Maureen Mullins, matriarch of the famous Irish racing family, has died aged 94.
Wife of multiple champion trainer Paddy Mullins, who died in 2010, Maureen Mullins was the mother of trainer Willie, fellow Grade One-winning handlers Tony and Tom, renowned horse transporter George and daughter Sandra – all of who were victorious in the saddle.
She was also a winning rider herself, steering Razzo Forte to glory in a female riders’ event at Gowran Park in 1982, a race which her daughter also rode in.
Her grandchildren include record-breaking amateur rider Patrick, multiple Grade One-winner Danny, and David, who rode Rule The World to win the 2016 Grand National.
Grandsons Charlie and Emmet have also ridden winners while the latter trained a Grand National victor in 2022 Aintree hero Noble Yeats, underlining the family’s incredible influence on National Hunt racing.
Danny Mullins posted on X (formerly Twitter): “What a woman, such an inspiration. RIP.”
She was involved as an owner and breeder down the years, with Kilcruit a recent feather in her cap having won the Grade One Punchestown bumper following his sale having initially raced in her colours.
The British Horseracing Authority paid tribute to her “tremendous passion for the sport”, saying: “All of us at the BHA are saddened to learn of the passing of Maureen Mullins. We extend our condolences to the Mullins family today.
“Maureen Mullins had a tremendous passion for the sport to which she gave so much and her legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come.”
Sir Alex Ferguson will have the chance to secure further international honours after Richard Fahey confirmed his Spirit Dancer is on course for the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia later this month.
The former Manchester United manager was no stranger to glory overseas during his time in the dugout and alongside co-owners Peter Done and Ged Mason saw Spirit Dancer collect £500,000 when victorious in the Bahrain International Trophy in November.
The seven-year-old has since tuned up for his outing in Riyadh by finishing fourth in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan and Fahey is confident that will put him spot on for the $2million event on February 24.
“I was delighted to get that run in Dubai into him,” said Fahey.
“We were pleased with the run and we were probably just drawn a little bit wide – hopefully the run will put him 100 per cent right for Saudi.
“We’re going to run in the Neom. I was keen to go for the big one there (Saudi Cup), but I just felt nine furlongs on the dirt would be sharp enough for him. He’s a horse I would probably want to go a mile and a half in Saudi rather than a sharp nine, if that makes sense.”
Spirit Dancer’s owners revelled in their Bahrain success before Christmas, with Ferguson describing it as his “best ever” victory as an owner.
All of the son of Frankel’s ownership trio appear keen on another visit to the Middle East, with Fahey predicting a strong showing from his charge in the extended 10-furlong turf contest.
“Barring problems I’m sure his owners are very keen,” continued Fahey.
“Peter Done and Ged Mason are both very keen and Sir Alex is keen as well, so it looks like they are booking and barring problems I would say they will probably be there.
“We certainly enjoyed Bahrain and anything now is a bonus, but we’re expecting him to run a big race in Saudi.”
George Baker is ready for a jet-setting weekend as he saddles Lucander in Bahrain and Cemhaan and Cumulonimbus on the snow in St Moritz.
The trainer is no stranger to either jurisdiction and has enjoyed success at both, but he has never taken in both meetings on the same weekend before.
Lucander runs in the H.H Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup on Friday and Baker is eyeing further riches in the sun.
“We have seven horses over here this season. Lucander has won a Turf Series race and ran a massive race in the Crown Prince’s Cup,” he said.
“He will run this week in H.H Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. He has also been invited to stay here for the King’s Cup which is a very valuable race in the beginning of March. It’s been a very good campaign so far and it’s been great to be involved.”
Ancient Greece broke new ground for Baker when winning three times on the White Turf at St Moritz in 2013 with Wargrave another winner on the ice.
Cumulonimbus also the distinction of being owned by the owner of a Kentucky Derby winner, Ramiro Restrepo.
“Cumulonimbus is a new addition to the team. He is a horse that my wife Candida and I loved when we saw him at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale in October but he went for 150,000 guineas so we thought he was gone on to other pastures,” said Baker.
“But we were called that night by Ramiro Restrepo, who is involved in the syndicate that won the Kentucky Derby last year with Mage. Ramiro had noted our exploits on the frozen lake at St Moritz and the call was a lovely one to get as it was to ask us if were interested to train the horse and prepare him for St Moritz.
“Cemhaan has always been a quality performer in the UK. He was third at Royal Ascot last year and the previous year he won the Heritage Handicap on 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket. He is a proven horse.
“Both horses have done everything we have asked of them. All we can do is send them in good form and good health and that is the case right now.”
Lewis Hamilton said it felt “surreal” to be taking part in the final car launch of his Mercedes career.
Speaking publicly for the first time since his blockbuster move to Ferrari for 2025 was confirmed, Hamilton, 39, said: “(The last few weeks) have obviously been emotional and it is very surreal to be here.
“The focus through the whole of winter training is getting the team back to where we once were.
“We have had these difficult couple of years which have been really grounding for us. It has helped us regroup and really look at things.”
Team principal Toto Wolff, standing alongside his soon-to-be departing star driver, added: “It has been a very busty winter. It will be our last season with Lewis so we are keen on bringing a quick car.”
Hamilton, who joined Mercedes from McLaren in 2013, won six of his record-equalling seven world championships with the Silver Arrows.
Hamilton signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes only last August, but over the winter he stunned the sporting world after he elected to end his deal 12 months early and join Ferrari.
Hamilton, who fielded just three questions from the Mercedes moderator during a brief nine-minute launch, added: “I came here in 2013 so 11 years with the team and now I am starting my 12th.
“It is such a privilege to work with a group of people where you see the work they do over the winter and you see a car come together at the beginning of the year and it is the most exciting part of the season.”
Hamilton, without a win in two years, and team-mate George Russell, will get their first taste of this season’s Mercedes during a shakedown test at a wet Silverstone on Wednesday.
Hamilton added: “We have to be diligent, maximise practice and even one lap, George and I might get in the rain today will give us a feeling of what is to come.”
Nick Taylor believes it may be too late to change the unruly behaviour of spectators at the WM Phoenix Open.
Taylor birdied three of his last four holes in regulation and both holes of a play-off with Charley Hoffman to win his fourth PGA Tour title in dramatic fashion on Sunday.
However, the 35-year-old’s victory was somewhat overshadowed by ugly scenes at TPC Scottsdale, with Zach Johnson and Billy Horschel exchanging angry words with fans on the final day and one man arrested after jumping over the ropes and diving into a greenside bunker on the 16th.
Tournament officials were also forced to shut spectator gates earlier than planned after being overwhelmed by the turnout and sales of alcohol were temporarily halted.
“From the videos that I’ve seen, those instances are unfortunate, but I don’t think it’s a standalone, it’s been like that for a bit,” Taylor said in a press conference ahead of the Genesis Invitational.
“But I think the cat’s probably out of the bag. I don’t know how much they can change. I think it’s a week where the classic line is that I can do this for one week but multiple weeks, probably not.
“It’s a shame when only a very small percentage of fans are like that, it gets exposed a bit, but the majority of the fans are great, they’re just trying to watch some good golf and cheer.
“[Bad behaviour] needs to be cut out. I don’t know how they’re going to be able to do that.
“I think this year again with the weather [delays], everybody getting in the same area waiting around, it was probably a perfect storm to cause some of that a little more, but I’m not sure how they would reel it back to be honest.”
Taylor revealed he has surprisingly never met Genesis Invitational host Tiger Woods, who will also make his first competitive appearance of 2024 at Riviera Country Club.
The 15-time major winner underwent ankle surgery in April last year after withdrawing from the Masters during the third round and did not compete again until the Hero World Challenge in December.
Woods finished 18th in the 20-man field in the Bahamas, but the 48-year-old said he was pleased with his progress and believes it is realistic to compete in one tournament a month this season.
Neither of the last two winners of the Genesis Invitational are in the field this week, Joaquin Niemann (2022) and Jon Rahm (2023) having subsequently joined LIV Golf.
Rahm’s victory 12 months ago was his third of the year and fifth in his last nine worldwide starts, the Spaniard’s 10th PGA Tour title eclipsing the tally of his compatriot and idol Seve Ballesteros.
LeBron James will be rested against the Utah Jazz after leading the Los Angeles Lakers with 25 points in their 125-111 home win over the Detroit Pistons.
Wednesday's road game in Utah is the second game of a back-to-back and James has been playing with a sore ankle, so he will be granted the opportunity to sit out of the last game before the All-Star break.
LeBron had a game-high points total on 9-for-15 shooting against the Pistons, as all five Lakers starters topped 15 points.
D'Angelo Russell had 21 points and Anthony Davis added 20 with 14 rebounds and six blocks.
Los Angeles has now won five of its last six games and improved to 29-26, with the NBA-worst Pistons (8-45) relatively comfortably brushed aside on Tuesday.
The Lakers racked up a 24-point lead early in the contest and led 71-48 at halftime.
LeBron, who also had eight assists, was full of praise for Davis after the victory, backing him to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.
"Offensively, we are sharing the ball and everybody has been in a good rhythm," he said, per ESPN.
"And then defensively, we've been on a string and if anything breaks down, the Defensive Player of the Year cleans it up for us. So, definitely, we are playing some good ball."
Spencer Dinwiddie had six points and seven assists in his Lakers debut, while Ausar Thompson led the Pistons with 19 points as James Wiseman scored 18 points and added nine rebounds.
LeBron still expects to be fit for Sunday's All-Star game in Indianapolis, as he prepares to make his record 20th appearance.
"I'm just humbled and very blessed, obviously," he added. "I don't take it for granted, being an All-Star."
Los Angeles remains ninth in the Western Conference, two spots above Utah (26-28), which has lost two straight games.
Connor McDavid notched his first career six-assist game and the Edmonton Oilers won their eighth straight at home, 8-4 over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
McDavid matched a career high with six points, done previously against Colorado on Nov. 14, 2019, when he had three goals and three assists.
His third assist of the game was the 600th of his career and came in his 616th game. He is the fourth-fastest to 600 assists, trailing Wayne Gretzky (416), Mario Lemieux (514) and Bobby Orr (608).
McDavid has 12 goals and 34 assists during a 19-game home point streak.
The Oilers are one victory shy of matching their franchise record of nine consecutive home wins, done in 2017 and 2022.
Alex DeBrincat, Joe Veleno, Patrick Kane and David Perron had goals for the Red Wings, who dropped to 10-3-2 since Jan. 1.
Ovechkin extends goal streak in loss
Alex Ovechkin scored in his sixth straight game, but Artturi Lehkonen had two goals and two assists as the Colorado Avalanche snapped a four-game skid with a 6-3 victory over the Washington Capitals.
Ovechkin’s goal was his 14th of the season and 836th of his career, leaving him 59 shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record.
Ross Colton and Miles Wood each had a goal and an assist for Colorado, which won for the first time – in the fifth game of a six-game Eastern Conference road trip.
Nathan MacKinnon had a pair of assists for the Avalanche to end a season-high three-game pointless streak.
Marchand has two assists in 1,000th game
Brad Marchand set up two goals and nearly scored in overtime, but Brayden Point scored the lone shootout goal to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins.
Marchand became the eighth player in franchise history to reach the milestone, and the Bruins said they will honour him with a ceremony before Monday’s game against Dallas.
Andrei Vasilevskiy denied Marchand in overtime and finished with 36 saves as the Lightning concluded their road trip 2-2-0.
Charlie McAvoy and James van Riemsdyk scored for the East-leading Bruins, who dropped to 1-3-1 in their last five home games.
Friday’s meeting at Ffos Las has been called off due to a waterlogged track.
Officials inspected the course on Wednesday morning and after heavy rain, the venue is not fit for action.
The track tweeted: “Due to 70 millimetres of rain in the last seven days and with further rain forecast, racing on Friday 16th February has been abandoned.”
Thursday’s fixtures at Newcastle and Leicester are also subject to inspections.
Newcastle will check conditions at 8am on raceday, with the course reported to be heavy with further rain expected, while Leicester inspect at 4.15pm on Wednesday with areas of waterlogging reported.
Wednesday’s meeting at Fontwell did get the go-ahead following an 8am inspection.
Jayson Tatum scored 31 of his 41 points in the first half and the Boston Celtics defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 118-110, for their fifth straight win in the opener of a home-and-home series on Tuesday.
Jaylen Brown scored 19 points, Al Horford had 16 on 6-for-6 shooting in place of the injured Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday added 14 points and 12 assists.
The Celtics have won nine of 10 against the Nets and the past six meetings in Brooklyn.
Mikal Bridges had 27 points and Cam Thomas added 26 for the Nets, who have lost four of five.
Brooklyn closed within 99-93 with Tatum resting on the bench with 7:55 remaining, but he returned and combined with Brown on a 7-0 run that pushed it to 109-95 with 5:38 left.
These teams meet again in Boston on Wednesday.
Suns overcome Sabonis, Fox
Kevin Durant scored 28 points with 12 rebounds and Devin Booker added 25 points as the Phoenix Suns overcame the loss of Bradley Beal in a 130-125 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Beal injured his left hamstring in the first quarter and didn’t return. The three-time All-Star has often been injured and has played in just 30 of the team’s 54 games.
Eric Gordon scored 23 points and Grayson Allen contributed 19 as the Suns won their fourth in five games.
Sabonis had his third straight triple-double with 35 points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists, and De’Aaron Fox scored 40 for Sacramento, which has lost four of five.
Edwards leads Timberwolves past Trail Blazers
Anthony Edwards poured in 41 points and Rudy Gobert added 16 with 15 rebounds to pace the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 121-109 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Edwards, who was questionable entering the game due to right knee soreness, was 16 of 27 from the field and 4 of 8 from 3-point range. He hit the 40-point mark for the second time this season.
Edwards and Gobert helped offset an off night from Karl-Anthony Towns, who had foul trouble early and was limited to 13 points in 19 minutes.
Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Blazers, who dropped their fifth straight.
Mike Ruddock resigned as Wales head coach on this day in 2006.
The then 46-year-old stepped down just 11 months after he led his country to their first Six Nations Grand Slam triumph in 27 years, leaving the side in turmoil.
Ruddock left the top job after deciding he did not want to sacrifice his family life to lead Wales into the 2007 World Cup.
After he resigned, he said: “After consultation with my family, I have made the decision to stand down as national coach.
“I have decided to withdraw from contract talks to take Wales to the 2007 World Cup in France. This has been a tough decision to make but I have decided to put my family first.
“What I have found during my two years as coach is that the position is ‘more than a job’. That has meant I have spent long periods away from my family, in camp and overseas.
“As a consequence, I felt the intense build-up to next year’s World Cup would mean more time away from my family. That is something, on refection, I would like to avoid.”
Ruddock won 13 of his 20 games in charge, guiding them to Grand Slam success in 2005 with a 32-20 victory over Ireland alongside a famous 24-22 win over Australia – for the first time in 18 years – at the Millennium Stadium.
Ruddock’s resignation came days after he saw Wales claim a 28-18 win over Scotland in Cardiff.
Gareth Jenkins succeeded Ruddock and signed a two-year deal to take over.
Connor McDavid notched his first career six-assist game and the Edmonton Oilers won their eighth straight at home, 8-4 over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
McDavid matched a career high with six points, done previously against Colorado on Nov. 14, 2019, when he had three goals and three assists.
His third assist of the game was the 600th of his career and came in his 616th game. He is the fourth-fastest to 600 assists, trailing Wayne Gretzky (416), Mario Lemieux (514) and Bobby Orr (608).
McDavid has 12 goals and 34 assists during a 19-game home point streak.
The Oilers are one victory shy of matching their franchise record of nine consecutive home wins, done in 2017 and 2022.
Alex DeBrincat, Joe Veleno, Patrick Kane and David Perron had goals for the Red Wings, who dropped to 10-3-2 since Jan. 1.
Ovechkin extends goal streak in loss
Alex Ovechkin scored in his sixth straight game, but Artturi Lehkonen had two goals and two assists as the Colorado Avalanche snapped a four-game skid with a 6-3 victory over the Washington Capitals.
Ovechkin’s goal was his 14th of the season and 836th of his career, leaving him 59 shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record.
Ross Colton and Miles Wood each had a goal and an assist for Colorado, which won for the first time – in the fifth game of a six-game Eastern Conference road trip.
Nathan MacKinnon had a pair of assists for the Avalanche to end a season-high three-game pointless streak.
Marchand has two assists in 1,000th game
Brad Marchand set up two goals and nearly scored in overtime, but Brayden Point scored the lone shootout goal to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins.
Marchand became the eighth player in franchise history to reach the milestone, and the Bruins said they will honour him with a ceremony before Monday’s game against Dallas.
Andrei Vasilevskiy denied Marchand in overtime and finished with 36 saves as the Lightning concluded their road trip 2-2-0.
Charlie McAvoy and James van Riemsdyk scored for the East-leading Bruins, who dropped to 1-3-1 in their last five home games.
Luke Littler failed to follow up his stunning Players Championship debut as he fell to a second round defeat in the second tournament in Wigan on Tuesday.
Littler, who had hit a nine-dart finish on his way to winning the title on Monday, was pipped 6-5 by Radek Szaganski.
The teenage sensation had looked set to launch back-to-back assaults on the final stages after opening with an impressive 6-4 win over experienced former UK Open winner Danny Noppert.
Former world champion Gary Anderson won the title on Tuesday with an 8-5 win over Ryan Searle, the same player whom Littler had beaten in the final on Monday.
Anderson was on blistering form, recording a career-high 117.12 average in his first round win over Andy Baetens and missing double 12 for a nine-darter on three occasions during the day.
“Yesterday I felt like a kid at a new school, I was nervous but today I felt more settled and it showed in my performances,” Anderson told PDC.tv.
“It’s been a long day and I’m happy to come out on top against a great player in Ryan.”
Ioan Lloyd feels he has benefited from the presence of former international half-backs Neil Jenkins and Rob Howley in adapting to life as Wales’ number 10.
Lloyd helped orchestrate Wales’ thrilling fightback from 27-0 adrift in their opening Guinness Six Nations game against Scotland, after going on as replacement for an injured Sam Costelow.
His first Wales start then came in the fly-half role at Twickenham last weekend during a 16-14 defeat against England.
The 22-year-old’s impressive versatility has also seen him feature as a full-back, wing and centre during his club and regional career with Bristol and now the Scarlets.
But he admitted that fly-half was his preferred position and he was making the most of having ex-Wales pair Jenkins and Howley, who won almost 150 caps between them, as part of the national squad coaching staff.
“Neil Jenkins has talked a lot about speed into position – and Rob Howley has as well – and also speed from catch to whatever you are going to do, whether it is pass or kick,” Lloyd said.
“We’ve talked a lot through it and obviously I have got to see exactly what he (Jenkins) is talking about over the last couple of weeks. I think that little bit of a reminder has helped me a lot.
“I think the 10 position is one of the game-drivers, one of the main game-leaders, so that sort of pressure is expected.
“It is something that I have anticipated going into the 10 jersey. I think 10s everywhere will take a lot of scrutiny and probably not as much praise as they should in other aspects.
“I am just trying to put my best foot forward and execute my role within the team. There are a lot of learnings from the first two weekends.
“I try not to think about external factors too much, I just try and go out there and play rugby.
“I see myself as a fly-half. Obviously, any opportunity to pull on the red jersey – whether it’s at prop or fly-half – I will take it.”
With Costelow now fit again following a neck problem, it remains to be seen which direction Wales head coach Warren Gatland goes in for fly-half duty against runaway Six Nations title favourites Ireland on Saturday week.
And while Wales have lost their opening two Six Nations games – albeit by a combined margin of just three points – there were also plenty of positive signs from a new-look squad.
Lloyd added: “We talk a lot about playing heads-up rugby, the pictures in front of us and not being afraid to take the opportunities when they come.
“Obviously, there is a fine balance between that and taking risks.
“I think the stuff we tried at the weekend (at Twickenham) weren’t risks. We felt they were on and that is where the space was.
“Execution comes into that then and ours wasn’t good enough at times. I think that is something we can build on.
“There is a confidence around the place. We are a young team, but that doesn’t mean these games are throwaway games. We are still going into them expecting to win and a certain standard from each other.
“The experience isn’t necessarily there from all of us, but we have still got that confidence in training and games that we can execute. When we don’t, it is very disappointing.”
Lucinda Russell is keen to run Ahoy Senor in Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase to see if he warrants his place in the Ryanair at Cheltenham.
Pulled up on his first two outings of the season, the Grade One-winning novice chaser showed much more of his old spark last time out at Cheltenham.
Running in the Cotswold Chase, which he had won 12 months earlier, Ahoy Senor was still bang in contention approaching the third last when jockey Stephen Mulqueen’s stirrup leather broke.
Regular rider Derek Fox will be back on board this weekend having returned from injury when he will meet his old foe L’Homme Presse, who beat him into second in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Festival in 2022.
“He’s on track for the Ascot Chase on Saturday and I’m quite hopeful he’ll run very well,” Russell told her William Hill blog.
“It was so unfortunate what happened at Cheltenham with the stirrup breaking as he was travelling brilliantly. He’s been really well at home since and we’re looking forward to it. We all know he takes a bit of time to get going, but he comes alive in the spring.”
One problem Ahoy Senor may have this weekend is the fact Ascot is right-handed as he has never won when going in that direction.
“Going right-handed at Ascot is a bit of a worry, but we won’t really know until he tries it,” said Russell.
“We’re dropping back in trip as the Ryanair looks a very good option for him. If you’re classy enough to win a Gold Cup, then you’re certainly classy enough to win a Ryanair. His run style suggests this might just be what he wants now.”
Another runner for the stable on the card will be the mare Apple Away in the Sodexo Live! Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase as she builds towards a possible tilt at the Ultima next month.
“The plan is to run her in the Reynoldstown at Ascot on Saturday. She looks very fit at the moment and has come to hand well since Warwick. It gives her a bit more jumping experience ahead of the big spring festivals and again this will help us decide where we target her,” said Russell.
“All options are open at this stage and while we were leaning towards the Ultima, it’s not a definite by any means.
“I think she’s better than she showed at Warwick and I thought she probably ran with the choke out a bit too much. She bumped into a pretty smart horse too and I think she might just take a little bit of time to really come into herself. If you look back to last year, she really thrived after the turn of the year and the way she looks now, might just be evidence of that.”
Lewis Hamilton has already been in contact with soon-to-be Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc – as Carlos Sainz, the driver forced to make way for the seven-time world champion, revealed the shock switch came out of the blue.
Hamilton, 39, will leave Mercedes at the end of this year after agreeing a blockbuster move to Ferrari in 2025 – the biggest transfer in Formula One history.
Hamilton is set to make his first public appearance since news broke of his decision to quit Mercedes when the Silver Arrows unveil their new car at Silverstone on Wednesday.
Hamilton will appear alongside team principal Toto Wolff and fellow Brit George Russell.
On Tuesday, Ferrari took the wraps off the contender they hope will allow them to challenge Red Bull and Max Verstappen when the new season starts in Bahrain next month.
But it was Hamilton’s name which dominated proceedings – despite the Ferrari PR machine attempting to restrict questions about their star signing.
Hamilton will partner Leclerc at Ferrari after the Monegasque signed a new long-term contract, understood to run until 2029, just days before the British driver’s move was announced.
“This kind of deal is not finalised overnight, and I was aware of those discussions (with Hamilton) before I signed my deal so it did not come as a surprise,” said Leclerc, 26.
“Obviously, Lewis is an incredible driver, the most successful in history, and he brings a lot of experience to the team.
“I had discussions with Lewis, especially when everything was announced and official. We texted each other.
“He is a great champion with so much success. It is always interesting to have a new team-mate, because you learn different ways of driving and working, and even more so when my new team-mate is a seven-time world champion.”
Ferrari have not won a drivers’ title since 2007, but they hope Hamilton – a winner of a record 103 races – can fire them to that elusive title. Hamilton will be 40 when he makes his transfer from Mercedes.
“It is a huge opportunity for the team and we are sure that Lewis will bring us a decent step for the future,” said Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, who played a prominent role in Hamilton’s formative career in Formula Two.
“I have had a good relationship (with Hamilton) for 20 years, and we were always in contact speaking about different things. It was not the easiest call of my life (to tell Sainz), but one of the most difficult was with Toto.”
Hamilton’s switch leaves Sainz – the only driver outside of Red Bull to win a race last year – scrambling for a seat.
“I was a bit surprised, like everyone in the Formula One world,” said the Spaniard, 29.
“From my side you can understand I got to know the news a bit earlier than anyone else, and I had some weeks to reflect, prepare and get ready for the car launch and the first race of the season. That gave me a bit of time to digest it and to draw my own conclusions.
“I don’t know the identity of my next team. But there are plenty of options out there.
“I am approaching the most important three or four years of my career and I want to make sure that I am in the right place.”
Gentlemansgame remains on target for a crack at the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup having recovered from a setback which ruled him out of the Savills Chase at Christmas.
Mouse Morris’s grey has only been seen twice this campaign, at Gowran over an inadequate trip and when lowering the colours of last season’s King George winner Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Morris had wanted to take on Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown over Christmas but a stone bruise put paid to that and it was then decided to keep him fresh for Cheltenham rather than take in the Irish Gold Cup.
The Fethard handler’s last Festival win came via First Lieutenant in what is now the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle in 2011 but he does have a Gold Cup win to his name thanks to War Of Attrition in 2006.
“Touch wood, he’s on target, he obviously had the hiccup which ruled him out of Christmas but he did a nice bit of work on Saturday, so we’re on track as long as we don’t have any hold ups,” said Morris.
“He had a stone bruise but it went right up to his foot, it went very deep.
“We didn’t bring him over last season as he had a setback. He’d beaten the winner of the Irish National (I Am Maximus) in his beginners’ chase but he’s so big, he keeps having issues.
“We took him down to the beach the other day, we take all the Cheltenham horses there, it’s a bit of a tradition and it’s great for them, a bit of a change.
“He goes well fresh and he’ll be fit as a fiddle, don’t worry about that, experience is the problem.”
Despite the Charlie Hall being only his third outing over fences, Morris fancied his chances.
“I hate saying it but I was very hopeful going to Wetherby as he’d run a good race at Gowran over two and a half against a horse (Easy Game) who has won 15 times or something like that,” he said.
“We couldn’t take him to the north (Down Royal) as the other fella (Gerri Colombe, same ownership) was, but I was confident.
“There’s absolutely no similarities with War Of Attrition, he probably lacks a bit of toe but he jumps well and stays forever.
“Most of mine don’t run from Christmas to Cheltenham, not many of the winners have, anyway.
“Darragh (O’Keeffe) will ride him, he’s only had three runs over fences and we’ll take him somewhere to school.
“I’d say he might not be fast enough to make it! He’ll be doing his best work at the end I’d say.
“I don’t miss being in the spotlight but I don’t mind it. I never had more than 35 horses in and I’m still about 30 but they just aren’t the same quality, unfortunately, you just can’t compete.”
Kieran Cotter’s star filly Matilda Picotte will kick off her season in the Turf Sprint at the Saudi Cup meeting on February 24.
A promising juvenile, she made a taking start to her three-year-old season when second in a Guineas Trial at Leopardstown and was then third in the 1000 Guineas itself at Epsom in May.
She rounded off the year with back-to-back successes in the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster and the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket, both over seven furlongs.
The ultimate aim this year is to pick up a Group One prize, but first she will start out her campaign in the Middle East as she is among the entries for the 1351 Saudi Turf Sprint, a seven-furlong Group Two run for a prize fund of over £1.5 million.
“She doing fantastic, she had a break for six or seven weeks out at grass and then prior to Christmas we got an invitation to run in the Sprint,” Cotter said.
“She’s back in and being prepared for that, we’re delighted with her and she leaves for Saudi on Saturday morning to run the following Saturday.
“She flies from Shannon to Stansted and then it’s direct to Riyadh, door to door it’s a 20-hour journey which is no more than from here to Newmarket and she’s a very good traveller.”
Matilda Picotte is owned by the Matilda and Kilmichael Racing Partnership, some of whom will make the journey to Saudi Arabia to see her start what they hope will be a fruitful season at the top level.
“We’re looking forward to seeing her give her best. Her last run was exceptional but she’ll need to bring her whole A-game to the table in two weeks time,” Cotter said,
“It’s a good international field and I think the first, second and third from last time are going to turn up again.
“It’s serious money and we had to take the opportunity, our main target this year is to try to win a Group One with her and it’s a Group Two but if she’s a Group One horse she’ll have to go close.
“A few of the owners are going, there’ll be enough there to make a bit of noise anyway! She’s never run a bad race so it’s all to play for.”
Coco Gauff lost six games in a row in a shock defeat by Katerina Siniakova at the Qatar Open.
Making her first appearance since losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals of the Australian Open last month, Gauff was out of sorts and fell to a 6-2 6-4 defeat.
The American second seed looked to have turned things around after losing the opening set when she eased into a 4-0 lead in the second set.
But Czech Siniakova, better known for her achievements in the doubles game, responded with six games in a row for one of the biggest singles victories of her career.
Melbourne runner-up Zheng Qinwen, playing her first match as a top-10 player, came through 6-2 2-6 6-3 against Magda Linette, while teenager Linda Noskova, who was a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open, upset seventh seed Maria Sakkari 3-6 7-6 (2) 7-5.
Leylah Fernandez recovered from losing the first set to love to defeat Paula Badosa 0-6 6-2 6-3 and Victoria Azarenka was a 7-6 (2) 6-2 winner over Wang Xinyu.
Giannis Antetokounmpo lauded Doc Rivers for bringing "high standards" to the Milwaukee Bucks after Monday's big win over the Denver Nuggets.
The Bucks ran out 112-95 winners over the reigning NBA champions, with Giannis finishing with a double-double of 36 points and 18 rebounds.
Milwaukee have won their last two games, after a three-game losing spin, and sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 35-19 record ahead of Tuesday's meeting with the Miami Heat.
While Rivers has not had the easiest of starts in charge since he replaced Adrian Griffin, the Bucks have now held successive opponents to under 100 points for the first time since 2021.
And Giannis credited the former Philadelphia 76ers coach for setting the standards high since his arrival.
"Guys are just being on the same page," Giannis said.
"Coach Doc is holding us to a high standard. He wants us to defend.
"He doesn't take lack of effort as an excuse. If you're on the floor, you've got to do your best."
The defensive organisation was particularly pleasing for Rivers.
"Just steady progress," he said. "Believing in your defense, trusting it, clarifying it, what we want to do.
"The more we can get our guys to know exactly what we're doing, they can play at full speed. That's what we're trying to do. Simplify, so we can play with fire."
Damian Lillard added: "I just think it's the accountability. When we're watching film, we're in our meetings, in practice, I think Doc and our entire staff, they're doing a great job of just calling everything out.
"They're challenging us in a lot of different ways. Our communication, how physical we are, how we carry ourselves as a group.
"Trying to find our identity. Who do we want to be? Who are we going to step like when we get on the floor? And I think we're just having a lot of carryover because there's so much conversation around it."
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Denver sit fourth in the West.
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