Booster Bob could have an exciting future having stayed on strongly in testing ground to claim the Betfair Claremont Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown.

Sent off the 5-6 favourite for the Listed event, Olly Murphy’s five-year-old had previously relished testing conditions when claiming a Uttoxeter novice event by 18-lengths.

However, even he struggled to get into a rhythm in the deep ground at the Esher track and relied on his class to overhaul Helnwein once strenuously ridden after the last by Sean Bowen.

“I was never happy,” said Murphy. “I don’t think he jumped great for him and he loves that ground, but they went very steady and turned it into a sprint which wouldn’t have suited.

“He’s got a lot of ability and I don’t think he did a lot right today. I don’t think the hood suits him now, he wants that off.

“They went very steady and when you go steady in a tactical race, sat last of three isn’t the best place to be. He was very free as a bumper horse and he’s come a long way in a short period of time.”

Despite seeing Booster Bob as both a horse for further and fences, it is Haydock’s Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (January 20) up next. However, a trip to the Cheltenham Festival appears off the cards for this season.

“Do I think he is a horse for the Supreme? No is the answer,” added Murphy.

“I think he’s an out and out chaser and he will probably go to Haydock now for the Supreme trial at the end of January – bad ground, two miles. He’s crying out for two and a half, but he can race with the choke out and I would be just worried about going two-and-a-half just yet.

“I wont blow his mind now this season. If there was a bit of slow ground at Aintree or something like that, then maybe. But going round Cheltenham in a 16-runner Grade One isn’t for this lad at the moment.”

El Fabiolo begins on a well-trodden path to the Queen Mother Champion Chase when kicking off his season in the Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase at Cork on Sunday.

His trainer Willie Mullins has won the race a record 14 times, with Douvan, Un De Sceaux, Chacun Pour Soi and Energumene amongst the Closutton alumni to claim this prize en route to the Cheltenham Festival.

Energumene used this as his starting point in both of his Champion Chase-winning seasons, but with his injury setback putting respective hat-trick bids on hold, the door has been opened for El Fabiolo to fill the void.

Unbeaten as a chaser, the six-year-old registered a brilliant Grade One treble last season, winning at the Dublin, Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals in supreme fashion – and he is already dominating the ante-post betting for the Champion Chase in March.

“He was unbeaten over fences last season and this looks a nice starting point for the new campaign,” said Anthony Bromley, racing manager to El Fabiolo’s owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

“It’s been Willie’s plan from quite a long way out really, to go for this race, and we’re excited to see him back out.

“It’s really good prize-money for a Grade Two. He has got the entry in the Grade One at Christmas and we’ll get the Hilly Way out of the way first, but it could be coming a bit close.

“We’ll just see how he comes out of the race, but it’s all systems go for Sunday. It’s a tried and tested route for Willie – he tries to run his best two-miler in it, and hopefully El Fabiolo might be that now with Energumene on the sidelines.”

El Fabiolo’s opposition includes a former Closutton stablemate in Jungle Boogie, who is one of two in the race for new handler Henry de Bromhead, alongside convincing Grand Annual victor Maskada.

Barberstown Castle Chase runner-up Fil Dor represents the flying Gordon Elliott team, with Gavin Cromwell’s Grand National runner-up Vanillier and Patrick Foley’s Rebel Gold also taking part.

“We were delighted with Fil Dor at Naas and he’s in good form ahead of Sunday,” said Elliott.

“Naas was his first run of the season and his first run back over fences, so there was a lot of positives but obviously we are taking on a very good horse in El Fabiolo.

“Our lad is in good form, has a run under his belt and there is no point in shying away from one horse. Hopefully he’ll run well.”

Elsewhere on the card, there could be success for Mullins when Grade One-winning hurdler Zenta makes her chasing bow in the Grade Two O’Flynn Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase.

The four-year-old hardly put a foot wrong last term, winning at Fairyhouse on her stable debut before finishing third to Lossiemouth in the Triumph Hurdle and then achieving her own big-race victory at Aintree.

“It’s a nice race to start off with and Willie is happy with her, so let’s hope she jumps a good round and goes well,” said owner JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry.

“She’s been very consistent and it was great to get the Grade One with her in the spring. We’re hoping for a good round and for her to run well.”

Zenta faces stern opposition from within her own stable, with Paul Townend partnering wide-margin Killarney winner Hauturiere and the Kenny Alexander-owned Heia also engaged.

Harmonya Maker made a blistering start to her chasing career at Gowran Park and represents Elliott, with Con O’Keeffe’s Silent Approach completing the line-up.

“We couldn’t have asked for more from Harmonya Maker at Gowran and she’s in good form,” Elliott said. “This was the next obvious race for her and we’ll see where we go from here for the rest of the season with her.”

In the Grade Three Singletons Supervalu Stayers Novice Hurdle, big-money buy Mahon’s Way will look to build on an impressive debut over timber at Naas for De Bromhead.

Janidil bids to escape the clutches of some of Ireland’s best chasers when he pays a visit to Huntingdon for the TrustATrader Peterborough Chase.

Willie Mullins’ raider is a regular in Grade One events on home soil and was handed the formidable task of facing Allaho on his seasonal return in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

However, connections now hope to have found the nine-year-old the perfect opportunity to register a seventh victory of his highly-respectable career when he crosses the Irish Sea for this Grade Two contest.

“It looked a nice race for him and there wasn’t going to be too many runners,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

“He’s in good form and this looked the ideal race for him. He’s ran into a few good horses in the last few seasons, but Willie is happy with him and we’re looking for a good run.”

With Edwardstone headed to the Tingle Creek, with this race only an emergency option in case of weather woes, Janidil’s chief threat could be provided by First Flow, who won the 2021 renewal before finishing third 12 months ago.

Kim Bailey’s 11-year-old chased home the high-class Boothill at Ascot on his return and his handler feels conditions are ideal for a bold bid.

He said: “I’m very happy with him and David (Bass, jockey) has schooled him this week and was happy. He will get his ground, which will be a big difference for him this time and hopefully he will run a big race.

“I would have to say it was probably as good a run as he’s ever done (behind Boothill at Ascot). It might sound stupid at the age of 11, but I thought it was a phenomenal run.”

Paul Nicholls won this with Pic D’Orhy in 2022 and attempts to repeat the dose with Solo, another likeable contender in the same colours of Johnny de la Hey.

The seven-year-old went some way to justifying his lofty reputation when downing Coral Gold Cup winner Datsalrightgino in the Pendil Novices’ Chase last term and was runner-up in the Haldon Gold Cup on his return to action.

Aintree’s Old Roan Chase form will be put to the test with Ryan Potter’s Jetoile attempting to confirm his victory over Sam Thomas’ Al Dancer, who was four and a half lengths back in third.

Jetoile has won his last three chasing starts but now faces the acid test which will inform connections whether they have a performer of real top-quality on their hands.

Potter said: “He’s won his last three and obviously the Old Roan was a massive step forward that has put him in with the class of horse we know he is.

“There’s only a small field but it’s a hot race, for sure. He’ll have to improve again from the Old Roan, but there’s no reason why he won’t.

“He’s not the best work horse in the world, so I thought it was very impressive the way he got stuck in up the home straight at Aintree, because that wouldn’t normally be his asset.

“Usually, it’s his jumping and travelling, but the fact that the race probably didn’t suit, I thought he was really good.

“We’ll know where we will stand after Sunday and it will be unbelievable if he went and won on Sunday, then you know you have a Grade One horse.

“We’re realistic, we had him tuned up for the Old Roan and that was our target, so anything after that is a bonus this season.”

Chris Evert has announced her cancer has returned and she will undergo another round of chemotherapy.

The 18-time grand slam champion revealed in January 2022 she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer following a preventive hysterectomy.

Evert had learned she had a significantly increased risk of developing cancer after her sister, Jeanne, died of the same disease in 2020.

Evert, 68, was given the all-clear in January and was told there was a 90 per cent chance the cancer would not return, but that has not proved to be the case.

In a statement released through ESPN, for whom she works as a pundit, Evert said: “Since I was first diagnosed with cancer two years ago, I’ve been very open about my experience.

“I wanted to give all of you an update. My cancer is back. While this is a diagnosis I never wanted to hear, I once again feel fortunate that it was caught early.

“Based on a PET CT scan, I underwent another robotic surgery this past week. Doctors found cancer cells in the same pelvic region. All cells were removed, and I have begun another round of chemotherapy.”

Evert will not be working at the Australian Open while she undergoes treatment but said she would be “ready for the rest of the grand slam season”.

“I encourage everyone to know your family history and advocate for yourself,” she added. “Early detection saves lives. Be thankful for your health this holiday season.”

Nicky Henderson has withdrawn Constitution Hill and Shishkin from the rearranged Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown.

While the meeting passed a 7.30am inspection, rain was still falling throughout the morning at the Esher track on already heavy ground on the hurdles track and conditions are being monitored.

Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill was supposed to make his seasonal reappearance at Newcastle last weekend but the meeting was abandoned with the Fighting Fifth moved to Sandown.

Shishkin was an intended runner at Newcastle also, in the Rehearsal Chase, but in an attempt to get a prep run into him before the King George, Henderson had declared him alongside his stablemate.

However, neither will run at Sandown, nor will promising novice hurdler Willmount in an earlier race but Jonbon is still an intended starter in the Tingle Creek.

Henderson said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Due to the extremely testing going, we have decided that Constitution Hill will not run in today’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown because it would simply not be fair to race him under such extreme conditions on his first run of the season.

“It is too close to Boxing Day, and he can’t do both, so, all being well, he’ll go straight to Kempton for the Christmas Hurdle.

“Shishkin has also been withdrawn, along with Willmount from his intended engagement in the Listed Novices’ Hurdle.”

As for Jonbon he added: “He has had a run so is fit and well, and the ground is much more suitable on the chase course. It is very unfortunate, and we are all sorry they won’t be turning up, but we have to put the horses first — it’s as simple as that.”

Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the Australian Open for the second year in a row.

The 28-year-old has played only one match in 2023, on grass in Stuttgart in June, and his withdrawal appeared inevitable when his name was absent from the entry list for next month’s tournament.

“This is a very disappointing time for me but I won’t be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open,” Kyrgios said on social media.

“Obviously, heartbreaking. I’ve had so many amazing memories there and I just want to really get back to playing at the top of my game and doing it right, and I need a little more time.”

Kyrgios pulled out on the eve of his first-round match at Melbourne Park in January and revealed he needed knee surgery.

At the time he was optimistic the lay-off would not be too long but it was June when he finally returned, and that proved a false dawn.

Kyrgios, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, then withdrew just before the Championships, this time citing a wrist injury, and he has not been seen on a match court since.

Kyrgios, who is currently unranked because of the length of his absence, announced he will be in Melbourne to do media work.

Sandown’s Betfair Tingle Creek card has passed a morning inspection but with further rain forecast conditions at still being monitored.

Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper felt the course was raceable before the scheduled 7.30am precautionary inspection, however, with up to another six millimetres and possibly more rain still to fall, he will be keeping a close eye on how the course is shaping up.

As well as the Tingle Creek the meeting features the rearranged Fighting Fifth Hurdle, saved from Newcastle’s abandoned meeting last week.

Chepstow will inspect again at 8.30am as while the course is currently raceable 15 millimetres of rain has fallen since midnight.

Evan Bouchard's second goal of the game broke a tie early in the third period and sent the resurgent Edmonton Oilers to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Friday.

Edmonton won its sixth consecutive game and improved to 8-3-0 under Kris Knoublach, who replaced Jay Woodcroft as head coach on Nov. 12 after the Oilers got off to a 3-9-1 start.

Bouchard added an assist and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had four assists to help the Oilers battle back twice from one-goal deficits. Stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each contributed a goal and an assist to back 17 saves from Stuart Skinner.

The Wild were outshot by a 40-20 margin but kept it close throughout behind 36 saves from Marc-Andre Fleury.

After Draisaitl's power-play goal late in the second period forged a 3-3 tie, Bouchard also converted a power-play chance 1:32 into the third to put Edmonton in front.

Bouchard's first of the night gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead after one period, but Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek each scored in the opening minute of the second to send the Wild ahead. 

McDavid answered just 40 seconds after Eriksson Ek's goal, but Minnesota regained the lead on Connor Dewar's one-timer with 8:02 left in the second.

The Wild have now lost two straight after winning their first four games since John Hynes replaced Dean Evason as head coach on Nov. 28.

Bobrovsky, Panthers extend Penguins' losing streak

Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves and Eetu Luostarinen scored the deciding goal in the third period as the Florida Panthers came through with a 3-1 win over the slumping Pittsburgh Penguins.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Aleksander Barkov also had goals to help the Panthers move to 4-1-1 over their last six games.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has now lost four straight (0-2-2) after failing to hold on to a 1-0 lead provided by Reilly Smith's goal 8:05 into the second period.

The Panthers drew even when Ekman-Larsson knocked in a rebound late in the second period, then took a 2-1 edge when Luostarinen sent a loose puck past Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry with 6:10 elapsed in the third.

After Florida killed off a late Pittsburgh power play, Barkov sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 27 seconds remaining.

Jarry stopped 30 of 32 shots for the Penguins, who went 0 for 3 on the power play and have now gone 13 straight games without a man-advantage goal.

Greaves stars in NHL debut as Blue Jackets top Blues

Jet Greaves stopped 41 shots to win his first NHL game as the Columbus Blue Jackets pulled away for a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues.

Yegor Chinakhov had two of three Columbus goals in the third period to support an outstanding debut from Greaves, called up from the minors Thursday after the Blue Jackets placed regular goaltender Elvis Merzlikins on injured reserve.

The 22-year-old rookie came up with 23 saves alone in the third period, during which Chinakhov scored twice in a span of under six minutes to stretch Columbus' lead to 4-1.

Chinakhov also assisted on Kirill Marchenko's goal that put the Blue Jackets ahead just 1:42 in, though Robert Thomas tied it for St. Louis later in the first period with the first of his two goals.

Adam Fantilli put Columbus back ahead with a shot past Blues goaltender Joel Hofer with 2:59 left in the opening period.

Thomas scored again with 2:22 remaining to get St. Louis within 4-2, but Alexandre Texier's empty-net goal in the final seconds ended any Blues' comeback hopes.

Columbus snapped a three-game losing streak, while the Blues have now dropped three of four. Hofer stopped 17 of 21 shots in defeat.

Two Cheltenham Festival-winning mares are lining up to take their shot at the rearranged Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle, with You Wear It Well and Love Envoi also proven performers at Sandown.

Whether or not Constitution Hill competes, You Wear It Well is heading back to this venue at the peak of her powers.

Jamie Snowden’s six-year-old tasted Grade Two glory at the track last season before showing all her class to follow up at the Festival in March.

She raised her game once again on her Wetherby reappearance to down Luccia in convincing style and tee-up a crack at this Grade One prize for a yard firing on all cylinders.

“She’s in a great place and obviously had a phenomenal season last year in her novice season, winning two Grade Twos and winning at Cheltenham under a penalty,” said Snowden.

“She had a good summer holiday, came back and put in a really good performance up at Wetherby and perhaps a career best really, again under a penalty in a Listed race, beating Luccia, who came out and ran well in the Greatwood.

“She’s in the form of her life and she’s in great order. She has a run under her belt, which of course helps when running in a race of this nature, but we’re under no illusions taking on some smart horses here that she has a tall mountain to climb.”

Although putting together a highly-respectable sequence of results during her short career to date, You Wear It Well will head to Esher the lowest rated in the field of six, 11lb below the next on the ladder, Not So Sleepy.

However, she does receive a 7lb allowance and the programme book left a vacancy for a December outing, so Snowden was more than happy to take his chance against some of the best operators in the hurdling division.

He explained: “The mares’ programme sets itself out quite easy for November, January, February and March, but lacks a race in December, so in the absence of a suitable race, we thought we would try our hand in a big one and see where we get to.

“She’s a hardy mare and likes soft ground and has winning form round Sandown, but it’s a mighty good race and all of the opposition are very smart.

“On ratings, she has a lot to find with all of them, but I suppose there are a few question marks about a few of them.

“Constitution Hill is a champion and we’re under no illusions about what we have to achieve to win a race of this magnitude.

“However, we are in it for sport and she’s a racehorse and fit and well and there is no point giving horses like Constitution Hill a walkover.”

It was the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle that You Wear It Well landed at Prestbury Park in March, a race won the previous year by Love Envoi, who chased home Honeysuckle at the latest Festival and is another with smart course form to her name.

She suffered an injury in her most recent outing at Punchestown in April, but Harry Fry’s stable star is fit and ready to make her return, as connections eye another profitable campaign from their consistent performer.

“She loves Sandown. Obviously, Constitution Hill is in the race, but she’s ready to run, is in great form and her work’s been very good, so it’s time to get on and run,” said Noel Fehily, in whose syndicate colours Love Envoi runs.

“Everyone is in the same boat taking on a horse like Constitution Hill, but we’re just looking forward to getting our mare started. There’s some good races for her after Christmas and the timing of this race is going to work out well, so we’ll roll the dice and see how she gets on.”

Hughie Morrison’s Not So Sleepy dead-heated with Epatante in this race in 2021 but has a chequered overall record in the race.

Goshen was not in the contest when it was due to take place at Newcastle last Saturday, but with it now staged at a venue where he has won on three of his four visits, trainer Gary Moore was keen to add his enigmatic seven-year-old into the mix when it reopened on Monday.

Soft ground and heading right-handed are both in Goshen’s favour, but Moore is another anticipating the sternest of tests if up against Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten superstar.

The trainer said: “He is a little bit better going round there (Sandown) than anywhere else and it is the first time he has had his ground in God knows how long, really.

“He was fine (after Ascot) and the ground was probably too good for him there.

“I’m well aware he has a near impossible task taking on Constitution Hill and he’s probably running for place money.”

The eagerly-awaited return of Constitution Hill in the rearranged Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle could be in doubt after Sandown called an inspection ahead of their Tingle Creek card on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten Champion Hurdle hero was due to reappear at Newcastle last weekend before the cold snap saw the Grade One contest switched south and delayed seven days – and it is wet weather that could interfere and scupper best laid plans this time around.

The Esher track will hold a 7.30am inspection in anticipation of a deluge hitting overnight, which could worsen conditions on a hurdles course already described as heavy, soft in places – as well as making things testing on the chase track.

It could leave Henderson with a few big decisions to make on Saturday morning and he said: “We’ve got to wait and make our decisions as well and we will wait to see what the morning brings.”

It is poised to be a major afternoon for the Seven Barrows handler, who as well as Constitution Hill and King George-bound stablemate Shishkin in the Fighting Fifth, is also set to saddle heavy Betfair Tingle Creek favourite Jonbon in the afternoon’s feature, plus leading novice hope Willmount.

However, when asked if there is also doubts about their participation on Saturday, Henderson added: “There certainly is and at the moment I’m trying to make numerous telephone calls to various owners to discuss what we do; it’s flat out, flat to the boards.”

Henderson withdrew the well-fancied Immortal from the final race on Friday’s card, citing unsuitable ground.

Andrew Cooper, Sandown clerk of the course, earlier said: “We are racing today on extremely soft ground and with the potential of a good volume of rain in the early hours, I think it is sensible to take stock and see what happens tomorrow morning.

“It can be hard to be too dogmatic as to what the tipping point is, as sometimes you are surprised how much rain the course will take and sometimes you are disappointed how little the course will take.

“My gut feeling is that we will be OK. It is a marvellous day of racing and we will do everything we can to race.”

Masters champion Jon Rahm has become LIV Golf’s most significant signing since it launched just 18 months ago.

The world number three’s decision to join the Saudi-funded breakaway represents a huge U-turn and deepens the divisions in the men’s professional game.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the background to the move and what could happen next?

While players like Rory McIlroy openly voiced their opposition, Rahm was always more measured in his comments, making it clear he felt LIV players should be allowed to play in this year’s Ryder Cup and saying he did not blame two young compatriots David Puig and Eugenio Chacarra for cutting short their college careers to take the money on offer. However, he did pledge his loyalty to the PGA Tour in February last year, criticised LIV’s 54-hole, no-cut format and insisted he played golf to make history, not money.

The Framework Agreement between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls LIV, appears to have been the catalyst. All the players were blindsided by the sudden announcement of a potential peace deal on June 6, with Rahm revealing he was making breakfast when he heard the news and feared his phone was “going to catch fire” as texts and calls streamed in. A week later at the US Open, Rahm described it as a “bombshell” and admitted many players felt a “bit of betrayal from management”. That no doubt caught the attention of those in charge of LIV, who eventually made Rahm an offer that he felt he could not turn down, even if it meant risking his Ryder Cup future.

As long as he remains a DP World Tour member by playing in at least four regular events a season, Rahm will be eligible to try to qualify for the Ryder Cup or receive a wild card from captain Luke Donald. However, he will face fines and suspensions for playing in LIV tournaments without the required “conflicting event” releases from the DP World Tour. McIlroy has already stressed the need for Rahm to be on the team which will try to retain the trophy at Bethpage Black in 2025, leaving the DP World Tour in a potentially awkward position.

Plenty of names have already been linked with jumping ship, although Poland’s Adrian Meronk was quick to quash rumours suggesting he would be among them having only recently earned his PGA Tour card. A place on Rahm’s team, which has yet to be determined, would certainly be appealing financially and they would not come in for the same level of scrutiny and criticism as the two-time major winner.

Of course there remains the possibility that the Framework Agreement leads to a definitive deal between the rival factions and that players will be free to compete wherever they wish. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan are due to meet shortly in pursuit of a deal before the deadline of December 31, which can be extended. However, if either party walks away, with private equity potentially offering the PGA Tour alternative funding sources, the game could be split once again and face years of further acrimony and upheaval.