The NBA has begun investigating whether James Harden’s absence from the Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener is a violation of the league’s new player participation policy.
The Sixers could be fined up to $100,000 if there is no approved reason for Harden to miss Thursday’s 118-117 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks – a nationally televised game.
Last offseason, the league issued a new participation policy to crack down on healthy players opting out of regular-season games, especially marquee matchups broadcast on ABC, ESPN or TNT.
“We're looking into the facts around James Harden's availability tonight to determine whether an approved reason exists for his lack of participation,” NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement.
Harden returned from a 10-day excused absence earlier this week and was told to report to the team’s practice facility to get into game shape while his teammates opened the season without him.
According to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, Harden tried to board the team flight to Milwaukee but was stopped by a security official and left the airport.
An NBA probe is the latest development in a soured relationship between the 76ers and the 10-time All-Star.
In late June, Harden picked up his $35.6million player option for the 2023-24 season and then immediately requested a trade.
He could have declined the option and become a free agent but was hoping by exercising his option it would facilitate a trade.
He later blasted team president Daryl Morey in August while in China.
“Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organisation that he’s a part of,” Harden said. “Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organisation that he’s a part of.”
Harden has since reiterated his unwillingness to play for Morey’s Sixers, but by reporting for practice this week, has shown some acknowledgement that his best chance at being traded would be to play well in Philadelphia until a partner is found.
The Los Angeles Clippers – widely considered Harden’s most likely destination – have suspended trade talks with Philadelphia, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday. Wojnarowski went on to report that the Clippers are the only team that has made a “serious offer” for Harden.
Nicholas Paul of Trinidad and Tobago once again demonstrated his qualities as one of the best track cyclists in the world when he won gold in the final of the Men’s Sprint at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile on Thursday.
The outstanding 25-year-old Trinidadian out-paced his rival Suriname’s Jair Tjon to claim gold and his second Pan Am Games title to go with the one he won in Lima, Peru in 2019.
In the race for the bronze medal, Kevin Santiago Qunitero Chavarro of Colombia bettered Canada’s Nicholas John Wammes.
Wimbledon’s bold expansion plans have been approved by Merton Council following a lengthy planning committee meeting which concluded just after midnight.
A 524-page document had already been published by the council which concluded planning permission should be granted, subject to conditions, because of the substantial public benefits of the proposal outweighing harm to the significance of heritage assets.
The All England Club bought the lease of the neighbouring Wimbledon Park Golf Club for a reported £65million in 2018.
Across the site – which also includes Wimbledon Park Lake and a section of Church Road – the AELTC was seeking the go-ahead to build 38 new courts, including a third show court with a capacity of 8,000 seats and retractable roof, as well as designated north and south player hubs while also providing publicly-accessible parkland.
Under the proposals, originally submitted in 2021, the grounds will almost triple in size and allow Wimbledon to host the qualifying tournaments in SW19, rather than their current home a couple of miles away in Roehampton.
Completion is projected for 2030, which will see an increase in the capacity of the championships from 42,000 to 50,000 and also deliver “benefits relating to heritage open space, recreation and community”.
The ambitious scheme, though, has not gone down well with some local residents.
Around 2,000 trees are expected to be removed across some 75 acres of Metropolitan Open Land, which is intended to be protected as an area of landscape, recreation, nature conservation or scientific interest.
A petition to ‘Save Wimbledon Park’ showed more than 13,000 signatures, and there were protests from opposition groups outside the Development and Planning Applications Committee meeting at Merton Civic Centre.
Chaired by Labour and Co-operative Party counsellor Aidan Mundy, the committee heard a number of arguments on both sides – including from the All England Club, local residents, council officers and Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond – which took in environmental, social and economic considerations during a lengthy meeting which lasted for almost five hours.
A final vote eventually came at just after midnight, which saw the recommendation for planning permission to be granted passed by six votes to four.
Following the announcement, someone shouted a protest, apparently from the public seats, with counsellor Mundy asking the person to leave the room and calling for security before the meeting was adjourned.
The proposals will now move on to the next stage of the planning process, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan required to formally accept or reject the decision due to the development taking place on Metropolitan Open Land.
As the northernmost part of Wimbledon Park is within the borough of Wandsworth, the scheme must also be approved by its planning committee.
There is also the possibility of judicial review as a potential obstacle for the development proceeding.
Local residents who oppose the decision could attempt to challenge the lawfulness of the way it was made, on the grounds of illegality, procedural unfairness or irrationality.
A spokesperson for the London Borough of Merton said: “After considering the officer’s report, relevant submissions, and the relevant planning framework, the independent planning committee, made up of councillors from all parties, voted to approve the application made by the All England Lawn Tennis Ground (AELTG) for expansion of its site at Wimbledon.
“There are further stages in the planning process and the land remains subject to covenants contained in the transfer of 1993 from the Council to AELTG.
“Until these covenants are properly addressed by AELTG they operate to restrict the use and development of the land as proposed in the planning application.”
News of the vote was met with disappointment by the Wimbledon Park Residents’ Association (WPRA).
“We are not at all surprised by the outcome of the vote. Most of the inconsistencies in the report were glossed over,” WPRA chair Iain Simpson said.
“Merton did not even bring their own experts into the hearing, and instead relied on the applicant to advise the councillors who were asking the questions. In addition their pronouncements on the environment still ignored their own expert advice where it didn’t suit them.
“On all that was said about the stadium and the buildings, these are still in outline – and outline designs on protected land contravene their own planning regulations. They therefore cannot be discussed in any meaningful way.
“This is just a stage in what will be a long process for which Save Wimbledon Park is well prepared.”
Lewis Hamilton has claimed there were multiple drivers who should have been disqualified from last weekend’s United States Grand Prix for running an illegal car.
Hamilton was stripped of his second place after the floor on his upgraded Mercedes failed a post-race scrutineering check.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished sixth, was also kicked out of the classification for an identical breach.
But Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who claimed his 15th win of the season, and the McLaren of Lando Norris, elevated to second following Hamilton’s penalty, were both cleared of any wrongdoing.
However, speaking ahead of this weekend’s race in Mexico City, Hamilton said: “I heard from several sources that there were a lot of other cars that were illegal and they were not tested so they got away with it.
“I have been racing here for 16 years and there have been many other scenarios like this where some people have got away with it, and some have been unlucky and have been tested.”
Hamilton said the sprint format in Austin – which allowed for just one hour of practice before parc ferme rules heavily constrict changes to the cars – coupled with the bumpy nature of the Circuit of the Americas were behind his disqualification.
Limited FIA resources means the governing body checks only a handful of cars after a race, and the selections are based on oscillation data.
But Hamilton continued: “There needs to be a better structure to make sure it is fair and even across the board.
“We have never had that problem in Austin before, and is because we had a sprint race. An easy fix is that we should be able to change the floors.
“The car should not be set from Friday morning especially at the bumpiest track on the calendar.
“That is the only reason there were failures. And that reason wasn’t why we were as fast as we were. We hope we have another strong weekend here.”
Hamilton finished just 2.2 seconds behind Verstappen in his most competitive race of the season – one he believed he could have won if Mercedes did not fluff their strategy lines.
“I had just come out the press conference and I was about to get into the ice tub when (team principal) Toto (Wolff) came running down and told me,” added Hamilton.
“It was devastating because it was such a great day and a great race. I was deflated, but there are lots of positives to take from it.”
Tyson Fury has vowed to deliver UFC fighter Francis Ngannou his first knockout blow when they go toe to toe in Riyadh on Saturday night.
Heavyweight champion Fury will contest a 35th career bout this weekend, but his WBC title will not be on the line against Ngannou for the 10-round fight.
Fury is set for a long-anticipated undisputed heavyweight showdown with Oleksandr Usyk on December 23, which is also scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia.
First, though, Fury intends to dispatch boxing novice Ngannou, who left the UFC after the end of his contract, a last fight coming in January 2022, before signing up with the Professional Fighters League from 2024.
Trainer SugarHill Steward admitted preparing Fury to take on the Mixed Martial Arts fighter was one of the hardest camps, given they just do not know what to expect from Ngannou.
Fury, though, is confident of what the final outcome will be.
“I have been working with SugarHill to knock him out cold on Sunday night. I have no doubt in my mind that I will knock him out,” Fury said.
“He is a big strong guy. Obviously he has got a good punch, powerful – but so am I. I’m a big strong guy obviously powerful or else I would not be world heavyweight champion.
“I believe there is levels to the game – and he is going to find out my level on Saturday night.”
Fury added: “I have trained for a 12-round war, and if it is anything less it is going to be an early night.
“I’ve been hit by the biggest punches that have ever graced the face of the earth and I’m still undefeated, still standing and I am still number one.
“We are going to see what Francis has got inside of him, see if he’s got the guts to stand and trade with the heavyweight champion of the world and if he has got the belief in his power.
“I’m not convinced. I have heard all this talk before about power, so I’m looking forward to a challenge – and if it is not a challenge, I’ll be disappointed, put in that way.
“I am going to knock that big stiff spark out – and there is nothing he can do about it, no matter who he trains with, no matter who he brings on the night.
“That right hand is going to detonate right in your face, you big ugly dosser.”
During the pre-fight build-up Fury accused Ngannou of being “embarrassed” of his own body.
Fury again goaded the 37-year-old as a “big fat sausage” in Thursday’s media conference ahead of the ‘Battle of the Baddest’.
Cameroon-born Ngannou, though, is fully intent on showing Fury just what he can deliver in a boxing ring rather than the UFC Octagon.
“It might be a little weird, but I really also want to thank Tyson Fury for taking the fight, for taking the risk because he might go to sleep on Saturday night, so I appreciate his courage,” Ngannou said.
Mike Tyson is part of Ngannou’s camp, and enjoyed a verbal sparing with John Fury which saw the 59-year-old Briton challenge the former heavyweight champion to a showdown, regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s contest for his son.
Tyson admitted he was not sure what to make of Ngannou’s boxing ability, until he saw him in close quarters.
“At first when this came to me, I said ‘there’s no way this is going to happen’,” Tyson said.
“Then I watched him spar and he hit this guy and he broke his leg when he went down – and I said ‘man, there is a possibility something good could happen here’.
“I have never seen anything like that before. If he could do that man, he could possibly be heavyweight champion of the world.”
A member of the ground staff at Carlisle avoided serious injury in a nasty incident at the start of the seventh race on Thursday.
The man jogged across in front of the tape, but was still in the process of leaving the track when the tapes went up and was immediately knocked over as the runners set off, sent tumbling across the ground as the field galloped on.
A report from the stewards read: “An inquiry was held to consider the circumstances as to why a member of the ground staff had crossed the track at the start as the race was started resulting in his being knocked over by Euchan Falls.
“The clerk of the course, the member of ground staff, the starters and Gavin Sheehan, the rider of Euchan Falls, unplaced, were interviewed.
“Having heard their evidence and having reviewed video recording of the incident, the matter was forwarded to the head office of the British Horseracing Authority for further consideration.”
On a dramatic afternoon of National Hunt action, jockey Daire Davis was banned for 21 days at Ludlow for improper riding.
Daire was leading on Faha Belle in the fifth race of the day, but in moving right-handed – and about to take the wrong course – he clipped heels with Von Hallers who unseated David Bass. Daire corrected his mount to take the correct course, but in doing so ran into a group of other runners with his mount falling having gone through the rail.
Daire himself crashed into the Tom Bellamy-ridden Kit’s Coty, leading to Bellamy unseating.
Kristaps Porzingis called it an "awesome" feeling after dropping 30 points to lead the Boston Celtics to victory over his former team, the New York Knicks.
Porzingis was drafted by the Knicks with the fourth overall pick of the 2015 draft, spending four years at Madison Square Garden before he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Latvia native would go on to play for the Washington Wizards before joining the Celtics in a three-team trade prior to this season, and on his return to a hostile Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Porzingis played a starring role for his new team on debut.
Porzingis finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, scoring nine straight points in the fourth quarter to seal a 108-104 victory which got Boston, one of the favourites to reach the NBA Finals, off to a winning start to the new NBA season.
His 30 points were the most ever for a Celtics debut, leaving Porzingis ecstatic with his start in a new uniform and at the performance against his old team, as Jayson Tatum also impressed with a game-high 34 points.
Porzingis said: "Honestly, it’s an awesome feeling to come back now being a Celtic and to play here.
"Playing here at the Garden is always special as the home team, obviously, but also on the road here it's really fun too. Even getting booed and getting all that, it's still cool, I really like that and enjoyed that.
"At one point it got really crazy when the fans got into it and they made the comeback. But we stayed poised, we stayed calm and we were able to finish out the game.
"Most importantly, we won the game and [I am] very excited about what we have ahead of us."
The Celtics are at home to the Miami Heat on Friday in a repeat of last season's Eastern Conference finals, which Boston lost in a thrilling seven-game series.
Miami started its season with a dramatic 103-102 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Brodie Retallick has won the vote to start in the second-row for New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final against South Africa.
Retallick comes in for Sam Whitelock in the only change from the All Blacks side that overpowered Argentina 44-6 in the semi-final last Friday.
Whitelock replaced Retallick against Argentina but now moves to the bench for Saturday’s final at the Stade de France in Paris.
The 35-year-old Whitelock will become the first man to play in three World Cup finals, should he come off the bench.
Tight-head prop Nepo Laulala replaces Fletcher Newell on the All Blacks bench.
Brothers Scott, Jordie and Beauden Barrett all feature in the starting XV, which openside flanker Sam Cane captains.
The All Blacks, like South Africa, are chasing a record fourth title after triumphs in 1987, 2011 and 2015.
Ben Youngs will sign off his England career in Friday’s World Cup bronze final content that the time is right to step out of the Test arena.
The nation’s most capped men’s player with 126 appearances, a veteran of four World Cups, makes his first start of the tournament when England clash with Argentina at the Stade de France.
It brings down the curtain on an outstanding 13-year Test odyssey, the majority of which he has spent as first-choice scrum-half before his slide down the pecking order at France 2023.
“There’s not a part of me that thinks ‘what if’ – I’m absolutely making the right call,” said the Leicester and Lions half-back, who picked out the 2016 series whitewash of Australia as his career highlight.
“It just feels right. I feel so content. The fact I had this in my head for a long time and then I didn’t hesitate about it makes me realise that it’s absolutely the right decision.
“I’ve also got a young family and all the bits that come with that. So it’s just the right time. I will go back and play my club rugby and I look forward to doing that.
“I’ve got great memories, it’s been a great journey. The 13 years goes like that (clicks fingers). It will be nice to finish on a high on Friday.
“I will miss the adrenalin of running out in front of a full stadium. I’ll actually miss the pressure of big games, when everything is on the line. I’ll miss the build-up to the week, when it’s a big week with your team-mates.
“And I’ll also miss that camaraderie – the common goal of trying to achieve something special within an elite group.
“But, equally, I’ll look back very fondly and very content. One door closes and another one opens.”
When Youngs told Steve Borthwick that it was time to call it a day, he was thanked by the head coach.
In a neat piece of symmetry, Borthwick was also his captain when the 34-year-old made his debut as a replacement for injured wing Ugo Monye against Scotland in 2010.
“I remember (assistant coach) Mike Ford running up and the touchline telling me what to do. It was 15-15. Steve was my captain. It was at Murrayfield,” Youngs said.
“Ugo went off on a stretcher, he was absolutely fine and he played the next week. He was like that character from Jerry Maguire! The game has changed a lot.
“When I got that first one I didn’t think I would be sitting here 13 years later and having the opportunity to end it my way. It’s been a great ride and I’m proud of it.”
Max Verstappen has beefed up his personal security as he prepares for a hostile reception at Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez’s home race in Mexico.
Verstappen was jeered by Perez’s supporters at last weekend’s podium presentation in Austin as the triple world champion celebrated his 15th win of the season.
Chants of “Checo, Checo” – in support of Perez – were also audible during the Dutch national anthem.
A crowd of nearly 400,000 are expected at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez over the course of the weekend, with practice starting on Friday and it is understood Verstappen will be flanked by multiple security guards in the paddock.
Perez’s fans are unhappy Verstappen did not help the Mexican secure second place in last season’s championship after he ignored a team order at the penultimate round in Brazil.
Perez has won only twice this season – his last victory in Azerbaijan on April 30 – with Verstappen racing to his third title in as many years.
The paddock in Mexico City has become one of the most manic on the calendar, with drivers mobbed as they make their way from the motorhome to the garage.
And Perez is also expected to have a bigger entourage than normal to cover-off his enthusiastic fanbase.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and the team’s motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko will also be accompanied by security guards.
Speaking after last weekend’s race in Austin, Horner said: “I don’t think Max is going to get the warmest reception in Mexico, but that is water off a duck’s back to him.
“One year you are the villain and the next year you are the hero.”
Perez heads into this weekend’s round 206 points behind Verstappen. However, he is 39 points clear of third-placed Lewis Hamilton, who was disqualified from second at the Circuit of the Americas for running an illegal floor on his Mercedes.
Officials at Doncaster will carry out a precautionary inspection at 7:30am ahead of Friday’s meeting due to the threat of further rain.
Conditions on Town Moor are described as heavy but raceable ahead of what is scheduled to be a two-day fixture, with Saturday’s card due to feature the Group One Kameko Futurity Trophy.
Doncaster’s clerk of the course Paul Barker admits any rainfall over the next 24 hours would be problematic with Friday’s racing in mind.
He said late on Thursday afternoon: “We’ve had more rain than was forecast initially this morning. We’re OK at the moment, just, so it’s a case of what tonight brings us and tomorrow morning really.
“Some of the forecasters are saying we might get some more rain tonight, which we wouldn’t really want, and tonight is going to be a foggy, damp evening whatever happens. We won’t necessarily get a lot of rain, but it won’t dry anywhere.
“We don’t really want any more rain in any way, shape or form as we’re nearly as capacity.”
Assessing the prospects of Saturday’s high-profile meeting going ahead, Barker added: “The forecast after tonight’s threat of showers is relatively dry, although they did tell me that this morning and we got more rain than we were expecting today.
“It’s a bit more misty and foggy than wet. If it stays dry, with the time we’ve got before we race on Saturday, I’d be hopeful we could be in a better place.
“We could be here in the morning and be good to go on Friday and no problems for Saturday, but we just felt to be fair to everyone we’d hold a precautionary inspection.”
Friday’s meeting at Newbury has already been called off, with Saturday’s card also under threat due to a waterlogged track.
The Berkshire venue had 13 millimetres of rain on Wednesday and a further 3.8mm overnight on already heavy ground, leaving some areas of the course unraceable ahead of Friday’s fixture.
Saturday’s card is due to feature two Group Three contests in the BetVictor Horris Hill and St Simon Stakes, plus the Listed Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Stakes which is better known as the Radley.
However, the track must pass a 2pm inspection on Friday if the meeting is to go ahead.
The Indiana Pacers and coach Rick Carlisle have agreed to terms on a multiyear contract extension, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday.
Indiana began the third season of Carlisle’s second stint as the team’s head coach with a 143-120 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, giving Carlisle his 897th career win.
He ranks 14th in NBA history with those 897 wins and is second among active coaches behind Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, who is the league’s all-time leader with 1,366 victories.
Carlisle began his NBA head coaching career in 2001-02 with the Detroit Pistons and was named NBA Coach of the Year that season.
After two seasons with Detroit, Carlisle joined the Pacers and went 181-147 with three playoff appearances in four campaigns. Indiana advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in Carlisle’s first season in charge in 2003-04.
Carlisle was fired after the Pacers missed the playoffs in 2006-07 and worked as a studio analyst for ESPN before the Dallas Mavericks hired him as coach prior to the 2008-09 season.
Carlisle went on to lead Dallas to its first NBA championship in 2011 and posted a 555-478 record in 13 seasons while helping the Mavericks reach the playoffs nine times.
He resigned as Dallas coach in June 2021 and was rehired by the Pacers one week later.
Carlisle, who turns 64 on Friday, is 61-104 since rejoining Indiana as he tries to lead the franchise to its first postseason appearance since 2019-20.
Only a late setback will stop Inspiral heading to the Breeders’ Cup as connections are ready to “roll the dice” once again in a bid to end her campaign on a high.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of Frankel has been a high-class performer since her juvenile days and achieved the enviable feat of Group One victories at two, three and four when defending her Prix Jacques le Marois title in scintillating fashion in the summer.
She backed up that Deauville victory in supreme style when carrying Frankie Dettori to the easiest of victories in Newmarket’s Sun Chariot Stakes and having skipped the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on account of the testing ground at Ascot on British Champions Day, she has now been given the go-ahead for a first taste of action in America.
“It’s all systems go and the plan and we’re all very excited,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud.
“John Gosden seems very happy with her, so at the moment, fingers crossed, if there are no setbacks we’re looking forward to next weekend.
“She couldn’t have done it more easily at Newmarket (last time) and stamped her authority and John is very happy with where she is, so we may as well roll the dice again.”
Inspiral will be racing beyond a mile for the first time in her career when she lines up in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
However, buoyed by her going-away Sun Chariot success on the Rowley Mile, connections feel Santa Anita is the perfect spot to test the filly’s stamina reserves.
Richardson added: “The way she finished at Newmarket, she wasn’t stopping and she was well clear in the Sun Chariot.
“I think that gave us reason to think the slightly further trip on that sharper track at Santa Anita would suit her perhaps.
“It’s unknown territory, but depending on the run of the race, we think she will see it out.
“It will give us a few more options for, all being well, if she stays in training if she does stay a bit further.”
Only a late setback will stop Inspiral heading to the Breeders’ Cup as connections are ready to “roll the dice” once again in a bid to end her campaign on a high.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of Frankel has been a high-class performer since her juvenile days and achieved the enviable feat of Group One victories at two, three and four when defending her Prix Jacques le Marois title in scintillating fashion in the summer.
She backed up that Deauville victory in supreme style when carrying Frankie Dettori to the easiest of victories in Newmarket’s Sun Chariot Stakes and having skipped the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on account of the testing ground at Ascot on British Champions Day, she has now been given the go-ahead for a first taste of action in America.
“It’s all systems go and the plan and we’re all very excited,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud.
“John Gosden seems very happy with her, so at the moment, fingers crossed, if there are no setbacks we’re looking forward to next weekend.
“She couldn’t have done it more easily at Newmarket (last time) and stamped her authority and John is very happy with where she is, so we may as well roll the dice again.”
Inspiral will be racing beyond a mile for the first time in her career when she lines up in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
However, buoyed by her going-away Sun Chariot success on the Rowley Mile, connections feel Santa Anita is the perfect spot to test the filly’s stamina reserves.
Richardson added: “The way she finished at Newmarket, she wasn’t stopping and she was well clear in the Sun Chariot.
“I think that gave us reason to think the slightly further trip on that sharper track at Santa Anita would suit her perhaps.
“It’s unknown territory, but depending on the run of the race, we think she will see it out.
“It will give us a few more options for, all being well, if she stays in training if she does stay a bit further.”
Neil King is excited to see his stable star Lookaway make his return to action in the feature event on the opening day of the season at Cheltenham.
Bought for £170,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point a couple of years ago, the six-year-old gave his new connections an immediate return on their significant investment by winning on his debut under rules at Newbury, before plundering the Grade Two bumper at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
He made an inauspicious start to his career over hurdles last term, suffering defeat on his first three attempts, but came good in the spring with successive wins at Uttoxeter in May.
Lookaway returns to Grade Two level for Friday’s Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle and King is hoping he can pick up where he left off.
He said: “He seems in good shape, ready for action and we’re looking forward to getting him out.
“As everyone is aware we were badly out of form all winter last season and it just took a bit of time to get over things, but once we hit form he came right as well and showed what he’s all about.
“He’s all good, he’s done his work and is ready to make a start.”
Kamsinas looks a major contender for Fergal O’Brien, with the Kelso bumper winner having made an impressive debut over hurdles at Worcester a fortnight ago.
“I’m looking forward to running him and unlike most of our other runners the more rain they get the better for him,” said O’Brien.
“He’s been great since Worcester. It’s not what we’d normally do – we’d normally give them another run over hurdles before stepping into this grade – but he’s run in point-to-points, so we just said we’d roll the dice and fingers crossed he’ll come up trumps for us.”
John McConnell’s Fennor Cross took the prize back to Ireland 12 months ago and this season the raiding party is represented by the Peter Fahey-trained Toto Too.
Second on his introduction in a bumper at the Galway Festival during the summer, he went one better at Killarney next time and fairly bolted up on his hurdling bow at Navan on his most recent outing.
Fahey said: “It’s a very competitive race, with a lot of horses stepping up into that grade.
“Our horse has travelled over well and seems in good form. It’s a big ask going out for a Grade Two on his second run over hurdles, but we’re keen to get him out again on a bit of nice ground and we’re hoping he puts up a good run.”
Olly Murphy’s 14-length Bangor winner Act Of Authority and Dan Skelton’s 12-length Uttoxeter scorer Williethebuilder also feature in an intriguing contest.
Gavin Cromwell saddles two significant runners on the undercard in My Mate Mozzie and Encanto Bruno.
My Mate Mozzie, a winner at Grade Three level over hurdles and beaten just a length in the Galway Hurdle in August, is a hot favourite squareintheair.com Novices’ Chase, despite being beaten at cramped odds on his on his debut over fences at Fairyhouse three weeks ago.
“We were bit disappointed after Fairyhouse, I suppose the ground was a bit too soft for him and he didn’t stay,” said Cromwell.
“The ground looks like it’s going to be a bit better in Cheltenham and it looks a nice opportunity, so hopefully he can win.
“I know he has to stay up the hill, but the race is actually just shy of two miles.
“We’re clutching at straws with the tongue tie as he’s just not finishing out his races completely.”
Encanto Bruno won a bumper at this meeting last year for the aforementioned McConnell and went on to contest the Champion Bumper at the Festival in March.
He won as he liked on his hurdling debut at Bellewstown in July, but was pulled up at Galway next time and makes his first start for his new trainer in the Trustatrader Novices’ Hurdle.
Cromwell added: “We’re happy with him, he’s stepping up to two and a half which I don’t think will be a problem and nice ground will suit him.
“He’s working well at home and we’re hoping for a nice run, but whatever he does on Friday he’ll improve from it.”
Maro Itoje has praised Tom Curry’s courage in making his allegation of racist abuse against Mbongeni Mbonambi as England attacked World Rugby for failing to allow the “victim to have his voice heard”.
Curry claimed to referee Ben O’Keeffe in the first half of Saturday’s World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa that he had been called a “white c***” by Springboks hooker Mbonambi.
The Rugby Football Union subsequently disclosed to the inquiry that Curry “had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player” when the rivals clashed at Twickenham in November.
A statement released by SA Rugby on Friday afternoon revealed that Mbonambi “denied the allegations from the outset” – the first time his innocence had been voiced in public – and World Rugby has closed its investigation into both claims due to insufficient evidence.
With the matter unresolved, a cloud hangs over each player heading into the final weekend of the World Cup and England head coach Steve Borthwick has joined the RFU in condemning the outcome of the inquiry.
The focus of their anger is that the case will not be heard by an independent disciplinary hearing.
“The RFU expressed great disappointment at World Rugby’s decision and that bitter disappointment is shared by Tom, his teammates, the management and everyone associated with this team,” Borthwick said.
“Let’s be clear – Tom Curry has done nothing wrong. Somebody has said something to Tom Curry, Tom’s reported it.
“By making this decision World Rugby has denied the victim of the situation – Tom Curry – to have his voice heard. That’s where the disappointment really comes in.”
The saga has overshadowed the build-up to Friday’s bronze final between England and Argentina and the final between New Zealand and South Africa 24 hours later.
Curry will win his 50th cap when he lines up against the Pumas, despite being subjected to extensive online abuse since his allegation against Mbonambi was picked up by the ref mic during the 16-15 defeat by the world champions.
Itoje revealed that England have rallied around the Sale flanker, who has been thrust into the eye of the storm.
“Tom is the innocent party in this respect – as Steve said he has done nothing wrong and he is the victim of the situation. For him to have this abuse is disgraceful,” Itoje said.
“Tom has been tremendous. He’s been courageous to do what he’s done in the manner he’s done it, through proper channels, conducting himself in the manner he should be proud of.
“Definitely as teammates, we are proud of him. To do that isn’t easy. To make a statement like that isn’t easy. To call out stuff like that isn’t easy.
“As you’ve seen this week, when you do something courageous like that, you put yourself out there. He’s been absolutely fantastic in that regard.
“In terms of how we’ve tried to support him, we’ve just tried to be there for him in any way he needs. If he needs to talk about anything, we are always there for him.
“But he’s a strong man, he has a strong personality, a strong will, and he’s been great throughout the week.”
Mbonambi starts the World Cup final against New Zealand after being picked in the front row as the only established hooker in South Africa’s squad.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi revealed that he has been in contact with Curry to show his support in response to the online witch-hunt to which the Sale flanker has been subjected.
“I have spoken to him, I sent him a message. He is someone I respect,” Kolisi said.
“We can take it as players, when it comes to you it’s fine, but when families are involved it’s different. I have let him know we are supporting him, we are thinking of him.”
Cyclist Dahlia Palmer won Jamaica’s first medal at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile on Wednesday when she placed third in the final of the Women’s Keirin.
Palmer, who has been at loggerheads with the Jamaica Cycling Federation over a ban imposed on her coach, Robert Farrier, produced a strong performance which saw her finish 0.286s behind gold medallist Martha Bayona Pineda of Colombia.
Mexico’s Daniela Gaxiola Gonzales Luz won the silver medal.
In September, lawyers of New City Chambers, representing Palmer issued a final written warning to the Jamaican Cycling Federation. The letter threatened legal action against the federation unless they reconsider their suspension of Ms. Palmer's coach, Mr. Robert Farrier, and permit his attendance at the 2023 Pan Am Games and future events.
It is unclear whether the matter has been resolved.
The prospect of Super League rugby returning to Wales has been made more distant under IMG’s new grading system, according to the chief executive of the only remaining senior club in the country.
North Wales Crusaders ranked rock-bottom of the 35-strong list of senior clubs which will be used to determine the make-up of the top-flight from the 2025 season onwards, scoring just 5.07 points from a possible 25.
In common with a number of others, Andy Moulsdale believes the ranking is not a “fair reflection” of the progress made by his club, who only missed out on promotion to the Championship last season when they lost the League One play-off final to Doncaster.
It also paints a bleak picture for prospective expansion, with Wales’ only other senior club, West Wales Raiders, withdrawing from the league after the 2022 season, and no Welsh club having featured in the top two divisions of the domestic game for almost a decade.
Moulsdale told the PA news agency: “We all know what we’ve got to work towards and I’m the first to admit there are certainly some pillars we need to improve on, but some of it doesn’t add up.
“For what we’ve given back to the sport, I don’t think it’s a fair reflection. We reached the final last season and finished third in the two years previously. We’ve also set up a foundation that runs a women’s and three wheelchair teams.
“These gradings make it increasingly harder for League One teams to reach Super League. We’re the only professional club in Wales and our short-term goal is to keep a Welsh team going, and start to make progress rather than just existing.”
Super League arrived in Wales in 2009 when Celtic Crusaders, effectively the existing club’s previous incarnation, were granted a top-flight licence and lasted three seasons – the latter two as simply Crusaders – before falling into financial problems and failing to re-apply for a licence in 2012.
North Wales have since made quiet progress at the third-tier level, but the stark reality of elevating teams from expansion areas has been made plain by the rankings, which were ostensibly set up, at least in part, to encourage just that.
London Broncos languish in 24th place and face the prospect of a single top-flight campaign irrespective of their on-pitch performances next season, while Midlands Hurricanes and Cornwall occupy the two places immediately above North Wales.
“There’s no doubt it makes things more difficult for us,” added Moulsdale. “The scoring is inevitably weighted towards Super League clubs, because finances and fandom are obviously going to be bigger if you’re in the top division.
“We’ve lost the likes of West Wales and London Skolars in recent seasons, and unless you have someone who can come straight in and invest a lot of money, the prospects (for expansion teams) are extremely tough.”
Moulsdale is one of a number of chiefs who believe their clubs were incorrectly graded, and that their true score could have helped them at least avoid the negative connotations of being in bottom place.
But he conceded: “The IMG gradings make you take a step back and realise it’s not all about what happens on the pitch any more. Whether you agree with it or not, that’s the way it is, and we just have to try to improve in any way we can.”
Seamus Mullins has an eye on the big fences at Aintree for his Grimthorpe Chase winner Moroder.
The nine-year-old is a seven-time winner and ended last season on a high when very nearly landing a valuable staying handicap double.
A tough winner of the Grimthorpe at Doncaster in March, the gelding then contested the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and was beaten only by Christian Williams’ Kitty’s Light.
That performance, and subsequent handicap adjustments, have left the bay on a career-high mark of 140 coming into his seasonal debut in the Norman Court Stud Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Sunday.
Mullins expects the horse to come on for the run, which is likely to pave the way to the Becher Chase at Aintree in December and could in turn lead him back to Liverpool for the Grand National in spring.
“He’s very well, he’s had a good summer. He’s a horse who always needs the run because he’s a big, heavy horse so whatever he does on Sunday he will benefit from,” Mullins said.
“We have one eye on the Becher as his autumn target, he is in the race at Newbury (the Coral Gold Cup) and if he went really well on Sunday then we’d have a look at that.
“We’ve really an eye on Aintree in April, so we’ll plan his autumn campaign around the Becher Chase and see how he takes the National fences at Aintree.
“If he ran well there then we might consider the National, it’s early days and he’d have to improve with the new National structure as off of 140 he mightn’t even get in.
“He’ll have to improve again but then he’s entitled to.
“He went and won the Grimthorpe and then went to Sandown where he ran one hell of a race and was just unfortunately chinned by the Christian Williams horse.
“Hopefully he’ll have a clear run this year and we can have a full campaign with him. He’ll go and blow away the cobwebs at Wincanton and we’ll see from there.
“The most likely place he’d end up going would be Aintree for the Becher, then we’ll plan his campaign around that.”
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