William Haggas heaped praise on stable jockey Tom Marquand after the pair combined to win both of the major handicaps on Betfair Sprint Cup day at Haydock.
The Newmarket handler is a rare visitor to the Merseyside venue, so the fact he decided to make the journey north for the biggest day of the track’s Flat season was noteworthy.
His representative in the first of two £100,000 contests on the card was the impeccably-bred Naqeeb (5-2), who produced a battling display in the Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Handicap.
The son of Nathaniel is a half-brother to the trainer’s former stable star Baaeed and the top-class middle-distance performer Hukum, last seen winning the King George at Ascot in July.
Naqeeb will have to go some to scale those heights, but having opened his account with a wide-margin novice win at Kempton last month, he dug deep on his first start over a mile and three-quarters to score by a length and a quarter from Blindedbythelights.
“I thought a mark of 100 was steep for him, but I think he’s improved a bit for going up in trip and I think he’ll be a good stayer next year,” said Haggas.
“He took a while to win. He got mugged by Middle Earth I thought at Newmarket and now look at Middle Earth, who looks to have a likely chance in the St Leger.
“He’s not as quick as Baaeed – I think he wants another mile! How far he’ll go I don’t know, but he’s a big, raw horse whose still got lots to learn and if he can can end up half as good as those two (Baaeed and Hukum) that’ll do me.”
Haggas and Marquand were soon on the mark again, with Post Impressionist (10-1) coming from the clouds to lift the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup.
Caius Chorister looked home for all money after moving smoothly to the lead, but Post Impressionist – who had hinted at a return to form when not beaten far in the Ebor at York last month – flew home from the rear to land the spoils.
Haggas added: “Tom said he didn’t want to go early and I was hoping if that was the case they’d go fast and they seemed to do just that. It’s a long way up the straight when they go hard and thankfully he managed to pick them off.
“The first race of any description he’s run properly this year was in the Ebor last time. There was just a glimpse there and we’re delighted he’s come good today.”
Of Marquand, he said: “I’m really sick of saying it, but he’s a top-class rider and a great fellow. He is really hungry, really keen and really strong.
“I don’t know why he doesn’t have six favourites a day like (William) Buick and (Oisin) Murphy have, but Tom will get there eventually – he’s a young guy.
“He rode his 1,000th winner (in Britain) the other day and all I can guarantee you is it won’t take him that long to ride another 1,000.”
The high-class Chindit (5-2) dominated his rivals in the Group Three Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile.
Runner-up to Modern Games in the Lockinge at Newbury, Richard Hannon’s charge was upstaged by stablemate The Witch Hunter when favourite for last month’s Hungerford Stakes but showed his true colours this time, passing the post just over two lengths ahead of Light Infantry.
“He didn’t run his race last time at Newbury and he was a bit disappointing, but he was right back to his best and he looked like the Group One horse that I think he is,” said Hannon.
“Mr Poonawalla purchased him to see his mares once he retires from racing and he has now won a Group race at two, three, four and five. He looks right back to his very best form.
“We will certainly look at some nice pots abroad now where there is fast ground. There are a couple of races in Australia and races around two bends over a mile in America and he might even be the sort of horse that gets an invite to Hong Kong.”
Chindit’s rider James Doyle doubled up aboard Mick Appleby’s 4-1 shot Raasel in the Betfair Be Friendly Handicap, while the Listed Betfair Daily Tips On Betting.Betfair Ascendant Stakes went to the Roger Varian-trained Al Musmak.
Successful on his Ascot debut before finding only the exciting Rosallion too strong in a Listed contest on King George day, the 11-4 chance got back on the winning trail with a clear-cut victory over 6-4 favourite Macduff.
Winning jockey Ben Curtis said: “He relaxed lovely down the back and I was just keen not to give them too much rope as they can get away from you here.
“He travelled into it nice and when I gave him one flick he responded and went to the front and saw out the mile well, so I’m very pleased with him.
“He floated across the ground and hopefully he’ll take another step forward after that.”
Michael Tabor was quick to lavish praise on Aidan O’Brien after the trainer masterminded another comeback of remarkable proportions from Auguste Rodin to win the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.
Tabor owns the majority of O’Brien’s star-studded Ballydoyle string along with John Magnier and Derrick Smith, while George Westerberg, another of Auguste Rodin’s owners, is taking an increasingly prominent role.
Auguste Rodin’s season has really been a tale of all or nothing. Beaten out of sight in the 2000 Guineas, O’Brien got him back in top shape to win the Derby. He then followed up in the Irish equivalent, only to completely blow out in the King George at Ascot.
It would have been easy to think too many question marks surrounded him this time, but Tabor insisted O’Brien filled him with confidence.
“In the paddock Aidan was very confident and it surprised me how confident he was. As usual he’s full of praise for everyone else, but he’s the man. He’s produced the animal to perfection on the day,” said Tabor.
“It’s so difficult because when you see a horse run so poorly like that (at Ascot), and then you speak to Aidan afterwards and he’s still full of confidence and he seems to know the reasons why the horse perhaps ran badly.
“As you can see he just brings them back to their best and we all have off days.”
Tabor went on: “We always knew from Aidan that this horse had that special brilliance. He kept saying it and if he says it you have to believe it, and the horse has shown it.
“Everything is possible with him now. Obviously Derrick, John, George and myself will discuss it with Aidan going forward and the world is his oyster, so to speak.
“As John Magnier reminds me, we aren’t getting any younger so we want to enjoy the horses as much as anyone else.
“If the horse tells Aidan that he’s in good condition, as he has been today, I would think we’ll carry on.
“The Breeders’ Cup has always been very special to us and if the horse is right I see no reason why he wouldn’t go. Maybe Derrick, John and George will have a different view, but I’m hoping they’ll agree with yer man and myself!”
Trainer Ed Bethell was left fighting back the tears after Regional provided him with a first Group One success in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.
It is less than three years since the Middleham Moor handler took over the licence from his father James, who trained for over four decades before handing over the reins.
Regional has proved a real flagbearer since being bought for the bargain basement price of 3,5000 guineas in the summer of 2021, rewarding his connections with three previous wins, two of which have been achieved at Haydock.
Having landed the Listed Achilles Stakes at the Merseyside venue in June, the five-year-old got his first crack at Group One glory in the Nunthorpe at York last month and was not disgraced in finishing fifth, encouraging Bethell to give it another go over an extra furlong.
A 10-1 shot in the hands of Callum Rodriguez, Regional was never too far off the speed and dug deep as the post loomed to see off 50-1 outsider Shouldvebeenaring by a neck.
“I’m just over the moon. I’m in an incredibly fortunate position, to take over from my father, and my parents have been big supporters of mine,” said a clearly emotional Bethell.
“I never thought it would happen (winning a Group One). A huge ‘thank you’ has to go to Barbara Jones, who rides this horse every day – she doesn’t go on holiday because she wants to make sure he’s in tip-top form. She’s the important one here, along with the rest of my team at home. I’m just the lucky one to have my name on the ticket.
“We bought this horse just to win a race and he’s taken these guys (owners) on a tremendous ride. This meteoric rise is down to the team at home and we’ve just been incredibly fortunate.”
Bethell felt the step up in trip was key to Regional’s performance, adding: “He was able to travel in his comfort zone, which he wasn’t in the Nunthorpe. The whole complexion of the race changed at York with Live In The Dream going so quick and fair play to him, but we were rushed off our feet.
“Today we were so much more comfortable at this trip at this level. I thought maybe he’d gone too quick and he’d get swallowed up, but he was one of the last to come off the bridle. I can’t believe it really.”
The trainer is keen to let the dust settle before firming up plans for his stable star.
He said: “I’ll enjoy today and tonight and get back to it tomorrow morning.
“I don’t know where we’ll go next, the owners might want to go to America, but I’ll just see how the horse is first and make a decision.
“Genuinely, I don’t think words can describe how I’m feeling. I told myself if we finish in the first five we’ve done well.
“When we won a handicap over six furlongs here two years ago I couldn’t believe it. I thought ‘I’ve done my job now, he’s won a race, maybe the owners will stick with me’.
“Did I ever think he could go and do this? No. These sort of days I hope will go a long way to helping the yard achieve what I want it to.”
Rodriguez – also winning his first Group One – said: “It was an amazing performance by the horse and what a story it’s been with him this year, being picked up for 3,500 guineas. The journey he has taken his syndicate on is just amazing. It was very smooth as he hit the gates very well and was in a good rhythm all the way and every time I asked him he responded.”
The disappointment of the race was undoubtedly Julie Camacho’s Shaquille, who was the 11-10 favourite to complete a top-level hat-trick following wins in the Commonwealth Cup and the July Cup.
But while the three-year-old – who got upset beforehand – was much quicker away from the starting stalls than had been the case at Royal Ascot and Newmarket, he was a spent force with a couple of furlongs to run and ended up trailing home last of 16 runners.
“Everything was fine, he had a bit of a wobbler before the gates opened (but) it didn’t affect his start and he jumped very clean,” said jockey James Doyle.
“He travelled super, but between the three and the two I had no power and I was beat very quick.
“As we know that’s not him as one thing he does do is get through the line, so we’ll see. They’re not machines, are they?
“The season is not over yet, we’ve got Champions Day to come and other races and we’ll see what comes to light. We’ll just regroup at this stage.”
Johnny Sexton marked his long-awaited comeback with two of 12 tries as Ireland launched their Rugby World Cup campaign by blitzing Romania in the baking heat of Bordeaux.
Captain Sexton, playing his first competitive match in almost six months following injury and suspension, added to first-half scores from Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, Tahdg Beirne and Bundee Aki.
Peter O’Mahony’s double and further second-half finishes from Rob Herring, the returning skipper, Joe McCarthy, Aki and Beirne sealed a resounding 82-8 victory in a one-sided Pool B opener staged in temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius.
Andy Farrell’s men were given a jolt by Romania scrum-half Gabriel Rupanu crossing early on but emphatically avoided a major upset ahead of far stiffer tests against Tonga, South Africa and Scotland.
Fly-half Sexton also slotted seven of eight conversions before being withdrawn 16 minutes from time to a standing ovation and now sits just nine points shy of Ronan O’Gara’s national record tally of 1,083.
The 38-year-old was back from his lengthy absence to lead his country into his fourth World Cup, while Mack Hansen replaced Robbie Henshaw on the bench in a late change following his surprise initial omission from the matchday 23.
An expectant sea of green flooded the stands of Stade de Bordeaux in sweltering south-west France.
But it was Romania who made the blistering start.
Sexton’s poor grubber kick was pounced upon by Hinckley Vaovasa and he raced forward to give half-back partner Rupanu a simple third-minute finish.
Ireland swiftly recovered from the sloppy opening moments to assert their authority.
Gibson-Park benefited from slick interplay involving Sexton, Aki and Garry Ringrose to dive over before Keenan crossed under the posts and flanker Beirne touched down wide on the left.
Rupanu reduced the deficit with a penalty ahead of the first drinks break, but the fourth World Cup meeting between the nations rarely threatened to be truly competitive, epitomised by an early Mexican wave.
Ireland had won all of the past clashes – nine in total – and had the bonus point in the bag in the 34th minute when the rampaging Aki claimed a fine solo score shortly after Romania full-back Marius Simionescu was sin-binned for obstruction.
Sexton got in on the act in the final moments of the half, crossing under the posts before overcoming a bang suffered in the process to slot the extras and make it 33-8 at the interval.
Ireland players had spoken all week of wanting to begin with a bang by producing a statement victory.
Undeterred by the stifling conditions, the Six Nations Grand Slam champions stretched their advantage courtesy of hooker Herring and flanker O’Mahony dotting down amid prolonged pressure.
Sexton’s 17th Test try added further gloss to the scoreline before a first for 22-year-old lock McCarthy and a second of the afternoon for O’Mahony enhanced Romania’s punishment.
Aki, who was sent off against Samoa in his last World Cup outing, and Beirne became the third and fourth men in green to claim a brace.
Replacement number 10 Crowley successfully added the extras from his four conversions as Ireland ruthlessly dispatched the team ranked 19th in the world to stretch their record winning run to 14 matches and satisfy the bulk of the 41,170 crowd.
William Haggas heaped praise on stable jockey Tom Marquand after the pair combined to win both of the major handicaps on Betfair Sprint Cup day at Haydock.
The Newmarket handler is a rare visitor to the Merseyside venue, so the fact he decided to make the journey north for the biggest day of the track’s Flat season was noteworthy.
His representative in the first of two £100,000 contests on the card was the impeccably-bred Naqeeb (5-2), who produced a battling display in the Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Handicap.
The son of Nathaniel is a half-brother to the trainer’s former stable star Baaeed and the top-class middle-distance performer Hukum, last seen winning the King George at Ascot in July.
Naqeeb will have to go some to scale those heights, but having opened his account with a wide-margin novice win at Kempton last month, he dug deep on his first start over a mile and three-quarters to score by a length and a quarter from Blindedbythelights.
“I thought a mark of 100 was steep for him, but I think he’s improved a bit for going up in trip and I think he’ll be a good stayer next year,” said Haggas.
“He took a while to win. He got mugged by Middle Earth I thought at Newmarket and now look at Middle Earth, who looks to have a likely chance in the St Leger.
“He’s not as quick as Baaeed – I think he wants another mile! How far he’ll go I don’t know, but he’s a big, raw horse whose still got lots to learn and if he can can end up half as good as those two (Baaeed and Hukum) that’ll do me.”
Haggas and Marquand were soon on the mark again, with Post Impressionist (10-1) coming from the clouds to lift the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup.
Caius Chorister looked home for all money after moving smoothly to the lead, but Post Impressionist – who had hinted at a return to form when not beaten far in the Ebor at York last month – flew home from the rear to land the spoils.
Haggas added: “Tom said he didn’t want to go early and I was hoping if that was the case they’d go fast and they seemed to do just that. It’s a long way up the straight when they go hard and thankfully he managed to pick them off.
“The first race of any description he’s run properly this year was in the Ebor last time. There was just a glimpse there and we’re delighted he’s come good today.”
Of Marquand, he said: “I’m really sick of saying it, but he’s a top-class rider and a great fellow. He is really hungry, really keen and really strong.
“I don’t know why he doesn’t have six favourites a day like (William) Buick and (Oisin) Murphy have, but Tom will get there eventually – he’s a young guy.
“He rode his 1,000th winner (in Britain) the other day and all I can guarantee you is it won’t take him that long to ride another 1,000.”
The high-class Chindit (5-2) dominated his rivals in the Group Three Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile.
Runner-up to Modern Games in the Lockinge at Newbury, Richard Hannon’s charge was upstaged by stablemate The Witch Hunter when favourite for last month’s Hungerford Stakes but showed his true colours this time, passing the post just over two lengths ahead of Light Infantry.
“He didn’t run his race last time at Newbury and he was a bit disappointing, but he was right back to his best and he looked like the Group One horse that I think he is,” said Hannon.
“Mr Poonawalla purchased him to see his mares once he retires from racing and he has now won a Group race at two, three, four and five. He looks right back to his very best form.
“We will certainly look at some nice pots abroad now where there is fast ground. There are a couple of races in Australia and races around two bends over a mile in America and he might even be the sort of horse that gets an invite to Hong Kong.”
William Haggas heaped praise on stable jockey Tom Marquand after the pair combined to win both of the major handicaps on Betfair Sprint Cup day at Haydock.
The Newmarket handler is a rare visitor to the Merseyside venue, so the fact he decided to make the journey north for the biggest day of the track’s Flat season was noteworthy.
His representative in the first of two £100,000 contests on the card was the impeccably-bred Naqeeb (5-2), who produced a battling display in the Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Handicap.
The son of Nathaniel is a half-brother to the trainer’s former stable star Baaeed and the top-class middle-distance performer Hukum, last seen winning the King George at Ascot in July.
Naqeeb will have to go some to scale those heights, but having opened his account with a wide-margin novice win at Kempton last month, he dug deep on his first start over a mile and three-quarters to score by a length and a quarter from Blindedbythelights.
“I thought a mark of 100 was steep for him, but I think he’s improved a bit for going up in trip and I think he’ll be a good stayer next year,” said Haggas.
“He took a while to win. He got mugged by Middle Earth I thought at Newmarket and now look at Middle Earth, who looks to have a likely chance in the St Leger.
“He’s not as quick as Baaeed – I think he wants another mile! How far he’ll go I don’t know, but he’s a big, raw horse whose still got lots to learn and if he can can end up half as good as those two (Baaeed and Hukum) that’ll do me.”
Haggas and Marquand were soon on the mark again, with Post Impressionist (10-1) coming from the clouds to lift the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup.
Caius Chorister looked home for all money after moving smoothly to the lead, but Post Impressionist – who had hinted at a return to form when not beaten far in the Ebor at York last month – flew home from the rear to land the spoils.
Haggas added: “Tom said he didn’t want to go early and I was hoping if that was the case they’d go fast and they seemed to do just that. It’s a long way up the straight when they go hard and thankfully he managed to pick them off.
“The first race of any description he’s run properly this year was in the Ebor last time. There was just a glimpse there and we’re delighted he’s come good today.”
Of Marquand, he said: “I’m really sick of saying it, but he’s a top-class rider and a great fellow. He is really hungry, really keen and really strong.
“I don’t know why he doesn’t have six favourites a day like (William) Buick and (Oisin) Murphy have, but Tom will get there eventually – he’s a young guy.
“He rode his 1,000th winner (in Britain) the other day and all I can guarantee you is it won’t take him that long to ride another 1,000.”
The high-class Chindit (5-2) dominated his rivals in the Group Three Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile.
Runner-up to Modern Games in the Lockinge at Newbury, Richard Hannon’s charge was upstaged by stablemate The Witch Hunter when favourite for last month’s Hungerford Stakes but showed his true colours this time, passing the post just over two lengths ahead of Light Infantry.
“He didn’t run his race last time at Newbury and he was a bit disappointing, but he was right back to his best and he looked like the Group One horse that I think he is,” said Hannon.
“Mr Poonawalla purchased him to see his mares once he retires from racing and he has now won a Group race at two, three, four and five. He looks right back to his very best form.
“We will certainly look at some nice pots abroad now where there is fast ground. There are a couple of races in Australia and races around two bends over a mile in America and he might even be the sort of horse that gets an invite to Hong Kong.”
Regional provided trainer Ed Bethell and jockey Callum Rodriguez with the first Group One success of their careers in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, in which hot favourite Shaquille finished last.
Shaquille had missed the break in both the Commonwealth Cup and July Cup before storming home to win, did not look happy before the race.
He had tried to unship James Doyle on the way to the start and then did not want to go in the stalls until Doyle jumped off.
He did break on terms on this occasion and soon found himself in front, at which point connections would have been delighted, but with two furlongs to run Shaquille had no more to give and Doyle looked after him.
Regional (10-1), who had been making his name over five furlongs and needed to prove he could beat the best over six, faced a strong challenge from 50-1 outsider Shouldvebeenaring but held on by a neck, with the supplemented Believing back in third.
Augustus Rodin rose from the canvass once again to hold off Luxembourg and Nashwa and win the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Despite being a dual Derby winner, Aidan O’Brien’s Deep Impact colt had run two inexplicably bad races this season.
Having disappointed badly in the 2000 Guineas, O’Brien worked his magic to get him back in top form to win at Epsom. He was then workmanlike in winning the Irish Derby, before being virtually pulled up in the King George at Ascot.
But it is folly to write off O’Brien and his horses, and dropped back down to 10 furlongs Auguste Rodin was sent off the 11-4 favourite.
Up against Derby runner-up King Of Steel, last year’s winner Luxembourg and multiple Group One scorer Nashwa, punters kept the faith.
With three Ballydoyle runners at the head of affairs they had the run of the race, while Hollie Doyle only had Jim Crowley and Alflaila for company at the rear of the field.
Auguste Rodin quickened by Luxembourg as Point Lonsdale weakened, with Doyle making relentless progress on John and Thady Gosden’s Nashwa.
Ryan Moore was asking for everything on the favourite, and in the last 50 yards Nashwa’s run flattened out and it was Luxembourg who had one last lunge on the rails, going down by half a length with Nashwa a short head away.
Tahiyra stamped her class on the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown with a fourth Group One victory for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes.
Off the track on a mid-season break since impressing in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, Weld had brought the Aga Khan-owned three-year-old along steadily for her autumn targets.
Hayes had her in the perfect spot throughout and having entered the turn for home in fourth position, she arrived on the quarters of Zarinsk still on the bridle with only Just Beautiful to catch.
She soon quickened past Paddy Twomey’s runner and Hayes was able to enjoy the final half a furlong, saluting the crowd as she crossed the line.
Tom Clover’s Rogue Millennium outran her 12-1 odds, closing into second, narrowly catching Just Beautiful, but neither were a match for the 5-6 favourite as she won by an eased-down length and a quarter.
Aidan O’Brien holds an incredibly strong hand in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, with high-class colts City Of Troy and Henry Longfellow poised to take each on at the Curragh on Sunday.
The Ballydoyle handler’s youngsters arrive at the Kildare track with a course and distance victory and Group Two success to their name, but while one will further enhance their growing reputation by adding a first top-tier victory, the other will lose their unbeaten record.
The duo are both riding high at the top of the ante-post markets for next year’s Classics, and O’Brien, who is quickly bearing down on 4,000 winners, could get a big indication of who is Ballydoyle’s number one as he attempts to end a six-year drought in the Group One contest.
“At the moment it’s the plan (to run both). We’re happy with both at the moment,” he said on Saturday afternoon.
City Of Troy and Henry Longfellow will face the sternest examination of their career when they come up against Adrian Murray’s Bucanero Fuerte – who has already proven himself on the big stage.
Since finishing third to River Tiber in the Coventry Stakes, the son of Wootton Bassett has twice thrived over six furlongs at this track, following up a battling victory in the Railway Stakes with a dominant display in the Phoenix Stakes.
The latter of those two triumphs gave owners Amo Racing a first Group One and his handler is riding a crest of a wave with his stable star.
“It’s a dream to be involved with a horse like him and I never could have imagined it could have happened to me – it’s just what dreams are made of,” said Murray.
“He seems to be getting better and better. He won at the Curragh the first day and then went to Royal Ascot for us to finish third and that for us was as good as having a winner. He then came home and won the Railway and then won the Phoenix – it’s hard to believe.
“He looks like a horse that’s going to train on, he’s a big, long scopey horse and a beautiful mind. He’s thriving with racing and hopefully he keeps it going.”
Bucanero Fuerte has never raced beyond six furlongs, but the strength he has shown at the finish over that distance has connections excited to now tackle and extra furlong.
Murray, who also saddles the outsider Cuban Thunder, added: “He’s always struck me as a horse that needed a step up in trip and I can’t wait to see him running over seven furlongs and a mile. You’d be expect him to keep improving as we step him up.
“He worked very well at the Curragh last week and I could not be happier with him.”
Givemethebeatboys was a place behind Bucanero Fuerte in fourth at Royal Ascot but now has five and a half lengths to make up judged on Phoenix Stakes form, while Joseph O’Brien has won this race in two of the last three seasons and is this time represented by Futurity Stakes runner-up Islandsinthestream.
Fully-fit Darcy Graham declared that he and Duhan van der Merwe are intent on filling their boots at the World Cup as they chase down Scotland’s all-time try record.
The free-scoring Edinburgh pair have developed into two of the most dangerous wings in world rugby and are aiming to showcase their finishing ability on the biggest stage of all in France, with the formidable South Africans first up in Marseille on Sunday evening.
The recently-retired Stuart Hogg currently holds the Scottish record with 27 but Van Der Merwe has got himself up to joint-fifth with Tommy Seymour after scoring three in his last two matches to take his tally to 20, while Graham is sixth with 19 after scoring seven tries in his last four international outings.
“Yes, definitely,” said Graham when asked if he sees the World Cup as a good chance to get closer to top spot. “Obviously Hoggy’s got it and me and Duhan are hunting him down.
“We’re both pretty confident we’re going to break it, it’s just about who’s going to do it first. We’re having a wee competition between ourselves.
“I’ve played with Duhan for a while now and when he scores I’m chuffed to bits for him but we’re hunting the record down.”
The Scots have one of the most rampant attacks in the world at present, and the talismanic Graham believes his impressive scoring record – and that of his fellow backs – is down to the way the team have been functioning.
“We’ve improved massively over the last two years as a Scotland team and everybody knows their jobs,” said the wing, speaking at a press conference in Aix-en-Provence, just north of Marseille, on the eve of the Springboks showdown.
“You look at me, Kyle (Steyn, who has three tries in his last two games) and Duhan, we’re all scoring. We’ve scored tries every game this season.
“But that’s our jobs, we’ve got to take our chances. We might only get a couple against South Africa and we’ve got to take them.
“That’s what we’re there to do, to finish off those tries out wide and I think there will be a huge opportunity tomorrow for us to do that.”
Graham missed the entire Six Nations earlier this year with a knee injury sustained in December and there was mild concern about his fitness for the South Africa game when he withdrew from the team to face Georgia in the last warm-up match two weeks ago.
However, any fears were eased when the 26-year-old – who has played for Scotland only twice since November – came through the first two training sessions in Nice this week and was named in the starting XV on Thursday.
“I’m ready just to get stuck in and get going,” said Graham. “I got over that niggle reasonably quick. I think I could probably have played that Georgia game but it was better saving myself.
“With the bigger picture, I was happy to sit that one out and get myself ready for this game.
“We’ve had a good training week this week and the boys are excited to get out on the pitch.
“You don’t get any bigger stage than the World Cup and especially playing against the world champions, it doesn’t get any more special.
“We’ve been ready for the last couple of days. All the work’s done. It’s all about turning up on the day and performing.”
Diego Velazquez maintained his unbeaten record in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown, although he was made to work reasonably hard by stablemate Capulet as Irish Champions Festival weekend got under way.
Bought for 2,400,000 guineas from the Tattersalls Book One sale in October, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Frankel colt had impressed on his debut at the Curragh, winning by almost five lengths.
Sent off the 8-15 favourite under Ryan Moore to enhance his reputation, he looked to be in the perfect position to strike three furlongs from home in the Group Two affair.
However, Moore soon had to get more serious, with Seamie Heffernan appearing to have more up his sleeve in front on Capulet.
But showing a good attitude when asked, Diego Velazquez began to hit top gear and by the line had half a length in hand over Capulet, in a race won last year by Auguste Rodin.
Coral go 8-1 about Diego Velazquez emulating Auguste Rodin in next year’s Derby, and 16-1 for the Guineas.
Wales have been put on alert to expect “lightning bolts” in their Rugby World Cup opener against Fiji on Sunday.
It is the fifth-successive tournament for Wales and Fiji to meet, with Warren Gatland’s team on a run of three-consecutive wins.
Fiji, though, dumped Wales out of the 2007 World Cup following a thrilling clash in Nantes, while four years ago they led by 10 points before Wales recovered to prevail 29-17.
Fiji have improved their set-piece play considerably under head coach Simon Raiwalui, a dazzling running and off-loading game remains central to their outlook.
They are currently above Wales in the world rankings and fresh from beating England at Twickenham, with players like Semi Radradra, captain Waisea Nayacalevu and number eight Viliame Mata posing major threats.
“I think we have got to expect lightning bolts from this team – line-breaks, off-loads, how they pick through the breakdown,” Wales assistant coach and defence specialist Mike Forshaw said.
“We have got to be really alert and alive around our defence in every area.
“We are expecting that kind of arm-wrestle. We have just got to stay in the game physically and mentally.
“We are going to take lightning bolts at some point, but it is about really focusing on ourselves.
“We’ve got to be physical, we’ve got to take some bruises tomorrow and hopefully dish them out if we can.
“Everyone is talking about this Fiji team and rightly so because I was at Twickenham a couple of weeks ago and they were mightily impressive.
“I think tomorrow we have got to see the best of us against this team, I really believe that.
“Physicality is an easy word to say, but we have got to lead with our actions tomorrow, as I am sure Fiji will.”
Gatland has arrived at a fourth World Cup and his record of two fourth-placed finishes and a quarter-final exit in 2015 is impressive.
And victory on Sunday would give Wales a flying start in terms of their quest to reach the knockout phase from a group that also features Australia, Georgia and Portugal.
“I think from a coaching perspective, the ultimate pinnacle is the World Cup ,” Gatland said.
“It’s the one time in international windows that you get full preparation. It feels like you are working with a club side in having a pre-season.
“We’ve been able to work on a lot of things in the last few months in terms of the detail and putting together a strategy, but also making sure we have not done just the hard work but worked hard on other aspects of the game.
“For us, we’ve spoken about discipline and keeping them (Fiji) out of our 22. They tend to come alive in opposition 22s.
“We’ve prepared well, particularly the last few weeks. We are in a good place for the challenge, physically and mentally.”
Kyprios makes his long-awaited return to action in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Sunday.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained chestnut asserted himself as the new star of the staying division last season, enjoying a superb Group One winning streak that included the Gold Cup, the Goodwood Cup, the Irish St Leger and the Prix du Cadran.
A setback then stalled his career and he has not been seen since the latter victory, leaving the long-distance races he would have contested open in his absence.
The five-year-old has been limbering up for a comeback and day two of the Irish Champions Festival will be the scene as he looks to retain the title he won 12 months ago.
Fiona Craig of owners Moyglare Stud said: “I’m not sure he’s quite there yet, but I think he’s ready to run. I know he had a racecourse gallop at the Curragh a good few weeks ago, so we’ll see.
“He’s just a bigger horse than he was before and I think they’ve gone steadily with him because of the injury, but I don’t think Aidan would be running him if he didn’t think he was going to run well.
“It will just be great to see him back at the races because he’s a very popular horse, there’s more people ask me about Kyprios than anything else we own!
“He’s the horse that wherever you are in the world, people ask you about the big chestnut horse.”
Taking him on is last year’s English St Leger winner, the Roger Varian-trained Eldar Eldarov.
The four-year-old is yet to come home in front this term but has run with credit in the top contests at the distance, finishing second in the Yorkshire Cup, seventh in the Gold Cup and fourth in the Goodwood Cup.
He was an intended runner in the Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh last month, but he became unsettled on the journey over and was withdrawn after the decision was made to bring him home.
“He’s been knocking on the door at this level this season,” said Chris Wall, racing manager to owners KHK Racing.
“Obviously we’ve got to take on Kyprios and Emily Dickinson, they look to be the main dangers over in Ireland.
“He’s in good form and we’re hoping for a good run from him.
“Obviously a Kyprios in tip-top condition would be a difficult task for him, but he’s coming off a considerable lay-off so we might have an advantage there.
“We were only narrowly behind Emily Dickinson at Goodwood last time and I would have thought it would have been pretty close between those two again.
“We go there chance, hopefully he can get his first victory of the year in this race.”
O’Brien has a second runner in Emily Dickinson, winner of the Curragh Cup and second in the Goodwood Cup when last seen, with Joseph O’Brien’s Dawn Rising and Jessica Harrington’s Yashin completing the field of five.
Willie McCreery accepts Ylang Ylang is the one to beat in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday – but is ready to take her on again with Vespertilio.
The pair met in the Group Three Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown towards the end of July, when Aidan O’Brien’s charge ran out a convincing victor by one and a half lengths.
But Vespertilio ran a very encouraging race, coming through from the rear to finish nicely clear of the rest.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder confirmed that promise when landing the Group Two Debutante Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh under another patient ride from Billy Lee.
Stepping up to elite level over the same course and distance is an obvious move, and McCreery is keen to see how Vespertilio fares against Ylang Ylang this time.
“She’s a lovely filly and it was a nice run last time,” said the trainer. “The going is down as good for Sunday and it may well quicken up a bit before her race, but it was similar ground last month.
“Ylang Ylang is the obvious one we’ve got to beat, but if you’re not in it, you can’t win it.
“We’ll just let Billy see how the race pans out before he decides how to take things, but we’re looking forward to it, that’s for sure.”
Ylang Ylang is already favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas and will bid to give Aidan O’Brien a record-extending 10th win in this race.
“She’s done everything we’ve asked of her so far,” said O’Brien.
“She won nicely the last day, but I thought the second filly (Vespertilio) was coming home very well with her.
“She’s in good form and she’s ready to go again. Seven furlongs and fast ground she’s already proved she likes as she won at the Curragh first time out.
“It is another step up again for her, though.”
The Ballydoyle handler is also represented by outsiders Brilliant and Pearls And Rubies, who was a beaten favourite in fifth behind Vespertilio here last time.
Dermot Weld seeks to follow last season’s success with Tahiyra by saddling Frankel filly Red Viburnum, who caught the eye when making late headway in third on her Curragh debut behind A Lilac Rolla.
“She’s come on for her first run, when she ran very well,” said Fiona Craig of owners Moyglare Stud. “To give Chris Hayes his due, he dropped her in behind and taught her and I’ve seen her work since and she worked much sharper.
“I think it was more greenness than anything and it took a few strides for the penny to drop, but she galloped out way beyond the others at the end.
“She’ll have moved on a bit since then, whether she’s moved on enough to win this race is another matter, but all you can do is compete and see.”
The Dominic Ffrench Davis-trained Ornellaia has already shown she travels, chasing home Les Pavots in the Group Two Prix du Calvados at Deauville.
Tom Pennington, racing manager for Amo Racing, commented: “She’s a filly we hold in high regard and she won her maiden at Goodwood in impressive style.
“She went to France then and I thought she ran a very good race in the Prix du Calvados. She had to cut out her own running which is always tricky, but still managed to run a nice race.
“She’s in good form, she came out of Deauville well and this has always been the plan. My only slight concern would be the ground and I think she is better with a bit of ease in the ground, so that would be the slight worry.”
Karl Burke also travels across the Irish Sea with Fallen Angel, who galloped on well to win the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket.
Albany Stakes scorer Porta Fortuna is back against her own sex after performing with credit versus the colts when second to Bucanero Fuerte in the Group One Phoenix Stakes.
Donnacha O’Brien has booked Frankie Dettori to ride the daughter of Caravaggio.
Highfield Princess has the chance to reassert her dominance on the sprinting division when she defends her Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes title at the Curragh on Sunday.
John Quinn’s speedster brought up a phenomenal Group One hat-trick with an emphatic victory in this race 12 months ago and although continuing to be a major player in all the big-sprinting contests, has found success harder to come by this term.
A Group Two triumph at the Qatar Goodwood Festival is the six-year-old’s sole victory this campaign and having gone down fighting with placed efforts in two outings at Royal Ascot before that, again went out on her shield when runner-up to shock Nunthorpe scorer Live In The Dream at York.
She will once again come up against Archie Watson’s King’s Stand winner Bradsell who has become a regular foe this season and connections hope their star mare thrives once again on Irish soil.
“We’re looking forward to it and she’s come out of York well,” said Quinn.
“It’s a tough race and Bradsell is in it and Tim Easterby’s horse (Art Power) who is absolutely dynamite at the Curragh and then there’s a few others as well, but we’re happy with our filly.
“The Curragh suited her last year, so I hope it suits her again on Sunday. Everything has been fine since York and it’s great to have an animal like her. She wears it on her sleeve and we’re looking forward to Sunday.”
Bradsell was a place behind Highfield Princess when they met for a second time on the Knavesmire and his handler will hope to see the mount of Hollie Doyle fare better than when finishing down the field on his previous trip to the Curragh as a two-year-old when he picked up an injury.
However, one horse with no qualms about another venture to Ireland is Art Power who has an imperious record at the Curragh.
Four of the six-year-old’s eight victories have come at the Kildare track and having been in destructive form at the venue twice this term, now seeks to add an elusive Group One success to his CV.
“He seems to have a bit of a love affair with Ireland and seems to find a key couple of lengths over there,” said Alastair Donald, racing manager for owners King Power Racing.
“He has often been a length short in Group Ones over here and we’re looking forward to seeing him.”
Donald went on: “He has won over five furlongs in Ireland before. He’s never been short of pace and it’s quite a stiff five up the hill there, so we’re not worried about the five.
“The ground should be fine and he has a good draw, but obviously Bradsell and Highfield Princess make it a very strong renewal.
“Without being rude to the others it looks to be between the three of them, and if he can show his previous Irish form, he has to be a live contender.”
Yann Barberot’s French raider Bouttemont adds an international flavour to the contest and is an intriguing spare ride for the in-form Dylan Browne McMonagle, while Charlie Hills’ Equality and Clive Cox’s Get Ahead – sixth and eighth in the Nunthorpe respectively – are other visitors from Britain.
James Doyle is relishing the chance to once again link-up with Warm Heart in the Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
The 35-year-old was in the saddle aboard Aidan O’Brien’s Royal Ascot scorer when she notched her first Group One victory in the Yorkshire Oaks last month and she now has the opportunity to add another big-race success to her CV in the feature contest on Arc trials day.
The daughter of Galileo arrives in the French capital having won four of her last five starts and advertised both her class and courage when victorious on the Knavesmire, beating Free Wind and her Irish Oaks-winning stablemate Savethelastdance.
Doyle said: “I’m really looking forward to it, it looks like they have had a warm week over there and as we know she likes fast ground so hopefully that will suit her.
“She’s very tenacious, she showed that at York when Free Wind came up to her. She certainly tries hard and has a good cruising speed as well.
“I feel very lucky to be called upon and fingers crossed it will be a big weekend.”
O’Brien said of his runner: “She’s in good form and her last run at York was very good.
“She likes nice, fast ground and she’s very comfortable at a mile and a half so we’re looking forward to seeing her run again.
“She probably won’t run get to run in this part of the world after Sunday as the ground might get soft so she might head for the Breeders’ Cup, if everything went well.”
Coolmore are also represented by Joseph O’Brien’s consistent performer Above The Curve, while William Haggas’ Sea Silk Road gets another crack at Group One action in a race the raiders have done well in recently.
Local hopes will rest with Blue Rose Cen, who has helped propel trainer Christopher Head to the top tier of the training ranks and now the dual Classic winner will have her stamina put to the test as connections contemplate a tilt at the Arc.
The high-class daughter of Churchill would need to be supplemented for Europe’s richest middle-distance contest, but a strong showing in her first try at a mile and a half would give Head and owners Yeguada Centurion SL plenty to think about.
“She’s doing fine and she goes into the race very well,” said Head
“We are trying her over a distance that is very different from the beginning just to see what we will do in the future. We need to see what she can do over 2,400 metres to be sure about what we do over the next year.
“There is still the possibility she will get supplemented for the Arc. That will all depend on the result of the Vermeille and her aptitude over that kind of distance.”
Francis-Henri Graffard’s hat-trick-seeking Melo Melo and Fabrice Chappet’s Crown Princesse are others to note from the home team, with the latter just under four lengths adrift of Warm Heart in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot after a near miss in the Prix Saint-Alary.
The daughter of Zarak has not been seen since the Royal meeting, but Chappet is confident she is fighting fit ahead of her return to action.
He said: “She will be ready to go again.
“Everything is all good with her. She’s entered in the Prix de l’Opera as well as the Arc and we will take it step by step. We will have to see how she runs on Sunday.”
Pascal Bary’s Feed The Flame is as short as 7-1 for the Arc following his course-and-distance triumph in the Grand Prix de Paris and he will bid for more joy on the Bois de Boulogne in the supporting Qatar Prix Niel.
His rivals include German Derby winner Fantastic Moon – who skipped an intended run in the Grosser Preis von Baden last Sunday in favour of quicker ground – and French 2000 Guineas scorer Marhaba Ya Sanafi who tries a mile and a half for the first time.
Prix Ganay winner Iresine will defend his Qatar Prix Foy on the card, while Andre Fabre used the Group Two contest to prepare Waldgeist for Arc glory in 2019 and will now bid to repeat the dose when saddling Place Du Carrousel, the conqueror of Nashwa in last year’s Prix de l’Opera.
Scotland kick off their Rugby World Cup campaign against South Africa in Marseille on Sunday.
Here, the PA news agency sets the scene with five talking points ahead of the mouth-watering Pool B showdown at Stade Velodrome.
Box-office starter to top-heavy group
Beyond the opening game between France and New Zealand on Friday, the Scots’ showdown with the Springboks is the most eye-catching of the first round of pool fixtures. Indeed, Sunday’s match in Marseille is for higher stakes than the opening game in Paris given the strength of Pool B and the reduced margin for error.
The fact the draw was made back in 2020, when several teams were in notably different shape to what they are now, has led to a situation whereby three of the current top five in the world are in the same group. One of South Africa, Ireland or Scotland is guaranteed to be eliminated at the group stage.
Each of the head-to-heads between those three teams are sure to be crucial in deciding who qualifies, assuming they all make light work of both Tonga and Romania. Victory for either team at Stade Velodrome will stand them in good stead to progress from this heavyweight section.
Both teams in buoyant mood
The two sides kick off the World Cup with every right to be optimistic about their chances.
South Africa have climbed from fourth to second in the world rankings in the weeks leading up to the tournament on the back of four consecutive wins. Their emphatic destructions of Wales and New Zealand last month were particularly impressive, ensuring they begin their defence of the Webb Ellis Cup as one of the favourites.
Scotland go into the tournament with words of lofty praise from John Jeffrey ringing in their ears after the 1990 Grand Slam hero branded them the best Scottish team ever at their World Cup welcome ceremony in Nice on Monday.
The Scots are ranked fifth in the world and have arrived in France with a genuine belief that they can beat any team in the world. One of these sides is set to have their bubble burst on weekend one.
Scots must defy history and break new ground
Scotland have never previously defeated a tier-one nation at a Rugby World Cup. In addition, they have lost each of their last seven meetings with South Africa.
It is 13 years since the Scots last beat the Springboks as Dan Parks kicked every point for Andy Robinson’s team in a 21-17 victory in an autumn Test at Murrayfield in November 2010. The last clash between these two nations was almost two years ago, when South Africa won 30-15 in Edinburgh.
The Scots have beaten the Springboks only five times in 28 attempts over more than a century, but Gregor Townsend’s side have ended long winless streaks in recent years, most notably away to France and England.
Style war – power v panache
Along with France and New Zealand, Scotland have become one of the most swashbuckling attacking teams on the planet, while South Africa are the most powerful.
The brutish Springboks will attempt to bulldoze their opponents out of their rhythm, while the Scots – with the on-form Finn Russell pulling the strings at stand-off – are intent on outrunning and outplaying the formidable world champions. It promises to be an intriguing clash of styles.
Can Scots handle the heat?
With France sizzling amid a late-summer heatwave, both sides have had to contend with scorching temperatures throughout their first week at their respective bases on the Cote d’Azur, with the Scots in Nice and the Springboks along the sunkissed coast at Toulon.
The two teams will now come together in the melting pot of Marseille, where it is expected to be in the mid-20s come kick-off at 5.45pm local time.
Scotland will hope the two previous stints they spent in Nice earlier this summer will stand them in good stead, although coach John Dalziel said earlier this week that it feels hotter now, in early September, than it did when they were here previously in June and August.
A French journalist in the media room in Marseille commented on Friday that “it is too hot to play rugby”, although the implementation of water breaks is sure to be welcomed by all involved.
The Scots’ fitness – something they have prided themselves on this summer – is sure to be tested to the limit.
Wales kick off their Rugby World Cup campaign on Sunday when they tackle Pool C opponents Fiji in Bordeaux.
It will be a fifth successive World Cup at which the teams meet, with Wales having reeled off three successive wins since suffering a tournament-ending defeat by Fiji 16 years ago.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some key talking points heading into the game.
Familiar World Cup foes
Wales and Fiji will look to launch their campaigns with a momentum-generating victory. Since beating Wales in 2007 – a 38-34 success that meant a pool-stage exit for their opponents – Fiji have suffered three successive World Cup defeats.
Wales triumphed 66-0 at the 2011 World Cup, and although the two latest meetings were much closer contests, Warren Gatland’s team found a way to cross the finishing line.
Fiji are fresh from humbling England at Twickenham, while Wales have won only two Tests this year, setting up an encounter that should be full of twists and turns.
Hundred-club key for Wales
The saying goes that you cannot buy experience, and such a commodity could prove priceless for Wales in the heat of Sunday’s battle.
It will be an occasion for cool heads and calm decision-making, so it should come as no surprise if the likes of George North, Dan Biggar and Taulupe Faletau make significant contributions. The cap centurions boast 323 Wales international appearances between them, with North among an elite band to feature in four World Cups.
It is Biggar’s swansong before he retires from international rugby, and number eight Faletau is back from an injury lay-off. They could hold the keys to victory.
Warren Gatland’s pledge
Wales boss Warren Gatland probably surprised many rugby followers when he claimed ahead of the World Cup warm-up Tests: “I am telling you this team will do something pretty special (in France). I promise you now, we will surprise some people.”
Gatland is eight Tests into his second spell as head coach – Wales have lost six of those games – while headlines earlier this year were dominated by financial issues in Welsh professional rugby and player contractual problems that almost led to a full-blown strike.
Gatland, though, thrives amid adversity, and he has arrived at his fourth World Cup as Wales boss with a rejuvenated squad fit and firing following an intense build-up. Watch this space.
Memories of 2011
There is an undoubted symmetry between the Wales World Cup squad that went to New Zealand in 2011 and the current crop of players. For 22-year-old skipper Sam Warburton, read current co-captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake – aged 23 and 24, respectively – while the new brigade this time around includes prospects like Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer and Mason Grady.
Twelve years ago, Ken Owens was at the start of his Test career, Faletau only had three caps and North just eight. Wales reached the semi-finals in that tournament – their best World Cup performance for 24 years – bowing out to France, and the same adventure of youth accompanies them this time, combined with vast experience offered by seven players with 70 caps or more.
The Fiji magic men
Fiji’s set-piece game has undoubtedly improved under head coach Simon Raiwalui, but it is still an ability to cut teams apart through razor-sharp running angles and raw physical power that makes them such a threat.
Players like Semi Radradra and Viliami Mata can cause havoc with ridiculous ease, and there is no doubt that Wales could have their hands full defensively.
If Gatland’s team get on the front foot early, then they can boss the game tactically, yet that is far easier said than done against opponents who will fancy their chances of progressing from a pool that also includes Australia, Georgia and Portugal.
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