003, attentions turned to Royal Ascot where the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Russian Rhythm would be assigned the task of completing the 1000 Guineas/Coronation Stakes double.

Although a regular in the winner’s enclosure at the Royal meeting, Russian Rhythm would go on to fittingly provide Fallon with his sole Coronation Stakes victory, justifying odds-on favouritism to see off Soviet Song.

“She won the Coronation and she was an amazing filly,” said Fallon.

“She probably didn’t get the recognition I think she should have done. I remember the first time I ever rode her it was up the Limekilns and a place they call the golden mile. She was a two-year-old and it was one of her first pieces of work, and I said this filly was something else. All I could think about was the Guineas, she was always special.”

Following her Royal Ascot triumph, Russian Rhythm went on to add another Group One in the Nassau Stakes and although only one further success in the following year’s Lockinge Stakes was to follow as injury curtailed her on-track career, there are few fillies that Fallon holds in higher esteem.

He continued: “She was like a colt, she had some stamp to her and everything about her was amazing. It was like driving a Rolls Royce, she had this cruising speed and you just floated on her. I will never forget that filly.

“She was an exceptional filly. I won the 1000 Guineas four times, nine (Guineas) in all if you include the colts, but she stood out by a mile. I rode Ouija Board, Bosra Sham and Russian Rhythm – they were the three. They were all stamped the same, they were like colts and had serious engines and serious temperaments, and I was lucky to come across Russian Rhythm.”

The 2003 edition proved to be a fruitful Royal Ascot for Fallon as he also got his hands on the Gold Cup for the first time when steering Mr Dinos to a six-length victory over Persian Punch for Paul Cole in the week’s feature.

He went on to add a second Gold Cup three years later when guiding Yeats to the first of four victories in the race, and having ridden many big winners at the Royal meeting over the course of his decorated career, the five-day festival holds a special place in the six-time champion jockey’s memories.

“Royal Ascot is amazing. It’s unique,” continued Fallon.

“You go down there on the Tuesday and you stay there for the week, everyone comes together from all over the world, you can have your parties after racing on the evenings, it’s just amazing. You have the royal family there. The Queen was a highlight of the whole week from start to finish – forget the horses, sometimes people just wanted to see the Queen.

“For all the great horses I had to ride – and that was some feeling and a buzz – but it is also a buzz when you walked into the paddock and saw the royal family. It really is something not a lot of people experience and the pleasure you get from it you take to your grave.

“When you were on horses for Aidan (O’Brien) and Sir Michael you knew you were on live ones, but even to get rides down there was special.

“There were times when I was starting out when I could have had five good rides at Redcar or somewhere like that, but you’re not even thinking about that, you want to go to Ascot just to be part of it. It’s once-in-a-lifetime thing, Royal Ascot, it’s like heaven.”

Harald Brattbakk claims Kjetil Knutsen has “all the qualifications to become a success” if he ends up at Celtic.

The Bodo/Glimt boss is one of several names reported to be in the frame to replace Ange Postecoglou, who moved to Tottenham last week.

Reports also claim talks between the Norwegian and Ajax about a possible move to the Dutch club broke down.

Knutsen steered Bodo/Glimt to a 5-1 aggregate win over Celtic in the Europa Conference League last year.

Former Celtic striker Brattbakk, best known in Scotland for scoring the clinching goal in the Hoops’ 2-0 victory over St Johnstone in 1998 which won the league and ended Old Firm rivals Rangers’ dreams of an historic ’10-in-a-row’, said: “He would be a good candidate.

“He was picked by Bodo/Glimt, they had been scouting him for years, so they knew his qualities.

“He has all the qualifications to become a success.

“But it also depends on – if he should come – what conditions he would be working under as well.

“You know that in Scotland, one thing is winning the league but what you do when you come to Europe, that is the next step.

“But he has also proved with less resources that he can do well. So he would definitely be a good candidate.

“It would also depend on the squad he gets but he has also been very good at picking the players he needs and wants.

“Maybe he has more room to play at Celtic than at Bodo/Glimt so it will be interesting to see how that story unfolds.”

Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickels is preparing for unsettled weather ahead of the start of the five-day Royal meeting next week.

The track has been bereft of any significant rainfall for the last few weeks and although isolated thunderstorms are forecast at the Berkshire venue until Tuesday morning, temperatures are set to remain high in the coming days.

Stickels is struggling to find much clarity from the metrological forecasts ahead of the meeting, which starts next Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon, he said: “We are very happy with where we are. The track is in lovely condition. The grass coverage is lovely and thick and it is a nice racing surface.

“At the moment we are just maintaining it so we can apply more water if we need to closer to the event. The forecast is tricky because we may get thunderstorms later today, then drier weather, then maybe a slightly trickier week next week.

“There are varying scenarios at the moment. Different models are giving us different information, but it will not be a settled week next week.

“It makes things more complicated when the forecast isn’t settled.”

The Queen Anne Stakes – which sees a potential clash between Breeders’ Cup Mile and Lockinge hero Modern Games, Coronation Stakes and Prix Jacques Le Marois heroine Inspiral, and last season’s Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Native Trail – is the first of three Group One races on the opening day.

Stickels and his team are pulling out all the stops to ensure they are not caught out by the vagaries of the weather.

He added: “From tomorrow (Tuesday) there will be daily going updates. GoingStick readings will be taken tomorrow, then on Friday, then every day from Sunday. We will be monitoring the situation and updating things.

“We have been watering every day. At present, we are a mixture of good, good to firm, and firm, depending on where we are with our watering.

“We haven’t had rain for months. You’d be rock hard if we didn’t water, but we are very happy with where we are at the moment.”

Novak Djokovic might have won the French Open, but Gilles Simon does not foresee too many more grand slam victories for the world number one.

Djokovic overcame Casper Ruud 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 7-5 at Roland Garros on Sunday to claim his 23rd major title, taking him clear of Rafael Nadal (22).

The Serbian turned 36 last month, however, and speaking before the tournament, former world number six Simon suggested Djokovic must enjoy the major triumphs while they are here.

Simon pointed to the now-retired Roger Federer and Nadal, who will retire next year, as prime examples of top players being unable to retain their level beyond the age of 37.

"There's a lot less serenity and so he's into his own thing," said Simon, speaking to Stats Perform at the Roland-Garros eSeries by BNP Paribas.

"[Djokovic winning the French Open] will stop the GOAT, not the GOAT debate. In fact, it won't stop it, but at least we'll stop talking about this famous number of grand slam records and we'll understand that, in the end, there are those for whom the best player is the best on the court, but he's already the one who has the best stats.

"Of course he doesn't have the easy road in the sense that he has not ten years in front of him. In other words, he's [winning] two more grand slams, maximum. It's not easy, so he better win slams now.

"He does not have time. He's 36, he's struggling and it's easy to see why. Roger, 37 years old, nothing after that. Rafa, 36 last year [37 now], and nothing after that. Novak will be no exception to the rule.

"Rafa, the last grand slam he won (2022 French Open), it was very hard physically. Novak, he's won several grand slams with the adductor tear, elbow, abs, whatever. It's been a long time since they won a slam by rolling over everyone, as they did before."

Brentford have completed the permanent signing of German forward Kevin Schade for a club-record fee believed to be around £20million.

Schade, 21, initially joined the Bees on loan from Freiburg in January and has now signed a five-year contract.

Brentford director of football Phil Giles told the club’s official website: “When Kevin joined us on loan in January, we agreed with Freiburg that the move would become permanent this summer if certain conditions were met, which included Brentford remaining a Premier League team for next season.

“We have all been pleased with Kevin’s contribution so far, both on the pitch and his professionalism off it, so to have him with us now until 2028 is fantastic for the club.

“We all hope both Kevin and Brentford can make further progress from here and look forward to the challenge.”

Schade made 19 appearances for the Bees over the second half of last season.