8 h. ago Sweet William is punters’ darling again after second successive Doncaster Cup success

The horse with ideas of his own about racing shows his sweet-natured side and will return next year for the hat-trickThere are horses that win with a minimum of fuss, and others, like Sweet William, that have a style that is all their own, and John & Thady Gosden’s stayer kept it interesting throughout in the Doncaster Cup on Friday, as he overcame a slow start and some early coaxing from Rab Havlin in his saddle to win the Group Two contest for the second year running.Sweet William has often appeared to have his own ideas about the racing game during a 20-race career, with slow starts and mid-race flat spots frequently forcing Havlin to get busy at an early stage. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago German genius from Ryder Cup past holds a key to Euro success at Bethpage

Captain Luke Donald was a rookie player in 2004 under Bernhard Langer and is still using learnings from the German icon

Politics

1 week ago Women’s Rugby World Cup needs jeopardy to stay in Monday morning conversations | Andy Bull

One-sided nature of matches so far is a problem and structural change is needed but there has still been plenty to enjoyAfter all these years of asking for more, it’s churlish to complain when the Women’s Rugby World Cup delivered so much in one weekend. England’s victory pulled in two-and-half million prime time viewers on the BBC, 85,000 fans turned out across the four grounds, including a record-breaking 42,000 crowd in Sunderland, five hat-tricks, four packed fan zones, free concerts, and all those fireworks. It had almost everything anyone could have wanted. Almost. The one thing missing was a tight finish. The closest of the eight games was settled by three tries and change.The success of the World Cup isn’t just going to be measured by what happens on the weekends, but in the days in between them. World Rugby wants people to be talking about this tournament when they go into work on Monday morning. And for that to happen it needs some jeopardy. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Schools urged to build on success of Women’s Rugby World Cup: 'Something feels different this time'

Surge of interest in the women's game ‘feels like a shift’ and must be capitalised on, says Gladiators star

Politics

2 w. ago Jodie Ounsley calls on schools to build on success of Women’s Rugby World Cup

Ounsley, known for her role as Fury on BBC show Gladiators, attended the Red Roses’ 69-7 thrashing of the United States in Sunderland.

Events

2 w. ago Ethical Diamond’s Melbourne Cup absence shows drawbacks of micro

Ruling a likely favourite out of Australia’s biggest race on vets’ advice about a past injury only makes it harder for overseas horses to run thereEthical Diamond appeared to have all of the attributes you would want to see in a potential Melbourne Cup winner as he recorded a decisive success in the Ebor Handicap at York on Saturday. He travelled sweetly, had the tactical speed to pick his way through the field in the straight and then a sharp turn of foot at the business end to put the race to bed a furlong out. In winning, he also picked up a “Golden Ticket” for “the race that stops the nation” in early November, one of just two such guaranteed entries on offer in the northern hemisphere.So what’s not to like? The answer, it soon transpired, is a small piece of metal inserted into one of Ethical Diamond’s legs. “He had a little fracture last year and we put a screw in,” Willie Mullins, the gelding’s trainer, said, “and they’re not allowed in Melbourne. It’s fair and their rules ar...

Politics

2 w. ago Tommy Fleetwood slays his 'demons' with maiden US triumph as Justin Rose and Shane Lowry roar him on

English star refused to sulk at setbacks and gained ultimate reward with his success at the FedEX Cup

Politics

2 w. ago Swede success and Danish delight at British Masters as Ryder Cup spot secured

Successful day for Scandinavians at The Belfry

Politics

2 w. ago Rory McIlroy reveals Ryder Cup street chats with Luke Donald are spreading word for Euro success in New York

McIlroy and captain Luke Donald live next to each other in Florida and the planning has long been underway for Bethpage

Politics

3 w. ago Why the Red Roses are ready to finally crown their dominance with Rugby World Cup success

Unbeaten in their last 27 matches, the Red Roses must handle the pressure of being overwhelming favourites on home soil

Sport