Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has defended “p****d off” Thomas Muller’s right to deliver a withering assessment of his team after their Bundesliga title hopes suffered a major setback.

Bayern, who have won the league for the last 11 seasons, were beaten 3-0 at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday as the hosts opened up a five-point lead at the top of the table, prompting 34-year-old Germany international Muller to reveal he was “p****d off” at their lack of “energy and freedom” in an explosive post-match interview.

However, speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League last-16 clash with Lazio, Tuchel said: “I think he pretty much hit the nail on the head – and if anybody is allowed to issue a statement like that, it is Thomas.”

Tuchel, who admitted his players are currently struggling to transfer their quality in training into games, added: “Thomas is allowed to say this to the microphones because he’s also going to address it internally.

“And it’s important that the team internally talks about it because when we wake up tomorrow and look out of the window and see Rome, you know it’s a different competition and a new day.

“Even though Bayern Munich loses, the sun will rise again, even though you won’t believe it. We will allow ourselves to really be happy and to try to win. That’s part of the game.”

Tuchel finds himself under pressure heading into the game, but is adamant he will not allow it to distract him.

He said: “No, I don’t feel any increasing pressure. Pressure as such is a privilege, it’s a sporting pressure. I’ve never felt it differently and it hasn’t changed anything.

“It’s important to stay self-confident, to stay self-critical.

“The stronger the noise is around the game and the stronger the pressure gets, it’s more important to stay calm. Nothing will change.”

Lazio will hope to inflict further misery on the 2020 winners, and striker Ciro Immobile is relishing the chance to go head-to-head with Bayern’s 28-goal England striker Harry Kane.

Italy international Immobile told a press conference: “Numbers are important for a striker.

“Being able to compare myself with top-level players like Harry Kane is a big motivation for me. It allows me to understand the level I have reached in my career.

“But tomorrow it’s not a direct match with Kane that matters but the match between Lazio and Bayern.”

The Serie A side returned to form on on Saturday when they won 3-1 at Cagliari, in the process ending a run of three games without a victory, but they remain in eighth place in the table and a full 23 points adrift of leaders Inter Milan.

However, head coach Maurizio Sarri said: “We must not forget that we play to have fun. We need to rediscover the sense of fun on the pitch despite all the responsibilities we have to assume.

“If the child who loved playing football dies, the man also has less fun.”

Rehan Ahmed remains in limbo in India although England are certain the teenage leg-spinner’s visa problem will be sorted out on Wednesday ahead of the third Test in Rajkot.

Ahmed’s single-entrance visa expired the moment he left for England’s mid-series break in the United Arab Emirates and the 19-year-old was initially red-flagged upon the team’s return to India on Monday.

England captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum waited with Ahmed at Hirasar Rajkot Airport as an emergency two-day visa was granted before the trio got to the team hotel separately to the group.

Ahmed trained with his team-mates at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Tuesday morning and – while there is yet to be a resolution -, England seem convinced the issuing of a new visa is a formality.

“It’s not a concern,” Stokes said. “The guys who dealt with it at the airport did a really good job, given where we found ourselves. I’m confident that will be sorted.”

It is unclear whether the issue will hinder Ahmed’s chances as he tries to retain his England spot when the series, which is currently deadlocked at 1-1 after two gripping instalments, resumes on Thursday.

But it has occurred just a couple of weeks after off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was forced to miss the first Test in Hyderabad because of a paperwork snag as his Pakistani heritage led to extended checks.

Ahmed, like Bashir, was born in the UK and is of Pakistani heritage but this is a separate matter owing to an oversight on the part of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Ahmed was already in possession of an Indian visa after being placed on standby for England’s 50-over World Cup campaign in October and November but it was not activated then because he was not required to travel.

England’s players travel on electronic visas which are not stamped in passports so the situation with Ahmed only came to light in Rajkot following England’s six-day breather in Abu Dhabi.

Ahmed – who is England’s youngest cricketer in all three formats – has taken eight wickets in the series at a respectable average of 36.37 so far and also contributed 70 runs, including a cameo 23 after being bumped up to number three in the batting order as the so-called ‘nighthawk’ in the second Test.

England’s spin options have already been hard hit by Jack Leach’s series-ending knee injury, leaving Ahmed, Bashir and Tom Hartley as the three specialist spinners, boasting six Test caps between them, with Joe Root’s part-time off-breaks becoming increasingly called upon.

“We were advised, on returning to India, that there was paperwork discrepancy with Rehan Ahmed’s visa,” an England team spokesperson said.

“The local authorities at Rajkot Airport were supportive, enabling Rehan entry on a temporary visa. The correct visa should be processed and issued in the coming days.

“He will continue to prepare with the rest of the squad ahead of the third Test.”

Ioan Lloyd feels he has benefited from the presence of former international half-backs Neil Jenkins and Rob Howley in adapting to life as Wales’ number 10.

Lloyd helped orchestrate Wales’ thrilling fightback from 27-0 adrift in their opening Guinness Six Nations game against Scotland, after going on as replacement for an injured Sam Costelow.

His first Wales start then came in the fly-half role at Twickenham last weekend during a 16-14 defeat against England.

The 22-year-old’s impressive versatility has also seen him feature as a full-back, wing and centre during his club and regional career with Bristol and now the Scarlets.

But he admitted that fly-half was his preferred position and he was making the most of having ex-Wales pair Jenkins and Howley, who won almost 150 caps between them, as part of the national squad coaching staff.

“Neil Jenkins has talked a lot about speed into position – and Rob Howley has as well – and also speed from catch to whatever you are going to do, whether it is pass or kick,” Lloyd said.

“We’ve talked a lot through it and obviously I have got to see exactly what he (Jenkins) is talking about over the last couple of weeks. I think that little bit of a reminder has helped me a lot.

“I think the 10 position is one of the game-drivers, one of the main game-leaders, so that sort of pressure is expected.

“It is something that I have anticipated going into the 10 jersey. I think 10s everywhere will take a lot of scrutiny and probably not as much praise as they should in other aspects.

“I am just trying to put my best foot forward and execute my role within the team. There are a lot of learnings from the first two weekends.

“I try not to think about external factors too much, I just try and go out there and play rugby.

“I see myself as a fly-half. Obviously, any opportunity to pull on the red jersey – whether it’s at prop or fly-half – I will take it.”

With Costelow now fit again following a neck problem, it remains to be seen which direction Wales head coach Warren Gatland goes in for fly-half duty against runaway Six Nations title favourites Ireland on Saturday week.

And while Wales have lost their opening two Six Nations games – albeit by a combined margin of just three points – there were also plenty of positive signs from a new-look squad.

Lloyd added: “We talk a lot about playing heads-up rugby, the pictures in front of us and not being afraid to take the opportunities when they come.

“Obviously, there is a fine balance between that and taking risks.

“I think the stuff we tried at the weekend (at Twickenham) weren’t risks. We felt they were on and that is where the space was.

“Execution comes into that then and ours wasn’t good enough at times. I think that is something we can build on.

“There is a confidence around the place. We are a young team, but that doesn’t mean these games are throwaway games. We are still going into them expecting to win and a certain standard from each other.

“The experience isn’t necessarily there from all of us, but we have still got that confidence in training and games that we can execute. When we don’t, it is very disappointing.”

England captain Ben Stokes downplayed his landmark appearance against India in Rajkot this week, insisting that joining the prestigious 100 Test club was “just a number”.

Stokes is set to become the 16th Englishman to three figures on Thursday a little over a decade on from his Adelaide debut, where he memorably had a testy exchange with Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

That combative nature has been a constant in a career of stratospheric highs and crushing lows, but he is naturally averse to celebrating personal milestones, as evidenced most acutely at Headingley in 2019.

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On that occasion, Stokes barely acknowledged his hundred and only celebrated after hauling England to a famous victory and he stayed true to type when asked to talk up his 100th Test match.

“I guess it’s a sign of longevity,” he said, almost apologetically. “It’s just a number. Every Test is just as important as the next one. Then there’s the next one, which will be 101 – it’s just one more.

“I don’t want it to sound like I’m not thankful for the opportunities I’ve had. There will be a time when I can (reflect on what he has achieved) a bit more.

“But milestones and stuff like that – it’s not done until it’s done.

“While I’m still playing and wanting to achieve a lot, driving the team, giving individuals what I think is the best platform for them to be successful is where all my thoughts are at the moment.”

Another character trait that has been evident in Stokes the captain is his eagerness to roll the dice and risk defeat in pursuit of victory, largely paying off with six of the former and 14 of the latter.

He is therefore highly unlikely to find himself in the same situation Sir Alastair Cook did in England’s last visit to the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in November 2016, when the tourists received some criticism for declaring too late and setting India 310 to win in a minimum of 49 overs.

With this series deadlocked at 1-1, the temptation could be to avoid defeat at all costs after losing last time out but Stokes was having none of it.

“I don’t get that much pleasure out of a draw,” Stokes said. “I’d much rather lose trying to win. But not winning doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. Everything is just aimed towards what can we do.

“Losing always sucks but we’ve lost all (six) games trying to win them. We’ll never go to the grave not knowing if we could have done something a bit different.”

Stokes’ immediate thoughts are on whether to stick with James Anderson and a trio of callow spinners or reintroduce Mark Wood and go with two specialist fast bowlers for the first time on this tour of India.

While Wood was wicketless in the win at Hyderabad and made way for Anderson in the Visakhapatnam defeat, his express pace offers an extra dimension on a pitch renowned for being batter-friendly.

“If we were to go with two seamers the reasons why we would look at Jimmy and Woody would be I just like to have a point of difference,” Stokes said. “And India is never a three-seamer option.”

Even though Jack Leach is out of the last three Tests, Stokes will stick to his pledge not to bowl in this series following surgery on a longstanding left knee injury 11 weeks ago.

Stokes, who last bowled competitively in July last year, sent down three overs in training on Tuesday morning at what he estimated was about 70 per cent intensity.

“It’s little and often now,” the 32-year-old said. “We don’t have a plan with where I go with my intensity. It’s just how I feel at the time, but also not getting too far ahead. It was another step forward.

“But I’ve pinky promised my physio I won’t be loosening up to bowl even if everything is feeling well because that would just be a risk that’s not worth it.”

Aberdeen interim boss Neil Warnock has insisted his days of immersing himself in a job for the long haul are firmly behind him.

The 75-year-old has become a specialist in short-term fixes in recent seasons and has no desire to overstay his welcome at a club.

Warnock has seen Roy Hodgson – one year his senior – come under fire from Crystal Palace supporters after deciding to stay on for the current campaign following his impressive fire-fighting spell in charge of the Eagles at the end of last season.

Warnock is content to continue in end-of-season interim roles like the one he has taken on with the Dons, even though such a scenario means he is generally unable to recruit players in his mould.

“I don’t put myself in Roy’s situation,” he said when asked why someone in their mid-70s would take on such a pressurised position.

“I’m quite happy when I’m not involved in football, I’ve got a lovely family and everything. But I just get challenges that crop up and I look at my last few years when I’ve retired about eight times, the challenges have always been there.

“The Huddersfield challenge was impossible but we came through it, then Cardiff, to get promotion with a group like that, and even Rotherham, those challenges were something I had to roll my sleeves up for.

“And I’ve always wanted to manage up here (in Scotland). Yes, I wish it was a few years ago because I’d have loved to have had the opportunity to build a Scottish club up and bring my type of players in.

“Even though I’ve only had a couple of games, I can see what’s missing in certain areas. But that’s not going to be possible. I have to make the job as good as I can with what I have. It’s that buzz that I get but my wife does think I’m flipping my lid at times.”

Warnock has enjoyed his first week at Aberdeen as he continues the process of weaning himself off football management.

“When I’m at home and I’m fishing and going on little holidays and things, I don’t miss it altogether,” he said. “But I do miss the dressing-room banter and trying to improve players.

“I don’t miss hotels, air conditioning and motorways. That’s why I couldn’t do it long-term now because I don’t enjoy that bit but I still get a kick out of the games and trying to get the whistle to go when you’ve got a victory.

“I don’t think there’s any better feeling than that. I’m gradually weaning off, it’s just taking a lot longer than I thought.”

If Warnock was to have a transfer window, he would look to add more leaders in the mould of Graeme Shinnie.

“I like my leaders at a club, I like people to stand up and be counted during a game,” he said ahead of his first home league game in charge against Motherwell on Wednesday.

“We haven’t got many, there’s only really Shinnie that does that at the club. But they’re a genuine bunch so I just have to move on with that.”

Warnock has “one or two little knocks” to check on before naming his side for the visit of a Motherwell team bidding to bounce back from their Scottish Cup defeat at cinch Championship outfit Morton on Friday.

“I don’t think Motherwell will have any hangovers from Friday,” he said. “I think they might think they’re catching us at a good time. The games that are coming up now, I would imagine teams playing against us will think it’s winnable for them and we think it’s winnable for us as well.”

Lucinda Russell is keen to run Ahoy Senor in Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase to see if he warrants his place in the Ryanair at Cheltenham.

Pulled up on his first two outings of the season, the Grade One-winning novice chaser showed much more of his old spark last time out at Cheltenham.

Running in the Cotswold Chase, which he had won 12 months earlier, Ahoy Senor was still bang in contention approaching the third last when jockey Stephen Mulqueen’s stirrup leather broke.

Regular rider Derek Fox will be back on board this weekend having returned from injury when he will meet his old foe L’Homme Presse, who beat him into second in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Festival in 2022.

“He’s on track for the Ascot Chase on Saturday and I’m quite hopeful he’ll run very well,” Russell told her William Hill blog.

“It was so unfortunate what happened at Cheltenham with the stirrup breaking as he was travelling brilliantly. He’s been really well at home since and we’re looking forward to it. We all know he takes a bit of time to get going, but he comes alive in the spring.”

One problem Ahoy Senor may have this weekend is the fact Ascot is right-handed as he has never won when going in that direction.

“Going right-handed at Ascot is a bit of a worry, but we won’t really know until he tries it,” said Russell.

“We’re dropping back in trip as the Ryanair looks a very good option for him. If you’re classy enough to win a Gold Cup, then you’re certainly classy enough to win a Ryanair. His run style suggests this might just be what he wants now.”

Another runner for the stable on the card will be the mare Apple Away in the Sodexo Live! Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase as she builds towards a possible tilt at the Ultima next month.

“The plan is to run her in the Reynoldstown at Ascot on Saturday. She looks very fit at the moment and has come to hand well since Warwick. It gives her a bit more jumping experience ahead of the big spring festivals and again this will help us decide where we target her,” said Russell.

“All options are open at this stage and while we were leaning towards the Ultima, it’s not a definite by any means.

“I think she’s better than she showed at Warwick and I thought she probably ran with the choke out a bit too much. She bumped into a pretty smart horse too and I think she might just take a little bit of time to really come into herself. If you look back to last year, she really thrived after the turn of the year and the way she looks now, might just be evidence of that.”

Lewis Hamilton has already been in contact with soon-to-be Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc – as Carlos Sainz, the driver forced to make way for the seven-time world champion, revealed the shock switch came out of the blue.

Hamilton, 39, will leave Mercedes at the end of this year after agreeing a blockbuster move to Ferrari in 2025 – the biggest transfer in Formula One history.

Hamilton is set to make his first public appearance since news broke of his decision to quit Mercedes when the Silver Arrows unveil their new car at Silverstone on Wednesday.

Hamilton will appear alongside team principal Toto Wolff and fellow Brit George Russell.

On Tuesday, Ferrari took the wraps off the contender they hope will allow them to challenge Red Bull and Max Verstappen when the new season starts in Bahrain next month.

But it was Hamilton’s name which dominated proceedings – despite the Ferrari PR machine attempting to restrict questions about their star signing.

Hamilton will partner Leclerc at Ferrari after the Monegasque signed a new long-term contract, understood to run until 2029, just days before the British driver’s move was announced.

“This kind of deal is not finalised overnight, and I was aware of those discussions (with Hamilton) before I signed my deal so it did not come as a surprise,” said Leclerc, 26.

“Obviously, Lewis is an incredible driver, the most successful in history, and he brings a lot of experience to the team.

“I had discussions with Lewis, especially when everything was announced and official. We texted each other.

“He is a great champion with so much success. It is always interesting to have a new team-mate, because you learn different ways of driving and working, and even more so when my new team-mate is a seven-time world champion.”

Ferrari have not won a drivers’ title since 2007, but they hope Hamilton – a winner of a record 103 races – can fire them to that elusive title. Hamilton will be 40 when he makes his transfer from Mercedes.

“It is a huge opportunity for the team and we are sure that Lewis will bring us a decent step for the future,” said Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, who played a prominent role in Hamilton’s formative career in Formula Two.

“I have had a good relationship (with Hamilton) for 20 years, and we were always in contact speaking about different things. It was not the easiest call of my life (to tell Sainz), but one of the most difficult was with Toto.”

Hamilton’s switch leaves Sainz – the only driver outside of Red Bull to win a race last year – scrambling for a seat.

“I was a bit surprised, like everyone in the Formula One world,” said the Spaniard, 29.

“From my side you can understand I got to know the news a bit earlier than anyone else, and I had some weeks to reflect, prepare and get ready for the car launch and the first race of the season. That gave me a bit of time to digest it and to draw my own conclusions.

“I don’t know the identity of my next team. But there are plenty of options out there.

“I am approaching the most important three or four years of my career and I want to make sure that I am in the right place.”

Gentlemansgame remains on target for a crack at the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup having recovered from a setback which ruled him out of the Savills Chase at Christmas.

Mouse Morris’s grey has only been seen twice this campaign, at Gowran over an inadequate trip and when lowering the colours of last season’s King George winner Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Morris had wanted to take on Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown over Christmas but a stone bruise put paid to that and it was then decided to keep him fresh for Cheltenham rather than take in the Irish Gold Cup.

The Fethard handler’s last Festival win came via First Lieutenant in what is now the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle in 2011 but he does have a Gold Cup win to his name thanks to War Of Attrition in 2006.

“Touch wood, he’s on target, he obviously had the hiccup which ruled him out of Christmas but he did a nice bit of work on Saturday, so we’re on track as long as we don’t have any hold ups,” said Morris.

“He had a stone bruise but it went right up to his foot, it went very deep.

“We didn’t bring him over last season as he had a setback. He’d beaten the winner of the Irish National (I Am Maximus) in his beginners’ chase but he’s so big, he keeps having issues.

“We took him down to the beach the other day, we take all the Cheltenham horses there, it’s a bit of a tradition and it’s great for them, a bit of a change.

“He goes well fresh and he’ll be fit as a fiddle, don’t worry about that, experience is the problem.”

Despite the Charlie Hall being only his third outing over fences, Morris fancied his chances.

“I hate saying it but I was very hopeful going to Wetherby as he’d run a good race at Gowran over two and a half against a horse (Easy Game) who has won 15 times or something like that,” he said.

“We couldn’t take him to the north (Down Royal) as the other fella (Gerri Colombe, same ownership) was, but I was confident.

“There’s absolutely no similarities with War Of Attrition, he probably lacks a bit of toe but he jumps well and stays forever.

“Most of mine don’t run from Christmas to Cheltenham, not many of the winners have, anyway.

“Darragh (O’Keeffe) will ride him, he’s only had three runs over fences and we’ll take him somewhere to school.

“I’d say he might not be fast enough to make it! He’ll be doing his best work at the end I’d say.

“I don’t miss being in the spotlight but I don’t mind it. I never had more than 35 horses in and I’m still about 30 but they just aren’t the same quality, unfortunately, you just can’t compete.”

Coco Gauff lost six games in a row in a shock defeat by Katerina Siniakova at the Qatar Open.

Making her first appearance since losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals of the Australian Open last month, Gauff was out of sorts and fell to a 6-2 6-4 defeat.

The American second seed looked to have turned things around after losing the opening set when she eased into a 4-0 lead in the second set.

But Czech Siniakova, better known for her achievements in the doubles game, responded with six games in a row for one of the biggest singles victories of her career.

Melbourne runner-up Zheng Qinwen, playing her first match as a top-10 player, came through 6-2 2-6 6-3 against Magda Linette, while teenager Linda Noskova, who was a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open, upset seventh seed Maria Sakkari 3-6 7-6 (2) 7-5.

Leylah Fernandez recovered from losing the first set to love to defeat Paula Badosa 0-6 6-2 6-3 and Victoria Azarenka was a 7-6 (2) 6-2 winner over Wang Xinyu.

Giannis Antetokounmpo lauded Doc Rivers for bringing "high standards" to the Milwaukee Bucks after Monday's big win over the Denver Nuggets.

The Bucks ran out 112-95 winners over the reigning NBA champions, with Giannis finishing with a double-double of 36 points and 18 rebounds.

Milwaukee have won their last two games, after a three-game losing spin, and sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 35-19 record ahead of Tuesday's meeting with the Miami Heat.

While Rivers has not had the easiest of starts in charge since he replaced Adrian Griffin, the Bucks have now held successive opponents to under 100 points for the first time since 2021.

And Giannis credited the former Philadelphia 76ers coach for setting the standards high since his arrival.

"Guys are just being on the same page," Giannis said.

"Coach Doc is holding us to a high standard. He wants us to defend.

"He doesn't take lack of effort as an excuse. If you're on the floor, you've got to do your best."

The defensive organisation was particularly pleasing for Rivers.

"Just steady progress," he said. "Believing in your defense, trusting it, clarifying it, what we want to do.

"The more we can get our guys to know exactly what we're doing, they can play at full speed. That's what we're trying to do. Simplify, so we can play with fire."

Damian Lillard added: "I just think it's the accountability. When we're watching film, we're in our meetings, in practice, I think Doc and our entire staff, they're doing a great job of just calling everything out.

"They're challenging us in a lot of different ways. Our communication, how physical we are, how we carry ourselves as a group.

"Trying to find our identity. Who do we want to be? Who are we going to step like when we get on the floor? And I think we're just having a lot of carryover because there's so much conversation around it."

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Denver sit fourth in the West.

Kieran Cotter’s star filly Matilda Picotte will kick off her season in the Turf Sprint at the Saudi Cup meeting on February 24.

A promising juvenile, she made a taking start to her three-year-old season when second in a Guineas Trial at Leopardstown and was then third in the 1000 Guineas itself at Epsom in May.

She rounded off the year with back-to-back successes in the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster and the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket, both over seven furlongs.

The ultimate aim this year is to pick up a Group One prize, but first she will start out her campaign in the Middle East as she is among the entries for the 1351 Saudi Turf Sprint, a seven-furlong Group Two run for a prize fund of over £1.5 million.

“She doing fantastic, she had a break for six or seven weeks out at grass and then prior to Christmas we got an invitation to run in the Sprint,” Cotter said.

“She’s back in and being prepared for that, we’re delighted with her and she leaves for Saudi on Saturday morning to run the following Saturday.

“She flies from Shannon to Stansted and then it’s direct to Riyadh, door to door it’s a 20-hour journey which is no more than from here to Newmarket and she’s a very good traveller.”

Matilda Picotte is owned by the Matilda and Kilmichael Racing Partnership, some of whom will make the journey to Saudi Arabia to see her start what they hope will be a fruitful season at the top level.

“We’re looking forward to seeing her give her best. Her last run was exceptional but she’ll need to bring her whole A-game to the table in two weeks time,” Cotter said,

“It’s a good international field and I think the first, second and third from last time are going to turn up again.

“It’s serious money and we had to take the opportunity, our main target this year is to try to win a Group One with her and it’s a Group Two but if she’s a Group One horse she’ll have to go close.

“A few of the owners are going, there’ll be enough there to make a bit of noise anyway! She’s never run a bad race so it’s all to play for.”

Kieran Cotter’s star filly Matilda Picotte will kick off her season in the Turf Sprint at the Saudi Cup meeting on February 24.

A promising juvenile, she made a taking start to her three-year-old season when second in a Guineas Trial at Leopardstown and was then third in the 1000 Guineas itself at Epsom in May.

She rounded off the year with back-to-back successes in the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster and the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket, both over seven furlongs.

The ultimate aim this year is to pick up a Group One prize, but first she will start out her campaign in the Middle East as she is among the entries for the 1351 Saudi Turf Sprint, a seven-furlong Group Two run for a prize fund of over £1.5 million.

“She doing fantastic, she had a break for six or seven weeks out at grass and then prior to Christmas we got an invitation to run in the Sprint,” Cotter said.

“She’s back in and being prepared for that, we’re delighted with her and she leaves for Saudi on Saturday morning to run the following Saturday.

“She flies from Shannon to Stansted and then it’s direct to Riyadh, door to door it’s a 20-hour journey which is no more than from here to Newmarket and she’s a very good traveller.”

Matilda Picotte is owned by the Matilda and Kilmichael Racing Partnership, some of whom will make the journey to Saudi Arabia to see her start what they hope will be a fruitful season at the top level.

“We’re looking forward to seeing her give her best. Her last run was exceptional but she’ll need to bring her whole A-game to the table in two weeks time,” Cotter said,

“It’s a good international field and I think the first, second and third from last time are going to turn up again.

“It’s serious money and we had to take the opportunity, our main target this year is to try to win a Group One with her and it’s a Group Two but if she’s a Group One horse she’ll have to go close.

“A few of the owners are going, there’ll be enough there to make a bit of noise anyway! She’s never run a bad race so it’s all to play for.”

The City of York Stakes will again be contested as a Group Two in 2024 after an attempt to have it upgraded to the highest level was unsuccessful.

Much work has been been put into trying to achieve Group One status for the seven-furlong contest in recent years, with the race achieving the requisite rating in 2023, when it was won for a second successive campaign by Kinross.

However, the European Pattern Committee failed to agree to an upgrading of the race, which would have been the only top-level contest at that distance in Britain, as well as opting not to reclassify the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot as a Group One.

Ruth Quinn, the British Horseracing Authority’s director of international racing and development, said: “After more than a decade of building towards Britain’s first seven-furlong Group One in the City of York Stakes, with the open encouragement of the EPC, the race achieved the required rating parameter in 2023.

“Sadly, however, it seemed the committee could not support this upgrade unanimously at this time.

“We remain hopeful of working with the committee to demonstrate why our ambition would be of collective benefit to the European Pattern, in the same way as we will for the Long Distance Cup on Qipco’s British Champions Day in order for that too to become a long-awaited and much-deserved Group One race.”

The Group Three Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury plus two Listed races, the Ganton Stakes at York and the Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster, have been voluntarily removed from the black type programme while three high-profile British races are theoretically “at potential risk of downgrade depending on their performance in 2024”.

The Group One Commonwealth Cup – the six-furlong three-year-old sprint at Royal Ascot introduced in 2015 – is one of those in possible danger, along with the five-furlong Temple Stakes at Haydock and the Chester Vase, a Derby trial that has produced subsequent Epsom winners such as Henbit, Shergar and Ruler Of The World.

A notable downgrade in France is the Prix Saint Alary which drops to Group Two level, with the overall number of Pattern and Listed races declining from 852 in 2022 to 826 in 2024, a change that concerns EPC chair Jason Morris.

He said: “The European Pattern Committee continues to enforce the most stringent international quality control measures so that the racing and breeding industries can have the utmost confidence in the quality of European black type.

“However, this also reflects a worrying overall decline in the ratings of European black type races, with an increasing number of races coming under review and many three-year-old races in particular struggling to achieve their required parameters.

“The reported increasing exports of quality horses overseas is of concern to the EPC, and the major European racing nations are committed to working together to ensure the continued production and retention of sufficient high-class horses to sustain our domestic and international programmes, with a particular focus on the middle distance and staying race areas.”