Cheltenham
- 7/1 shot Coneygree, ridden by Nico de Boinville and trained by Mark Bradstock, became the first novice to win the Gold Cup since Captain Christy in 1974 with Ruby Walsh having to settle for second place on board Djakadam.
- Trainer Willie Mullins made history when Killultagh Vic took the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – his 8th win at this year’s festival. Earlier, he saw his 25/1 shot Wicklow Brave take the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle.
- For a fleeting moment, it seemed AP McCoy‘s final Cheltenham race was going to provide a Hollywood ending but he ended up in fourth on board Ned Buntline as 16/1 shot Next Sensation took the Grand Annual Handicap Chase.
- There were more Irish smiles as Martello Tower gamely stayed on in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle to give Mags Mullins her first-ever Festival winner, while Nina Carberry and On The Fringe won the Foxhunter Chase for Enda Bolger in the colours of JP McManus.
Home
- Paul O’Connell, who will represent Ireland for the 100th time tomorrow, spoke to Murray Kinsella about honour, his competitiveness and being a leader.
- Clare’s preparations for their Division 1A league clash with Dublin tomorrow has been overshadowed by reports that Nicky O’Connell and Davy O’Halloran are no longer with the squad after a disciplinary breach.
- Robin McBryde, the Wales assistant coach, has been stirring the pot nicely ahead of tomorrow’s clash by claiming he’s not expecting ‘attractive rugby’ from the Irish team.
- Joe Canning is back in the Galway starting XV for their clash with Cork this weekend.
- Rory McIlroy will be playing alongside a pretty famous sports personality prior to the US Masters in Augusta.
- As Joseph Duffy gets set for his UFC debut tomorrow evening, many are tipping him for the big-time.
Away
- Arsenal will be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for up to a month after it was revealed he damaged a hamstring against Manchester United on Monday night.
- Joachim Loew has signed a contract extension with the German national team with his main motivation to win the 2018 World Cup.
- Will Ferrell – yeah, that guy, made baseball history yesterday. He played every position on the field while suiting up for 10 different teams. All in the name of comedy, of course.
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A non-league football match in England’s South West Peninsula League Premier Division was abandoned after just 58 seconds due to fog. Explaining his decision to start the match, the referee said ‘I wanted to see if it would clear’.
The best thing we shared today
Poor Sara Berardinelli. Competing in the Gymnix Junior Cup in Canada this week, the Italian very nearly took a hefty fall…twice. Thankfully her coach has the agility of a cat and the hands of a top-class goalkeeper. Forget De Gea. This is the save of the season.
On the record
“I’ve seen quite a number of young players but at this minute I don’t think they are ready to step up and play senior football at such a critical stage.”
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill admits the supply line isn’t as strong as he’d like for the senior men’s side.
Where we were today
Murray Kinsella is in Cardiff ahead of tomorrow’s big one and he took in the Captain’s Run earlier today at the imposing Millennium Stadium.
The fixture list
Rugby
- A huge day for the Six Nations and there are two fixtures tomorrow. We’ll have in-depth coverage from Cardiff as Ireland take on Wales at the Millennium Stadium with a 2.30 kick-off. At 5pm, England host Scotland in the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham.
Football
- It’s pretty hectic in the Premier League too with six games down for decision (all games at 3pm unless otherwise stated).
Crystal Palace v QPR – 12.45Arsenal v West Ham
Leicester v Hull
Sunderland v Aston Villa
West Brom v Stoke
Burnley v Man City – 5.30
There’s action too in the Airtricity League as Longford Town welcome Shamrock Rovers to Strokestown Road at 7.30.
GAA
There’s a ton of action across both codes. In Division 1A, at Cusack Park in Ennis, Davy Fitzgerald’s Clare host Ger Cunningham’s Dublin hurlers with a 3pm throw-in while Limerick face Offaly at the Gaelic Grounds at 7pm in the Division 1B match-up.
In football, the big one is in Castlebar with Mayo taking on Dublin in Division 1 at 7pm. In Navan’s Pairc Tailteann, the big Division 2 clash sees Meath take on Laois.
Showbiz, baby!
Jose Mourinho was in a strop at his traditional Friday press conference, He was irritated when one reporter questioned him about Chelsea’s Champions League exit and the criticism dished out by certain Sky Sports pundits over his players’ behaviour.
The ‘Happy One’ responded in a Cantona-esque way. Answers on a postcard…
“It has HTML 5 so you know it must be good.”
