Swingalong showed plenty of guts as she made every yard to claim the William Hill Summer Stakes at York.

The winner of the Lowther Stakes over course and distance as a two-year-old, Karl Burke’s daughter of Showcasing was sent off the 5-4 favourite to add to her tally on the Knavesmire following some fine efforts in hot contests since.

She was a gallant third behind Shaquille and Little Big Bear in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and dropping back to Group Three level here, proved her class in the hands of Clifford Lee.

Lee always had the filly on the front end dictating terms, but faced a strong challenge in the closing stages as both James Tate’s course winner Royal Aclaim – also in the colours of owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum – and last year’s third Gale Force Maya made eyecatching progress to get on Swingalong’s girths.

However, the Spigot Lodge runner pulled out extra when it mattered to return a neck verdict over Royal Aclaim and lead home a one-two for the duo’s owner, with Gale Force Maya a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

“She showed her class and had to do it the hard way I think,” said Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager for the owner.

“That suits her and that is her style of running, but with the ground going as it did it made it very hard towards the end and I think she was just coming to the end of her tether. I think had it been fast ground I think she would have won very easily, so I was very impressed with her.

“There were half plans in the pipeline to go up to six and a half at Deauville, but I don’t think that will be the case now. It would be easier coming back than going further and I think six is her limit.

“I think we will have to sit down and have a think and Karl says there are plenty of races for her, so we’ll have a chat with the owner and see where we would all like to go next.

“The main thing is she won today and she’s a really nice filly.”

Robinson was also thrilled with the performance of Royal Aclaim in second as last year’s City Walls Stakes winner tried six furlongs for the first time.

He added: “I was pleased with the second, I think she ran really well.

“That proved today that six furlongs is not a problem and she ran a big race.

“I think both these fillies will be better on better ground, the rain has come down here and it’s not just getting in, it seems very loose.”

Symbology looks a name to note having made an impressive debut in the William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive Irish EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

The £230,000 purchase has always been held in high regard by Clive Cox, and this promising start comes fresh off the back of the trainer’s Group Two victory in the July Stakes with Jasour at Newmarket on Thursday.

“We were really pleased with that,” said Cox.

“She’s always been a Grade A student and we’ve loved her from the first minute we’ve had her. It was really pleasing for Sheikh Isa to see her take that first step on the track in such a good manner.

“She was clearly a little green early with just having horses on one side of her, but when she straightened up she went pretty true and straight. It was very much her first day at school and she hasn’t been away to gallop or anything so I do expect her to take a lot of advantages from her debut.”

The daughter of Havana Grey was sent off the 2-1 second-favourite for the six-furlong contest and having pleased the Beechdown Stables handler with her temperament, is now in line for a return to York for the Group Two Lowther Stakes on August 24.

Cox added: “The entry shows we held her high enough in regard before today and we will see how she comes back from this.

“She’s behaved impeccably, so we’re delighted with that debut.”

Tim Easterby’s evergreen Copper Knight (11-1) once again holds the record for winning the most races at York with a seventh success after holding on in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap.

He previously jointly held the record with Stradivarius.

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 July 14.

England stepped up their World Cup preparations.

The Premier League’s youngest ever player Ethan Nwaneri showed off his confidence.

Arsenal signed Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber.

Today was a good one in the history books for Manchester City.

Jude Bellingham impressed in training.

Leeds wished a happy retirement to a former favourite.

The men’s singles final was eagerly anticipated.

Still plenty of love for Ons Jabeur from the beaten Aryna Sabalenka.

Strike a pose!

Caroline Garcia vowed to bounce back.

Elise Mertens and Storm Hunter reached the women’s doubles final.

England looked back on their World Cup triumph.

Game recognises game.

Tyson Fury got kitted out.

It was damp at Goodwood.

Ferrari turned the clock back.

Andrew Balding unleashed a potentially smart prospect at Newmarket in the shape of Arabic Legend, who quickened up in fine style to take the Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes under Rob Hornby.

Sent off at 17-2, the Dubawi colt showed plenty of maturity as he took apart what looked a good bunch of two-year-olds in the seven-furlong contest, downing the well-supported Emperor’s Star, similarly making his debut for the equally-powerful Charlie Appleby yard.

After the length-and-a-half success, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned colt was handed a 25-1 quote from Paddy Power for next season’s Qipco 2000 Guineas.

Balding said: “He quickened up nicely. He’s a nice horse and an exciting prospect.

“He is a very well-bred horse and we think a little bit of him. When the rain came it was encouraging. That certainly wasn’t going to inconvenience him.

“He has got a lot of potential. He was due to run at Doncaster, but it was unfortunate there was a mishap in the stalls. But anyway, it was great to come here. Rob gave him a lovely ride and I’m delighted for his owner. He is a great owner to have, and he bred the horse so it’s great.

“I’m sure he will stay a mile and I’m sure he will get further in time.”

The Sky Bet Ebor Handicap is on the cards next for Live Your Dream, who took the bet365 Trophy for trainer Saeed bin Suroor as the 5-2 favourite, completing a treble on the day for jockey Kevin Stott.

The Godolphin six-year-old, who had won the mile-and-six-furlong affair two years ago, stayed on well to beat Kihavah by a length and three-quarters.

Should he win the York prize next time, he would gain an automatic entry to the Melbourne Cup, but with Australia’s stringent rules, the gelding’s previous leg trouble may keep him out of the ‘race that stops a nation’.

Bin Suroor said: “This distance was better for him. The Ebor will be his race next. I think a mile and six is his best trip. We tried different distances, but we found after his races that he likes a mile and six best.

“Now we will take him to York as it is the same distance. We give him a break between races, as that’s what he likes.

“He is tough, a big horse, with time he is looking good. He gave him a good ride and kept him nice and calm in the race.”

Killybegs Warrior (20-1) won twice at Newmarket over seven furlongs as a juvenile and dropping in grade came good for Charlie Johnston in the 6 Horse Challenge At bet365 Handicap in the hands of Stott.

Well held in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot on his last run, the three-year-old bounced back in good style to down Obelix inside the final furlong and score by three-quarters of a length in a race that his father, Mark, used to farm with regularity.

Johnston said: “It has been a while. I think there was a period when we won five of seven renewals and won with some really good horses.

“This horse is now three from three at this track and clearly loves it here. We set him some very difficult challenges this year, the Dante, the Hampton Court and this was him at a more realistic level and he’s bounced back.”

He added: “We spent a lot of time debating whether he was a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter horse and I think we eventually realised a mile and a quarter is his best trip. We would go to Goodwood next, I would assume.”

Stott also won the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on Persian Dreamer.

England boss Sarina Wiegman is awed by her World Cup hopefuls’ advocacy away from competition but readily recognises their performance on the pitch is what ultimately provides the platform.

Just days after winning their first major tournament at last summer’s home Euros, the Lionesses collectively released a letter to then-Conservative leadership candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss with a host of demands including a school football provision for girls identical to that offered to boys.

Their campaign paid off in March when the government responded with a new package of measures designed to grant equal access to all school sport, backed by over £600million in funding over the next two academic years.

“I’m incredibly proud of their social consciousness,” said Wiegman, speaking from England’s team hotel in Queensland as the Lionesses prepare for their World Cup opener in Brisbane on July 22nd.

“It’s so powerful, so strong and they articulate themselves so well. And they were ready the day after the final to put that letter in…. wow!

“There’s so much leadership in this team. They really want to have a positive impact on society and a positive change and I think they’ve done really, really well because things have changed.

“Now what we try to do is keep performing, keep being visible and keep using our voices to also sustain and make positive changes.”

With the continent conquered, both England and Wiegman, who also led the Netherlands to their first European glory in 2017, have set their sights on the world.

The Lionesses drew 0-0 with Canada in a behind-closed-doors friendly on the Sunshine Coast on Friday – in their final warm-up match before the finals get under way – with 21 members of the 23-woman squad featuring.

Next up is an opening encounter with tournament debutants Haiti followed by meetings with group D rivals Denmark and China.

To date, England’s best finish at the World Cup was in 2015 when they finished third, while Wiegman and her Dutch side were runners-up to defending champions the United States at the 2019 tournament in France.

Last summer’s victory at Wembley launched the Lionesses into World Cup favourite territory and quickly made household names of the winning squad and their boss, who has tried to turn the spotlight towards causes she believes in, like paving better pathways for female coaches or working as an ambassador for the charity Plan International to advance equality for girls and women around the world.

When compared to the “serious”, almost myopically win-focused player she once was, Wiegman said: “I think about the bigger picture a little more – absolutely.

“But my main focus stays on my job. And with that job, doing well in that job, then you get those opportunities. I’m aware of that too.

“You can’t change that because this is how you are. But I would not, like, do that first and then think of performance. That’s because that performance is my job and that gives me the most joy.

“Yes, of course, I really love the medals, but what I’m proud of most, absolutely most, is now, young girls have perspective, and young girls can play football, and young girls can wear shirts to show whichever (player’s) achievement, and that makes me the most proud.

“When you go to the grocery store and people tell you, ‘my daughter was wearing that shirt, but also my son is wearing that shirt now too’. We’ve changed society.”

Michal Kwiatkowski held on to take a solo win on stage 13 of the Tour de France on the Grand Colombier as Tadej Pogacar’s bid to snatch the yellow jersey from Jonas Vingegaard fell narrowly short.

Former world champion Kwiatkowski admitted he could not believe the position he was in as he emerged from a breakaway to take his second career Tour stage win, delivering for the Ineos Grenadiers a year after Tom Pidcock took a Bastille Day win on the Alpe d’Huez.

All eyes had been on UAE Team Emirates and Pogacar, who sought to control this 138km stage from Chatillon-Sur-Chalaronne aiming to repeat Pogacar’s stage win the last time the Tour finished here in 2020, and looking to overhaul Vingegaard’s slim advantage in yellow.

But although Pogacar was able to distance Vingegaard a little in the final few hundred metres, launching his attack just as Kwiatkowski came home, he picked up only four seconds, plus four bonus seconds for third place, meaning Vingegaard kept yellow by nine seconds.

UAE were left to rue allowing as many as 19 riders up the road on the flat start, a group that proved too big and powerful to bring back.

After sixteen riders hit the final climb with four minutes of an advantage, Kwiatkowski was initially distanced by a group of four riders that included Tour debutant James Shaw.

But he rode back to them and then straight past still with 11km to the summit, quickly opening up a sizable gap and winning by 47 seconds from fellow escapee Maxim Van Gils.

The last time the Tour visited the Grand Colombier in 2020, Kwiatkowski was nursing a struggling Egan Bernal who abandoned the race two days later, but this time he could savour very different emotions.

“When I entered the break I thought, ‘this is just a free ticket to maybe the bottom of the climb’ or something like that, I never thought this group will fight for the stage win because UAE were pulling pretty hard,” Kwiatkowski said.

“But it is not easy to chase 19 guys on the flat for more than 100km… I think UAE let too many guys in the front and I found the best legs I ever had in my life. I didn’t believe that was possible but here I am.”

Although Pogacar hoovered up the last of the bonus seconds on the line to keep the pressure on Vingegaard, the two-time Tour winner would have hoped for more on a climb which plays to his strengths.

“It’s very nice to take some more seconds, but hats off to the breakaway and Michal Kwiatkowski for today,” Pogacar said.

Instead there was relief for Vingegaard, whose team-mates enjoyed an easier day after the chaos of Thursday’s stage 12.

“The aim was to keep the yellow jersey,” Vingegaard said. “I still have it, so I’m happy. Tadej is more explosive than me and this stage suited him more, so I’m really glad to still be in yellow.”

Pogacar and Vingegaard both picked up time on the rest of the overall contenders, with third-placed Jay Hindley now two minutes and 51 seconds back, and the gap to Carlos Rodriguez in fourth nearing five minutes.

Although Ineos lost Ben Turner to illness, there was more good news as Pidcock came home fifth on the stage, 13 seconds behind Pogacar, to strengthen his hold on eighth. Adam Yates is fifth and twin brother Simon sixth, with all three Brits within six minutes of yellow.

“I think Bastille Day should be renamed Ineos day,” Pidcock said. “Two pretty iconic climbs, two pretty special wins.

“At one point we were talking about Kwiato coming back from the break to help with positioning for the final climb because UAE were not giving the break any time, and then he wins the stage. It always happens when you least expect it.”

England manager Sarina Wiegman distinctly remembers the day she and her Netherlands team-mates checked into the White Swan hotel in Guangzhou, China to launch an experiment that would forever change women’s football.

It was 1988, Wiegman was 18, and while men had been participating in World Cups for 58 years, a women’s equivalent existed only as an idea – one FIFA decided first needed to be tested in the form of a proof-of-concept, 12-team tournament at a time when even the now-dominant Americans had played just 22 matches.

Thirty-five years later, Wiegman’s Lionesses are one of the favourites to win the ninth edition of a global championship that has expanded to 32 teams, boasts a $110million (£84.7m) prize pot, has already sold out the 80,000-plus seat Stadium Australia and is expected to draw about two billion viewers from around the world.

Asked at England’s team hotel in Queensland if teenage Sarina could have ever envisioned what the World Cup has become, the now 53-year-old immediately replied: “No. No, no, absolutely not. Absolutely not. The whole, everything, it’s totally changed, and really quickly.

“And even when I was older and I think maybe 20 years ago, I would not have ever expected or not even dreamed to be in this situation, that in women’s football we would be now where we are, or even that I would be in a situation where I am now. That’s why I enjoy it so much, too.

“It’s because I am grateful that things have changed so quickly. There’s still a long way to go, but how it grew [and moved] so many steps forward, I’m just very grateful for that.”

Though women’s international competitions had taken place before, the 1988 Women’s Invitation Tournament was the first sanctioned by FIFA. Wiegman recalls that the White Swan felt “so luxurious”, but her memories of the playing conditions are foggier.

She explained: “I just wanted to play. I wasn’t bothered about pitches, [because] I wasn’t used to [them]. We didn’t have the facilities. So I found everything we had in the stadium, there were 20,000 people, and they were laughing when someone made a mistake or something, that was really strange because they had a totally different view of football than in Europe, but well, there wouldn’t be 20,000 people [in Europe] then.”

The Netherlands were ultimately beaten 2-1 by Brazil in the quarter-finals, but the competition solidified Wiegman’s desired destiny and convinced FIFA that an inaugural Women’s World Cup should be hosted by the same Chinese province in 1991.

Wiegman said: “I thought ‘this is what I want to do’, but there weren’t very many opportunities then. But I just really loved that tournament, I will never forget that tournament.”

The former midfielder remains adamant that “I’m just me and doing what I love the most” yet it is no exaggeration to say the self-described “serious” Hague native, whose CV is an astonishing chronicle of unprecedented accomplishments, has had a critical impact on the history of her beloved sport in more than one country.

Wiegman retired after earning 104 caps for the Netherlands – her career itself a feat for a girl who once chose to chop off her hair and disguise herself as a boy because she found herself barred from football because of her gender.

Since then Wiegman transitioned from PE teacher to the pioneering first head coach of Eredivisie Vrouwen side ADO Den Haag – but only after refusing an initial offer of a part-time role and insisting their ambitions were only viable with full investment.

Wiegman assisted then-Netherlands head coach Roger Reijners at the 2015 World Cup, shortly after which she became the first woman in her country to coach with a men’s professional club, Sparta Rotterdam.

She took permanent charge of the Netherlands in 2017, six months before they won the European Championship. Two years later, they were World Cup runners-up. With England’s Euro 2022 triumph, Wiegman became the first head coach to win that competition with two different countries.

Now the Lionesses boss could lead her side to the World Cup title that has so far evaded them both, decades after she boarded that life-altering plane to China and paved the way for the next wave of football-mad women just like her.

Of them, she added: “Oh yes, they’re very grateful. Absolutely, this generation – yes. I think the younger group will come, we really need to keep telling them what our identity is and where we came from, where we come from. So we know how it was, how it’s growing and where we are. I think that’s very important.”

Michael McGovern was “desperate” to join Hearts and team up with some familiar faces following his move from Norwich.

The 39-year-old former Ross County, Falkirk and Hamilton goalkeeper left the Canaries at the end of last season after seven years at Carrow Road.

McGovern, who has 32 caps for Northern Ireland and who played at the Euro 2016 finals, knows the Jambos management team of head coach Frankie McAvoy, technical director Steven Naismith and sporting director Joe Savage, as well as new club-mate, Northern Ireland striker Liam Boyce and former Gorgie and fellow compatriot defender Aaron Hughes.

McGovern signed a one-year deal with the option of a further year and is the Tynecastle club’s first summer signing.

He told HeartsTV: “I’m delighted. Hearts are a massive club, I’m excited to be here and looking forward to getting started.

“It’s pleasing to be back because I loved my time in Scottish football.

“I loved the passion that the fans have and I’m looking forward to getting back into it, being in front of crowds and enjoying the atmosphere.

“I played with Naisy at Norwich and worked with both Frankie and Joe at Hamilton and Norwich. There are a lot of familiar faces and once the opportunity to come here came about, I was desperate to be a part of it.

“I want to be involved at a big club in Scotland. Hearts are among the biggest and it’s not something I could turn down.

“I spoke to Boycie the other day and had a chat with Aaron Hughes, who I still speak to now and again.

“They spoke really highly of the club. Hopefully I can contribute and be one of those players people speak about in the future.”

McGovern will join fellow stoppers Zander Clark and Craig Gordon – who is working his way back from a long-term injury – and he said: “It’s a really good group.

“Craig’s making his way back from injury and he did really well last season – playing fantastically.

“I’ll be pushing them both, trying to get into the team, because I’m wanting to play.

“Even if I’m not, I want to be supporting whoever is playing and trying to be a positive member of the group. That’s the way I do things.”

McAvoy said: “Michael is someone who I know very well from our time together at Hamilton Academical and then Norwich City.

“He’s got great character but, most importantly, he’s a first-class goalkeeper and you only need to look at the career he’s had to see that.

“He’ll push Zander all the way in the training as we head towards the start of the season and I’m certain our young goalkeeper will find his experience invaluable.”

Naismith said: “I played with Michael at Norwich City so I know first-hand how good of a goalkeeper he is and he has the right characteristics to fit into this group of players.

“With departures from last season and Craig Gordon working hard on his rehabilitation, we were a bit short in the goalkeeping department so when the opportunity came up to bring someone of Michael’s pedigree in, it was really a no brainer.

“The experience he’s amassed playing at the highest level in Scotland, England and internationally will be massive benefit to the squad as a whole, but particularly our goalkeepers.

“We’re excited about Harry Stone’s prospects and Michael coming in allows him to get even more game time, be it with the B team or a loan move, with a view to him coming into the first-team squad.”

Novak Djokovic lost his cool with umpire Richard Haigh and the Centre Court crowd but saw off Jannik Sinner in straight sets to reach a fifth consecutive Wimbledon final.

The Serbian is making history with virtually every victory and a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (4) win in his record-equalling 46th grand slam semi-final earned him a record-breaking 35th final, taking him past American great Chris Evert.

He had to save two set points in the third set but is now only one victory away from matching Roger Federer by winning an eighth Wimbledon title and Margaret Court with a 24th grand slam crown.

This was not entirely smooth sailing, though, and he was clearly annoyed by the decision of British umpire Haigh to call a hindrance against him at 15-15 in the fourth game of the second set.

Djokovic had suddenly let out a loud and late grunt after hitting a backhand down the line that he probably expected to be a winner only for Sinner to reach it.

It is unusual for a grunt to elicit a hindrance ruling and Djokovic reacted with disbelief, saying to Haigh: “You must be joking. Calling that in the semi-final of Wimbledon? What are you doing?”

To compound the situation, Haigh then gave Djokovic a time violation for taking too long on his serve in the same game but the reigning champion managed to keep his cool and chose not to initiate another confrontation.

It was a different story with the crowd, who were willing Sinner to make a contest of it, when the 21-year-old created two set points at 4-5 in the third set.

Djokovic clapped sarcastically and gave a thumbs up when noise delayed his second serve, with a man shouting ‘Vamos Rafa’, and was then booed for taunting the crowd when Sinner missed both chances.

When Djokovic held serve, he turned to the fans closest to him and mimed crying, but it was he, once again, who had the last laugh, extending his winning streak of tie-breaks to 15 at grand slams.

Sinner and Djokovic had met in the quarter-finals here last year, where the 21-year-old Italian opened up a two-set lead only for his opponent to win in five.

Both looked a little edgy at the start, with Sinner contesting his first slam semi-final after the sort of draw that players dream of.

The eighth seed could not convert two break points, though, and in the second game Djokovic took his chance.

Sinner, who struggled with his footwork throughout the contest on the slippery grass, had another break point in the fifth game only to miss with a forehand, and three aces in a row helped Djokovic clinch the set.

Sinner is one of the biggest ball-strikers in the game and he elicited oohs and aahs from the crowd at the sound made by the slap of strings on ball under the Centre Court roof.

There were too many errors to go with the winners, though, and an over-cooked forehand on break point at 1-1 in the second set put Djokovic firmly in control.

Sinner had a chance in the contentious fourth game to retrieve the deficit immediately only to net another forehand and, although Djokovic showed signs of stress, gesticulating towards his box, he found his first serve again just when he needed it most to serve out a two-set lead.

Djokovic’s biggest weapon is arguably his ability to lock in at the most important moments and that – helped by 15 years extra experience – was the main difference between the two players.

Sinner produced his own clutch serving to recover from 0-40 at 1-1 in the third set and looked the better player for much of the remainder of it but he could not capitalise on an early lead in the tie-break as Djokovic claimed a 21st win from his last 22 slam semi-finals.

Michal Kwiatkowski held off the charge of Tadej Pogacar and his UAE Team Emirates squad to take a solo win on stage 13 of the Tour de France as Jonas Vingegaard just clung on to the yellow jersey.

A year after Tom Pidcock took a Bastille Day stage win on the Alpe d’Huez, Kwiatkowski delivered for the Ineos Grenadiers on the Grand Colombier.

The former world champion caught and immediate passed four other members of the day’s break – including James Shaw – to go alone with 11km of the 17km climb remaining and had enough in reserve to stay clear of the main group of favourites.

Just as Kwiatkowski was crossing the line, Pogacar launched an attack to try to shake Vingegaard, his sights set on taking the yellow jersey.

The Slovenian managed to open up a few bike lengths and rolled in third, picking up four bonus seconds although not enough time to move into the race lead, Vingegaard’s 17-second gap at the start of the day now reduced to just nine.

Pogacar’s UAE squad had sought to control what had been a 19-strong breakaway with designs on repeating his stage victory on this mountain from 2020.

But having hit the foot of the climb four minutes behind the surviving escapees, they could not reduce that gap quickly enough, with Kwiatkowski’s margin of victory 47 seconds from fellow breakaway rider Maxim van Gils and 50 seconds from Pogacar.

Last time the Tour visited the Grand Colombier in 2020, Kwiatkowski was nursing a struggling Egan Bernal who abandoned the race two days later, but this time he could savour a second career Tour stage win.

“When I entered the break I thought, ‘this is just a free ticket to maybe the bottom of the climb’ or something like that, I never thought this group will fight for the stage win because UAE were pulling pretty hard,” the Pole said.

“But it is not easy to chase 19 guys on the flat for more than 100km… I think UAE let too many guys in the front and I found the best legs I ever had in my life. I didn’t believe that was possible but here I am.”

City Of Troy could be challenging stablemate River Tiber for favouritism for next year’s 2000 Guineas should he follow up his impressive debut success in the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.

Currently second-favourite for the Classic at a best-priced 12-1, he created a real stir at the Curragh two weeks ago when Ryan Moore struggled to pull him up after crossing the line.

A colt by American Triple Crown winner Justify, out of a Fillies’ Mile winner in Together Forever, he bears all the hallmarks of a top-class prospect.

“We were impressed with him on his debut, but he hasn’t done much since,” said O’Brien.

“That was only two weeks ago, but he’s been in good form at home and you had to be delighted with him first time out.

“This looks an ideal race for him and hopefully it will do him good long term and it gives him a good education.

“We’ve always thought he was a nice horse.”

It is no surprise that Charlie Appleby provides the sternest opposition and the Moulton Paddocks handler is represented by impressive Leicester winner Great Truth.

The son of Dubawi put distance between himself and his rivals on debut and having reportedly thrived since his outing in the East Midlands, now takes an immediate step up in class.

“Obviously he won that maiden impressively,” said Appleby.

“He was very green that day as you saw, he hung across to the left. Mentally and physically he’s done very well since. When I say physically, he’s tightened up, but mentally he galloped on Wednesday, William rode him, and he was very slick.

“He quickened up well. It is a competitive Superlative this year. We were second with Victory Dance last year and he didn’t quite get to where we hoped he might get. But this year, with Aidan’s horse, it will be tough, because he looks decent.

“But we like our horse. He is slick.”

Various Royal Ascot form lines will be tied together in the Group Two event with Richard Hannon’s Haatem (fifth), Andrew Balding’s Spanish Phoenix (eighth) and Cuban Thunder (10th) stepping up in trip and representing the Coventry Form and Patrick Owens’ Oddyssey looking to build on his Chesham Stakes third.

The son of Ulysses was beaten less than a length behind Snellen and his handler has been pleased with his development since that huge effort at the Royal meeting.

“He’s come out of Ascot good and is training well,” said Owens.

“He has grown up a lot mentally which is great and we know he is going to be a nice, big, strong horse next year, but physically he has done so well this year.

“Hopefully he can step up on Ascot and I guess we’re only going to find out on the day. He has done everything right at home, but it is a massive step up.

“I’m happy with the draw, especially the two horses I’m drawn next to (City Of Troy and Great Truth), which I’m really pleased about and hopefully the ground stays as it is, that would be important. He might handle a bit of cut, but if it could stay as it is that would be perfect.

“We’ve been very pleased with him and please God he can run another big race.”

Charlie Hills’ Iberian made a taking impression when scoring first time at Newbury and the 200,000 guineas purchase will be attempting to justify connections’ decision to jump straight in at the deep end.

“He did it very well on debut at Newbury and we sort of earmarked this race as an idea,” said Richard Ryan, racing manager for owners Teme Valley.

“He’s trained well leading into it so we’re taking part and hopeful.

“Charlie is quite bold on him and he shows up quite well in the morning. We’re hopeful progress can continue to be made, but it is a hell of a race.”

In the bet365 Bunbury Cup, Streets Of Gold will attempt to build on his Jersey Stakes third, dropping back to handicap company for Eve Johnson Houghton.

The son of Havana Gold landed some valuable heats last season and has shown no sign of hitting his ceiling this term having finished just over a length behind the winner Age Of Kings at Royal Ascot.

“We were thrilled (at Ascot), but not surprised,” said the Oxfordshire-based handler.

“He’s 4lb well-in on official ratings and it seems the obvious race to go for.

“I know three-year-olds have a great record in it, but they don’t actually run in it that often. Because of the weight for age, you have to be rated quite high to get into it.

“I’m really pleased with him and I’m looking forward to a big run from him.”

Streets Of Gold is joined in the line-up by Johnson Houghton’s stable stalwart Accidental Agent, who finished a gallant seventh in the race last year.

She added: “He ran so well in in it last year and Mia (Nicholls) is going to take 7lb off him, so we thought we would give him a nice day out.”

Nashwa excelled on her return to a mile under Hollie Doyle to absolutely bolt up in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

Riding her seventh Group One winner, Doyle was briefly stuck in a pocket as the pace quickened – but once she was in the clear the race was over in a matter of strides.

John and Thady Gosden’s filly had run well to be placed in the Oaks over a mile and a half last season, and went on to win Group Ones over 10 furlongs in the Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes.

However, she had looked fairly lacklustre in her two previous runs this season, in France and down in Group Three company at Newcastle.

But she clearly thrived for being dropped in trip on rain-softened ground, looking in a different league to her rivals.

Pam Sly’s Astral Beau led until just over a furlong out when Remarquee looked a huge threat, bidding to give Ralph Beckett and Rob Hornby another victory in the race after Prosperous Voyage 12 months ago, only for Nashwa (4-1) to take off, ultimately winning by five lengths.

Remarquee was second and the even-money favourite Via Sistina third.

Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of raping a young woman and the attempted rape of another.

The 28-year-old broke down in tears as the not-guilty verdicts were given by the jury foreman following a three-week trial at Chester Crown Court.

He had stood for the verdicts but sank to his seat, his head on his knees, wiping away tears with a white tissue.

Mendy, whose contract with the Premier League champions ended on July 1, was cleared of attempting to rape a woman, aged 29 at the time, at his £4million mansion in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire in October 2018.

He was also found not guilty of the rape of a second woman, aged 24, two years later also at his home address.

The 10-cap France international is alleged to have later told her “it’s fine, I’ve had sex with 10,000 women”, the court heard.

The jury of six men and six women were out for around three hours and 15 minutes before returning their verdicts.

Judge Steven Everett responded: “Mr Mendy can be discharged from the dock.”

His trial was a retrial, having been cleared by a jury earlier this year of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to four young women or teenagers, following a six-month trial.

Jurors failed to reach verdicts on the two counts of rape and attempted rape he was retried with.

Tammy Beaumont praised the belief and “trust in everyone” within the England squad as they aim for more Ashes success on Sunday.

The hosts have staged an incredible turnaround in the competition, coming from 6-0 down to level the series after winning the opening ODI in Bristol on Wednesday.

England edged to a nail-biting two-wicket victory thanks to a fantastic unbeaten 75 from captain Heather Knight, who was helped across the line by seamer Kate Cross with an important cameo of 19 from 20 balls.

Beaumont also played her part, scoring 47 to help England reach a target of 264 – their highest successful run chase in the format – and the opener hailed the belief within the squad.

She told a press conference: “There’s such great trust in everyone at every situation, so for me at Bristol the other day there was no doubt in my mind that Kate Cross could bat like that.

“I think her mum was surprised she could do that for England! Every single one of us on the sideline felt completely at ease knowing Kate had the skills to do it and the same again with Alice Capsey coming on to bowl such a crucial spell.

“Everybody just backs each other’s abilities, their decision-making and everything in every situation.

“It’s a great feeling to have and throughout even though we didn’t get the results, we knew at times in the Test match we really competed and put them under pressure.

“It felt at times like things were swaying towards us, we just didn’t win those crucial moments.

“We had that belief that we certainly didn’t need to take a step back, we could just keep going and see what happens really.”

Australia had originally held the upper hand, having sealed victory in the only Test match of the series before winning the T20 opener at Edgbaston.

However, the tourists have now lost three consecutive games for the first time since 2017 after Knight’s side won the remaining T20 contests alongside Wednesday’s ODI match to level the series.

England’s men’s team have also put up their own fightback to keep their Ashes alive with a win at Headingley last week and Beaumont praised the resilient attitude from both sides.

“I think it’s really important and you’re seeing that with the men’s Ashes as well,” she said.

“They’ve gone 2-0 down, but we don’t want to be pushovers anymore and I think that’s probably why this series has been so captivating to everyone.

“I’m a massive cricket badger, but I feel Ashes fever is everywhere for both the men and women and it’s great to see.

“British culture’s always loved an underdog, so I think it’s helped that we’ve taken on such a great team in Australia. I personally love that feeling of trying to overcome a bit of difficulty.”

Attention turns to the second ODI at the Ageas Bowl on Sunday and the stakes are still high with Australia only needing to win one of the two remaining matches.

“At the moment we’re just focused on the next game, we’re taking it one game at a time,” Beaumont added.

“We’re in a great position at the moment, I feel like we’ve got some good momentum and we’re playing some good cricket. We’ll see what happens on Sunday and go from there.”