It may not have ended how they would have wanted but Jamaica’s Wayne Pinnock and Tajay Gayle had something to celebrate, as they took silver and bronze behind Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou in the men’s long jump final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Thursday.
The intriguing contest saw Tentoglou, the Olympic Champion and last year’s World Championships silver medallist, snatching victory from Pinnock with his very last jump, while Gayle did the same in edging the other Jamaican Carey McLeod, for bronze.
Pinnock led most of the competition with his best mark of 8.50m and Gayle achieved his best, a season’s best 8.27m on his sixth and final jump, much like Tentoglou cut the sand at the winning 8.52m with his last attempt. McLeod, who also had a best mark of 8.27m, lost the bronze on the count back.
This was the first time Jamaica has won two medals in the long jump event.
Like it was in qualifying, Pinnock was again poetry in motion where execution is concerned, as he was perfect off the board and that propelled him to an opening mark of 8.40m.
Though Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece soared to season’s best of 8.50m on his opening attempt, Pinnock was not perturbed. Instead, he followed up his first effort with a big 8.50m on his second attempt, to overtake the Tentoglou on the countback, after the Greece athlete overstepped on his second effort.
With Tentoglou hitting 8.39m on his third attempt and Pinnock cut the sand at 6.39m, the stage was set for what was expected to be a mouth-watering clash on the three additional jumps.
However, Pinnock, only managed 8.03m, 7.96m and 8.38m during that series, while Tentoglou had a no jump, followed by 8.30m and the winning 8.52m.
Gayle, the 2019 World Champion, who wasn’t too convincing in qualifying, was again slow into stride with his first jump being an underwhelming 6.50m. However, he recovered well to cut the sand at 8.17m on his second attempt in a positive 0.4 metres per second wind reading, but later fouled his third attempt.
His last three attempts saw a foul, followed by 8.11 and 8.27m, as he found rhythm late.
It was a similar trend for McLeod, who opened with 7.90m, before cutting the sand at 8.27m in a positive 0.8 metres per second wind, on his second attempt, but overstepped on the third attempt where he landed awkwardly.
From there it was downhill for Carey, who registered 6.57m and 7.19m, with the other being a no jump.
You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.
Just like she did in Beijing in 2015, Danielle Williams stunned the field to claim World Championship gold in the women’s 100m hurdles final at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Thursday.
The 30-year-old got a bullet start and held her nerve to come across the line in a season’s best 12.43 ahead of pre-race favorite and reigning Olympic Champion, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, who was just behind in second with 12.44. Camacho-Quinn entered the final unbeaten in 12 races this season.
American former World Record holder, Keni Harrison, was third in 12.46 while Bahamian World Indoor Champion, Devynne Charlton, was fourth in 12.52. NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Champion, Ackera Nugent, ran 12.61 for fifth while World Record holder and defending World Champion, Tobi Amusan, ran 12.62 in sixth.
Daryll Neita has told primetime viewers to expect drama at the World Championships as Great Britain’s speedsters eyed 200 metres glory.
The 27-year-old, Dina Asher-Smith and Zharnel Hughes all breezed into the men and women’s finals on Friday night.
It came after the USA’s Noah Lyles, after his third straight 200m title, was involved in a golf buggy accident before his heat.
Neita, a relative novice in the distance, ran a new personal best of 22.21 seconds to qualify fifth fastest while Asher-Smith came second behind the USA’s Gabby Thomas in 22.28s in her heat.
And Neita wants fans in the UK to tune in and wait for Friday fireworks in Budapest.
“Get some fish and chips and a beer, there’s a lot to be excited about Friday,” she said, having failed to reach the 100m final. “I think any of us in this final can win it.
“We’ve also got Zharnel in the 200m, who’s in fantastic form, and I think we can look forward to some great performances from all of us Brits in the finals.
“Medal? Why the hell not? People think I’m crazy. But we should all be here wanting to get medals and to win. I feel like that’s the mindset we need.
“Even if we come up short, at least we came here with that intention. And you’re only going to be as close as you aim to be. So why not?
“I can’t wait to watch it back. It’s so nice to find an event that I can really represent myself in. I raised the game and I raised myself to the occasion.”
Asher-Smith could only finish eighth in the 100m final on Monday but is ready for another showdown, with 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson and Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson also hunting the title.
“I feel really good. I woke up and felt fresh which is remarkable for day four – probably because the 100m went the way it did,” said the 2019 champion.
“I just wanted to come here – bearing in mind that we have got another race tomorrow – and put together a faster race than yesterday and just look to get that auto Q spot.
“Women’s sprinting is phenomenal right now. I am proud that it’s one of the absolute headline events of a major championships. I am proud to be in the final again and just like last year we are going to bring it.”
Hughes is looking to add to his 100m bronze and reached his final after an assured display at the National Athletics Centre.
The 28-year-old, trained by Usain Bolt’s former coach Glen Mills, clocked 20.02 seconds behind the USA’s Erriyon Knighton.
Hughes ran after Lyles, going for a sprint double after his 100m win, was in a golf buggy carrying the runners for the first 200m heat when it was hit by another cart.
The vehicles have been used to take the athletes from the warm-up track to the stadium.
Jamaica’s Andrew Hudson was holding his head after the collision and confirmed he ran with shards of glass in his eye before going for further treatment.
The opening heat of the men’s 200m was delayed, with Lyles eventually easing into the final in 19.76s.
A World Athletics statement read: “The 200m heats reorder was due to the collision of two golf carts. One athlete and a volunteer were assessed and the athlete cleared to participate.”
Nicky Devlin netted his first Aberdeen goal as the Dons came from two goals down to seal a first-leg draw against BK Hacken in Gothenburg.
Bojan Miovski and former Livingston defender Devlin both finished brilliantly within the space of four minutes as Barry Robson’s side secured a 2-2 draw in the Europa League play-offs.
The Swedish champions led through an Amor Layouni goal and an Ibrahim Sadiq penalty, which came for a handball against Jack MacKenzie after a VAR review.
But Aberdeen had created several good chances themselves and they quickly fought back in the final 15 minutes.
The Dons beat the same opponents 5-1 at Pittodrie two years ago and will be confident they can create opportunities in next Thursday’s return leg.
Returning to the city where the club beat Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup final, Aberdeen caused Hacken problems early on by pressing high up the park and winning possession in dangerous areas.
Graeme Shinnie had a shot saved and Dante Polvara had an effort blocked before being booked for a studs-up challenge that some referees might have punished further.
Kelle Roos stopped a shot from Sadiq before Aberdeen were caught exposed by one pass through their midfield in the 36th minute. Hacken had a four-against-two advantage and they worked it to Layouni to slot home.
Duk had a brilliant chance to level when Shinnie won the ball in front of the penalty box but the forward hit a weak effort straight at the goalkeeper.
The Dons had two good chances early in the second half. Miovski struck a powerful effort after a poor clearance from Ryan Duncan’s cross but the goalkeeper stretched out his leg to stop.
Polvara then ran on to Miovski’s pass after a lengthy passing move from back to front but the midfielder leaned back and blazed over.
The hosts had a decent spell and Roos made two saves from headers while Devlin put in a good block.
But the pressure paid off at a corner. MacKenzie raised his hand as he appeared to react to a team-mate jumping towards him and the Slovakian referee decided the ball had made contact after numerous looks on the VAR screen. Sadiq converted the 69th-minute spot-kick.
Robson responded by sending on two debutants – New Zealand defender James McGarry and former St Mirren and Dundee United midfielder Jamie McGrath.
McGrath was involved in the first Aberdeen goal in the 75th minute as he rolled the ball back for Clarkson to cross. Miovski took an excellent couple of touches to set himself up for an equally good finish.
Miovski played an integral part in the equaliser, playing a brilliant one-two with Clarkson, then striding forward and playing in Devlin, who ran on to the pass and dinked the ball over the goalkeeper with his left foot.
The night nearly got even better for the travelling fans. Clarkson curled a stoppage-time free-kick just over after Hacken centre-back Johan Hammar was shown a second yellow card for clinically stopping Miovski.
McGrath’s celebrations were cut short after he converted a cross from Miovski before the North Macedonian was flagged offside, while Shinnie also fired just wide nine minutes into time added on.
World 100m champion Noah Lyles remained on course for the sprint double after winning his semi-final heat in a fast 19.76s at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Thursday. Also through are Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Letsile Tebogo, the other medallists in the blue-ribbon sprint.
After initilally failing to progress with compatriot Rasheed Dwyer, Andrew Hudson was added to the medal event which will now see all nine lanes being occupied.
Lyles unleashed his superior speed and put distance between himself and Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic who clocked in at 20.22 to seal his spot in the final.
Meanwhile, Tebogo show-boated down the home stretch looking across at Kenneth Bednarek of the United States, who won the heat in 19.96, with the Botswanian close behind in 19.97.
The USA’s Erriyon Knighton is also in the final after winning his heat in 19.98 with Hughes close behind in 20.02. Four athletes from the heat advanced to the final as Canada’s Andre DeGrasse (20.10) and Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh (20.21) took the spots for non-automatic qualifiers.
Hudson, who was fifth in his heat in 20.38, almost didn’t compete as the cart taking to the stadium collided with another and resulted in flying glass getting into his eye. As such, the officials felt it was only fair to give him a lane in the final.
Dwyer was sixth in the final heat in 20.49.
Shericka Jackson, Julien Alfred and Anthonique Strachan have made it through to the final of the Women’s 200m final at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Thursday.
The fastest of the three, Shericka Jackson, threw down the gauntlet to the 100m champion, the USA’s Shacarri Richardson, with a confident run to win her semi-final heat. Jackson ‘jogged’ to a time of 22.00 to leave the American 100m champion behind in 22.20. Marie Jose Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast who was third in 22.26 is also qualifier in a non-automatic spot.
However, the fastest overall heading into the final is the USA’s Gabby Thomas, who won the opening semi-final heat in 21.96. Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith also made it through to the final when she finished second in 22.28. However, it was the end of the campaign for Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte who was third in 22.52.
Alfred of St Lucia had to briefly turn on the jets after Great Britain’s Daryll Neita who got out well in lane eight. However, the NCAA champion surged ahead down the home straight to win the heat in 22.17 with Neita close behind in 22.21. Strachan was third in 22.30 to take her place in the final.
Both Kayla White of the USA and Kevona Davis were fourth and fifth, respectively, in 22.34 and miss out on the final.
Motherwell have signed right-back Brodie Spencer but manager Stuart Kettlewell admits he faces a major challenge to alleviate the lengthy absence of strikers Mika Biereth and Jon Obika.
Kettlewell has ruled Obika out until December with a hamstring injury and on-loan Arsenal striker Biereth will likely be missing until mid-November after suffering a knee injury against St Mirren.
Kettlewell was already well down the line in signing Spencer from Huddersfield on loan following the departure of Barry Maguire on loan to Kidderminster but he is limited in what he can do in the transfer market given the club’s spending increases in previous seasons.
He said: “I have always spoken about trying to run with four strikers minimum so that is a huge blow with the news on Mika and Jon Obika, it puts us down to two senior strikers in Theo (Bair) and Conor (Wilkinson).
“Jon Obika, we are probably looking at December. It’s a difficult one but it doesn’t change the situation for me. For us to do any more business, we are in a situation where we are one in, one out.
“It’s been a real tough week and a tough week without a blank canvas just to be able to pick up the reins and go and bring players in. But we will continue to work away and see if we can make the situation slightly better.”
Kettlewell declared 17-year-old Mark Ferrie was now “striker number three” while wide player Joe Efford can also play up front but has only had about 15 minutes of action since returning from a long-term thigh injury.
Immediately after Saturday’s Viaplay Cup defeat, Kettlewell accused Charles Dunne of making an “absolutely horrendous tackle, two-footed and straight-legged” on Biereth.
In response, the former Motherwell defender claimed he won the ball but “unfortunately slipped” and caught the Denmark Under-21 international. Dunne has contacted Biereth to apologise.
When asked if he had a different opinion on studying the footage, Kettlewell said: “My opinion hasn’t changed.
“One of the things I heard was that he won the ball. What everyone needs to understand – and I need to stress, these aren’t my rules, anyone that watched me play football will realise I picked up more red cards than anybody else and was involved in more crazy challenges than anybody else – but the rules have changed.
“I have lost count of the times I have been told by officials that it doesn’t matter if you win the ball. If you are off the ground, coming in at pace, putting an opponent at risk of injury, coming off the ground, all of those aspects, I was led to believe that was a red card.
“I hear some ridiculous arguments of ‘ah, but he took the ball’… If you have to come through the player and both your legs are wrapped around the standing leg…
“I understand that Charles Dunne has reached out and apologised for the outcome of the challenge so I tip my cap to him and say fair play in that sense. But it doesn’t change the situation that it leaves us short at the top end of the park.”
Spencer moved from Huddersfield on a season-long deal after signing a new contract with the Yorkshire club. The 19-year-old is a full Northern Ireland international and has made six first-team appearances for his club.
“Brodie is a real quality player with bags of potential,” Kettlewell said.
“I think it says a lot when the parent club offer a player a new deal before loaning him out. It shows their real desire to see the player grow and I think Brodie will do just that.”
Defending champion and world number one Carlos Alcaraz stands in the way of British success at the US Open, which starts in New York next week.
Three of the four British men who have qualified automatically have been drawn in the same quarter as the Spaniard, who also claimed his first Wimbledon title over Novak Djokovic in July.
Alcaraz, who starts against Germany’s Dominik Koepfer, is seeded to face Dan Evans in round two and Cameron Norrie in round three.
Meanwhile he could also face Andy Murray in the last eight if Murray, the 2012 champion, battles through a tough draw that could include Grigor Dimitrov in round two and sixth seed Jannik Sinner in round four.
Jack Draper, the only British player not drawn in the same quarter as the irrepressible Spaniard, starts against Romania’s Radu Albot.
The draw also raises the prospect of Alcaraz renewing his quarter-final rivalry with Sinner, one year on from their epic last eight clash that lasted more than five hours and ended shortly before 3am.
Reigning women’s champion Iga Swiatek starts against Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson and could face a quarter-final meeting with sixth seed Coco Gauff.
Gauff – who is likely to have to negotiate surging 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva in round two – beat Switek for the first time in eight attempts in Cincinnati last week.
Caroline Wozniacki will face a qualifier as she makes her return after a three-year retirement and could meet former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in round two.
British number one Katie Boulter starts against Diane Parry of France, and could meet another French player, seventh seed Caroline Garcia, in round two.
Boulter lost in the first round of her only previous main draw appearance in 2021, but is enjoying a fine season including a run to the third round of Wimbledon.
Jodie Burrage will make her US Open draw debut against Anna Blinkova, with a second round meeting with second seed Aryna Sabalenka the likely prize.
Manchester City have completed the £55.5million signing of Belgium winger Jeremy Doku from Rennes, the Premier League champions have announced.
The 21-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the treble winners to become their third major signing of the summer transfer window.
City had an offer for the player accepted earlier this week and formalities have been completed over the past couple of days.
Doku said: “This is a great day for me, both personally and professionally. Manchester City are the best team in world football, so to be joining them is something very special for me and my family.
“I am a young player with so much learning and improving to do. Working with (manager) Pep (Guardiola) and his staff, and playing alongside these world-class players, will make me a much better player. I feel sure of that.
“Watching City last season was amazing. To win the treble is the hardest thing in football and they did it. You cannot imagine how exciting it is to be joining this team. I cannot wait to get started. Hopefully I can make the fans happy.”
Doku came through the youth ranks at Anderlecht before joining Rennes in 2020.
Noted for his pace, he made his international debut in 2018 and featured at both Euro 2020 and last year’s World Cup.
He said: “I am quick, I am strong, I like to dribble. Those are my abilities that I like to rely on.
“I think the way I dribble, my speed – those are things that I can add to the group.
“Of course, the group is already a top group with a lot of top players, but I think that I can add that to the group.”
Doku’s arrival follows those of Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic earlier in the summer.
The club have also been linked with moves for midfielders Matheus Nunes and Eberechi Eze, of Wolves and Crystal Palace respectively, but have not commented on the speculation.
Guardiola’s midfield resources have been depleted following the departures of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez this summer and with Doku’s international team-mate, Kevin De Bruyne, likely to be out injured for several months.
City director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “Jeremy is a very exciting young player and I’m so pleased he’s joining us.
“In terms of raw attributes, he has everything a winger needs. He has outstanding pace and he is exceptional in one-on-one situations.
“I honestly believe working with Pep and the technical staff here at City will see him develop into a world-class attacking talent.”
Sports stars and clubs across the world continue to provide an insight into their lives on social media.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the best examples from August 24.
AthleticsA personal best for Dominik Cerny, a season’s best for Hana Burzalova, and then…
FootballManchester City celebrated Bernardo Silva’s ongoing commitment, a day after the midfielder renewed his contract.
A successful homecoming for John McGinn.
What’s Jamie Vardy seen here?
Thomas Frank and his side made friends in high places.
Kylian Mbappe was back in the Paris St Germain team and his younger brother and team-mate Ethan was also showing the love.
Kerys Harrop retired.
Clubs showed their ongoing support for Ukraine.
Happy birthdays.
BasketballKobe Bryant was remembered on what would have been his birthday.
CricketAshes star Jonny Bairstow turned his attention to a different sport.
Formula OneLewis Hamilton and George Russell were preparing for the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
Lando Norris was glad to be back after the summer break.
Twenty years and still going strong.
Clogs for Carlos Sainz.
A steep start for McLaren
England are reeling from the loss of Anthony Watson for the entire World Cup as their troubled build-up took another ominous turn.
Head coach Steve Borthwick revealed that a complaint was being lodged with World Rugby over the “bewildering” disciplinary process that resulted in a four-match ban for captain Owen Farrell.
But of more immediate concern was the news that Watson would play no part in the tournament hosted by France because of a calf injury sustained in the 29-10 rout by Ireland.
Watson, who is currently contracted to the Rugby Football Union while he finds a new club, is a world class wing when firing and would have been a certain starter for the pivotal opener against Argentina on September 9.
Now he faces another period of rehabilitation, having battled back from long-term knee and Achilles injuries, joining ankle-injury victim Jack van Poortvliet in being ruled out of the World Cup before it has begun.
Adding to a bleak picture in the back three is news that Elliot Daly and Henry Arundell are nursing knee and back problems that prevent them from taking part in Saturday’s final warm-up fixture against Fiji.
Jonny May is set to fill the void left by Watson in the 33-man squad – that must be submitted to World Rugby on Monday – and will make his first appearance of the Summer Nations Series against the Islanders at Twickenham.
It continues a wretched week for England, who must plan for the Pumas showdown without the suspended Farrell and Billy Vunipola – at a time when they are reeling from a run of four defeat in five Tests.
“I have no doubt there’s going to be more injuries, for every team,” Borthwick said.
“We are now going though our time of having bangs and bruises and through our time of having a couple of disciplinary processes.
“Every team is going to go through it and if I could choose my time to go through it, it would probably be now rather than when we’re out in France.”
Borthwick is confident that Daly will be ready for Argentina and is equally bullish over Tom Curry’s chances of making the standout clash of Pool D in Marseille.
Curry has yet to appear in the warm-up matches because of an ankle injury sustained in training but England would be willing to propel him straight into the starting XV if he proves his fitness.
“I’ve no doubt Tom will be ready and firing and he only just missed out this week,” Borthwick said.
“He’s got two weeks before the Argentina game so I’ve got no doubt that should we decide to go that way, he’ll be ready to go.”
Courtney Lawes leads England against Fiji to win his 100th cap and Borthwick revealed that Marcus Smith was being considered as a future option at full-back in the hope of igniting the attack.
Compounding the injury problems are the respective four and three-game bans issued to Farrell and Vunipola for dangerous tackles.
Farrell was initially cleared for his high hit on Wales’ Taine Basham by a disciplinary hearing only for World Rugby to lodge an appeal that was upheld on Tuesday, resulting in his suspension.
From red card to ban, the process lasted 10 days and England have made their frustration known to World Rugby.
“Whether you’re a supporter of England or another country, everybody could see that something like this should not have gone on for that period of time,” Borthwick said.
“The first process was conducted by one of the more senior and experienced panels that handles these matters and they’ve come to a considered decision.
“Then another panel comes in and says something different. The whole process is quite bewildering.
“It’s been frustrating and there’s no doubt it’s been a distraction. But I’ll also say, we’ve got to focus on going forward. That’s what we’re doing now.”
Gary Moore has paid tribute to Sire De Grugy following the 2014 Champion Chase hero’s death at the age of 17.
He won 17 of his 42 starts, scoring at the highest level on five occasions in a career that spanned seven seasons and saw him become a popular figure on the National Hunt stage.
His finest hour came during 2013-14 where he took both Moore and his son Jamie to Group One stardom and the Cheltenham Festival winner’s enclosure, registering an emphatic six-length triumph over Somersby in that season’s Champion Chase.
Owned during his racing career by the Preston family, Sire De Grugy’s final victory would be an Ascot handicap in November 2016, with his farewell appearance coming at the scene of his greatest triumph, Cheltenham, just over a year later in December 2017.
He remained close to the Moores in retirement, spending his time in a stable especially made for his flagship horse by Jamie.
“He meant the world and he was a very good racehorse, but also a very good friend,” said Moore.
“In his later part of life he was fantastic with the grandchildren and Jamie’s wife in particular. He was an amazing horse.
“Jamie built a yard for him and some paddocks and he’s been well looked after since he retired. We did all we could to try to help him recover, but sadly it didn’t work.
“He did things that I haven’t been lucky enough to train another horse to do like him. Steve Preston was his owner and we had some great fun with him as there’s not many horses like him.”
At the peak of his powers during the 2013-14 campaign, Sire De Grugy won five-straight Graded chases in a row and as well as striking big-race glory at Prestbury Park, also scored in the Tingle Creek and Celebration Chase, both at Sandown, as well as registering an emphatic 11-length victory in Ascot’s Clarence House Chase.
Moore holds fond memories of those halcyon days and although Sire De Grugy’s Champion Chase success remains the biggest victory of the handler’s career, it is his Sandown demolition of Somersby in the first of two Tingle Creek triumphs which the Lower Beeding trainer picks out when asked for his favourite Sire De Grugy highlight.
He added: “Obviously Cheltenham was a very special day with everybody there and you have to savour them because there are not many days like it. But it would have to be the Tingle Creek for me and the way he did it.
“When he won the Celebration Chase after winning the Champion Chase that was some performance as well because he was well over the top but still managed to win.
“Every day was very special in that season. There’s not many horses that can do what he did.”
Geraint Thomas admitted inching ever closer to retirement means he is happy to race in two grand tours this year as he looks to bounce back from his Giro d’Italia heartache in the Vuelta a Espana.
Despite a recurring bacterial infection hampering his Giro preparations, Thomas was in contention up until the penultimate day but he settled for second as Primoz Roglic claimed victory.
Thomas finished 10th in the men’s time trial at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Stirling this month but he can move on from that disappointment as he leads Ineos Grenadiers at the upcoming Vuelta.
It is just the second time Thomas has competed in two of the three big events in a calendar year, and he remarked that doing the 2015 Tour de France and the Vuelta was a “horrible” experience.
A 69th-place finish at the Vuelta eight years ago has been his only taste of the event but being at the “twilight” of his cycling career has channelled his focus.
“It’s quite hard being away from home,” the 37-year-old Welshman said. “I’ve got a young son and my wife at home, that’s tough.
“But it’s one of those things, it’s quite easy to commit when I know I’m at the very end of my career, the twilight of my career.
“I might as well commit to this now and see what I can do. Then I’ve got the rest of my life to chill and drink cocktails and look after Macs (his son).”
While he is one of the favourites for the general classification at the 21-stage Vuelta which starts in Barcelona on Friday with a team time trial, Thomas remains without a contract for next season.
He was in talks with Ineos before the Giro in May but was tight-lipped when asked for an update on Wednesday, as he said: “Nothing to say at the moment but hopefully soon.”
After competing in Scotland, Thomas revealed he headed to Isola in the French Alps alongside Ineos team-mate Laurens De Plus and their families to complete their Vuelta preparations.
“It was disappointing, I wanted to get a better result than that but that’s the way that race went,” Thomas said, reflecting on what happened in Stirling.
“I went up to Isola and had eight days up there with De Plus. We had our families up there which was nice, it didn’t really feel like a camp. I’ve come here ready to go and looking forward to it.
“I’ve been here once before but when I did the Tour and Vuelta, it was horrible, to be honest. I’m a bit more prepared this time. I’m looking forward to a solid race, it will be tough, that’s for sure.”
James Doyle was thrilled to ride a rare winner for the opposition after steering Warm Heart to top-level success in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.
Having been retained by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation for the past eight years, opportunities to don the silks of a major rivals in Coolmore have unsurprisingly been few and far between.
But with Ryan Moore opting to partner Irish Oaks heroine Savethelastdance on the Knavesmire, Doyle got the call for Warm Heart, who impressed in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in June but was beaten five and a half lengths into fifth place by her stablemate at the Curragh last month.
The Cambridge-born jockey, trading his usual royal blue colours for pink, was keen to make the most of the opportunity.
“They’re two great teams and there’s been some immense battles over the years,” said Doyle.
“I grew up watching those titanic battles with horses like Fantastic Light (beating Galileo) in the Irish Champion Stakes. They were great races to watch and it really means a lot.
“I’ve ridden for Aidan (O’Brien) for a few years now and have not quite got the results I hoped. When you ride one of his you know you’ve got a squeak.”
Although passed over by Moore, Doyle was confident his mount was lining up with major claims.
He said: “I was thrilled to pick up this ride. I was quietly hoping I could and I was praying I did as I thought back on fast ground and this track would definitely suit her.
“I was praying we got a tiny bit of rain so the other one (Savethelastdance) would run, but anyway it all worked out and I can’t be more thankful to the team for entrusting me with a ride like this.”
With conditions far less demanding, Moore was in no mood to hang around, sending Savethelastdance straight to the lead in an attempt to grind his rivals into submission.
Doyle, though, cut a confident figure in Moore’s wing mirrors for the full length of the straight and played his cards as late as he dared.
After kicking a couple of lengths clear, Warm Heart had to contend with the late lunge of Free Wind and Frankie Dettori, but gritted her teeth to cling on by a head.
“I was thinking it would be quite tricky early on as even over a mile and a half being drawn nine of 10 is not ideal, but it just worked out perfectly,” Doyle added.
“Suddenly I was one off the rail after a furlong and was able to bring her back and relax as I did have to ask her to jump quite sharp.
“I was able to save all the way round. There was a moment Bluestocking came to me and I just had to wake her up and she really came alive for me.
“Before the race Aidan said ‘try to be the last one to challenge inside the furlong pole’, but she took me down through the two and nothing could take me any further. I was just praying for the furlong pole to come and I had to go a little bit earlier, just to really focus her up.
“When Frankie came at me I thought ‘here we go again’, but she was very brave, which is a quality Aidan O’Brien really trains in these horses – when you get in the guts of a battle, you like to be on them.”
O’Brien was fulsome in his praise of Doyle’s talent.
“We always go through who is available and we always use James when he’s available, obviously he’s not available that much,” he said.
“He’s a gentleman, a very classy rider and very determined and very strong. He has all the qualities and always had.
“I knew he was doing his best whatever way it was going to fall. They’re not easy instructions and I don’t think he could have played it much later as Frankie was forcing him to go. I thought he gave her a brilliant ride really.
“It looked like Frankie was going to come by her, but she found again. James was very strong on her.”
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