Corey Seager's two-run homer helped the Texas Rangers withstand a pair of key injuries and regain the upper hand in the World Series with Monday's historic 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 3.
Texas bounced back from a 9-1 home loss in Saturday's Game 2 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Fall Classic and become the first team in MLB history with nine consecutive road victories in a single post-season. The Rangers, now 9-0 away from home in these playoffs, had shared the record with the 1996 New York Yankees and 2019 Washington Nationals.
The Rangers prevailed despite both star pitcher Max Scherzer and slugger Adolis Garcia exiting Game 3 with injuries. Scherzer left after three innings with back tightness, while Garcia departed in the eighth after appearing to hurt his left side on a swing in his final at-bat.
Scherzer left with a 3-0 lead after Texas scored all of its runs in the top of the third inning. Nathaniel Lowe led off the frame with a double off Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt and scored on Marcus Semien's two-out single before Seager launched a long home run into the right-field seats.
The Diamondbacks didn't score until the eighth, when pinch-hitter Emmanuel Rivera doubled off Aroldis Chapman and Geraldo Perdomo followed with an RBI single. Chapman prevented further damage, however, by striking out Corbin Carroll and getting Ketel Marte to hit into an inning-ending double play Seager started with a sliding grab on a hard ball hit to the standout shortstop.
Jose Leclerc then retired Arizona in order in the ninth to record his fourth save of the post-season.
Garcia, whose 22 RBIs in these playoffs are an MLB record, also came through with a defensive gem before leaving, as the right fielder delivered a perfect throw to the plate in the second inning to nail Christian Walker attempting to score on a single by Tommy Pham.
Scherzer held the Diamondbacks to two hits and walked two before exiting after 36 pitches. Jon Gray relieved the three-time Cy Young winner and yielded just one hit over three scoreless innings to earn the win.
Pfaadt lasted 5 1/3 innings and was charged with all three Texas runs along with four hits.
The Diamondbacks managed just six hits, including a sixth-inning single by Marte that extended the second baseman's postseason-record hitting streak to 19 games.
The Detroit Lions bounced back from last week’s heavy loss to the Baltimore Ravens to beat the Las Vegas Raiders 26-14.
Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 152 yards, grabbing the vital touchdown in the second half after the Raiders had got within two points.
The Lions, who now sit on top of the NFC North with a 6-2 record, had to make do with three field goals from Riley Patterson as they struggled to find the endzone.
Josh Jacobs did manage to score from three yards for the Raiders before Jared Goff, who threw for 272 yards, found Sam LaPorta from 18 yards for a 16-7 interval lead.
Goff was off target on his next drive, Marcus Peters returning an interception 75 yards after the interval to make it 16-14.
But Gibbs stretched the lead with his run from 27 yards, Riley Patterson adding a 52-yard field goal to increase the cushion.
The Raiders welcomed back starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from a back injury, but he was sacked six times and managed just 126 yards.
World number two Iga Swiatek beat Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-6 6-0 in her opening match at the WTA Finals in Cancun.
Vondrousova, making her debut at the WTA Finals, took an early 2-0 lead in the opening set after breaking Swiatek in the first game.
Swiatek, though, soon wiped out that advantage after forcing home a break chance of her own to level at 2-2.
In humid conditions, both players were feeling the pressure on serve as another untidy background return from the baseline by the Pole allowed Vondrousova to immediately break again.
The Wimbledon champion maintained the pressure to break Swiatek in the seventh game, the Pole this time sending a return into the net.
Following the change of ends, Swiatek made the most of the new balls to prevent Vondrousova serving out the set and then produced a solid hold to reduce the deficit at 5-4.
Vondrousova’s early momentum had gone as Swiatek stepped up her offensive play to claim another break and level the opening set.
Swiatek, who can end the year by regaining the world number one spot, took the first set on a tie break and waltzed through the second in just over half an hour.
Monday’s other match saw US Open champion Coco Gauff need less than an hour to beat Ons Jabeur 6-0 6-1.
Gauff won the first seven games before an hour-long rain delay, Jabeur finally getting on the board after the restart before the American completed the win in 57 minutes
On Sunday, world number one Aryna Sabalenka opened the finals with a straightforward win over Maria Sakkari.
Sabalenka later took to social media to criticise the arrangements for players at the season-ending championships, with Cancun only announced as the host venue less than two months ago.
Swiatek added her criticism to the court – laid on top of a golf course – saying “it’s not comfortable” while Vondrousova described it as “very bad”.
Sabalenka faces Jessica Pegula, who also won her opening group match, on Tuesday night with Sakkari facing Elena Rybakina.
Corey Seager’s second two-run home run of the World Series led the Texas Rangers over the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 to take a 2-1 series lead.
Seager, who hit a ninth-inning home run which took the first game into extra innings, struck in the third inning off Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt.
The Rangers added a third and it proved enough as their pitching staff kept the Diamondbacks offence quiet to seal a ninth straight-away win in the postseason.
Arizona’s only run came in the eighth inning with an RBI single from Geraldo Perdomo, Christian Walker getting cut down at the plate in the second inning by Adolis Garcia.
Garcia left the game late on after appearing to injure his side, while veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer threw three innings before departing with back tightness.
Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte stretched his record postseason hitting streak to 19 games.
Game four of the seven-game series is in Arizona on Tuesday night.
The USA's Andrew Arft is at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the first day of the 56th Jamaica Open Golf Championship at the Tryall Golf Club in Hanover.
The American show a six-under-par 66 to enjoy a three-shot lead heading to Tuesday’s second day. Josh Anderson, also of the USA, is second after shooting a 69 and he is followed by Trinidad & Tobago's Chris Richards, who shot 70.
Defending champion Patrick Cover was further back after shooting 73 saying afterwards that he expects to be better in the rounds ahead. Wesley Brown, the highest placed local professional shot one over par 73.
Justin Burrowes and Sebert Walkert Jr who both turned pro at the championship posted scores of 10 over par 82 and five over par 77, respectively. Former national representatives Sean Morris and Oshae Haye both shot three over par 75 to be joint leaders in the amateur section while junior golfer Trey Williams scored five over par 78 for the first round.
Sam Burgess revealed he was given the blessing of Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe to leave Australia behind and pursue his first head coach role at Warrington.
Burgess enjoyed two successful playing stints at South Sydney Rabbitohs, the NRL club Crowe co-owns, and the ex-dual code England international stayed on as assistant after hanging up his boots in 2019.
The pair remain close and Burgess admitted he sounded out the A-list star and listened to the advice of mother Julie, plus brothers Luke, Tom and George, before signing a two-year deal with Wolves.
Warrington have endured a couple of challenging seasons but owner Simon Moran and chairman Stuart Middleton have backed Burgess, who was named the permanent successor to Daryl Powell in August.
Burgess said: “I’ve got Russell who I have known for a long time. I speak to him weekly. We are great friends. He just urged me to be myself and enjoy the ride. He was very encouraging.
“He is good friends with Simon, they have a great relationship, so they had spoken in the background. Russell’s guidance was that Warrington have a strong position in the community. He is huge on that.
“But I lean on a lot of different people. Some other great friends. My brothers and my mum are great counsel.
“I am not going to copy or be anyone else. I will manage it my own way. But there will be things that I’ll ask for advice on or lean on a couple of people that have done it for a number of years.”
Burgess batted away suggestions Kevin Sinfield could join Warrington as an assistant, amid speculation the Leeds Rhinos great could leave his job as England rugby union defence coach after the World Cup.
The 34-year-old, who says his coaching team is fully in place, said: “I’ve not heard anything about that.
“I’ve spoken to Kevin. That’s it. We are going to catch-up for a coffee. But I’ve not said anything about coming to Warrington. That’s a good rumour.”
Burgess is set to become Super League’s youngest head coach but he insisted neither his age nor his considerable profile will have any bearing on how he will approach this latest challenge.
He added: “It’s all external for me. I think I was the youngest Super League player at some point as well. It just comes and goes. It’s part of the job. I don’t see myself as a young coach.
“The recognisable stuff is not going to help me coach. You’ve got to do your job and connect with the players and grow that stuff. I have a good feeling about it. I won’t make any bold statements.
“It’s not going to help the team. It’s not going to help me. We have plenty of hard work to do between now and the start of the year.”
Rugby Australia has accepted the resignation of head coach Eddie Jones following the Wallabies’ failure to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Jones will officially depart the position on November 25.
The former England coach’s departure just nine months into a five-year contract had been widely reported in Australia amid further speculation he is heading for a second spell in charge of Japan.
“Rugby Australia can confirm that it has accepted the resignation of Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones, and he will depart the position on 25 November 2023,” a statement from the governing body read.
“Rugby Australia thanks Eddie for his commitment to the Wallabies in 2023, and wishes him the best in his future endeavours.
“Announcements regarding the future of the Wallabies coaching staff will be made in due course.”
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh is set to hold a media conference on Tuesday to address the fall-out from Jones’ upcoming departure.
Chairman of Rugby Australia Hamish McLennan had already vowed to continue in his role.
McLennan told the Sydney Morning Herald in a statement: “I came to rugby to find a way to fix it when it all fell over and despite the sad Eddie situation, this is another hurdle we’ll overcome.
“I want to stay to deliver the 2027 World Cup in Australia. That has always been the big prize for Australian rugby.
“More destabilisation will just make matters worse, just when we’re about to break through. Life is not a continuous line of perfect calls and success.”
McLennan played a key role in bringing Jones back for a second stint in charge of Australia, the 63-year-old replacing Dave Rennie just a month after being sacked by England following five wins in 12 Tests in 2022.
But his return turned sour with just two wins in nine Tests – against Georgia and Portugal in the World Cup where they suffered losses to Fiji and Wales.
The failure to get out of the group stages for the first time came against a background of Jones denying he took part in an interview with the Japanese Rugby Football Union, both during and after the World Cup.
Despite multiple news outlets reporting that he was poised to meet officials in Japan next month for a second interview, Jones has repeatedly told the media that he was committed to Australian rugby.
Jones told the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday: “(I) gave it a run. Hopefully be the catalyst for change.
“Sometimes you have to eat s**t for others to eat caviar further down the track.”
The English Ice Hockey Association will make it mandatory to wear a neck guard during “all on-ice activities” from the start of 2024 in a change to regulations following the death of Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson.
The 29-year-old American was playing in a Challenge Cup match at the Sheffield Steelers when he reportedly suffered a slashed neck following a collision.
The Panthers described the incident as a “freak accident” when the club confirmed his death on Sunday, and police are investigating.
Under current rules, players in the UK do not have to play with neck guards once they turn 18.
The English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) is the sport’s governing body in England and Wales, with almost 400 teams at junior and senior level below the Elite League, who are yet to comment on whether or not they will make neck guards mandatory.
The EIHA says it will also conduct a thorough review of safety equipment in the next 12 months including, but not limited to, the use of helmets, mouthguards/gumshields and facial protection, and the application of International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) rules.
A statement from the governing body on Monday read: “The EIHA makes a ‘strong recommendation’ that all players at all levels across English ice hockey use an approved ice hockey neck guard/protector whilst participating in all on-ice activities.
“This ‘strong recommendation’ is in place until 31 December 2023, after which it will become a mandatory requirement.
“It is not mandatory with immediate effect due to anticipated supply issues. This will be under constant review between now and mandatory implementation.
“All protective equipment must be worn without alterations and as directed by the manufacturers’ specification.”
NIHL team Oxford City Stars, who have former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech on their roster, have announced their players must wear neck guards at all times on the ice.
Shane Moore, director of hockey operations, said safety must be a priority, adding: “A life has tragically been taken too soon in a freak accident, and if wearing neck guards can prevent another devastating loss, then we want to ensure we have done everything within our power to protect our players.”
Sheffield City Council’s health and safety team are also assisting the police as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the player’s fiancée Ryan Wolfe paid tribute on Instagram, saying: “My sweet angel, I’ll miss you forever and love you always.”
Fans gathered at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena to pay tribute with flowers and cards.
Steelers fan Gary Hibbert was at the game and said: “I have come to pay my respects. It is heart-breaking.
“My kids absolutely love ice hockey and they have both been absolutely heart-broken after Saturday’s game, as we all are.”
Speaking of the incident in which Minnesota-born former NHL player Johnson was injured, he said: “My initial thought was he had a stick to the face, as it happens.
“Within two, three, four seconds we have seen the pool of blood.”
Mr Hibbert said Johnson had skated off for a moment after the collision before he collapsed and said he then shielded his son as best he could from the tragedy unfolding on the ice.
More tributes were left at Sheffield’s arena, with one card saying: “To a young man who came to Sheffield on a Saturday night to do his job and play for his team, left the arena fighting for his life, and didn’t return home with his team mates RIP Adam Johnson #47.”
Ontario Reign paid tribute to their former player before the club’s American Hockey League game against the Abbotsford Canucks on Sunday.
Johnson’s name was announced to the crowd as his number 49 jersey was placed on a chair in the middle of the ice by former Nottingham player Jacob Doty.
Every Ontario player touched the jersey in a moving gesture.
Andy Murray admitted he is not enjoying his tennis after suffering another disappointing defeat to Australian Alex de Minaur in the first round of the Paris Masters.
Murray had lost all five previous matches against the Australian, including three this season with the most recent coming in Beijing where the Briton failed to convert three match points.
The former world number one looked on course to end that run on Monday after recovering from losing the opening set tie-break to lead 5-2 in the decider.
However, Murray failed to win either of his next two service games – despite having a match point in the second – and the world number 13 prevailed 7-6 (5) 4-6 7-5 in just over three hours.
Murray’s temper boiled over during the final set, knocking the drinks bottles and towel off his bench during a change of ends before he smashed his racket off the floor after the last point.
The disappointing run of form has left the 36-year-old two-time Wimbledon champion questioning what else he has to do to get back to winning ways.
“I’m not really enjoying it just now in terms of how I feel on the court and how I’m playing,” Murray told several national newspapers.
“The last five, six months haven’t been that enjoyable, so I need to try and find some of that enjoyment back because playing a match like that there’s not much positivity there.
“When I play a good point, I’m not really getting behind myself and then in the important moments, that will to win and fight that has always been quite a big, big part of my game…”
Another Briton who did not enjoy the match was Katie Boulter – the girlfriend of De Minaur.
The British number one wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Had enough Alex and Andy for the rest of my life. No more please and thank you.”
Murray, who is entered for next week’s ATP 250 event in Metz, said he will take some time to consider whether to play for Great Britain in the Davis Cup at the end of November.
He added: “If I want to keep going, I’m going to need a lot of work.
“It’s not just going to be like one or two weeks of training to get me to where I need to get to, it’s going to have to be a lot of work and consistent work to give myself a chance.”
Andy Murray smashed his racquet in frustration after Alex de Minaur produced a stunning fightback in a last-set decider to win another epic contest between the pair 7-6 (5) 4-6 7-5 at the Paris Masters.
Murray had lost all five matches he played against the Australian, including three this season with the most recent coming in Beijing where the Briton failed to convert three match points.
The former world number one, though, looked on course to end that run in the first-round contest on Monday afternoon after recovering from losing the opening set tie-break to level and then forced two breaks to lead 5-2.
However, Murray failed to hold either of his own next two service games as the world number 13 rallied before turning the set around to close out another hard-earned victory.
A first match point went begging in the 10th game when Murray sent a return long and smashed his racquet on the floor after handing De Minaur a break-point opportunity, which he took to level at 5-5.
After De Minaur then held, Murray’s temper boiled over again during the change of ends when he knocked the drinks bottles and towel off his bench.
De Minaur grew with the momentum and was given a match point of his own after the chair umpire over-ruled a call on the baseline, which was shown to be out.
There was to be no reprieve for Murray when he sent a return into the net, which sealed De Minaur’s victory in just over three hours.
Murray – who had not won a match at the Paris Masters since winning the event in 2016 – then again smashed his racquet on the floor before trudging off court on the back of another gut-wrenching defeat.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is set to miss the rest of the NFL season after suffering a torn Achilles.
The 35-year-old, who has never missed an NFL game due to injury, was forced out of Sunday’s victory over NFC North rivals the Green Bay Packers.
An MRI scan on Monday confirmed he had torn his Achilles and would require surgery, all-but certainly ruling him out of the rest of this campaign.
A Vikings statement read: “Kirk Cousins underwent an MRI this morning at Twin Cities Orthopedics that confirmed an Achilles tendon tear.
“The timeline and details of his upcoming surgery will be determined this week. The team will continue to provide updates.”
Cousins is the second high-profile quarterback to suffer an Achilles injury this season, with four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers lasting just four plays on his New York Jets debut in early September.
Cousins had thrown for 274 yards and two touchdowns at Lambeau Field on Sunday before being forced off.
The Vikings went on to win 24-10 as they recorded a third straight victory and moved into a wildcard spot in the NFC.
Former UFC fighter Dan Hardy labelled Francis Ngannou’s performance against Tyson Fury “the biggest upset in boxing history” after his split decision defeat in Saudi Arabia.
Professional Fighters League star Ngannou dropped WBC heavyweight champion Fury in the third round and appeared to dominate for much of the 10-round bout despite Fury picking up the victory.
Hardy believes Ngannou – who signed a multi-fight deal with mixed martial arts league PFL in May – did the “unthinkable” and said he had him winning the fight on his own scorecard.
PFL Europe Head of Fighter Operations Hardy told the PA news agency: “For Francis to hold his composure like he did and to outpoint and outbox him was unthinkable.
“It is the biggest upset in boxing history even though he didn’t get the decision.
“I had him winning the fight. I have my scorecard and I had him 96-93 because of the knockdown in the third and I stand by it. Ngannou certainly won the fight.
“It was an unfair decision, Francis deserved the victory and deserved the nod. But it was a close fight, no doubt about it.
“I was blown away and I still am. I think right now Ngannou is the king of combat sports, he is the biggest combat sport athlete because of what he achieved on the weekend.”
Fury had written off Ngannou’s chances in the build-up, comparing the fight to “a table tennis champion facing (Novak) Djokovic in the Wimbledon final”.
Hardy added: “I think (Fury overlooking Ngannou) was a big part of it.
“It was a perfect storm on the night and that to me looked like Tyson Fury halfway through training camp expecting a sparring match ahead of the Oleksandr Usyk fight.
“I don’t think he looked at Ngannou with the same fear he would Deontay Wilder.
“After the third round Fury would’ve been thinking ‘I wish I prepared better for this, I wish I came in lighter’.”
Hardy believes former UFC champion Ngannou has a future in heavyweight boxing and that he can go toe-to-toe with the division’s best.
He said: “I think we’ll see him fight in Professional Fighters League and then see him move back into the boxing world and have another big fight.
“Who else in the top 10 can he give problems to? And the general consensus now is quite a few of them. The two that come to my head are Joe Joyce and Anthony Joshua.
“The Francis we saw against Tyson at the weekend would cause those two serious problems stylistically.
“I think he can have a career in boxing if he wants to and he’s going to be ranked soon so the door’s open for him.
“Wilder is an obvious opponent, because it would be two of the biggest punchers on the planet.
“Wilder does not have the same finesse as Fury.”
James Doyle will join Wathnan Racing as retained rider for the 2024 Flat season.
The 35-year-old has ridden as second jockey for Godolphin since 2015 and tasted Classic success in the royal blue silks in 2022 when partnering Charlie Appleby’s Coroebus to 2000 Guineas glory.
However, Doyle – who partnered Kingman, among others, when he was the retained rider for Juddmonte – will ride as number one for the Qatar-based Wathnan operation from the new year when his contract with Godolphin expires.
Doyle has already worn the Wathnan silks in victory, guiding Adrian Keatley’s Ballymount Boy home at Doncaster on Saturday, and has a plethora of high-profile mounts to look forward to, including Ascot Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami and fellow Royal Ascot winner Gregory.
“It is a tremendous honour for me to sign for Wathnan,” said Doyle, in a statement released by Wathan Racing on Monday afternoon.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for me going forward with His Highness Sheikh Tamim’s Wathnan Racing and I’m greatly looking forward to working with Olly Tait, Richard Brown and the rest of the team.
“I want to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, Charlie Appleby and everyone at Godolphin for the unstinting support they’ve given me over the last nine years. It’s been a wonderful time and I have enjoyed literally every moment. But this is an incredible new venture and I can’t wait to get started in January.”
Many of Doyle’s biggest victories have come when riding for long-time Godolphin ally Appleby, and the Moulton Paddocks handler has fond memories of their time together.
He said: “James has been a key member of our team for his whole time with us and, whilst we will miss him greatly, he is leaving very much with our blessing and we wish him all the very best with this exciting new chapter in his riding career.
“James and I enjoyed many big days together on the racecourse, not the least of which was Coroebus winning the 2000 Guineas last year, but he also rode a number of other stable stars like Blue Point and Naval Crown.
“To my mind, one of his great rides for us was aboard Rebel’s Romance in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland where he was quite superb. So we will continue to use James whenever his new commitments permit because he’s a world-class jockey.”
Wathnan Racing’s Adviser Olly Tait added: “Wathnan is delighted to have retained the services of James Doyle. He is a fantastic rider and an incredible addition to the team. We are all looking forward to working closely with James in the coming years.”
The New England Patriots will be without leading wide receiver Kendrick Bourne for the remainder of the season after he tore his ACL in Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Bourne had three receptions for 36 yards and one touchdown before leaving in the fourth quarter. The seventh-year receiver was having a breakout season with team highs of 37 catches, 406 yards and four TD receptions in eight games.
Undrafted out of Eastern Washington, Bourne began his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 before signing with New England in 2021.
His best season came in his first year with the Patriots, as Bourne set career bests with 55 catches and 800 receiving yards while tying his career high with five TD receptions in 17 games.
New England has struggled this season and is an AFC-worst 2-6 heading into a Week 9 visit from the Washington Commanders (3-5).
Seven-time Pan Am Games gold medalists, Argentina, were at their dominant best to steamroll Trinidad & Tobago 21-0 in Field Hockey action at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile on Monday.
The world number three Argentina scored two goals in the opening period before a six-goal second period meant they had an 8-0 lead at halftime.
The third period was their most fruitful, scoring eight goals before a five-goal final quarter completed the 21-0 rout.
Agustina Gorzelany lead the way with six goals while Maria Granatto scored three. Valentina Raposo, Delfina Thome, Sofia Cairo and Eugenia Trinchinetti and Julieta Jankunas all scored a pair of goals each while the other goals came from Victoria Sauze and Maria Campoy.
Datsalrightgino will be aimed at Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup after finishing down the field in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Sunday.
Winner of the Future Champion Novices’ Chase at Ayr in the spring, Jamie Snowden’s charge made his return in another Grade Two contest on Merseyside, but came home a well-beaten eighth of 11 runners.
With six of the 16 fences omitted due to low sun, Snowden was not overly disappointed with his seven-year-old’s performance and plans to step him up in distance at Newbury on December 2.
He said: “He ran a fine race considering there was six fences taken out. They landed over the back of the cross fence, we were sixth crossing that and he has ended up finishing eighth.
“We are going to step him up in trip and go for the Coral Gold Cup now as opposed to the Paddy Power Gold Cup (at Cheltenham).
“He had a good blow after the race, but you can’t draw too many conclusions from the race at Aintree given they took six fences out.
“When it works in your favour you are delighted and when it doesn’t you blame it. He is now ready to step up to three-miles-two at Newbury and he should stay that trip.
“Yesterday was more like a slightly inconclusive racecourse gallop, but that is the way it is.”
Hansard will tune-up for a tilt at the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle by running on the Flat at Nottingham on Wednesday.
Owned by Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates, the five-year-old won his first two starts for trainer Gary Moore in taking fashion last term before leaving a disappointment in Kempton’s Dovecote Hurdle behind when a commendable fourth in an Aintree Grade One in the spring.
He now returns on the level over 14 furlongs at Colwick Park with Tom Queally taking the ride in the Racing TV Club Novice Stakes.
It is a contest his handler sees as the perfect spot to clear the lungs ahead of Cheltenham action on November 19 and a race for which he is currently 12-1 with the sponsors.
“He’s a nice horse and it is kind of a prep run before he runs in the Greatwood Hurdle – that’s the plan,” said Moore.
“I always think it’s a good thing to sharpen them up on the Flat if you can do. I think it always bodes well and is something I’ve done before and also seen other people do it. He doesn’t have to have a hard race and doesn’t have eight flights of hurdles to jump, so you have less chance of injury and also I think it is a good way forward for the horse.
“Hopefully he is quite a nice horse and one we can look forward to.”
LeBron James thinks there is plenty of room for encouragement despite the Los Angeles Lakers producing a 1-2 start to the new NBA season.
De'Aaron Fox shined in regulation and Malik Monk stepped up in overtime as the Sacramento Kings battled to a 132-127 win over the Lakers on Sunday night.
James produced an impressive performance on the 20th anniversary of his NBA debut, putting up 27 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, more than making up for his eight turnovers.
LeBron, who played in his first pro game on October 29, 2003 - also in Sacramento, converted a layup with 15 seconds to play forced OT for the Lakers, who battled back after trailing by as much as 15 and were still down seven with 90 seconds to go.
Anthony Davis had 30 points and 16 boards with three blocks, giving Los Angeles optimism about bouncing back at home against the Orlando Magic on Monday.
"I like the way [we played]," James – who was 11-for-19 shooting – said after the game, per ESPN.
"We had some moments. We had some really good moments. We just weren't able to pull it out the way we would have liked to.
"It's pretty special I'm still doing it [20 years on] and I'm playing the game that I love."
The Lakers hope to manage James' workload this season, but he ended up playing for 39 minutes after also playing 35 minutes in the win over the Phoenix Suns last week.
"Obviously, I don't want to run Bron into the ground," said coach Darvin Ham.
"I don't want to run [Davis] into the ground too early. Obviously, it was an overtime game and they are both playing at a high level, so you want to leave them out there.
"But it’s just having that balance. We did a lot of great things out there, but definitely, some things we need to work on. Some things I need to tighten up.
"My rotation, we got to really dig into that. Really take a close look and so guys are in rhythm.
"We have a great collection of players. And I played in this league. When you know when you're going in and who you're playing with, that matters. So buckling down on our rotation, I'll start there. That definitely is the main thing that's on my mind."
And Davis has no concerns about the Lakers repeating their awful 2-10 start from last season, saying the wins will start flowing if the team retain the same level of commitment seen in Sacramento.
"We are in a good rhythm collectively," Davis said. "I don't think that's much of an issue.
"It will come. We just got to continue to fight like we did. Obviously, we wanted to win, but got another one [on Monday]. Just put it all together, keep pushing and it will turn for us."
The John Durkan Memorial Chase is shaping up to be a race to savour with Martin Brassil adding Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow to the list of names that could reappear in the all-star contest.
Willie Mullins has already stated his intention to start Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs in the race he claimed in emphatic style 12 months ago, but lying in wait will be the only horse to lower his colours during a fine 2022-23 campaign.
Fastorslow had both the Closutton star and Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame behind him when striking at Grade One level for the first time in the spring and it is fitting that the seven-year-old – who is as short as 8-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March – returns to the scene of his finest hour for his reappearance.
“He’s about four weeks (away) and we hope to run him on November 26 at Punchestown,” said Brassil.
“He’s done very well (over the summer), he’s good and healthy and well and all seems good with him. It’s nice to have a horse of his calibre.”
On the prospect of meeting Galopin Des Champs again, he added: “I would say the second and third had a hard race at Cheltenham and they are going to be fresher horses starting the season out again.”
Fastorslow was beaten a neck by Grand National hero Corach Rambler at the Cheltenham Festival earlier in the year but is likely to have Gold Cup aspirations when he returns to Prestbury Park next March.
His route to the blue riband is still to be inked in, but Leopardstown’s Savills Chase at Christmas appears the next stepping stone following his Punchestown comeback.
Brassil continued: “It would probably be on to Leopardstown at Christmas and then we will decide after that if he’s going to have another run before Cheltenham. You will have an idea of where you are going then.
“We hope he has a big year ahead of him, if he can maintain what he did there (in the Punchestown Gold Cup) or even progress from it, then he’s going to be running in those type of races.”
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