NOTABLE SPEECH (4.25, nb) is fancied to deliver for punters in the St James’s Palace Stakes as day one of Royal Ascot gets underway. Flat racing’s showpiece event attracts around 300,000 racegoers from across the globe – and there is a multinational feel to its feature top-fl ight contest. For the fi rst time since 2016, winners of the English, Irish and French 2,000 Guineas go head-tohead in Berkshire. And Notable Speech can confi rm his superiority over Richard Hannon’s miler Rosallion, after their one-two at Newmarket. Having his fi rst start on turf, my Charlie Appleby-trained selection dished out defeat to the subsequent Curragh champ by unleashing a potent turn of foot. It was a memorable performance in what looked a strong renewal, with multiple form boosts for Will Buick’s big-race mount. Metropolitan was Notable Speech’s opposite number at Longchamp, but a rating of 114 leaves him with plenty to fi nd – and also-ran Henry Longfollow could be a threat granted a clearer run. BIG EVS (3.45) is the one to beat as 17 horses go to post for the newly-named King Charles III Stakes over fi ve furlongs. Mick Appleby’s colt proved he was no fl eeting star by starting his three-year-old campaign in style at York under Tom Marquand. Last year’s Windsor Castle Stakes hero at this meeting was not hard pressed for a clear victory carrying a 5lb penalty. Drawn in six, the low numbers should dominate with back-to-form fi lly Believing and race regular Twilight Calls others to note. Owners Wathnan Racing splashed the cash to assemble a strong team for fi ve days of fast-paced sporting action. Their go-to jockey Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 51 DX1ST SHOUT OUT: William Buick will hope to celebrate again on Notable Speech Linesupdatedat10am&4pmdaily.Callswillcost£1.50perminuteplusyourtelephonecompany’snetworkaccess charge.SP:Spoke.Helpdesk03332023390. REDHOTBOOKIEBASHER SUPERBWINNERSMONTHAFTERMONTH FROMMYWELLCONNECTEDCONTACTS BIGWINNINGDAY>LINEDUPTODAY Call09061749390Lineupdatesat 10amand4pmdaily Callscost80pperminplusyourtelephonecompany’snetworkaccesscharge.18+only.Musthavethe billpayer’spermission.Helpline03332023390 SP:Spoke.Helpline:03332023390 OFFICIALHORSERACING COMMENTARYANDRESULTS Call09058172637 Horse Racing & Sports Tips ALEX GORRIE HE IS THE MAN IN THE KNOW! *Calls will cost £1.50 per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. 18+ only. SP: Spoke. Helpdesk: 03332023390. MORE THAN 30 YEARS TIPPING AND STILL GOING STRONG. TOP CLASS INFORMATION SHARED ON OUR LINE DAILY. DURING THE FLAT SEASON WE GIVE 2 OR 3 SOLID BETS MOST DAYS. OUR BEST BET IS GIVEN FIRST Call 0906 150 5912 (Press 1 for UK Racing) STIRRING SPEECH! Guineas hero out to prove he’s the best By The Scout (Melissa Jones) Racing GET ALL THE BREAKING SPORTS NEWS ONLINE express.co.uk/sport YESTERDAY’S RESULTS £337.20. CSF: £53.40. Non-runner: Arranmore. 4.30—CONDOR PASA (J Mitchell, 4-6 fav) 1; Aviemore (5-1) 2; Zoffandia (9-4 2nd fav) 3. 12 ran. 33 /4l, 1l. (R Varian). Tote: £1.67; pl £1.10, £1.50, £1.10. exacta: £5.30. trifecta: £7.60. CSF: £4.94. Nonrunner: Qamari. 5.00—MOSTAR DREAMS (A Mullen, 10-1) 1; Blufferonthebus (9-2 jt 2nd fav) 2; Berrygate (9-2 jt 2nd fav) 3. H’cap 10 ran. nk, 11 /2l. (I Jardine; 9-4 fav Questionable). Tote: £11.10; pl £2.90, £1.50, £1.80. exacta: £59.90. tricast: £240.53. trifecta: £236.70. CSF: £54.05. Non-runner: Veracidad. Placepot: £39.10 (Race 1) 3, 6, 7; (2) 9, 3, 10; (3) 1, 3, 6; (4) 1, 6; (5) 7, 6, 3; (6) 5, 4, 12. Quadpot: £2.80 CHEPSTOW: Good to soft-good in places 2.18—BEAUTIFUL CROWN (Mr E Cagney, 5-4 fav) 1; Breguet Boy (11-2) 2; Moon Over The Sea (15-2) 3. H’cap 10 ran. 13 /4l, ns. (Jack Jones). Tote: £2.25; pl £1.10, £2.00, £2.30. exacta: £8.60. tricast: £38.43. trifecta: £33.10. CSF: £8.90. 2.48—STOCKPYLE (Jack Doughty, 10-11 fav) 1; Racing Demon (10-3 2nd fav) 2; Optiva Star (9-1) 3. H’cap 7 ran. 2l, 1 /2l. (W Muir & C Grassick). Tote: £1.91; pl £1.30, £1.80. exacta: £4.60. trifecta: £19.30. CSF: £3.90. 3.18—RAN AMOK (J Leavy, 9-1) 1; Hofburg (10-3 jt 2nd fav) 2; Feeraas (evens fav) 3. 5 ran. nk, 21 /4l. (H Palmer). Tote: £10.10; pl £3.30, £1.90. exacta: £33.20. trifecta: £53.90. CSF: £37.36. 3.48—ALBERT CEE (S D Bowen, 6-1) 1; Howzak (15-2) 2; Connie’s Rose (4-1 jt 2nd fav) 3. H’cap 8 ran. 43 /4l, 11 /4l. (James Owen; 3-1 fav Glamorous Express). Tote: £7.00; pl £2.30, £2.50, £1.50. exacta: £41.20. tricast: £177.02. trifecta: £200.80. CSF: £49.97. Non-runner: Dolly Gray. 4.18—SAVANNAH SMILES (C Hutchinson, 11-1) 1; Mintana (11-1) 2; Bama Lama (9-2 fav) 3. H’cap 14 ran. ns, 11 /4l. (G Harris). Tote: £12.40; pl £3.60, £3.30, £2.20. exacta: £164.30. tricast: £652.31. trifecta: £1121.80. CSF: £127.59. Non-runners: Hannah’s Return, Sisters In The Sky. 4.55—KALAMA SUNRISE (E Greatrex, 10-3 fav) 1; American Rose (7-1) 2; Bobacious (17-2) 3. H’cap 9 ran. 4l, nk. (J Channon). Tote: £4.34; pl £1.40, £2.20, £2.80. exacta: £28.60. tricast: £182.08. trifecta: £230.30. CSF: £26.69. Nonrunner: Doonbeg Farmer. CARLISLE: Soft 2.00—MAYBERRY MOON (C Beasley, 15-2) 1; Stirrup Cup (12-1) 2; Uncle Sam (9-2) 3. 9 ran. 1l, 3l. (M Dods; 7-2 jtfav Endeavouryourdream, 7-2 jtfav A Fine Claret). Tote: £8.50; pl £2.50, £3.20, £1.80. exacta: £87.70. trifecta: £440.00. CSF: £93.36. 2.30—EDGEWATER DRIVE (Paula Muir, 7-1) 1; Hour By Hour (6-1) 2; Bestie (11-2) 3. H’cap 9 ran. 1 1 /2l, 2l. (W Storey; 10-3 fav Dream Deal). Tote: £8.00; pl £2.30, £2.30, £2.00. exacta: £57.40. tricast: £250.13. trifecta: £350.80. CSF: £48.34. Non-runners: Motawaazy, One Of Our Own. 3.00—BELSITO (T Eaves, 5-2 fav) 1; Atomise (4-1 2nd fav) 2; John Kirkup (9-2) 3. H’cap 9 ran. 1l, 2l. (K Ryan). Tote: £3.50; pl £1.40, £1.60, £1.50. exacta: £11.50. tricast: £41.43. trifecta: £31.90. CSF: £12.14. Non-runner: Thaki. 3.30—WHIMSY (Oisin Orr, 6-4 2nd fav) 1; Manuelito (6-5 fav) 2; Ebony Maw (10-1) 3. H’cap 7 ran. 5l, 31 /4l. (A McCann (IRE) ). Tote: £2.50; pl £1.30, £1.20. exacta: £3.60. trifecta: £10.90. CSF: £3.75. 4.00—GOLDEN MELODY (Oisin Orr, 13-2) 1; Helter Skelter (15-2) 2; Arkenstaar (11-2) 3. H’cap 9 ran. 11 /2l, nk. (T Easterby; 4-1 jtfav Alpine Sierra, 4-1 jtfav Jkr Cobbler). Tote: £7.50; pl £2.20, £2.80, £2.10. exacta: £52.10. tricast: £285.96. trifecta: Placepot: £102.00 (Race 1) 1, 5, 7; (2) 1, 7; (3) 3, 2; (4) 2, 9, 3; (5) 6, 11, 1; (6) 7, 3, 4. Quadpot: £45.00 WINDSOR: Good to firm 5.30—KISS AND RUN (K O’Neill, 7-2) 1; Split The Profit (11-2) 2; Bint Havana Gold (10-1) 3. H’cap 7 ran. 3 /4l, 11 /4l. (R Cook & J Bridger; 5-2 fav Horse Whisperer). Tote: £4.50; pl £2.60, £2.10. exacta: £22.40. tricast: £173.18. trifecta: £139.60. CSF: £22.59. Non-runner: Lieutenant Rascal. 6.00—JOHN’S DRAGON (P-L Jamin, 5-1 2nd fav) 1; Colocolo (10-1) 2; Invincible Crown (7-4 fav) 3. 12 ran. 11 /4l, nk. (T Dascombe). Tote: £6.10; pl £2.00, £2.90, £1.10. exacta: £55.30. trifecta: £190.30. CSF: £53.94. Non-runner: Happy Happy. 6.30—GALAXY PRINCESS (Rossa Ryan, 4-9 fav) 1; Epidavros (28-1) 2; Masterofgreygoose (9-4 2nd fav) 3. 4 ran. 11 /4l, 12l. (R Beckett). Tote: £1.45; exacta: £10.10. trifecta: £14.40. CSF: £12.53. Nonrunners: Master Builder, Ribba Hill, Star Time. 7.00—GET IT (P Cosgrave, 12-1) 1; Many A Star (7-1) 2; Amazonian Dream (13-2 jt 2nd fav) 3. H’cap 14 ran. 3 /4l, 1l. (G Baker; 11-2 fav King’s Vanity). Tote: £14.80; pl £4.00, £2.10, £2.90. exacta: £93.30. tricast: £618.97. trifecta: £1065.20. CSF: £87.40. Non-runners: Kingentleman, Knebworth. 7.30—SALVUCCIO (Billy Loughnane, 11-2) 1; Jimmy Speaking (10-3) 2; Beyond Borders (6-1) 3. H’cap 6 ran. 31 /4l, ns. (G Boughey; 5-2 fav Queen’s Guard). Tote: £6.80; pl £2.70, £2.00. exacta: £25.30. trifecta: £86.80. CSF: £23.88. Non-runner: The Good Biscuit. 8.00—METABOLT (Rossa Ryan, 6-4 fav) 1; Composite (11-1) 2; High Spirited (4-1 2nd fav) 3. H’cap 8 ran. nk, 21 /2l. (D Loughnane). Tote: £2.50; pl £1.10, £2.80, £1.60. exacta: £16.70. tricast: £53.10. trifecta: £72.90. CSF: £18.39. 8.30—THURSDAY (S De Sousa, 10-1) 1; Foinix (18-1) 2; Central City (14-1) 3. 15 ran. 1l, ns. (S Dow; 3-1 fav Top Flight Century). Tote: £11.50; pl £3.20, £4.40, £4.40. exacta: £173.50. trifecta: £2689.10. CSF: £178.52. Non-runner: Piranheer. Jackpot: £13,926.50, with £18,758.11 carried over. Placepot: £82.50 (Race 1) 2, 1; (2) 9, 2, 4; (3) 7; (4) 4, 3, 10; (5) 2, 5; (6) 4, 3, 7. Quadpot: £13.90 Moore closes in on Dettori win record James Doyle has chosen to ride £300,000 buy CATALYSE (3.05, Nap) in the Coventry Stakes. Richard Fahey’s chestnut newcomer was quickly in charge at Hamilton, justifying market confi dence at a two-length margin. If running to within several pounds of his mark, impressive QIPCO British Champions Day winner Big Rock will lead home this Queen Anne Stakes fi eld. But Christophe Soumillon’s new recruit was beaten a long way in the Lockinge after a stable switch – and is untried on going with fi rm in its description. Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval and grey Charyn also have ground queries, so value bet DOLAYLI (2.30) could pick up the pieces. The third string for France showed pace at 1m 1f to lead the Prix d’Ispahan with 300m to go. Only beaten a length, the fi ve-year-old comes into this on an upward curve and his trainer’s outsider Watch Me struck here at the highest level. Irish raiders dominate the Ascot Stakes market, with Joseph O’Brien’s NUSRET (5.05) a longer shot with bet365 at 25-1. But the fi ve-year-old exhibited his battling qualities as a juvenile hurdler and the hustle and bustle of this 2m 4f event should be right up his street. Rather diffi cult to place over obstacles with a rating in the 130s, he is just 2lb higher than for his last Flat victory in an Ebor trial. Buick spies a double with BOTANICAL (5.40) in the Wolferton Stakes, while Willie Mullins saddles well-weighted Copper Horse Handicap entrant BELLOCCIO (6.15). NOTABLE SPEECH (4.25, nb) is fancied to deliver for punters in the St James’s Palace Stakes as day one of Royal Ascot gets Flat racing’s showpiece event attracts around 300,000 racegoers from across the globe – and there is a multinational feel to its feature top-fl ight contest. For the fi rst time since 2016, winners of the English, Irish and French 2,000 Guineas go head-toAnd Notable Speech can confi rm his superiority over Richard Rosallion, after their Having his fi rst start on turf, my Charlie Appleby-trained selection dished out defeat to the subsequent Curragh champ by unleashing a It was a memorable performance in what looked a strong renewal, with multiple form boosts for Will Buick’s was Notable Speech’s opposite number at Longchamp, but a rating of 114 leaves him with plenty to fi nd – and also-ran Henry could be a threat granted (3.45) is the one to beat as 17 horses go to post for the newly-named King Charles III Stakes over fi ve furlongs. Mick Appleby’s colt proved he was no fl eeting star by starting his three-year-old campaign in style at York under Tom Marquand. Last year’s Windsor Castle Stakes hero at this meeting was not hard pressed for a clear victory carrying a 5lb penalty. numbers should dominate and race regular Owners Wathnan Racing assemble a strong team for SHOUT OUT: William Buick will hope to celebrate again on Notable Speech STIRRING SPEECH! out to prove he’s the best James Doyle has chosen to ride £300,000 buy CATALYSE Nap) in the Coventry Stakes. Richard Fahey’s chestnut newcomer was quickly in charge at Hamilton, justifying market confi dence at a two-length margin. If running to within several pounds of his mark, impressive QIPCO British Champions Day winner lead home this Queen Anne Stakes fi eld. But Christophe Soumillon’s new recruit was beaten a long way in the Lockinge after a stable switch – and is untried on going with fi rm in its description. Dubai Turf winner and grey Charyn also have ground queries, so value bet could pick up the pieces. The third string for France showed pace at 1m 1f to lead the Prix d’Ispahan with 300m to go. Only beaten a length, the fi ve-year-old comes into this on an upward curve and his trainer’s outsider Watch Me struck here at the highest level. Irish raiders dominate the Ascot Stakes market, with Joseph O’Brien’s NUSRET (5.05) a longer shot with bet365 at 25-1. But the fi ve-year-old exhibited his battling qualities as a juvenile hurdler and the hustle and bustle of this 2m 4f event should be right up his street. Rather diffi cult to place over obstacles with a rating in the 130s, he is just 2lb higher than for his last Flat victory in an Ebor trial. Buick spies a double with BOTANICAL Wolferton Stakes, while Willie Mullins saddles well-weighted Copper Horse Handicap entrant BELLOCCIO (6.15). RYAN MOORE is poised to overtake Frankie Dettori at the top of Royal Ascot’s leaderboard for current riders. Retained by Coolmore, the 40-year-old needs just two winners to equal his former UK weighing room colleague. Dettori signed off with an overall tally of 81 by scooping last year’s Gold Cup on Courage Mon Ami, trained by John and Thady Gosden. The popular Italian jockey will not be in the saddle this week, instead focusing on race-riding opportunities from his new base in America. Operating at a 50 per cent strike rate in the last fortnight, Moore, left, is 4-7 with William Hill to top the charts at the royal meeting for an 11th time. “Ryan Moore is set to take over as the punters’ pal and Whistlejacket has been a big ante-post mover in the Norfolk Stakes market,” said spokesman Lee Phelps. By Melissa Jones the 40-year-old needs just two winners to Dettori signed overall tally of 81 Operating at a 50 per cent strike rate in the last fortnight, Moore, left, is 4-7 with William Hill to top the charts at the royal meeting for an 11th time. “Ryan Moore is set to
RACING: ROYAL ASCOT CARD DX1ST 52 Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 Take a price on any Ascot race from 7am (shops) or 8am (online) on the day of racing and if the Starting Price is bigger, we’ll pay you out at that price. Applies to Early Prices only. Doesn’t apply on the Sports Betting Terminal and doesn’t apply to specials/boosts. Betfred rules apply. BIRCH TO MISS RODIN CLASH WHITE BIRCH will miss his highly-touted rematch with Auguste Rodin in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes tomorrow. John Murphy’s grey was one up on Aidan O’Brien’s 2023 Derby titleholder this season, via his smooth Curragh Tattersalls Gold Cup success. But the Classic winner at Epsom held sway over his rival on two occasions during their three-year-old campaign. Results of a blood test cancelled a fourth meeting, with Murphy’s son George reporting: “It wasn’t perfect so we said we’d leave the trip. “He’s in the Eclipse and he’s in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the end of the month.” On a day for high-profi le withdrawals, the Commonwealth Cup will be run without original ante-post favourite Vandeek, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford. And Amo Racing, owners of fellow leading contender Bucanero Fuerte, scratched their spinter. “After arriving at Ascot yesterday he was showing signs of travel sickness and was subsequently transferred to Newmarket Equine Hospital as a matter of caution where he has been monitored overnight,” a statement said. ED WALKER is pitching unexposed Almaqam into an “exceptionally strong” St James’s Palace Stakes. The Lope De Vega colt ventures into Group One company on the back of an easy Sandown score at Listed level. On just his third career start, Almaqam was in control of his Heron Stakes fi eld by almost four lengths last month. The clear-cut manner of victory was particularly impressive as he got loose beforehand. His next task is to surprise several top-tier winners with Tom Marquand steering, led by 2,000 Guineas hero Notable Speech. “We hold Almaqam in high regard and wanted to keep him at a mile,” said Walker. “He will have to improve signifi cantly but is unexposed and owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum was keen to go for the race.” Almaqam is 20-1 with William Hill. Market leader Notable Speech is 6-5 – the shortest-priced favourite on day one. Walker aims high By Melissa Jones By Melissa Jones 2.30 QUEEN ANNE STAKES (GROUP 1) (STR) £425,325 (Class 1) 1m (14 declared) 1 1L223-1 AUDIENCE (31) (D) 5 9 2 ..........................R Havlin 128 (14) Runs: 13 Wins: 4(F,G) Places: 5 £459,068 Trainer: J & T Gosden Owner: Cheveley Park Stud 2 12221-6 BIG ROCK (31) (C&D) 4 9 2 ...............C Soumillon ★134 (3) Runs: 12 Wins: 5(S,A,GS) Places: 5 £1,351,204 Trainer: Maurizio Guarnieri Owner: Yeguada Centurion 3 211-197 BRAVE EMPEROR (23) (D) 4 9 2 ...........L Morris 120 (8) Runs: 18 Wins: 10(F,S,A,GS,G) Places: 3 £449,991 Trainer: A Watson Owner: Middleham Park Racing LX 4 230-202 CAIRO (12) (D) 4 9 2 ..................................K O’Neill 118 (1) Runs: 12 Wins: 3(A,G) Places: 6 £251,131 Trainer: Alice Haynes Owner: Mr Refai Alghraiban 5 833-112 CHARYN (31) (D,F) 4 9 2 ....................S De Sousa 125 (9) Runs: 14 Wins: 4(S,GS,G) Places: 4 £536,712 Trainer: R Varian Owner: Mr Nurlan Bizakov 6 1163-22 DOCKLANDS (26) (C&D) 4 9 2 ..............H Turner 119 (6) Runs: 9 Wins: 3(S,F,A) Places: 5 £128,451 Trainer: Harry Eustace Owner: O T I Racing 7 2/11134 ● DOLAYLI (23) 5 9 2 ......................M Barzalona 123 (5) Runs: 10 Wins: 6(A,GS) Places: 1 £124,537 Trainer: F Graffard (FR) Owner: H H Aga Khan 8 23232-1 FACTEUR CHEVAL (80) (D) 5 9 2 ........M Guyon 127 (7) Runs: 14 Wins: 6(S,GS,G) Places: 6 £2,955,483 Trainer: J Reynier (FR) Owner: Team Valor International Llc/gary Barb 9 7231-L5 FLIGHT PLAN (10) (D,T) 4 9 2 ...........D Tudhope 121 (12) Runs: 10 Wins: 2(A,G) Places: 2 £162,694 Trainer: K R Burke Owner: Clipper 10 399L-35 HI ROYAL (31) (D,T) 4 9 2 ....................R L Moore 123 (10) Runs: 10 Wins: 1(G) Places: 4 £187,261 Trainer: K Ryan Owner: Mr Jaber Abdullah 11 1114/5-3 MALJOOM (48) (D) 5 9 2...................T Marquand 115 (13) Runs: 6 Wins: 3(A,G) £142,386 Trainer: W Haggas Owner: Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum 12 1112-27 POKER FACE (31) (D) 5 9 2 ........... James Doyle 125 (11) Runs: 13 Wins: 6(S,A,GS,G) Places: 3 £240,559 Trainer: S & E Crisford Owner: Mr Edward J Ware 13 2/398-91 ROYAL SCOTSMAN (17) 4 9 2..........J P Spencer 123 (2) Runs: 11 Wins: 3(F,GS) Places: 3 £339,711 Trainer: P & O Cole Owner: Mrs Fitri Hay 14 1L-5339 WITCH HUNTER (10) (C) 5 9 2 ............S M Levey 115 (4) Runs: 28 Wins: 4(F,A,GS) Places: 10 £275,467 Trainer: R Hannon Owner: Mr William Stobart BLINKERS: Nos. 3, 10 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 4, 7 CHEEK PIECES: No. 12 HOOD: No. 1. Forecast: 11-4 Charyn, 3 Facteur Cheval, 9-2 Big Rock, 7 Audience, 10 Maljoom, 14 Royal Scotsman, Docklands, 16 Dolayli, 20 Others. 2023: Triple Time 4-9-2, Neil Callan 33-1 (K Ryan), drawn (11), 12 ran. GUIDE: In a wide-open renewal, FACTEUR CHEVAL gets the vote to give French-trained runners a first win in the race since Solow in 2015. He finished second behind Big Rock over C&D (sft) in October, but was caught further back than ideal before running on well late in the piece and, on the back of a game win in the Dubai Turf at Meydan (1m1f, gd) in March, a bold bid to emulate his sire, Ribchester, in winning this race is expected. Charyn was last seen finishing an excellent second behind the reopposing Audience in the Lockinge (1m, gd) last month and should be thereabouts once more, while Royal Scotsman impressed when scoring comfortably in the Diomed at Epsom (1m, gd-sft) latest and it will be interesting to see how he is ridden on this occasion. 3.05 COVENTRY STAKES (GROUP 2) 2YO £99,242 (1) 6f (23) 1 431 AL QUDRA (14) (D,F) 9 3 ...........................W Buick 98 (16) Runs: 3 Wins: 1(A) £8,842 Trainer: C Appleby Owner: Godolphin 2 1 ANDESITE (33) (D,T) 9 3 .....................D Tudhope 98 (19) Runs: 1 Wins: 1(G) £15,462 Trainer: K R Burke Owner: Clipper 3 ANGELO BUONARROTI 9 3 .................David Egan — (14) Trainer: Raphael Freire Owner: AMO Racing Limited 4 1 ARRAN (63) 9 3........................................ D Probert 93 (22) Runs: 1 Wins: 1(G) £5,154 Trainer: P & O Cole Owner: Mrs Fitri Hay 5 12 CAMILLE PISSARRO (24) (D,T) 9 3 ..R L Moore 101 (2) Runs: 2 Wins: 1 Places: 1 £19,826 Trainer: A P O’Brien (IRE) Owner: Tabor/smith/mrs J Magnier/brant 6 1 ● CATALYSE (16) (D,F,T) 9 3 ...... James Doyle 96 (6) Runs: 1 Wins: 1(G) £10,854 Trainer: R Fahey Owner: Wathnan Racing 7 1 COLUMNIST (24) (D,T) 9 3 ....................Oisin Orr 96 (15) Runs: 1 Wins: 1(GS) £15,344 Trainer: R Fahey Owner: Wathnan Racing 8 1 COOL HOOF LUKE (12) (D) 9 3 .........S De Sousa 87 (23) Runs: 1 Wins: 1(A) £4,187 Trainer: A Balding Owner: John Wallinger & Partner 9 1 COWARDOFTHECOUNTY (58) (D) 9 3D McMonagle 98 (11) Runs: 1 Wins: 1 £10,435 Trainer: J P O’Brien (IRE) Owner: Stonestreet Stables Llc/j Oxley/t Farm 10 1 ELECTROLYTE (15) (D) 9 3 .......................H Doyle 87 (18) Runs: 1 Wins: 1(G) £3,672 Trainer: A Watson Owner: Wathnan Racing 11 121 FRANCISCO’S PIECE (16) (T) 9 3 .P Mulrennan ★102 (9) Runs: 3 Wins: 2(S,GS) Places: 1 £40,615 Trainer: A Keatley Owner: Keatley Racing Owners Group & D Moore 12 2 INGOT (20) 9 3 .....................................K Shoemark 86 (3) Runs: 1 Places: 1 £2,510 Trainer: J & T Gosden Owner: Cheveley Park Stud 13 13 MIDNIGHT STRIKE (24) 9 3 ..................O Murphy 100 (12) Runs: 2 Wins: 1 £16,696 Trainer: J P O’Brien (IRE) Owner: Teme Valley 14 41 MR CHAPLIN (32) (D) 9 3 .................Rossa Ryan 92 (5) Runs: 2 Wins: 1(G) £8,896 Trainer: R Beckett Owner: Michael Rembaum & Tanya Rembaum 15 3 NASCIMENTO (27) 9 3 .......................J P Spencer 89 (13) Runs: 1 £5,072 Trainer: M Bell Owner: Mr Peter Trainor & Partner 16 32 RASHABAR (40) 9 3 ...................Billy Loughnane 88 (10) Runs: 2 Places: 2 £11,078 Trainer: B Meehan Owner: Manton Thoroughbreds Ix 17 21 STAR ANTHEM (43) 9 3 ....................R Kingscote 95 (17) Runs: 2 Wins: 1(GS) Places: 1 £8,253 Trainer: C Cox Owner: The Stargazers 18 61 SYMBOL OF HONOUR (33) (D) 9 3M Barzalona 96 (20) Runs: 2 Wins: 1(F) £5,815 Trainer: C Appleby Owner: Godolphin 19 21 THE ACTOR (44) 9 3...............................S M Levey 100 (4) Runs: 2 Wins: 1(G) Places: 1 £23,033 Trainer: R Hannon Owner: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum 20 5 TURNERS CROSS (11) (T) 9 3 ....................S Foley 71 (21) Runs: 1 £470 Trainer: J Harrington (IRE) Owner: Mr Daniel Kiely 21 12 UP THE CLARETS (17) (T) 9 3 ................A Mullen 89 (8) Runs: 2 Wins: 1(G) Places: 1 £9,694 Trainer: I Jardine Owner: Mr James Fyffe & Mr Scott Fyffe 22 2 YAH MO BE THERE (33) 9 3 .............T Marquand 98 (7) Runs: 1 Places: 1 £7,251 Trainer: R Spencer Owner: Phil Cunningham 23 13 ZMINIATURE (26) 9 3 ....................R Clutterbuck 95 (1) Runs: 2 Wins: 1(S) £23,844 Trainer: D Cunha Owner: J Sarkar, D Sarkar, O Sarkar & D Sarka TONGUE STRAP: No. 23. Forecast: 9-2 Cowardofthecounty, 5 Camille Pissarro, 8 Francisco’s Piece, Andesite, 10 Al Qudra, The Actor, Yah Mo Be There, 12 Catalyse, 16 Others. 2023: River Tiber 9-3, Ryan Moore 11-8 Fav (A P O’Brien(Ire)), drawn (6), 20 ran. GUIDE: FRANCISCO’S PIECE gave the impression that a step up in trip would be right up his street when scoring stylishly in a Chantilly Listed race (5f, hvy) earlier this month, pulling clear in the closing stages, and he can take his form to the next level. The Actor (first) finished ahead of Al Qudra (third) when the pair met at Newmarket (5f, gd) last month and the former is taken to confirm his superiority over that rival with this extra yardage promising to suit. Camille Pissarro and Cowardofthecounty are also key players, with the latter looking a particularly exciting prospect after dispatching of a subsequent Listed winner on his debut at the Curragh (6f, sft-hvy) in April. 3.45 KING CHARLES III STAKES (GROUP 1) £390,094 (1) 5f (17) 1 84-1133 DILIGENT HARRY (34) (D) 6 9 7 .....Rossa Ryan 119 (7) Runs: 25 Wins: 7(A) Places: 8 £406,072 Trainer: C Cox Owner: The Dilinquents 2 231-517 EMARAATY ANA (80) (C&D) 8 9 7 ...S Osborne 117 (10) Runs: 35 Wins: 7(F,G) Places: 9 £1,257,369 Trainer: J Osborne Owner: Barratt Racing 3 30-0017 EQUALITY (24) (D) 6 9 7 ..................J P Spencer 118 (13) Runs: 28 Wins: 6(A,GS,G) Places: 5 £216,819 Trainer: C Hills Owner: Kennet Valley Syndicates II 4 518-851 KERDOS (24) (D,F) 4 9 7 ..................R Kingscote 121 (8) Runs: 13 Wins: 4(S,GS,G) Places: 3 £151,227 Trainer: C Cox Owner: John Connolly & A D Spence 5 5/1151-2 REGIONAL (24) (D,T) 6 9 7..............C Rodriguez 119 (15) Runs: 18 Wins: 5(F,G) Places: 6 £431,748 Trainer: E Bethell Owner: Future Champions Racing Regional 6 91115-6 ROGUE LIGHTNING (24) (C&D,F) 4 9 7 .....J Doyle 118 (11) Runs: 10 Wins: 4(F,GS,G) Places: 2 £120,818 Trainer: Tom Clover Owner: Wathnan Racing 7 2/9940-4 TWILIGHT CALLS (45) (D) 6 9 7 ........R L Moore 114 (4) Runs: 17 Wins: 3(F,G) Places: 4 £208,536 Trainer: H Candy Owner: Cheveley Park Stud 8 19-2044 ASFOORA (24) (D) 5 9 4 ........................O Murphy ★122 (17) Runs: 19 Wins: 8(S,G) Places: 4 £719,207 Trainer: Henry Dwyer (AUS) Owner: Noor Elaine Farm Pty Ltd 9 0130-91 BELIEVING (10) (D) 4 9 4 ....................D Tudhope 120 (1) Runs: 17 Wins: 5(F,A,G) Places: 5 £240,323 Trainer: G Boughey Owner: Highclere T’bred Racing - Jane Addams 10 4466-72 MAKAROVA (37) (D) 5 9 4 ..............P Mulrennan 113 (5) Runs: 22 Wins: 3(F,G) Places: 8 £149,208 Trainer: E Walker Owner: Brightwalton Bloodstock Ltd 11 757-328 VADREAM (24) (C,D) 6 9 4 ..............K Shoemark 111 (12) Runs: 31 Wins: 4(S,A) Places: 7 £242,964 Trainer: C Fellowes Owner: Mr D R J King 12 11011-1 ● BIG EVS (33) (C&D) 3 9 1 .............T Marquand 117 (6) Runs: 7 Wins: 5(S,F,G) Places: 1 £653,695 Trainer: M Appleby Owner: Rp Racing Ltd 13 11365-4 KYLIAN (33) (D) 3 9 1 .................................H Doyle 101 (16) Runs: 8 Wins: 2(A,G) Places: 2 £58,797 Trainer: A Watson Owner: Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum 14 2221-35 PUROSANGUE (24) (D) 3 9 1 ............... D Probert 106 (9) Runs: 8 Wins: 2(S,F) Places: 4 £110,485 Trainer: A Balding Owner: Opulence Thoroughbreds & Teme Valley 15 3-37713 SEVEN QUESTIONS (24) (D) 3 9 1 .......C Shepherd 112 (3) Runs: 14 Wins: 4(S,F,G) Places: 4 £131,277 Trainer: G Scott Owner: Victorious Racing & Fawzi Nass 16 5152-24 VALIANT FORCE (94) (C&D) 3 9 1 ...David Egan 113 (14) Runs: 7 Wins: 1(F) Places: 3 £171,737 Trainer: A Murray (IRE) Owner: Amo Racing/mrs R O’callaghan/g De Agui 17 3116-1 CRIMSON ADVOCATE (31) (C&D) 3 8 12 ...W Buick 109 (2) Runs: 5 Wins: 3(G) Places: 1 £121,691 Trainer: J & T Gosden Owner: Wathnan Racing BLINKERS: Nos. 10, 17 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 2, 5, 9, 10 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 1, 2, 11, 15. Forecast: 4 Big Evs, 9-2 Regional, 6 Asfoora, 7 Believing, 8 Kerdos, Rogue Lightning, 10 Twilight Calls, 16 Crimson Advocate, Diligent Harry, Valiant Force, 20 Others. 2023: Bradsell 3-9-1, Hollie Doyle 14-1 (A Watson), drawn (7), 17 ran. GUIDE: Asfoora has to be of some interest having travelled over from Australia for a UK campaign this summer. After finishing fourth behind Kerdos in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock last month (5f, sft), that effort should have put him spot on for this. He has top-class form at home but may have to give way to BIG EVS. Mick Appleby’s stable star won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (5f, frm) last November and returned with an impressive win at York (5f, gd). The son of Blue Point returns to the place where he burst onto the scene in the Windsor Castle (5f, gd-frm) last year and the fact he doesn’t have to make all the running is an added bonus. Regional won the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock (6f, gd) last season and is another to consider along with Believing, who may still have more to offer. 4.25 ST JAMES’S PALACE STAKES (GROUP 1) (RND) 3YO £390,094 (1) 7f 213yds (8) 1 4-11 ALMAQAM (26) (D) 9 2 ......................T Marquand 120 (8) Runs: 3 Wins: 2(S,G) £31,108 Trainer: E Walker Owner: Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum 2 1412-5 ALYANAABI (45) 9 2 .............................. J Crowley 120 (6) Runs: 5 Wins: 2(F) Places: 1 £169,237 Trainer: Owen Burrows Owner: Shadwell Estate Company Ltd 3 63-1111 DARLINGHURST (38) (D) 9 2 ...........C Soumillon 111 (4) Runs: 6 Wins: 4(S,A,GS) £88,815 Trainer: J Reynier (FR) Owner: Mr Jean Etienne Dubois 4 111-8 HENRY LONGFELLOW (37) 9 2 ...........R L Moore 124 (7) Runs: 4 Wins: 3(S) £291,575 Trainer: A P O’Brien (IRE) Owner: Mr M Tabor, D Smith & Mrs John Magni 5 11-51 METROPOLITAN (37) (D) 9 2 .... Alexis Pouchin 120 (2) Runs: 4 Wins: 3(S,G) £358,674 Trainer: Mario Baratti Owner: P R Bradley III/Scuderia Scolari 6 1111 ● NOTABLE SPEECH (45) (D,F) 9 2 .....W Buick ★129 (5) Runs: 4 Wins: 4(A,G) £333,988 Trainer: C Appleby Owner: Godolphin 7 1131-21 ROSALLION (24) (C,D,F) 9 2 ...............S M Levey 126 (1) Runs: 6 Wins: 4(F,GS,G) Places: 1 £609,122 Trainer: R Hannon Owner: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum 8 12421-4 UNQUESTIONABLE (24) (D,T) 9 2..W M Lordan 121 (3) Runs: 7 Wins: 2(G) Places: 2 £584,807 Trainer: A P O’Brien (IRE) Owner: Al Shaqab Racing/coolmore/westerberg Forecast: 11-8 Notable Speech, 10-3 Rosallion, 4 Henry Longfellow, 10 Metropolitan, 12 Darlinghurst, 16 Almaqam, Alyanaabi, 33 Unquestionable. 2023: Paddington 9-2, Ryan Moore 11-5 (A P O’Brien(Ire)), drawn (8), 9 ran. GUIDE: Notable Speech would be the obvious call after Godolphin’s unbeaten Dubawi colt put the 2000 Guineas (1m, gd) to bed in a matter of strides last month, but he was a 16/1 chance that day and will be much shorter in the betting here. Runner-up Rosallion re-opposes after taking the Irish 2,000 Guineas (1m gd) on his next outing, franking the Newmarket form, but METROPOLITAN looks overpriced and may have their beating. The winner of three of his four starts, he was always in control when taking the Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp (1m, sft), and if taking to the quicker surface, which the son of Zarak may improve for on breeding, he could surprise them all. ROYAL ASCOT SKYSPORTSRACING THE SCOUT 2.30 Dolayli 3.05 CATALYSE (nap) 3.45 Big Evs 4.25 NOTABLE SPEECH (nb) 5.05 Nusret 5.40 BOTANICAL 6.15 Belloccio VITAL STATISTICS IN-FORM TRAINERS (last 10 days) D Thompson 67% (1 wins and 3 places from 6 runners), G Tutty 67% (2/2/6), G Boughey 64% (12/6/28), S & E Crisford 62% (1/7/13), W Muir & C Grassick 62% (5/5/16), W P Mullins 62% (4/4/13), C Appleby 57% (4/4/14), D Killahena & G McPherson 57% (2/2/7), F Graffard 55% (3/9/22), H Morrison 55% (2/4/11), Craig Lidster 54% (5/9/26), D & N Barron 54% (2/5/13), F O’Brien 53% (2/8/19), W Haggas 53% (9/8/32) IN-FORM JOCKEYS Molly Gunn 83% (3 wins and 2 places from 6 runners), Mr Edward Vaughan 80% (2/2/5), Jack Hogan 75% (2/1/4), Paul O’Brien 71% (2/3/7), Ryan Moore 67% (5/1/9), Jonathan England 60% (2/1/5), Kielan Woods 57% (2/2/7), Gavin Sheehan 56% (3/2/9), Harry Skelton 52% (2/9/21), James Doyle 52% (6/7/25), Oisin Murphy 50% (10/16/52), Shariq Mohd 50% (1/1/4), William Pyle 50% (4/5/18). ITV ITV ITV ITV JACKPOT: www.totepoolliveinfo.com NO SHOW: Blood test has forced White Birch to stay at home ROYAL BID: Ed Walker
RACING: ROYAL ASCOT CARD Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 53 DX1ST TRACK FACTS: GOING: Good to Firm. Right Handed. TOP TRACK JOCKEY (2019-24): Ryan Moore 13% Strike rate. TOP TRACK TRAINER (2019-24): J & T Gosden 15% Strike rate. FIRST TIME: 2.30 Dolayli (tongue strap), 3.05 Zminiature (tongue strap), 5.05 My Lyka (tongue strap), 6.15 Beamish (cheek pieces), Intinso (tongue strap), Naqeeb (cheek pieces). BEATEN FAVOURITES: 2.30 Docklands, Maljoom, Witch Hunter. 3.05 Camille Pissarro, Rashabar. 3.45 Asfoora. 4.25 Henry Longfellow. 5.05 My Lyka. 5.40 Israr, Torito(hcp). 6.15 Party Central. DRAW: No significant advantage. LONGEST TRAVELLER: Asfoora (3.45) Australia; Facteur Cheval (2.30), Dolayli (2.30), Darlinghurst (4.25) France; Camille Pissarro (3.05), Unquestionable (4.25), Henry Longfellow (4.25) Ireland; Haunted Dream (5.40) United Arab Emirates; Up The Clarets (3.05) 335 miles. STABLE SWITCH: 3.05 Up The Clarets from R Fahey to I Jardine. 3.45 Crimson Advocate from G Weaver in United States to J & T Gosden, Valiant Force from Jorge Delgado to A Murray. 4.25 Metropolitan from M Baratti to Mario Baratti. 5.05 My Lyka from H Shimizu in Japan to W P Mullins, Nathanael Greene from W Haggas to A Ralph, Ndaawi from A Balding to G Elliott, Zanndabad from A J Martin in Ireland to C O’Leary. 6.15 A Piece Of Heaven from Barry J Fitzgerald in Ireland to J P O’Brien, Belloccio from D Menuisier to W P Mullins, Drawn To Dream from P Schiergen in Germany to J Osborne. 5.05 ASCOT STAKES (HERITAGE HANDICAP) £56,694 (2) 2m 3f 210yds (20) 1 3316/32- PIED PIPER (J95) (T) 6 9 12............J P Spencer 100 (2) Runs: 14 Wins: 2(S) Places: 3 £79,035 Trainer: G Elliott (IRE) Owner: Mrs M Roden & Mrs R Nolan 2 21170-5 THE VERY MAN (18) (C,T) 10 9 11.............S Foley 102 (9) Runs: 12 Wins: 4(S,GS,G) Places: 4 £79,316 Trainer: J Harrington (IRE) Owner: Dan Kiely/rob Kearney 3 312/134- MY LYKA (J36) 5 9 10 ...........................R L Moore 102 (16) Runs: 6 Wins: 2(S,A) Places: 2 £34,767 Trainer: W P Mullins (IRE) Owner: H O S Syndicate 4 0/81L-11 BOHER ROAD (35) 5 9 9 .........................R Whelan 100 (10) Runs: 9 Wins: 4(S) Places: 1 £32,244 Trainer: J P Fahey (IRE) Owner: Mr Patrick K McCarthy 5 1313-31 DIVINE COMEDY (24) 6 9 9.....Kaiya Fraser(5) 101 (5) Runs: 18 Wins: 6(S,F,A,GS,G) Places: 3 £60,443 Trainer: Harry Eustace Owner: The Equema Partnership 6 201199/ MASTER MILLINER (640) (D) 8 9 7..S M Levey — (19) Runs: 24 Wins: 8(F,A,GS,G) Places: 3 £70,949 Trainer: E Lavelle Owner: Mr W H Simpson 7 3040-54 TRITONIC (51) 7 9 7 .............................Rossa Ryan 104 (6) Runs: 21 Wins: 3(GS,G) Places: 5 £86,202 Trainer: A King Owner: McNeill Family & Mr Ian Dale 8 8311-01 KYLE OF LOCHALSH (33) (F) 4 9 6...... B Loughnane 102 (11)Runs: 12 Wins: 4(S,A,G) Places: 1 £31,636 Trainer: H Morrison Owner: The Fairy Story Partnership 9 425L-63 BERKSHIRE ROCCO (30) (C) 7 9 6.....O Murphy 105 (13) Runs: 26 Wins: 3(S,A,G) Places: 7 £311,579 Trainer: A Balding Owner: Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd No1 Fancl 10 113/07-3 ZANNDABAD (39) 5 9 6 .............................W Buick 102 (4) Runs: 14 Wins: 4(GS) Places: 2 £75,431 Trainer: C O’Leary (IRE) Owner: Mr P Davies 11 117/605- NDAAWI (J78) (T) 4 9 4...................D McDonogh 99 (18) Runs: 7 Wins: 2(GS,G) Places: 1 £19,473 Trainer: G Elliott (IRE) Owner: Mr Niall Michael Earls 12 160/160- ● NUSRET (J49) 5 9 3....................D McMonagle 101 (8) Runs: 11 Wins: 2(G) Places: 4 £51,324 Trainer: J P O’Brien (IRE) Owner: Jayne McGivern 13 075-536 GET SHIRTY (24) (C,T) 8 9 2.............D Tudhope ★107 (15) Runs: 39 Wins: 7(S,F,GS,G) Places: 8 £461,829 Trainer: D O’Meara Owner: Akela Thoroughbreds Limited 14 3019-54 ALMUHIT (35) 5 9 1.................................C T Keane 103 (3) Runs: 14 Wins: 2(G) Places: 3 £34,844 Trainer: E Mullins (IRE) Owner: J Carthy/patrick John O’brien 15 62103-2 TEMPORIZE (25) (D) 5 9 1.................T Marquand 106 (12) Runs: 19 Wins: 3(S,F,A) Places: 3 £77,291 Trainer: S Hosie Owner: Acorn Builders Dorset Ltd 16 04LL-30 LAW OF THE SEA (24) 6 9 1 ................ J Crowley 105 (14) Runs: 19 Wins: 2(F,A) Places: 4 £50,891 Trainer: I Williams Owner: S Beetham and DPL Fab Ltd 17 3470L-9 THE GRAND VISIR (39) (C&D) 10 8 13....R Kingscote 101 (17) Runs: 38 Wins: 5(F,GS,G) Places: 7 £245,759 Trainer: I Williams Owner: Andy Bell & Fergus Lyons 18 1031-31 PLEDGEOFALLEGIANCE (25) (F) 4 8 13........L Morris 103 (1) Runs: 12 Wins: 4(F,G) Places: 2 £41,627 Trainer: Sir M Prescott Owner: Victorious Racing 19 544732- NATHANAEL GREENE (J204) 5 8 13 .....H Doyle 105 (7) Runs: 14 Wins: 2(S,F) Places: 5 £87,199 Trainer: A Ralph Owner: S W Racing 20 324531 TENERIFE SUNSHINE (9) (T) 4 8 12(5ex)..J Doyle 102 (20) Runs: 16 Wins: 3(A,G) Places: 3 £39,440 Trainer: C Johnston Owner: Crone Stud Farms Ltd BLINKERS: No. 19 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 17, 19 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 7, 9, 17, 18, 20. Forecast: 4 My Lyka, 9-2 Zanndabad, 6 Pied Piper, 10 Pledgeofallegiance, Boher Road, 14 Tritonic, Kyle Of Lochalsh, 16 Berkshire Rocco, Ndaawi, 20 Others. 2023: Ahorsewithnoname 8-9-8, William Buick 7-1 (N Henderson), drawn (7), 19 ran. GUIDE: An import from France, My Lyka went close over hurdles at Killarney (2m4f, yld) on his debut for Willie Mullins. He has to come into the reckoning back on the level, but ZANNDABAD looks primed to run a big race. Third in the Chester Cup (2m2f, gd-frm), despite failing to get a clear run, he can go close with William Buick taking over the reins. Pied Piper has strong claims on last year’s second in the Cesarewitch (2m2f, sft) at Newmarket, while both Boher Road and Pledgeofallegiance are still improving, and Divine Comedy could go well at a bigger price. 5.40 WOLFERTON STAKES (LISTED) £68,052 (1) 1m 1f 212yds (16) 1 543114- ANCIENT ROME (262) (D) 5 9 10...J P Spencer 115 (3) Runs: 17 Wins: 6(S,A,GS,G) Places: 4 £298,476 Trainer: C Hills Owner: Mrs Fitri Hay 2 L1567-1 BOLD DISCOVERY (37) (T) 4 9 10 ...........S Foley 107 (10) Runs: 10 Wins: 3(F,G) Places: 2 £110,427 Trainer: J Harrington (IRE) Owner: Mr Marc Chan 3 4541-5L CHECKANDCHALLENGE (23) (D) 5 9 8C Shepherd 114 (9) Runs: 17 Wins: 4(S,A,GS) Places: 2 £320,691 Trainer: W Knight Owner: Mr A Hetherton 4 116-824 ASTRO KING (46) (D) 7 9 5.............R Kingscote 120 (12) Runs: 23 Wins: 5(F,A) Places: 8 £315,179 Trainer: D & C Kubler Owner: Capture The Moment, Carter & Lofthouse 5 21231-1 ● BOTANICAL (32) (D) 4 9 5..................W Buick 116 (13) Runs: 6 Wins: 3(S,GS,G) Places: 2 £48,258 Trainer: R Varian Owner: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum 6 130-413 CEMHAAN (31) 7 9 5.............................P Cosgrave 117 (14) Runs: 28 Wins: 7(S,F,A) Places: 6 £169,905 Trainer: G Baker Owner: PJL Racing 7 2511-42 CERTAIN LAD (26) (D) 8 9 5............... D Probert 117 (1) Runs: 41 Wins: 9(F,S,GS,G)Places: 7 £349,298 Trainer: J Channon Owner: Mr C R Hirst 8 384-274 HAUNTED DREAM (18) (D) 5 9 5 ....C Soumillon 115 (4) Runs: 26 Wins: 5(A,G) Places: 11 £168,389 Trainer: H Al Jehani (UAE) Owner: Wathnan Racing 9 622-932 ISRAR (39) (D) 5 9 5.............................. J Crowley ★122 (8) Runs: 17 Wins: 4(F,S,G) Places: 7 £418,512 Trainer: J & T Gosden Owner: Shadwell Estate Company Ltd 10 74227-5 KNIGHT (87) 4 9 5..............................M Barzalona 117 (11)Runs: 8 Wins: 2(S,GS) Places: 2 £85,017 Trainer: S & E Crisford Owner: KHK Racing 11 81/2-L82 MUJTABA (25) (D) 6 9 5...................T Marquand 114 (16) Runs: 12 Wins: 5(S,GS,G) Places: 2 £98,581 Trainer: W Haggas Owner: Shadwell Estate Company Ltd 12 130L4-4 NOTRE BELLE BETE (18) (D) 6 9 5 ....O Murphy 113 (6) Runs: 26 Wins: 4(A) Places: 10 £211,029 Trainer: A Balding Owner: King Power Racing Co Ltd 13 2L31-11 OUZO (123) (C) 8 9 5 .............................S Osborne 112 (5) Runs: 38 Wins: 7(S,G) Places: 10 £231,373 Trainer: J Osborne Owner: The Other Club 14 2LL167- SAVVY VICTORY (265) (D) 5 9 5 .....D Tudhope 119 (7) Runs: 19 Wins: 3(S,GS,G) Places: 5 £114,091 Trainer: S Woods Owner: Mr Julian Hui 15 7152-4L SILVER SWORD (17) 4 9 5.............R Clutterbuck 110 (15) Runs: 13 Wins: 3(F,A) Places: 3 £107,244 Trainer: D Cunha Owner: Martians Racing & Dylan Cunha 16 3/1214-3 TORITO (45) (D,F) 4 9 5 ................. James Doyle 118 (2) Runs: 6 Wins: 2(S,F) Places: 3 £76,210 Trainer: J & T Gosden Owner: Wathnan Racing BLINKERS: Nos. 9, 11 VISOR: No. 3 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 6, 11 CHEEK PIECES: No. 12. Forecast: 7-2 Israr, 4 Torito, Botanical, 12 Ancient Rome, Mujtaba, Astro King, 14 Knight, 16 Checkandchallenge, Bold Discovery, 20 Others. 2023: Royal Champion 5-9-8, Jack Mitchell 16-1 (R Varian), drawn (12), 16 ran. GUIDE: The Gosdens have two solid contenders in the shape of Torito and ISRAR. While the former is open to improvement back over this distance, the latter boasts the stronger form and, on the back of a creditable second in the Huxley at Chester (1m2f, gd-frm), the son of Muhaarar rates the stable’s best hope now dropping in class. Roger Varian has trained two of the last four winners of this race and sends out Botanical with a good chance of adding to the tally, even though this is a fair bit tougher than the handicap the lightly-raced four-year-old won at York (1m2f, gd) last month. Certain Lad is also dangerous to underestimate based on his second in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1m2f, sft). 6.15 COPPER HORSE HANDICAP £56,694 (2) 1m 6f 34yds (16) 1 3117-63 ALSAKIB (40) (C) 4 9 12 ........................O Murphy 108 (13) Runs: 9 Wins: 4(S,F,G) Places: 2 £170,339 Trainer: A Balding Owner: Al Wasmiyah Stud 2 266414- DRAWN TO DREAM (240) 4 9 12........S Osborne 103 (19) Runs: 9 Wins: 2(S) Places: 2 £34,612 Trainer: J Osborne Owner: Barratt Racing 3 11336/6 BEAMISH (60) (D) 6 9 11...........................L Morris 108 (5) Runs: 7 Wins: 3(S,F) Places: 2 £47,318 Trainer: A Watson Owner: Hambleton Racing XXXVI Ltd & Partner 4 33/1-114 MAXI KING (31) 4 9 11...........................David Egan 104 (8) Runs: 9 Wins: 3(S,G) Places: 2 £47,306 Trainer: D F Davis Owner: AMO Racing Limited 5 4-21052 TYSON FURY (13) (C) 7 9 11...........J M Sheridan 110 (17) Runs: 21 Wins: 3(S,A,G) Places: 4 £64,330 Trainer: D Hogan (IRE) Owner: Qatar Racing Limited 6 2113-3L NAQEEB (32) (D) 4 9 10........................ J Crowley 110 (11)Runs: 8 Wins: 2(A,G) Places: 3 £98,190 Trainer: W Haggas Owner: Shadwell Estate Company Ltd 7 4141-1 A PIECE OF HEAVEN (32) (D) 6 9 8.....D McMonagle 106 (18) Runs: 5 Wins: 3(A,G) £29,695 Trainer: J P O’Brien (IRE) Owner: Syndicates Racing 8 11/6843-● BELLOCCIO (J28) 6 9 7........................W Buick ★114 (14) Runs: 17 Wins: 5(A,GS) £140,574 Trainer: W P Mullins (IRE) Owner: Thurloe Thoroughbreds Ireland Limited 9 41334-1 FOX JOURNEY (32) (F) 4 9 7 .............R L Moore 110 (4) Runs: 11 Wins: 3(G) Places: 2 £58,856 Trainer: Sir M Stoute Owner: King Power Racing Co Ltd 10 31-3350 LUCANDER (17) 7 9 7............................P Cosgrave 102 (3) Runs: 40 Wins: 8(S,F,GS,G)Places: 9 £306,014 Trainer: G Baker Owner: Nigel Jones & Paul Bowden 11 336-133 INTINSO (44) 4 9 6 ......................................H Doyle 107 (2) Runs: 8 Wins: 2(A) Places: 4 £50,216 Trainer: J & T Gosden Owner: Mr Imad Alsagar 12 112-742 KIHAVAH (34) (T) 7 9 4...................P Mulrennan 110 (1) Runs: 19 Wins: 4(F,G) Places: 5 £113,145 Trainer: A Keatley Owner: JAB 13 84534-9 LMAY (24) 4 9 3...................................K Shoemark 110 (16) Runs: 9 Wins: 1(F) Places: 2 £35,212 Trainer: J & T Gosden Owner: The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation Lt 14 11-3 PARTY CENTRAL (18) 8 9 3.............J P Spencer 101 (15) Runs: 3 Wins: 2(S) Places: 1 £17,815 Trainer: G Elliott (IRE) Owner: Bective Stud 15 8163/2 GENTLEMAN JOE (74) 6 9 3.....................W J Lee 106 (10) Runs: 5 Wins: 1(A) Places: 1 £11,413 Trainer: H De Bromhead (IRE) Owner: Mrs C Acheson 16 242/715- MY MATE MOZZIE (J98) (T) 8 9 3.. G F Carroll 104 (12) Runs: 8 Wins: 1 Places: 5 £48,790 Trainer: G Cromwell (IRE) Owner: Alymer Stud Ltd BLINKERS: No. 10 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 8, 11, 12, 14, 15 CHEEK: Nos. 3, 5, 6 HOOD: No. 13. Forecast: 4 Belloccio, 9-2 Fox Journey, 7 A Piece Of Heaven, 8 My Mate Mozzie, 12 Intinso, 14 Alsakib, Maxi King, Party Central, Naqeeb, 20 Others. GUIDE: Winning over hurdles may not be the most conventional route to Royal Ascot but Belloccio did just that at Punchestown (2m, gd-yld) on his debut for Willie Mullins last month and, having won a Listed race at Kempton (1m4f, pol) during his time with David Menuisier, there are good reasons to expect another big run from the gelding on his return to the Flat. However, fellow Irish raider A PIECE OF HEAVEN is far less exposed and, given he was a comfortable winner of a competitive lady riders’ handicap at Leopardstown (1m4f, gd) in May, the six-year-old edges the vote on his first start for Joseph O’Brien, with the step back up in trip no negative. Previous course winner (1m4f, gd-frm) Alsakib and the class-dropping Maxi King are others to consider. ITV ITV ITV4 6.05 NOVICE STAKES (GBB RACE) 2YO £5,400 (Class 4)7f 96yds (8 Dec) 1 (3) FOOTWORK C Johnston 9 7.....................................J Fanning 2 (6) HOUNDSWORTH Dr R Newland & J Insole 9 7 Jason Watson 3 (7) L PAP’S TURF (15) A Keatley 9 7......................Mark Winn(3) 4 (5) ● SUNDOWN KID J & S Quinn 9 7................................J Hart 5 (8) 88 I NEED YOUR LOVE (25) M & D Easterby 9 5 ..B Garritty 6 (4) TWO MAN JOB T Easterby 9 5.............................S B Kirrane 7 (2) L BEBSIDE (29) T Easterby 9 3..............................D Fentiman 8 (1) 8 GOOD REWARD (15) B Ellison 8 12.....................B Robinson W-Factor: I Need Your Love (74); Pap’s Turf (70); Good Reward (62). SP FORECAST: 11-4 Footwork, 7-2 Houndsworth, Sundown Kid, 5 I Need Your Love, 8 Pap’s Turf, 14 Good Reward, Two Man Job, 25 Bebside. 6.40 MAIDEN STAKES (GBB RACE) £4,187 (5) 7f 96yds (9) 1 (4) 46 MAX STRIPES (20) L Williamson 4 10 2.................C Hardie 2 (2) L CHERRY TREE DAWN (20) B Rothwell 5 9 11 F McManoman 3 (7) 43 PHOENIX OF DREAMS (36) J & S Quinn 3 9 7.........J Hart 4 (6) 85 STAR DELTA (20) D O’Meara 3 9 7....................B Robinson 5 (8) L5 VOYEUR (26) C Johnston 3 9 7.............................J Fanning 6 (1) 2 ● COPPULL HALL LANE (22) E Bethell 3 9 2... H Crouch 7 (5) 244 GHAIHABAN (11) (F,T) A Balding 3 9 2.................. Doubtful 8 (9) 60- LUNA CATENA (206) D Loughnane 3 9 2 .........D Costello 9 (3) 33- ROGUE STATE (257) B Smart 3 9 2 ................A Breslin(3) W-Factor: Ghaihaban (80); Coppull Hall Lane (75); Phoenix Of Dreams (74). SP FORECAST: 5-4 Coppull Hall Lane, 15-8 Phoenix Of Dreams, 6 Rogue State, 8 Voyeur, 12 Star Delta, 66 Max Stripes, Luna Catena, 100 Cherry Tree Dawn. 7.15 HANDICAP £4,004 (6) 7f 96yds (12) 1 (8) 809 KING SHARJA (14) R Carr 4 10 0........................ JP Sullivan 2 (9) 880 VONDELPARK (13) Sara Ender 4 9 13 ....................... H Shaw 3 (4) 452 ● SUNNY ORANGE (10) (F) T Easterby 4 9 13 D Fentiman 4 (5) 50/L PENNY GHENT (25) S Whitaker 4 9 12 .................. P Dennis 5 (6) LL4 FRANKFREYA (36) (F) Darryll Holland 4 9 10 Jason Watson 6 (10) L09 GLORY CALL (14) (D) O Pears 4 9 10....................H Russell 7 (11) 810 DESERT DREAM (10) (D) S Spencer 10 9 9.......Dale Swift 8 (12) 5L2 GIDWA (14) (D) B Ellison 5 9 6............................B Robinson 9 (7) 284 EMU WAR (21) K R Burke 3 9 5 .............Brandon Wilkie(5) 10 (2) 6P0 CAPERNOITY (8) P Niven 4 9 3............................J Fanning 11 (3) 663 PORT AND STARBURD (10) Craig Lidster 3 8 11 W Pyle(5) 12 (1) 7-84 PARSON’S MEADOW (18) P Kirby 3 8 8.................C Hardie BLINKERS: No. 5 VISOR: No. 9 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 2, 5, 7, 8 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 2, 3, 8. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 2, 7. W-Factor: Glory Call (65); Vondelpark (64); Sunny Orange (62). SP FORECAST: 7-2 Sunny Orange, 5 Port And Starburd, 6 Gidwa, 13-2 Emu War, 8 Parson’s Meadow, 10 Others. 6.30 HANDICAP £2,983 (Class 6)5f 60yds (5 Dec) 1 (2) 568 THE DEFIANT (17) (D) L Dace 8 10 1..................T P Queally 2 (5) 164 BATCHELOR BOY (21) (C&D) J Gallagher 7 9 12 J Leavy(5) 3 (3) 154 WRESTLING REVENUE (10) (C&D) A Carroll 3 9 9 Jack Doughty(7) 4 (4) 332 ● SAY YOU’LL NEVER (48) (F) M Botti 3 9 8....M Ghiani 5 (1) 48-L PORTERINTHEJUNGLE (10) (C,D) D Faulkner 8 9 4 Gina Mangan(3) BLINKERS: No. 2 TONGUE STRAP: No. 1 CHEEK PIECES: No. 1. W-Factor: Porterinthejungle (70); The Defiant (69); Batchelor Boy (68). SP FORECAST: 13-8 Say You’ll Never, 9-4 Wrestling Revenue, 3 Batchelor Boy, 10 The Defiant, 12 Porterinthejungle. 7.00 EBF RESTRICTED MAIDEN STAKES 2YO £3,672 (5) 5f 215yds (8) 1 (6) 0 ALASHOS (14) James Horton 9 7.....................A Farragher 2 (8) 4 BREAKOUT STAR (24) (F) Tom Clover 9 7 .......J Mitchell 3 (7) 29 ● GOLD MEDALLIST (32) E J-Houghton 9 7...... C Bishop 4 (4) UP THE PACE E Smyth-Osbourne 9 7.................E Greatrex 5 (2) MISS NIFTY J S Moore 9 2......................Josephine Gordon 6 (3) 3 PREMIUM PASS (21) A Watson 9 2...........................J Bryan 7 (1) 8 LADY SHINTO (12) C Wallis 9 0 ................................M Ghiani 8 (5) 93 NAINA (21) J Ryan 9 0................................................ Doubtful W-Factor: Gold Medallist (82); Naina (72); Premium Pass (70). SP FORECAST: 11-8 Gold Medallist, 11-4 Premium Pass, 4 Breakout Star, 5 Up The Pace, 25 Miss Nifty, 33 Alashos, 50 Lady Shinto. 7.30 HANDICAP £2,983 (6)7f 216yds (11) 1 (5) 425 POETIC FORCE (11) (C&D) A Carroll 10 9 11 Molly Gunn(7) 2 (1) 920- MICKS DREAM (252) D Faulkner 6 9 10 .Gina Mangan(3) 3 (10) L5L KING OF SCOTIA (17) J Osborne 4 9 10.........W Carver(3) 4 (8) 716 ROGER HENRY (8) G Kelleway 4 9 10 .....................L Keniry 5 (7) 362 UNCLE DICK (15) (C&D,F) E J-Houghton 6 9 9.. C Bishop 6 (9) 311 LOCAL BAY (3) (C&D) A Carroll 6 9 9(5ex) Jack Doughty(7) 7 (3) 528 OTAGO (28) (C) J Boyle 7 9 7............................... C Bennett 8 (6) 1-67 CEILIDH (35) G Baker 4 9 3 ................................A Keeley(3) 9 (4) 312 RIVAS ROB ROY (11) (C&D) J Gallagher 9 8 11 ..D Keenan 10 (2) 341 ● OH SO AUDACIOUS (15) (C&D,F) Harry Eustace 5 8 11 P-L Jamin 11 (11) 355 EDMUND IRONSIDE (47) (D) M Attwater 4 8 11.....J Mitchell BLINKERS: Nos. 8, 9 TONGUE STRAP: No. 1 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 4, 5, 11. W-Factor: Edmund Ironside (79); Poetic Force (78); Micks Dream (77). SP FORECAST: 3 Local Bay, 9-2 Uncle Dick, 5 Oh So Audacious, 13-2 Rivas Rob Roy, 10 Otago, 12 Edmund Ironside, Poetic Force, 14 Roger Henry, Micks Dream, King Of Scotia, 16 Ceilidh. 7.45 YORKSHIRE HANDICAP £4,527 (5)1m 100yds (9) 1 (1) 1-09 ROLL IT IN GLITTER (37) (C) M & D Easterby 4 10 3 B Garritty 2 (8) 22-3 RUNNING STAR (25) H Palmer 4 10 2.............A Breslin(3) 3 (4) 2-95 CHALLET (20) (D) M Dods 7 10 1........................S B Kirrane 4 (5) 579 POET’S DAWN (3) (C&D) T Easterby 9 9 8........ A Jary(5) 5 (3) 231 SUMMIT (29) (D) D O’Meara 3 9 6................Mark Winn(3) 6 (6) 6-45 KING’S FOUNTAIN (38) A Balding 3 9 5.... Jason Watson 7 (7) 3-21 PUELLA LAW (20) (C) J & S Quinn 3 9 5...................J Hart 8 (2) 291 ● DISTINCTION (20) (C&D) J Mackie 6 9 2.....J Fanning 9 (9) 302 WAIT AND HOPE (18) (D) K R Burke 3 9 1 Brandon Wilkie(5) VISOR: No. 8 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 1, 2, 5, 9 HOOD: No. 6. W-Factor: Distinction (79); Poet’s Dawn (78); Running Star (77). SP FORECAST: 9-2 Running Star, 5 Summit, Distinction, Puella Law, 6 King’s Fountain, 8 Challet, Wait And Hope, 12 Others. 8.15 HANDICAP £4,004 (6)1m 100yds (10) 1 (3) 545 LITTLE TED (13) (D) T Easterby 7 9 11................... P Dennis 2 (10) 733 ● MR STRUTTER (17) (C,D) D Thompson 10 9 10...........A Elliott 3 (4) 340 EASTER ISLAND (84) B Ellison 5 9 9................B Robinson 4 (1) 783 WHATWOULDYOUKNOW (22) (C,D) N Tinkler 9 9 8 F McManoman 5 (2) 518 MAKALU (13) (D) R Carr 5 9 7............................. JP Sullivan 6 (6) 564 DR RIO (43) (C,D) D Carroll 8 9 7................Z Wheatley(3) 7 (7) 60L LOPE DE RUEDA (39) R Menzies 4 9 6 ...... Jason Watson 8 (8) 22L BAROSSA (30) N Tinkler 4 9 1................................ A Jary(5) 9 (5) 657 JOSIEBOND (20) (C&D) M Walford 8 9 0..........D Costello 10 (9) 722 STAR OF ST JAMES (20) (D) I Furtado 7 9 0... E-May Croot(7) BLINKERS: No. 3 TONGUE: Nos. 3, 7 CHEEK: Nos. 1, 8, 9 HOOD: No. 7. W-Factor: Easter Island (67); Barossa (66); Little Ted (65). SP FORECAST: 9-2 Makalu, 5 Dr Rio, 11-2 Star Of St James, 6 Mr Strutter, Little Ted, 8 Easter Island, Whatwouldyouknow, 10 Josiebond, 16 Others. 8.45 HANDICAP £4,004 (6)1m 1f 207yds (10) 1 (1) L09 ESCARPMENT (27) M Appleby 4 9 11........... Jason Watson 2 (5) 80-L THREE PLATOON (18) R Menzies 6 9 11......................J Hart 3 (4) 7L8 TEMPER TRAP (10) T Easterby 7 9 10...............D Fentiman 4 (2) 9-43 ● FREDDY ROBINSON (8) (F) B Ellison 5 9 9........... B Robinson 5 (3) LL8 WATH COURT (8) B Rothwell 4 9 8.................... JP Sullivan 6 (6) LL-4 REGENCY BOY (22) Steph Hollinshead 4 9 7 ..D Costello 7 (7) 5L-1 CARAMAY (29) (D) W Muir 4 9 5.......................L Edmunds 8 (9) 51L WHERES THE CRUMPET (46) (D) D Thompson 6 9 1 S B Kirrane 9 (10) 3L7 STAND FREE (50) I Furtado 7 9 1 ........................B Garritty 10 (8) 954 RITA RANA (21) (D) A Wintle 5 9 0........................C Hardie BLINKERS: Nos. 1, 6 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 2, 5 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 2, 3, 5, 8 HOOD: No. 10. W-Factor: Escarpment (69); Temper Trap (65); Caramay (64). SP FORECAST: 9-4 Caramay, 3 Freddy Robinson, 7 Wheres The Crumpet, Regency Boy, 10 Temper Trap, Rita Rana, 14 Others 8.00 HANDICAP £2,983 (6)1m 3f 198yds (9) 1 (8) 929 ● FASCINATING LIPS (11) G & J Moore 7 9 9T P Queally 2 (1) 055 LOST IN TIME (29) (D) D Ivory 7 9 6 ...................W Carson 3 (6) 303 LARGO BAY (21) (C&D) M Madgwick 6 9 6...........G Rooke 4 (4) 592 CORPORATE RAIDER (11) J Feilden 4 9 5 .... Dylan Hogan 5 (2) L99 ROBERT WALPOLE (11) D Faulkner 7 9 5..........J Leavy(5) 6 (3) 912 CLOUDY ROSE (20) (C&D,F) J Berry 6 9 4 Gina Mangan(3) 7 (5) 172 THE CONQUEROR (15) (C,D) J Boyle 6 9 4 Ethan Jones(7) 8 (7) 0-58 ICONIC MOVER (21) P Phelan 6 8 10............ S D Bowen(5) 9 (9) L6-7 MISS RAINDROP (92) Alexandra Dunn 4 8 10 C Planas(3) BLINKERS: No. 4 TONGUE: No. 5 CHEEK: Nos. 1, 2, 7 HOOD: No. 5. W-Factor: Largo Bay (69); The Conqueror (68); Fascinating Lips (67). SP FORECAST: 3 Cloudy Rose, 7-2 The Conqueror, Corporate Raider, 6 Largo Bay, Fascinating Lips, 8 Lost In Time, 20 Iconic Mover, 25 Robert Walpole, 50 Miss Raindrop. 8.30 HANDICAP 3YO £2,983 (6)6f 210yds (11) 1 (5) 7L8- SPIRIT LA ADELITA (246) Darryll Holland 9 11 R Dawson 2 (10) 991 MOREGINPLEASE (19) (F) J Ryan 9 9......... S D Bowen(5) 3 (8) 704 VIRIDIAN (29) W Haggas 9 9.............................A Farragher 4 (3) 575 MAVERICK STYLE (21) (D) P & O Cole 9 7........... Doubtful 5 (7) 4-90 LITTLE SISKIN (21) Tom Clover 9 6................. C Planas(3) 6 (2) 836 BARNSNAPE BOY (10) A West 9 4..........................T Whelan 7 (9) 411 ● TRES CHIC (2) (D,F) J S Moore 9 4.....Shariq Mohd(7) 8 (1) 4L-5 OAK ALLYE (38) P Owens 9 3................................J Mitchell 9 (4) 950 HITS THE FRONT (21) R Guest 9 0 ....................J Leavy(5) 10 (11) L-8L EDENMORE LAD (21) M Murphy & M Keady 9 0 Sorcha Woods(7) 11 (6) 8L-0 HAVANA MOJITO (31) J Gallagher 9 0 ...............D Keenan BLINKERS: Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 TONGUE: Nos. 9, 10 HOOD: No. 6. W-Factor: Tres Chic (67); Moreginplease (64); Spirit La Adelita (62). SP FORECAST: 5-2 Tres Chic, 3 Moreginplease, 4 Oak Allye, 5 Viridian, 14 Hits The Front, Barnsnape Boy, Spirit La Adelita, 20 Others. 9.00 HANDICAP £2,983 (6)6f 210yds (9) 1 (7) 7-36 BIG BARD (21) (C) G & J Moore 6 9 11 Alec Voikhansky(3) 2 (8) 796 ROYAL BLISS (33) (D) Miss A Murphy 4 9 11 S D Bowen(5) 3 (5) 564 ● ELECTRIC AVENUE (97) G Baker 4 9 9 .....A Keeley(3) 4 (6) 400 H KEY LAILS (21) M Attwater 4 9 6..........................J Bryan 5 (9) 736 FAYASEL (10) (D) M Murphy & M Keady 4 9 5 Sorcha Woods(7) 6 (4) 257 ADACE (21) (C&D) D Ivory 6 9 4 .................... Jimmy Quinn 7 (2) 651 NEPTUNE LEGEND (11) (D) A Carroll 5 9 3.......J Doughty(7) 8 (3) 132 HEER’S SADIE (11) (C&D) J Feilden 6 9 1..........C Howarth(3) 9 (1) L02 MUY MUY GUAPO (15) S Dow 4 8 13..................T Heard(3) BLINKERS: Nos. 2, 7 VISOR: No. 5 TONGUE STRAP: No. 7 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 1, 4, 6, 9. W-Factor: Adace (73); Muy Muy Guapo (72); Big Bard (71). SP FORECAST: 3 Neptune Legend, 4 Heer’s Sadie, 11-2 Muy Muy Guapo, 6 Big Bard, 8 Fayasel, Adace, 10 Electric Avenue, 12 Others BEVERLEY RTV BRIGHTON SSR THE SCOUT THE SCOUT 6.05 Sundown Kid 6.40 Coppull Hall Lane 7.15 Sunny Orange 7.45 Distinction 8.15 Mr Strutter 8.45 Freddy Robinson 6.05 Sundown Kid 6.40 Coppull Hall Lane 7.15 Sunny Orange 7.45 Distinction 8.15 Mr Strutter 8.45 Freddy Robinson GOSSIP FROM THE GALLOPS Newmarket: FOX JOURNEY (6.15 Ascot) Midlands: BIG EVS (3.45 Ascot) Lambourn: ROSALLION (4.25 Ascot) North: PARSON’S MEADOW (7.15 Beverley) TRACK FACTS: GOING: Soft. Right Handed. TOP TRACK JOCKEY (2019- 24): Joe Fanning 18% Strike rate. TOP TRACK TRAINER (2019-24): T Easterby 8% Strike rate. FIRST TIME: 7.45 Running Star (cheek pieces), Roll It In Glitter (cheek pieces), King’s Fountain (hood), 8.45 Escarpment (blinkers). BEATEN FAVOURITES: 6.40 Phoenix Of Dreams. 7.45 King’s Fountain(hcp), Running Star(hcp). DRAW: Low best when stalls far side, high best when stalls inside. LONGEST TRAVELLER: Ghaihaban (6.40) & King’s Fountain (7.45) 209 miles. STABLE SWITCH: 6.40 Rogue State from Tom Clover to B Smart. TRACK FACTS: GOING: Good to Firm. Left Handed. TOP TRACK JOCKEY (2019-24): Darragh Keenan 14% Strike rate. TOP TRACK TRAINER (2019-24): A Carroll 12% Strike rate. FIRST TIME: 8.30 Hits The Front (tongue strap), Little Siskin (blinkers), 9.00 Royal Bliss (blinkers). BEATEN FAVOURITES: 7.00 Gold Medallist. 7.30 Micks Dream(hcp). 8.00 Cloudy Rose(hcp). 8.30 Oak Allye(hcp). DRAW: In sprint races low numbers tend to have an advantage over five furlongs, high best over six furlongs. LONGEST TRAVELLER: Wrestling Revenue (6.30), Local Bay (7.30), Poetic Force (7.30), Neptune Legend (9.00) 175 miles. STABLE SWITCH: 8.00 Miss Raindrop from T Waggott to Alexandra Dunn. ★ ROYAL ASCOT’s track was watered yesterday for its five-day sporting extravaganza. The forecast had predicted up to 16mm of rain before the Queen Anne Stakes today. But clerk of the course Chris Stickels turned the taps on after only 8.2mm was recorded in seven days. A total of 5mm was applied to the straight course yesterday morning, with the same amount due to go on its round circuit in the evening. “It was quite a shock to get such little rain,” Stickels said. “We are watering it to prevent firm ground.”
CRICKET: T20 WORLD CUP DX1ST 54 Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 1.30 COND JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP HURDLE £3,776 (Class 5) 2m 2f 148yds (9 Dec) 1 22-3 ● MAGISTRATO (37) Deborah Cole 6 12 0......................C Ward 2 39-4 EVENWOOD SONOFAGUN (17) F O’Brien 6 11 11 .....J Hogan(3) 3 PP6- PAK ARMY (F34) (C) Daisy Hitchins 9 11 10 ................Doubtful 4 2-34 LOST IN THE MIST (17) M Keighley 8 11 8 ...........B Roberts(3) 5 7F/0 BRIDGE ROAD (34) J Candlish 8 11 5 .............................L Stones 6 1-LP GLANCE AT ME (13) Andrew Martin 6 10 13 ................ J Martin 7 33-P LONE SOLDIER (31) C & A Pogson 6 10 8 ...................P Armson 8 31P- CAWTHORNE CRACKER (238) O Greenall & J Guerriero 5 10 2 Toby Wynne(3) 9 LPL FORT NELSON (23) S-J Davies 7 10 2 ....................J Turner(3) BLINKERS: No. 9 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 3, 4, 5. W-Factor: Evenwood Sonofagun (107); Lost In The Mist (106); Glance At Me (105). SP FORECAST: 9-4 Lost In The Mist, 7-2 Lone Soldier, 5 Cawthorne Cracker, 6 Magistrato, Evenwood Sonofagun, 12 Others. 2.05 NOVICES’ HURDLE (GBB RACE) (DIV 1) £4,357 (4) 2m 2f 148yds (10) 1 6-21 ● JUAN BERMUDEZ (17) (C&D) D Skelton 5 11 10 ..H Skelton 2 2/3-1 PLEASANT MAN (16) (F) Jack Jones 6 11 10 .............T Bellamy 3 77/5- BOUNDARY JACK (175) Mrs M Rowley 5 11 3 .........C Deutsch 4 P ELRONDO (18) T R Gretton 5 11 3................................... D Noonan 5 PP-5 JAZZ KING (31) A Ralph 8 11 3 .............................................D Bass 6 8- PADDYS ISLAND (394) R L Llewellyn 5 11 3 .......Charlie Price(3) 7 STAGE SHOW (F43) Alexandra Dunn 4 10 11 ...............A Wedge 8 F4-5RUNAWAY BRIDE (40) David Dennis 5 10 10 S Twiston-Davies 9 8 SIMPLY GORGEOUS (16) N King 5 10 10 ......................J Quinlan 10 0-65 FLIGHTTOTHESTARS (17) L Horsfall 4 10 4 ................K Brogan TONGUE STRAP: No. 10 CHEEK PIECES: No. 2 HOOD: Nos. 3, 9. W-Factor: Jazz King (115); Juan Bermudez (114); Pleasant Man (101). SP FORECAST: 7-4 Juan Bermudez, 5-2 Pleasant Man, 4 Jazz King, 12 Stage Show, 16 Runaway Bride, Flighttothestars, 20 Others. 2.40 NOVICES’ HURDLE (GBB RACE) (DIV 2) £4,357 (4) 2m 2f 148yds (10) 1 45-1 ● SIX AND OUT (17) (C&D) D Weston 6 11 10 ...James Davies 2 GO GO CHICAGO D Killahena & G McPherson 7 11 3 ... K Woods 3 0- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (210) Mrs M Rowley 5 11 3 C Deutsch 4 4L-7 GOLDEN MOONSHAKE (28) N Hawke 4 10 11 ............ D Noonan 5 58-P ROCKY BREESE (17) Sarah Hollinshead 4 10 11 .......C Ward(3) 6 L-P JAZZMINA QUEEN (17) D Skelton 5 10 10 ..................H Skelton 7 L-L LUCILLE DIAMOND (40) Tracey Leeson 5 10 10 .............C Ring 8 05-7 PACIFIC (35) M Keighley 5 10 10 ..........................................J Best 9 PPU- BUBBLECRAFT (79) M Wigham 4 10 4 ..........................K Brogan 10 08-P HABIBI (17)(T) J Coulson 4 10 4 ................Tabitha Worsley(3) TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 4, 9 HOOD: No. 10. W-Factor: Six And Out (104); Pacific (98); Golden Moonshake (69). SP FORECAST: 8-11 Six And Out, 11-2 Go Go Chicago, 8 Pacific, 10 Highly Recommended, 12 Jazzmina Queen, Golden Moonshake, 20 Others. 3.15 NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE £4,040 (5) 2m 213yds (9) 1 3P-1 DUSKY DAYS (30) (C&D,F) J Snowden 7 12 0 ....... G Sheehan 2 322 FERRYBRIDGE (16) James Owen 6 11 6 ..................Lilly Pinchin 3 25-3 THEONLYWAYISWESSEX (30) A King 6 11 5 ..............T Cannon 4 5-L6 POLITICIANSPROMISE (19) R L Llewellyn 8 11 4 .... L Harrison 5 L-F2 HENRY BOX BROWN (17) E Williams 7 11 2 ...................A Wedge 6 759/ BBOB ALULA (F11) W G M Turner 9 10 11 ......................H Kimber 7 441 ● CLEAN GETAWAY (11) (D) P Kirby 7 10 10J Williamson(3) 8 54L- FULL OF LIGHT (169) B Summers 8 10 9 .............P Armson(3) 9 654 INVINCIBLE WISH (11) S-J Davies 12 10 2 ........................J Best TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 4, 6, 8 CHEEK PIECES: No. 7 HOOD: No. 2. W-f: Clean Getaway (104); Ferrybridge (103); Dusky Days (101). SP FORECAST: 5-2 Clean Getaway, 10-3 Dusky Days, 4 Ferrybridge, 9-2 Theonlywayiswessex, 8 Henry Box Brown, Full Of Light, 33 Others. 3.55 HURDLE £6,680 (3) 2m 70yds (9) 1 16-2 ● ILANZ (37) O Murphy 6 12 0 .........................................S Bowen 2 L5L- AS TEARS GO BY (263) (D) D J Jeffreys 6 11 13 ....... K Woods 3 1L-7 FOREVER WILLIAM (45) (D) D Skelton 6 11 13..... T Durrell(3) 4 44P- VISION DES FLOS (208) J Tizzard 11 11 10 .............F Gingell(3) 5 359- TAKEIT EASY (62) (D) Mrs P Sly 9 11 10 ............... Paul O’Brien 6 LL-7 MANOR PARK (13) (D) Daisy Hitchins 9 11 8Beau Morgan(5) 7 5-11 GET SKY HIGH (19) (D) D Skelton 9 11 6.....................H Skelton 8 1L3- DONNIE AZOFF (229) (C&D) J Snowden 8 11 0 ..... G Sheehan 9 121 KING OTIS (16) (D,F) James Owen 8 10 5 ..........C P O’Shea(7) TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 4, 6, 8, 9 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 6, 9. W-Factor: Manor Park (126); Vision Des Flos (125); King Otis (123). SP FORECAST: 5-2 Get Sky High, 7-2 King Otis, 4 Ilanz, 8 Donnie Azoff, 10 Vision Des Flos, Forever William, 14 As Tears Go By, Takeit Easy, 20 Manor Park. 4.35 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY HANDICAP CHASE £4,832 (4) 2m 6f 125yds (8) 1 4/7P- STORM CONTROL (107) (D) Kerry Lee 11 12 2 ..........R Patrick 2 12-2 ● BAGHEERA GINGE (21) N Twiston-Davies 6 11 13 S Twiston-Davies 3 16/9 ON SPRINGS (42) (C) B Pauling 9 11 11 ....................... B R Jones 4 7-56 GLOIRE D’ATHON (16) S Humphrey 8 11 7 ........................J Best 5 1P-1 DO NO WRONG (14) (F) Justin Landy 8 11 4 ............... C Bewley 6 3-33 BBOLD (17) (C&D) Daisy Hitchins 10 11 3 ..........................H Reed 7 15-7 DAN’S CHOSEN (19) P Hobbs & J White 9 11 2 Sean Houlihan 8 31-P GLENGEEVER (35) B Lund 8 10 13 .............................. G Sheehan BLINKERS: No. 6 VISOR: No. 1 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 1, 4 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8. W-Factor: Dan’s Chosen (124); Bagheera Ginge (123); Do No Wrong (121). SP FORECAST: 3 Do No Wrong, 7-2 Bbold, Bagheera Ginge, 13-2 Storm Control, 8 On Springs, 10 Gloire D’Athon, 12 Dan’s Chosen, 14 Glengeever. 5.15 NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP HURDLE (DIV 1) £4,040 (5) 2m 70yds (11) 1 3-23 SANITISER (22) G & J Moore 5 11 12 ...........................C Quinn(3) 2 LP/3 OCEAN HEIGHTS (19) D Pipe 7 11 9 .................................Doubtful 3 6L-1 COME ON NIA (42) (D) Andrew Martin 5 11 8 .......J Martin(5) 4 L5/4- DANIEL DERONDA (95) S Humphrey 7 11 7 .....................J Best 5 7-45 COME TO PASS (19) A Carroll 5 11 7 ........................Lilly Pinchin 6 LP-6 TESSY LAD (F15) S England 5 11 6 ................................J England 7 P-7L NED CASH (17) R Phillips 6 11 0...................... S Twiston-Davies 8 P-33 ● ROYAL MAX (14) C & A Pogson 6 10 7 ......................S Bowen 9 L-F6 GLADYS EVA JANE (17)(T) J Coulson 6 10 5 Toby Wynne(3) 10 0-6L SAVED LIZZIE (16) (F) R Eddery 4 10 5 ......................C J Todd 11 P-L0 DARQUESSE (35) C Dyson 6 10 5 ................................ D Noonan TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 2, 4, 9 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 1, 2, 4 HOOD: No. 7. W-Factor: Sanitiser (97); Come On Nia (94); Come To Pass (94). SP FORECAST: 11-4 Come On Nia, 3 Sanitiser, 7 Royal Max, 8 Come To Pass, 10 Tessy Lad, 16 Daniel Deronda, 20 Ned Cash, 25 Others. 5.50 NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP HURDLE (DIV 2) £4,040 (5) 2m 70yds (10) 1 PP-P THORPENESS (42) B Summers 6 11 12 ...................P Armson(3) 2 435- ● CLIMATE PRECEDENT (182) D Skelton 4 11 10 ....H Skelton 3 87-5 ZHANG FEI (7) F O’Brien 6 11 10 ................................... L Harrison 4 L2-3 OVAL STREET (23) M Gillard 8 11 9 .......Mr Sean O’Connor(7) 5 4-26 CITY ROLLER (13) L Horsfall 6 11 8 ................................K Brogan 6 L3-5 RYDER’S ROCK (25) J Tizzard 6 11 6 ......................... B J Powell 7 P6-7 SISTER JULIENNE (17) D McCain 6 10 13 ...................... T Gillard 8 PL-7 TAMPICO ROCCO (25) Dave Roberts 7 10 8 .............L Edwards 9 98/P- LOOKINGDANDY (F22) P Evans 6 10 6.....................R T Dunne 10 P-87 WHAT AN ICON (13) C Down 4 10 5 ....................James Davies BLINKERS: Nos. 4, 7 VISOR: No. 5 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7 HOOD: Nos. 1, 10. W-Factor: Sister Julienne (99); Climate Precedent (98); Tampico Rocco (97). SP FORECAST: 5-2 Climate Precedent, 7-2 City Roller, 4 Ryder’s Rock, 6 Zhang Fei, 8 Oval Street, 12 Lookingdandy, 16 Sister Julienne, 20 What An Icon, 25 Others. THE SCOUT STRATFORD RTV 1.30 Magistrato 2.05 Juan Bermudez 2.40 Six And Out 3.15 Clean Getaway 3.55 Ilanz 4.35 Bagheera Ginge 5.15 Royal Max 5.50 Climate Precedent 2.15 AMATEUR JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP £3,477 (Class 6) 1m 4f 13yds (9 declared) 1 (1) 1L5 POLAR PRINCESS (20) (D) P Kirby 4 11 3 ...Mr Shay Halton 2 (8) 815 THE DANCING POET (31) (C&D) B Ellison 8 11 2 Mr Matt Brown 3 (5) L64 NATCHEZ TRACE (J16) (D,F) D Carroll 7 11 0 ......Mr H Smith(3) 4 (6) 8-66 CARLOS FELIX (15) (D) Mrs S Barclay 7 11 0 .....Mr Jack Lander 5 (7) 64/6- ● MADE FOR YOU (J82)(T) J & R Flint 9 10 13...........Mr E Vaughan 6 (3) L-L0 SWIFT TUTTLE (11) O Greenall 5 10 5 ...Miss P Wynne(3) 7 (2) 23-5 RAYENA (20) R Fahey 4 9 11 ................................Miss L Teal 8 (9) 26-0 MILLTOWN LILY (J103) M Hammond 6 9 11 ......Mr Ryan Price(3) 9 (4) L-49 STRAITOUTTACOMPTON (67) M Chapman 8 9 11 Miss A Bowers-Carter(3) TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 1, 8, 9 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6. W-F: Carlos Felix (55); Swift Tuttle (54); Polar Princess (53). SP FORECAST: 5-2 The Dancing Poet, 4 Made For You, Natchez Trace, 9-2 Rayena, 13-2 Polar Princess, 12 Others. 2.50 EBF RESTRICTED NOVICE STAKES 2YO £4,050 (5) 5f (11) 1 (9) 513 JM JHINGREE (10) (D) J & S Quinn 9 11 ........... G Sanna(5) 2 (6) 3L3 DEAL MAKER (17) (D) C Johnston 9 6 .....................K Stott 3 (4) 4 BROOKE WINDER (18) Craig Lidster 9 4 ....................S Gray 4 (5) L HORUS (10) Craig Lidster 9 2 ..................................... T Eaves 5 (8) 0 WESTGATE WARRIOR (45) Jessica Macey 9 2 ......R Scott 6 (7) 2 DESDEMONA (17)(T) Tom Clover 8 13 ................D Muscutt 7 (10) 2 ● EDUCATING RITA (22) M Dods 8 13 ...............C Beasley 8 (2) KITTEN IN THE SKY G Tuer 8 13 ...............................S James 9 (11) 231 UNTHINKABLE (20) (D,F) P Kirby 8 13 ........................C Lee 10 (1) DAWN AWAKENING I Furtado 8 11 .......................... J Haynes 11 (3) LIONHART R Fell & S Murray 8 11................................C Fallon HOOD: No. 10. W-Factor: Educating Rita (82); Unthinkable (80); Jm Jhingree (79). SP FORECAST: 9-4 Educating Rita, 3 Unthinkable, 5 Jm Jhingree, 7 Desdemona, 8 Kitten In The Sky, 10 Others. 3.30 HANDICAP £3,664 (6) 5f (9) 1 (9) 321 HIGH OPINION (16) (D,F) B Smart 5 10 2 ....A Brookes(5) 2 (8) 2U5 HONOUR YOUR DREAMS (8) (D) A Keatley 4 10 2 ....G Wood 3 (7) 5-14 OBJECT (49) (C&D) T Easterby 5 10 2 ..........A Fielding(7) 4 (2) 084 MERESIDE ANGEL (16) (D) D & N Barron 5 10 1 ..J Mason 5 (1) 644 RAMON DI LORIA (20) (D) E Whillans 6 9 13 .........R Scott 6 (6) 531 ● BIRKENHEAD (26) (C&D) P Midgley 7 9 12 ...... D Nolan 7 (5) 0L4 REFUGE (13) (D) M & D Easterby 7 9 12 .......L Chalkley(7) 8 (3) 788 BACK TOMORROW (12) Ewan Whillans 4 9 12 .........D Allan 9 (4) 672 LADY OF THE GARR (10) T Waggott 3 8 9 .........C Beasley VISOR: No. 6 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 2, 7 CHEEK PIECES: No. 3 HOOD: No. 5. W-Factor: Birkenhead (72); Object (70); Back Tomorrow (69). SP FORECAST: 3 Birkenhead, 4 High Opinion, 6 Lady Of The Garr, Honour Your Dreams, 13-2 Object, 8 Mereside Angel, 10 Others. 4.10 HANDICAP £5,574 (4) 5f 212yds (12) 1 (10) 873 ● MAY BLOSSOM (18) J Camacho 5 10 0 ....Ryan Sexton 2 (8) 070 OSO RAPIDO (24) (C&D) R Fell & S Murray 7 9 12 ...........C Fallon 3 (4) 609 ANIMATE (11) G Harker 4 9 11 .......................................R Scott 4 (11) 08L RUNNING COOL (12) (D) T Easterby 4 9 10 .............D Allan 5 (5) 4-L2 LABALABA (10) (D,F,T) S & E Crisford 3 9 9..........K Stott 6 (6) 522 INVINCIBLE SPEED (14) (D,T) J Tate 3 9 8 ................C Lee 7 (12) 525 CRYPTO QUEST (29) (D) G Tutty 5 9 8 ..............C Beasley 8 (7) 29-7 WOOBAY (19) (C) D Brooke 5 9 5......................... J Garritty 9 (1) 2-L9 NO SAINT (13) S England 4 9 4 .....................................S Gray 10 (3) L9-L QUERCUS (36) (C&D) Mrs A Duffield 7 9 1 ............. T Eaves 11 (9) 804 NIGHTS OVER EGYPT (14) (D) R Menzies 4 9 0 .J Mason 12 (2) 510 HIGHJACKED (31) (C&D) J J Davies 8 8 11 ....A Waugh(5) BLINKERS: No. 1 VISOR: No. 11 TONGUE STRAP: No. 5 CHEEK PIECES: No. 10. W-Factor: Woobay (86); Nights Over Egypt (85); Quercus (84). SP FORECAST: 7-2 Labalaba, 4 May Blossom, 5 Invincible Speed, 6 Crypto Quest, 10 Highjacked, Woobay, 12 Others. 4.50 HANDICAP £5,234 (4) 7f 6yds (10) 1 (8) 716 LEGAL REFORM (41) (C&D,T) A Haynes 7 10 2 .... D Nolan 2 (1) 143 ● FORTAMOUR (13) (D) B Haslam 8 10 0 ..............C Fallon 3 (2) 836 WOODSTOCK (17) (D) R Carr 4 10 0 ............Joanna Mason 4 (4) 0-LL ANOTHER BAAR (10) A Keatley 4 9 9 .......................G Wood 5 (9) 069 DARWELL LION (31) (D) R Carr 6 9 8 .....................S James 6 (7) 122 BOWMAN (15) (C&D) D Brooke 6 9 5 .................. J Garritty 7 (6) 152 SEA THE DREAM (24) (D) E Bethell 3 9 3 .........C Beasley 8 (3) 221 MISTER SOX (18) (C&D) T Easterby 4 9 1.................D Allan 9 (10) 110 DIDDY MAN (24) (D) H Bethell 3 9 0.....O McSweeney(3) 10 (5) 5-40 FRONT GUNNER (32) Mrs A Duffield 3 8 11 .............R Scott TONGUE STRAP: No. 4 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 3, 8. W-Factor: Another Baar (88); Bowman (86); Woodstock (85). SP FORECAST: 7-2 Fortamour, 4 Sea The Dream, 9-2 Mister Sox, 5 Bowman, 8 Woodstock, Legal Reform, 12 Others. 5.25 HANDICAP 3YO £3,664 (6) 1m 4f 13yds (9) 1 (5) 6L8 THUNDER SPARKS (24)(T) D Menuisier 9 10........ D Nolan 2 (4) 7-64 HONRADO (33) (F,T) M Bell 9 8 .................................K Stott 3 (2) 322 ● INFINITE HONOUR (19) S Corbett 9 7 ...........D Muscutt 4 (7) 5L2 MADE IN CHINA (10) (F) C Johnston 9 7 .............F Norton 5 (9) 344 KINETIC (8) O Greenall & J Guerriero 9 6 ...................C Lee 6 (3) 38L BELLA GRAZIA (14)(T) Sir M Prescott 9 3 ........... Doubtful 7 (6) 334 LITTLE VENICE (21) N Tinkler 9 1 ...............................R Scott 8 (8) 737 MISS GALIWAY (35)(T) Harry Eustace 8 13 .........S James 9 (1) 655 MILLBUIE (19) Ewan Whillans 8 11 ...............................D Allan BLINKERS: Nos. 4, 6 CHEEK PIECES: No. 5. W-Factor: Kinetic (69); Little Venice (68); Bella Grazia (67). SP FORECAST: 11-4 Infinite Honour, 7-2 Made In China, 4 Honrado, 5 Thunder Sparks, 6 Kinetic, 16 Millbuie, Little Venice, 20 Miss Galiway. CATTERICK RTV THE SCOUT 2.15 Made For You 2.50 Educating Rita 3.30 Birkenhead 4.10 May Blossom 4.50 Fortamour 5.25 Infinite Honour TRACK FACTS: GOING: Good to Soft. Left Handed. TOP TRACK JOCKEY (2019-24): Sam James 15% Strike rate. TOP TRACK TRAINER (2019- 24): T Easterby 11% Strike rate. FIRST TIME: 2.15 Polar Princess (tongue strap), Swift Tuttle (cheek pieces), 2.50 Dawn Awakening (hood), 4.10 Nights Over Egypt (visor), 4.50 Woodstock (cheek pieces). BEATEN FAVOURITES: 2.15 Made For You. 3.30 Object(hcp). 4.50 Bowman(hcp), Diddy Man(hcp), Fortamour(hcp). DRAW: Low numbers have an advan- tage in races over five and seven furlongs, high best over six furlongs. LONGEST TRAVELLER: Thunder Sparks (5.25) 285 miles. STABLE SWITCH: 2.15 Made For You from O Murphy to J & R Flint. 2.50 Unthinkable from G Boughey to P Kirby. TRACK FACTS: GOING: Good. Left Handed. TOP TRACK JOCKEY (2019-24): Harry Skelton 34% Strike rate. TOP TRACK TRAINER (2019-24): D Skelton 25% Strike rate. FIRST TIME: 1.30 Magistrato (wind surgery), Lost In The Mist (cheek pieces, tongue strap), 2.05 Boundary Jack (hood), 2.40 Go Go Chicago (wind surgery), 5.15 Daniel Deronda (cheek pieces, tongue strap), Ocean Heights (cheek pieces, tongue strap), 5.50 Climate Precedent (wind surgery). BEATEN FAVOURITES: 1.30 Cawthorne Cracker(hcp hdl). 3.15 Theonlywayiswessex(hcp ch). 3.55 Donnie Azoff. 5.50 City Roller(hcp hdl). LONGEST TRAVELLER: Habibi (2.40) & Gladys Eva Jane (5.15) 227 miles. STABLE SWITCH: 1.30 Lone Soldier from D Skelton to C & A Pogson. 2.05 Elrondo from Laura Gretton to T R Gretton, Paddys Island from Kieran Roche in Ireland to R L Llewellyn, Runaway Bride from Mrs G O’Connor in Ireland to David Dennis. 3.55 As Tears Go By from G Elliott in Ireland to D J Jeffreys, Forever William from A King to D Skelton. 5.50 Climate Precedent from James Owen to D Skelton, Lookingdandy from B Pauling to P Evans. we lose them or they get injured this weekend. “The players that played against Tonga in the autumn who played well, and I trust, will have a really good chance of playing. “And some young players who are hopefully going to play in the Ashes in 2025 and the World Cup in 2026. It’s going to be a real blend. Everyone will have opinions of who should and shouldn’t be in. “But I’m trying to do what’s best for England over the next few years.” ❑LONDON duo Ethan Natoli and Rhys Kennedy have both received one-game bans for dangerous contacts. But Huddersfi eld’s Andre Savelio has escaped punishment for his red card at Hull Kingston Rovers. keen to see the next generation get a crack, which will excite the likes of uncapped St Helens prop George Delaney, 20, and Wigan hooker Brad O’Neill, 21. Wane said: “I’m not trying to be secretive but I don’t want to start naming players and then SHAUN WANE has vowed to give some of Super League’s top young talent the chance to shine for England. The England coach will lead his side when they take on France in Toulouse on June 29. His team do not then play again until a two-Test series with World Cup fi nalists Samoa in the autumn. Wane, right, would be forgiven for naming his strongest side but he is Wane ready to give young guns a go played against Tonga in the autumn who played well, and I trust, will have a really good chance of playing. “And some young players who keen to see the next generation get a crack, which will Delaney, 20, and RUGBY LGE By Dave Craven States to follow as they play three times in four days for a place in the semi-fi nals. The Daren Sammy Stadium – named after the West Indies coach – is renowned as a quickscoring ground and, with heavy hitters studded throughout both teams, Curran is expecting a box-offi ce clash. “It was a weird group stage in a way but I think now we’ve put that behind us,” he said. “This is when it really gets going at the World Cup. “West Indies are a fantastic team in their home conditions and it will be a really tough game. “I’m sure the crowd will be fully behind them.” As well as monitoring Livingstone’s fi tness, England have a choice to make in their pace ranks, where one of Chris Jordan, Mark Wood and Reece Topley could have to miss out. hold his place in the early hours of Thursday morning. “It’s been very diffi cult,” he said. “I feel like England is a team I’ve done really well for but I guess it shows the strength of our squad at the moment. “I know an opportunity is going to come so I’ve tried not to get too down. Maybe it will be the World Cup fi nal where I get that nod. “It’s just really great to be at a World Cup again – I’ve got some great memories so I’ll just stay positive. “I f I get in that 11 I will be trying to make sure I stay in it. “There’s nothing worse than when you get left out and you’re not ready, so I’ll make sure I’m ready.” E ngland are hoping to fi nd their feet properly in the second phase of the competition, after edging through the group stage on net run-rate following three rain-affected games and a thumping defeat by Australia. Things are about to speed up considerably, with South Africa and the United “It was a weird group stage in a way but I think now we’ve put that behind us,” he said. gets going at the World Cup. the World Cup fi nal where I get “It’s just really great to be at a World Cup again – I’ve got some great memories so I’ll just “I f I get in that 11 From Rory Dollard in St Lucia SAM EAGER TO PLAY IT AGAIN SAM CURRAN admits he has struggled to cope with going from player of the tournament at the last T20 World Cup to fi ghting for a place in England’s title defence. The all-rounder was the beating heart of the side in Australia in 2022, when his left-arm swing bowling was a match-winning weapon. Curran topped the charts with 13 wickets in six games and produced a decisive 3-12 in the fi nal against Pakistan. But a little more than 18 months down the line he is striving to break into the team in the Caribbean, with his best chance of featuring in England’s fi rst Super Eight game against the West Indies seemingly down to a doubt over Liam Livingstone’s side injury. Curran did not make the cut for the fi rst three group games and only made the fourth, against Namibia, after rain reduced the match to 10 overs a side. With Livingstone, above, reduced to a brief batting session in St Lucia before returning to the team hotel for treatment, Curran could Testing times for Curran TOP DOG: Curran, far left, was best player in 2022 edition “West Indies are a fantastic team in their home conditions and it will be a really tough game. “I’m sure the crowd will be fully behind them.” As well as monitoring Livingstone’s fi tness, England have a choice to make in their pace ranks, where one of Chris Jordan, Mark Wood and Reece Topley could have to miss out. “I f I get in that 11 I will be trying to make sure I stay in it. “There’s nothing worse than when you get left out and you’re not ready, so I’ll make sure I’m ready.” E ngland are hoping to fi nd their feet properly in the second phase of the competition, after edging through the group stage on net run-rate following three rain-affected games and a thumping defeat by Australia. Things are about to speed up considerably, with South Africa and the United fantastic team in their home conditions and it will be a “I f I get in that 11 I will be trying to make chance of featuring in England’s fi rst Super Eight game against the West Indies seemingly down to a doubt over Liam Livingstone’s side injury. Curran did not make the cut for the fi rst three group games and only made the fourth, against Namibia, after rain reduced the match to 10 overs a side. With Livingstone, above, reduced to a brief batting session in St Lucia before returning to the team hotel for treatment, Curran could TOP DOG: Curran, far left, was best player in 2022 edition
Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 55 DX1ST GOLF: NEAR-MISS AGONY CRICKET ICC WORLD T20 — Group C, Tarouba: Papua New Guinea 78-10 (19.4 overs; L H Ferguson 3-0); New Zealand 79-3 (12.2 overs). New Zealand win by 7 wickets. Group D, Kingstown: Bangladesh 106-10 (19.3 overs); Nepal 85-10 (19.2 overs; T H Sakib 4-7; M M Rahman 3-7). Bangladesh (2pts) win by 21 runs. Gros Islet: Sri Lanka 201-6 (20.0 overs); Netherlands 118-10 (16.4 overs; I D N Thushara 3-24). Sri Lanka (2pts) win by 83 runs. GOLF U.S. OPEN (Pinehurst No.2, North Carolina)—Final Rnd (USA unless stated, Par 70): 274 B DeChambeau 67 69 67 71, 275 R McIlroy (NIrl) 65 72 69 69, 276 P Cantlay 65 71 70 70, T Finau 68 69 72 67, 277 M Pavon (Fra) 67 70 69 71, 278 H Matsuyama (Jpn) 72 66 70 70, 279 R Henley 70 70 72 67, X Schauffele 70 69 72 68, 280 S Burns 73 67 73 67, C Conners (Can) 69 70 71 70, D Thompson 70 72 70 68. SPEEDWAY PREMIERSHIP: King’s Lynn 50 Oxford 40. TENNIS ATP CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS (The Queen’s Club, London)—1st rd: G Dimitrov (Bul) bt A Mannarino (Fra) 6-1 6-2; R Hijikata (Aus) bt F Tiafoe (USA) 7-5 4-6 1-0 ret; J Thompson (Aus) bt H Rune (Den) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3; M Raonic (Can) bt C Norrie (Gbr) 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 7-6 (11-9). ATP TERRA WORTMANN OPEN (Halle, Germany)—1st rd: D Koepfer (Ger) bt F Auger-Aliassime (Can) 6-4 4-3 ret; L Sonego (Ita) bt M Kecmanovic (Ser) 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5); Z Zhang (Chn) bt S Ofner (Aut) 7-6 (10-8) 6-7 (3-7) 6-4; F Marozsan (Hun) bt R Saf ullin (Rus) 7-5 4-6 6-1; D Medvedev (Rus) bt N Borges (Por) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4; H Hurkacz (Pol) bt F Cobolli (Ita) 7-5 7-6 (7-2) WTA ROTHESAY CLASSIC (Birmingham)—1st rd: L Bronzetti (Ita) bt M Frech (Pol) 2-6 6-3 6-4; S Stephens (USA) bt Y Yuan (Chn) 6-3 6-3; E Cocciaretto (Ita) bt J Ostapenko (Lat) 6-3 6-3; A Potapova (Rus) bt E Avanesyan (Rus) 6-4 6-4; L Zhu (Chn) bt S Cirstea (Rom) 7-6 (7-2) 6-2; A Tomljanovic (Aus) bt A Blinkova (Rus) 6-2 6-1; L Fernandez (Can) bt S Sorribes Tormo (Spa) 6-1 6-1; V Golubic (Swi) bt C Osorio (Col) 6-4 1-6 6-3. SPORT IN BRIEF 34 after the game, with those remaining going on a two-Test tour of Australia. Cardiff star Botham has had an injuryhit season, but now has a late chance to seal a place on the trip. Wales fi nished last in this year’s Six Nations. GREAT BRITAIN pitcher Michael Petersen has joined a select group of UK-born M LB players after earning a spot at the L A Dodgers. The 6ft 7in righthanded reliever, 30, born in Middlesex to an American father and Nigerian mother, joins the 2020 World Series winners from AAA affi liate Oklahoma City . Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said: “Mike is a good man. It’s a great story.” BASEBALL BOTHAM WORLD OF SPORT JAMES BOTHAM has RUGBY UNION been called up to Wales’ training squad ahead of Saturday’s clash with South Africa at Twickenham. Ian Botham’s grandson, 26, who has 10 caps, provides cover across the back row and lifts the number of players in Warren Gatland’s party to 38. That will be cut to Wales call Botham BIG LAUNCH: Varian Pasquet promotes the Paris Olympics THE BIG PICTURE 1. Who won this season’s Formula One Emilia Romagna Grand Prix? 2. Which American was the only non-Egyptian in the semi-fi nals of the 2024 PSA Women’s World Squash Championship? 3. Who beat Nicolas Jarry to win the Italian Open singles tennis fi nal last month? 4. With which team did Rangers share the fi rst Scottish league title in 1891? 5. Which Wigan Warriors rugby league player won the Man of Steel Award in 1996 and 2004? 6. Which county cricket club won the fi rst two Gillette Cups, in 1963 and 1964? 7. Which American was ladies’ singles fi gure skating gold medallist at the 1992 Winter Olympics? 8. The fi gure on top of the Ryder Cup was modelled after which English golfer, who was on Great Britain’s team in the early days of that competition? 9. What number is between the 15 and the 17 on a dartboard? 10. Who were the fi rst FIFA World Cup winners? 1 Max Verstappen. 2 Olivia Weaver. 3 Alexander Zverev. ANSWERS: 4 Dumbarton. 5 Andy Farrell. 6 Sussex. 7 Kristi Yamaguchi. 8 Abe Mitchell. 9 Two. 10 Uruguay. US OPEN champion Bryson DeChambeau wants golf’s civil war brought to a swift end. The big-hitting American concedes he is “part of the reason” for the schism in the sport after joining LIV two years ago. But DeChambeau said: “Let bygones be bygones . “Let’s fi gure out this amazing game that creates so much positivity [and get it] back to where it belongs.” Bryson in peace plea American DeChambeau certainly believes the world No.2 will continue to knock on the door. “He’ll win multiple more Majors. There’s no doubt,” said the two-time US Open champion. “That fi re in him is going to continue to grow – I have nothing but respect for how he plays the game of golf. “When he was climbing up the leaderboard and he was two ahead, I was like, ‘Uh-oh, uh-oh’. But luckily things went my way. “I would love to have a lot more battles with him – it would be a lot of fun. “But, yeah, Rory’s going to do it at some point. “He is one of the best to ever play. Being able to fi ght against a great like that is pretty special. “For him to miss that putt at the last, I would never wish it on anybody. “It just happened to play out that way for him.” the worst that can happen to me’. I remember when Rory crashed and burned at The Masters 13 years ago, when he was young. “He won the next Major after that – from adversity often comes a new strength. “It’s from the setbacks that often the great players emerge. Rory’s shown he’s got that in his locker and he has the talent and skill. “It’s going to be a bitter pill for him to swallow for a while but he’s shown before he can bounce back. “I would have a little bet on him for The Open.” McIlroy will again be going in search of that elusive fi fth Major at Troon, and him to another Major crown at next month’s Open Championship at Royal Troon. Adler said: “He was feeling distraught. It is going to take a little bit of time to get over because it stings. “When you’ve had experience of fear – being frightened of missing because it’s such a short putt and you’re supposed to be making it – it’s not nice. “But every golfer has had experiences like that and sometimes you can get a lot of strength from that. “The fear is almost like a bully. Once you’ve been punched on the nose, the next time you’re not quite as scared. You’re like, ‘ I’ve dealt with that is pretty special. “For him to miss that putt at the last, I would never wish it on anybody. “It just happened to play out that way for him.” for The Open.” McIlroy will again be going in search of that elusive fi fth Major at Troon, and experiences like that and sometimes you can get a lot of strength from that. “The fear is almost like a bully. Once you’ve been punched on the nose, the next time you’re not quite as scared. You’re like, ‘ I’ve dealt with From Andrew Gamble at Pinehurst distraught. It is going to take a little bit of time to get over because it stings. experience of fear – being frightened of missing because it’s such a short putt and you’re supposed to be making it – it’s not nice. “But every golfer has had experiences like that and NO, NOT AGAIN! McIlroy is left feeling distraught after failing to end his 10-year Major wait Rory will be haunted for rest of his life RORY McILROY has been told his two short-putt misses at the US Open will “haunt him for life”. McIlroy suffered heartbreak on Sunday despite seizing a two-shot lead with fi ve holes remaining, with fans believing his 10-year Major drought was at an end. But the 35-year-old Northern Irishman missed two tiddlers as he bogeyed three of the last four holes to open the door for Bryson DeChambeau, who produced a moment of magic at the 18th to triumph. The misses came from 2ft 6in and 3ft 9in respectively and former world No.1 Sir Nick Faldo, above, said: “That’s going to haunt Rory for the rest of his life.” McIlroy sped off the premises at the end but performance coach Jon Adler believes the display can propel FALDO SUMS UP THE COST OF McILROY’S MAJOR COLLAPSE HEARTBREAK: McIlroy reacts after missing short putt on 18
TENNIS: QUEEN’S CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS DX1ST 56 Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 ATP matches in an injury-hit season. But after changing rac kets before the French Open, his work ethic remains the same. He was out on Court No.7 at Queen’s for two hours with his team yesterday and hit for an hour with Carlos Alcaraz. He will also play doubles here with Dan Evans before teaming up with brother, Jamie, at Wimbledon , adding: “I would always be up for playing doubles with my brother . But tennis, for me now is not easy. It is challenging. “ If I had a long singles match, then physically I am not able to perform well in the doubles. “I don’t want to let my brother down. But it is also an opportunity. We have never played together at Wimbledon. ” Murray cast doubt on playing at the Olympics after he was named in the Team GB squad on Sunday, if he cannot play in the doubles. But he added: “ I prefer to fi nish at Wimbledon or even at the Olympic Games.” ANDY MURRAY will reach the By Neil McLeman milestone of his 1,000th ATP match today while admitting he still does not know how many more he will play. The Scot takes on Aus tralian Alexei Popyrin in the fi rst round of the cinch Championships at Queen’s – the west London venue where he claimed his fi rst Tour-level win as a teenager back in 2005. But Murray, now 37, has yet to confi rm where he will bow out. In February, the former world No.1 announced he will “likely” not keep playing “past this summer” and could say farewell after Wimbledon or the Paris Olympics . But before the fi rst match of what will probably be his last British grass-court season, Murray is still not ready to commit to a defi nite date. He said: “A lot of it is based on results and physically how I am feeling as well .” The All England Club said last week they had plans to honour the double Wimbledon champion at The Championships – if he confi rms he will retire. In 2019, the Australian Open produced a video montage of tributes to Murray after his fi rst-round loss but he is still playing with a metal hip and other nagging injuries. And the three-time Grand Slam champion admitted he is not ready to fi nish just yet. “In lots of careers, retirement is something that you celebrate,” he told the BBC. “People really look forward to it. That is not something that I feel – I still love playing tennis. “ But ultimately, if physically you are not able to play the level that you want to or your results are not as you wish, those things factor into the decision. [I will] see how the next few weeks go .” Murray is down to world No.129 after winning just fi ve MURRAY WAITS TO DECIDE WHEN HE WILL QUIT BREAK TIME: Murray training yesterday at Queen’s, the scene of his fi rst ATP win, below Milestone man Andy not ready to end yet NEWLY-CROWNED Premiership winner George Furbank insists his Northampton side can take their league form on to the international stage this summer. The full-back is one of seven Saints players on England’s tour of Japan and New Zealand and they could form the spine of the Test line-up for Saturday’s opener in Tokyo. Head coach Steve Borthwick was last night mulling over whether to pick Northampton kingpin Fin Smith at No.10 ahead of his namesake Marcus Smith, of Harlequins. Saints are sure to be well represented in the team with Furbank, scrum-half Alex Mitchell and wing Tommy Freeman certainties to make the cut. Fin Smith, lock Alex Coles, centre Fraser Dingwall and wing Ollie Sleightholme are also all in the frame. Furbank is confi dent the Midlands contingent that sealed the title with a 25-21 win against Bath can take their form into the Tests – now their domestic win has settled in. The 27-year-old said: “You have got that confi dence of winning, which is massive for us. “When you step on the fi eld you just feel you are going to win and now coming into a Furbank and Co can help England behave like Saints ALL SMILES: Furbank is hoping to recreate his Saints form for England GOLDEN BOY: Fin Smith has caught the eye at f y-half RUGBY UNION From Adam Hathaway in Tokyo Raonic, who has been dogged by injuries, said: “It was an incredible match – I got lucky to get through. The serve helped me a lot. It’s a big part of my game.” Jack Draper will play his fi rst-round match against Argentine Mariano Navone today, after stating that becoming British No.1 is only a stepping stone to bigger prizes in his career. “My goal is to be one of the top players in the world,” he said. “I think by winning a title in Stuttgart last week it helps me believe more and more.” World No.15 Holger Rune complained about the slippery Queen’s Club Centre Court as he was beaten 4-6 7-6 6-3 by Aussie Jordan Thompson. During his match, the Dane said: “Terrible court, what is this? I can’t stand. You think I’m falling on purpose?” Frances Tiafoe was forced to retire in the third set against qualifi er Rinky Hijikata when he slipped on Court No.1. good. Even before the match I said he’s probably got the best serve I’ve ever faced. ”It’s tricky. He hits all the spots.” Norrie, the world No.39, had two match points in the third-set tiebreak but went down 6-7 6-3 7-6. Norrie, who lost to world No.773 Jack Pinnington Jones in Nottingham last week, said: “I played great. “We’re all devastated in my team but it was a good level.” World No.186 CAM NORRIE admitted By Neil McLeman Milos Raonic’s serve was just “too good” after the Canadian blew him out of the cinch Championships with a record 47 aces. The former Wimbledon fi nalist sent down one serve at 145mph – and his second-serve average speed of 118mph was 7mph quicker than Norrie’s average fi rst-serve speed. Raonic’s ace tally is the highest in a three-set ATP Tour match. “ He served unreal,” said British No.2 Norrie. “Too Norrie blown away by Raonic rockets RAONIC: Thumped a record 47 aces ATP matches in an injury-hit season. But after changing rac kets before the French Open, his work ethic remains the same. He was out on Court No.7 at Queen’s for two hours with his team yesterday and hit for an hour with Carlos Alcaraz. He will also play doubles here with Dan Evans before teaming up with brother, Jamie, at Wimbledon , adding: “I would always be up for playing doubles with my brother . tennis, for me now is not easy. It is challenging. “ If I had a long singles match, then physically I am not able to perform well in the doubles. “I don’t want to let my brother down. But it is also an opportunity. We have never played together at Wimbledon. ” Murray cast doubt on playing at the Olympics after he was named in the Team GB squad on Sunday, if he cannot play in the doubles. But he added: “ I prefer to fi nish at Wimbledon or even at the Olympic Games.” Neil McLeman MURRAY WAITS TO DECIDE WHEN HE WILL QUIT BREAK TIME: Murray training yesterday at Queen’s, the scene of his fi rst ATP win, below not ready to end yet ALL SMILES: Furbank is hoping to recreate his Saints form for England different team, again we want to have that feeling going out on the pitch for England. Hopefully it is infectious. “When you have got guys in the back three like Tommy, I play with him week-in, week-out and you almost feel like it is just another game because you have got that sort of company there with you. He is an easy guy to speak to if you want to get something off your chest.” Kevin Sinfi eld, England’s assistant coach, talked to the Northampton players this week about getting themselves back to an emotional high after their Premiership win. Fin Smith, at just 22, bossed th e side around as they won the league for the fi rst time since 2014 . The fl y-half, signed from bankrupt Worcester in 2022, took over from Dan Biggar, a Welsh Test centurion and British and Irish Lion , who moved to Toulon . Furbank added: “I found it a little bit weird. At fi rst it was, ‘ Who’s this little kid that we’ve signed?’ He’s stepped into some pretty big shoes at Saints seamlessly. He’s got a very mature rugby head on him. “It took me time to listen to him and trust him. As soon as he came in and started playing well you go, ‘This guy knows what he’s doing’.” Tests – now their domestic win has settled in. The 27-year-old said: “You have got that confi dence of winning, which is massive for us. “When you the fi eld you just you are going to win and now coming into a GOLDEN Fin Smith has caught the f y-half found it a little bit weird. At fi rst it was, ‘ Who’s this little kid that we’ve signed?’ He’s stepped into some pretty big shoes at Saints seamlessly. He’s got a very mature rugby head on him. “It took me time to listen to him and trust him. As soon as he came in and started playing well you go, ‘This guy knows what he’s doing’.”
Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 57 DX1ST FOOTBALL: EURO 2024 three times at the Euro s, with the Czechs’ only win coming in the Euro 96 quarter-fi nal through Karel Poborsky’s iconic lob at Villa Park. West Ham midfi elder Tomas Soucek said: “I spoke to Karol here, so I hope he’s our lucky charm as in 1996 . “That goal for us was like Panenka’s penalty. Everybody remembers that . We still watch videos of it and would love something like that to happen again.” Soucek has overcome injury issues but said: “ When we came here I wasn’t feeling that great . “ I have to thank everyone for taking great care of me .” ●Figo was speaking as bid ambassador for the Morocco/Portugal/ Spain FIFA 2030 World Cup bid. JOHN CROSS OPTIMIST: Figo says Portugal are one side who can win it LUIS FIGO is “very confi dent” Portugal can win Euro 2024 ahead of their opener against the Czech Republic tonight . They are one of half a dozen teams who can win the tournament, according to the Portugal great, because of their blend of youth and experience. Figo said: “Portugal have a strong team, with a good balance between experienced and younger players . “Like the World Cup, it will come down to small moments, so it’s always diffi cult to predict, but Portugal are one of fi ve or six teams who go into the tournament very confi dent they can win it, and why not? “ The current generation of players is incredibly talented, and we have had a consistent pipeline of really talented young players.” Figo, 51, was part of Portugal’s golden generation , winning 127 caps over 15 years. The current squad boasts Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto, Joao Palhinha and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal have faced the Czechs LUIS FIGO is “very Fabulous Figo has faith in Portugal’s gifted generation PORTUGAL V CZECH REP 8PM, BBC ONE after his agent outlined his desire to leave Napoli this summer. However, Turkey topped their qualifi cation group, losing just once in eight matches. Vincenzo Montella’s side have plenty of talent – not least Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu, 30, and Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler, 19. Montella said: “We want to make our fans proud and play with passion and courage . “We have a nice mix of young players and guys like Calhanoglu .” RYAN TAYLOR GEORGIA captain Guram Kashia has warned Turkey his side are not at Euro 2024 to make up the numbers. The eastern European s are playing at their fi rst major tournament after a play-off penalty shoot-out triumph against Greece. Kashia, 36 , said: “I almost passed out from happiness when we qualifi ed. “It was one of the best memories in my career, it was my proudest moment.” Talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will be out to put his name in lights SHOCK WINS ON GEORGIA’S MIND TURKEY V GEORGIA5PM, BBC1 eight matches. Vincenzo Montella’s side have plenty of talent – not least Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu, 30, and Real Madrid major tournament passed out from World Cup bid. JOHN CROSS OPTIMIST: Figo says Portugal are one side who can win it players.” Figo, 51, was part of Portugal’s golden generation , winning 127 caps over 15 The current squad boasts Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto, Palhinha Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal have faced the Czechs GRAEME SOUNESS claims his former Liverpool and Scotland team-mate Alan Hansen “is back” after delivering a positive update on his health. Liverpool said in a statement earlier this month that Doublewinning skipper Hansen, 69, was “seriously ill” in hospital. But Souness has revealed that his friend is improving after speaking to him on the phone. He quipped Hansen, right, is getting back to his old self because he took the mickey out of him. “I spoke to him Hansen ‘on the mend’ By David Anderson GROWING PAINS Guehi was outstanding at centre-half, which is not bad considering he had started just one game for Crystal Palace since February 3. Southgate said: “I thought physically we had players that needed the game. We’ve had a lot that hadn’t played 90 minutes for a long time. “We expended a lot of energy in that fi rst half. I knew that we would dip. “It was a good moment in the second half to bring substitute Conor Gallagher into the game. He can get up to the ball and provide more defensive solidity.” Southgate is worried about the drop-off in energy during the second half. He added: “We are dealing with the cards we have been handed. “We’re trying to fi nd the best way with that so really pleased that, given the circumstance, we managed to show the resilience we did in the second half.” against Serbia, most notably from Bellingham, Saka, Rice, Marc Guehi and Kyle Walker. But injuries, a lack of preparation and a formation that is still a work in progress means England need to improve and grow. Southgate acknowledged that England lost their grip against Serbia and says it must be partly down to some players being undercooked. himself with his team-mates. It therefore feels as if England need time and patience to get into their groove. It is also a young squad. Twelve players are at their fi rst tournament and Southgate does not have a fully-fi t natural left-back among his 26. Luke Shaw may not be fi t until the knockout stages after missing the past four months with a hamstring injury. There were encouraging displays himself with his team-mates. It From John Cross in Erfurt LOOKING FOR MORE: Southgate claims he knew team ‘would dip’ Southgate admits young England squad is still a work in progress GARETH SOUTHGATE admits England will have to play their way into form to win Euro 2024. England made a winning start against Serbia but will have to perform better to beat Denmark in their next match in Frankfurt on Thursday. The Three Lions were the pre-tournament favourites because of the quality of Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and company. But manager Southgate would be the fi rst to admit his side are a long way from being at their best. England managed just one win in fi ve games before the tournament, while the immediate preparation was hit by injuries and big players not entering the camp until late. Bellingham was given extra time off after winning the Champions League, and the Manchester United and City players were allowed to report late following the FA Cup fi nal. Kane and Saka arrived nursing knocks while Anthony Gordon was a doubt. It all meant Southgate could not try his preferred starting XI before the fi nals and, with Trent Alexander-Arnold in a different role, there was no chance for him to familiarise UNDER COOKED AlexanderArnold and Trippier, left, are among the players who must get better ❑CHELSEA’S Lewis Hall will join Newcastle on a permanent basis this summer, with the Magpies set to trigger a £28million clause to buy him outright. The defender spent last season on loan at St James’ Park, but doubts about the transfer surfaced when his name appeared on Chelsea’s retained list. However, the 19-year-old has featured in Newcastle’s Adidas kit launch and is very much part of the club’s long-term plans. IAN MURTAGH PAINS LOOKING FOR MORE: Southgate claims he England squad is still a work in progress Hansen ‘on the mend’ David Anderson yesterday and he sounded fabulous so I hope that’s him on the way to a full recovery,” Souness told talkSPORT. “He’s defi nitely back because he did nothing but take the mickey out of me! “He’s been in a diffi cult place but the way he sounded, he’s back.” ❑MICHAEL CARRICK has taken his brother, Graeme, to Middlesbrough . Graeme, 39, will join the Boro backroom staff , having been a youth team coach with Newcastle. Like his big brother, he is a graduate of the Wallsend Boys Club and went to West Ham. He has spent two years at Newcastle, guiding the Under-18s to eighth in Academy Premier League North last term. IAN MURTAGH
FOOTBALL: EURO 2024 DX1ST 58 Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 ROCK OF W F x N o I F o e r W t e x b e c a l B u ll W d . e S t e s d t : a .. 2 k B N e x e n E w £ o 1 t c 0 T u r B e s M t e t u o t r B m n G u e e i r d l s d M . e o r n , l 2 .y C. x 7 £ d O 1 a 0 y . A s U c to ca K p , l 1 ac x e £ q 10 ua H li o fy r i s n e g R b a e c t in to g, re 1 c x e £ iv 1 e 0 6 performed in the win over Serbia. “In the second half he did an incredible job holding the ball up, the number of fouls he won, he got his body across well,” said Southgate. “There isn’t space in that front line for everybody to be on the ball in every moment.” warm down and recovery yesterday. It was hoped that Shaw, who last played in February, could be involved against Denmark on Thursday. But while he has made good progress, it looks likely to be too early. From John Cross ● Transmitting a provocative message unfi t for a sports event . “The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will decide on the matter in due course. “ A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector will also conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding alleged discriminatory behaviour.” extra -time, and Harry Kane scored the winner from a rebound after his penalty was saved. Head coach Kasper Hjulmand said at the time: “ It shouldn’t have been a penalty and that annoys me . It’s a bitter way to leave .” From John Cross FROM BACK PAGE the history of our big games there’s always been a different match-winner, a different guy to take the headlines – and that’s as it will be if we are going to win a tournament.” Southgate saluted the way his skipper Harry Kane, above, Gareth’s star turns LUKE SHAW is stepping up his fi tness work after doing a recovery session – even though he did not play against Serbia. The England left-back, right, joined the rest of the players who featured on Sunday night at their training base in Blankenhain for a Shaw makes strides FROM BACK PAGE fl ags about Kosovo, despite a warning that action would be taken. Sunday’s game had been classed a high-risk fi xture by UEFA . The governing body said in a statement: “Disciplinary proceedings have been instigated . “Charges against the F A of Serbia are: ● Throwing of objects . RACISM PROBE DENMARK will be on a Euros revenge mission against England when the sides meet on Thursday. They are still angry about their defeat in the 2021 semifi nal when England’s Raheem Sterling, above, went down under Joakim Maehle’s challenge in DANES SO BITTER he did an incredible job holding the ball up, the number of fouls he won, he got his body across well,” said Southgate. “There isn’t space been a different match-winner, a are going to win a Kane scored the winner from a rebound after his penalty was saved. Kasper Hjulmand said at the time: “ It shouldn’t have been a penalty and that the sides meet on England’s Raheem recovery yesterday. It was hoped that Shaw, who last played in February, could be involved against Denmark on Thursday. But while recovery session – even though he who featured on into that role. Obviously, there’s going to be pressure – everyone feels pressure. “I’m the oldest head in the camp and I still go out on to the pitch and feel a bit anxious, a bit nervous, just because you want to do everyone proud. “Marc was fantastic. He didn’t put a foot wrong and hopefully that has settled the nerves a little bit and we can form a good partnership along that back line.” England have conceded only 14 goals in 20 games at major tournament fi nals under manager Southgate, which is the sort of statistic that often accompanies success. But Walker knows England’s muchvaunted attacking talent must step up to the plate, and the odd spot of luck will have to favour Southgate’s men if they are to go all the way in Germany. He said: “I’ve said it for Manchester City and I’ll say it for England. “You can have good players on the pitch and on paper we’ve probably got one of the best, and that’s not me being arrogant or anything, it’s just the truth. “But you do need a little bit of luck in tournament football.” Champions League season, if you have a good foundation at the back, then you’ve got a good chance.” Referring to the widespread concerns over Gareth Southgate’s defensive options , Walker said: “The media like to build up a storm and put thoughts in your head that probably shouldn’t be there. “All of these players are fantastic players. I have played against them numerous times in the Premier League and I know what they can do. “Never mind who’s here, who’s not here – we use the players that we’ve got and we work to our strengths when other people can cover up other people’s weaknesses – it is as simple as that.” One of those absent players is Harry Maguire, a trusted lieutenant of Southgate’s, but one of the most eyecatching performances on Sunday night came from Marc Guehi, who did not have the smoothest of seasons with Crystal Palace. Walker said: “Marc, from the moment he stepped into the camp, properly stepped From Andy Dunn in Erfurt into that role. Obviously, there’s going to Old guard proving defensive doubters wrong INJURY worries, absentees, age, a goalkeeper who, somehow, still does not convince everyone, a warm-up defeat by Iceland – this is the tournament when England’s defence is going to be found out. Or, so many said. That still might be the case but as an opening retort to the critics and the doubters, the shut-out of Serbia in Gelsenkirchen was a decent effort. Although the phenomenon that is Jude Bellingham was dominating the headlines, the foundation of England’s fi rst Euro 2024 win was another solid defensive display. That is despite Jordan Pickford and John Stones having turned 30 this year, Kieran Trippier being 33 and Kyle Walker being the veteran of the squad at 34. No wonder Walker, revelling in his role as England’s vice-captain, looked pleased and was keen to highlight the qualities that have made this team hard to beat on the most demanding stages. The right-back said: “If you keep clean sheets in tournaments you have a very good chance of going on and winning it. “We defended well against a physical side. In the Premier League season, the SOLID BASE... Stones, left, Pickford, centre, and Trippier, right, used all their experience Old guard proving defensive doubters wrong
FOOTBALL: EURO 2024 Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 59 DX1ST AGES BET£10 I G NFR E EEB T ETS £60 get minutes in the legs . It’s about how you recover . I had cramp but I felt good.” Trippier, like many of the squad, has known only one manager with England. He says Southgate knows how to hit the right note with players . “When I fi rst arrived we had meeting after meeting,” explained Trippier. “He spoke on what it means to represent England . It helps he is an ex-England player. “It is about trying to bring the togetherness . Everyone has bought into it . “The players love going to camp. When you go into a tournament everyone is ready and you see the talent we’ve got. “I see , ‘This person should play, that person shouldn’t be’. “I wouldn’t like to be Gareth because it’s tough. “He has got nearly 30 players who are playing unbelievably but he handles it well. “ Everybody fully respects him. “I owe Gareth a lot. I have nearly 50 caps. It’s about making sure everyone is on it . “Gareth has been the head of that .” ●Kieran Trippier was speaking on The Overlap podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. AGES KIERAN TRIPPIER From Andy Dunn has provided detail on how Gareth Southgate is preparing his squad for the expected familiar drama of a penalty shoot-out . Trippier said the England manager does not wait until his men reach the knockout stages before spending time on spot kicks . The Newcastle defender said: “After training you’ll have around four players. If there were 15 or 16 it would be carnage. “Gareth just picks a select few every day in training throughout the tournament, where you pick your spot, take three penalties and they analyse it . “They would then probably choose who’s more consistent. We have some incredible penalty takers . It is just about being consistent with your practice and being confi dent .” Trippier was delighted with England’s start and with his own contribution to the win against Serbia, after a long absence with a calf injury. He said: “That was my fi rst 90 minutes in about four months. “It is important to Southgate already preparing for the dreaded shoot-out MAIN MAN: Gareth Southgate AGES If you have a good foundation, you’ve got a chance UP TO THE TASK: Walker is in quickly to thwart Serbia tough. “He has got nearly 30 players who are playing unbelievably but he handles it well. “ Everybody fully respects him. “I owe Gareth a lot. I have nearly 50 caps. It’s about making sure everyone is on it . “Gareth has been the head of that .” ● Trippier was speaking on The Overlap podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. being confi dent .” Trippier was delighted with England’s start contribution to the win against Serbia, after with a calf He said: important to MAIN MAN: Southgate
60 Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 DX1ST Tel. 0208 612 7000. Outside UK +44(0) 208 612 7000 Published by Reach plc, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP. Registered in England & Wales No. 82548. Printed by Reach Printing Services at St Albans Rd, Watford, Hertfordshire WD24 7RG, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 8EP, Interpress, 140 Duncrue Street, Belfast, BT3 9AQ., Miller Newsprint Ltd, Miller House, Triq L-Esportaturi, Zone 2, Mriehel, Birkirkara CBD 2040, Malta, Milkro Digital Cyprus, Nissou Industrial Area, Old Nicosia, Limassol Road, 2571 Nissou, Cyprus, Milkro Hellas Publisher Services Ltd, 2nd Kilometer Peanias Markopoullou Ave.,Position Nisiza, 19441 Koropi, Greece. BET£10 I G NFR E EEB T ETS £60 WWW.BETMGM.CO.UK NIexcluded.Newcustomersonly.7daystoplacequalifyingbettoreceive6xFreeBets:2x £10BetBuilder,2x£10Acca,1x£10HorseRacing,1x£10Football.Stakenotreturned. WE NEED MORE STAR TURNS express.co.uk/sport INSIDE TODAY FREE £2 SHOP BET WITH VALID ON ALL RACING - INCLUDING ASCOT BET 18+ ONLY. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. SEE P16 FOR DETAILS EUROS PULL-OUT INSIDE FREE NEED VALID ON ALL RACING - INCLUDING ASCOT BET 18+ ONLY. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. SEE P16 FOR DETAILS Southgate urges team to share load with Jude PERFECT TEN: Bellingham salutes his goal in England’s 1-0 win against Serbia on Sunday GARETH SOUTHGATE has told his big-name stars they must take turns at being match-winners if England are to land the Euro 2024 title. Jude Bellingham stole the show in Sunday’s win against Serbia, but manager Southgate said: “What’s important is that different people pop up with moments like Jude did. When I go through TURN TO P58, COL 1 From John Cross in Erfurt UEFA are probing reports of monkey chants being made towards England players. One Serbian fan was allegedly spotted making the chants. The fan was not arrested or removed from the ground, despite stewards and police being present . The English FA were not asked by any players to make a complaint and have not contacted UEFA . Serbian FA chiefs are likely to face a fi ne if the allegation is proven. UEFA have spotters at every game to identify issues . There were also allegations that Serbia fans threw objects, while displaying infl ammatory TURN TO PAGE 58, COLUMN 1 SERBIA FACING RACISM PROBE From John Cross MORE from the ground, despite stewards asked by any players to make Serbian FA chiefs are likely to face a fi ne if the allegation UEFA have spotters at every DON’T MISS YOUR 2024-25 FIXTURES FREE PULL-OUT TOMORROW MURRAY’S 1,000TH ATP MATCH: P56 THE GRAND OLD MAN OF TENNIS MORE TURNS threw objects, while displaying infl ammatory TURN TO PAGE 58, COLUMN 1 KING OF QUEEN’S: Murray will hit milestone today
Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 1 DX1ST 1 5 2 4 Puzzles 11 SUDOKU QUICK CROSSWORD KAKURO Fill the grid so that every column, row, and 3x3 square includes all of the digits from one to nine. Solutions tomorrow 8 4 7 5 7 8 8 5 7 1 6 6 2 1 8 9 3 4 9 3 7 1 1 2 8 4 7 9 *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Extra clues: 0901 322 5609 *Calls cost 75p plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Today’s solution: 0907 181 2573 5 3 8 6 6 2 4 8 2 9 8 6 4 1 4 5 2 3 9 2 7 4 9 3 7 7 8 9 5 8 1 6 2 5 6 5 7 8 9 6 4 3 1 1 4 5 2 8 2 9 5 3 1 8 5 6 1 7 8 3 9 1 7 2 4 2 7 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 EA S Y MEDIU M DIFFICULT ACROSS 1 Special (10) 7 Drive out (5) 8 Brave (7) 10 Representative (8) 11 Perfect place (4) 13 Dread (6) 15 Part of a poem (6) 17 Eject (4) 18 Prosperous (4-2-2) 21 Biblical sea (7) 22 Ornament (5) 23 Drawn out (10) DOWN 1 Scholar (5) 2 Faith (8) 3 Ask to come (6) 4 Hideous (4) 5 Desert (7) 6 Self-willed (10) 9 Equivalent (10) 12 Sturdy (8) 14 Cattle-thief (7) 16 Swiss city (6) 19 Egg-shaped (5) 20 Surfeit (4) Solution tomorrow 10 11 12 18 10 12 22 6 28 16 22 10 18 26 16 8 15 12 14 9 11 6 14 11 17 29 30 7 18 Fill each sequence of blank squares using the numbers 1-9. Each sequence – across and down – must total the number in the shaded box at the beginning or top of each line. A number may be repeated in each line but NOT in a sequence. Solution tomorrow *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Service provider Spoke Ltd – Helpline 0333 202 3390 Stuck on the puzzle? Call 0905 789 4188 to hear individual clues or the full solution SMALL CROSSWORD 1 9 10 14 16 19 22 2 12 3 17 4 21 5 13 11 18 20 6 15 7 8 ACROSS 2 Asian country (8) 9 Bower (6) 10 Cudgel (4) 11 Narrow aperture (4) 13 Clan (5) 14 Angler (9) 16 Bury (5) 19 Former name of Thailand (4) 20 Opposed to (4) 21 Overly enthusiastic (4-2) 22 Working canine (8) DOWN 1 Peace-lovers (9) 3 Adjoins (5) 4 Angry crowds (4) 5 Precut tub (anag.) (9) 6 Food shop (4) 7 Line on a weather map (6) 8 Concentration (9) 12 End (6) 15 Tropical fruit (5) 17 Story (4) 18 South African currency (4) For today’s solution call: 0907 181 2582 *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. CROSS DOUBT Can you make two common five-letter words from the nine letters given, using each letter only once? You can – but only if one letter features in both words in the squares on the right. There’s at least one way to do it, and you have to have the right letter at the crossover – but which one is it? See if you can find the answer within our target time. If you need help, ring our clue-line below to find out the crossover letter. Solution tomorrow Target times: Average: 20 mins Good: 16 mins Excellent: 12 mins A B C C E K K R R Today’s solution 0901 322 5607 Both today’s words in a moment! Stuck? Call for a clue 0901 322 5601 Halve your Target Time! *Calls cost 75p plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Solution tomorrow
2 Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 DX1ST Puzzles SUMMIT UP Across: 1 Chemicals, 7 Havens, 9 Ages, 10 Trout, 12 Pint, 13 Reference, 14 Mess, 16 Apple, 18 Crop, 19 Knight, 20 Bracelets. Down: 1 Chairman, 2 Even, 3 Meshes, 4 Intervene, 5 Ago, 6 Launch, 8 Attempts, 11 Deeper, 12 Pencil, 15 Urge, 17 Pea. SMALL CROSSWORD WORD BUILDER QUIZWORD SAMURAI SUDOKU If the number in each triangle is the sum of the two below, what is the top number? Solution tomorrow 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 9 3 2 9 8 1 2 5 7 5 4 6 5 2 9 8 4 1 8 5 9 2 5 3 8 2 1 4 2 1 9 5 2 7 4 6 9 7 4 8 2 5 3 2 7 5 9 4 1 4 5 9 8 3 2 3 3 6 9 2 1 2 7 7 1 7 5 1 3 2 4 2 1 5 1 6 1 4 7 6 1 4 7 6 1 4 9 5 3 1 8 6 1 4 8 6 7 6 9 8 3 7 4 6 3 2 1 2 4 6 5 8 6 6 3 5 8 1 7 3 In Samurai Sudoku, normal sudoku rules apply, but the 9x9 sudoku at the centre shares four of its 3x3 boxes with those of the outer sudokus. Solution tomorrow Answer each clue so that every word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one. Solution tomorrow 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 Insect 2 Ale 3 Water bird 4 Waterman 5 Keen 6 Attire 7 Era 0905 789 4190 *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Service provider Spoke Ltd – Helpline 0333 202 3390 Stuck on the puzzle? Call to hear individual clues or the full solution ACROSS 7 Unit of weight equal to one sixteenth of a pound (5) 8 Mediterranean variety of wild marjoram (7) 9 Citadel in Moscow that contains the offices of the Russian government (7) 10 & 12 Robert Zemeckis film starring Meryl Streep and Bruce Willis (5,7,3) 12 See 10 15 Historical novel by Sir Walter Scott featuring Amy Robsart and the Earl of Leicester (10) 18 Strong polymer made by the DuPont firm in 1938 (5) 19 The dried fruit of a small white seedless grape (7) 21 Dame Margot, English ballerina born Margaret Hookham (7) 22 The --- shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, is nocturnal and feeds on bottom invertebrates (5) DOWN 1 & 2 1956 play by John Osborne (4,4,2,5) 2 See 1 3 Jocelyn, British astrophysicist associated with the discovery of the first radio pulsars (4) 4 Island in the Pacific that houses the sultanate of Brunei (6) 5 1962 novel by Dick Francis (4,4) 6 Charles, men’s 10,000m champion at the 2001 IAAF World Championships (7) 11 Owen, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and England footballer born in 1981 (10) 13 University city in Bavaria, Germany that hosts the Bergkirchweih, an annual beer festival (8) 14 Robert, actor who played Freddy Krueger in the film A Nightmare On Elm Street (7) 16 Powerful medieval family of Rome that included three popes (6) 17 & 20 Golfer who won the 2004 British Masters title (5,4) 20 See 17 Solution tomorrow 101 12 25 9 14 3 4 8 6 13 12 25 26 50 51 60 14 23 7 7 7 2 2 5 9 4 13 11 36 24
Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 3 DX1ST 1 5 2 4 11 YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS WORDSEARCH ARROW-WORD SUDOKU EASY SUDOKU MEDIUM KAKURO SUDOKU DIFFICULT TARGET THE ALPHAPUZZLE THE ALPHABEATER BATTLESHIPS CROSS DOUBT 4 3 9 7 8 5 6 2 1 7 2 3 5 4 6 1 9 8 5 9 1 2 6 4 8 7 3 9 5 8 3 2 1 7 6 4 8 1 5 6 7 2 4 3 9 3 2 9 4 1 7 6 8 5 5 9 2 8 7 4 3 1 6 4 6 9 1 3 7 8 2 5 1 7 5 6 4 3 2 9 8 4 8 1 6 2 5 9 7 3 1 5 9 3 7 8 2 4 6 7 3 8 5 4 2 6 9 1 5 9 2 1 7 6 8 3 4 6 1 4 9 3 5 7 2 8 4 2 5 6 8 7 3 1 9 2 1 4 8 6 7 3 9 5 7 9 1 5 2 3 6 8 4 8 5 9 3 7 1 4 2 6 8 4 1 6 2 3 5 9 7 9 2 4 5 3 6 7 8 1 3 1 9 8 7 4 6 2 5 7 8 9 1 6 4 2 5 3 4 5 2 3 7 1 9 6 8 6 3 5 4 8 2 1 7 9 3 5 7 2 9 8 6 4 1 2 9 3 1 4 5 8 7 6 1 4 8 5 6 3 7 9 2 Across: TWINE Down: NOOSE Across: Sobs, Sweating, Utility, Hello, Drear, Addict, Oyster, Kettle, Artful, Tithe, Epoxy, Vitriol, Misprint, Bear. Down: Squadron, Helm, Baize, Serious, Fierce, Foyer, Waylay, Cloven (clue), Aphid, Entity, Illicit, Trite, Glow, Jeweller. Black squares: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 17, 18, 23, 27, 29, 35, 40. Across: Stick, Together, Lymph, Tipsy, Vainglory, Vex, Oxen, Kiwi, Job, Abidingly, Straw, Scrum, Prequels, Asked. Down: Try, Turf, Isobar, Capon, Awful, Follow, Sizzle, Jetty, Nicks, Paving, Begs, Use. MUTILATOR alum amour arum atrium auto lour lout maul moult mural MUTILATOR mutt ritual rout taut titular tolu tour tout trout turmoil tutor tutorial ultima ultimo ultra urial M F B T T B P A E L L A O V A T E Z E R U M N V B E D A U B B A D G E E S A Y D E A R H O W L E R C O M M A P E R A S E R E G G S P E S T S P L E A S E T U B R H V A L B L I M A M A L A W I A C U T E A R T O R C U R A T E F R O G M O G G Y N I P A L A C E R O Y P I E R E T A H E S O M E T I M E S K N I T E R A E G O D I U M R U T H U N N A M P A I N T I I N P U T N I L S N E A K S S K A T E 3 4 1 9 6 4 6 1 4 2 3 2 3 1 3 5 4 1 1 3 6 2 4 3 8 9 7 1 9 7 1 3 3 5 2 3 8 9 2 1 1 4 6 4 8 QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 6 Freedom, 7 Abhor, 9 Wag, 10 Competent, 12 Furthermore, 15 Improvident, 17 Forlornly, 19 Joy, 21 Annul, 22 Profuse. Down: 1 Great, 2 New, 3 Solo, 4 Abatement, 5 Joinery, 8 Spread, 11 Querulous, 13 Tavern, 14 Impound, 16 Loose, 18 Lure, 20 Off. H T L B R M A H P W A N D E R C U T S U E E D R R L P I Q P R R K J L S P O I R J T R U Q A T E B T N A V I L L A G N L M S M R H M C N E L T F Y K O L A O S I C E S M S S E Y Q M M L A U K P R Y T T R U D G E L M H L E E P R R F A Z X G V P K T Z V E Y I E E S T R E K P A R A D E D O V A D F P K T K Y R Z M E S O U V A N J F U Y T J W P F U N V J W K A M S E K Z A P E T R A I P S E E S L U G L U E T S H U F F L E M Z R Q K R T U S B I J F G L V WORD BUILDER Ray, Tray, Party, Parity, Tapir, Pair, Rap WORDSEARCH A D J M Y S A S L F V S I E T X T B L P G O O F Y Y S G P K N V F O C S N T O E M V P K I I B T C V E C A P S E M H K P E I S S A L R S S Y N I F G P T E F U T N Y B Z H R O D A E S N V G Y I S G E M E K W D R N J B Z Z I M J E R Q R B Y E I P X A K P A M U U U J R E L E A K Z C Q Y R Y Q N S A T A M Y C N E R O M T N O M B G G S C R A P P Y D O O B F O Z U K P M X P I I O D E N L O U O C Y O H T E S S A B D E R F D W E L L A R D B A R K L E Y W Ignominy Go swiftly Shout Lower limbs The M in PM Reprimand or scold Afternoon nap Italian wine Desert mammal Films Breathing disorder Paperfolding art Scottish valleys Isle of Man (abbr.) Conduct oneself properly Garland of flowers Nitrous oxide, laughing _ Sincere Nothing _ Carr, comedian Gaelic Condition Shipshape Brilliant success Foot digit Tease Marsupial type Asian country Brief acting part Mobster Used to be Road _ or _ out Evade or escape from Rise and fall of the sea Latin American dance Amongst Decorative Walk unevenly River barrier And others (2,2) Wrath John Lennon hit Tidings Tree type Wading bird Expert In the past _ Lynn, late singer Snooker rod Action Vacation Virginia _, pictured Make troubled or nervous Pig pen Look _, be quick Private (abb.) Masticate Pair of performers Perspires Stink Objective Ernie _, golfer Bird's beak Plant type Firm producing milk Not good Fortified white wine Drink alcohol April (abbr.) Decompose Drawn match Especially (abbr.) Evaluate Wan Bear _, pictured US singer, _ Redding Soak in liquid ARROW-WORD Arrow-words are like crosswords, but the clues are printed inside squares on the grid. Write your answers in the blank squares in the direction indicated by the arrows. Solution tomorrow Find all the terms listed below in the grid. Solution tomorrow BARKLEY ● CERBERUS ● DOUGAL ● EDDIE EINSTEIN ● FLY ● FRED BASSET ● GNASHER GOOFY ● KIPPER ● KRYPTO ● LASSIE MAX ● MONTMORENCY ● ROOBARB SCRAPPY-DOO ● SNOWY ● SPOT ● TIMMY WELLARD FICTIONAL DOGS
4 Daily Express Tuesday, June 18, 2024 DX1ST PLAY MORE CROSSWORDS AND GAMES AT EXPRESS.CO.UK/PUZZLES SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390 TODAY’S ANSWERS: BEGINNER = 49; INTERMEDIATE = 156; ADVANCED = 568. THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECOND CHALLENGE A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 M 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14G 15 16 17 W 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 CRUSADER PRIZE CROSSWORD THE ALPHABEATER THE ALPHAPUZZLE® CAN you crack the Alphabeater? Each grid number represents a letter – or black square. As in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet is used. But you have to complete the grid too! Use the given letters and black squares below the grid to start. The grid is ‘rotationally symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the same if you turn the page upside down. Solution tomorrow Extra letter clues 0907 181 2560 (Deduct three minutes for each extra clue letter heard) Full solution 0907 181 2558 *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. ● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to your mobile, text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus standard network rate. FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN Read down the letters in the highlighted squares to reveal the mystery word. TARGET TIME: 38 minutes Puzzles 1 5 2 4 11 FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off. Solution tomorrow A 1 B C D E F G H I J 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 4 2 3 1 0 4 1 3 2 1 3 0 1 x Battleship 4 x Submarine 3 x Destroyer 2 x Cruiser N E R F Y G A I D HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No plurals. Verb forms ending in S permitted. TODAY’S TARGET Good 27; very good 40; excellent 53 (or more). Solution tomorrow ● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition) Call 0907 181 2585 for today’s Target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. TARGET BATTLESHIPS WIN £100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 CASH 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1 3 4 2 3 4 1 3 3 1 2 4 1 2 2 4 Place the tiles into the grid so that four different numbers and four different shapes appear in each row and column. Solution tomorrow KEIJO 16 25 37 40 22 12 13 15 6 36 10 16 31 15 17 2 27 35 5 35 17 29 32 28 22 11 2 10 37 34 3 36 14 14 9 40 16 5 16 16 3 9 19 11 18 19 17 36 15 39 12 24 36 7 6 20 6 2 36 18 34 2 7 29 27 9 40 2 38 39 11 13 32 40 11 36 2 6 4 11 7 19 5 36 18 40 31 24 39 33 40 23 16 13 33 16 35 16 20 33 30 36 8 8 35 22 3 1 9 12 2 21 29 24 22 28 8 7 14 27 7 2 3 20 23 27 15 12 24 36 30 40 37 30 40 21 2 37 33 12 9 26 2 19 22 17 20 12 7 39 34 32 11 36 20 3 26 16 14 40 22 32 2 6 12 12 38 16 31 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ACROSS 1 Pen and four keys (4) 3 Dispute worker is a player (10) 9 Father is on the endless trail (4) 10 Stopping chorus with gin cocktail (10) 11 Recording quantity on gauge (4,7) 15 Lengthy duet performed after one gets coordinate (9) 17 Rich performance includes old singers (5) 18 Sense second conflict hasn’t started (5) 19 Releasing feline and deer I caught (9) 20 ’Source of Vitamin C’, a novel composed with scope (5,6) 24 Train niece in treatment for burn (10) 25 Enthusiast has eaten large baked dish (4) 26 They make believe they’re a rock band (10) 27 Nurse has a number, on the day (4) DOWN 1 Londoner, say, is an investor (10) 2 Initiative to rise and leave (3-2-3-2) 4 Honour age, returning last letter (5) 5 Stormy, eccentric, blunt and true (9) 6 While vicars ordered some office furniture (6,5) 7 Like a family (4) 8 Dress goat in a novel way (4) 12 Continuation of child support (11) 13 Childish feature, using fennel a lot (10) 14 Deny cradle was damaged, having used solvents (3-7) 16 Revealed to be naked (9) 21 Alter assembly at a more advanced stage (5) 22 Strand in Padstow is perfect (4) 23 Pain concealed by teacher (4) LAST FRIDAY’S SOLUTION ACROSS: 1 Fairground, 6 Clef, 10 Adorned, 11 Normans, 12 Retardant, 13 Shelf, 14 Frill, 15 Departing, 17 Icelander, 20 Feint, 21 Tampa, 23 Stairwell, 25 Relieve, 26 Hansard, 27 Dane, 28 Stag beetle. DOWN: 1 Flair, 2 In outline, 3 General manager, 4 Old hand, 5 Non-stop, 7 Leave, 8 Fistfight, 9 Crossreference, 14 Frittered, 16 Itinerant, 18 Descent, 19 Road hog, 22 Melon, 24 Lodge. Prizeword: Clerical EXTRA LETTER CLUES: 0907 181 2568* Hear up to six Extra Letters, deduct two minutes for each clue letter heard. FULL SOLUTION: 0907 181 2565* ACROSS ONLY: 0907 181 2561* / DOWN ONLY: 0907 181 2562* *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Alternatively, for six extra letter clues direct to your mobile, text DXALPHA to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus standard network rate. Alphapuzzle® ©2024 Acorn Editorial Ltd. All words appear in Chambers Dictionary. NAME ADDRESS POSTCODE TO ENTER: Call 0904 161 3700 (calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone company’s network access charge) and leave your answer and details, or text DXCRUS followed by a space, your answer, name and address details to 88833 (texts cost £1.50 plus your standard network rate). Lines close at midnight Saturday. Or send your grid containing the answer in the shaded squares by posting it to: Crusader Crossword, June 18, PO Box 8694, Derby DE1 9TW. Entries must be postmarked by June 19 at the latest. For any postal enquiries, call helpline number. SP: Spoke – 0333 202 3390. An extra day is given for postal entries during bank holidays. ● One weekly winner will be the first random correct entry drawn from all entry routes after the closing date of midnight Saturday. Competition runs Sunday to Saturday. The Editor’s decision is final. NEED HELP? Call 0904 161 1609 for 5 extra clues! Calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone company’s network access charge. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 T 22 23 24 ■ 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 ■ 33 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 34 35 36 37 38 L 39 40 P ■ Alphapuzzle® tests logic and word power. Each grid number stands for a letter. Every letter of the alphabet is used. Use the given letter or letters — below the main grid — to start. Solution tomorrow. DIFFICULTY: 5/10; TARGET: 19 mins; CLUE: Equine work, back to New York. 4 9 3 9 14 8 10 15 5 18 20 25 8 9 8 8 1 5 17 25 9 13 14 15 4 20 19 25 9 25 8 8 10 3 1 16 11 5 19 26 8 3 8 13 19 2 18 1 5 21 25 25 8 4 5 10 23 1 20 5 25 26 20 7 9 5 4 13 2 24 10 20 12 9 6 8 25 15 5 25 1 15 1 10 20 8 21 20 5 19 21 26 9 3 21 15 15 13 8 22 19 8 26 25 21 13 8 10 1 9 16 15 25 26 2 4 8 10 25 5 15 2
DX1ST INSIDE ROMANIANS ROCKING Stanciu’s stunner: P4 in association with BLUNDERING BELGIUM Slovakia surprise: P5 A SCANDI STITCH-UP Rewind to Italy fury: P8 AUSTRIA 0 FRANCE 1 France made to fi ght for victory in association with AUSTRIA FRANCE POWER PLAY: Kylian Mbappe forced Austria own-goal before being left bloodied and bruised MBAPPE LEADS THE WAY FOR LES BLEUS: P2-3 France made to fi ght for victory BLOOD & THUNDER
2 18.06.2024 DAILY EXPRESS express.co.uk/sport/football DX1ST EUR0S 2024 IN ASSOCIATION WITH MBAPPE SO 52% POSSESSION 48% 3 SHOTS ON TARGET 4 1 SHOTS OFF TARGET 4 6 CORNERS 2 0 OFFSIDE 1 18 FOULS 10 AUSTRIA FRANCE 0 5 CARDS 2 0 Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano
DAILY EXPRESS 18.06.2024 express.co.uk/sport/football DX1ST EUR0S 2024 3 IN ASSOCIATION WITH SNAPPY Kylian’s a bloody marvel as Les Bleus get off to flyer FROM ALEX RICHARDS in Dusseldorf ON a night when Kylian Mbappe missed two sitters, France will just be hoping he is OK. The Euro 2024 favourites largely dominated opening game against Austria but secured victory only thanks to an own goal from Maximilian Wober. And while Mbappe missed chances, he was the star of the show, a dazzling, jet-heeled menace Ralf Rangnick’s men simply could not handle. Now his nation will hold its breath, hoping that the late facial injury he suffered is not as bad as it looked and that he will be fine to play on in the tournament – if not against Holland on Friday, then at least when the competition hits the knockout stages. Typically, Mbappe had the first big chance of the game after eight minutes. Three rapid-fire passes in midfield sent the soon-to-be Real Madrid forward racing through but, cutting in from the left unchallenged, he tried to be too clever and scuffed his effort. Wober, replacing injured captain David Alaba, was booked shortly after for a crude challenge on Ousmane Dembele, halting a blistering run in its tracks. Dembele, perhaps the competition’s most infuriatingly talented but wayward player, lured another Austrian into the book just after the half-hour mark, Philipp Mwene falling for his trickery. By then it had been all France. Crafty. Composed. Thrilling at top speed. But without a goal. Then Austria should have scored. After a slack giveaway, they countered quickly and, when Michael Gregoritsch crossed from the left, exManchester United loanee Marcel Sabitzer’s wonderful touch put Christoph Baumgartner clean through just 10 yards from goal. However, Mike Maignan – the replacement for World Cup winner Hugo Lloris – raced from his goalline, got a big touch on Baumgartner’s effort and watched as it looped into the air and came down just wide of his right-hand post. From being so close to the ecstasy of a lead against the tournament favourites, it was a matter of seconds before the Austrians felt the agony of falling behind. Unsurprisingly, Mbappe was at the heart of it. Having drifted over to the right, he took a pass from Dembele, took two touches to show Mwene a clean pair of heels, and clipped a cross that hit the hapless Wöber’s head and rolled into the net (above). On the touchline, France head coach Didier Deschamps unleashed a triumphant roar. Antoine Griezmann, here, there and everywhere in midfield, was left bloodied after colliding head-first with an advertising hoarding moments into the second period, returning to the field bandaged and looking like prime-Terry Butcher. And his running mate N’Golo Kante, back in the international fold after a 21- month exile, was doing all those things that for so long made him one of the Premier League’s most formidable combatants – and suggesting not everyone slows down when they head to Saudi for a mega pay-day. Mbappe missed his second sitter when he bundled his way through Kevin Danso’s challenge but somehow fired wide when it was easier to score, France’s No.10 scarcely able to believe what he had done. Marcus Thuram forced Patrick Pentz into a fine sprawling stop as France turned up the heat and looked to kill the game off before Mbappe went off late on and former Arsenal star Olivier Giroud fluffed his chance to double their lead in injury time. AUSTRIA: Pentz 7, Posch 6, Danso 6, Wober 4 (Traunor 59, 6), Mwene 5 (Prass 88), Seiwald 6, Grillitsch 6 (Wimmer 59, 6), Laimer 5 (Schmid 90), Sabitzer 7, Baumgartner 6, Gregoritsch 5 (Arnautovic 59, 5) FRANCE: Maignan 8, Kounde 6, Upamecano 7, Saliba 6, T Hernandez 7, Rabiot 6 (Camavinga 71, 6), Kante 8 MOTM, Dembele 6 (Muani 71, 6), Griezmann 7 (Fofana 89), Mbappe 7 (Giroud 89), Thuram 6 AUSTRIA 0 FRANCE 1 Wober og 38 GROUP D IN FOR THE KYL Skipper Mbappe and France celebrate after Wober’s own goal
4 18.06.2024 DAILY EXPRESS express.co.uk/sport/football DX1ST EUR0 2024 IN ASSOCIATION WITH 34% POSSESSION 66% 5 SHOTS ON TARGET 2 3 SHOTS OFF TARGET 6 4 CORNERS 8 1 OFFSIDE 1 9 FOULS 8 ROMANIA UKRAINE 0 1 CARDS 1 0 Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Swe) break, with Lunin again at fault, as he let a long-range shot squirm under his body. And four minutes later, Man was again the provider as he teed up Denis Dragus for a tap-in for 3-0. Ianis Hagi (below) led the celebrations at full-time. “The support was unique, we’ve never felt anything like this before,” said Stanciu. “My siblings, my father and my wife all had tears in their eyes. I’d like to thank them all and I hope we’ve made them very happy. “We have to thank everyone and I hope they’ll celebrate. What we did today was just sensational.” Romania coach Edward Iordanescu was equally emotional about the supporters. “I’d like to thank every Romanian everywhere in the world,” he said. “I know that they were with us today. “It was a fantastic effort by my team. If you had any doubts, I think you can believe me now that this is a great team. Congratulations to the lads. It’s just incredible. “Since I joined the national team, I’ve had difficult moments. It’s not always been easy. We’ve had other big performances. We’ve had golden generations with big performances, but this generation represents the soul. “This team has put the biggest effort into everything. “As big a heart as this team, nobody has ever had. This generation is limitless. “These are emotions that are very difficult to put into words. My family have lived ever y moment with us. I had to send four cars to pick them up, so I have to thank them for coming with us. “My family mean everything to me. Even if I wasn’t coach, my family and I would probably all still be here today.” Goalscorer Marin added: “I think 22 million Romanians are happy now. I’m happy and we need to keep going. Just thinking about the people on the streets celebrating gives me goosebumps.” It was a poor display from Ukraine and striker Roman Yaremchuk said: “There are no excuses. We didn’t show our game and didn’t follow the coach’s instructions. “Romania deserved this win, and we need to have a good conversation and move on.” ROMANIA 3 Stanciu 29, Marin 53, Dragus 57 UKRAINE 0 GROUP E “The support was unique, we’ve never felt anything like this before,” said Stanciu. “My siblings, my father and my wife all had tears in “We have to thank everyone and I hope they’ll celebrate. What we “These are emotions that are very difficult to put into words. My family have lived ever y moment pick them up, so I have to thank them for coming with us. “My family mean everything to me. Even if GROUP E TABLE P W D L F A Pts Romania 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 Slovakia 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Belgium 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Ukraine 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 STANCIU’S A JOLLY GOOD YELLOW Nicolae’s stunning strike lights up Munich BY KEITH WEBSTER NICOLAE STANCIU scored the goal of his life to set Romania on the way to a famous win in front of their raucous fans in Munich. Stanciu, who plays in the Saudi Pro League for Damac, struck a sublime 20-yard shot into the top corner after Real Madrid keeper Andriy Lunin’s blunder. Lunin’s clearance went straight to Dennis Man, who squared a pass for Stanciu to apply an unstoppable finish from just outside the area. “It was the goal of my career,” said the 31-year-old attacking midfielder. “This shirt means everything to me. To score at a Euro finals and to win in the manner that we did, it’s just incredible.” A sea of yellow erupted in celebration and had cause to do the same twice more in the second half. Razvan Marin scored eight minutes after the TASTY ROM PUNCH Stanciu celebrates his 20-yard cracker (below) which sparked Romania’s march to victory
DAILY EXPRESS 18.06.2024 express.co.uk/sport/football DX1ST EUR0 2024 5 IN ASSOCIATION WITH 56% POSSESSION 44% 5 SHOTS ON TARGET 4 4 SHOTS OFF TARGET 4 5 CORNERS 7 2 OFFSIDE 1 12 FOULS 8 BELGIUM SLOVAKIA 0 3 CARDS 1 0 Referee: Halil Umut Meler (Tur) BELGIUM: Casteels 7; Castagne 5, Faes 7, Debast 6, Carrasco 6 (Lukebakio 83); Mangala 5 (Bakayoko 56, 7), Onana 7; Doku 5 (Openda 83), De Bruyne 6, Trossard 5 (Tielemans 74); Lukaku 6. SLOVAKIA: Dubravka 7; Pekarik 6, Vavro 6, Skriniar 6, Hancko 8; Kucka 7, Lobotka 6, Duda 7 (Obert 90); Schranz 6 (Duris 81), Bozenik 7 (Strelec 69, 6), Haraslin 7 (Suslov 69, 6). BANG OUT OF LUK IVAN THE GREAT Schranz fi res home the only goal after a costly mistake from winger Jeremy Doku Romelu hit by VAR as Doku gifts winner FROM MARK JONES in Frankfurt BELGIUM’S tournament curse struck again as they were beaten by Slovakia but boss Domenico Tedesco was in no mood to point the finger of blame. A mistake from Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku gifted the underdogs the only goal in the seventh minute, with Ivan Schranz firing home from close range. Romelu Lukaku then missed several presentable opportunities and had two goals disallowed by VAR, the second contentiously as new technology was used to determine that Lois Openda’s arm brushed the ball. But Tedesco threw his support behind the forward and Doku, adding that he did not want to berate the officials and be seen as a bad loser. On Lukaku’s misfortune in front of goal, he said: “We’re very honest, he’s been playing for Belgium for a long time and knows very well how to score. “Tonight he did score goals and ultimately they didn’t count, but if he needs anything I’m here for him.” On Doku, he added: “Of course it hurts. It hurts for him, it hurts for me, because he is not deserving of that. But it’s part of the game.” Rarely has Belgium’s ability to leave you both dazzled and despairing been as evident as it was inside the first seven minutes and inside the boots of Doku. Not three minutes had elapsed when the winger magnificently burst away from two challenges, evaded a third and teed up a chance that neither the disappointing Kevin De Bruyne nor Lukaku could take. Then from the sublime came the slapstick. Timothy Castagne threw the ball back to Doku, who was instantly closed down. The way out, or so Doku thought, was to play it to Wout Faes, but it was a farce and found Juraj Kucka and Schranz was then on hand to tuck in the rebound. Lukaku (above) was then thwarted three times early in the second half, the first by Martin Dubravka, the second by VAR, then the third by the side-netting. When substitute Johan Bakayoko had a close-range effort superbly cleared off the line by David Hancko the writing was on the wall. But Belgium thought they had equalised when Lukaku fired in after what appeared to be strong work from Openda, only for the substitute to be deemed to have handled the ball via the new ‘snickometer’ VAR technology. “If we would have won I would tell you a little bit more of my opinion,” said Tedesco. “But right now we lost and I want to be a fair loser. I don’t think we should speak about the referee and VAR.” BELGIUM 0 SLOVAKIA 1 Schranz 7 GROUP E
6 18.06.2024 DAILY EXPRESS express.co.uk/sport/football DX1ST EUR0 2024 IN ASSOCIATION WITH BACK TO BASICS performances and results go well, particularly if we add a defensive point of view where you are not conceding goals. “The answer for us is to get back to basics and really concentrate on where and why we had success before. “It is difficult to put your finger on. From the players’ point of view, our main work comes on the training pitch to do what we can to improve. “We have had a couple of days to put it to bed. The manager had a couple of meetings to go over it and put that behind us, draw a line under it and look forward to the next game. “We are talking about playing at the top level, playing against a top side. “These games are huge. It is a big occasion and everyone wants to play on those types of nights. “There is maybe added nerves but I don’t think that is something we can use as an excuse, as we didn’t perform like we wanted to. “We have drawn a line under that and our main focus now is what we have got going forward.” Clarke, above, suggested he had perhaps clouded the squad’s judgment by giving them too much information, but Hanley was not convinced. He said: “I don’t think so. From a player’s point of view we have to look at ourselves first and look a t h o w w e approached the game, how we performed and the reasons for that. “We will look at the reasons why we maybe never turned up as we would have hoped to have done, or performed the way we can perform to have a positive performance and a positive result. This is a group who have been together for quite a while now and we have had our ups and downs together. “I think we have to take confidence from the group, that we have shown before we have b o u n c e d b a c k f r o m negative results. That will be our focus again. “We want to put Friday night behind us and give ourselves a better chance to get a result. “The lads watched the [other] game and Switzerland have some really good quality in the side. “I am hoping that we turn up and are prepared for the game and put on a performance like we have been doing for a few years.” SCOTLAND v SWITZERLAND GROUP A: Cologne Stadium TOMORROW, KICK-OFF 8PM (BBC) that and our main focus now is what we have got going forward.” Clarke, above, suggested he had perhaps BACK TO BASICS performances and results go well, particularly if we add a under it and look forward to the next game. clouded the squad’s judgment by giving them too much who have been together for SCOTLAND v quite a while now and we have Hanley tells Scots to keep it simple after Munich mauling BY RONNIE ESPLIN WIN, lose or draw, most teams in the Euros have so far at least had hope of good things happening. The Scotland camp, by contrast, has been an exercise in navel gazing, wondering what on earth went wrong in the transition from planning stage to playing field. One saving grace is the 5-1 rout by Germany in Munich on Friday took place in a city where fans could head to one of the many bierkellers to drown their sorrows. Scotland have won just once in 10 games – against Gibraltar – and conceded 26 goals in the process. But according to defender Grant Hanley, manager Steve Clarke and his players have talked through Friday ’s letdown and put it to bed. From now on they are only looking forward as they get re a dy f o r Sw it z e rl a n d tomorrow night and Hungary on Sunday. The Norwich centre-back, 32, said: “It happens in football. You have periods where your NEW HURDLES Scotland’s players train before their game against Switzerland tomorrow BLUE FRIDAY Players looked down after Friday but Hanley, left, has put it behind him ANGUS IS GUNNING TO DO IT FOR FANS ANGUS GUNN says Scotland are driven to repay the fans who stuck by them after the 5-1 hammering by Germany in Munich. T he Tartan Army travelled in their droves for the Euro 2024 opener against the host s last Friday but were left reeling. Ahead of their second Group A game against Switzerland tomorrow , Gunn admitted that although the drubbing “still hurts”, he and his team-mates were touched by the support. And th e Norwich goalkeeper revealed it has provided extra in centive to make amends against the Swiss, who beat Hungary 3-1 in their first game. Gunn, above, said: “Everyone’s bitterly disappointed from the result and also the performance. “I don’t think anyone did themselves justice. “We let ourselves down, our families down and the fans, which is probably the most difficult part to take. “Seeing all the videos of everyone travelling over before the game, it looked unbelievable and even after a result like that, they were still there, singing and clapping at the end. “It gives us a great boost after such a disappointing result and makes us want to repay them even more in the next two games. “We know what we have to do in terms of trying to get out of the group. They got a very positive result in their first game as well. “It’s going to be difficult but from our point of view it’s straightforward what we have to aim for. “Straight after it’s difficult to see the positives but a few days on you look back at how far we’ve come, how well we’ve done to qualify, and you have to take belief from that going into the last two games. “We’ve played against the pot one team now, so that’s out of the way and we’ve got a target – two wins – that’ll get us through the group. ” GROUP A TABLE P W D L F A Pts Germany 1 1 0 0 5 1 3 Switzerland 1 1 0 0 3 1 3 Hungary 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 Scotland 1 0 0 1 1 5 0
DAILY EXPRESS 18.06.2024 express.co.uk/sport/football DX1ST EUR0S 2024 7 IN ASSOCIATION WITH UEFA EURO 2024 RESULTS ROUND OF 16 Olympiastadion BerlinSATURDAY JUNE 29, KICK-OFF 5PM (Berlin) GAME 38 2A v 2B BVB Stadion DortmundSATURDAY JUNE 29, KICK-OFF 8PM (Dortmund) GAME 37 1A v 2C Stuttgart ArenaFRIDAY JULY 5, KICK-OFF 5PM (Stuttgart) GAME 45 W39 v W37 Arena AufSchalkeSUNDAY JUNE 30, KICK-OFF 5PM (Gelsenkirchen) GAME 40 1C v 3D/E/F Cologne Stadium SUNDAY JUNE 30, KICK-OFF 8PM (Cologne) GAME 39 1B v 3A/D/E/F Volksparkstadion HamburgFRIDAY JULY 5, KICK-OFF 8PM (Hamburg) GAME 46 W41 v W42 Düsseldorf Arena MONDAY JULY 1, KICK-OFF 5PM (Dusseldorf) GAME 42 2D v 2E Frankfurt Arena MONDAY JULY 1, KICK-OFF 8PM (Frankfurt) GAME 41 1F v 3A/B/C Düsseldorf ArenaSATURDAY JULY 6, KICK-OFF 5PM (Düsseldorf) GAME 48 W40 v W38 Munich Football ArenaTUESDAY JULY 2, KICK-OFF 5PM (Munich) GAME 43 1E v 3A/B/C/D Leipzig Stadium TUESDAY JULY 2, KICK-OFF 8PM (Leipzig) GAME 44 1D v 2F Olympiastadion BerlinSATURDAY JULY 6, KICK-OFF 8PM (Berlin) GAME 47 W43 v W44 Munich Football ArenaTUESDAY JULY 9, KICK-OFF 8PM (Munich) GAME 49 W45 v W46 Olympiastadion BerlinSUNDAY JULY 14, KICK-OFF 8PM (Berlin) GAME 51 WINNER 49 v WINNER 50 BVB Stadion Dortmund WEDNESDAY JULY 10, KICK-OFF 8PM (Dortmund) GAME 50 W47 v W48 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS FINAL GROUP A GERMANY SCOTLAND HUNGARY SWITZERLAND Munich Football Arena TODAY, KICK-OFF 8PM (ITV) GERMANY . . . . . . . . . . . . SCOTLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . Frankfurt Arena SUNDAY JUNE 23, KICK-OFF 8PM (BBC) SWITZERLAND . . . . . . . . GERMANY . . . . . . . . . . . . Stuttgart Arena TOMORROW, KICK-OFF 5PM (BBC) GERMANY . . . . . . . . . . . . HUNGARY . . . . . . . . . . . . Stuttgart Arena SUNDAY JUNE 23, KICK-OFF 8PM (BBC) SCOTLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . HUNGARY . . . . . . . . . . . . Cologne Stadium TOMORROW, KICK-OFF 8PM (BBC) SCOTLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . SWITZERLAND . . . . . . . . GROUP B SPAIN CROATIA ITALY ALBANIA Leipzig Stadium MONDAY JUNE 24, KICK-OFF 8PM (BBC) CROATIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . ITALY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Volksparkstadion Hamburg TOMORROW, KICK-OFF 2PM (ITV) CROATIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . ALBANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . Düsseldorf Arena MONDAY JUNE 24, KICK-OFF 8PM (BBC) ALBANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arena AufSchalke THURSDAY JUNE 20, KICK-OFF 8PM (ITV) SPAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ITALY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GROUP C SLOVENIA SERBIA DENMARK ENGLAND Cologne Stadium TUESDAY JUNE 25, KICK-OFF 8PM (ITV) ENGLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . SLOVENIA . . . . . . . . . . . . Munich Football Arena THURSDAY JUNE 20, KICK-OFF 2PM (ITV) SLOVENIA . . . . . . . . . . . . SERBIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Munich Football Arena TUESDAY JUNE 25, KICK-OFF 8PM (ITV) DENMARK . . . . . . . . . . . . SERBIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frankfurt Arena THURSDAY JUNE 20, KICK-OFF 5PM (BBC) DENMARK . . . . . . . . . . . . ENGLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . GROUP D POLAND HOLLAND AUSTRIA FRANCE Olympiastadion Berlin TUESDAY JUNE 25, KICK-OFF 5PM (BBC) HOLLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . AUSTRIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olympiastadion Berlin FRIDAY JUNE 21, KICK-OFF 5PM (ITV) POLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . AUSTRIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . BVB Stadion Dortmund TUESDAY JUNE 25, KICK-OFF 5PM (BBC) FRANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . POLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leipzig Stadium FRIDAY JUNE 21, KICK-OFF 8PM (BBC) HOLLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . FRANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . GROUP E BELGIUM SLOVAKIA ROMANIA UKRAINE Frankfurt Arena WEDNESDAY JUNE 26, KICK-OFF 5PM (BBC) SLOVAKIA . . . . . . . . . . . . ROMANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . Düsseldorf Arena FRIDAY JUNE 21, KICK-OFF 2PM (BBC) SLOVAKIA . . . . . . . . . . . . UKRAINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . Stuttgart Arena WEDNESDAY JUNE 26, KICK-OFF 5PM (BBC) UKRAINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . BELGIUM. . . . . . . . . . . . . Cologne Stadium SATURDAY JUNE 22, KICK-OFF 8PM (ITV) BELGIUM. . . . . . . . . . . . . ROMANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . GROUP F TURKEY GEORGIA PORTUGAL CZECH REP BVB Stadion Dortmund TODAY, KICK-OFF 5PM (BBC) TURKEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . GEORGIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . Volksparkstadion Hamburg WEDNESDAY JUNE 26, KICK-OFF 8PM (ITV) CZECH REP . . . . . . . . . . . TURKEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Volksparkstadion Hamburg SATURDAY JUNE 22, KICK-OFF 2PM (BBC) GEORGIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . CZECH REP . . . . . . . . . . . Leipzig Stadium TONIGHT, KICK-OFF 8PM (BBC) PORTUGAL . . . . . . . . . . . CZECH REP . . . . . . . . . . . Arena AufSchalke WEDNESDAY JUNE 26, KICK-OFF 8PM (ITV) GEORGIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . PORTUGAL . . . . . . . . . . . BVB Stadion Dortmund SATURDAY JUNE 22, KICK-OFF 5PM (ITV) TURKEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . PORTUGAL . . . . . . . . . . . GROUP A TABLE P W D L F A Pts Germany 1 1 0 0 5 1 3 Switzerland 1 1 0 0 3 1 3 Hungary 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 Scotland 1 0 0 1 1 5 0 GROUP B TABLE P W D L F A Pts Spain 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 Italy 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 Albania 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 Croatia 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 GROUP C TABLE P W D L F A Pts England 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Denmark 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 Slovenia 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 Serbia 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 GROUP D TABLE P W D L F A Pts Holland 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 France 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Poland 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 Austria 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 GROUP E TABLE P W D L F A Pts Romania 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 Slovakia 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Belgium 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Ukraine 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 GROUP F TABLE P W D L F A Pts Turkey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Czech rep 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Munich Football Arena TODAY, KICK-OFF 8PM (ITV) GERMANY . . . . . . . . . . . . SCOTLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . GERMANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wirtz 20, Musiala 19, Havertz 45+1 pen, Fulljrug 68, Can 90+3 SCOTLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rudiger 87 og 5 1 ROMANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stanciu 29, Marin 53, Dragus 57 UKRAINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 HUNGARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Varga 66 SWITZERLAND. . . . . . . . . . . Duah 12, Aebischer 45, Embolo 90+3 1 3 BELGIUM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SLOVAKIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Schranz 7 0 1 AUSTRIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FRANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wober 38 og 0 1 SPAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morata 29, Ruiz 32, Carvajal 45+2 CROATIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 POLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buksa 16 HOLLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gakpo 29, Weghorst 83 1 2 SLOVENIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janza 77 DENMARK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eriksen 17 1 1 ITALY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bastoni 11, Barella 16 ALBANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bajrami 1 2 1 SERBIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENGLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bellingham 13 0 1
8 18.06.2024 DAILY EXPRESS express.co.uk/sport/football DX1ST EUR0 2024 IN ASSOCIATION WITH DRAW TOOK THE BISCUIT FOR ITALIANS WE’RE THROUGH Denmark’s Henriksen and Ljungberg are all smiles after both sides reached last eight FOR ITALIANS Azzurri caught in a Trap by stitch-up ITALIAN slang for a fixed football match is a biscotto. And the Azzurri and their fans reckoned Denmark and Sweden took the biscuit in a stitch-up which saw the Nordic neighbours go through and dunk Giovanni Trapattoni’s side out of Euro 2004. Fixing and favours is part of Italian culture from the time of Machiavelli and the Medicis, and Calciopoli would explode just two years later where Juventus were relegated to Serie B. And so conspiracy-obsessed Italians feared the worst before the final round of Group C games after drawing with Denmark (0-0) and Sweden (1-1). Both Scandinavian sides had beaten Bulgaria and tie-breaker rules stated only scores in the head-to-head matches counted if sides finished on the same number of points. So a high-scoring draw between them would eliminate Italy no matter how many goals they scored against Dimitar Berbatov’s team. And guess what happened? Italy won 2-1 against the Bulgarians in Guimaraes but in Porto an 89th-minute equaliser from Mattias Jonsson led to a miraculous 2-2 draw. All three teams finished level on five points. Italy were out. Sweden’s main newspaper splashed a huge “2-2” on the front page with the headline “Congratulations Italy, you tipped correctly!” The Italians didn’t see the funny side. AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said: “We got as many points as those who are blond and beautiful. But we are darker and not as beautiful.” Swedish football magazine Offside later revealed conversations between the two sets of players before, during and after the match. At full-time, Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is alleged to have lifted his Aston Villa teammate Marcus Allback in the air in celebration before the Sweden striker shouted: “Let me go, let me go, this is embarrassing.” At Euro 2008, Italy risked another early elimination if Holland lost their final game to Romania. Italy legend Gigi Riva correctly predicted they would go through because ex-Milan star Marco Van Basten was the Dutch boss. “In my time I have seen many biscotti and even cakes, such as the 2-2 draw between Sweden and Denmark in 2004,” he said. “But Van Basten is a friend of all Italian football.” Holland won 2-0. DENMARK 2 SWEDEN 2 Euro 2004 group stage: Estadio do Bessa, Porto, Tuesday, June 22