Andrew Slattery’s Sunchart finally had his moment when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Devoy Stakes at Naas.
The runner up in the race in both 2021 and 2023, the seven-year-old was last seen at the Curragh in November and was returning to action after a winter break.
Under Andrew Slattery jnr, the trainer’s son, he started at 5-1 as he attempted to go one better than previous efforts.
This time he was well able to get his head in front, finding himself with an easy lead two furlongs from home before pulling further and further clear of the field to cross the line six and a half lengths ahead.
“The horses deserved it more than any of us. Pat (Garvey, owner) has had great perseverance with him and it’s great that he’s kept going,” the trainer said.
“He was always a very good horse and he likes this track. He likes going left-handed and likes soft ground.
“He’s been a hard horse to place and we maybe aimed a bit high at times as well.
“He always had the ability, he was second in this last year and was barely beaten at Leopardstown in a Listed race (Trigo Stakes).
“People were doubting him for being doggy but he’s not, he’s just a horse that has had a lot of problems.
“It was just about getting him right on the day and today he was right.”
Sunchart was fourth in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last season and could return to the meeting if conditions are suitable.
Slattery added: “I don’t think there is much coming up for him, the ground is the big thing. He might go back to Chester if the ground was soft, he ran well when fourth in the Ormonde Stakes last year.”
Judd Trump defended his World Open crown with a comprehensive 10-4 victory over Ding Junhui to claim the 28th ranking title of his career and move level with fourth-placed Steve Davis on the all-time list.
Trump dominated a scrappy first session in Yushan with a string of half-century breaks to open up an ominous 7-2 lead over home favourite Ding, who was let down by his safety play.
A stunning break of 130 by Trump after the interval managed to light up the final before he closed out the match with another century to clinch his fifth ranking title of the season.
View this post on InstagramA 6-2 semi-final win over Jackson Page had kept Trump on course to defend the tournament he won in 2019 with this year the first time it has been staged again following the coronavirus pandemic.
China’s Ding stood in Trump’s way and the opening frame set the tone for a cagey encounter.
Ding was left to rue a missed pink after a break of 39 with Trump able to eventually move one up after a succession of snookers from the duo.
Trump was not in full flow but an 88-break established a 3-0 lead before Ding responded with 59 to reduce the deficit before the mid-session interval.
World number two Trump upped his level in the second half of the first session and produced breaks of 59, 79 and 78 to take control despite the interruption of several mobile phones.
Hopes of a spectacular comeback were raised when Ding produced a sparking 106 break to close out the first session.
Trump had other ideas and replied with his own first century of the match after a stunning clearance of 130.
Another three-figure break followed after the Englishman showed off his full repertoire of shots, in between Ding’s 11th-frame 84, to move on the verge of victory.
Ding ensured another interval would occur when he edged a tight next frame, but Trump would not be denied.
An intriguing 14th frame eventually clinched more World Open success for Trump, although only after he missed the red on four occasions after a brilliant snooker by Ding.
Trump’s 58 break still had him in control and despite more fine safety play by Ding, a superb pink secured the frame and the final by a 10-4 score.
It represented the 28th ranking title of Trump’s career to draw him level with Davis, while only Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins have won more than the Bristol potter.
Ben Pauling is retaining plenty of faith in Tellherthename and is relishing the prospect of running his star novice again this season when ground conditions improve.
The five-year-old has always been the apple of the Naunton Downs handler’s eye and he advertised his star quality with two bloodless victories at Huntingdon either side of a disappointing showing in Aintree’s Formby Hurdle on Boxing Day.
That no show on Merseyside came on testing ground and connections’ wariness of slow going was shown when a wet February curtailed a Betfair Hurdle bid.
Despite the rain continuing to fall in the build up to the Cheltenham Festival, Pauling still felt it was worth chancing his talented operator on the treacherous opening day ground in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
However, having led the runners into the straight, Tellherthename was unable to quicken as he was passed by the majority of the field in the Festival’s opening event, giving his team the evidence they needed to firmly seek good ground in the future.
“I think for Tellherthename it (the Supreme) went perfectly and he travelled and he jumped brilliantly,” said Pauling.
“He looked very much in his comfort, but we now know if you ask him to quicken in that heavy ground, he just can’t do it.
“He’s definitely got another run on his agenda this season and whether that be Aintree or somewhere else I’m not sure, but he’s come out of it like a horse that hasn’t had a hard race. He’s bouncing.
“We’re looking forward to the rain stopping and the ground drying. He’s a classy individual and I just adore him but he just cannot quicken on that ground and I just think now we know that we can avoid it.
“We were confident that was the problem at Aintree (in the Formby) but it was the Festival and we wanted to roll the dice and at least it was wet ground, but he’s just a classy horse with plenty of speed and testing ground just doesn’t suit him.”
There was both joy and agony for Pauling and his team over the four days of the Festival, exemplified by the contrasting fortunes of the Harry Redknapp-owned pair Shakem Up’Arry and The Jukebox Man, with the former giving Pauling his fourth Festival victory and the latter coming desperately short in his bid to be number five.
There was also a near miss for Twig in the Ultima, but there was some mixed results as well throughout the week, with the handler regarding Handstands’ Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle disappointment as the biggest blow of the meeting.
Heading to Prestbury Park on the back of a brilliant Sidney Banks victory at Huntingdon, hopes were high he could make his mark up against Irish hotpot Ballyburn.
However, he could only finish last of the six finishers with Pauling feeling it may have been a case of one too many runs this term.
“Handstands was probably the biggest disappointment of the week and was a horse who we went into it not knowing where his limits lay,” continued Pauling.
“He fell far short of what we needed and Harry Cobden said he felt like he was never really on a going day.
“He only won his point-to-point in November and he has run three times including the Huntingdon Listed race en route, so maybe he just had one run to many.
“He’s finished for the season and is off doing dressage for a month now. He will come back as a lovely novice chaser for next season.”
John Quinn’s superb sprint mare Highfield Princess has died after sustaining a inoperable fracture in her stable.
The bay was being prepared for another season in training as her remarkable career looked to extend into another year, but an accident in her box put paid to that plan earlier in the month.
She was immediately retired and it was hoped she would recover and head into a second career as a broodmare, but her death was announced on Sunday.
Homebred by her owner John Fairley and generally ridden by Jason Hart, Highfield Princess had been a great success story for connections across the past four seasons, rising from the handicap ranks to win 14 times.
Those victories included the Prix de l’Abbaye, Flying Five, Nunthorpe and Prix Maurice de Gheest, all Group One events, and she was also second in the Nunthorpe and the King’s Stand by just a length apiece last season when amassing over £1.8million in prize money throughout her career.
A statement from John Quinn and his son Sean said: “It is with the greatest sadness that we have to announce the death of our wonderful mare, Highfield Princess.
“She suffered an inoperable fracture following an accident in her stable and although over the past week she fought with the same extraordinary spirit she showed on the racecourse, last night she lost her battle for life.
“We would like to thank Jonathan Anderson and the team at Rainbow Equine Hospital, who did everything possible to help the Princess and keep her comfortable.”
Her trainer added: “Highfield Princess took us all on the most remarkable journey.
“She possessed Group One ability but also a Group One attitude.
“Whether it was a routine canter or a big sprint race around the world, she put 100 per cent effort into what she did. I am grateful for all that she did for herself and for our team.
“We will miss her more than words can say.”
John Fairley described the mare as the “pride of Yorkshire”, saying: “It has been the privilege of our lives to have known Highfield Princess. We are all heartbroken.
“She was the horse you dream of breeding and owning. She took our family on an extraordinary adventure around the world and created so many precious memories. She loved to race and her intelligence, toughness and will to win were incredible. She was a truly special horse, a member of our family.
“There were so many people involved in her incredible journey. From the stud where she was born, to the people who helped her take her first steps under saddle and the farm where she spent her holidays.
“We know the team at John and Sean Quinn Racing, who have looked after the Princess with dedication and love, will also be devastated. We would like to thank them all for their tender care over the years. She was so happy in that yard.
“Highfield Princess was the pride of Yorkshire, a superstar on the racecourse and adored by so many, for her irrepressible spirit at home and on the racecourse. We’re thinking of everyone who loved and admired her, in the UK and all around the world.
“She will be forever held in our hearts.”
A Royal Ascot repeat will be on Desert Hero’s agenda when he returns to the track this summer, with William Haggas keen to head to the Hardwicke Stakes in peak condition.
The son of Sea The Stars entered the record books at last year’s Royal meeting when his last-gasp King George V Stakes success provided the King and Queen with their first Royal Ascot champion and prompted joyous scenes in the royal box.
He would go on to land the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on his next start which teed-up a shot at the St Leger, where Desert Hero would finish an honourable third in the presence of his owners.
Initial talk of a Melbourne Cup bid was soon curtailed and with the Somerville Lodge handler electing against taking him to Australia this side of the new year, he is pleasing Haggas at home as he builds towards the start of his four-year-old campaign.
The earlier part of the season will have a Royal Ascot focus, with the Hardwicke Stakes currently nominated as Desert Hero’s target for the summer showpiece.
“He’s done really well and I’m really pleased with him,” said Haggas.
“We cut (gelded) him over the winter and took the view he was unlikely to make a stallion, or a stallion that would be popular for anyone, and that he still had plenty of mileage as a racehorse. I think he will be better for being gelded and hopefully he will have a good season.
“He will have a run or two, probably only a run, and it would be very much the Hardwicke. It would be lovely to go back to Ascot with a chance for him.”
For his Royal Ascot tune-up, Desert Hero could tread a similar path to 12 months ago by appearing on Lockinge Day at Newbury on May 18.
The four-year-old reappeared in the London Gold Cup on that card in 2023 and Haggas has tentatively suggested that the Al Rayyan Stakes, previously known as the Aston Park, could be the ideal spot to return to action.
“It will depend how quickly he comes to hand, but the obvious race is the Aston Park,” he continued.
“He ran in the London Gold Cup last year at Newbury and the Aston Park is on the same day, a valuable Group Three race.
“He will be penalty free for that and if you are asking me in March where he will go, then off the top of my head that is what I would say.
“It’s very possible he will start there. That to me looks the perfect place to start him with a nice gap until Royal Ascot.”
There is no danger of the Boston Celtics taking their foot off the pedal as the business end of the season approaches, said Sam Hauser after the NBA's best team made it nine straight wins.
Hauser joined Al Horford in scoring 23 points in support of Jayson Tatum (26) as the Celtics improved to 57-14 with a 124-113 road win over the Chicago Bulls at United Center on Saturday.
Tatum returned after missing Thursday's win over the Detroit Pistons to lead a short-handed Boston side to victory, with Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis absent after picking up minor injuries.
The Bulls led 92-91 in the closing minute of the third quarter only to run out of steam, failing to respond when Payton Pritchard scored six straight points for Boston and Hauser made a 3-pointer to extend their lead early in the fourth.
While the Celtics' focus is now firmly on the playoffs as they target a first NBA championship since 2008, Hauser says they will not ease up in the closing weeks of the regular season.
"We're just hungry for more," Hauser said. "It's not in our character to just mail it in for the rest of the season."
Horford, meanwhile, was most impressed by the way other players stepped up in the absence of Brown and Porzingis, with the Celtics making light of a gruelling run of five games in seven days.
"Different people, different guys, are ready to step up when their number is called," Horford said.
"We all understand what we're trying to do, how we're trying to play. Guys are just staying ready and taking advantage of the opportunities."
The Celtics face back-to-back away games against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday and Wednesday as they continue their six-game road stretch.
The 34-37 Bulls, meanwhile, will look to strengthen their grasp on a Play-In spot when they host the Washington Wizards on Monday.
Jalen Green said the Houston Rockets' hot streak will be meaningless if they fail to make the NBA Playoffs, after pouring in 41 points in Saturday's 147-119 rout of the Utah Jazz.
The Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games – their longest since an identical run in 2019 – to improve to 35-35, going within 1.5 games of the Golden State Warriors, who currently occupy the Western Conference's final Play-In spot.
Green's second 40-point showing of the year was supported by Fred VanVleet, who scored 34 points with 10 3-pointers as Houston built a commanding first-quarter lead and never looked back.
Asked about the team's rise up the standings after the game, Green said: "It won't really mean anything if we don't make the playoffs.
"That's the goal everyone has right now. I'm just trying to go out there and be the best version of myself for my team-mates."
The start of the second quarter saw Houston forward Jabari Smith Jr. and Jazz guard Kris Dunn ejected for fighting, the duo throwing punches at one another after getting tangled up with just five seconds of the quarter played.
Smith did not speak to the media after the game, though Dunn accepted responsibility for his actions as he told reporters: "We exchanged a couple of words, a couple of pushes and the next thing you know, we're ejected.
"For me, I take responsibility for my actions and whatever the league decides for me, I have to respect that."
Rockets coach Ime Udoka suggested the incident was a follow-up to an altercation between the pair on January 20, when both were issued technical fouls in a 127-126 overtime win for Houston.
"I think Dunn hit him with a shot, and then they got wrapped up and threw a few punches," Udoka said of Smith's role in the altercation.
"Basically, nothing landed, but as soon as you throw a punch, you're going to be ejected."
Houston are back in action with another home game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, before going to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah in a two-game road stretch.
The 29-42 Jazz, meanwhile, will look to snap their five-game losing streak against the Dallas Mavericks as they open a run of three straight home games on Monday.
Toto Wolff admitted it was a “fair question” whether he remained the right person to lead Mercedes – after Lewis Hamilton’s worst ever start to a season was confirmed at the Australian Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz delivered the best drive of his career, just 16 days after surgery for appendicitis, to take advantage of Max Verstappen’s shock first retirement in two years to lead home a Ferrari one-two finish from Charles Leclerc.
But over at Mercedes, Hamilton’s afternoon ended on the 17th lap when his engine expired as team-mate George Russell crashed out.
Hamilton, who qualified 11th, has taken just eight points from the opening three rounds. His previous worst start to a season had been in 2009 when he was disqualified at the first round before finishing sixth and seventh.
Before Sunday’s retirement, Hamilton had begun the year by crossing the line only seventh and ninth in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia respectively.
Mercedes carried Hamilton – who is heading to Ferrari next year – to six of his seven world championships, but the British driver has not won a race since the penultimate round of the 2021 campaign, 58 rounds ago.
Last year, Hamilton finished second in Melbourne, but Russell, who was the fastest Mercedes driver in Melbourne this weekend, was only seventh when he crashed.
Wolff, who has been team principal at Mercedes since 2013, was asked if he should remain in his role.
“As a corner of this business, I need to make sure my contribution is positive and creative so I would be the first one to say if somebody has a better idea, tell me because I am invested to turn this team around as quickly as possible,” the 52-year-old replied.
“We have not swallowed a dumb pill since 2021. We don’t understand some of the behaviours of the car and in the past we would.
“I look at myself in the mirror every single day about everything I do and it is a fair question. But it (leaving) is not what I feel that I should do at the moment.
“But if you have any ideas as to who could turn this round, I would happily listen to that.
“The big difference is, this is my job and if you ask the manager question, I cannot go to Chelsea or Liverpool or over to Ferrari.
“I have not got that choice (as a co-owner of Mercedes) which is also unfortunate. I am not a contractor or an employee, who has said I have had enough of this. My hamster wheel keeps spinning and I cannot jump out.
“We always need to look at ourselves. I need to look at myself. And we are all humans. Data doesn’t take decisions; humans do.
“I would be lying if I said I feel positive and optimistic about the situation. You need to overcome the negative thoughts and say ‘we will turn it around’, but today it feels very, very, very brutal.”
Mercedes arrived for the new season armed with a car that they thought would enable them to return to the front. But the Silver Arrows are now behind not just Red Bull, but Ferrari and McLaren in the pecking order, too.
An honest Wolff continued: “We started this season in the belief that this car was better than last year.
“Everything I have done before, in finance and investment, you know which screws to turn and you know sometimes it takes time.
“Here, I don’t think we are missing things. It is just a complication that is happening with the car that we cannot see, and it is like an on-off switch.
“You see the progress that McLaren and Ferrari have made, so on one side, I want to punch myself on the nose. We have got to really dig deep because it is brutally painful.”
Despite his poor weekend in Melbourne, Hamilton was upbeat. His pain perhaps soothed by Ferrari’s impressive display at Albert Park.
“Surprisingly I feel pretty good,” said Hamilton, with Wolff also admitting his soon-to-be-departing driver “is looking over the fence” at Ferrari’s impressive performances.
“I’m trying to keep things in perspective because things could be so much worse.
“I’m still enjoying working with the team. Of course I’d like to be (competing for wins) but we will bounce back. We will eventually get there.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and be focused on this one thing. But the bigger picture is definitely the focus. And also, just realising that you can’t control everything.
“It’s not great. I’m not happy. But I’m going to have a great day tomorrow.”
Despite the brake failure on lap four which ended his bid for a record-equalling 10 straight wins, Verstappen still remains in charge of the championship with a four-point lead over Leclerc, ahead of the next round in Japan on April 7.
UFC Vegas 89 was overshadowed after Igor Severino bit Andre Lima on the arm during their flyweight contest.
Severino was disqualified for biting in the second round of their preliminary card bout at UFC Apex in Nevada between the previously-undefeated fighters.
UFC president Dana White later claimed Severino would be released from UFC for the bite and doubled the bonus money of mixed martial artist Lima.
The disqualification of Severino by referee Chris Tognoni ensured Lima won the contest and claimed the first ‘Bite of the Night’ bonus in UFC history after scenes reminiscent of Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in 1997.
Lima, who let out a yell after the incident, uploaded pictures of the bite and got a tattoo around the teeth marks on his bicep with the phrase, “I got f****** bit bonus”, hours after his victory.
UFC president White said on his Instagram story: “I was going to give him 25k. Now I’m giving him 50k. This is awesome.”
While Lima wrote on Instagram: “It was so insane I had to make it permanent. A debut to remember. Thanks boss Dana White! Ready for many more.”
Katie Boulter continued her stellar start to 2024 with a dominant victory over Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia to reach the fourth round of the Miami Open.
The British number one was barely troubled by the 11th seed, whom she beat last month on her way to the San Diego title, as she wrapped up a 6-2 6-3 victory in 90 minutes.
The 27-year-old will meet WTA Tour veteran Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round.
Meanwhile, world number two Aryna Sabalenka went down 6-4 1-6 6-1 to Anhelina Kalinina in what was her second match following the death of her former boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov.
Koltsov died at the age of 42 on Monday in what police described as an “apparent suicide” in Miami.
Sixth seed Ons Jabeur was upset 6-1 4-6 6-3 by world number 65, while ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko was bundled out in straight sets by Anna Kalinskaya.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka picked up the second victory over a top 20 player in her past four matches, eclipsing world number 17 Elina Svitolina 6-2 7-6 (5).
And world number one Iga Swiatek marked the 100th WTA 1000 match of her career with a straight sets win over Italy’s Camila Giorgi.
Max Verstappen’s bid to win a record-equalling 10 consecutive races went up in smoke as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz returned from surgery just 16 days ago to win in Australia.
Verstappen suffered a brake failure after just four laps of Sunday’s 58-lap race at Melbourne’s sun-cooked Albert Park to end his winning streak which stretched back to September’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Sainz took advantage of Verstappen’s first retirement in 43 races to claim just the third win of his career a fortnight after he was ruled out of the previous round in Saudi Arabia with appendicitis.
Charles Leclerc finished second to complete a Ferrari one-two with Lando Norris next up as the British driver landed his first podium of the year.
Lewis Hamilton’s miserable start to his final season with Mercedes continued after he retired on lap 17 with an engine failure.
Hamilton, who is leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari at the end of the season, has taken just eight points from the opening three rounds – the worst start of his 18-season career.
Both Mercedes cars failed to make it to the end in Melbourne after George Russell crashed out on the penultimate lap. Russell’s Mercedes ended up on his side but the Englishman was able to walk away from the accident.
More than 132,000 spectators were crammed into Albert Park anticipating another Verstappen victory after the Dutch driver took pole position here on Saturday.
And when the 26-year-old held off Sainz at the start, and ended the opening lap one second clear of the Spaniard, Verstappen looked on course to take his third victory from the opening three rounds.
But to the amazement of the record crowd in Australia, Sainz sailed past Verstappen on lap two before smoke began pouring out the back of his Red Bull machine.
“I have smoke,” he said over the radio “Fire, fire, brake, my brake.”
Verstappen was falling back through the pack and the crowd cheered his demise. He managed to get his wounded machine back to the pits before his right-rear brake temporarily caught fire.
Verstappen remonstrated with performance director, Tom Hart at the back of the garage – appearing to say “that is f***** stupid” – before heading to his changing room and putting on his Red Bull civvies and taking the long walk through the paddock to the media pen.
“The brake stuck on from when the lights went off,” said Verstappen. “The temperatures kept on increasing until the point where it caught on fire.
“Having one brake caliper on was like driving with the handbrake on. I didn’t know at the time but I could feel the balance in the car was off.”
Asked about his exchange with Hart, he replied: “That was related to us doing a pit stop while the car was on fire!”
It was a bad day for the winners of the past seven world championships after Hamilton’s miserable weekend here ended with him stopping on track as his engine expired.
Hamilton started 11th and was running in ninth before his Mercedes gave up the ghost.
Hamilton’s previous worst start to a season had been back in 2009 when he was disqualified at the first round before finishing sixth and seventh. Before today’s retirement, Hamilton had started the season with a seventh and ninth in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
But for Sainz, the man making way for Hamilton at Ferrari next year, he had an afternoon to remember by leading home a Ferrari one-two from Charles Leclerc with Lando Norris completing the podium.
Sainz took his win under the virtual safety car after Russell’s Mercedes dramatically ended up 90 degrees to the floor after he thudded into the wall in his pursuit of Fernando Alonso.
Russell reported over the radio that he was “OK” and was able to walk away from the crash. Oscar Piastri took fourth for McLaren ahead of Sergio Perez’s Red Bull with Alonso sixth.
Filip Forsberg scored in his fifth straight game and Juuse Saros stopped 23 shots as the Nashville Predators extended their franchise-record point streak to 17 games with a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
Saros stopped eight shots in the first period, nine in the second and six more in the third for his third shutout this season and 23rd of his career.
Nashville won its fifth in a row and improved to 15-0-2 in its last 17 games since a regulation loss to Dallas on Feb. 15. The Predators pulled within five points of Winnipeg for third place in the Central Division.
Forsberg snapped a scoreless game with his team-leading 39th goal with 5:14 remaining, giving him 10 goals and six assists in his last nine games.
Alex Lyon made 32 saves for the Red Wings, who dropped their sixth consecutive road game and remained one point ahead of Washington in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Kings blow lead but top Lightning in OT
Vladislav Gavrikov scored 25 seconds into overtime and the Los Angeles Kings recovered for a 4-3 win to snap the Tampa Bay Lightning’s five-game winning streak.
Mikey Anderson’s first goal in 55 games early in the third period extended the Kings’ lead to 3-1, but Steven Stamkos scored twice in the final 4:34 of regulation, netting the equaliser with 46 seconds left in regulation.
Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore also scored for the Kings, who won their third straight to pull within three points of second-place Edmonton in the Pacific Division.
Brayden Point had a goal and an assist as Tampa Bay lost for just the second time in March.
Rangers edge Panthers in shootout
Artemi Panarin scored twice in regulation and again in the shootout to lift the New York Rangers to a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers in a matchup of Eastern Conference heavyweights.
Carter Verhaeghe scored with 4:08 left in regulation to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead, but Panarin answered less than a minute later.
Adam Fox had a goal and an assist and Mika Zibanejad also converted in the shootout for the Rangers, who extended their lead in the Metropolitan Division and moved one point ahead of Boston for first place in the East.
Matthew Tkachuk and Eetu Luostarinen also scored for the Panthers, who have lost four straight (0-3-1) and are two points behind the Bruins in the Atlantic Division.
Jalen Green poured in 41 points and Fred VanVleet scored 34 with 10 3-pointers as the Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games with a 147-119 rout of the Utah Jazz on Saturday.
Green shot 15 of 22 from the field, 7 of 11 from 3-point range and hit all four free throws to fall one point shy of his career high.
Jeff Green added 21 points for the Rockets, who sank a season-best 27 3-pointers and have their longest winning streak since an eight-game run in November 2019. They have closed to within 1 ½ games of idle Golden State for 10th place and the last play-in spot in the Western Conference.
Houston improved to 35-35, marking the first time it has been at .500 since Jan. 13, with a 19-19 record.
John Collins scored a season high-tying 25 points for Utah, which matched a season high with its fifth straight defeat.
Celtics win 9th in row
Jayson Tatum scored 26 points and Sam Hauser and Al Horford each added 23 to lead the NBA-leading Boston Celtics to their ninth straight win, 124-113 over the Chicago Bulls.
Derrick White chipped in 17 points and Payton Pritchard had 15 and eight assists as the Celtics won for the 19th time in 21 games to improve the NBA’s best record to 57-14.
Boston sank 21 3-pointers and won again despite missing Jaylen Brown (sprained right ankle) and Kristaps Porzingis (right hamstring) – two of its top four scorers.
DeMar DeRozan had 28 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Bulls, who lost all three meetings this season against the Celtics.
Kings edge Magic with late free throws
De’Aaron Fox sank the tying and go-ahead free throws with 21.2 seconds left and finished with 31 points to give the Sacramento Kings a 109-107 victory over the Orlando Magic.
After Fox’s two free throws gave the Kings a 108-107 lead, Keon Ellis made the second of his two free throws with two seconds left and Paolo Banchero missed a long 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
Domantas Sabonis had 21 points and 14 rebounds and Keegan Murry scored 22 points for Sacramento, which completed a 2-1 road trip.
Jonathan Isaac matched his career high with 25 points, but Orlando had a five-game winning streak stopped.
Andy Murray picked up his best win of the year so far with a straight-sets victory over Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Miami Open.
Murray swept past the Argentinian, ranked 30 in the world, 7-6 (0) 6-3 in a rain-interrupted match to reach the third round.
The 36-year-old Scot gained a measure of revenge for his defeat by the same player in the first round of the Australian Open in January.
Murray will face Czech youngster Tomas Machac, who beat Russian world number six Andrey Rublev, in the next round.
Fellow Briton Jack Draper’s challenge was ended by Nicolas Jarry, however.
Jarry, the world number 23 from Chile, beat 22-year-old Draper 7-6 (5) 4-6 7-6 (2).
Ralph Beckett will be looking for stable stalwart Kinross to shine in what could be a transitional year for the Hampshire handler, although he still has genuine Classic aspirations with the likes of Task Force.
Kinross took his tally of wins to 10 last season when securing Grade Two victories in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and the City of York Stakes at York.
He then signed off with elite-level runner-up efforts in the Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp and Ascot’s British Champions Sprint Stakes, taking his career earnings to over £1.75million.
Now aged seven, the Marc Chan-owned gelding has an important role to play following the departure of some high-profile stablemates.
“We’ve lost a few; Prosperous Voyage, Lezoo, Westover, but Kinross is still around and doing work, showing all his old enthusiasm,” Beckett told Sky Sports Racing.
“He’s in good shape and he’ll start at Ascot in the Jubilee and then we’ll work our way through the rest of the year. He’s in good form and he looks like he’s retained all his enthusiasm, so we’re looking forward to him, as ever.”
Task Force is quoted at between 14-1 and 20-1 for the 2000 Guineas after following up two wins with second place behind Vandeek in the Middle Park at Newmarket, while Skellet is rated a lively outsider for the 1000 Guineas.
Beckett added: “Task Force is training well and at the moment we’ll go straight to Newmarket for the Guineas.
“It’s difficult to know how good he is because he was never a six-furlong horse, either on pedigree or on physique. We stuck at six because it was working and he was quite a free-running horse as a two-year-old.
“He’s settled down a lot over the winter, so we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do.
“Skellet was second in the Oh So Sharp, she’ll probably go for the Guineas as well, she’s done well over the winter.
“There’s a couple of others and a few for the Oaks, plus we’ve got a few Derby entries, including Feigning Madness, who beat Harper’s Ferry on debut, so lots to look forward to. Hopefully, we’ll shake something out.”
Paul Nicholls showed he is firmly up for a battle in the jump trainers’ championship by adding just over £59,000 to his tally when Regent’s Stroll galloped on strongly to land the Goffs UK Spring Sale Bumper at Newbury.
The five-year-old, who hails from the same family as the mighty Denman, was sent off as the 7-2 joint-favourite favourite but looked to have it all to do under a 4lb penalty when only fourth at the two-furlong pole.
However, he picked up in impressive fashion for Harry Cobden from that point on and ultimately powered to a five-length triumph ahead of Don’t Mind If I Do.
Nicholls had started the day approximately £80,000 behind Dan Skelton, who boosted his hopes of securing a first title success when Heltenham battled on to land the £20,812 first prize on offer in the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Handicap Chase.
Sir Psycho made the evens favourite work hard for victory but Harry Skelton conjured up one last surge from his mount in the closing stages to get up by a neck.
Having previously scored in the Greatwood Gold Cup over the same course and distance, Heltenham was cut to 14-1 with Coral for the Topham Chase at Aintree.
Goodwin produced a brave front-running display to land the opening John Haine Memorial Novices’ Hurdle for Chris and Freddie Gordon.
The six-year-old was challenged down the home staight by hot favourite Cannock Park and Lario but showed great spirit to see them off by half a length and three-quarters of a length, to oblige at 3-1.
Following a lengthy delay due to a medical incident, Irish raider I Love My Baie came with a late charge to land the Bet In-Play On Racing With BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
With J J Slevin deputising for the injured Daryl Jacob, Stuart Crawford’s 22-1 shot managed to reel in Pretending to prevail by a length and a quarter.
All The Glory made a mockery of his 25-1 starting price when romping home by nine lengths in the Grade Two British EBF BetVictor ‘National Hunt’ Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Jonjo O’Neill junior was always travelling sweetly on his father’s seven-year-old and the only worrying moment he had was when having to avoid El Elefante following her fall at the final flight.
Robbie Dunne came with a smooth and well-timed challenge on 100-30 chance Rath Gaul Hill to win the Colleagues Celebration Of Business Handicap Chase by a comfortable length and a quarter from Duhallow Tommy.
David Egan’s new role as retained rider for Amo Racing got off to the best possible start when Mr Professor came home clear in the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster, with the jockey hoping it signals the beginning of a fruitful partnership.
Many were surprised when Egan left the relatively secure role of riding the majority of Roger Varian’s string to take up the number one position with Kia Joorabchian’s increasingly prominent operation.
Several leading riders have already gained and lost what is now a high-profile job, but the prospect of riding the likes of King Of Steel, Ornellaia, Bucanero Fuerte and a whole host of expensive juveniles was a tempting one.
Having spent the winter riding abroad, Egan was at the Curragh on Monday to win the first juvenile race of 2023 on Arizona Blaze, and by adding the first major handicap of the season on Dominic Ffrench Davis’ five-year-old it could not have been a better start.
“It’s a fantastic start to the year. I’m not going to lie, it was a surprise to me how easy he took me into the race at the two-pole,” he said of his 33-1 winner.
“It was an outstanding performance really, I know he was getting plenty of weight from a lot of the runners, but it’s a fantastic performance.
“Doncaster has been a lucky place for me, I obviously won my first Classic here (St Leger on Eldar Eldarov), but the Lincoln is the race every winter that you build towards. I’ve obviously been away, but the Lincoln is that special race that kick-starts the year, so it’s great to win.”
The sole Irish raider for the race was Fozzy Stack’s Chazzesmee, sent off the 5-2 favourite following his easy success in the Irish version last weekend.
“What was going through my head was the Irish Lincolnshire last week, I rode Raadobarg in that and I gave Joey Sheridan a lead all the way to the furlong pole on Chazzesmee and he quickened up by me,” said Egan, who won the Saudi Cup and Juddmonte International with Mishriff when he was retained by Prince Faisal.
“I got into the stalls today and who was next to me! I looked at Joey and he just said ‘same again?’. I knew he was behind me the whole way, but when my lad quickened up, he quickened up really well – and as he has stamina, he was able to sustain that all the way to the line.”
As for taking the Amo job, Egan could well have joined at just the right time.
He went on: “It’s a very exciting year, you dream of getting a job like this and he (Joorabchian) has got such an array of horses, from older horses like King Of Steel to Classic contenders like Bucanero Fuerte.
“And Amo Racing in recent times have been renowned for two-year-olds coming through, they had a lovely one win at the Curragh last week. They are a great team to have a connection with.
“They’ve got ambition to win and be the best, we understand that will take time but they are still relatively new, the purple colours have only been seen in the last five or six years – when I started in racing, Amo Racing wasn’t even a thing.
“To see their progress and for me to land a job of this nature so soon in my career is great and I hope we have a lot of success in the future.”
Paul George insists the Los Angeles Clippers are not focusing on what the New Orleans Pelicans are doing as they battle it out for the Western Conference fourth seed.
The Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 125-117 on Friday, while the soaring Pelicans have won eight of their last 10 games.
Los Angeles are a game-and-a-half ahead of the Pelicans in the race for the No.4 seed.
But George, who led the Clippers with 31 points, is paying little attention to New Orleans' form.
"We're not looking at them," George said.
"It's more about us. We've got to play well and we're in the driver's seat. So it's more about us."
With the Clippers holding a large lead in the final quarter, coach Tyronn Lue was able to rest George and fellow star Kawhi Leonard, who added 22 points.
Lue said: "I just want us to lock in and be healthy."
The West is tough anyway, no matter who we play or where you play. Whether you start at home, start on the road, it's going to be tough.
"So it doesn't really bother me or phase me in any way. We've just got to be healthy."
Lue will be buoyed, then, by the impending return of Russell Westbrook.
He has been out for three weeks since he underwent surgery on a fractured hand.
Westbrook, though, is expected to return to action next week.
Judd Trump is one win away from a fifth ranking title of the season after beating Jackson Page in the semi-finals of the World Open.
Trump will face China’s Ding Junhui in the final in Yushan after beating an unfortunate Page 6-2, the Welshman cutting his finger while taking his cue out of its case before the match.
“The buckle of the case ripped the skin on my finger,” Page said. “I was praying for it not to bleed, but then it started bleeding.
“I tried putting a plaster on, but then I couldn’t feel the cue so I had to take it off. It’s not an ideal start in your first semi-final.”
Trump, who won this event the last time it was staged in 2019, opened with a break of 122 and won four frames in a row following the interval after Jackson’s break of 72 had made it 2-2.
“It was a scrappy game, neither of us played well, we both missed a lot of balls,” Trump said.
“It was Jackson’s first semi-final and he didn’t really settle, my experience probably made the difference.
“I haven’t played that well this week, I have scraped my way through with sheer determination, but that has been the case at other tournaments I have won this season. Hopefully things click in the final.”
Victory in the final would give world number two Trump a 28th career ranking title, moving him level with Steve Davis on the all-time list and behind only Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins.
The other semi-final proved a tense affair between Ding and Neil Robertson, which went to a deciding frame.
Breaks of 67 and 118 had seen Robertson open up an early 3-1 lead.
Ding, though, responded with two half-century runs of his own to edge back in front.
Robertson made 128 in the ninth frame despite becoming frustrated with the frequent interruptions from mobile phones in the noisy crowd, the Australian appearing to point out one serial offender to the referee.
However, Ding responded again as he took a tense 10th frame with a break of 68.
Then after Robertson had missed a chance to wrap up victory when looking set on a break of 53, the world number nine clinched a hard-earned place in the final with a run of 24 to win the deciding frame 70-56.
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