England begin the final countdown to their pivotal World Cup opener against Argentina confronted by a number of injury concerns and suspensions that will shape their selection.
Courtney Lawes, Kyle Sinckler, George Martin, Elliot Daly and Henry Arundell have been receiving treatment while Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola are banned for the Pool D showdown in Marseille.
England enter the match on the back of five defeats in six Tests and head coach Steve Borthwick faces important calls in several key positions, three of which the PA news agency examines here.
Tighthead propSinckler had been seen as a shoo-in for the number three jersey but a combination of his pectoral injury and the preference for Will Stuart early on in the Summer Nations Series has now placed a giant question mark over the position. England’s scrum has not been as solid as in the Six Nations, with Stuart failing to make the most of his three successive starts, and even if Sinckler is passed fit to face the Pumas, his lack of minutes last month will surely count against him. The final option in the squad is veteran Dan Cole and he at least has a start against Fiji under his belt.
Likely pick: Will Stuart
Scrum-halfAlex Mitchell was unfortunate to miss out on selection in the original 33-man squad after injecting tempo into England’s game during his replacement appearances in the Six Nations, but Jack van Poortvliet’s ankle injury has propelled him into contention. The dynamic Northampton half-back was one of the few positives to emerge from a chastening 30-22 defeat by Fiji and if Borthwick wants to broaden the team’s horizons he would be the ideal pick. Danny Care provides similar tempo and would be a lively alternative, while Ben Youngs is the slowest of the trio but is valued for his game management.
Likely pick: Ben Youngs
Full-backEntering the build-up to the World Cup it was unthinkable that Freddie Steward’s place in the starting XV could be challenged but that is the prospect facing the towering Leicester Tiger. Recent moments of fallibility under the high ball, combined with his limited contribution to a pedestrian attack, have seen Marcus Smith emerge as a genuine option in the number 15 jersey. Smith’s replacement appearances against Ireland and Fiji emboldened England’s counter-attack and for now the Harlequins fly-half may have found his best route into the team. How he would stand up to a barrage of high balls is the great unknown, however.
Likely pick: Freddie Steward
Wales centre Mason Grady has a tough family act to follow at his first Rugby World Cup.
To gain selection for rugby union’s global spectacular just five months after your 21st birthday is no mean feat.
But Grady’s brother Cory Allen holds World Cup bragging rights, given that he scored a hat-trick of tries on his tournament debut.
It was eight years ago in Cardiff that former centre Allen made a mark, scoring three tries in 21 minutes during Wales’ 54-9 World Cup victory over Uruguay.
Allen, who won six Test caps, played no further part in the tournament, though, after suffering a serious hamstring injury during the second half.
His team-mates that day included current Wales World Cup squad members Liam Williams, Gareth Davies, Tomas Francis and Dan Lydiate.
“He is averaging three tries a game at the World Cup, which is the best of any player at the tournament,” Grady said.
“I have got a lot of catching up to do there.
“Luckily, it was a home World Cup so I went to every game. He only played in the Uruguay game then did his hamstring, so I only watched him for about 55 minutes.
“It was crazy. He didn’t play in any of the warm-up games so we thought ‘unlucky, maybe the next World Cup’, but he then got selected and scored a hat-trick. It was nuts.
“Now he has retired he gives me a lot more advice after games. He will just ring me and tell me what I can do better and what I’ve done well.”
Grady’s family pedigree is an impressive one – and not just on the rugby pitch.
His mother Julie had a 20-year basketball career, representing Wales and the Rhondda Rebels club side, while brother Ashton is also a basketball international and Grady himself featured for Wales Under-16s in the sport.
But rugby soon took centre-stage, with Grady making his Cardiff debut at the age of 17, winning Wales Under-20 honours and then making his senior Wales bow against England during last season’s Guinness Six Nations.
World Cup selection followed as one of four centres alongside George North, Nick Tompkins and Johnny Williams, and at 6ft 5in and more than 17 stones, he offers a considerable physical presence in midfield or on the wing.
Grady added: “It is very surreal. To think I was playing under-20s rugby last year – it’s pretty nuts.
“I take it all in my stride and just take it game by game. We just look forward to what is ahead.
“During the Six Nations I was a bit nervous coming in (to the squad) and trying not to make any mistakes. I am a lot more confident now.”
The Wales players were due to leave Cardiff for France on Sunday and their pool-stage training base of Versailles.
Wales’ opening Pool C fixture is against Fiji in Bordeaux next Sunday. It will be a fifth-successive World Cup for the countries to meet.
Wales then face Portugal in Nice before heading to Lyon for an appointment with Australia. Their final group game sees them meeting Georgia in Nantes on October 7.
Nashwa is set to throw her hat into the ring for next weekend’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes following a pleasing workout in Newmarket on Saturday morning.
Having secured her third Group One victory with a dominant performance in the Falmouth at Newmarket in mid-July, John and Thady Gosden’s filly has since finished third in the Nassau at Goodwood and second in the Juddmonte International at York.
She now looks set to take on the boys once more at Leopardstown, with dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin and King Edward VII Stakes winner and King George third King Of Steel among her potential rivals.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Nashwa’s owner Imad Al Sagar, said: “We are positive, she did a nice little bit with Hollie solo on the Limekilns yesterday morning and everyone’s very happy.
“It seems the right spot to go for. She’s come out of York very well and Imad’s excited about going to Leopardstown next weekend.
“She’s in great shape and we’re looking forward to it.”
Ralph Beckett looks set to saddle Lezoo rather than stablemate Kinross in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.
The Kimpton Down handler has his string in excellent form at present, highlighted by his big-race treble last weekend courtesy of Kinross at York, Angel Bleu at Goodwood and Lezoo at Newmarket.
Lezoo notched her first victory since landing last season’s Cheveley Park in the Listed Hopeful Stakes on the July Course and is being readied for a return to Group One level on Merseyside.
The prolific Kinross also has the option of heading for Haydock following his City of York Stakes success, but Beckett expects conditions to be against him.
“Lezoo will go to Haydock for the Sprint Cup as it doesn’t matter what the ground is. I don’t know who will ride her yet and we will find that out in the coming days,” said the trainer.
“It depends on the weather for Kinross as he won’t run unless it is good or softer. I’m not going to run him over six furlongs on quick ground at Haydock Park as that won’t play to his strengths.
“My best guess is that he won’t run, but we will probably leave him in on Monday.”
Reflecting on Lezoo’s recent return to winning ways, Beckett added: “It was nice to see because when they dance as many dances as she did last year, it is tough to get them to do it again.
“Things then didn’t go well in the spring and mid-summer. Timeform thought she ran to a mark of 110 and that is good whatever way you look at it. To make her a Stakes winner at three was good as well.
“I don’t know how it will pan out now but having won a Listed race, it makes sense to go back to a Group One on a track that will play to the strengths of her, and we will go from there.
“She has never been a good work filly. She has never won a gallop. She has never gone through and worked really well, so you are going through all the time having to second guess her.
“If we get beat, we get beat, but it is more that this is the right race for her. If she was to go and finish in the first four, that would be great as well.”
Sir Mo Farah bade farewell to racing in London after finishing fourth in his penultimate race at the Big Half on Sunday.
Farah’s last results saw him finish eighth in the Great Manchester Run 10K in May and ninth in the London Marathon the previous month.
The Big Half was Farah’s last race in London, with the final race of his career taking place at the Great North Run on Tyneside next weekend.
Jack Rowe came first in the elite men’s race with a time of 01:01:08, narrowly edging out fellow Briton Mahamed Mahamed who finished in 01:01:16.
Andrew Butchart was next to cross the line before Farah finished with a time of 01:02:43.
Calli Thackery finished first in the women’s elite race, with David Weir earning the top spot in the wheelchair race.
Andre Agassi retired from tennis after being knocked out of the US Open by Benjamin Becker, on this day in 2006.
It brought a career which lasted two decades and yielded eight grand-slam titles to an end – but only after an applause which reduced the American to tears on multiple occasions.
The two-time winner at Flushing Meadows had announced the tournament in New York would be his last following his Wimbledon exit in June, with extreme back pain causing the former world number one intense discomfort whenever he was on the court.
Agassi managed to make it through to the third round after gruelling victories over Andrei Pavel and Marcos Baghdatis before big-serving Becker brought his career to an end with a 7-5 6-7 (4) 6-4 7-5 win.
What followed from the spectators inside Arthur Ashe Stadium was a lengthy standing ovation for the home favourite before he wiped away the tears to deliver an emotional retirement speech.
“The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn’t say is what I found,” Agassi said in his on-court interview to the crowd.
“Over the last 21 years I have found loyalty. You have pulled me through on the court and also in life. I have found inspiration, you have willed me to exceed and sometimes in my lowest moments.
“And I have found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams – dreams I could have never reached without you.
“Over the last 21 years I have found you and I will thank you and take the memory of you with me for the rest of my life.”
Agassi bowed out of the sport 10 years after he claimed Olympic gold at Atlanta 1996, another honour on his CV along with his eight major titles.
The first occurred at Wimbledon in 1992, two years after he had started to fulfil his potential with success at the end-of-season Masters Cup, before a maiden US Open title followed in 1994.
Agassi sealed the first of four Australian Open triumphs in 1995 and clinched a career Grand Slam when he completed a remarkable comeback to win at Roland Garros in 1999, having dropped to 141 in the rankings 18 months earlier due to factors including a failed drugs test and a problematic ankle injury.
Following his retirement, Agassi has raised money for children in Southern Nevada through his foundation, while residing in the state with wife Steffi Graf – who won 22 grand slams – and their children Jaden and Jaz.
Orlando Arcia drilled a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the Atlanta Braves won their sixth straight game, 4-1 over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a matchup of the National League’s best teams.
With the initial runner at second, Alex Vesia got the first two outs of the 10th but walked Sean Murphy before Arcia sent a first-pitch fastball over the left-centre field wall for his 17th home run and a 4-1 lead.
Max Muncy had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th, but Raisel Iglesias struck out Amed Rosario with a runner on for his 28th save.
Major league-leading Atlanta has won the first three games of this much-anticipated series, becoming the first team to reach 90 victories.
The Braves are cruising to their sixth straight NL East title with a 16-game lead over Philadelphia.
Ronald Acuna Jr. opened the scoring in the third inning with his third home run of this series and 32nd of the season.
The Dodgers got the run back in the bottom half when Austin Barnes doubled, moved to third on two walks and scored on a double-play grounder.
Bryce Elder pitched six innings for the Braves and allowed one run and five hits.
Joe Jimenez, A.J. Minter and Michael Tonkin each pitched one hitless inning before Iglesias took over in the 10th.
Reds rally to walk-off Cubs again
Elly De La Cruz delivered a tying single and newcomer Hunter Renfroe beat out a double-play ball as the Cincinnati Reds rallied for their second straight walk-off win, 2-1 over the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago took a 1-0 lead to the ninth after a brilliant eight-inning performance from Javier Assad but Cincinnati scored twice in the ninth to win.
Jake Fraley opened the inning with a double off Mark Leiter Jr. and pinch-runner Harrison Bader stole third. After TJ Friedl walked and Spencer Steer was hit by a pitch, De Le Cruz’s hit tied it.
Nick Martini flied out to keep the bases loaded and Renfroe – claimed off waivers from the Angels earlier this week – hit a grounder to short and barely beat the throw to first, allowing the winning run to score.
Guardians score 2 in 11th to rally past Rays
Steven Kwan had a sacrifice fly and after a key hit by rookie Jose Tena and the Cleveland Guardians rallied for their fourth straight win, 7-6 over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Brandon Lowe gave the Rays a one-run lead in the top of the 11th with a sacrifice fly, but Chris Devenski was unable to protect it in his first appearance with the team.
With one out, Myles Straw stole third and Bo Naylor walked to put runners at the corners. Tena’s single to right tied the game and moved Naylor to third before Kwan’s fly ball to shallow right-centre scored the winning run.
The loss dropped the Rays 2 ½ games behind AL East-leading Baltimore, while the Guardians remained five games in back of Minnesota in the Central.
Jack Draper is the last Brit standing at the US Open after reaching the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time.
The 21-year-old, an impressive 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-3 winner against tricky American Michael Mmoh, will face eighth seed Andriy Rublev in the last 16.
But Cameron Norrie bowed out along with Dan Evans – who gave Carlos Alcaraz a serious work-out before losing in four sets – and Katie Boulter.
Here, the PA news agency looks back at day 6 at the US Open
Pic of the dayShot of the day
Probably shot of the tournament. Any tournament.
Match of the day
Evans’ showdown with Alcaraz inside Arthur Ashe Stadium took a little time to warm up, but once it got going it was a joy to watch. The defending champion had to dip into his armoury of explosive winners to finally see off the British number two 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-3.
Brit watch
Draper laid a few ghosts to rest with his win in the Grandstand Stadium.
It was the same court upon which, a year earlier, Draper suffered a hamstring injury which forced him to retire from his match with Karen Khachanov.
He said: “I was thinking that on the court today it’s like Groundhog Day out there. I think it was exactly one year on.
“To come here a year on, despite maybe my ranking having dropped a fair bit because of the injuries and not being able to be on the same confidence level that I was last year, you know, I’m incredibly proud of that and hopefully I can keep going this week.”
Boulter was beaten 6-4 6-3 by 21-year-old American Peyton Stearns and Norrie lost a disappointing match in three sets to Italian Matteo Arnaldi.
Quote of the dayFallen seeds
Women: Liudmila Samsonova (14), Elina Svitolina (26), Marie Bouzkova (31)
Men: Cameron Norrie (16), Grigor Dimitrov (19), Nicolas Jarry (23), Dan Evans (26).
Who’s up next?
The fourth round gets under way with a tasty tie between teenager Coco Gauff and 33-year-old mother of two Caroline Wozniacki. Iga Swiatek faces Jelena Ostapenko and Novak Djokovic takes on Croatian quailfier Borna Gojo.
British number one Katie Boulter’s run at the US Open was ended in the third round by Peyton Stearns.
The 27-year-old from Leicester picked up two fine wins in her opening two matches, but American world number 59 Stearns proved too strong on a breezy Court 17.
Boulter was gunning for revenge having lost to Stearns across three tie-breaks and three-and-half hours in Texas in February.
But this was never as close a match despite Boulter clawing back an early break in the first set.
Holding serve was becoming an arduous task and Stearns duly struck again to pinch the opener.
A solitary break in the second was enough to send Boulter packing as 21-year-old Stearns ran out a 6-4 6-3 winner.
Boulter can be proud of her efforts in New York, however, with a place in the world’s top 50 on the cards for the first time in her career.
Outsider Essential Quality burst the bubbles of her more favoured rivals, as she turned the third running of the Winston “Fanna” Griffiths Classic into a procession at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
Another levelheaded ride by jockey Raddesh Roman saw the Oral Hayden-owned and trained chestnut filly, proving the class of the three-year-old Graded Stakes contest in a gate-to-wire performance over 9-1/2 furlongs (1,900m) at long odds of 30-1.
With not much pace present in the race, the indication was that Fitzroy Glispie’s overwhelming 4-5 favourite Money Miser (Shamaree Muir) or stablemate Princess Sharon (Paul Francis) would have dictated terms on the headline, but the connections of Essential Quality had other ideas.
From the one draw in the nine-horse field, the Sensational Slam-Texas Missy progeny, was sent straight to the lead by Roman, with Princess Sharon and Burlap (Javaniel Patterson) in tow, as the flashed past the clubhouse turn and hit the backstretch.
At that point Money Miser, though more than five lengths behind, seemed fairly comfortable and poised to make a late strike when the leaders falter.
But that was not to be as Roman and Essential Quality quickened past the five-furlong mark and later opened up a gap on Burlap, who tried but failed to apply pressure on the leader leaving the half-mile.
From there, it was Essential Quality against the clock as the filly barely look winded when she straightened in the homestretch and even found when asked by Roman, who later eased up and stood tall in the saddle for the rest of the way.
She completed the distance in 2:03.0, after splits of 25.1, 49.4, 1:14.2 and 1:40.1.
Princess Sharon stayed on for second nine lengths behind, while Richie Rich (Reyan Lewis) and Money Miser (Shamaree Muir), both inevitably hit top stride but were a long way off the winner in third and fourth respectively.
The Ham Stables-bred Essential Quality in landing the lion’s share of the $3.75 million purse, registered her third career win in eight starts.
Meanwhile, trainer Peter-John Parsard and jockeys Tevin Foster, Phillip Parchment, and Reyan Lewis each had two winners on the 10-race card.
Parsard saddled Sunshine Cat (Oneil Mullings) in the seventh race and Rojorn Di Pilot (Omar Walker) in the 10th event.
Foster’s winners were the Michael Marlowe-conditioned Jack of Spades in the second race and Anthony Nunes’s Captain Calico in the fifth. Parchment won aboard Steven Todd’s Magical Mood in the third race and Traditional Boy for trainer Gordon Lewis in the sixth.
Lewis won the fourth race aboard Sensational Satin for trainer Byron Davis, and the eighth with Jason DaCosta’s Lion of Ekati.
Chris Eubank Jr stopped British rival Liam Smith in round 10 of their rematch to gain revenge for his defeat in January at the AO Arena in Manchester.
Smith, who beat Eubank in a fourth-round stoppage at the same venue in January, was twice knocked down before the referee stepped in to spare the Liverpudlian from further punishment.
Eubank produced a brilliant performance from the opening round, first sending Smith to the canvas in the fourth round and again in the 10th, as he secured the 34th win of his professional career.
“I had no other choice (but to beat Smith). There’s too many other big fights out there for me that the fans want to see, that I want to be involved in,” Eubank said in the ring after the bout.
“I had to beat Liam tonight. Liam is a warrior. I respect him, his team, his family and his brothers.
“They always come out and put it all on the line. He fought until the last second, so big up to Liam and his team.”
“I trained hard for that fight, I trained hard for this fight. The focus is always there. I dedicate my life to this sport.
“Now we’re onto bigger and better fights. There’s some big names out there. I see a few of these guys in the crowd. I’m coming for you.”
The rematch, twice rescheduled earlier this summer from June and then July, lived up to expectation, with Eubank overcoming a hostile reception having been booed when entering the arena.
Former two-time IBO super-middleweight champion Eubank began to take control in the second round, staying behind his jab.
He caught former WBO light-middleweight champion Smith in the third round and sent him to the floor for the first time with a fierce uppercut in the next.
Smith was controversially given an extended 30 seconds to recover after spitting out his mouthguard, but he came in for more punishment in the fifth as Eubank swarmed his man as he looked to settle the bout.
More head and body shots from Eubank in the seventh round hurt Smith, who was nursing an ankle issue, with replays suggesting he twisted it in the second round.
Eubank continued to fight with controlled aggression as the two fighters continually exchanged words at the end of rounds.
Smith was pushed backwards in the 10th and was sent sprawling to the canvas for the second time. He gamely continued, but was pinned against the ropes again and the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
Smith, sporting a deep cut above his right eye, said after the defeat: “Everything from start to finish (went wrong). I was just flat from the start.
“Chris was sharp. That’s all I can say about it really. I shout when I win, I take my defeats when I lose.”
Dan Evans pushed world number one Carlos Alcaraz all the way before bowing out of the US Open following a breathtaking third-round match.
The defending champion had to dip into his armoury of explosive winners to finally see off the British number two inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The last time Evans played the top-ranked player he rose to the occasion, beating Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo three years ago.
And the 26th seed brought the very best out of the 20-year-old Wimbledon champion before succumbing 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-3.
Alcaraz dominated the first set, constantly pushing his opponent to the back of the court and hitting 14 winners to Evans’ four.
But he showed he is not infallible at the start of the second after a double-fault gave Evans, who was beginning to relish the challenge, a break point which he converted with a superb backhand down the line.
Alcaraz quickly retrieved the break and a frustrated Evans was given a code violation after slicing the ball into the crowd after netting a volley at 15-30 up on the Spaniard’s serve.
Evans was playing well, but Alcaraz simply raised his level and brought up set point with a blistering forehand down the line which brought gasps from the spectators.
Evans saved that one, but could do nothing with the next after an exquisite lob and simple volley put Alcaraz two sets up.
Never one to give up without a fight, Evans promptly played one of the best sets of his career.
He broke for 4-3 and, serving for the set, forced Alcaraz into some of the most outrageous clutch winners.
The pair, who played golf together at Wimbledon, frequently exchanged knowing looks and grins, such was the quality of the cat-and-mouse tennis on show.
It took Evans, 33, five set points to make the breakthrough, prompting a suddenly exasperated Alcaraz to slam his racket down in frustration.
But Alcaraz turned the match back in his favour with another stunning shot on break point. On the run and at full stretch, he unleashed a forehand down the line which clipped the baseline and left Evans stood, hands on hips, in sheer disbelief.
Two aces, another sensational lob onto the baseline and a 61st winner of the match finished Evans off, but Alcaraz knew he had been in a contest.
“He’s a tricky opponent, great slices, good touch and it’s my game as well so it was a pretty good match,” said Alcaraz.
“We made great points, great shots, a lot of different situations, so I’m really happy to get through
“We played some great points that made us smile, Dan as well. It’s great to see Dan and I on a tennis court, we tried to entertain and make the match fun.”
Jack Draper has reached the second week of a grand slam for the first time after beating American Michael Mmoh in the third round of the US Open.
The British number four silenced the home crowd with a gritty display in a 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-3 victory.
The Grandstand court at Flushing Meadows is an intimidating place for an overseas player taking on an American, but Draper had almost emptied it when he went 2-0 ahead.
Mmoh, ranked 89 in the world, hit back in the third, but Draper dug deep to break for 4-2 in the fourth before clinching a huge win.
Grandstand is also the court which Draper hurt his hamstring a year ago in his third-round match against Karen Khachanov, forcing him to retire.
The 21-year-old has been beset by injuries ever since and was a doubt to even play in New York due to a tear in his shoulder.
Yet Draper, serving with less vim than usual in a bid to manage the problem, still thumped 52 winners to surge into the last 16.
He said: “It was a tough match, Michael is an incredible player who has had a great year and I knew would be a challenge. I was proud of the way I came through it.
“Last year was really difficult, I injured myself and didn’t want that to happen today. To come it through after a tough year for me, I’m very happy.”
England expect to have a clean bill of health for their vital World Cup opener against Argentina on Saturday after downplaying concerns over Courtney Lawes’ fitness.
Lawes took part in the first training session held since the squad arrived at their tournament base in Le Touquet on Thursday, but the Lions flanker missed Saturday’s capping ceremony because of “soreness”.
Attack coach Richard Wigglesworth revealed that England’s likely captain against the Pumas in the absence of the suspended Owen Farrell sat out the function merely as a precautionary measure.
Wigglesworth also issued positive updates on Tom Curry, Kyle Sinckler, Elliot Daly and George Martin, all of whom are carrying knocks ahead of the Marseille opener on September 9.
“Courtney is a bit sore from training on Friday so we decided the best thing for him was to not sit in a chair for an hour or so then have to stand up,” Wigglesworth said.
“He is resting at the hotel. He is bit sore from training – the pitch was heavy because of the rain. Nothing too serious, we are just looking after him.
“We have a few little bumps and bruises like everyone has, but I think we will go into next weekend with a pretty full bill of health.”
Curry was unable to play a single minute of the four warm-up Tests because of an ankle injury and with Steve Borthwick naming his side to face Argentina on Thursday, time is running out for the influential openside to prove he is ready.
“Tom should be good to go. We are hopeful everyone is going to be ready, we don’t know yet but we think we should be good going into the game,” Wigglesworth said.
Steve Borthwick’s squad received their World Cup caps on stage at Le Touquet’s convention centre and as part of the ceremony were addressed by former England full-back Jonathan Webb.
Webb, who played in the 1987 and 1991 editions of the tournament, urged the current red rose generation to trust in each other and to “play without fear” over the weeks ahead.
It comes as England contend with a dismal record of five defeats in six Tests, including a first ever loss to Fiji in the last warm-up Test before heading across the Channel.
“We know we need to improve but I’m not going to pluck a percentage out of the air,” Wigglesworth said.
“There are a few things we have got to get right and to improve. The lads have started getting into that over the last few days. We’re confident that we’ll improve and give a good account of ourselves.
“We know where we want to go as a team, we know how hard we’re working. The lads have been first class.
“We need to get it right in Marseille against a very, very good Argentina team, who are ranked really highly and are led exceptionally well by Julian Montoya, who I know well.
“But there’s no doubt that we have a high level of ability and determination in our group to go out there and play really well.”
Carlos Sainz said he had goosebumps after sending Monza wild by putting his Ferrari on pole position for the Italian Grand Prix.
The Spanish driver saw off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by just 0.013 seconds to huge roars at the sun-cooked Temple of Speed, with Charles Leclerc third in the other scarlet car.
George Russell took fourth for Mercedes with team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who this week signed a two-year contract extension, only eighth.
Verstappen has swept all before him this year – winning 11 of the 13 rounds so far – and, despite being pipped to top spot in qualifying, he will still be the favourite to land a record 10th straight win in Sunday’s 53-lap race.
But Saturday belonged to Sainz and the tifosi celebrated their man’s pole like a victory. Ferrari flags were hoisted into the air as Sainz, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Friday, hoisted his right arm from the cockpit.
“It is difficult to put into words to describe how I feel,” said Sainz after taking just the fourth pole of his life and his first in Monza.
“I have had goosebumps since I crossed the finish line. Watching the crowd and getting out of the car and seeing this is incredible.
“Everywhere we go, it is just noise, support and encouragement, and it is the best feeling you can have as an athlete.
“I have been feeling comfortable with the car, I cannot fault it, and I honestly put in one my best laps in Q3 to take pole. And tomorrow I am going to give it everything for that first place and see if we can battle Max.”
Verstappen has been an unstoppable force this season and he will make history if he goes behind enemy lines and betters the record he shares with Sebastian Vettel by reaching double figures for consecutive triumphs.
But the Dutchman, who took the chequered flag here last year, might be wary of a curious streak in Monza. Leclerc, Pierre Gasly and Daniel Ricciardo, who won here in 2019, 2020 and 2021, did not finish on their next visits.
Verstappen’s Red Bull team are also bidding to become the first team to go through a season unbeaten. McLaren came the closest to achieving a perfect campaign. The British outfit failed to win on just one occasion in 1988. The venue was Monza and the winner that afternoon was Gerhard Berger – in a Ferrari.
“Honestly, I don’t believe in statistics too much and this kind of curse,” added Sainz.
“On Sunday, the winner is the one who deserves it the most and is quicker and I am just going to try to be that one.”
Over at Mercedes, Hamilton snuck into Q3 after bemoaning a lack of grip and suggesting he had been impeded by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
He ultimately qualified eighth, half-a-second behind Sainz and two tenths adrift of team-mate Russell.
When, erroneously, he was told he had qualified one place lower, the 38-year-old replied: “I thought I was P8? It is s*** either way.
“I was just struggling. Our car is hard to optimise. There is nothing easy about this car.”
Olympic gold medallist Oliver Townend maintained his hopes of a third Defender Burghley Horse Trials title after an eventful cross-country phase saw him keep the pressure on world number one Tim Price.
Dorset-based New Zealander Price leads going into Sunday’s showjumping finale on a score of 26.7 penalties aboard Vitali.
But Townend is just 2.3 penalties behind following an outstanding display on his 2017 Burghley champion and Tokyo Olympics team gold medal-winning ride Ballaghmor Class.
The 40-year-old Yorkshireman collected only 4.8 time penalties across a demanding course that saw more than 20 combinations either retire or eliminated.
Townend was among the retirements on his first two horses Tregilder and Swallow Springs – a snapped rein unluckily put paid to Tregilder’s hopes – while others to bow out included Zara Tindall, double Tokyo Olympic medallist Tom McEwen and reigning European individual champion Ros Canter.
Two other British riders strengthened the home challenge behind Townend, with David Doel holding third place and Wills Oakden fourth after immaculate clear jumping rounds.
Townend said: “Ballaghmor Class is a freak of nature – my horse of a lifetime. You can just rely on him time and time again.”
Dual Identity booked his ticket for the bet365 Cambridgeshire at Newmarket later this month as he came home a decisive winner of the Virgin Bet Handicap at Sandown.
The five-year-old had dropped down the ratings after a lacklustre run of results so far this term, but he roared back to form in the hands of Marco Ghiani.
Dual Identity (9-2) grabbed the lead with a furlong to run and found plenty for Ghiani to improve on last year’s second in the race, coming home four and a half lengths clear of Certain Lad with Stay Well back in third.
Dual Identity finished third in the 2022 Cambridgeshire and trainer William Knight expects his clear-cut victory will ensure his place in the Newmarket field on September 30, with the five-year-old a general 10-1 shot.
Knight said: “His mark has come down and he has run off 1lb higher today than he did last year and he was a good second last year.
“We thought he was in good form at home, but he has just come back down to that winnable mark and he has won so well there today, almost a bit too well.
“The plan was always to come here and then go to the Cambridgeshire so we will stick to that.
“That should definitely get him in.”
Classical Song is set to jump up to Listed level after notching her first career victory in the Virgin Bet Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Second on her initial run at Goodwood, the Lope De Vega filly, who is a half-sister to prolific Italian Group One winner Dylan Mouth, was sent off the 4-6 favourite to go one place better this time.
She duly obliged with the minimum of fuss in the hands of Ryan Moore and while her odds for the Fillies’ Mile were cut to 10-1, trainer Ralph Beckett is planning to aim a little lower.
He said: “The last furlong was her best. She was relaxed and behind the bridle as she took a bit of waking up, which is good.
“I’ve not done much with her since Goodwood, but that’s on purpose because she is May 17 foal. She is a filly that puts plenty in the mornings and she really enjoys her work and we need to manage her for next year.
“She needs to go a mile and have a bit of juice in the ground for the time being. There are Listed races like the Montrose and Silver Tankard, but I’d say she will only have one more start this season.”
Maywake (13-2) gave Oisin Orr his first Sandown winner in the opening Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap.
The Richard Fahey-trained runner seemingly thrived for a return to seven furlongs as he sprinted four lengths clear of King Cabo.
Orr said: “It is my first ride here, so it has already been lucky enough and hopefully we can keep that up. The race went smoothly and I got the run of the race really. I think he enjoys that bit more ease in the ground. He has won well in the end.
“He went up a good few pounds for winning at Thirsk and we thought maybe the handicapper had him, but that ease in the ground just helps him.
“Last time he didn’t really get the mile and dropping back today seemed to work.
“It is my first run at a season (over here) and last year I came a couple of months into the season. It is going really well.
“Richard has got lots of nice horses and I’m starting to get a few outside rides which is the main thing. Hopefully we can keep it up.”
Frankie Dettori treated his Hungarian fans to two of his famous flying dismounts after riding a big-race double at Kincsem Park on Saturday.
The track in Budapest was an unlikely stop on Dettori’s farewell tour ahead of his retirement at the end of the year, with the rider making the trip to Hungary for six rides.
Some familiar names featured on his book of mounts, with four horses travelling from the UK for owner Fitri Hay and her husband Jim, whose connection with Hungarian minister of defence Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky – also a key figure on the Hungarian horse racing scene – led to Dettori’s first visit to the track in his final year.
Teaming up with the Ian Williams-trained Silent Film for the first leg of his high-profile double in a local Group Two over a mile, Dettori was ideally placed on the heels of fellow Hay-owned runner Sceptic, who set sail for home under Rebeka Gonczi at the home turn.
Silent Film was always travelling the better of the two though and when Dettori gave the signal, he pulled clear for a cosy success.
Speaking to the Kincsem Park TV channel, he said: “Thanks to Jim for bringing the horses here and to put on a show is great. We gave the fans what they wanted.
“The race was run at a good tempo, we had a good spot, I followed Rebeka and the other English horse and when I pressed the button he went, so I really enjoyed it.”
Jim Hay added: “It was a fantastic race. We’re honoured to be here and I couldn’t have asked for a better finish.”
Dettori later steered the Hay-owned Splendent to victory in the Kincsem Stakes, a race which carries local Group One status.
Trained by Paul and Oliver Cole, Splendent was last seen finishing down the field in deep ground over a mile and six furlongs at Goodwood, but dropping back to 12 furlongs, Dettori made full use of his mount’s stamina.
Making his move on the last bend, Splendent galloped out to the line for a cosy success, with David Simcock’s Tides Of War coming home in third for Gonczi.
Dettori added: “We had a good start and when I got halfway around the turn, I kicked for home as I wanted to make sure 2,400 metres was 2,400 metres as he just gallops all day.
“It’s been a very good day and full credit to Jim and the trainers who have brought the horses – it’s a long way to travel and they have performed well.
“We have given the public what they wanted and this could open more doors to Hungarian racing.”
The versatile Shanroe shone for trainer Karl Thornton in the Caa Stellar Chester Stakes.
The nine-year-old, who had 10 victories to his credit on the Flat, in bumper company and over hurdles, was last seen winning a Galway contest in early August.
He was the only Irish-trained runner in the Chester Listed event and was a 17-2 shot in a field of five that included St Leger entrant Military Order – the 4-5 favourite.
Shanroe made all of the running from stall one, staying on and holding off every challenger in the home straight to prevail by a length and a quarter under Jason Hart.
Thornton said of the triumph: “He’s always been a classy horse, the conditions seemed to suit him there and Jason gave him a classy ride from the front. He deserved that one.
“He’s tough, it’s not easy getting past him anyway.
“Once we found out we had that draw, we had to use it and there’s no point getting dropped in behind.
“He doesn’t do much in front but when he turned for home, he picked up again and he got the job done.
“His owner (Brian Smyth) passed away, he’d have loved to have been here for this. He’s a horse of a lifetime for folks like us.”
The Group Two Doncaster Cup could be on the agenda for Shanroe at the St Leger meeting, with the Loughbrown Stakes at the Curragh the ultimate aim for the remainder of his Flat season.
“Hopefully he can go on and do a bit more now,” Thornton said.
“The long-term plan is the Group Three at the Curragh on November 5, but he might have an entry in the Group Two at Doncaster in two weeks time, that’d be the plan at the moment.”
Military Order came home last, beaten just under nine lengths, and is now as long as 50-1 with some bookmakers for the St Leger.
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