Ty Lue is sure the Los Angeles Clippers will soon find a way to make things work with James Harden in the team.
The Clippers lost for a third straight game on Friday, going down 126-144 to the Dallas Mavericks.
That was despite a fast start from Los Angeles, who had built a 12-point lead with 1:53 remaining of the first quarter.
"What's the worst that you can be?" Lue asked when reflecting on the rest of his team's display, as they were put to the sword by Luka Doncic's 44 points.
Yet the Clippers coach feels wins will soon come as Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook gain some rhythm with Harden.
"I'm telling you, it's going to be good," said Lue, who rested his starters in the final quarter given the Clippers were trailing by 26 points.
"That's all right. We'll be all right. They better take advantage of it now."
Leonard echoed the sentiment, with the two-time NBA champion saying: "I'm still confident.
"I still feel like we're learning each other, the whole players and coaching staff, and you see a little bit of good things in the game tonight, even last game, having some good leads.
"We're just not sustaining it and once we figure it out, we're going to keep it rolling. So we've all got to stay afloat and stay confident and keep pushing one another to keep that mindset on the goal.
"We have four guys on the floor that are used to having a ball, used to finding a rhythm just by feeling and touching it all game.
"Just playing more, you'll start to figure out, OK, this guy needs this spot here or he got it going, let me buy in into another part of the game where I can make us win."
Leonard led the Clippers with 26 points, with Harden and Westbrook each chipping in with 14. George, though, could only score eight points, adding three rebounds and two assists, in his 23 minutes on the court.
"I feel like you got to learn to just adjust," George said. "It's not from a 'like' standpoint, it's just he's trying this out, too.
"We're all trying to try this out and so I don't know. I don't know, I'm out there to try to just learn on the fly, figure it out on the fly as we all are.
"So I'm rolling with what T-Lue sees out there and again, at some point it's going to work and nobody's going to talk about the rotations and guys on the floor and personnel."
Harden, too, acknowledged it will take time to fully adjust.
"Just getting used to it," he said. "There's just so many great talented players on this team, I got to find a way to still be aggressive, generating shots or creating shots for myself, as well.
"The first quarter felt really good on both ends of the ball, and then from there it went downhill. So trying to find a balance of not trying to step on anyone's toes, but just trying to still be aggressive and be myself.
"It's a process, but it's definitely a little frustrating. We do like to win games."
Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool are still not the finished article after a week of setbacks provided a dose of reality.
After snatching a late draw against newcomers Luton last weekend, a much-changed side slipped to their first Europa League defeat at Toulouse in midweek.
Liverpool have failed to win only five of 17 matches this season and they have have a 100 per cent record in eight at Anfield in all competitions but Klopp knows they have to avoid unnecessary hiccups like those of the last few days.
“Things are going in the right direction but we are not there yet. We are not as stable as I wish but that’s normal as well,” he said.
“Generally we are in a positive situation and it is important to learn to deal with that. There has been a lot of praise.
“It really feels like this (Toulouse) and Luton is a real learning curve. I wish it would not be necessary, to be honest. I wish we would learn it quickly.
“We can be a really good team. We have shown that. We cannot have what happened (in Toulouse): we were not aggressive enough. It was as easy as that.
“We can lose a game but we have to use it to learn the right things. To win a football game, you need to be aggressive.”
Liverpool’s all-new midfield has impressed having only been assembled in pre-season but the pressure on the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch has been increased recently.
Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic were already long-term absentees but with the unfortunate Curtis Jones out until after the international break, Gravenberch’s availability against Brentford in the balance due to a knee injury and Mac Allister suspended on Sunday, resources are looking thin.
That is without taking into account first-choice left-back Andy Robertson’s absence until the new year after shoulder surgery.
When the Premier League campaign resumes after the international break Liverpool have 11 matches in 38 days – starting at Manchester City and including two European ties which would have been rendered dead rubbers had the team won in southern France.
“Now it’s just important we get through this period until the international break and then after with as (few) injuries as possible because the games are coming thick and fast,” added Klopp.
“It’s crazy how many we have to play and we need them all (the squad). You will see them all.”
Liverpool have had their difficulties against Brentford before, notably in a 3-1 defeat away from home in January, and even with striker Ivan Toney serving a long-term suspension Klopp is wary of the threat they pose.
“Sometimes I remember bad things but in this specific case not really. Pretty sure it was not good,” said the Reds boss regarding that game.
“Super-challenging to play Thomas Frank and Brentford for different reasons. I’m not sure they are 100 per cent happy with the season but losing Ivan Toney and the player he was for them is really brutal.
“But they are mid-table, which is probably what Brentford wants getting through this situation and when he is coming back, using him again.
“They are well-organised, sensational at set-pieces and have really offensive players and really fast counter-attacking.
“It is always interesting and difficult as well. But it is Anfield and we should use that.”
Pep Guardiola expects Chelsea to be back challenging for the title in the near future.
Chelsea last won the Premier League during Guardiola’s first season at Manchester City in 2016-17.
Since then it is City who have dominated the competition, taking the crown in five of the past six campaigns.
Chelsea did edge out City in the 2021 Champions League final but there has been plenty of turbulence at the London club since, and they currently sit 10th in the table.
Guardiola, who takes his side to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, said: “Chelsea remain one of the more important teams in England.
“It’s true that in the Premier League they were not close to winning it in these last seasons but they’re still one of the strongest teams, there’s no doubts about that.
“I see that in the last games they are alive, they have good spirit, they are aggressive, they have a good pattern. The quality is there.
“It’s one of the toughest games that we have during the season. Sooner or later Chelsea will be there fighting for the titles, and I guess sooner than later.”
Chelsea have had a rocky start to the campaign under new manager Mauricio Pochettino but Guardiola has no doubt they will come on strong.
He said: “It’s normal. They are getting better. Every manager needs his time – it’s a new club, new players but they’ll be a top contender because the quality in all departments is there.”
Two of Chelsea’s better performers this season have been the former City pair of Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling.
City academy product Palmer, 21, switched clubs in August having grown frustrated at a lack of opportunities at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola said: “The reason why was that he wanted game time. Now he has it, so congratulations.
“He’s a guy who came from the academy and if he is having success it’s good for him and we wish him the best. I’m really pleased for him.”
Sterling won four Premier League titles and the FA Cup at City and Guardiola recognises him as a dangerman this weekend.
Guardiola said: “He’s playing really good, he’s back in his best moments, best performance, (from) what I’ve seen lately.
“He always creates incredible dangers for the opponents.”
Maia Lumsden is relishing her “unbelievable” Billie Jean King Cup call-up 18 months after recovering from long Covid.
The 25-year-old Scot was bed-bound for several months after an initially mild bout of coronavirus in October 2020 turned into something much more debilitating.
She feared her career could be over but was finally able to make a tentative return to the court last spring and happily that turned into a full-time comeback.
View this post on Instagram
Earlier this week, she was rewarded for an excellent season in doubles, including a run to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, with a first call-up for Great Britain for this weekend’s play-off against Sweden in London.
“During that period, I didn’t think I would get back to playing for a while so to now be in the GB team’s obviously unbelievable,” Lumsden told the PA news agency.
“I feel like it hasn’t really fully sunk in, the last four weeks I’ve played four tournaments in a row, so I feel like it’s come around pretty quick.
“It’s a huge moment for me. It’s an amazing feeling to get selected for GB for the first time and get to be in this team with all the other girls is really cool. A lot of them are really experienced and have played a lot of ties so it’s great to be around everyone.
“The first time I saw professional tennis was the Davis Cup ties at Braehead (in Glasgow) so I’ve always loved team competitions and it’s been a goal to get in a team like this because that was what inspired me when I was younger.”
With Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart and Heather Watson also in the team, Lumsden is unlikely to feature in a match, but it will still be a very proud moment for her family in the stands at the Copper Box.
“They’re going to come down to watch the tie,” she said. “I think everyone’s very happy, everyone close to me that saw those tough moments. It feels like a great turnaround.
“When things are tough at tournaments, I try to remember that they were a lot tougher before.”
Lumsden was one of Britain’s most promising juniors and had hoped for a top career in singles but, with her doubles ranking now at 74, making her Britain’s number one, her focus has switched.
The less physically demanding form of the sport has also proved a better fit, with Lumsden still wary of over-extending herself.
“When I was coming back, I was picking up small injuries, I guess because I was out for such a long period of time,” she said.
“Doubles definitely suits that a lot more. It’s easier physically. I can manage the loads more. Sometimes I still have a little bit more fatigue than I think’s normal. I am still careful with my training, I don’t push it too much.
“That was one of my goals for this year…just to try to do everything I can to stay healthy, to get a full season.”
Lumsden has formed a very promising partnership with fellow British player Naiktha Bains, and the pair will look to build on their progress in 2024.
Their run at Wimbledon made them the first all-British duo to reach the last eight of the women’s doubles for 40 years and Lumsden said: “It’s been really exciting.
“Having that breakthrough at Wimbledon was great, just allowing us to play in those bigger WTA tournaments. That changed the rest of the year. It’s been great to experience all these new things.”
LeBron James defied his age again with 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied for a 122-119 win over the Phoenix Suns to snap a three-game skid.
The 38-year-old James was 11 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers, and played a team-high 36 minutes, 23 seconds.
Kevin Durant scored 38 points and Bradley Beal had 24 for the Suns, who again played star Devin Booker for the fourth straight game.
Austin Reaves’ layup with 9:25 remaining was part of a 14-0 run and gave the Lakers their first lead of the second half at 97-96.
Cam Reddish scored 17 points and hit a corner 3 on a pass from James to extend Los Angeles’ lead to 118-113 with 70 seconds to go.
Anthony Davis returned after missing one game with a hip injury and had 18 points, 11 boards and four assists.
76ers beat Pistons for 7th straight win
The 76ers and Pistons continued to head in opposite directions as Joel Embiid had 33 points and 16 rebounds in Philadelphia’s 114-106 victory.
Tyrese Maxey has 29 points, 10 assists and no turnovers and former Piston Tobias Harris added 24 points as the 76ers won their seventh straight since a season-opening loss at Milwaukee.
Killian Hayes scored 23 points and Cade Cunningham had 21 for the Pistons, who dropped their seventh in a row and lost center Jalen Duren to an ankle injury.
Philadelphia closed the third quarter with a 15-6 run to go ahead 83-77 and outscored Detroit 35-21 in the period behind 16 points from Embiid.
Streaking Timberwolves overcome Wembanyama, Spurs
Karl-Anthony Towns had 29 points and 12 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves won their fifth straight, 117-110 over the San Antonio Spurs despite 29 points from Victor Wembanyama.
Anthony Edwards added 28 points for Minnesota, which notched it first road win of the season to go with impressive home victories over Boston and Denver.
Wembanyama was 12 of 21 from the field and 3 for 7 on 3-pointers, while adding nine boards, four assists and four blocks.
Devin Vassell scored a career-high 29 points for San Antonio in his return to the starting lineup after missing two games with a strained left groin and coming off the bench in Wednesday’s loss to the Knicks.
Stuart Lancaster resigned as England head coach on this day in 2015 after his side’s poor showing at the Rugby World Cup.
England became the first host nation to be knocked out at the pool stage after a 28-25 defeat to Wales and a 33-13 loss to Australia at Twickenham.
A Rugby Football Union inquest into England’s performances saw Lancaster sacked after three years in the job – he took over from 2003 World Cup winner Martin Johnson in 2012.
“I ultimately accept and take responsibility for the team’s performance,” Lancaster said after stepping down.
“I took on the role in difficult circumstances and it has been a huge challenge to transition the team with many hurdles along the way.
“However, I am immensely proud of the development of this team and I know that there is an incredibly strong foundation for them to progress to great things in the future.”
RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie said: “The Rugby World Cup was hugely disappointing for everyone associated with the England team and the subsequent review into the team’s performance was always intended to be extremely comprehensive, which it has been.”
Eddie Jones, who helped Japan to a historic 34-32 victory over South Africa in 2015, took over as England head coach and led them to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan before he departed in 2022 following a poor run of form.
Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist to lead the Florida Panthers to a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference finals on Friday.
Sam Reinhart set up two goals and Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves to win his fourth straight start for Florida, which improved to 6-1-1 in its last eight games.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Sebastian Aho scored for the Hurricanes, which entered having won five of six.
The Panthers have won 10 of the last 12 meetings in the series, including all four in last season’s playoffs.
Golden Knights blank Sharks to avoid third straight loss
Alec Martinez scored twice and Adin Hill made 20 saves for his second shutout in three games as the Vegas Golden Knights got back on track with a 5-0 rout of the San Jose Sharks.
Alex Pietrangelo had a goal and two assists for the Knights, who were coming off consecutive losses following an 11-0-1 start to the season.
The Sharks failed in a bid to win three straight after they went winless in their first 11 games (0-10-1).
Vegas has dominated the all-time series with San Jose, going 22-2-5.
Capitals score 2 in 15 seconds, hold off Devils
Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Beck Malenstyn scored 15 seconds apart in the first period and the Washington Capitals continued their surge with a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.
Evgeny Kuznetsov had two goals and Charlie Lindgren turned aside stopped 24 shots to help the Capitals improve to 5-1-1 in their last seven games following a 1-3-1 start.
Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer scored third-period goals for New Jersey, which has lost three or four.
Vitek Vanecek allowed two goals on five shots for the Devils before he was replaced by Akira Schmid midway through the first period.
Renowned Gulfstream Park race announcer Peter Aiello has lauded Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe and his team for the direction in which they are taking Jamaica’s horseracing product.
In fact, Aiello, who will be making his debut at Caymanas Park on Saturday during the third running of the Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL)-sponsored Jamaica Cup, believes the potential for growth is very much on the cards, provided the promoters remains committed to their objectives.
SVREL took over promotion of racing in 2017 and has invested significantly as a means of driving the product forward. The broadcasting of their signal to overseas markets, the implementation of a solar power system, a partnership with New York-based Bridge99Fm, as well as the Australian-based BetMakers Technology group to offer Fix Odds betting, are among SVREL’s milestone achievements to date.
“I am a huge fan of it. Since I have been here, I’ve kind of been picking everybody’s brain operationally speaking because that’s how my mind works, and everything just seems to be up. There are some really forward-thinking ideas, and one thing I like about it, it seems like it is more of a methodical approach where they are playing the long game,” Aiello assessed.
“It is not a scenario where somebody tries something, and it doesn’t work right away, and they give up on it. I think that is really important and I think it is something that the US racetracks are guilty of, they give up too soon. So, I really like the long-term projection, they are starting to see some positive results and I am happy to do what I can to make sure they continue on that positive, upward trend,” he told SportsMax.TV.
Aiello, a familiar voice in the world of horse racing, is associated with some of the most prestigious horse racing events in the
United States. He expressed delight about bringing his expertise to one of Jamaica’s most highly anticipated race days.
The Jamaica Cup is the last significant event before the lucrative Mouttet Mile Invitational scheduled for December 2. In addition to the main event, the undercard will have eight high-stakes races contested by top horses, jockeys, and trainers.
“I have been a fan of Jamaican horse racing for probably two or three years now. Once Supreme Ventures made it available in the US, I caught on to it and really fell in love with it, so it is nice to actually be here,” Aiello said.
“I was looking back at the race card earlier and there are some really good races tomorrow. The Jamaica Cup is going to be exciting and “Spuddy” [Brian Rickman] and I have a nice surprise for everybody so make sure you tune in. But there is another race on the card that seems super exciting and that’s Desert of Malibu up against American Tap and Rani Bangala, that is a heck of a race, that is a championship quality race. So, the seventh and eighth races are what I am really excited about,” he added.
Regarding the Mouttet Mile, which will be streamed live in the United States on Fox 5, Aiello said it speaks volumes of the significant strides Jamaica’s racing has made.
“I think it is great, and I am hopeful that we can get some of the American influence behind it. I know Solomon Sharpe and the team are working to get as much influence as they can, but I think it’s a great thing and I am certainly willing to help as much as I can. The race will be shown on Fox 5 in the US this year which is great because that is the exposure that Jamaican racing needs,” Aiello noted.
“The purse is allegedly going up next year, so if the purse goes up, I think it is just going to be a situation where the horsemen and jockeys are going to have to take note of the state of the calendar and hopefully, we can get a worldwide experience, which would mean everybody wins,” he reasoned.
And with this being his first time in Jamaica, Aiello is relishing the experience.
“They are doing a great job of getting me to enjoy all these great Jamaican foods and I have to say I am going to be a bit disappointed that I won't be able to get a callaloo patty and some bammy when I get home," Aiello ended.
England flanker Tom Curry stands by his accusation that South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi racially abused him in the World Cup semi-final.
World Rugby found “insufficient evidence” to back up Curry’s claim that he was called a “white c***” by the Springboks player midway through the first half of the match in Paris.
Hooker Mbonambi has accused England of being “unprofessional” over the allegations, insisting “misunderstanding” arose because Curry failed to realise he was speaking Afrikaans, a common practice among the Springboks to ensure opponents do not understand their messages.
But Curry, whose girlfriend and family have since suffered online abuse, insisted “I heard what I heard.”
He said in an interview with the Daily Mail: “I didn’t really want to speak about it from the start.
“For me, on both occasions, the ball was out of play. Me and Bongi were talking and there’s no misunderstanding from my part. I went to the referee straight away. I heard what I heard. That’s all I really want to say about it and I won’t really be talking about it again.
“It was tough for my family, my girlfriend and my brother. It was a tough experience but it is what it is. The investigation’s been done and that’s all I want to say about it.”
Elixir De Nutz ran out a gutsy winner of the Betway Haldon Gold Cup for Joe Tizzard at Exeter.
Fit from a recent run at Chepstow, he was one of two runners in the race for Tizzard with stable jockey Brendan Powell riding War Lord.
That meant Freddie Gingell, Tizzard’s nephew, came in for the ride and he was positive from the outset on the grey.
A 13-2 chance for the Grade Two, Elixir De Nutz was kept handy and surged ahead as others were faltering around the final turn for home.
A game and accurate string of jumps saw him extend his lead on the run in to the line and though Paul Nicholls’ Solo gave chase, it was the young jockey who prevailed by three and a quarter lengths.
“That is unreal. A big thank you to Terry Warner (the horse’s owner) and his family and to Joe and Colin (Tizzard) as well,” Gingell said.
“I went in and schooled him on Wednesday and Joe said ‘where would you rather go, Fontwell or Exeter’. I said I would love to go to Exeter to ride him as it is a big race and Joe has won it a few times. Riding in it was a big thing, but I never thought this would happen.
“The plan was to get a good start and go from there as there were five other very good horses in it. He was a bit slow going to the first, but he then jumped the first and took off with me. He was jumping outside the wings every time I gave him a squeeze and asked him.
“Harry (Cobden on Solo) came upsides me turning in and I thought ‘I will see what happens’, but I managed to get a breather into him as I thought Harry was coming with a very big challenge now. I thought ‘I will keep plugging onto the line’, but I thought we might have got racing a bit too early.
“For a moment or two I couldn’t believe it happened. I looked around and thought did I just win it sort of thing then Brendan (Powell) came and patted me on the back and it then really started to hit me.
“It is a big day and the last three years haven’t been easy. I can’t thank them enough for supporting me as it has been a really tough time. I passed my driving test last Tuesday and I have ridden a few winners, so it is all going well.”
The victory also left triumphant trainer Tizzard, who won the race three times as a jockey aboard Lake Kariba (1998), Flagship Uberalles (1999) and Cue Card (2012), fighting back the tears in an emotional response to the win as Gingell is the son of his late sister Kim.
Tizzard said: “We said it after we left Ayr last year about going for the Haldon Gold Cup. I said he always needs his first run and that worked a treat. The race suited him today. We were a bit worried about the ground, but the trip and the track were perfect for him. It is emotional.
“That is as good a ride that I’ve seen Fred give a horse to be honest. I wanted to get him revved up to be positive on him. He is only 17 years old, but he asked him at every fence. It is lovely for Terry and his wife who have made it down as they don’t get to the races all the time.
“That’s why me and dad are a little bit emotional (because we are thinking of Kim), but he (Freddie) didn’t need a lot of help.
“Fred is part of the family so it is lovely. I’m proud of Fred. He is a 17-year-old boy and he is a 7lb claimer. He has got a great job with Paul (Nicholls), but we are trying to give him a chance in these bigger races.
“He is razor sharp and he is a good jockey. He gave him an absolute belter I thought. I’m chuffed to bits with him. He is riding with lots of confidence and that is what you need. He gave that a proper ride and I don’t think he could have ridden it any better. “
Jack Draper defeated Jan-Lennard Struff at the Sofia Open to become the youngest Briton to reach an ATP Tour final since Andy Murray 14 years ago.
The 21-year-old is really hitting his stride at the end of an injury-plagued season and is chasing a second successive title having picked up the trophy at the second-tier Challenger event in Bergamo last week.
After knocking out top seed Lorenzo Musetti in the second round in Sofia, Draper did the same to third seed Struff in the last four, winning 6-3 6-4, and is yet to drop a set.
Murray was already a grand slam finalist when he made the Miami Open showpiece in 2009, but this is a landmark moment for his young compatriot, who had narrowly lost his previous two tour semi-finals.
“Obviously I am very proud,” said Draper. “Andy is an amazing player. I hope one day I can do what he’s done in the sport but it’s a long way to go and I’ll keep trying.”
Of his performance, he said: “I didn’t serve as well today but the opponent was putting a lot of pressure on my serve. I think I’ve got to just try and keep the rhythm. It was tough out here with some tense moments. It was a semi-final to get into my first final so I was nervous, but I came through it well.”
Gordon Elliott dominated on the first day of Down Royal’s big meeting, saddling six of the seven winners.
Elliott is currently leading the trainers’ championship, with jockeys’ title frontrunner Jack Kennedy enhancing his tally by riding four of the victors.
“I am lucky to be in the position I am in with the horses that I have and the staff, the owners and the jockeys,” said Elliott.
“It is not easy to do it (send out six winners on a card) – a brilliant day.”
The highlight was arguably Brighterdaysahead, who maintained her unbeaten record by winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle.
Stepped into Grade Three company after winning easily at Thurles on her debut, she was taking on much more experienced rivals.
However, she loomed up alongside Banntown Girl at the second last and while she needed to be driven out to win by four and three-quarter lengths, the 2-1 favourite will have learned plenty.
Elliott said: “It happened that quick for the first mile that she didn’t know what she was doing as they were going that fast but, once she got into her rhythm, he (Kennedy) said he was very happy with her.
“She has no experience, but she has a fair engine. She’s a proper mare and she still has a lot to learn, she is still very green. The rest of the field has two or three runs over hurdles, so I thought it was a good performance.
“No (need to go beyond two miles), but I’d say she will be better when she goes (further). I’d say she is a mare that could definitely step up in trip. She hasn’t put a foot wrong so far, so she is exciting.
“She is in the Royal Bond and obviously I will talk to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud) and see. She has got the pace for two miles.
“I think we will keep her in her own category (mares) at the moment.”
Irish Point (5-6 favourite) won the other feature race on the card for Elliott and Kennedy, the Bottlegreen Hurdle.
A Grade One winner at Aintree, he was giving lumps of weight to a smart mare in Magical Zoe but try as she might, she could not get by and went down by a length and three-quarters.
“We know he wants further, but he picked up and galloped. We are very happy with him,” said Elliott.
“He (Kennedy) was in the right spot and he kicked at the right time and made plenty of use of him.
“We didn’t want to make it, but we had to because there was nothing else to make it. I’d say we will definitely step him up in trip. He really stays.
“We will keep all options open, but it wouldn’t shock me if you saw him going three miles at some stage.”
The pair were also on the mark earlier on the card with Hunting Brook (5-4 favourite) in the Lough Construction Ltd. Handicap Hurdle, while Jordan Gainford took advantage of Kennedy’s fall in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle to win on stablemate Zefiro Dodville (12-1).
Found A Fifty made it five on the day for Elliott and four for Kennedy in the Eventco Marquees Ltd. Beginners Chase.
“He’s a good horse. He got very revved up last year and just blew his top, but Jack was delighted with the way he settled there,” said Elliott.
“I like the way he quickened as well down the straight, he quickened well.
“He’s in the Drinmore, but we’ll see where we go.”
Firefox (1-6 favourite) then landed the concluding Freixenet INH Flat Race under Harry Swan.
The only race to escape Elliott’s clutches was the Try Racing TV For Free Now At racingtv.com/freetrial Handicap Chase, in which he had three runners but went to Edward Cawley’s Dont Go Yet (18-1) who made all.
A week on from Big Evs conquering America, Mick Appleby is still coming to terms with the Breeders’ Cup achievement of his speedster.
The son of Blue Point was already inked in the history books at the trainer’s Rutland base having provided Appleby with a first Royal Ascot winner in the summer, but he went one step further in Santa Anita, blitzing America’s best with a devastating display to give the handler a maiden success at the highest level.
The jetlag may now be subsiding, but the memories and magnitude of what his stable star accomplished are still hitting home for the Barnsley-born trainer, who has worked his way up from humble beginnings.
“It was absolutely amazing, I still don’t think it has sunk in yet,” said Appleby.
“All trainers would like Grade or Group One winners and going out to the Breeders’ Cup and getting our first one was something amazing, it was really special.
“I have to pinch myself and its hard to believe it has happened. It’s just been amazing and I’m still on cloud nine – it’s been like a dream.”
There were of course victories in California for the powerhouse operations of Godolphin, Juddmonte and Coolmore.
However, this was also the Breeders’ Cup where the lesser lights got their moment and the victory of Big Evs is testament to the hard work and ambition of a trainer who has served his time as all-weather champion and is eager to showcase his talent on the big stage.
His commitment to the cause has seen him treading a familiar beat around the all-weather circuit since returning from US, but he is proud to disprove the theory he is a one-trick trainer.
Appleby said: “We’ve always been pigeonholed as an all-weather trainer, but hopefully that disappears now and the world realises we are as good on grass, especially with two-year-olds, as we’ve never been renowned for having juveniles. But if you don’t have the ammunition, you can’t win with them.
“It’s hard work, it’s really hard work just keeping the horses sound, fit and injury free.
“I think its a great achievement and we’ve got a great team here – without the team it wouldn’t be possible. It’s great for everyone concerned. It means a lot to the whole yard.”
That hard work has seen the likes of Danzeno, Caspian Prince and Raasel pass through Appleby’s hands at his Langham training base, but he is in little doubt that his Breeders’ Cup champion is top of the class.
“He’s very quick and you have to very fast to go with him. He’s just speed,” said the Yorkshireman.
“He reminds me a lot of a horse we had called Caspian Prince, he would be the quickest horse I’ve ever had and won the Dash (at Epsom) a few times. He was lightning quick. I think Big Evs would definitely be up there with him.
“He was our first Group One winner so I would say he is (the best we have had). I’ve never seen a horse as quick as him, he’s absolute lightning.
“When we first started working Big Evs with the likes of Raasel and Annaf, we knew he was something special and really quick because none of the other two-year-olds could get anywhere near him.”
Like all underdog tales, this was a story that started with disappointment and in Big Evs’ case, defeat at Redcar on debut.
“We were gobsmacked he got beat, but it was the draw that beat him at Redcar and if you were on the stands side you had no chance whatsoever,” explained Appleby.
“He had to go right the way across the track to get to the leaders and if he had a better draw he would have won. We weren’t disappointed and he showed enough to convince us he was decent.”
He would go on to prove Appleby’s assessment of “decent” to be a slight underestimation when winning the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot on his second start, with a battling victory in the Goodwood mud soon to follow.
A chastising defeat when supplemented for the Nunthorpe is the sole blot on the Big Evs’ copybook, but he was soon back on form when demolishing the Flying Childers field at Doncaster.
“Obviously we had the blip in the Nunthorpe and we just had to put a line through that and then he bounced back so impressively at Doncaster,” continued Appleby.
“To be fair, I was umming and ahhing whether we should have gone to York, but the owner was very keen and it was his home track and a race he has always wanted to win.
“It was worth going for it and I think, in hindsight, Goodwood took a lot out of him on the heavy ground and was the contributing factor to him running poorly there. If he had another two weeks after Goodwood before the Nunthorpe, I think it might have been a different story all together.
“It was a relief he went to Doncaster and bounced back and I think that was his most impressive win. The time he did was staggering and after that we were definitely going to the Breeders’ Cup.”
There was little doubt in the Big Evs camp that their speedball would rise to the occasion, and when the bell rang and gates opened on the opening night of Breeders’ Cup action, he showed all of his champion qualities to cruise to victory in the hands of Tom Marquand.
Appleby said: “The good thing with him, he has good gate speed. He’s lighting out and straight into stride and gone.
“He was very good and especially first time around a bend. That was always going to be our concern whether he would be able to cope with a bend going as quick as he does.
“Tom gave him a brilliant ride and let him just find his feet round the bend and find the right leg. Once he got into the straight, he quickened away again. Tom said as soon as that one was closing on him, he had lots in the tank and went again. It was a great ride.”
Although there was Santa Anita glory for Appleby, there was disappointment for fellow Brit Adam West and both Big Evs and the Epsom handler’s Live In The Dream will return in 2024 attempting to lay claim to the title of the world’s fastest racehorse.
“There probably is someone faster somewhere and obviously some of the American horses are very quick, but I don’t know if there is any faster in this country,” continued the Langham handler.
“Live In The Dream is probably one that is quick. I would imagine we will be clashing at some point and that will be interesting.”
Next season will be top-level action all the way for Big Evs as Appleby searches for more famous victories on the big stage with his horse of a lifetime.
He added: “The good thing is Paul (Teasdale, owner) is not going to sell him. You get a lot of owners who when the offers come in would be snapping it up, but Paul has no intention of selling which is good for us.
“He’s already won his Group One and hopefully we will be aiming at all the Group races over five furlongs next year.
“We’ve just got to stay up there with him. We’re going to look forward to him next year, but obviously it will be a bit nervy as well about if he will train on, because you do always have that nagging thought in your mind. But I see no reason why he wouldn’t.”
Katie Boulter feels she has come “full circle” as she prepares to lead Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup team in this weekend’s play-off against Sweden at the Copper Box.
It was at the same venue four and a half years ago that Boulter secured victory over Kazakhstan to put Britain back at the elite level of the competition formerly known as Fed Cup.
But she suffered a stress fracture in her back that kept her out for more than six months and sent her ranking plummeting out of the top 100.
It has taken until this year for Boulter to get back to and now surpass that level, and at 58 in the world she is by some distance the highest-ranked player in the tie.
“It really was something that stuck in my memory for many, many years,” said Boulter of the Kazakhstan clash.
“But I think I see the positives and the negatives of that tie. I really do. And I learned a lot from the situation that I was in, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
“It’s a full circle for me. I’m glad to be back here, and I don’t think I’d be in the position I am right now if it wasn’t for that tie. So I’m glad to be back here with a great team behind me.”
Boulter has been sharing her memories of that weekend with her good friend Jodie Burrage, who will make a long-awaited debut in the competition.
Burrage, ranked 93, has been unlucky to miss out in previous ties, and she said: “I’ve absolutely loved this week. The vibe’s been great. I’m really happy that (captain) Anne (Keothavong) has trusted me to play tomorrow and I will go out there and do my absolute best to come away with the win.
“It’s just a really proud moment for me, walking out on the court tomorrow, but once I get that done then it’ll be all down to business. Playing at home as well in this arena, the girls told me that this is one of the best places that they have played, so I can’t wait to experience that tomorrow.”
This time last year Britain were on their way to a historic semi-final appearance in the competition having been given a wild card for the final stages as hosts in Glasgow.
Defeat by France in Coventry in April meant they missed out this year and they must beat Sweden to have another shot at qualifying in 2024.
Anything but victory would be a disaster given the visitors are without their only two top-200 players in Rebecca Peterson and Mirjam Bjorklund, who both withdrew through injury.
Instead, they are relying on world number 372 Kajsa Rinaldo Persson, who will take on Burrage first up on Saturday, and 532nd-ranked Caijsa Hennemann.
Keothavong insisted there will be no complacency, saying: “There’s absolutely no room for that, and I think we’ve seen in this competition that anything’s possible. This team need to go out there and impose themselves. You can’t underestimate anyone out there.
“These are the kinds of ties we want, on home soil with a full house. The players know what they need to do and hopefully they’re going to go out there tomorrow and execute it.
“I think all of us collectively are motivated to get back into the world group because we know what we’re capable of as a team. When we come together, we really do rise to the challenge.”
Meanwhile, Britain’s junior Billie Jean King Cup team reached the semi-finals of the under-16 competition with a 3-0 victory over Sweden and will play the Czech Republic for a place in the final.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
