Owen Farrell insists there is plenty more to come from Saracens after guiding the club to Gallagher Premiership glory with a 35-25 success over Sale at Twickenham.
Sarries’ 35-25 victory made amends for last season’s last-gasp final defeat by Leicester to deliver their first silverware since being relegated for salary cap breaches in 2020.
England skipper Farrell dismissed the notion of redemption for that painful loss to the Tigers as he outlined his optimism for the future.
Asked about the result in the context of Saracens’ recent setbacks, the fly-half said: “It feels important but I’m not too sure, if I’m honest.
“I think what’s more important is how we’ve been all season. The difference that we made at the start of the year, the difference in raising our ceiling of where we can go.
“And, at this moment in time, regardless of how today went, it still feels like there is a lot for this young team now still to go.
“There is a feeling of wanting to get the best out of ourselves and that will carry on for a long time now.”
Saracens defied a spirited Sale, mini injury crisis and climate activists to become champions for a sixth time.
Two Just Stop Oil protestors brought a halt to the game in the first half when they ran on to the pitch to throw orange paint powder before being led away by stewards amid jeers from the crowd.
A penalty try and scores from Max Malins, Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl helped the London side to victory in blazing sunshine, aided by 13 points from the boot of man of the match Farrell.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall believes his skipper is playing the “best rugby of his life” and has taken his leadership to “a whole new level”.
“If you spent a week at our training ground, you wouldn’t believe just how influential he is, how clear he is with the playing group, how emotive he is, what standards he sets, how supportive he is to team-mates young and old,” McCall said of Farrell.
“He’s playing the best rugby of his life at the moment but his leadership has gone to a whole new level.
“When the game was in the balance and it was 25-23 (to Sale) and we lacked a bit of energy, our senior players grasped the nettle really and saw us through very well in the last 15 or 20 minutes.
“We had a lot of control in that period of time and I think that’s down to their experience in those situations. They’ve been there and done it before and they showed a lot of experience when we needed it most.”
Fernando Alonso hopes he can take advantage of Max Verstappen’s inconsistent starts to end his 10-year wait for victory at Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.
The evergreen Alonso, 41, lines up behind Verstappen following an exhilarating qualifying session in the sun-cooked principality.
Home favourite Charles Leclerc will be third on the grid for Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell sixth and eighth respectively in their revamped Mercedes machines.
Alonso took his last pole at the 2012 German Grand Prix, but he looked destined to end his 3,961-day losing streak when he moved to the top of the time charts in the closing stages.
Verstappen was the only driver who could spoil the dreams of Alonso, and his Aston Martin mechanics, who had already celebrated wildly in the belief that their man had captured pole.
Verstappen trailed Alonso by two tenths before he delivered a mesmerising final sector on the most famous streets in Formula One to take pole by just 0.084 seconds.
“We will try to win,” said Alonso, who claimed his 32nd and final victory in Spain a decade ago. “We need some help from Max but I am not going to take it for granted.
“It’s a very short run into Turn 1. We normally have a good start. Max is a bit inconsistent, so maybe he has one of those bad ones tomorrow.”
Qualifying is crucial in Monte Carlo given how troublesome it is to pass at this tight and twisty venue.
However, the omens are encouraging for Alonso. In the last seven years, the driver starting from second has won on more occasions than the man on pole.
The last time Alonso started a race in Monaco from the front row – back in 2007 – he won. Rain could also be a factor.
A victory for Alonso would be a popular one in the sport. But Verstappen’s team has won every race this season, and the Dutchman’s Red Bull is so often imperious over the course of a race distance, rather than a single lap.
“I would like to see Fernando win,” admitted Verstappen. “But I would like to win, too, so we will see.
“In qualifying you need to go all out and risk it all. My first sector wasn’t ideal in my final lap and I was a bit cautious, but then I knew I was behind so in the last sector I just gave it everything I had, clipping a few barriers along the way.”
Further back, Mercedes were banking on their much-anticipated upgrade providing them with a springboard to challenge the grid’s all-conquering Red Bull team. But on its grand unveiling here, Hamilton was at odds with his new car.
Hamilton, who earlier crashed in final practice on Saturday following a mistake at the right-hander Mirabeau, missed the chicane in the opening stage of qualifying – only avoiding an early bath with his final lap – before scrambling into Q3 after he grazed the wall at the swimming pool chicane.
“Man this car is hard to drive,” said the seven-time world champion, who also reported there was “something wrong” with his right-rear suspension.
He eventually finished 0.360 secs behind Verstappen, with team-mate Russell six tenths adrift.
Sergio Perez is Verstappen’s closest championship challenger, but the Mexican will start Sunday’s 78-lap race at the back of the pack after he crashed out of qualifying.
The running was just six minutes old when Perez – 14 points adrift of Verstappen in the standings – carried too much speed through the opening Sainte Devote corner and thudded into the wall before coming to a standstill in the middle of the circuit.
Geraint Thomas saw the pink jersey snatched away on the penultimate day of the Giro d’Italia as Primoz Roglic overcame a mechanical problem to win a punishing time trial to the summit of Monte Lussari.
Roglic dropped his chain midway up the cruel concrete road to the top but still had enough in reserve to beat Thomas by 40 seconds, overturning the 26-second advantage the Welshman took into the day.
And that gives the Slovenian a 14-second lead ahead of Sunday’s flat run into Rome, the title his barring any incident.
For Thomas, it dashes his dream of become the oldest ever winner of the Giro in the week he celebrated his 37th birthday.
But for Roglic it was redemption, three years after he lost the lead of the Tour de France one day before Paris on a mountain time trial to La Planche des Belles Filles. He will add the Giro to his three Vuelta a Espana titles.
Within sight of the Slovenian border in north-eastern Italy, Roglic was roared on by screaming hoards of his compatriots.
They had hearts in mouths when Roglic ran over a pothole and dropped his chain. A 16-second advantage over Thomas evaporated but he still had plenty more to give.
“It’s just something amazing,” the 33-year-old said. “It’s not in the end about the win but the people and the energy here. It’s so incredible, really moments to live and remember.
“I dropped the chain, it’s part of it, but I didn’t fear it at all. I put it back, I started and I just went. For sure I don’t want this to happen but I could put the chain back and restart.
“I had the legs and the people gave me extra watts so it’s fine, just enjoying it. There’s one more day to go, one more focus because I think the lap (in Rome) is quite technical. It’s not over until it’s finished but it looks good.”
The stage started in Tarvisio, where a young Roglic once took victory in the Junior World Ski-Jumping Championships, his last victory in that sport before he took up cycling full time.
This 18.6km race against the clock was all about the final climb, 7.4km long at an average gradient of 12 per cent, but starting with more than five kilometres where the average was over 15.
Riders swapped from time trial bikes to climbing machines at the foot, as mechanics followed them up the road on motorbikes with spare bikes over their shoulders, with cars not allowed on the narrow roads.
While Roglic exorcised the demons of La Planche des Belles Filles, this was more heartache for Thomas in the Giro.
It had finally looked like his year. In 2017 his bid for glory was effectively ended when he crashed with a police motorbike on the Blockhaus, then in 2020 he crashed out on stage three when he struck a stray water bottle.
With all that behind him, the 2018 Tour de France winner appeared on course for a second career Grand Tour win as he spent eight days in pink.
“People I know need to stop bugging me, I’m getting emotional,” Thomas told Eurosport after personally congratulating Roglic. “I could feel my legs going a kilometre and a half from the top.
“I don’t want to make excuses but I didn’t feel like I had that real grunt. It was nice to lose by that much rather than a second or two. That would be worse. At least he smashed me.
“Primoz deserves that, he had a mechanical and he put 40 seconds into me. Chapeau.
“If you’d told me in February or March (I’d be second) I’d have bitten your hand off but now I’m devastated.”
The absence of his great rival Rafael Nadal from the French Open draw has left Novak Djokovic with mixed feelings as he chases more history at Roland Garros.
The Serbian can become the first man to win 23 grand slam singles titles if he lifts the Coupe des Mousquetaires for the third time in a fortnight.
Djokovic is the only player to beat Nadal twice at Roland Garros but he has also lost eight times to the Spaniard, including in three finals.
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“I don’t miss him being in the draw,” he said with a smile as he reflected on the hip problem that has kept Nadal out since January and prompted his announcement earlier this month that next season is set to be his swansong.
“I don’t like seeing him in the draw of Roland Garros. I have had not so much success against him. I have managed to beat him twice but I had to leave my heart and my guts out on the court to achieve that.”
Nadal and Djokovic have played each other 59 times, more than any two men in ATP Tour history, and the Serbian said: “When he announced that he’s going to have his last season of his career, I felt part of me is leaving with him too.
“Because of the rivalry that we had, and that we still have, I feel that he was one of the most impactful people that I have ever had in my career, the growth of my career, and me as a player.
“Definitely a great motivational factor for me to keep playing and keep competing and keep pushing each other, who’s going to achieve more, who’s going to do better.
“It made me think about my career and how long I’m going to play. I’m not going to make any announcement today, but just reflecting on it, I felt also a little bit emotional about what he was saying.”
Djokovic now finds himself fighting a lone battle against a host of young pretenders, led by 20-year-old world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
And Djokovic was keen to slap the favourite’s tag firmly on his young rival’s forehead despite the vast difference in their grand slam experience.
Alcaraz certainly has the better recent form, with Djokovic having struggled on clay so far amid concerns over an elbow problem, but he declared himself fully fit, and it is no secret that the slams are the titles he really cares about at this stage of his career.
“Every grand slam at this stage of my career is like a present for me, so I’ll try to use the opportunity as best as possible,” he said.
“Leading into Roland Garros, I haven’t had too much success in clay court events but a grand slam is like a different sport. I feel always extra motivated and confident in grand slams.
“It’s no secret that one of the main reasons I play today and compete in professional tennis is to try to break more records and make more history in tennis. That’s extremely motivating and inspiring for me.
“But things are different than they were 10 years ago in terms of how my body is maybe responding to the schedule. I’m feeling good at the moment. I don’t have any physical issues that worry me. So that’s most important for me.
“I think the tournament is quite open. Maybe a few guys that are at the top of the favourites’ list, but anyone can take it. I’m hoping it can be me.”
Saracens defied a spirited Sale, mini injury crisis and climate activists to clinch the Gallagher Premiership title for a sixth time at Twickenham.
A 35-25 victory over the Sharks made amends for last season’s last-gasp defeat by Leicester at the same stage and delivers their first silverware since being relegated for salary cap breaches in 2020.
Two Just Stop Oil protestors brought a halt to the game in the first half when they ran on to the pitch, letting off orange smoke bombs before being led away by stewards amid jeers from the crowd.
Both were arrested and while orange patches were still evident on the pitch at the final whistle, the interruption failed to take the shine off an enthralling climax to the season.
Saracens threatened to pull clear before and after half-time but Sale stayed in the fight and then pounced in a dominant third quarter that saw tries by Tom Roebuck and Bevan Rodd seize the lead.
But drawing on all the experience accumulated during 13 years of Premiership and European finals, Saracens showed their resolve to hit back through Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl.
Daly’s 67th-minute try, born out of Joe Carpenter’s charged-down kick, will make painful viewing for Sale as the moment when the lead and momentum of the game swung dramatically.
The blazing sunshine sapped the players’ energy and Saracens had to deal with the additional early challenge of losing a second England front-rower after Jamie George’s afternoon was ended by a possible concussion sustained during a tackle by Tom Curry.
Shortly before kick-off prop Mako Vunipola was withdrawn from the bench through injury yet for all the disruption, the score was tied at 6-6 heading into the second quarter.
Farrell had shaded the early phase of his duel with Ford but Manu Tuilagi’s forceful runs through Saracens’ midfield marked him out as the most dangerous player on the field.
The arrival of the two protestors ignited an eventful spell as after they were dealt with by stewards, play resumed with last year’s runners-up taking the lead through a penalty try.
Alex Goode threaded a bobbling kick down the right touchline and with Max Malins about to grab the ball and fall over, he was tackled by Curry to deny a certain try. Curry was sin-binned to compound matters.
Wing Sean Maitland was the latest Saracen to depart injured and the frantic pace continued with Sale’s Akker van der Merwe crossing from close range before Malins touched down after Farrell had drawn an attempted big hit from Tuilagi.
The first half finished with the London club launching a series of high-tempo raids and Sale needed to score soon to stop them marauding out of sight.
The try came in the 45th minute when a defensive error by Daly allowed Tom Roebuck over and moments later Daly saw what should have been a routine score disallowed for a foot in touch.
Farrell kicked a penalty but Sale were over again through a move started when Tuilagi careered through the midfield and that ended with Rodd appearing at scrum-half to pounce from short range.
The Sharks were dominating but when a clearance was charged down Saracens reacted in a flash, winning the ball and feeding it wide where Daly was waiting to score.
And the turnaround was completed when a training ground move sent Malins into space for Van Zyl to finish, with the TMO confirming the match-settling score.
Roger Teal’s Chipstead came out on top at York with a career-best victory in the William Hill Epic Boost Handicap.
The five-year-old, who is full brother to Teal’s sprint star Oxted, was a 12-1 chance for the contest after being well beaten on his seasonal debut in the Palace House Stakes.
Back in handicap company under 3lb-claimer Frederick Larson, the bay blazed to a three-quarter-length victory over Mondammej with Fine Wine a further neck behind in third.
“We like him a lot, he’s Oxted’s full brother but he never really produces until the back end of the season,” said Harry Teal, son and assistant to Roger.
“He’s gone and proved us wrong and it’s good to get one early.
“These are the ones that count, on the Saturdays, it’s nice to be back in the winners’ enclosure with this sort of horse and hopefully he can step up next time.
“We’re in the King’s Stand, but I think the Wokingham looks the more likely route that we’ll go at Royal Ascot, I’d say that’ll be our next stop.”
Native American may have also thrown his hat in the ring for the Royal meeting with a straightforward success in the Collective Green Energy EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.
Trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Oisin Orr, the Sioux Nation colt was making his debut in the six-furlong event won last year by Bradsell.
Bradsell went on to land the Coventry at Royal Ascot and Native American is now a 33-1 chance for the same contest after a five-and-a-half-length victory on the Knavesmire at 10-1.
“He’s shown plenty at home before today, but he probably will stay further in time, so we weren’t sure about six furlongs today,” said Orr.
“He’s quickened up and put the race to bed nicely. He’s definitely going to improve off that.”
The favourite, Richard Hannon’s The Line, was withdrawn after unseating Danny Tudhope at the start.
Geoff Oldroyd’s Doctor Khan Junior was a poignant winner of the William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive Handicap at York.
The four-year-old, who has undergone lengthy injury rehabilitation, was bred by Pocklington-based businessman Reg Bond before his death in 2021.
Bond’s son Charlie has taken up the reins and sponsored the final race on the card in honour of his father – the Reg Bond ‘Always And Forever’ Stakes.
It was the first race in which the family silks were seen crossing the line ahead, however, as Doctor Khan Junior defied a price of 28-1 to prevail under Harry Russell.
The horse is named in homage to Dr Mohammad Muneeb Khan, the oncologist who treated Reg Bond’s brain tumour.
“My dad and Dr Khan had a great relationship, he was treating his tumour for many years and got it under control, which gave many years of life to my dad,” said Charlie Bond.
“My dad named the horse, I’m sure he was pushing him home today, especially with it being his memorial day with the race later on.
“It was all about my dad today and to have a winner here is unbelievable.”
The aforementioned closing race was won by Saeed bin Suroor’s Shining Blue, who carried Daniel Muscutt to a convincing win when prevailing by four lengths.
Richard Hannon’s Starnberg (8-1) was the winner of the William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Handicap under Jim Crowley, coming home comfortably ahead of his rivals to claim a three-and-a-half-length triumph.
“We went out in front and I thought they’d get to him, but he’s stuck on really well,” said Crowley.
“He made his mind up for me, but seven furlongs is probably his trip.”
Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan, on the mark with River Of Stars in the Bronte Cup, claimed a second success on the card as Quantum Impact justified his status as the 100-30 favourite in the Royal Yorkshire Regiment Handicap.
Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg stars in a superb cast for the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday.
The Camelot colt, winner of the Irish Champion Stakes last season, began this year’s campaign with an underwhelming fifth in the Mooresbridge Stakes earlier in the month.
That Group Two contest was at the Curragh and over a trip just half a furlong shorter than he will face on Sunday, and was won in fine style by Joseph O’Brien’s Visualisation.
“Joseph’s horse won very nicely at the Curragh and our horse was a little bit ring rusty,” said O’Brien of the run.
“It maybe wasn’t a strong pace and wasn’t to his liking or benefit. He’s come out of the race very well and has progressed well.
“We’re very happy with him and he’s made great progress since the Curragh.”
O’Brien’s youngest son Donnacha has a chance in the Group One in Piz Badile, third in the Mooresbridge and second in last year’s Irish Derby.
“He’s in good form and everything has gone well since his last run,” the young trainer said.
“It looks to be a very hot race, but hopefully he will run well.”
Representing Sir Michael Stoute is Bay Bridge, who landed the Champion Stakes at Ascot at the tail end of last season and was third in the Prix Ganay first time out this time around.
“He’s well, it’s obviously a very strong field so we have our fingers crossed,” said co-owner James Wigan.
“It was a good start to the season, the French horse, Vadeni, is coming over, who won the Eclipse.
“Luxembourg is running, it’s a good race and we’ll see.”
The aforementioned Vadeni does indeed travel to Ireland for the race having been supplemented and will cross paths with Bay Bridge again after coming home a length and a half behind him in the Ganay.
Vadeni was second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last season and prior to that was an impressive Coral-Eclipse winner for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.
Georges Rimaud, French racing and breeding manager to owner the Aga Khan, said: “He has, in the past, liked this sort of fast-ish ground so he should be fine.
“The horse is doing well, he has improved from his last race. We are hoping for a good run from him, the ground should suit him.
“It should be a good race, it often is, but this is Vadeni and he is a Group One horse and should be campaigned at that level.”
Jessica Harrington will run Trevaunance in the contest, the sole filly in the field and another horse who started her year in the Mooresbridge when coming home in sixth place.
Kate Harrington, assistant to her mother, said: “Trevaunance made a good reappearance in the Mooresbridge when beaten only four lengths.
“She had a good blow that day and is going to come on a ton for it.
“It looks a very hot renewal of the Tattersalls Gold Cup but we’re very pleased with Trevaunance and it’s a good stepping stone towards dropping back into fillies’ company in the Pretty Polly on Derby weekend with her.”
The field is completed by Noel Meade’s Layfayette, the Mooresbridge runner-up who was last seen finishing third in the Group Two Huxley Stakes at Chester during their May meeting.
Tahiyra will attempt to go one better than her Newmarket second and provide Dermot Weld with back-to-back victories in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday.
The Rosewell House handler and jockey Chris Hayes combined for Classic glory with Homeless Songs 12 months ago and have a real chance of repeating the dose with the exciting Aga Khan-owned daughter of Siyouni.
Tahiyra headed to the Rowley Mile unbeaten in two outings as a juvenile and although the 6-4 favourite suffered her first defeat when second after a real tussle with Saeed bin Suroor’s Mawj, she left Newmarket with her reputation enhanced having produced such a fine effort on just her third outing.
Having shown her handler she has recovered sufficiently from her 1000 Guineas exertions, she is now given another opportunity to add a Classic to her CV.
“She was a bit tired after the race, but she travelled home on the ferry and came home well and then she has picked up nicely and we’ve been pleased with her,” said Weld. “It was a massive performance.”
Weld is double-handed in the contest and will also saddle Tarawa, who like her stablemate sports the colours of the Aga Khan.
A winner over seven furlongs at two, she was a fast-finishing second in the Cornelscourt Stakes at Leopardstown on reappearance and Weld anticipates a good showing.
He continued: “She ran very well in the Group race at Leopardstown. I’ve been pleased with her work and expect her to run a very nice race.
“I’m happy with both fillies, they are both equally well and I expect them to run equally nice races.”
Homeless Songs’ victory for Weld last year ended a three-year winning run for Aidan O’Brien in the contest and the master of Ballydoyle is mob-handed with Meditate, Jackie Oh and Dower House as he bids to regain the winning thread.
It is Meditate that appears to have the best chance of handing O’Brien his 11th success in the race and he has been happy with what he has seen from the daughter of No Nay Never since slightly disappointing at Newmarket.
O’Brien said: “We’ve been very happy with Meditate since Newmarket. It’s going to be much different ground, obviously the ground at Newmarket was soft and it was her first run.
“She didn’t have a real clear run through the whole winter into the spring.
“Meditate is very classy, has always been very good, and everything has gone very well with her since Newmarket. That’s a very good sign.”
Stablemate Jackie Oh was thought of as a possible Oaks contender after winning over a mile in heavy ground at Naas on debut.
However, after being touched off in a fact-finding mission in the Salsabil Stakes over 10 furlongs, plans were altered and the Galileo filly reverts back to the mile on this occasion.
“We ran Jackie Oh in Navan over a mile and a quarter to see if we would go the Oaks or Guineas route,” continued O’Brien.
“Ryan (Moore) thought that maybe it was far enough for her, so we’d said we’d come back to the Guineas. We can go up after that again if we like, she seems in good form.”
Jessica Harrington’s Eternal Silence is still a maiden but reappears in deep waters following an encouraging run in the Moyglare Stud Stakes behind both Tahiyra and Meditate in her final appearance at two.
“It’s been a frustrating spring with Eternal Silence as she was meant to run in a few maidens but due to going, we didn’t run her,” said Kate Harrington, who is assistant trainer to her mother.
“Thank God the sun has shone for the last 10 days and we’re going to have good ground. She goes there in great form. She was a big filly last season and she’s really filled her frame out over the winter.
“She was a good third in the Moyglare last year behind Tahiyra and Meditate, has had a few racecourse gallops and we go there hopeful of a big run.”
The sole British challenger in the race is provided by John Quinn’s Breege, who performed admirably in Group contests as a two-year-old last term.
She was last sighted finishing fifth in the Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp and although taking her time to come to hand this spring, Quinn hopes she can acquit herself well on reappearance.
He said: “I’m happy with her. She’s taken a while to come to hand, but we’re pleased with her. Obviously we feel she is good enough to take her chance so we’re hoping for a good run.
“She ran very well last year and very well in France on bottomless ground. The winner of the French race (Blue Rose Cen) is probably the best three-year-old filly we’ve seen – she went on to win the French Guineas emphatically a couple of weeks ago. So I’m happy with the filly and hopeful of a good run.”
Fozzy Stack saddles both Amethyst Stakes runner-up You Send Me and Cornelscourt Stakes third Aspen Grove, with Jim Bolger’s Comhra fifth on that occasion and now tried in first-time cheekpieces as she completes the field of 10.
Jack Draper hopes his physical problems are behind him as he prepares to make his French Open debut.
There is much excitement within British tennis and the wider game about the 21-year-old’s potential but so far in his professional career he has been off court as much as on it.
This year has been particularly frustrating, with illness disrupting his pre-season and then a niggling hip problem bothering him before an abdominal injury struck in Indian Wells in March after he had beaten British rivals Dan Evans and Andy Murray.
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He returned in Monte Carlo in April but aggravated it and was not able to compete again until this week in Lyon.
The good news is Draper, who is currently ranked 60, found his groove straight away, beating Alexandre Muller and Miomir Kecmanovic before losing in three sets to in-form Francisco Cerundolo.
Draper is particularly pleased to have found what he believes is a solution to the nagging hip problem, with an injection relieving the pain he was experiencing.
“I basically had a lot of scar tissue in my hip that wasn’t going away,” he said. “And we couldn’t figure out what it was but we went and really looked at it and I’m on the right path with that now. So that has allowed me to get back on court and feel really good.
“I’ve not had many opportunities to play loads of slams, to play the four sets, five sets and all that sort of thing. I’m still waiting to find that confidence in my body. I’ve got a lot of confidence in my tennis but I feel like I need more time.
“I haven’t played at all for so many weeks and stuff. I don’t know what’s going to happen this week. I have no idea. But all I know is that I’ve done all the right things the last six weeks.
“The main thing now is, whatever happens after this week, to make sure that I’m consistently playing through to Wimbledon, after Wimbledon to the end of the year, because that’s when coming to these tournaments starts to become very normal and very comfortable.”
Draper hired Croatian fitness coach Dejan Vojnovic late last year to try to build up his robustness, and the former sprinter has had his charge doing a lot of running.
“It’s just lots of interval training most days,” said Draper. “He thinks that I’m in a great place with my body. It’s just sorting out all these niggles that I’ve had.
“We’ve put in a lot of work so far but it’s only been three months, four months. The more consistent that is over months, years, that’s when I become more complete.”
Having drawn Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in grand slams previously, Draper would have been happy to avoid a seed this time, although Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry is enjoying a good season and will certainly not be a pushover.
Draper is one of only three British players in the singles main draws in what has traditionally been the country’s least successful slam, but he has no hesitations about playing on clay.
“I don’t know a lot about him,” he said of Etcheverry. “Obviously he is Argentinian and obviously he has grown up on the clay. I feel pretty good, though.
“I played some good matches last week. In Monte Carlo as well, I played an Argentinian who was really good, so, actually, for someone who never really played on a clay court and being British, I feel pretty good on clay weirdly. So I don’t know about his game really. But I know that I’m confident.”
Two British players celebrated doubles titles on the ATP Tour on Saturday, with Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram, who have struggled so far this season, lifting the trophy in Lyon and Jamie Murray and New Zealander Michael Venus claiming their third success of the season in Geneva.
Max Verstappen saw off Fernando Alonso to take pole position in a scintillating qualifying session for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Alonso’s Aston Martin mechanics celebrated wildly after it appeared as though the 41-year-old Spaniard had taken his first pole in 11 years.
But Verstappen delivered a mesmerising final sector in Monte Carlo to take top spot with his final throw of the dice, beating Alonso by just 0.084 seconds.
Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, one spot ahead of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon with Carlos Sainz fifth.
Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth for Mercedes, two places ahead of team-mate George Russell, with Sergio Perez set to start Sunday’s 78-lap race from last place after he crashed out.
It has been 3,691 days since Alonso’s last pole in the sport and the rejuvenated Aston Martin driver looked on course to finally end his losing streak when he temporarily moved to the top of the time charts after declaring he was “pushing like an animal”.
Verstappen was the only driver who could spoil both the dreams of Alonso and Aston Martin, and he trailed the Spaniard by two tenths heading into the final sector.
But the double world champion danced his way through the final part of the circuit to finish clear of Alonso and claim a pole which he will be expected to convert into his fourth victory from the opening six rounds.
Mercedes were banking on their much-anticipated upgrade providing them with a springboard to challenge the grid’s all-conquering Red Bull team.
But on its grand unveiling here in the sun-cooked principality, Hamilton was at odds with his new machine.
The British driver, who crashed out of final practice following a mistake at the right-hander Mirabeau, missed the chicane in Q1, only avoiding an early bath with his final lap, before scrambling into Q3 after he grazed the wall at the swimming pool chicane.
“Man this car is hard to drive, mate,” said the seven-time world champion, who also reported there was “something wrong” with his right-rear suspension.
He finished four tenths behind Verstappen in Q3 with team-mate Russell six tenths adrift.
Perez is Verstappen’s closest championship challenger, but the Mexican driver will start the race at the back of the pack.
The running was just six minutes old when Perez – 14 points adrift of Verstappen in the standings – carried too much speed through the opening Sainte Devote corner and thudded into the wall.
Perez sustained extensive damage to the left-hand side of his Red Bull before coming to a standstill in the middle of the circuit.
“I crashed, I crashed,” said Perez, who now faces losing serious ground to Verstappen in the championship race with overtaking extremely challenging at this most unique of configurations.
River Of Stars battled hard to take the William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes for Ralph Beckett at York.
The Sea The Stars four-year-old won a Listed race at Chester last season before heading to Doncaster and coming home fifth in the Park Hill Stakes.
On the latter occasion the winner was Mimikyu, the 3-1 favourite for the York rematch as River Of Stars went off at 4-1 under Rossa Ryan.
Ryan kept the filly near the front of the field of nine and in the home straight it was the two Doncaster rivals who locked horns, crossing the line almost in unison as a photo finish was required to identify Beckett’s horse as the short-head winner.
“It played out well, if it wasn’t her first run of the year I’d have probably let her roll along,” said the jockey.
“In the middle part of the race we filled up a lot, you can see from the top of the straight she was just being a bit lairy.
“Kieran’s horse (O’Neill, Mimikyu) has just dragged me into the race, she knew where the line was and she stuck it out well.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if she gets a small bit further but it’s worked out great.
“Ralph’s been aiming her at this for a while and it worked out lovely.
“She had a lot to turn around from the Park Hill with the winner, but she’s turned it round.
“She’s a light enough filly and I’d say she quite enjoyed that good ground, she’s just a bit on and off the bridle the whole way.
“If they don’t get away from her, like they didn’t today, she grinds it out well.
“She’s very versatile and it’s good for the owners, the team at home have done a great job, they’ve stuck faith in her and she’s paid them off.”
Paddington made a seamless switch to Classic company as he gave trainer Aidan O’Brien another victory in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Having begun his season in handicap company off a mark of 97, Paddington won the Tetrarch Stakes next time before being pitched into the Guineas.
Ryan Moore was keen to grab an early position on the 3-1 victor and settled just behind Oisin Murphy on Hi Royal, the surprise runner up in the Newmarket Guineas.
For a brief spell it appeared as if Murphy was keeping a bit up his sleeve as Moore got down into the drive position, but with half a furlong left to run, Paddington began to gain the upper hand.
He leaned in briefly on Hi Royal, but he was already in command and as Hi Royal began to weaken it was the winner’s stablemate Cairo who made late gains from the rear to claim second, beaten two lengths.
Royal Scotsman was sent off the 6-4 favourite but never looked like getting involved as O’Brien claimed a 12th victory in the race, although it was his first since Churchill in 2017.
The winner is now the 4-1 second favourite for the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot with Coral, who have Newmarket winner Chaldean as the 11-8 market leader.
Dramatised came with a powerful late challenge to land Group Two honours in the Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock.
Last seen finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, Dramatised was sent off the 4-1 favourite for trainer Karl Burke and jockey William Buick.
The three-year-old was settled off the pace by Buick as both Live In The Dream and The Platinum Queen were eager to make their presence felt early.
However, Buick rode a perfect waiting race and when he gave Dramatised the signal, she quickly made strides up the near side rail, collaring Live In The Dream inside the last of the five furlongs.
Equilateral, a 20-1 shot, did his best to challenge down the middle of the track, but Dramatised was just too good, prevailing by a length, with Live In The Dream keeping on for third ahead of Existent.
Just Stop Oil protesters forced a stoppage in play during Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham.
Two men invaded the pitch midway through the first half of the match between Saracens and Sale, throwing orange paint powder on to the field.
Fans jeered the duo before cheering as stewards escorted them from the stadium.
Orange powder remained on the field as the match resumed.
The protest followed a similar one at the World Snooker Championship in April.
On that occasion, a man tipped orange paint on the table during the match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry at the Crucible in Sheffield.
A woman was prevented from executing a similar stunt on the other table after being tackled by quick-thinking referee Olivier Marteel.
Little Big Bear proved his 2000 Guineas run to be all wrong with a comprehensive success in the Betfred Nifty Fifty Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.
Champion juvenile last year on the back of his seven-length win in the Phoenix Stakes, his campaign was then curtailed by injury.
Aidan O’Brien opted to switch up to a mile for his seasonal bow, but nothing went right at Newmarket and he finished slightly lame in last place.
Just three weeks later, he was a different proposition dropped back to six furlongs on Merseyside, travelling sweetly throughout in the hands of Frankie Dettori, with Ryan Moore on Irish Guineas duty at the Curragh.
Hollie Doyle appeared to be going just as well on last year’s Coventry winner Bradsell until a furlong and a half out, when Dettori made his race-winning move.
Richard Hannon’s Shouldvebeenaring tried to make a race of it having cruised into contention, but he could never quite get close enough to put the evens favourite under pressure and he went down by a length and a quarter.
The winner is now 6-4 favourite from 9-2 with Betfair for the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot.
Dettori said: “Aidan got in touch with me 10 days ago and I said ‘yeah, I would love to ride the horse’, but I didn’t know where I was going to be. Very kindly they held on for me, I was on the phone on Sunday and said ‘listen, I’m going to Haydock’.
“He looked magnificent today. I guess they had to try the Guineas, it was too long (a mile) and it didn’t work out, but he won in good style today.
“I always had the race covered, he quickened up well under hands and heels and it’s a good confidence booster before the Commonwealth Cup.
“I don’t know what the line-up will be, but he was champion two-year-old, he has big figures and has come back to his best today, so he’ll be the favourite.”
Oisin Murphy rode his first ever winner at the Curragh as Art Power confirmed his love for Ireland when winning the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes in clear-cut fashion.
Trained by Tim Easterby, the grey was winning for the fourth time in as many attempts in Ireland.
Swiftly away from the stalls, the 2-1 joint-favourite looked in a comfortable rhythm throughout while his main market rival, Charlie Hills’ Garrus, was almost detached at the back of the field under Ryan Moore.
When Garrus did begin to make a move from the rear, Art Power had plenty left and kicked on again over a furlong out, running out a four-and-three-quarter-length winner from Big Gossey, with Garrus third.
The winner, gelded in the winter, is now as low as 8-1 with Betfair for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“He was a top-class sprinter and he lost his form a little bit. Tim Easterby and King Power Racing have been patient with him and today he gave me a super feel,” said Murphy.
“He loves Ireland and has never been beaten here, that’s his fourth victory from four starts – what a fantastic horse.
“I hadn’t ridden any winners here before today, so I can’t say I was very confident through the race and I knew what I was doing. I pretended I did anyway and I had the right horse.
“This is a great feeling. I managed to win a Listed race on Buckaroo at Leopardstown last month and to be here on such a big day is massive.”
Covey looked the proverbial Group horse in a handicap as he and Frankie Dettori led their rivals a merry dance in the £100,000 Betfred Silver Bowl at Haydock.
Narrowly beaten by Zoology on his debut at Southwell, John and Thady Gosden’s colt went one better at Newmarket next time before landing extremely short odds of 1-16 when doubling his tally at Newcastle.
Making his handicap debut from a perch of 90 on Merseyside, the son of Frankel again headed the betting as the 6-4 favourite and the result was never really in any doubt as he cut out most of the running and passed the post with just over three lengths in hand over Royal Cape.
Covey does not hold any big-race entries, but appears almost certain to be part of the Gosden squad for Royal Ascot next month.
Dettori, sporting the same Juddmonte colours he will wear aboard Covey’s stablemate Arrest in next weekend’s Betfred Derby at Epsom, said: “That was good and he’s going the right way.
“He was a difficult horse six months ago – he ran off the gallop with me in October! But he’s getting his act together and improving all the time.
“You always need a decent horse to win this kind of race, I guess the Britannia or the Jersey could be on his agenda for Ascot.”
Hollie Doyle came in for a winning spare ride aboard the Hugo Palmer-trained Solent Gateway (5-1) in the Betfred TV Hell Nook Handicap.
With intended jockey Neil Callan stuck on the M6, late substitute Doyle was at her power-packed best as her mount dug deep to repel 2-1 favourite Law Of The Sea by three-quarters of a length.
She said: “Neil got stuck in traffic unfortunately and I was probably the only one in the weighing room!
“I knew the horse quite well as I’ve ridden against him a few times and I just did what I was told.
“I got an easy lead, I cantered round in front and he was very push-button.”
In The Breeze came from the clouds to get trainer Mick Appleby off the cold list in the opening Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Florida Handicap.
The Rutland-based trainer had gone 81 runners and 43 days without a winner heading to Haydock and In The Breeze was a 9-2 shot to stop the rot in the hands of Ray Dawson.
The five-year-old was at the rear of the field for much of the 10-furlong contest, but charged home to get up in the dying strides and beat Swift Tuttle by a neck.
“We’ve been knocking on the door a bit, but we’ve had a very busy winter, so you expect to have a bit of a quiet time. It has been a bit longer than normal,” said Appleby.
“This horse is a bit highly strung, so we just have to try to keep a lid on him. I thought when they were crawling early on it wasn’t going to suit us as it turned into a sprint, but Ray gave him a great ride and he got the job done well.”
Coco Gauff hopes returning to Paris can help her find a new groove.
The 19-year-old reached her first grand slam singles final at the French Open last summer, losing a one-sided contest to Iga Swiatek.
She began this season by winning a WTA title in Auckland but has struggled recently, failing to make it past the third round at any of her last four tournaments and suffering some heavy defeats.
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Having established herself as a top-10 player, Gauff is now seeking the right path to move forward on and off the court.
“I would have liked to approach it (the tournament) the same way but I feel that’s not realistic because I am a different person than I was last year,” she said.
“I think I just have to find the way I want to approach it for this version of myself now. That comes through trial and error.
“I feel like for some reason, though, I always seem to find that in Paris. I don’t know if it’s the city or the vibe here that makes me a lot more at ease.
“I think there’s always things I would like to keep from myself a year ago and things I would like to get rid of. I have to figure out what things I want to keep and what things I don’t want to keep. I think that’s just learning about yourself.
“No matter how young or how old I am, I think I’m always going to be in this process of learning about myself. But I feel like even more in these years as I’m transitioning into being like a real adult.”
Gauff is back working with Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou having split from Diego Moyano and is trying to take more ownership of her tennis.
The American is a superb athlete and has one of the sport’s best backhands but her forehand is not nearly as reliable and is often cited as the weakness holding her back.
“I’m used to being told what to do and I just do it,” said Gauff. “So I guess now I’m trying to find, and I think Patrick and previous coaches want me to be more vocal about my game and about what I want to do.
“Obviously the forehand is something that I have to improve on, but on clay especially I feel like it’s one of my weapons. Last year, I won a lot of points using that heavy forehand, and I think that that’s something I continue to do this year.
“I feel pretty confident going into this tournament regardless of how other people view my game.”
Gauff will begin her tournament on Monday or Tuesday against Spain’s Rebeka Masarova.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka opens play on Philippe Chatrier on Sunday against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk while third seed Jessica Pegula meets fellow American Danielle Collins.
Jessica Harrington’s Givemethebeatboys maintained his unbeaten record with a narrow victory in the GAIN Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh.
A winner at Navan on his debut just a fortnight ago, he was sent off an 11-1 chance in what looked a strong Group Three on paper as five of the six runners were defending perfect starts to their careers.
The only one beaten on debut, Adrian Murray’s Valiant Force, had been second and he set a scorching gallop down the centre under Colin Keane but started to weaken a furlong out.
At that point Noche Magica looked sure to collect having gone by the eventual winner, but Paddy Twomey’s colt began to tire while Aidan O’Brien’s His Majesty made a run up the rail, only for Givemethebeatboys to poke his head in front in between the pair and win by a head under Shane Foley.
O’Brien’s Democracy, his apparent first string under Ryan Moore, disappointed in last while the winner is now 12-1 for the Coventry at Royal Ascot with Coral.
Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said: “It’s great to kick off the day with a Group Three winner. He was very professional out there and he out battled the other horses the whole way to the line.
“He was very impressive when he won at Navan, a furlong down you’d think ‘how is this horse going to win?’ and he put his head down and galloped the whole way to the line.
“He hated the ground that day and was green. He’s learned an awful lot from that and will learn an awful lot from today, he’ll be even more competitive the next day when we go to Ascot.”
O’Brien had already been on the mark in the opening Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden with Unquestionable.
Third on his debut in a Listed race, he appreciated the step up to six furlongs and the 4-6 favourite bounded four and a quarter lengths clear of Mr Saturday.
The Ballydoyle handler indicted the Coventry Stakes would be next, for which Coral make him a 12-1 chance.
“We’re delighted with him. We felt he’d appreciate the step up, it was big ask to throw him in over five first time in a stakes race, he’s going to get even further than this probably,” said O’Brien.
“Ryan was very happy with him. He went to the line very strong.
“It’s very hard to beat a run and he had a good run. He looks like a Coventry horse.”
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