Peter Wright admits he “created a monster” by allowing Luke Humphries to claim his first major in October, but does not think the hottest player on tour will win the World Championship.
Wright missed three match darts to beat Humphries in the quarter-finals in Leicester, allowing the 28-year-old to take victory and go on to win the tournament.
He quickly followed that up by lifting the Grand Slam of Darts and the Players Championship last month, which means he will head to Alexandra Palace for the season-ending spectacular as favourite.
‘Snakebite’, who ended a near two-year major trophy drought by winning the European Championship recently, thinks it could be too soon for Humphries this year.
“He is favourite because he has won three out of the last four majors, and I won the other one,” two-time world champion Wright told the PA news agency.
“I was the only other person to get close to him. It’s my fault, I created a monster because I had three darts at the Grand Prix to beat him and that was his first major. If I’d done that things would have been different.
“He’s a great darts player but I think it is a little bit too soon. Yes, I think he will win the worlds but just not yet.”
Wright’s second world title won at the start of 2022 must seem like a long time ago for the 53-year-old, who has struggled for consistent form.
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He still remains confident he can become just the third person to win more than two world crowns and says his winning know-how gives him an advantage.
“I believe I can win it, I am not playing until December 20 so it gives me three weeks tinkering with my darts to make them 95 or 98 per cent perfect, that’ll do.
“There is potential to become a third-time world champion. That is in my sights and I am looking forward to it.
“It puts a lot of pressure off my shoulders to know I have won it twice. I think I have got a lot of advantage over a lot of the field.
“I am nowhere near my best at the moment, but I know what it takes to win. I decided to go and put the practice in and I went and won the European. I have put my focus on the Worlds, to be prepared for winning it one more time.”
Tournament sponsor Paddy Power have teamed up with Prostate UK and will donate £1,000 for every 180 thrown.
Wright believes there will be more maximums than ever before as a result and urged men to answer three simple questions to check their risk for a disease which affects one in eight men.
“It’s a great cause, the sponsor putting up £1,000 for every 180 hit, there was 901 last year and I think there will be more this year,” Wright added.
“I think players won’t switch down to 19, they will stay up there and try and get another 180 for Prostate Cancer UK. It affects one in eight men. I’m 53 so I need to be getting checked.”
:: It takes 30 seconds to answer three questions to check your prostate cancer risk. Do it now by clicking on the following link: prostatecanceruk.org/180-risk.
The Los Angeles Kings rallied from a three-goal deficit in the third period for a 4-3 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday to match the NHL record with their 10th straight road win.
Drew Doughty scored 33 seconds into overtime after Phillip Danault scored twice in the third period. Arthur Kaliyev scored the equalizer just 90 seconds after Danault drew the Kings within one.
Los Angeles has won seven of eight and matched the road win record of the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres.
Kirill Marchenko, Johnny Gaudreau and Mathieu Olivier scored for the Blue Jackets, who have lost eight games this season after holding a lead in the final 20 minutes.
Bratt’s late goal rescues Devils in Hughes brothers’ reunion
Jesper Bratt scored his second goal of the night with 34 seconds remaining and the New Jersey Devils recovered for a wild 6-5 win over the Vancouver Canucks in a game featuring three Hughes brothers.
Jack Hughes had a goal and two assists, while younger brother and teammate Luke Hughes added a power-play goal for the Devils.
Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes had an assist on Sam Lafferty’s third-period goal and Nils Hoglander’s tally with 3:26 remaining forged a 5-5 tie.
Hertl, Sharks stun Islanders with OT win
William Eklund completed the San Jose Sharks’ comeback from a three-goal deficit in the third period with a late overtime goal in a stunning 5-4 win over the New York Islanders.
Tomas Hertl had a hat trick, scoring twice in the final 3 ½ minutes after Kevin Labanc’s goal ignited San Jose’s rally.
Julien Gauthier, Brock Nelson, Mike Reilly and Ryan Pulock scored for the Islanders, who have at least a point in nine of 10 (5-1-4).
The Los Angeles Lakers secured a spot in the In-Season Tournament semifinals on Tuesday with a 106-103 win over the Phoenix Suns, as LeBron James scored 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter.
James had 15 of the Lakers’ first 19 points in the final quarter and got the assists on his teammates’ other two baskets as Los Angeles pulled ahead.
Anthony Davis tallied 27 points and 15 rebounds and Austin Reaves added 20 points, including a key 3-pointer with 15 seconds left to extend the Lakers’ lead to 105-101.
Los Angeles advances to face New Orleans on Thursday in Las Vegas.
Kevin Durant scored 31 points for the Suns but came up short on a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Bucks handle Knicks to reach semifinals
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 35 points and 10 assists to help the Milwaukee Bucks book a spot in the semifinals of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament with a 146-122 victory over the New York Knicks.
Damian Lillard added 28 points and Malik Beasley had 18 for the Bucks, who improved to 5-0 in tournament play with their ninth consecutive home win.
They set a season high in scoring, shooting 60.5 percent (23 of 38) from 3-point range and 60.4 percent overall to set up a matchup with Indiana in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Julius Randle scored a season-high 41 points on 14-of-19 shooting, and Jalen Brunson had 24 points, but the Knicks had a three-game win streak stopped.
F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff has rejected allegations that she and her husband, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, have shared confidential information.
A report in Business F1 magazine said there is concern among other Formula One team principals that Toto Wolff has had access to information, via his wife, which is not being shared with them that he is using to his benefit.
In her role at the all-female F1 academy, to which she was appointed in March, Susie Wolff reports directly to F1 president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali.
The FIA announced on Tuesday that its compliance department was “looking in to the matter”.
Susie Wolff said in a post on social media: “I am deeply insulted but sadly unsurprised by the public allegations that have been made this evening.
“It is disheartening that my integrity is being called into question in such a manner, especially when it seems to be rooted in intimidatory and misogynistic behaviour, and focused on my marital status rather than my abilities.
“Throughout my career in motorsport, I have encountered and overcome numerous obstacles and I refuse to let these baseless allegations overshadow my dedication and passion for F1 Academy.”
She continued: “As a woman in this sport, I have faced my fair share of challenges but my commitment to breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations to succeed remains unwavering.
“In the strongest possible terms, I reject these allegations.”
The FIA’s statement said: “The FIA is aware of media speculation centred on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM (Formula One Management) personnel. The FIA compliance department is looking in to the matter.”
Mercedes released a statement which said it “wholly rejected” what had been alleged.
“We note the generic statement from the FIA this evening, which responds to unsubstantiated allegations from a single media outlet, and the off-record briefing which has linked it to the team principal of Mercedes-AMG F1,” it said.
“The team has received no communication from the FIA compliance department on this topic and it was highly surprising to learn of the investigation through a media statement.
“We wholly reject the allegation in the statement and associated media coverage, which wrongly impinges on the integrity and compliance of our team principal.
“As a matter of course, we invite full, prompt, and transparent correspondence from the FIA compliance department regarding this investigation and its contents.”
A statement from Formula One said: “We note the public statement made by the FIA this evening that was not shared with us in advance.
“We have complete confidence that the allegations are wrong, and we have robust processes and procedures that ensure the segregation of information and responsibilities in the event of any potential conflict of interest.
“We are confident that no member of our team has made any unauthorised disclosure to a team principal and would caution anyone against making imprudent and serious allegations without substance.”
Fraser McConnell’s team X44 Vida Carbon Racing finished fourth overall as this season’s Extreme E championship ended with the final two rounds taking place at the Copper X Prix in Antofagasta, Chile on Saturday and Sunday.
“I can’t put into words how much this year with team X44 has meant to me. First of all, thank you to Lewis Hamilton for allowing me this opportunity to race amongst some of the best and most experienced drivers and teams in the world!” McConnell said in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
Saturday’s round nine saw McConnell and his teammate Cristina Gutierrez of Spain advance to the final as qualifying heat winners before finishing third in the final, more than three seconds behind winners Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinski and Johan Kristoffersson of Rosberg X Racing and runners up Laia Sanz and Mattias Ekstrom of Acciona I Sainz XE Team.
Sunday’s tenth and final round also saw X44 Vida Carbon Racing also securing a podium finish in third despite failing to finish the final which was won by Molly Taylor and Kevin Hansen of Veloce Racing with Ahlin-Kottulinski and Kristoffersson finishing second.
Overall, McConnell’s team finished with 121 points to place fourth on the final Extreme E Championship season three table.
Rosberg X Racing finished with 182 points for their second Extreme E title while Acciona I Sainz XE Team (171 points) and Veloce Racing (155 points) rounded out the top three.
In addition to last weekend, team X44 also secured podium finishes at the Hydro Prix in Scotland in May, the Island Prix in Italy in September
“This year definitely had its ups and downs but I can say for certainty that the entire team were always giving our absolute everything to get the car on top. We were good enough to get it on top a couple times along with some podium finishes but the cool part was that even when it didn’t go to plan, everyone was still able to keep their spirits up and make the most of every situation that presented itself with a smile on their face,” he said.
“For everyone back home, thank you for always supporting me through this journey! Being able to fly the Jamaican flag is something that I will always be proud to represent and that will never change,” McConnell concluded.
The 25-year-old was recently chosen as a nominee for the RJR Gleaner Sports Foundation National Sportsman of the Year award.
Trevor Lawrence sustained a right high-ankle sprain in Monday's night's 34-31 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jaguars coach Doug Person revealed the diagnosis while talking to reporters Tuesday.
"Everything is stable," Pederson said. "Everything looks good and we'll see where he is in a couple of days."
Jacksonville visits the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, and Pederson didn't rule out Lawrence from playing.
"I'm not going to put that timetable on Trevor, not going to put him in a box like that," Pederson said.
Lawrence was injured with about five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when his his right leg bent awkwardly after being stepped on by teammate Walker Little as he was sacked. He went to the ground in obvious pain and needed to be helped off the field. X-rays taken at Jacksonville's stadium were negative.
"The one last night looked worse than what it really was - very fortunate there," Pederson said. "But he seems to have a little bit of a knack (for avoiding serious injury)."
If he can't play, it would be the first game the durable Lawrence would miss since the Jaguars selected him No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL draft.
Backup C.J. Beathard would then make his 13th career start - and first since Week 17 of the 2020 season for the San Francisco 49ers. He is 2-10 as a starter in the NFL.
Replacing Lawrence on Monday, Beathard completed 9-of-10 passes for 63 yards.
"It's good to get C.J. a full week of preparation," Pederson said. "Trevor will stay mentally sharp and obviously see where he's at."
Lawrence was enjoying another showing before the injury, completing 22-of-29 passes for 258 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
In 12 games this season, he has 3,004 passing yards with 14 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions.
While Lawrence's status is uncertain, Pederson announced that top wide receiver Christian Kirk will be sidelined for "some time" due to a core muscle injury that will likely require surgery.
Kirk, who was injured on the first play from scrimmage against the Bengals, leads Jacksonville with 787 receiving yards on 57 receptions with three touchdown catches.
With Monday's loss, the Jaguars dropped to 8-4 and their lead atop the AFC South shrunk to one game over the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.
Teona, Via Sistina and 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet were among the star attractions as several top-class racing and broodmare prospects were sold for seven figures on day two of the December Mares Sale in Newmarket.
The sales ring was unsurprisingly buzzing as the second round of the ‘Sceptre Sessions’ got under way at Tattersalls, with Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lezoo and Qipco Champions Day victor Poptronic also going under the hammer in front of a packed crowd.
Teona won the Prix Vermeille in 2021 and rounded off her career by finishing third behind Yibir in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Not only does the five-year-old possess a blue-blooded pedigree, being a daughter of Sea The Stars out of another Group One-winning mare for trainer Roger Varian in Ambivalent, but she is also in foal to the great Frankel, so it was no surprise she attracted huge interest in the auction.
Following a protracted battle, Teona eventually secured top lot status as she was knocked down to Frankel’s owner-breeders Juddmonte for 4.5million guineas.
“She is the best mare in the sale, she is a Group One winner out of a Group One winner, and they are very difficult to find,” said Juddmonte’s Simon Mockridge.
“She is a beautiful addition for us, she has a great pedigree. She is by Sea The Stars, who has made a fantastic start as a broodmare sire and has had five Group One winners – she will fit in very well.
“She is an outcross to Frankel, which is ideal and what we are looking for. And, yes, she will be going back to Frankel!”
When asked if the final price was expected, he told Tattersalls: “You always have to stretch when you want to buy the best, it is competitive. It was very strong bidding for her, I did think that around about 3.5 to 4million (might get her).
“You have to make that extra stretch – that is something we have learnt, it is all very well trying to value them before but when you come to the moment you have to be a little stronger.”
Having claimed Group One honours in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland earlier this year, Via Sistina looked set to strike gold in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, only to be mowed down late by King Of Steel under an inspired Frankie Dettori.
The four-year-old, who cost owner Stephen Hillen just 5,000 guineas as a yearling, was sold for 2.7million guineas to Evergreen Equine.
Hillen said: “It was amazing to watch! It has been tremendous from the day one. She was with Jamie Magee to be broken her in and he has a lot of good stock through his hands, he rang me in February and said she is the biggest, but she gets up the gallop better than all anything else!
“It has been a dream! I thought that she’d bring in 2million guineas plus, that cross is sensational. She was Group One winner, but arguably she ran great in the Champion Stakes and she was still improving all the time. It is nice now to see her almost certainly be retired sound and go to stud.
“I was fine watching her sell – I thought that if we don’t get what we want for her, we can still race her so it was a celebration either way.”
Zoustar filly Lezoo, trained by Ralph Beckett, was bought for 2.2million guineas after an online bid from Narvick International, who out-battled two separate parties from Japan.
Poptronic, last seen springing a surprise in the Qipco British Champions Fillies And Mares Stakes for Karl Burke, made 1.4million, while Tom Clover’s Matron Stakes runner-up Rogue Millennium made 1.65million and Ed Walker’s talented mare Primo Bacio, in foal to Frankel, went for 1.1million.
Zion Williamson believes there is great potential in the ranks of the New Orleans Pelicans after they bounced back to defeat the Sacramento Kings in the NBA's in-season tournament.
The Pelicans teed up a semi-final tie with either the Los Angeles Lakers or the Phoenix Suns in Las Vegas, after rallying from a 15-point first-quarter deficit to win 127-117 on Tuesday.
Brandon Ingram finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the comeback victory, while Herb Jones added 23 points for the Pelicans, who trailed by a 32-17 score less than eight minutes in before embarking on a 22-4 run to take a three-point lead early in the second quarter.
New Orleans extended the margin to 69-61 at halftime and never trailed in the final two quarters while building a lead as big as 15 points in the third. Ingram had 17 of his points in the second half, while Jonas Valanciunas posted 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds for the Pelicans.
"This team can be so great," Williamson said. "We have a lot of potential, but we have a lot of growth to do.
"But overall, we can do something really special if everybody stays locked in. We can do something really special."
Williamson only had 10 points, but he believes it is crucial that others step up to the plate when he is not at his best.
"With the shooters we've added, it definitely does take pressure off of me," Williamson said.
"I didn't play too well, but we were still up 13, 18, late in the game. This just shows how locked in everybody is. Coach always talks about staying ready. Our guys stayed ready."
For coach Willie Green, the level of trust shown by his players was the most pleasing aspect of the win.
"The biggest thing I saw in that game was trust," Green said.
"Our guys just stuck together. They stuck together in the huddle, and they continued to make the right play over and over and over again.
When you see a team that has 29 assists and only 14 turnovers, that's a team that's continuing to trust. We want to continue to build on that."
The Pelicans' win was marred, however, by news of a fan dying after a medical emergency at Golden 1 Center.
"During the first quarter of the Kings vs. Pelicans game, a guest had a medical emergency," a Kings statement read.
"EMS immediately responded and administered CPR. Tragically, these efforts were unsuccessful and the guest passed away. The organization offers its deepest condolences to the guest's family and loved ones."
Light Speed can be expected to go on to bigger and better things judged on an all-the-way victory on his handicap debut at Lingfield.
Previously successful in maiden and novice company at Newcastle and Wolverhampton respectively, the Mehmas colt was an 8-11 favourite to complete his hat-trick in the hands of Oisin Murphy.
Andrew Balding’s charge was soon bowling along in front in the BetUK. Home Of The Acca-Fenwa Handicap and was not hard pressed to score by two and a quarter lengths from Enough Already.
Murphy told Sky Sports Racing: “He broke quite well and I didn’t want us to walk around and fight him, so I was happy to let him tip away in front.
“He’s a lovely model. On pedigree there are mixed signals as to what trip he’ll want, being by Mehmas, but he’s out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and he stays 10 furlongs quite well.”
There was a degree of poignancy to the success as Light Speed was a final lead-up for Kingsclere stalwart Geoff Rigby, who is now set to enjoy his retirement.
“I’ve been at Kingsclere for 55 years – I started there in 1978 when I was 15 and I’m 70 now,” said Rigby.
“It’s a lovely place to work and the highlight was looking after Mrs Penny. She won the Cheveley Park, the Cherry Hinton and the Lowther Stakes, then she won the French Oaks and the Prix Vermeille and was second in the King George.”
Balding said: “Geoff’s been at Kingsclere since 1978 and he’s been a star. He lives in the village and we’ll be seeing plenty of him, I’d hope.
“The horse read the script, which is great.”
Light Speed was a second winner on the card for Balding and Murphy following the earlier success of the previously unraced See That Storm (11-10 favourite) in division one of the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM/EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes.
Dashing Darcey (10-11 favourite) impressed in division two for Roger Varian and David Egan.
“He ran a very nice race last time at Newcastle (finished second), I was drawn very low and he didn’t jump overly quick. The horse that won that day had track position in a slowly-run race and quickened away from us, but we were staying on all the way to the line,” said Egan.
“I was slightly expecting him to do the same, sort of go through the gears, but I thought he quickened up quite nicely to put the race to bed very quickly. He’s improving all the time.”
Kevin Sinfield has been hailed as an “absolute inspiration” by former RTE journalist Charlie Bird as the rugby league great continued his mammoth ultra-marathon challenge in aid of motor neuron disease.
Sinfield, the current England Rugby defence coach, set off on day five of the “7 in 7 in 7” challenge on a bitterly cold day in Dublin.
The 43-year-old is running an ultra-marathon every day for seven days in seven cities around Britain and Ireland, inspired by former Leeds team-mate Rob Burrow.
Bird, who is battling MND, thanked Sinfield for his efforts.
He said: “You are an absolute inspiration.
“I have cried every day watching you running marathon after marathon raising awareness and funds for MND all in the name of your best friend Rob Burrow.
“The money you have made is fantastic. He is a very lucky man to have a friend like you.
“I saw the picture of you carrying Rob over the finish line of one of your marathons, what an iconic image.”
Sinfield said it was “an honour” for the team to be in Dublin and representing Bird.
He said the team was a “little bit tired and a little bit busted” on day five of the monumental task.
Speaking at a media event at Croke Park GAA stadium, he said: “We’re really looking forward to running Dublin, we’re looking forward to running with Charlie.
“We’ve followed your story for some time Charlie, it’s incredible what you’ve done.
“Over the last three years, we’ve ran in some pretty special places and I think through the work our Doddie (Weir) did in Scotland in particular and through the UK, hopefully we’ve added to some of that in Rob’s name, and finally shown people how beautiful the MND community are and they need our support.
“MND doesn’t pick locations; it’s everywhere. We’ve got to fight together, we’ve got to come together and that’s part of why we’re here.”
After his visit to Dublin, Sinfield will move on to the penultimate stage in Brighton on Wednesday, followed by his final route which will conclude with him running up The Mall in London on Thursday.
:: To donate to Kevin Sinfield’s 7 in 7 in 7 quest, see https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kevin-sinfield
Hot on the heels of Sir Alex Ferguson tasting success with Spirit Dancer, Harry Redknapp and Michael Owen are now setting their sights on winning in Bahrain.
Former Manchester United manager Ferguson won the biggest race Bahrain has to offer in the International Trophy with a horse he also bred as the Richard Fahey-trained gelding streaked to glory.
Now Redknapp is targeting victory in the Bahrain Turf Series with Moktassab, trained by Phil McEntee, while Owen is sending over the Hugo Palmer-trained Box To Box.
Redknapp, who has been an owner for many years, said: “I am really looking forward to Moktasaab running in Bahrain. The horse has had a nice break since his last run in August and I think, like a lot of us, he will appreciate a bit of winter sunshine. Phil is very pleased with him and we hope he is back on a winning mark, having dropped a few pounds this year.
“I had a runner (Wonder Elzaam) in the first Bahrain Turf Series back in 2021, which was a lot of fun, and we will be heading out to Bahrain during the series to watch Moktasaab run.”
Owen is one of the owners of Box To Box, who finished second to Spirit Dancer at York in the summer.
“Box To Box arrives off the back of a really good season in England and he has travelled well to Bahrain,” said Palmer, ahead of the series, which starts on Friday.
“Physically the horse thrived in Bahrain last year, but he did his chances no good by being slowly away on a couple of occasions, which is unlike him. If he jumps well, then he has a lot in his favour.
“He is set to meet a couple of his former stable companions, Mr McCann and Chronograph, both of whom are now based in Bahrain, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on against them.”
Roman Dragon is another for Owen and Palmer to be making the journey.
Palmer said: “To date, all five of Roman Dragon’s wins have come around Chester’s tight turns, so the straight 1000m will be a slightly different challenge for him, but he will love the fast ground and he is fit and ready to run well. His owners were keen to experience the Bahrain Turf Series having heard good things about it.”
Harry Fry views a switch to Sandown as a major positive for Love Envoi ahead of the rescheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle on Saturday.
The seven-year-old was all set to lock horns with the brilliant Constitution Hill in the Grade One contest at Newcastle last weekend, only for the Gosforth Park fixture to be abandoned due to a combination of snow and frost.
The British Horseracing Authority moved swiftly to save the recognised Champion Hurdle trial, however, and it will now take place on familiar territory for Fry’s star mare.
“All being well, the plan is to run,” the Dorset-based trainer confirmed.
“Obviously, it was disappointing for Newcastle to lose their fixture on Saturday, but we’re pleased the race was able to be rescued and rescheduled for this weekend on a track that suits us well.
“She’s three from three at the course and won at this meeting last year in the handicap hurdle. There’ll be more of an emphasis on stamina over two miles round Sandown than there would have been at Newcastle, so from our point of view, we’re very happy.”
Nicky Henderson has suggested he may not only saddle Constitution Hill at Sandown, but that he could be joined by esteemed stablemate Shishkin, who he feels is in desperate need of a prep run ahead of an intended tilt at the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
Fry, though, is focussing on his own horse, adding: “Conditions shouldn’t be a problem, it’s an ideal starting point for her campaign and we’re looking forward to getting her season under way.
“We’ll just have to wait to see who else lines up. If Constitution Hill does run, it goes without saying he sets a very high standard, but you’ve got to be in it to win it.”
Fry is also set to be represented in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday’s card, with Boothill looking likely to take his chance in the Grade One feature.
The eight-year-old is two from two this season, having plundered a couple of valuable handicaps at Ascot, and his trainer is keen to step him up in class earlier than originally planned.
He said: “We’re leaning towards running. Initially, after winning the Hurst Park for the second year running, I thought we’d wait for the Clarence House (in January), but he’s bounced out of that race and is in great order with himself.
“It’s six weeks on Saturday until the Clarence House and with the weather at the moment, we’re having cancellations here, there and everywhere. You could wait all that time and you just never know.
“We just felt we’d keep our options open and we’ll make a final decision on Thursday morning, but at the moment, it’s probably more likely than not that we’ll let him take his chance.”
Hot favourite Jonbon is on course for Saturday’s Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.
Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old has won 11 of his 13 races under rules, with his only two defeats coming at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, behind stablemate Constitution Hill and Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo.
He gained a first course victory at Cheltenham on his reappearance last month when an easy winner of the Shloer Chase and is a long odds-on shot to follow up his victory in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase on the same card 12 months ago.
“He was very good at Cheltenham, he did everything well. Touch wood, Nicky and Nico (de Boinville) are both very happy with him going to Sandown on Saturday and hopefully he’ll run a big race,” said owner JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry.
“We just don’t know how he’ll go on really soft ground until he tries it – he has won on soft ground plenty of times.
“He’s another year older and stronger so hopefully he’ll be able to cope with it.
“He’s been unlucky at the Festival for the last two years but he’s still run two massive races, he’s just bumped into two very, very good horses.
“Fingers crossed he can carry on his progression this weekend.”
The Arizona Coyotes erupted for five first-period goals en route to accomplishing an unprecedented NHL feat with Monday's 6-0 rout of the Washington Capitals.
Arizona rolled to its fifth consecutive victory, with each of those wins coming against the last five franchises to win the Stanley Cup. The Coyotes are the first team in NHL history with such an achievement.
The Coyotes began the streak with a 2-0 win over the reigning champion Vegas Golden Knights before defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues and Capitals in succession.
After Logan Cooley and Michael Carcone began Arizona's first-period scoring barrage, Nick Schmaltz recorded goals less than three minutes apart before Jason Zucker extended the lead to 5-0 with 1:21 left in the opening stanza.
Nick Bjugstad scored short-handed in the second period, while Clayton Keller and Alex Kerfoot each recorded three assists to support Connor Ingram's 26-save shutout.
Former Arizona goaltender Darcy Kuemper stopped just 2 of 3 shots before being pulled just over 14 minutes into the contest. Charlie Lindgren turned back 19 of 22 shots in relief as Washington was handed a second straight defeat.
Vasilevskiy stars as Lightning get revenge on Stars
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves to deliver his first shutout since returning from back surgery, and the Tampa Bay Lightning earned a measure of revenge on the Dallas Stars with a 4-0 victory.
Anthony Cirelli scored a pair of goals to help Tampa Bay stop a four-game losing streak that included an 8-1 drubbing at the hands of the Stars in Dallas on Saturday.
Vasilevskiy, the 2018-19 Vezina Trophy winner, was making his fifth start of the season after missing the Lightning's first 20 games recovering from a microdiscectomy procedure performed in late September.
Nikita Kucherov got Tampa Bay on the board 7:47 into the first period, then got an assist when Cirelli made it 2-0 with 1:39 remaining in the opening session.
After Vasilevskiy made 10 saves in the second period to maintain the two-goal edge, Luke Glendening and Cirelli each added goals in the third.
Jake Oettinger finished with 19 saves for Dallas, which had a three-game point streak (2-0-1) come to an end.
Buchnevich’s overtime goal lifts Blues over Golden Knights
Pavel Buchnevich scored 38 seconds into overtime to give the St. Louis Blues a 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in the opener of a home-and-home series between the teams.
Jordan Binnington recorded 33 saves, including 12 in the third period, before Buchnevich fired a feed from Robert Thomas past Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson in the early stages of overtime.
Binnington was working on a shutout before the Golden Knights finally broke through on Jack Eichel’s power-play goal with 7:02 remaining in regulation that tied the contest at 1-1.
Alexey Toropchenko put St. Louis ahead with 21 seconds left in the first period, and the Blues maintained the one-goal advantage before Eichel capitalized shortly after Buchnevich was called for a tripping penalty in the third.
Thompson finished with 25 saves to help Vegas extend its point streak to five games, though it’s gone 2-0-3 over that stretch.
The two teams will meet again in St. Louis on Wednesday.
Alan King will wait until later in the week before making a final decision on whether Edwardstone will defend his Tingle Creek crown on Saturday, or step up in trip for Sunday’s Peterborough Chase.
The nine-year-old secured a third Grade One with an impressive victory in the Tingle Creek at Sandown 12 months ago, but is winless in four starts since.
He was no match for Nicky Henderson’s Tingle Creek favourite Jonbon on his reappearance in last month’s Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, leading to suggestions Edwardstone is now in need of a more searching test of stamina.
King has the option of stepping his stable star up to two and a half mile for the first time over fences in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, but plans are up in the air at this stage.
“I’ve no idea where he’s going,” King said on Tuesday.
“He’ll work tomorrow and I’ll speak to the owners on Thursday. I need to see what the weather is like, Huntingdon is currently waterlogged, so I really don’t know.
“It depends on the ground and everything and I need to see what the owners want to do as well.
“He scoped today, he’ll work tomorrow and then we’ll see.”
Edwardstone also holds an entry over three miles in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
A Dream To Share, winner of all five of his bumpers last year including at the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals, has had a setback which will delay his hurdling debut until the new year.
Trained by the veteran John Kiely, he was a popular winner at Cheltenham in March and his exploits, along with that of his teenaged rider John Gleeson, was one of the stories of the season.
He was declared to make an early appearance this season at Punchestown in October. However, he was taken out the day before with a stone bruise.
A Dream To Share was bought by JP McManus before Cheltenham and his racing manager Frank Berry has confirmed the problem was a little more serious than first thought but he is now back in exercise.
“He had a bit of a setback, but he is back in training now and we hope he’ll be running sometime in the new year,” said Berry.
“It had nothing to do with the ground, he wouldn’t have been able to run after his setback and he was off for a few weeks but he’s back in training now and whenever he is ready he will run.
“It’s most likely we’ll see him in the new year. It’s not ideal, the timing of the setback, but there we go. Hopefully everything will go well and we’ll see him out early in the new year.”
A Dream To Share is a general 6-1 favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in March.
Formula One will again hold six sprint weekends in 2024 with discussions ongoing about potential tweaks to the format.
The sprint weekends will be at the returning Chinese Grand Prix followed by races in Miami, Austria, Austin, Brazil and Qatar.
A number of drivers and team principals, including Red Bull boss Christian Horner, have called for changes to the sprint format.
It is likely that qualifying for the sprint will return to being held on Friday ahead of the sprint race on Saturday, which will be followed by qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix.
Other options may be considered to shake up the format, with changes to rules over parc ferme conditions – where alterations to the car are prohibited – and even a move to reverse part of the grid order for the sprint among possible options.
F1 bosses are keen to retain the sprint and believe having meaningful action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of a grand prix weekend bring benefits for TV audiences and fans in attendance.
Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula One, said: “I am delighted to announce six exciting venues for next season’s F1 sprint events, including two new hosts China and Miami, both of which will be fantastic additions and provide great racing for all our fans at the race and watching at home.
“Since its creation in 2021, the sprint has been consistent in delivering increased audiences on TV, more on track entertainment for the fans at events and increased fan engagement on social and digital platforms, and we are looking forward to the exciting events next year.”
A decision on how the sprint format will look next season is likely to be made in January.
Speaking in November, Horner said: “I think it’s clear that the sprint needs to evolve a bit. I can understand the concept and it being action on all three days, which for the promoter and for the fans has an interest.
“But I think the sprints in some cases have been slightly underwhelming – there’s no pit stop, it tends to stay in grid order and it’s a little bit like getting a medal for a long run.
“I think there can be a little bit more racing introduced, but then you’ve got to look at the consequences of that, if you were to reverse the grid, if there were points involved etc, etc.”
Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers savoured "a very special" night after they saw off the Boston Celtics in the closing stages of a dramatic in-season tournament quarterfinal.
Indiana has reached the final four stage in Las Vegas and will face the winner of Tuesday's game between the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinals.
The Pacers won 122-112 on Monday, spurred on by a tiebreaking four-point play from Haliburton with 1:33 left, which delighted an electric home crowd and sparked a decisive 9-0 run.
Haliburton had 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds to record his first career triple-double at the perfect time, putting his team two wins away from NBA Cup glory.
He had missed Saturday's win over the Miami Heat with a respiratory infection and conceded he felt "dead" in a first half where he struggled with his breathing, but after using an inhaler at halftime the 23-year-old was able to produce a memorable second-half performance that led his team to a famous victory.
Haliburton was thrilled to upset the odds against Boston, who blew out Indiana 155-104 in November and came into the quarterfinal with a league-leading 15-4 record.
"We have wanted to be in this situation all year – and here we are," Haliburton said, per ESPN.
"Now it's not just about being here. It's about winning.
"It feels good to win, especially in a game where nobody expected us to. The atmosphere was crazy.
"It means the world to me to represent Indiana and this organization. I don't even know if it was as much about what was at stake, as it was about what they did to us the last time. I think that left a bad taste in our mouths."
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle felt the tournament clash was like a playoff game.
"The thing about the in-season tournament is that as you advance, you're going to play two more games – win or lose in the quarterfinals – against better opponents," he said.
"And so this is something that's great for us because we need high level competition.
"It really is another thing that is a simulator of playoff basketball. So it really helps us. And so, coming out with the win was big for a lot of reasons that I mentioned.
"But I know this is very special to Tyrese as well."
Center Myles Turner has been with the Pacers since 2015 so is well qualified to put the atmosphere and occasion into context.
"I haven't heard it like this here in like three or four years, probably since Victor Oladipo was here," he said after scoring 17 points and adding 10 boards.
"The energy was just incredible. I think this city really started rallying around this team. The story, the backstory of it all makes it the most special.
"And the fact that he [Haliburton] got his opportunity, he is able to take it and run with it ... I mean, it's just dope to see where this franchise, where I started with to what it's becoming and what it potentially can become from the same level.
"It's honestly, like I said, it goes back to the atmosphere. I haven't heard MVP chants, maybe when Oladipo was here, but Ty's really come in and taken over and it's fun stuff."
Jayson Tatum had 32 points and 12 rebounds for Boston, while Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and added nine boards.
But those efforts were still not enough to prevent elimination as Boston played without injured All-Star Kristaps Porzingis.
The defeat left Tatum disappointed to miss out on the Las Vegas showpiece as the in-season tournament continues to gain momentum and popularity.
"We got to just be more connected defensively," he said. "But, I mean, it's the NBA. Sometimes guys are going to make plays.
"He [Haliburton] hit some tough shots. So it's kind of two fold. Guys get paid a lot of money to play basketball, and they're pretty good.
"Yeah. I wanted to go to Vegas, I didn't want to go home. I wanted to go Vegas, so yeah, I'm mad. Next year, I guess."
Indiana's semifinal will be on Thursday, a day before Boston hosts the loser of the New York-Milwaukee quarterfinal in their next game.
The Injured Jockeys Fund and mental health charity Mind are the beneficiaries of a magnificent marathon-running effort from Catherine Leeson, who completed her year-long fundraising challenge in Malton this weekend.
The Jack Berry House employee embarked on the unique and awe-inspiring mission of running one marathon every month at the beginning of 2023 and fittingly completed the final miles of her daring dozen with a racing-themed run around the Yorkshire training hub.
Treacherous icy conditions thanks to the recent cold snap meant for a more testing final leg to her endeavours, which started and finished at the IJF’s northern rehabilitation centre, Jack Berry House, and encompassed some of the town’s major training bases, such as Richard Fahey’s Musley Bank stables.
Overcome with emotion at the finish line as she was cheered on by friends, family and members of the racing community, Leeson – who grew up close to Malton – has currently raised over £3,000 to split between her two chosen charities.
“I felt very lucky and very emotional,” said Leeson. “My pride to work for the Injured Jockeys Fund and my pride about being part of the Jack Berry House team was my overall emotion.
“I was very lucky to have a great team supporting in the conditions, it was minus 5C and it was really frosty and icy.
“The team who work at the Injured Jockeys Fund are amazing and the overall support from not only the staff, but the patients, the beneficiaries and the local racing community, I felt very lucky and proud to be a part of that and it made it special.”
She went on: “I originally set a target of £1,000 for each charity, which I know sounds a bit low, but it is a difficult time and everyone is watching their spending; I didn’t want people to feel pressured.
“But I’ve raised just over £3,000 in total so far and I would love to raise another £1,000 or £2,000 if possible.
“I think with everything which has happened recently with Graham Lee, we are always trying to get more funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund and the more the better, but I’m happy with what we have raised so far.”
A spotlight has been shone on the work of the IJF following the incident at Newcastle that saw Graham Lee sustain serious injuries.
Its work is invaluable to the racing community not only in the rehabilitation of injuries but in offering financial support and help with mental well-being, with Leeson having immense pride in working for the company as a sports rehabilitator for the past eight years.
She added: “I’ve always been super, super proud to work for the Injured Jockeys Fund and in particular at Jack Berry House. It’s a really, really special place.
“I’ve never actually sat on a racehorse, I’m not quite brave enough to do that, so technically I’m not from a racing background, but after eight years at Jack Berry House you learn to love the sport, really. When the centre was being built, I always wanted to work there.”
Leeson’s time with the IJF has exposed her to the harsh realities of a 365-days-a-year sport and the life of the professionals at the heart of it, with one of the main objectives of her marathon challenge being to highlight the mental health support available via the fund.
She continued: “The brilliant idea was to run around the racing yards (for the final marathon) and as much as it is about raising money, the challenge is about raising awareness of the mental health side and the support that is needed.
“It’s amazing when people come in for treatment or are one of our respite patients, coming in for a longer period of time, how people start to open up about their struggles and the difficulties of racing.
“Until you are in that position and you see people day-in, day-out, you don’t realise the toll it takes and the internal mental strength that people in racing need to battle through the highs and lows of it.
“It would be over 10 yards we ran past or through and it was amazing to fit in as many yards as possible.
“Malton is such a hub for racing and I really wanted to, as well as raise awareness, just celebrate the work of the Injured Jockeys Fund. We had a lovely day and lots of beneficiaries joined us afterwards, it was a special day.”
There was also another reason close to the heart of Leeson for raising such vital funds for two worthy causes, with herself once a beneficiary of IJF support at a time of need.
“A few years ago, I went through a really challenging time and, as amazing as the team is, they not only look after their patients, but they look after their staff really well,” she explained.
“They sensed after a little bit of time, I wasn’t quite right, and I was fortunate enough that the team gathered round me and picked me up and I was able to access some amazing mental health support through the charity, which was invaluable.
“Having gone through that myself, I could see what a difference it makes to our patients – and without them, I don’t know where I would have been, which is a really scary thought.”
She went on: “I decided I wanted to give something back to the charity and continue the amazing work they do on the mental health side alongside the stuff we do day-to-day in the centres.
“I also chose Mind, as I wanted to fundraise for people who didn’t have access to specialist facilities and so no one should have to suffer with poor mental health.”
Now, despite almost falling at the very first hurdle, she can look back with pride, having successfully completed her ambitious challenge when crossing the finish line at the Jack Berry House she holds dear.
Leeson said: “I took a fall when doing the first one and knocked myself out after 30 kilometres. I managed to continue and looking back, I was thinking why did I decide to do 12!
“But I’m so glad I did and, as well as a big challenge, it’s been a brilliant experience.”
Donations can be made via the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/catherine-leeson-1677512328351
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