Grant Gilchrist has told his Scotland colleagues to embrace the pressure of having to produce a positive response against Ireland on Saturday as they bid to banish “a dark couple of days” following their damaging Guinness Six Nations defeat in Italy last weekend.
The Scots have been heavily criticised after losing 31-29 in Rome and squandering the chance to set up a title shootout with Andy Farrell’s side in Dublin.
Instead Gregor Townsend’s team are now chasing a face-saving result away to “arguably the best team in the world at the minute” in order to avoid potentially finishing as low as fifth in the championship.
“We should feel under pressure,” said veteran second-rower Gilchrist. “Every time you put on the jersey you should feel under pressure, nothing for me changes.
“Through our own play we’ve set the bar a lot higher than any other Scotland team that I’ve ever been part of and that pressure is a privilege.
“It’s a privilege to wear the jersey, it’s a privilege to play in a team that’s good enough to be expecting to get huge results and to win all these big games.
“We’re not going to shy away from pressure. Pressure comes with big games and big moments and that’s why we play the game.
“We know the strength of the opposition, Ireland are arguably the best team in the world at the minute. With their home record, you can’t pick a tougher test but that’s a huge excitement for us.
“We know we’re going to have to be at our very best but that’s what we strive to be anyway. We need to embrace the pressure, embrace the challenge – I don’t think there’s any bigger challenge – and go out and deliver a performance.”
Gilchrist, 33, admitted the defeat in Rome was a tough one to swallow.
“In the immediacy, it was a dark couple of days,” he said. “No one cares more than the guys in that changing room and we’re devastated with how the game went and the opportunity we let slip by.
“It’s not a case of being able to move on too quickly but we had a really good day on Monday going through it and players taking a lot more responsibility.
“It was on us to look at solutions and come up with a plan so that we could put it behind us and it was great to get out on the grass on Tuesday and start putting things in place for what’s going to be… well there’s no bigger challenge.”
Hours after their own defeat, there was further reason for Scottish regret when Ireland’s surprise loss to England effectively meant Townsend’s team had blown a golden chance to go into the last weekend of the championship knowing victory would bring them title glory for the first time in 25 years.
“You couldn’t give me more of a blow than losing a game of rugby for my country that I know we were more than good enough to win, but because of our own doing we allowed ourselves to get into a game where we came out on the wrong side of the result,” said Gilchrist.
“Yes, it was a double blow (with Ireland also losing) but the first blow was enough for me. I couldn’t be more devastated at the fact that we didn’t take care of what we were doing and we knew all that stuff (the result at Twickenham) was out of our control anyway.”
George North has announced that he will retire from international rugby following Wales’ Guinness Six Nations game against Italy on Saturday.
It will be his 121st and final Wales appearance during a career that saw him help his country win four Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, play in four World Cups and go on two British and Irish Lions tours.
Here, the PA news agency recalls three of North’s finest moments.
2010 (November 13)
North was just 18 years old when Wales head coach Warren Gatland handed him a Test debut against South Africa in Cardiff. North had produced some blistering form for his regional team the Scarlets, and he simply carried that with him into the international arena. A thrilling game ultimately went South Africa’s way, but North announced his arrival as a star-in-the-making by scoring two tries opposite revered Springboks wing Bryan Habana. He was the largely unknown quantity in a Wales team that featured the likes of Shane Williams, James Hook, Alun Wyn Jones and Martyn Williams, but he could not have made a greater impact.
2013 (June 22)
North’s progression for Wales made him an obvious choice for the 2013 British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia, and he did not disappoint. He made his presence felt early in the first Test in Brisbane, scoring a stunning solo try that showcased the 6ft 4in wing’s pace and power as he brushed aside Wallabies defenders Pat McCabe and James O’Connor. It was a highlight of the Lions’ 23-21 victory, while a week later in the Melbourne-staged second Test, North provided another memorable moment when he tackled Israel Folau by effectively picking the Australia wing up and carrying him.
2019 (February 1)
Wales began their 2019 Six Nations campaign with a Friday night encounter against France in Paris, and it looked bleak for the visitors when they trailed 16-0 at half-time. North, though, proved the catalyst of a remarkable turnaround, He pounced on a dreadful defensive error by France wing Yoann Huget to touch down and put Wales back in contention, then he intercepted France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina’s pass to speed away and leave Les Bleus crestfallen. Wales went on to win the Six Nations title and a Grand Slam.
Having proved a model of consistency amid the relative chaos of recent seasons, Leeds second-row Rhyse Martin believes the time is right to crown his Headingley career with some serious silverware.
The ultra-dependable 31-year-old has only a solitary Challenge Cup success in 2020 to show for his efforts since moving to the club in 2019, and with his contract up at the end of the year, 2024 may be his last chance to lift more trophies.
But Martin is convinced he has already seen a shift-change in his side’s ability to chisel out precious points after three wins in four matches, culminating in lashttps://content-wordpress.pressassociation.com/wp-admin/media-upload.php?post_id=9499691&type=image&TB_iframe=1t Friday’s fightback – ignited by Martin’s opening try – to beat Leigh from 16 points behind.
“To be able to find that rhythm to pull it back is impressive and it’s something that has got the team through in recent years,” Martin told the PA news agency ahead of Friday’s Super League clash with St Helens.
“Obviously to get a lead and grind it out to get the win is easier on the stress levels and we’ve probably had to find ourselves fighting back from deficits a bit too often for my liking.
“But I think in recent years we might have found a way to lose that game, and also the games against Catalans and Salford, so being able to close out games and get the two points is crucial.
“In previous years we’ve been one win from four, so it’s nice to be in this position. These early wins will help us in the back end of the season. Silverware is what you strive for because it’s what you want to look back on and talk about with your kids.”
Martin has been a virtual ever-present in an otherwise inconsistent Rhinos side over the last three years, playing at centre for much of the 2023 campaign, and adding his accuracy with the boot that saw him equal the world record for consecutive successful kicks in 2022.
But Martin’s status as arguably one of the most underrated players in Super League – and certainly one of its most successful overseas signings – may be on borrowed time with his future beyond the current campaign still unclear.
“I am off contract at the end of the season and at the moment it’s up in the air,” added Martin. “For me, nothing else has changed since I came to the club – I turn up and train hard and play hard.”
Martin, one of a growing number of PNG players in Super League, made no secret of his desire to be involved in a prospective Papua New Guinean franchise in Australia’s lucrative NRL.
Talks on funding a franchise team in Port Moresby are understood to be ongoing and Martin, who has represented his country at two World Cups, said: “If PNG got an NRL team it is something I’d be interested in, 100 per cent.
“I don’t know when that will be, so I don’t know in what capacity. But it would be something to play for them. It would be like playing for Manchester United, one of those massive teams that gets crazy fans everywhere they go. It would be something special.”
Langer Dan retained his title for Dan and Harry Skelton in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The eight-year-old struck last year off the same mark and started as a 13-2 chance to return the trophy to owner Colm Donlon’s mantelpiece.
After moving sweetly in the mid-division Langer Dan inched his way into the race as it developed before powering into the lead up the hill, pulling away to win comfortably on the line, by three and a half lengths from Ballyadam.
Henry de Bromhead is confident the lack of a recent run will not harm Envoi Allen’s chances of becoming the third horse to claim back-to-back wins in the Ryanair Chase.
Albertas Run did the double for Jonjo O’Neill in 2010 and 2011, while Allaho struck twice for Willie Mullins in 2021 and 2022.
De Bromhead can take heart from the fact the former was a 10-year-old when successfully defending his title and there is also a link to the latter, who carried the same Cheveley Park Stud colours as Envoi Allen.
Last year, Envoi Allen kept on well to see off Shishkin in this race, which made it three Cheltenham Festival victories following the 2019 Champion Bumper and 12 months later prevailing in what is now known as the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle.
He has only had a couple of outings this term, the most recent a neck second to Gerri Colombe at Down Royal back in mid-November. But De Bromhead has no fears of that proving a negative factor.
“He seems in mighty form, we’re happy with him, so fingers crossed,” said the County Waterford handler.
“I’m not at all worried that he hasn’t run since Down Royal; he’s fit and well, he’s worked well and he runs well fresh.”
Stage Star is another proven Cheltenham performer, galloping on strongly to score in the Turners Novices’ Chase at last year’s Festival and winning for the third time at Prestbury Park when surviving a final-fence blunder in November’s Paddy Power Gold Cup.
The eight-year-old blotted his copybook when pulled up here on New Year’s Day but Paul Nicholls is happy to write that off as simply a blip on what was bottomless ground.
“If he hadn’t run last time, I’d say he’d probably be favourite for the Ryanair,” said the Ditcheat handler. “We’re very happy he’s back where he is, he needs a bit of nice ground and he likes that New course.
“I just felt it was a long time between the Paddy Power and the Ryanair and sometimes you make the wrong call, but he’s very happy again now.
“If I’d had half an excuse on New Year’s Day not to run, I wouldn’t have, but no harm done, we’re very happy with him now.”
Nicholls will also saddle last year’s third Hitman, who returned to form when runner-up behind Shishkin in the Denman Chase at Newbury.
“Hitman’s form was red-hot last time when he was third to Shishkin,” added the champion trainer. “He’s a different horse to when he was third last year and he will be thereabouts again.”
Protektorat was just half a length behind Hitman in that race last month and faces a different Festival test this term after finishing fifth and third in the past two renewals of the Gold Cup.
“He’s just not hit the Gold Cup markers this year and that’s fine,” commented Dan Skelton.
“We’ve tried in two Gold Cups and finished third getting a lead and fifth turning for home in front. It hasn’t worked and we’ve left no stone unturned there.
“If you look at him in comparison to the other horses in the Ryanair, he’s equal top on ratings and he will stay that trip out really well – why not have a go.”
Conflated was third in last season’s Gold Cup and was disputing second when falling two out a couple of years ago.
He parted company with his jockey late on in two runs behind Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown but Gordon Elliott is not giving up on his charge, who has Grade One wins in the Irish Gold Cup and the Savills Chase on his CV.
Elliott said: “He’s in good form and the Ryanair will suit him. He unseated his jockey on his last couple of runs, but he was running well both days and we’re looking forward to Thursday.”
Stablemate Fil Dor was runner-up in the 2022 Triumph and Elliott showed his faith in the six-year-old when retaining him at Cullentra House for €620,000 at the recent Andy and Gemma Brown dispersal sale.
“He’s a new recruit in the Robcour colours and we’re looking forward to him,” said Robbie Power, racing manager for his new owners.
“He’s had some good runs behind El Fabiolo over two miles – especially at Cork the last day. If stepping up in trip brings improvement, I don’t think he will be too far away.”
Banbridge is unbeaten at Cheltenham after landing the 2022 Martin Pipe contest and an Arkle trial last season.
Joseph O’Brien’s eight-year-old has enjoyed his last two trips to the UK just as much, claiming the Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree last April and Kempton’s Silviniaco Conti a couple of months ago.
Capodanno is another Irish raider who does not suffer from travel sickness, judged on January’s Cotswold Chase success for Willie Mullins.
Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senior was well held in fourth that day, but did claim the same prize at Prestbury Park 12 months earlier, plus he was a good second to L’Homme Presse in the 2022 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase here.
The Jamie Snowden-trained Ga Law and Richard Hobson’s Fugitif have both secured valuable handicap victories at this venue during the current campaign.
Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning looks to take the next step in his career over fences as he prepares to line up in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old has enjoyed a productive season so far, winning his second start over fences when beating Gaillard Du Mesnil in a Haydock graduation chase in which he was a nine-and-a-half-length scorer.
At Cheltenham in December he was second to Ginny’s Destiny in a novice event, after which he strolled to a 14-length victory in the Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick.
Grey Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny will now meet again, and Skelton expects them to go toe-to-toe.
“He’s a very good horse I feel,” the trainer said of his runner.
“I feel we are very closely matched with Ginny’s Destiny and things didn’t quite go our way when we met them at Cheltenham.
“Ginny’s Destiny is entitled to have improved since then and obviously has because he’s won again, but so have we so there is not much between the top two in the market and that’s before you include all the others.”
As mentioned by Skelton, Ginny’s Destiny went on to triumph next time out when taking the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase on return to Cheltenham – leaving him with three wins to four runs over fences on his CV.
“He loves the place and worked very, very well on Saturday morning – I’m very happy with him,” Nicholls said.
“I would say he’s in as good a shape as we’ve ever had him and he will need to be.
“Stage Star won the same race as him last year before winning this and I think Ginny’s Destiny is rated a few pounds higher than he was, so hopefully he has a good chance.
“I think the race has an open feel to it and he jumps and gallops. We’ve improved a lot since we met Dan’s horse first time.
“Hopefully he is the one who can go to the next level and we’ll give it a whirl.”
Iroko provided trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero with the biggest success of their careers so far when landing the Martin Pipe at the meeting last year and will fly the flag for the stable again.
The six-year-old was at one point expected to be out of action for the season due to injury, but his recovery happened at a quicker pace than anticipated and he returns to action at Cheltenham having last been seen winning his sole chasing start Warwick in November.
“He seems on song and everything is right with him, so we will keep our fingers crossed,” Guerriero said.
“We thought he was out for the season so to have him back is brilliant and to go to Cheltenham with him is even better.
“His course form on the New course has got to help and course form is always helpful at Cheltenham.
“His inexperience over fences isn’t ideal, but there is not a lot we can do about that and we’ve been away for a gallop and school over fences and we’ve done all we can.
“He’s been there and won a decent race in the past, so if he’s up to the task, we hope he will run really well.”
Willie Mullins has two representatives, with Facile Vega the most popular in the market after his third-placed run behind stablemate Il Etait Temps in the Irish Arkle when last seen.
Sharjah was fourth in the same race and represents the same yard under leading amateur Patrick Mullins.
Gordon Elliott’s Zanahiyr and Gavin Cromwell’s Letsbeclearaboutit complete the Irish challenge, with Venetia Williams set to run Scilly Isles runner-up Djelo and Jamie Snowden saddling Colonel Harry, who was third in the same race.
Gary Moore’s Le Patron and David Pipe’s Jamaico complete the field of 11.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland led tributes to George North after his announcement that he will retire from Test rugby following Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against Italy.
North has decided to call time on an international career that has yielded 120 caps, 47 tries for Wales, four Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, four World Cups and two British and Irish Lions tours, when he played in three Tests.
“George has contributed hugely to Welsh rugby in an incredible career, starting as an 18-year-old,” Gatland said.
“The way that he burst on to the scene. I can remember seeing him play and thinking, ‘We need to cap this kid’.
“He has been incredible as a rugby player, but I think the most important thing is how he has contributed to the squad as a person over the years.
“How positive and encouraging he has been within and around the group, things that people wouldn’t have seen in terms of what he has organised off the field.
“George has been outstanding and a credit to himself. He can definitely hold his head high. He and his family and friends can be very proud of everything he has achieved.
“I look forward to watching George play at the Principality Stadium one final time in a red jersey on Saturday and I hope everyone will join me in celebrating him. Diolch George.”
North’s former Wales and Lions team-mate Jamie Roberts described him on X as a “generational player”, while the Lions said that North had enjoyed “an incredible international career”.
And ex-Wales and Lions number eight Scott Quinnell said on X: “Congratulations on an amazing career. One of the very best. Enjoy every minute of Saturday.”
Ospreys centre North will continue playing rugby next season, having agreed a deal with ambitious French club Provence.
The Sacramento Kings delivered their most complete performance of the season as they snapped a long winless run against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Sacramento won 129-94 on Tuesday, defeating the Bucks for the first time since February 2016.
That 15-game losing streak was the longest active such run of any team in the NBA.
De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 29 points, while Domantas Sabonis had 22 points and 11 rebounds. He has now set a new Kings single-season record, with what was his 47th successive double-double.
As good as the Kings' offense was, however, Fox wanted to praise the defense.
"I think defensively we did a great job," Fox said.
"I think that fuelled our offense. Obviously, we scored 130 points, but even if we didn't play that well offensively, if we have an even below-average game, score 110, we still win this game by 15.
"I think this was one of the most complete games that we've played this year."
Speaking of his teammate Sabonis, Fox added: "Night in, night out, he's come up big for us.
"I think people are immune to it. No one outside of basically us talks about it. But that's obviously a hard thing to do and there's not many people have done it. He comes ready to play every night."
While Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points and 13 rebounds, Bucks coach Doc Rivers said his team did not deserve anything but a defeat, and he took full responsibility.
"We deserved it tonight," said Rivers.
"It's my fault. I didn't get them prepared the way I should mentally. At shootaround, guys were talking about planes leaving.
"As a staff, we talked about it after shootaround that if our focus is not better than this morning, it's going to be a long day. And it was a long day. So that's on us."
Six Nations chief executive Tom Harrison insists bonus points are unlikely to be abandoned if it transpires that Ireland win this year’s tournament despite claiming fewer victories than England.
England’s triumph over Andy Farrell’s men on Saturday has brought intrigue to the final day of the Guinness Six Nations, with both sides capable of lifting the crown, while France and Scotland also have mathematical chances of winning.
Ireland are in the driving seat and could retain their title even if they lose or draw against Scotland and England topple France, because they have already accumulated four bonus points.
It would be the first time since bonus points were introduced in 2017 that the team finishing top had collected fewer victories than the side in second, but Harrison has indicated the format is here to stay.
When asked about whether a rethink would be needed if the Six Nations was won in that way, Harrison replied: “Yes, if we think bonus points are a problem.
“But remember why bonus points are there – bonus points are there to promote positive rugby. It’s about fan engagement, right?
“It’s also that the players know. It’s not as though we’re saying ‘You’ve played so well we’re going to award you an extra point afterwards’. No, I don’t think it will change.
“I’m delighted that there is some jeopardy going into the final weekend. It’s great. That’s one of the features of the Six Nations – you genuinely don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Harrison was speaking at the launch of the Women’s Six Nations in London – a competition England are aiming to win for the sixth successive year, with France their closest rivals.
With their rivals investing more money into their national programmes in an attempt to catch up, Harrison is confident the playing field will level out.
“It would be great to have more competitive matches and I think that, through the investments that have happened just in the last 12 months, we will start to see some of that,” he said.
“Of course, England and France have obviously also upped their game in terms of their performance, and we have had another year of understanding how to become even better.
“Partners are very interested in seeing those improvements and seeing how teams are becoming more competitive.
“And let’s be honest, this isn’t the domination that you might see in Scottish football, for example. We’ve got a couple of years where the gap has widened and I expect that gap to narrow.
“Our role is to provide increased levels of funding for the women’s game because we don’t really get involved in the high-performance space.
“What we can do, though, is ensure those funding streams are healthy, open and exploited to the full extent.”
Fact To File maintained his huge reputation with a straightforward success in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase for Willie Mullins.
Talked of as a serious Gold Cup horse of the future, the JP McManus-owned 8-13 favourite was given a patient ride by Mark Walsh through the early stages, before things tightened up, with the field almost inseparable over the third-last fence.
Around the bend horses started to drop away, however, and nothing could go with the market leader – who was second in the Champion Bumper here last year – as he accelerated clear after the last.
Monty’s Star (Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore) was three and three-quarter lengths back in second, with Giovinco third at 40-1 for Lucinda Russell.
McManus said: “I was nervous and I thought he got a little warm and on his toes beforehand.
“I think Mark did a great job to get him settled and I think he will learn a lot from that race, I’m just relieved.
“It’s all in front of him and when Willie decided to go straight chasing with him I had no objection, it sounded good to me. It has been vindicated.”
Olympic gold medallist Lauren Price will challenge American Jessica McCaskill for her women’s world welterweight titles on May 11 in Cardiff.
Price will get her shot at McCaskill’s WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine crowns at the Utilita Arena having amassed a record of six straight wins since turning professional in the wake of her triumph in Tokyo in 2021.
Victory would make more history for Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, who would also become the first Welsh woman to land a professional world title.
Price, 29, said: “I’m over the moon for this fight to finally be getting announced.
“The fact it’s in Cardiff is amazing. I’ve not boxed there since I first started out which was a good few years back now. I can’t wait to put on a show in front of my friends, family and Welsh supporters who have been great in supporting me throughout my career.
“Jessica McCaskill is the current champion. She’s game, experienced and strong but I’ll be 100 per cent ready for whatever she brings on the night.”
The experienced McCaskill unified the world light-welterweight titles before stepping up to end Cecilia Braekhus’ long reign as welterweight champion in 2020.
She lost a world lightweight title fight against Ireland’s Katie Taylor in 2017 and lost a light-welterweight unification fight against Chantelle Cameron in December 2022. In her last fight in September last year, she fought a draw with Derby’s Sandy Ryan.
Wales star George North fought back tears as he reflected on an international career that saw him “live a dream”.
The 31-year-old has announced that he will retire from Test rugby after Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Italy in Cardiff.
He made his Wales debut as a teenager in 2010, touching down twice against South Africa, and has scored 47 tries for his country – a figure bettered only by Shane Williams.
North is third on Wales’ all-time cap list with 120 Test appearances behind Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins, while he played in four Rugby World Cups and helped Wales win four Six Nations titles – including two Grand Slams.
He also toured Australia with the 2013 British and Irish Lions, which included him scoring a brilliant solo try in the first Test and then famously picking up and carrying Wallabies wing Israel Folau during the second game, and New Zealand four years later.
“It has not been an easy decision for me at all,” an emotional North said at Wales’ training base in the Vale of Glamorgan, pausing to regather himself on several occasions during a 20-minute press conference.
“It is the best thing for me and my family and the sacrifice everyone has to make.
“I didn’t think this day would come – I wished this day would never come – but for me it is about being able to go out on my terms and being able to enjoy it like I have for every second of the last 14 years.
“I am going to use this week and Saturday to really take it all in and to live my dream again one more time.
“For me, it has always been about me being the best I can be for Wales and being the best I can be with the Three Feathers on my chest.
“I have loved every second of it and cherished every second of it – the highs and the lows. I couldn’t have written it better myself, to be honest.
“I have been very fortunate to live a dream not many people get to do.”
North, who played the majority of his time with Wales as a wing before moving to centre and will join French club Provence next season, addressed his national squad colleagues on Wednesday.
And he underlined how he wants it to be business as usual when Wales strive for a first victory of this season’s Six Nations against Italy.
“I said (to the squad), let’s not get weird. This week is the same and the preparation is the same,” he added.
“I asked them for nothing to change from what we always do. For us, it is a must-win game and the focus should never be on one individual.”
North is the latest big-name Wales player to step down from the Test arena during a 10-month period that has also seen Jones, Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny call time.
“I was speaking to Becky (North’s wife, who is a double Olympic medallist), and when she stepped away from cycling. The conversation we have had plenty of times is, ‘when you know, you know’,” he said.
“Sometimes that is not the right answer and the answer is a fairy-tale answer or the fairy-tale finish. For me it has been a dream, and in my heart I know it is the right time for me to step away.
“I think my first cap is something that will always burn strong with me. It will put a smile on my face. At the time I said I had a list of goals at the back of my bedroom door, and I knocked out probably 95 per cent in one game!
“To me that really gave me the snapshot and the window to really push on to give me the fuel and desire to do what I’ve done for so long.
“You work until you are content, and that is when you can walk away with a smile on your face.
“I hope people will think of me as a Test animal, someone who would never give in, would give everything and left nothing out there.
“I have had my journey and I’ve loved it, and now it is time for those boys to have theirs and to love it as much as I have.”
North, who was omitted from the Wales starting line-up beaten 45-24 by France last weekend, replaces Joe Roberts against Italy on what his now his Wales farewell, with fellow centre Nick Tompkins returning instead of Owen Watkin.
Two other changes are in the pack, where Harlequins prop Dillon Lewis is preferred to Keiron Assiratti and Cardiff flanker Alex Mann packs down alongside back-row colleagues Tommy Reffell and Aaron Wainwright.
Ballyburn made impressively light work of the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The 1-2 favourite was one of five runners for the all-conquering Willie Mullins and travelled strongly behind the leaders under Paul Townend.
When the field rounded the final bend there was no question whatsoever as to the outcome, with the Ronnie Bartlett-owned six-year-old strolling away from stablemate Jimmy Du Seuil to win by a yawning 13 lengths.
Another Closutton runner, Ile Atlantique, was a further three and a half lengths back in third. Just for good measure Mullins was also responsible for Mercurey (fourth) and Predators Gold (fifth), but Nicky Henderson’s Jingko Blue was pulled up to continue a testing time for the Seven Barrows trainer.
“It’s the first time he’s wowed me, I thought ‘wow, what a performance’ and to me that was a Champion Hurdle performance,” said Mullins.
“It was really really spectacular. With his size, scope and pedigree our owners might decide to go chasing with him next year, I don’t know. But with that performance he can go anywhere.
“Our team are in flying form, but we are just so sorry for Nicky Henderson that he has had to pull his good horses out. It could be us, so our sympathies go to him.”
He went on: “My heart hasn’t skipped a beat when a horse jumps a hurdle since Annie Power, but it skipped a beat there!
“I thought he was a good horse, but I didn’t view him as the horse that people were saying until today. When he jumped the last and went away up the hill I just thought ‘wow’.
“This fellow could be anything, he could be a Champion Hurdle horse, a Gold Cup horse or both with his size, scope and pedigree. He’s made for fences but looks to have the ability for a Champion Hurdle.
“I didn’t realise we’d had the first five, Michael Dickinson obviously did it in the Gold Cup but it’s nice to do it in a Grade One at Cheltenham.
“I hadn’t even got my licence then, but it was extraordinary to look at a man having so much firepower in one stable and now it looks like we’re in the same position at the moment.
“It’s nice to do that at the Festival.
“I know how good our others are, they would be top-class horses any other year and they deserve to be here, the strength behind him – he blew me away.
“When we saw Slade Steel win yesterday that really franked the form and gave us an even better chance.”
Bartlett said: “He jumped well, we didn’t know how he was going to handle the ground, but that was exciting.
“Let’s enjoy the day and the future is in front of him, so we’ll just keep our fingers crossed.
“He had lots of different options and in typical Willie style he didn’t want to tell us too much, but listen it all came right in the end.”
Ballyburn made impressively light work of the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The 1-2 favourite was one of five runners for the all-conquering Willie Mullins and travelled strongly behind the leaders under Paul Townend.
When the field rounded the final bend there was no question whatsoever as to the outcome, with the Ronnie Bartlett-owned six-year-old strolling away from stablemate Jimmy Du Seuil to win by a yawning 13 lengths.
Rory McIlroy accepts he both “needs and wants” a strong performance in the Players Championship as he targets an end to his major victory drought.
McIlroy began the year with second place in the Dubai Invitational and victory in the Dubai Desert Classic seven days later, but has finished no better than 21st in each of his four events on the PGA Tour.
The world number two will seek a second victory at Sawgrass this week and also contest the Valero Texas Open immediately before the Masters at Augusta National, where a first major win since 2014 would make McIlroy just the sixth player to complete a career grand slam.
Asked if his recent form meant he needed or wanted a good week at PGA Tour headquarters, McIlroy told reporters: “Both probably.
“They’ve been middle of the road [finishes], 20th places or whatever it is. I’m not missing cuts but, at the same time, with how I’ve driven the golf ball the last three weeks I should be contending in the tournaments that I’ve played.
“I have this amazing feeling with my woods at the minute, but when I try to recreate that feeling with the irons, it starts left and goes further left.
“I have a swing thought for my woods and I need a different swing thought for my irons, and that’s what I’ve been working on over the last couple days. I feel like every other part of the game is in great shape.”
McIlroy has recorded 19 top-10s in major championships since winning the 2014 US PGA at Valhalla, which will host the event again from May 16-19.
However, the 34-year-old’s dismay at his failure to add to his four major titles was recently captured in the second season of Netflix documentary Full Swing as he reacted to Brooks Koepka’s fifth major win in the 2023 US PGA.
“I feel good enough to f****** top-10 in my head, but not good enough to win,” McIlroy vented in the locker room at Oak Hill.
Speaking on Wednesday, McIlroy said: “Look, I’m under no illusion that the clock is ticking and it has been 10 years since I’ve won one of them, and I’ve had chances, and those just haven’t went my way.
“I just need to keep putting myself in those positions, and sooner or later it’s going to happen.”
McIlroy believes his spell on the PGA Tour’s policy board took a toll on his time, rather than his golf, but despite no longer being in that position, he was still inundated with questions about the current state of men’s professional golf.
After expressing his support for under-fire PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, McIlroy conceded that the top stars may have held the Tour “to ransom” when he and Tiger Woods led a players-only meeting in Delaware in 2022 which led to the creation of the controversial “Signature Events”.
The eight, limited-field events each have a prize fund of 20million USD (£15.6m), but have come in for severe criticism.
Despite being eligible for them, former US Open champion Lucas Glover told Golfweek they were “selfish and it’s a money grab”.
McIlroy said he understood the concern over a loss of playing opportunities for players, but added: “The Tour has been a certain way for so long, but I also think that the Tour hasn’t necessarily evolved with the changing times to make it a more compelling entertainment product and fit in with the modern media and sports landscape.
“I think back to that meeting in Delaware, and I think, OK, did we push too hard, did we hold the Tour to ransom too much, the top players?
“I think the Signature Events really worked last year and, for whatever reason, they’re not quite capturing the imagination this year.
“I think it’s because fans are fatigued of what’s going on in the game, and I think we need to try to re-engage the fan and re-engage them in a way that the focus is on the play and not on talking about equity and all the rest of it.”
Teahupoo will look to strike when fresh in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle for Gordon Elliott at the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old was beaten just three-quarters of a length in the same race last year and returned to action this season in good form to take the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle ahead of Impaire Et Passe at Fairyhouse in early December.
He has not run since then and is expected to benefit that as he is proven to go well after a brief break.
“We’re looking forward to Teahupoo in the Stayers’ and he seems in really good form,” said Robbie Power, racing manager to owner Robcour.
“It was a very good performance in the Hatton’s Grace and we’ve changed things up this year coming straight here.
“The big thing for him is he’s a better horse when he’s fresh and all his runs after a 50-odd day break he has won. We think that is the key to him.
“He didn’t get the rub of the green in the race last year and hopefully if things go well this year he will take plenty of beating. He deserves to win a Stayers’ and we’re giving him every chance.”
Elliott also runs reigning champion Sire Du Berlais, who followed up last year’s victory with success in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.
Flooring Porter landed the race in both 2021 and 2022 before finishing fourth last season, after which he switched to jumping fences in the first half of the current campaign.
He was not without success as a chaser but connections ultimately decided to return to the Stayers’ Hurdle in a bid for a third triumph and veto the alternative option of the National Hunt Chase.
“He’s in good shape and we’re looking forward to it. I hope the ground dries out a little bit, I hope it’s not too deep, so we’ll see what happens,” said trainer Gavin Cromwell.
“He’s had a few schooling sessions over hurdles and they’ve gone well, he’s a very intelligent horse so I don’t see it (switching from fences) being a problem.
“When you see what Corbetts Cross (facile National Hunt Chase winner) did on Tuesday I’d say we dodged a bullet there and we’re happy to be running in the Stayers’ again.”
The British challenge is led by Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo, winner of the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot when last seen.
The seven-year-old beat Paisley Park, Dashel Drasher and Champ on that occasion and looks to be on an upward trajectory in a career that has already yielded seven wins from 10 starts.
“He’s in great form, I’m very happy with him and he has trained very well,” said O’Brien.
“We’ve had a great preparation, he’s just improved and improved for us.
“He doesn’t show a lot at home, everything he’s shown us is what he’s shown on the track and we couldn’t be more pleased with him.
“He’s won on everything, he won on good ground at Ascot and he’s won on heavy at Sandown last year so I can’t see that as an issue for him.
“We’ve our fingers crossed he can get his head in front.”
Jeremy Scott runs the hugely popular Dashel Drasher, with Emma Lavelle also set to saddle a fan favourite in the 12-year-old Paisley Park.
Winner of the race in 2019, he has run every year since and finished in third place in both 2021 and 2022.
Willie Mullins has three chances, with Sir Gerhard seemingly the leading hope as the mount of Paul Townend, while Asterion Forlonge will be ridden by Patrick Mullins and Janidil by Jody McGarvey.
Emmet Mullins’ Noble Yeats, the 2022 Grand National hero, will be partnered by Harry Cobden again after the duo beat Paisley Park to land the Cleeve Hurdle in January.
Joseph O’Brien runs Home By The Lee, with the field of 12 completed by Paul Gilligan’s Buddy One, three times a winner already this season.
“He seems to like this course and he has travelled over really well,” Gilligan said.
“He seems well in himself and although it is a big step up, I’m very happy with him and I think he will run with a lot of credit. I think he will run very well.”
Wales centre George North has announced that he will retire from international rugby after Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against Italy.
The 31-year-old, who has won 120 caps, has been recalled to the Wales team for what is a wooden-spoon decider.
He wrote on X: “I’ve decided that the game on Saturday will bring my international career to an end.
“After 14 years it feels like now is the right time to step away. I have loved and cherished every second in a Welsh shirt and been able to play alongside some fantastic team-mates.”
Excelsior Community College Eagles defended their Intercollegiate rugby league 9s title on Saturday by defeating the University of West Indies Pelicans 18-4 in the finals at the University of Technology grounds.
The win concluded a flawless campaign for the Eagles, who finished with a perfect 6-0 record. National player Akeem Murray led the team with 10 points, scoring a try and kicking three goals. He was supported by Daniel Barham and Antwon McKane, who each scored a try. The Pelicans' only score came from national player Hakeem Richard with a consolation try.
The finalists had contrasting paths to the championship game. Earlier in the semis, EXED comfortably got past Caribbean Maritime University Spartans 14-4 whilst the Pelicans dug dig deep to carve a 16-10 win over perennial rivals and hosts UTECH Knights. Despite not making the top four, Mico University Crocs showed plenty improvements in their group games.
INTERCOL Rugby League Chair Romeo Monteith remarked, “Hearty congratulations to EXED on defending their title, they played excellent rugby league over the two Saturdays of competition and are deserving winners. All the teams gave excellent accounts of themselves, and we were thrilled to see several national players take the field for various teams. Next season should be even bigger and better for intercollegiate rugby league as institutions continue to rebuild their programs."
Ben Earl is unsatisfied with his rampaging display against Ireland as his pursuit of becoming world class demands he develops into the complete back row.
England’s number eight was named official man of the match for the second time in this Guinness Six Nations after providing the tip of the spear in Saturday’s 23-22 upset of Andy Farrell’s defending champions.
Using a combination of speed, power and footwork, he carried 19 times for 140 metres and crossed for a vital second-half try as he continues to prove an unstoppable force from close range.
While the 26-year-old Saracen says he is aiming for world-class status, his overall stats after four rounds of the Six Nations are evidence he is already there – more carries than any other player, second behind Ireland’s James Lowe for metres carried and sixth for metres gained.
But as the tournament’s most potent forward in attack, he heads to Lyon for Saturday’s clash with France aiming to elevate another essential part of his game.
“Ben can get a lot better,” said England’s head of strength and conditioning Aled Walters, who described Earl’s ability to move laterally and then “punch forward immediately” as his point of difference.
“He was happy with his performance in attack at the weekend but disappointed with his performance in defence. So his ceiling is way off.
“Ben is striving to become one of those players on the world stage. I remember the term ‘superior discontent’. That is what Ben has. It will be good to watch how he progresses.”
Earl was an outsider for England in the build-up to the World Cup with all 15 of his caps won as a replacement, but by the end of the competition he had emerged as the squad’s standout player.
That form has continued into the Six Nations despite the interruption of a knee injury to the point he is now one of the first names on the team sheet.
“I’m trying to take my game to a place it’s not been before. You have to nit-pick and look at your performance as a whole,” Earl said.
“That’s especially being a back row because it’s not all about what you do with the ball in hand, it’s not all about what you do without the ball, it’s a combination of both.
“I’m trying to get to a point where both facets of my game are at a world class standard. That’s not the case now and it’s certainly something I’m working very hard towards.
“I’ve made no secret to where I want to be in the game. Has wanting to be world class driven me more? Probably not, I think I put a bit more pressure on myself than most. It’s something I’ve just had to live with.
“It just feels like we as a team are just going to get better and better and the more I can contribute to that then the better.”
Self-belief has never been an issue for Earl, according to his former Saracens team-mate and current England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth, who insists an important aspect of his game has gone unrecognised.
“I actually sat next to him in the changing rooms at Saracens from when he was like 18 or 19 coming into the squad,” Wigglesworth said.
“He got essentially booted up the arse every day at training because he had some confidence. At 19 it was not always backed up.
“But he keeps getting into battles. He keeps wanting the ball, he keeps putting himself in great positions.
“And I don’t think he probably gets much credit for his toughness. Because whatever has just happened, he’ll do the next thing to the absolute best of his ability. There’s no going into his shell.
“For Ben, this is years of hard work that are allowing him to flourish at Test level. And he’s got more in him.”
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
