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The exciting Bog Warrior looks set to return to racecourse duty at Naas on February 11 when tackling the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Novice Chase in preference to the more prestigious Grade 1 Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown the following day, writes Elliot Slater. Te main object of the Naas exercise is to reassure connections of the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding that he is none the worse mentally or physically for his crunching fall sustained at Leopardstown at the end of... Read Full Story

Charles Byrnes produced a likely sort for serious consideration in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13 when his Trifolium destroyed a good field at Punchestown to thrust himself firmly into the reckoning for the opening race of the showcase international jumps racing fixture, writes Elliot Slater. Sent off the 7/4 favourite for the Grade 2 Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novices Hurdle, the five-year-old glided through the heavy ground and was always travelling strongest... Read Full Story

Synchronised, strongly fancied for the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 12 and a lively each-way hope for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup just over a month later, will have a crucial gallop at trainer Jonjo O'Neill's Jackdaws Castle gallops to decide whether or not he is ready to take in the big Irish Grade 1 event, writes Elliot Slater. O'Neill has made no secret of his concern that the surprise Lexus Chase winner has not fully recovered from his exertions in the... Read Full Story

The sensational Big Buck's is reported to be in fine shape after his latest success in the Grade 2 Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham at the end of January and is bang on target to attempt a fourth successive victory in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 15, writes Elliot Slater. Landing a remarkable 15th successive victory over hurdles the Andy Stewart-owned nine--year-old was, (as usual), sent off at prohibitive odds for the three-mile contest and... Read Full Story

The rapidly improving handicap hurdler Featherbed Lane looks set to take his chance in the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock in mid-February on his way to a tilt at either the Coral Cup or County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival a month later, writes Elliot Slater. Terry Warner, owner of the exciting seven-year-old, suggested that trainer Philip Hobs has earmarked the Haydock event (set to be run this term under the banner of the Betfred Goals Galore Trial Hurdle), after seeing his charge... Read Full Story

The future of Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is still in doubt after both Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain claim that they have ended their interest in the player. City are reportedly looking for a permanent transfer for their asset, who is worth £30 million in their valuation. The Argentine has not played for the club since refusing to come off the substitutes’ bench for manager Roberto Mancini in a Champions League tie against Bayern Munich back in September. The Manchester club... Read Full Story

Ahead of Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul’s directive is clear – stop New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Pierre-Paul has enjoyed a whirlwind start to his professional career since being drafted by the Giants 18 months ago. The Florida-born rookie has 16.5 sacks so far in his sophomore season. Pierre-Paul realises the Giants must disrupt the flow of the Patriots three-time Super Bowl winner if they are to repeat their shock victory over the... Read Full Story

The English Premier League is often regarded in a superior light to all other soccer leagues in world soccer, and one of the primary factors behind this is the fast, furious, and unrelenting nature of the game, with no teams holding back from giving each fixture their all, and players all too happy to put their bodies on the line for the sake of their team. However, despite that, there is currently a fierce debate raging in the EPL regarding the art of tackling, and in particular the manner... Read Full Story

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray has once again insisted Rhys Williams will not be allowed to leave the club despite the young Aussie being linked with a move to the Premiership. Williams, along with the likes of Matthew Bates and Marvin Emnes, has been heavily courted by a number of top-flight clubs according to live soccer betting  markets. However, Mowbray has made it clear none of his squad’s key players will be allowed to leave the club, who are looking to secure a return to the... Read Full Story

Sam Waley-Cohen was understandably very upset at the news that the gallant Oscar Time who carried him into a superb second place behind Ballabriggs in the 2011 John Smith’s Grand Nationa has been ruled out of action for the rest of the season after sustaining a leg injury, writes Elliot Slater. Joint-favourite with last year’s big race hero at 16/1 in the ante-post horse racing betting  list for this year’s renewal of the ‘world’s greatest steeplechase’, the Martin Lynch-trained 11-year-old... Read Full Story