Chelsea's new recruits are perfectly suited to playing under Mauricio Pochettino, according to Gus Poyet, who believes the Blues could surprise their Premier League rivals this season.
Chelsea have continued to invest heavily ahead of their second full season under the Todd Boehly regime, spending an estimated £328million on Moises Caicedo, Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and others during the current transfer window.
Former Brighton and Hove Albion star Caicedo became the most expensive player in Premier League history when he joined the Blues in a £115m deal this week, with fellow midfielder Romeo Lavia also arriving from Southampton for £58m.
While Chelsea's costly recruitment policy has attracted plenty of criticism, former Blues favourite Poyet feels they have acquired players likely to excel under Pochettino.
"Obviously they have a new coach. They have too many new players," Poyet told Stats Perform.
"They're very young and normally the young players have that stamina, they are going to run and create, but then you have that dip in form.
"The thing that I am the most pleased about, thinking about the coach, is they are made for Pochettino.
"Young players that need to be built, that need to be coached, that need to feel part of a group and have togetherness… things that Pochettino does tremendously well.
"A few weeks ago, I was worried. Now I've got a feeling that maybe they can be the surprise. I'm not saying they can win the title, but the surprise in terms of how they're going to develop."
Chelsea produced a positive display in their season opener last Sunday, enjoying 64.9 per cent of the possession and creating five big chances in an entertaining 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
Conor Gallagher partnered Enzo Fernandez in the heart of Chelsea's midfield for that game, but Poyet believes Caicedo's arrival can take the Blues to a different level.
"I think was quite a good call from Pochettino to play Fernandez a little bit further forward," he said. "For that, you need a proper sitting number six, which Gallagher did the other day.
"I think Gallagher did tremendously, he made two or three unbelievable tackles to recover the ball in difficult circumstances, but they're looking for that athletic South American that can cover the pitch and be good on the ball.
"[Caicedo] learned a lot with Roberto De Zerbi about positioning and passing, so I think they have an incredible group of players that just need to gel or to find the right system."
Poyet – who coached Brighton between 2009 and 2013 – also believes the transfer represents a remarkable piece of business for the Seagulls, adding: "I want to talk about Brighton, who are outstanding with their recruitment system.
"To have players from everywhere in the world and sell them for the amount of money they are selling them for is tremendous."
The Baltimore Ravens made a move to address an uncertain pass rush by agreeing to a contract with three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney on Friday.
NFL.com reports Clowney's deal is for one year.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 draft by the Houston Texans, Clowney will remain in the AFC North after spending the last two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. The 30-year-old brings proven experience to a Baltimore defence that moved on from two of its best pass rushers from 2022, Justin Houston and Calais Campbell, during the offseason.
Clowney has amassed 43 sacks in 109 career games over nine NFL seasons and has had nine sacks or more in three of the last six campaigns, including his first season with the Browns in 2021.
The veteran is coming off a disappointing 2022 season, however, in which he recorded only two sacks in 12 games and clashed with the Browns' coaching staff at times. Cleveland benched Clowney for the season finale after he commented that the organisation showed favouritism to All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.
Clowney joins a Ravens' outside linebacker corps that was expected to give increased roles to a pair of young and less proven players, Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo.
Oweh, a first-round pick in 2021, has flashed talent with eight sacks in 32 career games. Ojabo, a second-round selection in 2022, played in only two games as a rookie.
Clowney, who spent his first five seasons with the Texans and has also played for the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans, is the second veteran defensive addition made by the Ravens in as many days. Baltimore signed cornerback Ronald Darby on Thursday after announcing starter Marlon Humphrey underwent foot surgery and will miss the beginning of the season.
Luis Enrique said Kylian Mbappe is in a good state of mind to return to his Paris Saint Germain side ahead of Saturday’s Ligue 1 meeting with Toulouse.
The striker was absent from the squad for the opening-weekend goalless draw with Lorient following a tumultuous summer in which a dispute over his future left him training separately from the first team.
The 23-year-old has only a year to run on his current contract and has stated his reluctance to sign renewed terms, but has been brought back into the fold and is in line play on Saturday.
The manager said he is happy to have a player of the World Cup-winner’s ability available as he looks to win the title in his first season in charge.
“I am very happy to have a world-class player like Kylian,” said Enrique. “He is in great shape, he has a lot of desire, a very good state of mind.”
It will be PSG’s first game in Ligue 1 since world-record signing Neymar departed to sign for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
Enrique managed the Brazilian during the time together at Barcelona, winning the Champions League in 2015, but the 31-year-old had recently made clear his desire to leave the club he joined for £190million in 2017.
He made 173 appearances for PSG after signing from Barcelona in 2017, helping the club win 13 trophies, including five Ligue 1 titles, as well as reaching the final of the Champions League in 2020.
The manager said that despite Mbappe’s return there would still be attacking reinforcements required following Neymar’s departure.
“He is a world-class player and I wish him well for the future,” said Enrique.
“We still need to strengthen (in attack) because it is the where we had the fewest recruits. We still have work to do on how they complement each other.”
The former Barca manager, who replaced Christophe Galtier as manager of the Ligue 1 champions in July, said he is yet to select a new team captain and yet may yet allow his squad to pick whom they wish to lead them this season.
“There are four captains (in the squad) – that something that is defined by the players, not by the coach. I want him (who the players choose) to be their captain, not my captain.”
The club was boosted by the news on Friday that goalkeeper Sergio Rico has been discharged from the hospital, three months after he sustained a head injury following an accident with a loose horse.
Sports stars and clubs across the world continue to provide an insight into their lives on social media.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the best examples from August 18.
FootballTheo Walcott hung up his boots.
Gary Lineker doesn’t want to spend even more time with Micah Richards.
Leah Williamson donned Arsenal’s new kit.
Lionesses team bus ready for the showdown.
Some more doodle action from England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy.
BoxingTyson Fury looked ahead to his next fight.
CricketWhoops!
Stuart Broad was enjoying retirement.
NCAA Championships runner-up, Roje Stona, is looking forward to participating in his first IAAF World Championships set for August 19-27 in Budapest.
The Jamaican Arkansas standout is currently sixth on the world rankings this year with a best throw of 68.64m done to win at the SEC Outdoor Championships in Baton Rouge in May.
He enters Budapest as one of Jamaica’s biggest medal contenders in the field events.
“I’m looking forward to it. I think it will be a good competition. I’ve trained for the last couple weeks after the National Trials. I’m used to the extended season so it’s just for me to go out there and compete for a medal,” Stona said.
Those National Trials saw Stona throw 65.92m to finish second behind Traves Smikle’s 66.12m. 2019 World Championships silver medalist Fedrick Dacres threw 65.79m to complete Jamaica’s team for Budapest.
“It was a good experience. I was happy with the result in terms of finishing top three and getting a solid mark over 65m,” Stona said.
These performances mark a steady improvement for Jamaica in the event. Stona (6th), Dacres (7th) and Smikle (9th) are all in the top 10 in the world this year in the event. Stona’s best performance this season was his aforementioned 68.64m effort at the SEC Championships. Dacres threw 68.57m to win at the Tucson Elite Classic in Arizona in May while Smikle threw a personal best 68.14m at the King of the Ring event at the Excelsior High School on February 11.
“I’m glad to see that there’s a lot of improvement in the event in the country. I’m looking forward to competing with the guys,” Stona said.
At major championships, throwers will get up to three throws in the preliminaries but Stona is hoping he only needs one to achieve the automatic qualifying distance to the final which is 66.00m.
“If you make it to these competitions you are guaranteed three throws so, obviously, I’m going to try to make sure that I qualify from round one to not put myself under any pressure,” he said.
Action can be seen live on the SportsMax app.
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta is being investigated for potential betting breaches, according to reports.
Manchester City had been interested in signing the Brazilian in an £80million deal before the end of the summer transfer window.
Reports emerged on Friday afternoon that the 25-year-old is subject to investigations by the Football Association, and also global governing body FIFA, concerning bets placed in his native country.
When contacted by the PA news agency, neither the FA nor West Ham were making any comment on the reports, while FIFA has also been approached.
Paqueta, who was signed from Lyon last summer, played in West Ham’s opening Premier League match at Bournemouth last weekend.
When asked about the player and interest from Manchester City in a press conference ahead of Sunday’s home game against Chelsea, West Ham manager David Moyes said: “I can’t shed any light on (the situation with) Lucas Paqueta.
“I said last week there had been an enquiry from Manchester City, but I can’t say any more than that.”
Miaharris came from the clouds to maintain her unbeaten record in dramatic fashion with victory in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing St Hugh’s Stakes at Newbury.
An impressive winner at Sandown on her debut, Owen Burrows stepped the daughter of Zoustar up in grade on just her second outing against other fillies with more experience.
It looked like being a step too far at halfway, however, as she was one of the first off the bridle and looked to be up against it.
It was Alice Haynes’ Majestic Beauty – the only other unbeaten runner in the field – who was at the head of affairs heading into the final furlong, and she still looked to have plenty left.
Henry Candy’s Tears Of A Clown then emerged as a real danger and the two began to pull clear, with Juniper Berries running on.
By now Miaharris (9-4 favourite) was beginning to hit top gear and while she still had two lengths to find on the leaders, once in the clear Oisin Murphy got her to lengthen and she picked up in the style of a smart filly, winning by a neck from Majestic Beauty.
Burrows said: “She’s done well to win from where she was at halfway. She put up a nice performance at Sandown, but we knew it was a bit of a punt stepping up straight to Listed class and inexperience looked like it was going to go against us halfway through the race.
“The encouraging thing was once she got some room she hit the line strong. She has got that touch of class and she is still a work in progress, but she’s probably a smart filly.
“The nice thing is she hit the line strong and relaxed early so it looks like now she is up in grade, she needs to be going up a furlong in trip as well.
“There’s the Dick Poole (Salisbury, September 7) and there is also the Firth of Clyde at Ayr (September 23) which is also six furlongs. Timing-wise the Dick Poole would be nice, but we will see how she is when we get back and through next week.
“It’s obviously encouraging heading into the autumn that she has handled that ground there today, it gives us plenty of options.”
Miaharris cost 210,000 guineas as a breeze-up buy in the spring and Burrows was delighted to reward the patience of owner Olly Harris who has allowed the Farncombe Down handler to take his time with the talented youngster and may now have a Group-class operator on his hands.
But Burrows did sound a note of warning around the potential pitfalls of affordability checks, with Harris one of a number of high-profile owners reportedly considering his future in the sport.
“It’s great for Olly who has been a good supporter of mine last year when we were beginning to take outside horses,” added Burrows.
“He’s backed me again this year and this filly wasn’t cheap at the sales, so fair play to him and I’m chuffed because we were a little bit quiet in the first part of the season for him but he’s been very patient and a great owner to have because he just lets me get on with it.
“It’s obviously a bit worrying what we read the other day. He’s someone who likes a bet on his horses and is being restricted and from my point of view he’s not going to buy any new ones. It’s a prime example of what these affordability checks could do.
“Olly is on holiday with his family at the moment, but he has a group of mates who don’t just like going to have a day at the races to have a bit of lunch, they like to have a bet as well. Some bets will be bigger than others, but that is part of the enjoyment for them and if part of that enjoyment is taken away what is the point of having any more horses.
“From my point of view, it’s a big worry because we have four for him at the moment and at the end of the year two of those will probably be going to the sales. The two two-year-olds will stay, but he’s not reinvesting and that’s the worry for all of us.
“I’m certainly not in the position to be losing owners like him and the game itself isn’t in the position to be losing people like him. That’s not just on the Flat because he spends really good money over jumps as well, so it won’t be just me with a few empty boxes, it will be other trainers as well.”
Aaron Wainwright admits Wales will face a team that sets the bar in terms of physicality when they meet World Cup warm-up opponents South Africa on Saturday.
Wales’ final preparation Test promises to be a full-on spectacle at the Principality Stadium, with reigning world champions South Africa parading many of their star names.
Fit-again captain Siya Kolisi returns to the starting line-up after recovering from a serious knee injury, while 390 caps worth of experience up front also includes players such as Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit.
“We have spoken about physicality all week,” Wales number eight Wainwright said.
“If there is a team you are going to come up against at international level that is going to set the bar physicality-wise it is going to be South Africa.
“We have spoken about what we can bring to them in the physical test.
“Let’s not wait for them to bring the challenge to us. Let’s get off the line and meet them and show what we can do physically.
“I think the past two games we have played against England we have set our mark physicality-wise and it’s about building on that now, taking it into Saturday and then the World Cup.
“It is going to be a big test for us, but we have spoken about that and we know that is coming.”
Wainwright looks like being a key part of Wales’ back-row armoury at the World Cup.
He made his Test debut in 2018 and featured during the following year’s global showpiece tournament in Japan, but he has also experienced time in the wilderness, not being involved for 14 successive Tests before Wales faced France in last season’s Six Nations.
“Going to Japan quite young and experiencing that World Cup, I look back with fond memories, but I probably did not capture it as well as I would have liked to,” he added.
“The training camps I have gone on this time in Switzerland and Turkey I have been able to experience things a lot more, enjoy working hard and being around the boys.
“I played the final game of the Six Nations and loved my opportunity to get back on the pitch and put the red jersey on again.
“You can see the depth we are developing across the back row. Taulupe (Faletau) is out for now, but he is pretty close to returning, which is great for the team and for him.
“For me, it is another chance to put my hand up on the weekend and show what I can do.
“I enjoy my rugby more when I get my hands on the ball and carry. If I can keep doing that, I can keep putting my hands up.”
Wales head coach Warren Gatland’s final 33-strong World Cup squad will be announced on Monday, but a formidable Springboks challenge means that minds cannot be allowed to wander.
“It is going to be in the back of people’s minds, naturally, because it is a World Cup selection,” Wainwright said.
“But is about getting on the pitch and playing as well as you can and letting the rest take care of itself.”
It was with an air of triumph and celebration that Tsenaye Lewis secured her first Jamaica singles title at the recent National Table Tennis Championships in Kingston. Alongside her sister, Gianna, the dynamic duo also showcased their exceptional talents, leaving an indelible mark on the tournament.
Over the course of three intense days of fierce competition, the Lewis sisters emerged as triumphant champions, collecting an impressive haul of 10 trophies across seven categories. Their remarkable achievements were a testament to their dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to their craft.
Tsenaye Lewis beat Keeara Whyte 11-8, 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6 to win the national women’s title. She further showcased her prowess by clinching first place in the Junior Mixed Doubles alongside Rasheed Clarke. She was also queen of the U19 women. Meanwhile, she and sister, Gianna, were also runners-up in the women’s doubles beaten 13-11, 11-9, 11-13, 13-11 to Liana Campbell and Keeara Whyte.
Her collaboration with Roberto 'Dino' Byles earned her a well-deserved second-place finish in the Mixed Doubles, while her participation in the winning St. Andrew parish team underscored her versatility. Additionally, Tsenaye's partnership with Gianna led them to a commendable second place in the Junior Girls Doubles.
The championship was a remarkable achievement for Tsenaye and her sisters' exceptional performances highlighted their commitment to continuous growth and learning within the sport.
"I am happy with my performance and excited about continuing to learn and grow in the sport. I look forward to putting in more work to get my game to the next level," an excited Tsenaye said afterwards.
Meanwhile, Gianna, reflecting on the achievements during the tournament, expressed her satisfaction despite facing some physical challenges. "It was a good tournament, although I wasn't feeling so well. I did my best and am happy that I was able to apply some of the skills I have been working on throughout the summer," she remarked.
The Lewis sisters embarked on their competitive journey seven years ago, representing Jamaica at the Caribbean Pre-Cadet Table Tennis Championship. Since then, they have showcased their talent on international stages in countries such as Cuba, Guyana, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.
Their impressive track record includes title victories and defenses in various age categories at the Caribbean, national, and parish levels. Both Gianna and Tsenaye are also integral members of the Wolmer's Table Tennis team, which has clinched victory at the Inter-School Secondary Association's Table Tennis Championships on multiple occasions.
Meanwhile, Mark Phillips defeated Roberto Byles 11-8, 11-1, 13-11, 11-8 to claim the Men’s title.
Former national champion Kane Watson and partner Gari Whyte took the men’s doubles title defeating Byles and Alphanso Morris is a five-set thriller 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6.
Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes believes he is making Usain Bolt proud as he looks to follow in the superstar’s footsteps.
The 28-year-old is eyeing the 100m title ahead of the heats on the opening day the World Championships on Saturday.
He arrives in Budapest as the fastest man in the world this year, having smashed Linford Christie’s 30-year British record in June when clocking 9.83 seconds in New York.
A month later in London he broke John Regis’ national 200m mark when running 19.73secs.
The 100m crown is up for grabs in Sunday’s final in Budapest, with no sprinter dominating since Bolt retired in 2017.
Hughes joined the Racers Track Club at 16 to train with Bolt, who was at the peak of his powers, and under coach Glen Mills and feels he soon grabbed the Jamaican star’s attention.
The 200m European champion said: “It first happened when I ran against Bolt in New York in 2015. I finished second to him, we both went to the finish line together and that’s when I opened his eyes. He noticed I was pretty quick and he was like, ‘Who is this young boy?’
“Since then, I think he has always held me at high regard, but injuries came along and stuff came by that’s out of my control. But I’m pretty sure now he sees the performances and he’s proud of me.
“First, Usain didn’t even know who I was. I was just a 16-year-old who came from Anguilla, skinny, looking like a tooth pick.
“But I came there and trained hard because I looked across every day to see what they were doing, how was it they pushed on? I was inspired by being in the presence of Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Warren Weir.
“I came there running 10.4 on grass and by the end of the season, I was running 10.20 and then the following year I got down to 10.12. So just being amongst those guys pushed me a lot.
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“To be in the presence of greatness was just one of those surreal moments. I just needed to pinch myself a second to realise, ‘Hey, you’re actually here’, but I think I got a little star struck.”
Eugene Amo-Dadzie and Reece Prescod also start their 100m campaigns at the National Athletics Centre.
Defending champion Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles and Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs will all make claims for the podium and Hughes recognises the nature of the race.
“It’s open but I’m bringing my A-game,” he said. “That’s all I know. I’m focusing on myself. I’m not really focused on whoever else is there. I’ll see them at the starting line and we will race towards the finish and see who gets there first.
“I don’t have a prediction, but I want to win. That’s the only thing on my mind, just going out, getting through the rounds and once I’m in the final let it all out.
“It’s a bit tense (in the call room), you can feel the tension and people are just sipping water, looking at you and you hear little grumbles now and then.
“They try to intimidate you, but my head is a bit hard to get into right now. So you can do whatever you have to do, but you’re not going to get into my head.
“I just go there. I sip my water. I look at who I need to look at, put my spikes on and I’m ready to race.”
Katarina Johnson-Thompson also competes on day one of the heptathlon, with Jazmin Sawyers going in long jump qualification, while Josh Kerr, Neil Gourley and Elliot Giles run in the 1500m heats.
Keely Hodgkinson believes athletics stars never get the credit they deserve.
The 21-year-old is in Budapest ahead of her assault on the 800 metres title at the World Championships.
Emma Raducanu’s US Open win in 2021 catapulted her to stardom while Hodgkinson is still a relative unknown outside of athletics in the UK.
That is despite her Olympic and world silver medals along with three European golds.
She said: “I do think us athletes work a lot harder than some other sports and we don’t get the recognition we deserve. I don’t know how but hopefully we will get there.
“I think because an athlete is individual, obviously you have your team around you which is great but you have a lot of individualisation time. I think it’s just hard.
“If it’s a team and you lose, the whole team is supporting you. If it’s you, everything is on you and you’re the one that controls what happens when you set off.
“That’s just a different kind of pressure. Training for these events, it’s tough. Footballers think they’re fit, they’re just not. Because if you brought them down to the track they wouldn’t keep up.
“Everyone works hard. Tennis players work really hard, everything is just different. But in all the different aspects you have in athletics, I don’t think people realise the behind the scenes of what goes into it.”
Hodgkinson has also limited the brands she works with – just Nike, Omega and Maurten – to ensure she remains focused on training, but was still called ‘athletics’ new It girl’ in an interview with Vogue this month.
“When you work with brands they also want something back,” she adds. “Days here, days in London, media days. If you’ve got six, seven, eight different brands your time is going to be taken up quite a bit – and my main priority is training.
“I just want to make sure they understand and they don’t want too much from me that it takes away or stresses me out, or anything like that. I’m protecting who I work with just to see what comes along.”
Her quest for 800m gold starts in the heats on Wednesday but world champion, the USA’s Athing Mu, has been keeping Hodgkinson guessing over whether she will compete in Hungary or focus on next year’s Paris Olympics.
Hodgkinson finished second behind Mu in Eugene last year and at the Tokyo Olympics, with their battle still poised to be one of the races of the Championships.
“When you’re missing a big name, when people come they want to watch that,” she said. “It would definitely be a shame if she’s missing. But we don’t know what’s going on on her side of the world and what her story is.
“We’ve not heard anything so I guess we just have to wait and see, but I try not to think about who’s going to turn up and who’s not.
“You kind of go in with the mentality that everyone’s going to be there and if they’re not, they’re not.
“That (gold) is a personal goal of mine anyway. So it would just be quite fulfilling if I did that.”
Meanwhile, skipper Laura Muir starts her 1500m campaign at the National Athletics Centre on Saturday, along with GB team-mates Katie Snowden and Melissa Courtney-Bryant, aiming to challenge Kenya’s world and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon.
“Obviously, you always want to come away with a medal but it’s about the stuff you can control,” said Muir. “That’s what I talked about in the captaincy speech.
“The two key messages were: no limitations on yourself, because you don’t know what you’re capable of, you can go out there and run way faster than you thought, and then no expectations of others.
“You have no idea what other people are capable of either and what shape they’re in.”
England’s countdown towards the World Cup final against Spain continues with expectations rising at home as well as for Lionesses fans Down Under.
Elsewhere, Sweden and co-hosts Australia are getting set to battle it out for a third-place finish.
Here, the PA news agency looks at all the latest news heading into the final weekend of the showpiece tournament.
Russo at the ready
Alessia Russo cannot wait to kick off England’s World Cup final – after years spent rehearsing the winning strike in her childhood garden.
On Sunday night in Sydney, the Lionesses could become the first England team to bring football ‘home’ since Sir Alf Ramsey and his men lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1966.
“Obviously this is the biggest game, the one you dream about and means the most,” said Arsenal forward Russo, who scored England’s third goal to seal a 3-1 semi-final win over Australia on Wednesday.
“I think it will hit when we’re in the tunnel and ready to walk out.
“It’s an incredible occasion, it’s been an unbelievable tournament and this is it. This is the moment we want to be in. We can’t wait.”
Sarina staying put
Sarina Wiegman intends to stay put as England boss amidst rumours the Dutch coach could be tempted into the recently vacated United States manager’s chair.
On Thursday, US Soccer announced Vlatko Andonovski would step down by mutual agreement following a disappointing World Cup campaign that saw the double-defending champions knocked out by Sweden for a worst-ever last-16 finish.
Along with Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, Wiegman finds herself already among the names tipped to fill the vacancy.
The 53-year-old Dutchwoman, though, issued a reassuring update as she prepared to lead the Lionesses into their first World Cup final.
“I’m staying out of that. I’ve heard it (rumours). I’m with England, I’m really happy with England and I have a contract until 2025,” Wiegman said.
“I’m really enjoying my job and I have the impression that people still like me doing that job. I have no plans to leave.”
Kerr targets bronze
Sam Kerr is determined to salvage third place for Australia to reward fans after their dream of lifting the Women’s World Cup on home turf was ended.
A superb strike from Kerr was in vain in Wednesday’s semi-final against England as Australia fell to a 3-1 defeat – leaving the vast majority of the 75,000 fans in Sydney disappointed.
“The support we’ve had has been amazing and we’ll do everything we can at the weekend to get those fans third place,” said Chelsea forward Kerr, who has been battling a calf strain throughout the tournament.
“The amount of people who’ve come out to support us, who’ve been there at our hotel, I’ll say it again: it’s been amazing. We never could have dreamed about this kind of support.
“We have to pick ourselves up and go again. And we’re going to do everything to win third.”
Open up!
Pubs across England are hoping a minister’s letter to councils across England means venues can open early for the World Cup final on Sunday.
Current regulations mean the sale of alcohol is widely prohibited before 10am on Sunday, but venues such as pubs also have specific hours they can stay open and serve alcohol depending on individual licences.
Pub bosses have warned that those licensing rules mean some venues will be unable to serve pints or open early for excited fans on the day.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove has written to councils across England to do everything they can to help venues seeking to extend their hours for the game.
“The whole nation is ready to get behind the Lionesses this Sunday in what is England’s biggest game since 1966,” levelling up secretary Mr Gove said.
“I’ve asked councils to do everything they can to help pubs get open earlier on Sunday, so people can come together and enjoy a drink before kick-off for this special occasion.”
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What’s next?
Third-place play-off: Sweden v Australia (Brisbane, Saturday 0900BST)
Final: Spain v England (Sydney, Sunday 1100BST)
Arrest could set up another Classic tilt when he returns from a short break in the BetVictor Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
John and Thady Gosden’s charge was sent off the 4-1 favourite to give Frankie Dettori a fairytale swansong in the Derby in June on the back of an impressive display in the Chester Vase the previous month.
However, things did not go to plan for the colt at Epsom, with the son of Frankel struggling to handle the famous undulations and he also underwhelmed when seeking compensation in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He now steps up in trip with connections keen to gauge whether he could become a Betfred St Leger contender later in the season, and while his training team will be keeping one eye on conditions to make sure the ground is suitable, heavy rain before racing on Friday will have been welcome.
“It will all depend on what the ground is like. I’m sure John and Thady will have a walk of the track,” explained Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.
He went on: “He’s a horse that stays well and we’re going to try to see if he’s a St Leger horse or a mile-and-a-half horse.
“His pedigree wouldn’t scream a mile and six furlongs to you, but just with his running style and John also feels he has a fair chance of getting the trip, so we will give him a chance and see.”
William Haggas’ Klondike was the winner of a soft ground maiden on debut at the course in April before going on to perform with credit in decent company in two starts since.
He came within three lengths of toppling the Gosdens’ Royal Ascot scorer Gregory in the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood, before being slightly outpaced in a slowly-run edition of the Bahrain Trophy most recently.
“He’s a progressive horse and he was held up in a slowly-run race last time which didn’t suit him,” said the Somerville Lodge handler.
“He will be better on this track and will hopefully run a nice race.
“He won’t mind any rain. He doesn’t have to have soft ground, but he won’t mind it if it comes.
“I think he will be better as he gets older and I don’t want to over do him this year, I think a couple of more races will be fine for him.”
Kemari got the better of a prolonged tussle with Outbox to claim the Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket and looks the pick of the older horses on show.
That was the first time the five-year-old had found the scoresheet since landing the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot in 2021 and Charlie Appleby is hoping he can build on that welcome return to his best.
“Kemari goes to Newbury fit and well, having had a little break since the Fred Archer,” the Moulton Paddocks handler told www.godolphin.com.
“I think conditions will suit, as he has a bit of form on softer ground, and a repeat of his Newmarket performance should make him a serious contender.”
Henry Longfellow will return to the Curragh attempting to follow in the footsteps of some of Ballydoyle’s best in the Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes on Sunday.
Aidan O’Brien’s son of Dubawi is out of the stable’s 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine Minding and created a taking impression when making his debut at the Kildare track, looking the consummate professional when running on powerfully to beat Mythology.
That form was given a timely boost when Mythology finished second in a Deauville Group Three recently and confidence will be high that Henry Longfellow – who is as short as 8-1 for the 2000 Guineas no bigger than 16-1 for the Derby – can add to O’Brien’s impressive record in the Group Two contest.
O’Brien has won eight of the last 10 runnings of the seven-furlong event and has won it 14 times in total with the likes of Hawk Wing, Gleneagles and Churchill just some of the leading names to taste Futurity glory and then progress to further big-race riches.
“He’s good and everything seems well with him since the last day. We’re looking forward to seeing him out again,” said O’Brien.
“His work has been loved, P-C (Boudot) is riding him all the time and he’s very happy with him.”
On the potential for rain he added: “He won’t mind that, Minding handled soft ground and I don’t think that will be a problem to him.”
O’Brien will also be represented by Portland who is another son of Dubawi and opened his account at the third attempt when scoring in heavy ground during the Galway Festival.
He will be the mount of Seamie Heffernan, while prior to his Galway success he finished three lengths behind Ger Lyons’ Spanish Flame at Tipperary and the Phoenix Of Spain colt now searches for a hat-trick in his first run in Group company.
Joseph O’Brien’s track and trip scorer Islandsinthestream and Adrian Murray’s Courageous Strike complete the line-up with Henry Longfellow having just the four other rivals to try and provide a stern examination.
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