Christopher Head is delighted with Ramatuelle after her valiant run in defeat in the Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday.
The Justify filly went into the race unbeaten having won a string of good quality contests, including the Prix du Bois and the Prix Robert Papin.
The latter two victories were by considerable margins, five and four lengths respectively, and the two-year-old lined up for the Group One Prix Morny the evens favourite as a result.
There she crossed paths with Simon and Ed Crisford’s Goodwood winner Vandeek, who triumphed in the Richmond Stakes on what was only his second start.
The two horses were engaged in a battle in the final strides of the race and Vandeek just edged past the filly to score a short-head success and become the first horse to defeat her.
Head was nonetheless impressed with his chestnut, who ran an admirable race against an increasingly highly-regarded rival.
“I’m very happy with the race because it was such a strong field, we have seen a very nice colt,” he said.
“Of course it’s a bit enraging to be beaten like that in a Group One, one has to accept there are horses that are better than Ramatuelle but she had a very pleasing run.
“The times are crazy, in that kind of ground having that kind of turn of foot – it’s just madness.
“I’m really happy with her run and I can’t wait to see her on the rest of her programme.”
The Deauville turf was officially very soft, conditions Vandeek was proven on after his Goodwood run but Ramatuelle had less experience of having mainly encountered good to soft going.
Head said: “We know that Vandeek can show a very, very nice performance on that type of ground and Ramatuelle was a question mark.
“It’s not the same soft as the beginning of the season at Chantilly, it was a very good race and well done to the Crisfords because they are brilliant trainers.”
There are no confirmed plans for the filly’s next outing, with Head keen to discuss the rest of the season with her owners, who include NBA Hall of Famer Tony Parker, before plotting a next step.
“We will have to discuss with the owners before we plan the rest of the season, that was pretty much the plan regarding the Morny,” he said.
“We have a few opportunities now, we will have to see how she comes out of the race and then we will plan the rest of the season.
“She is very well, she had a pleasant night and is very settled.
“She didn’t look like she had a hard race, she was very ready for the challenge. We will see in a few weeks what we will do.”
Marshman will miss the rest of the season having suffered a suspected pelvic injury while tuning up for an intended outing in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
Trained by Karl Burke, Marshman has won three of his nine career outings, striking Group Three gold in France earlier this season, which gave hope the colt could take high-rank in the sprinting division this term.
Although not adding to his tally, he continued to perform with credit in defeat, with connections deciding after Royal Ascot to stick to the minimum distance with the speedy son of Harry Angel.
Following a below-par effort in Sandown’s Coral Charge in July, the three-year-old was being prepared for a crack at a stellar renewal of the Knavesmire Group One on Friday and a return to a track at which he has twice performed with real credit – including when second in the Gimcrack Stakes at the Ebor meeting last season.
However, Marshman suffered a setback during training, with the injury set to keep the speedster sidelined for the rest of the campaign.
“He went for a breeze early last week and came back sore,” explained Nick Bradley, managing director of Nick Bradley Racing.
“We sent him for a bone scan and it’s not conclusive, but it looks like a suspected pelvic injury. I think that will be him done for the year.
“We’ll bring him back next year. Three can be a hard age for sprinters, so we’ll try again at four.”
Wales boss Warren Gatland has broken new ground in his long and successful coaching career by naming co-captains for the Rugby World Cup.
Gatland has turned to Ospreys forwards Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake to lead a 33-strong squad that includes recent international newcomers in centre Mason Grady, fly-half Sam Costelow and prop Corey Domachowski.
But there is no place for scrum-half Kieran Hardy, with Gatland deciding to select just two nines in Tomos Williams and Gareth Davies.
On the captaincy, Gatland said: “They are two young players who will complement each other really well. They are good mates and have a good relationship.
“It is something that I have never done before and it is a good opportunity for them. They have got a big future ahead of them.
“Whoever is in charge on the day, he will make the final decision. The captain has the final decision on the day.”
Hooker Lake, meanwhile, said: “Me and Jac have played together for a long time – (Wales) Under-20s, Ospreys and we have roomed together through these mini camps.
“We are quite straight and honest with each other. If something needs to be said, we are happy to say it, coming from a place of friendship.
“I couldn’t think of anyone better to share this role with. I can’t the fault the man in any way.”
And flanker Morgan added: “Dewi is great as a captain. He leads from the front and when something needs to be said, he will say it.
“I probably would have never have thought of this four years ago. It’s great to be here with him.”
Gatland has cut 15 players from his training squad, with that list featuring the likes of Hardy, Ospreys wing Alex Cuthbert, Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn, Dragons lock Ben Carter and Scarlets back-row forward Taine Plumtree.
And Gatland confirmed that Costelow would provide scrum-half cover for the tournament, which Wales begin against Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10.
“We’d had a discussion with the players right from the start that the tipping point could be that we take two nines or three tens,” Gatland said.
“We know that we have taken a risk. Other teams have done the same thing.
“You have got a pinching point in the squad somewhere in terms of the numbers, but those nines have been pretty robust and we are confident they are going to be fine.”
Fly-half Gareth Anscombe and number eight Taulupe Faletau have won Gatland’s vote despite not featuring during Wales’ three-game August schedule due to injuries.
And he has named Lake – who is currently recovering from a knee injury – and his fellow hooker Ryan Elias (hamstring), plus lock Dafydd Jenkins (knee), who at 20 is the squad’s youngest player.
Centre George North, meanwhile, will head to his fourth World Cup, putting himself in illustrious company alongside the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Brian O’Driscoll, Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.
Also heading to France are Scarlets centre Johnny Williams, who watched the last World Cup four years ago from a hospital bed – while he was treated for testicular cancer – and former England prop Henry Thomas.
Thomas, whose father is from Swansea, won seven England caps in 2013 and 2014, but new World Rugby regulations enable players to appear for another country either of their birth, parent or grandparent provided a minimum three-year period has elapsed since last being selected elsewhere.
“There was always going to be some disappointed players, but for those who have missed out, it is just make sure they keep working hard and there is always potentially an opportunity,” Gatland added.
And on the tournament itself, he said: “It’s one step at a time. It’s about getting out of your pool first and then see where you are.
“We are pretty clear how we want to play against Fiji. We know how dangerous they are.
“We are well aware of how important that first game is. If you can win that game, you get some momentum and then you can get some confidence and hopefully you have a chance to win the group.”
Ante-post favourite Sweet William is guaranteed a run as 39 stand their ground ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet Ebor at York.
The prestigious handicap, which serves as an automatic qualifier for the Melbourne Cup is the highlight of the final day of the Ebor meeting and a maximum of 22 will head to post for a contest which has a prize-fund of £500,000.
John and Thady Gosden’s progressive four-year-old finds himself at the top of the betting following three-straight victories and will be bidding to add to the fine record of the Clarehaven team in the contest having won the race recently with Muntahaa in 2018 and Trawlerman 12 months ago.
It was thought Phillipa Cooper’s thriving stayer may struggle to make the final field for the contest, but those doubts have been allayed following Monday’s confirmation stage.
On the other hand, one horse who always had zero worries about making the final 22 is Saeed bin Suroor’s consistent performer Live Your Dream, who arrives on the Knavesmire on the back of victory at Newmarket’s July Festival and is set to carry top-weight.
“He’s done really well since he won his last race and the Ebor has been the plan for him since he won at Newmarket,” said Bin Suroor.
“He’s in good form, he’s working well, he’s one more piece to do but everything has gone well before the Ebor.
“The one-mile-six trip suits him well – also the track, he’s run well at York before.
“He is good enough to run well over a mile and a half like at Royal Ascot and he almost won over two and a quarter miles in the Cesarewitch Trial, he can run over many trip but the Ebor trip is his best.
“He’s going to have top weight which won’t be easy, but we’ll give him a chance and see how he goes.”
Willie Mullins could look for a second Ebor with his Royal Ascot runner-up Absurde and stablemate Jackfinbar, while there are eight Irish-trained horses remaining in contention at this stage including Joseph O’Brien’s smart hurdler Nusret who won a ‘win and you’re in’ contest at the Curragh in June.
Andrew Balding’s Scampi booked his ticket when winning the track’s Jorvik Handicap earlier in the season and will head to the race on an upward trajectory having landed a telling blow at the Shergar Cup, while Sir Michael Stoute’s Real Dream and Milton Harris’ Scriptwriter are two others who feature high up the betting lists.
Michael Bell’s Adjuvant finished second to Sweet William at Goodwood earlier this month and at present looks the highest-profile name not to get a run.
Kinross could be set for a York rematch with Isaac Shelby when he defends his Sky Bet City of York Stakes crown on Saturday.
Ralph Beckett’s six-year-old claimed this Group Two prize with real authority 12 months ago before going on to add further big-race victories at Doncaster, ParisLongchamp and Ascot on British Champions Day before the season ended.
He thrived for the return to seven furlongs when clashing with Brian Meehan’s progressive colt at Goodwood and will be hoping to confirm the form of that neck victory over his younger rival when they lock horns on the Knavesmire.
The Lennox Stakes protagonists are just two of a high-class cast of 16 that could line up, with William Haggas nominating this contest as the next port of call for Royal Ascot runner-up Sacred.
Charlie Appleby’s Al Suhail was not disgraced when finishing sixth in that Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, while Pogo and Sandrine were second and third respectively behind Kinross 12 months ago and others who remain involved following Monday’s confirmation stage.
The weekend’s action on the Knavesmire begins with what could be an exciting renewal of the Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes.
Sir Michael Stoute could hold all the aces in a race he has won twice in the last 10 years as both Nostrum and Passenger have an entry for the Group Three contest over a mile and one furlong.
Nostrum – who also holds an entry for a Group Two at Goodwood on the same day – created a taking impression when making his seasonal return in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket before getting bogged down in testing conditions on the Sussex Downs recently.
Meanwhile, the Niarchos family’s Passenger has already performed with credit at York once this term when a luckless third in the Dante and has been given plenty of time to recover from his Epsom exertions when down the field in the Derby.
A maximum of 14 will contest that £170,000 event, while the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes has attracted 17 names including Windsor Castle Stakes third Inquisitively, who makes his first appearance for Kevin Philippart de Foy, and Andrew Balding’s Molecomb Stakes runner-up Purosangue.
Sophia’s Starlight could be set for bigger and better objectives having continued her upwards curve when landing the William Hill Great St Wilfrid on Saturday.
Grant Tuer’s progressive filly has always been held in lofty regard by connections, but it has been during this season she has proven it on track, racking up five victories in nine starts and rising over 20lb in the handicap since shedding her maiden status at Wolverhampton in May.
Still heading in the right direction following her triumph under Sam James in the prestigious Ripon handicap, the daughter of Hunter’s Light does have the option of a quick return to action at York later this week, where she holds an entry for Thursday’s British EBF 40th Anniversary Fillies’ Handicap.
However, Nick Bradley, managing director of the syndicate that carries his name, envisages Sophia’s Starlight skipping that he eyes a busy autumn that will see the three-year-old stepping up in class to black-type contests.
He said: “She could go to York later this week, but looking at the weather forecast I don’t think she will.
“But she will have Group and Listed targets between now and the end of the year and she’s going to have a busy September and October.
“I thought something like the Challenge Stakes (Newmarket, October 13) could be a long-term aim and the five-and-a-half (furlong) fillies’ only Listed race at Ayr (Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes, Sept 22) could be a target for her as well – it’s a race we won the other year with Dandalla.”
It may have taken Sophia’s Starlight slightly longer than connections imagined to reach the level at which she now operates, but credit has to be given to the perseverance of Tuer and his team following a frightening incident in the stalls during the early stages of her career.
“She’s a very smart filly and I remember this time last year standing at the Ebor thinking this thing is a certainty in a novice at Carlisle and then she went under the stalls,” continued Bradley.
“She went under the stalls and then every time she went in the stalls after that she was freaking out and starting her races with an incredibly high heart rate.
“Grant had said before then she was probably the best horse he’d ever trained and he’s now been proved right.
“She went off and did a lot of stalls work and now we’ve got to the stage where we can load her with a hood and she’s much more relaxed about it.
“I think she’s ground dependent a little bit so we went to Ripon and it was just what we needed, we were delighted.”
Sophia’s Starlight could be set for bigger and better objectives having continued her upwards curve when landing the William Hill Great St Wilfrid on Saturday.
Grant Tuer’s progressive filly has always been held in lofty regard by connections, but it has been during this season she has proven it on track, racking up five victories in nine starts and rising over 20lb in the handicap since shedding her maiden status at Wolverhampton in May.
Still heading in the right direction following her triumph under Sam James in the prestigious Ripon handicap, the daughter of Hunter’s Light does have the option of a quick return to action at York later this week, where she holds an entry for Thursday’s British EBF 40th Anniversary Fillies’ Handicap.
However, Nick Bradley, managing director of the syndicate that carries his name, envisages Sophia’s Starlight skipping that he eyes a busy autumn that will see the three-year-old stepping up in class to black-type contests.
He said: “She could go to York later this week, but looking at the weather forecast I don’t think she will.
“But she will have Group and Listed targets between now and the end of the year and she’s going to have a busy September and October.
“I thought something like the Challenge Stakes (Newmarket, October 13) could be a long-term aim and the five-and-a-half (furlong) fillies’ only Listed race at Ayr (Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes, Sept 22) could be a target for her as well – it’s a race we won the other year with Dandalla.”
It may have taken Sophia’s Starlight slightly longer than connections imagined to reach the level at which she now operates, but credit has to be given to the perseverance of Tuer and his team following a frightening incident in the stalls during the early stages of her career.
“She’s a very smart filly and I remember this time last year standing at the Ebor thinking this thing is a certainty in a novice at Carlisle and then she went under the stalls,” continued Bradley.
“She went under the stalls and then every time she went in the stalls after that she was freaking out and starting her races with an incredibly high heart rate.
“Grant had said before then she was probably the best horse he’d ever trained and he’s now been proved right.
“She went off and did a lot of stalls work and now we’ve got to the stage where we can load her with a hood and she’s much more relaxed about it.
“I think she’s ground dependent a little bit so we went to Ripon and it was just what we needed, we were delighted.”
Catalans Dragons became the first club to secure their place in the Betfred Super League play-offs on Saturday after their win over Leigh.
With Wigan, St Helens and Leigh more or less secure in the top four, and Castleford and Wakefield embroiled in their own exclusive battle to beat the drop, the PA news agency takes a look at the increasingly-frantic battle for the final two play-off slots.
WarringtonPld 22; Pts 22; GD +21
Remaining fixtures: Aug 26, Hull FC (A); Sep 2, Castleford (H); Sep 8, Salford (A); Sep 15, St Helens (H); Sep 22, Huddersfield (A).
Wire were unlucky to slip to a seventh-straight league loss on Sunday and the momentum is against them heading into the final weeks.
Key man: Matt Dufty
Prediction: 7th
22/22/-3
Remaining fixtures: Aug 25, Wakefield (H); Sep 1, Wigan (A); Sep 8, Warrington (H); Sep 15, Hull KR (A); Sep 22, Catalans (H).
Friday’s big win at Huddersfield raised hopes for Paul Rowley’s side but they face arguably the toughest run-in of the lot and are likely to come up short.
Key man: Marc Sneyd
Prediction: 8th
22/22/-23
Remaining fixtures: Aug 25, Leigh (H); Sep 1, Catalans (H); Sep 8, Huddersfield (A); Sep 15, Salford (H); Sep 22, Wakefield (A).
Willie Peters’ men are tough enough to rouse themselves from their Challenge Cup pain and take advantage of a favourable run-in to secure their top-six slot.
Key man: Elliot Minchella
Prediction: 5th
22/20/+59
Remaining fixtures: Aug 27, Huddersfield (A); Sep 2, Hull FC (A); Sep 8, Wigan (H); Sep 16, Catalans (A); Sep 22, Castleford (H).
Despite a chaotic campaign, few would dare bet against the Rhinos summoning a customary late-season surge and their favourable points advantage could make all the difference.
Key man: Cameron Smith
Prediction: 6th
22/20/-81
Remaining fixtures: Aug 26, Warrington (H); Sep 2, Leeds (H); Sep 8, Castleford (A); Sep 16, Huddersfield (H); Sep 22, St Helens (A).
Tony Smith’s side are another to show signs of emerging from a forgettable campaign but even the best run-in of the lot is likely to leave them agonisingly short.
Key man: Jake Clifford
Prediction: 9th
22/18/-80
Remaining fixtures: Aug 27, Leeds (H); Sep 1, Leigh (A); Sep 8, Hull KR (H); Sep 16, Hull FC (A); Sep 22, Warrington (H).
Ian Watson’s men are another to show signs of improvement but Friday’s loss at Salford effectively ended their hopes of muscling in on the post-season party.
Key man: Chris McQueen
Prediction: 10th
Alice Haynes has nominated the Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes as Asadna’s next target as he tries to get back on the winning track.
The son of Mehmas burst onto the scene when storming to a 12-length success at Ripon on debut and as a result was widely considered a future star in the making.
However, he had his momentum checked when struggling to land a blow in the Coventry Stakes, after which the youngster was switched from George Boughey to the Cadland Cottage hander.
Asadna was dropped to Listed level for his first start for Haynes and although only third to Archie Watson’s Action Point in Newbury’s Rose Bowl Stakes, his trainer was satisfied with the performance and having skipped a run at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on account of conditions, she now prepares to saddle the talented colt at the Curragh.
“He is going to the Round Tower at the Curragh on Saturday,” said Haynes.
“The Richmond was soft ground and I couldn’t run him on that. Hopefully it will stay top of the ground weather over there and that’s his restarting point. We’ve obviously got some nice entries after that but that’s where we’re heading first.
“He ran well enough off a pace that wasn’t really there (at Newbury). Hollie (Doyle) got it easy in front and set her own fractions and sprinted from there. We learnt he needs a fast gallop to aim off and that’s what he’ll best pick up off.”
Middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz believes fighting in Dmytro Mytrofanov’s “lion’s den” in Poland will make victory even sweeter when the pair face off on Saturday night.
Sheeraz has the chance to extend his unbeaten 17-0-0 record against former Olympian Mytrofanov (13-0-1) as part of the undercard to Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois’ heavyweight bout.
The London fighter acknowledged his opponent’s quality but remains confident he is stronger in every department ahead of their hotly-contested clash.
“It’s going to be my toughest fight to date, but with the sparring and training I’ve been doing I’m confident in my ability,” Sheeraz told the PA news agency.
“It’s in his back yard and I’m walking into the lion’s den and that’s something I’m going to thrive off, it’s going to make victory that little bit more sweet.
“He’s been to the Olympics, he’s got a good amateur pedigree, he’s undefeated, he’s had a few knockouts and knows his way around the ring, so it will be a good test for me.
“In every department I am that bit better than him – close fighting, long-range fighting. The only thing he’s banking on is that he’s never been stopped or hurt in the amateurs, but when you get in there with someone who can whack a bit it’s a bit of a different story, and so when I fire shots and land we’ll see what happens.”
Sheeraz boasts an impressive record of 11 straight fights since 2018 where he has stopped or retired his opponent.
But the 24-year-old insisted he is ready to go the distance if required, adding: “All of these fights which I’ve won by knockout I was prepared to go the distance and as a pro fighter and future elite fighter, that’s what you are ready to do.
“The knockouts come naturally and I haven’t not had one for a few years now and long may it continue.”
Sheeraz is relishing the opportunity to gain exposure through fighting on a big card and backed fellow Brit Dubois to claim heavyweight glory against WBO, IBF and WBA king Usyk.
“It’s a great undercard to be on, someone like Usyk, I aspire to get to his level,” Sheeraz said.
“Even though I’m focusing solely on my fight, the cameras, the interviews and going over to Poland, getting that different bit of exposure on that eastern block of Europe, it will be good for me and I’m looking forward to it.
“In terms of boxing and what it actually is, he’s an elite heavyweight and he has a puncher’s chance, so all he’s got to do is land his shot and once he lands his shot – such as a right hand – it could be over (a Dubois win).
“It’s definitely a tough ask, but it’s not an impossible one.”
Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake have been named as Wales co-captains for the Rugby World Cup.
The Ospreys forwards will lead a squad that includes recent international newcomers in wing Rio Dyer, centre Mason Grady and prop Corey Domachowski.
But there is no place for scrum-half Kieran Hardy, with Wales head coach Warren Gatland deciding to select just two nines in Tomos Williams and Gareth Davies.
Gatland has chosen a split of 14 backs and 19 forwards for the tournament, with Fiji looming as opening opponents in Bordeaux on September 10.
Fly-half Gareth Anscombe and number eight Taulupe Faletau have won Gatland’s vote in the final 33-strong group despite not featuring during Wales’ three-game August schedule due to injuries.
And he has named Lake, who is currently recovering from a knee injury, and his fellow hooker Ryan Elias (hamstring), plus lock Dafydd Jenkins (knee), who at 20 is the squad’s youngest player.
Centre George North, meanwhile, will head to his fourth World Cup, putting himself in illustrious company alongside the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Brian O’Driscoll, Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.
North and his midfield colleague Grady can also provide wing cover, with Gatland opting for five back-three players – Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams and Dyer.
Also heading to France are Scarlets centre Johnny Williams, who watched the last World Cup four years ago from a hospital bed while he was treated for testicular cancer, Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow and former England prop Henry Thomas.
Thomas, whose father is from Swansea, won seven England caps in 2013 and 2014, but new World Rugby regulations enable players to appear for another country either of their birth, parent or grandparent provided a minimum three-year period has elapsed since last being selected elsewhere.
Other players from Gatland’s training group who did not make the final squad include Ospreys wing Alex Cuthbert, Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn, Cardiff prop Keiron Assiratti, Ospreys lock Rhys Davies and Scarlets back-row forward Taine Plumtree.
Gatland said: “The toughest part of the job is always selection and this is particularly the case when it comes to picking a Rugby World Cup squad.
“Over the past three months the whole group of 48 players in the wider training squad have been outstanding in terms of attitude and effort, so having to reduce the squad down to the final 33 has been really hard.
“There have been some close final decisions in the last 36 hours.
“But we can only take 33 players and those we have selected we think offer a good combination in terms of talent and experience.
“We have a few more training sessions here in Wales before we depart for France on September 3 and we cannot wait to get out there and get started in this tournament. We look forward to what lies ahead for this group.
“This will be a very proud moment for these players, their families and friends and I would like to congratulate them all on the achievement.”
Two victories in the Nunthorpe Stakes rank highly among the career highlights of “adopted Yorkshireman” Kevin Darley.
The Staffordshire-born rider enjoyed a long and successful career in the saddle spanning over three decades, from his first competitive mount in 1976 to his eventual retirement in 2007.
Having lifting the champion apprentice title in 1978, it took Darley a while to climb the ladder as a fully-fledged professional – but from the mid-1990s he began making a name for himself on the Group One stage and in millennium year he was crowned Britain’s champion jockey for the first and only time.
It was in 1997 that Darley first struck Group One gold at York as he and Coastal Bluff shared the spoils in one of the most memorable and dramatic renewals of the Nunthorpe in recent history.
Coastal Bluff was a 6-1 shot for Yorkshire trainer David Barron and Darley recalls having high hopes before a major tack failure soon after the start threatened to ruin his chances.
“He was a little bit of a quirky horse, but he’d won the Stewards’ Cup and the Ayr Gold Cup the year before, so he was obviously a horse with potential,” he said.
“He just needed things to go right on the day, which we thought they might do in the Nunthorpe until the stalls opened and two strides later the bridle broke!
“When something like that happens you’re just riding on instinct really. It’s five furlongs in a straight line and we were probably going 40 miles per hour without any brakes!”
It is testament to Darley’s skills and Coastal Bluff’s talent that he was still in there pitching as the line loomed and he flashed by the post alongside Ya Malak, trained by David Nicholls and ridden by Alex Greaves.
The judge was ultimately unable to split the pair and declared a dead-heat, seeing Greaves become the first female jockey to ride a Group One winner in Britain.
For Darley’s part, he was happy with the result.
He added: “The track opened up more back then than it does now and my immediate thoughts passing the line were ‘what am I going to do now’ and ‘how am I going to stop’!
“I was totally unaware of the result until I got back, but I didn’t think I’d got beat. The dead-heat was probably a good result in the end.”
Nine years later came Darley’s second Nunthorpe triumph as he teamed up with another popular sprinter in Eric Alston’s Reverence.
Success was significantly more straightforward in 2006 as the jockey’s mud-loving partner made every yard of the running in soft ground and came home with two lengths in hand over Amadeus Wolf.
Darley and Reverence went on to enjoy another top-level win that year in Haydock’s Sprint Cup and in all the combination claimed seven victories.
“I still see Gary Middlebrook (owner) at the races and we had some great times together with Reverence,” said Darley.
“I think he was plagued with injuries in the early part of his career, but credit to Eric who took his time and once he found the key to him, he never stopped progressing really.
“He was phenomenal little horse and a real character. He loved a bit of cut in the ground and you just let him do his own thing.
“He was one of those horses that was blessed with a lot of early tactical speed and in the Nunthorpe I think the other jockeys in behind were thinking ‘he’s going too fast’, but Reverence used to fill himself up a furlong down and was able to go again.”
Darley rode almost 2,500 winners before hanging up his riding boots, many trained in Yorkshire, and he has fond memories of booting home those on the Knavesmire.
“I still live in Yorkshire, I’m an adopted Yorkshireman and I always say if you’re on the best horse at York, you should win really and there should be no excuses because it’s a very fair track,” he said.
“Credit to them as resources wise they put everything back into the track and I think any jockey past or present will tell you it’s a pleasure to go there really.
“They moved the winner’s enclosure a few years ago to be a lot more public friendly. I always used to like the old winner’s enclosure as you walked through the crowd with a rope either side of you.
“I thought when they changed that you’d never get the same atmosphere, but it is exactly the same and that’s a credit to York and the people that go there – it’s a great stage.”
Desert Crown will undergo surgery after sustaining a season-ending fetlock injury on Sunday.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, last year’s Derby winner was being put through his paces on the Al Bahathri gallop ahead of an intended run in York’s Juddmonte International Stakes on Wednesday when the injury occurred.
He was immediately transferred to the Newmarket Equine Hospital where the four-year-old will be operated on.
The son of Nathaniel’s Epsom triumph is the notable highlight in a career that has been plagued by setbacks and he has been seen just once since his finest hour, when losing his unbeaten record to Hukum in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes in May.
He subsequently missed the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot due to a setback, with a leg infection preventing a rematch with Hukum in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes last month.
This latest injury will rule the colt out for the rest of the season, with his racing career hanging in the balance.
“I’ve just been to see him and they will operate this morning,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail.
“It is a fetlock injury and he won’t be running again this year, that’s for sure.”
England will learn on Tuesday the consequences for their World Cup group campaign caused by Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell being summoned to face rugby’s judiciary.
Six Nations, the organisers for the warm-up fixtures, has announced Vunipola’s hearing for being sent off for a dangerous tackle against Ireland will take place on Tuesday evening.
Earlier that morning, Farrell faces an independent disciplinary panel for the second time in a week after World Rugby appealed the decision to overturn his red card for a high challenge against Wales.
Both players are facing six-week bans that can be reduced for mitigation but with just one match left until the World Cup – against Fiji on Saturday – any suspension will impact their quest to qualify from Pool D and most importantly their key opening fixture against Argentina on September 9.
Vunipola is the squad’s only specialist number eight while Farrell is its captain, talisman and goalkicker, making the duo influential personnel who Steve Borthwick can not afford to lose.
Each player was shown a yellow card that was upgraded to red by the bunker review system after making similar tackles in a collapse of England defensive discipline.
Vunipola’s came on Saturday during a 29-10 rout by Ireland in Dublin, the Saracens back row clattering into Andrew Porter’s head with his shoulder.
A week earlier Farrell had ploughed into Taine Basham’s head, causing the Wales flanker to fail an HIA.
The original disciplinary hearing cleared Farrell, finding mitigation in a late change in dynamics by Basham, but an outcry followed the failure to issue a ban and World Rugby appealed.
Paddington and Mostahdaf will face off as a field of four go to post for Wednesday’s Juddmonte International at York.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Paddington will be seeking a fifth successive Group One triumph, having landed the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes, Eclipse and Sussex Stakes on his last four runs, cementing him as the cream of the three-year-old crop.
He will clash with Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Mostahdaf as he moves back up to 10 furlongs, with the Ballydoyle team opting not to field Point Lonsdale in support.
Mostahdaf’s trainers John and Thady Gosden also run Nashwa, winner of the Falmouth Stakes, while Andrew Balding’s The Foxes completes the line up.
Sir Michael Stoute did not declare Bay Bridge, leaving him without a runner after last year’s Derby hero Desert Crown sustained a season-ending injury on Sunday.
The Gosden-trained Gregory headlines five in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes, with the Queen’s Vase winner seeking to underline his St Leger claims in this traditional trial.
Castle Way is Charlie Appleby’s contender having won the Bahrain Trophy last time with O’Brien relying on King Edward VII Stakes runner-up Continuous.
Gordon Stakes third and fourth, Canberra Legend and Artistic Star, represent James Ferguson and Ralph Beckett respectively.
Six go to post for the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes headed by Richmond second Ballymount Boy, whose form got a huge boost when his Goodwood conqueror Vandeek won the Group One Prix Morny on Sunday.
Naas maiden winner Edwardian is O’Brien’s pick with Cogitate, Hot Fuss, Indian Run and Loose Cannon the other Group Three runners.
Adrian Houser pitched five effective innings and Tyrone Taylor drove in two runs as the Milwaukee Brewers completed a three-game sweep of the American League West-leading Texas Rangers with Sunday's 6-2 win.
Milwaukee chased three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in the fourth inning to maintain a three-game advantage on second-place Chicago in the National League Central. The Cubs kept pace with Sunday's 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Houser allowed just one run on six hits and struck out seven to help the Brewers deal the slumping Rangers a fourth consecutive loss. Taylor finished 2 for 3 with three runs scored and Christian Yelich had a pair of hits, including an RBI double, as Milwaukee took advantage of an uncharacteristically wild outing from Scherzer.
Scherzer walked four batters and hit another while being charged with three runs in just 3 2/3 innings. The star hurler entered Sunday's matchup having allowed just four runs in 20 innings in winning each of his first three starts since being traded to Texas by the New York Mets on July 30.
The 39-year-old did record his 3,343rd career strikeout in the third inning to pass Hall of Famer Phil Niekro for 11th place on MLB's all-time list.
Corey Seager went 2 for 4 and accounted for the Rangers' lone run off Houser with a solo homer in the third inning.
Surging Mariners hold off Astros to sweep three-game series
The AL West is quickly becoming a three-team race thanks to the recent tear of the Seattle Mariners, who won for the 14th time in 17 games by holding on for a 7-6 victory over the division-rival Houston Astros on Sunday.
Seattle built a 6-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings en route to a sweep of the three-game series and sixth straight win overall. The surge has moved the Mariners within three games of the first-place Texas Rangers in the AL West and a half-game back of Houston for the league's second wild card.
Dominic Canzone and Dylan Moore each went 4 for 5 with an RBI to lead Seattle's 15-hit attack, while Eugenio Suarez had a two-run homer as the Mariners pounded Astros starter Hunter Brown for six runs in 2 2/3 innings.
The Astros rallied with five runs in the bottom of the third, but were held scoreless by the Seattle bullpen over the final three innings to lose for the fifth time in seven games.
Gabe Speier protected the one-run lead in the ninth to record his first career major league save.
Yordan Alvarez and Mauricio Dubon each knocked in two runs during Houston's big third inning, while Alex Bregman finished 2 for 4 with an RBI triple.
Red Sox extend Yankees' skid to eight games, finish series sweep
Justin Turner's ninth-inning double drove in the deciding run as the Boston Red Sox earned a 6-5 victory over the New York Yankees that sent the Bronx Bombers to their longest losing streak in 28 years.
The Yankees have now dropped eight games in a row for the first time since Aug. 19-26, 1995 despite rallying from a three-run deficit and nearly going ahead in the eighth inning.
New York appeared to take a 6-5 lead when Isiah Kiner-Falefa was called safe at home while attempting to score on Anthony Volpe's single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. The ruling was overturned after the Red Sox challenged the play, however, to keep the game tied entering the ninth.
Pablo Reyes led off the ninth with a single off Clay Holmes and stole second before crossing the plate on Turner's opposite-field double, the veteran's fourth RBI of the game.
Kenley Jansen then worked around a leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth to earn his 29th save and close out Boston's eighth win in nine meetings with New York this season.
Turner also had a three-run homer in the seventh that snapped a 2-2 tie, while Rafael Devers delivered a solo shot for Boston and finished 3 for 4 with three runs scored.
The Yankees homered three times on the day, including Volpe's three-run blast off reliever John Schreiber in the bottom of the seventh that tied the game at 5-5. Gleyber Torres and Kyle Higashioka had solo shots in defeat.
Keith Earls has a “burning desire” to travel to the fourth World Cup of his career after celebrating his 100th Ireland cap with a stunning try on an emotional outing against England.
Munster wing Earls led out his country alongside his three daughters on Saturday evening in Dublin before marking the occasion in style by coming off the bench to seal a 29-10 victory with a superb diving finish.
The 35-year-old received a host of touching tributes ahead of the landmark appearance at the Aviva Stadium, while his family were invited into camp on Thursday.
Earls went a year without international action due to injury issues before lining up against Italy at the start of the month but insists he did not return solely on sentimental grounds as he eyes a place on the plane to France.
“That’s the reason I’m here, that’s the reason I came back for pre-season, that’s the reason I’m doing everything possible to stay fit,” he said of World Cup selection.
“I have that burning desire to give myself the best chance of going to the World Cup and I tell you one thing I’d hate to be the coaches trying to pick their 33-man squad. It’s going to be tough.”
Andy Farrell is due to reduce his squad by five to a final 33 following next weekend’s clash with Samoa in Bayonne.
His Six Nations champions registered a 12th consecutive win by comfortably dispatching Steve Borthwick’s side.
The unassuming Earls, who added to scores from Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe and Mack Hansen with his 36th Ireland try, felt a little uncomfortable in the spotlight and feared being left embarrassed as an unused replacement following the big build up.
“I was saying to the lads, it was probably the worst week of my life with all the attention around the 100th cap,” he said.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done on Thursday trying to keep the tears out of my eyes around all of the lads.
“But I think I managed to do it, so that was grand.
“I’m delighted everything worked out perfectly and there’s not a better bunch of lads to do it with.
“It was hell sitting on the bench. It was nerve-wracking, thinking: ‘will he put me on? This will be very embarrassing after everything I’ve gone through’.”
In addition to receiving video messages from the likes of Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll and former coaches Declan Kidney and Joe Schmidt, Earls was presented with his milestone cap by head coach Farrell, while captain Johnny Sexton and forwards coach Paul O’Connell gave speeches.
A more offbeat homage came from team-mate Hansen, who shaved the initials KE and the number 100 into an eye-catching green haircut before claiming the man of the match award against England.
“He actually came in with just his hair dyed green and then he got this idea he wanted to cut a shamrock into the side of his head,” said Earls.
“That kind of went a bit pear-shaped and then he was like, ‘let’s get KE 100 into my head’.
“I was sitting in the team room and I was like, I want no part in this and walked away and then Craig (Casey) sent me a picture and what a horrendous job they had done on it.
“That man (Hansen), he’s such a unique character in rugby.
“When you can act like that and cut your hair like that and then go out and perform like that, you just have to leave him be.”
Norway’s Viktor Hovland fired a stunning final round of 61 to win his fifth PGA Tour title in the BMW Championship.
Hovland birdied seven of the last nine holes at Olympia Fields to cover the back nine in just 28 shots and overhaul world number one Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler began the day in a tie for the lead with Matt Fitzpatrick and carded a closing 66, but had no answer to Hovland’s stunning scoring burst.
Hovland found himself four shots off the pace when he followed birdies on the first, third and fifth with a three-putt bogey on the seventh, but surged back into contention with a hat-trick of birdies from the 10th.
The 25-year-old also picked up shots on the 14th and 15th and moved into a share of the lead with his ninth birdie of the day on the 17th.
Another birdie on the last took the Ryder Cup star to the top of the leaderboard on 17 under par and his victory was effectively secured moments later when Scheffler three-putted the 17th.
Fitzpatrick, whose younger brother Alex finished second on the DP World Tour earlier in the day, ended the day in the same position after matching playing partner Scheffler’s 66 to finish 15 under.
Asked where that round ranked in his career, Hovland told Sky Sports: “It has to be number one.
“I remember playing a pretty special round of golf my first year on Tour, I shot seven under at Torrey Pines when it was hailing and windy and raining and that’s probably the best I’ve ever struck it throughout a round.
“But to shoot 61 and shoot 28 on the back nine at this golf course and under the circumstances, I have nothing that beats that.”
Hovland, who started the day three off the lead, added: “I was thinking if I post a score like I did yesterday (65) I could at least have a chance, but it’s hard when you have so many guys in front of you that are really good and playing awesome.
“Catching heat on the back nine was what I had to do.”
The victory lifts Hovland to second in the FedEx Cup standings behind Scheffler heading into the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Aaron Rodgers spent the New York Jets' first three preseason games on the sideline.
That will change in their exhibition finale.
Rodgers will reportedly make his Jets debut on Saturday against the New York Giants in the team's final tuneup before the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills on September 11.
Brian Costello of the New York Post reported the Jets' decision to start the future Hall of Famer against the Giants on Sunday.
Rodgers hasn't appeared in a preseason game since 2018, but had spent his entire 18-year NFL career with the Packers prior to joining the Jets in April so had a familiarity with Green Bay and its system.
After being acquired by New York, the four-time league MVP has spent all training camp working on chemistry with his new teammates, but has yet to see game action with backup quarterback Zach Wilson starting the first three preseason games.
Jets coach Robert Saleh made it clear early in camp that Rodgers would sit out the first three exhibition games but left the door open for the 39-year-old to play in the finale.
While many NFL teams rest most of their starters in the final preseason game to avoid the risk of injury, the Jets are expected to start many of their first-stringers with Rodgers in the mix.
Newly signed running back Dalvin Cook, fellow running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson have yet to appear in a preseason game, but appear likely to face the Giants as the Jets will try to get their first-team offense some work together in game action before Week 1.
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