Air Force Blue aborts mission as 2000 Guineas turns to Galileo Gold
Aidan O’Brien entry Air Force Blue was sent off odds-on to grab the 2000 Guineas for his handler, but blew up big time in this race. Galileo Gold instead got all the glory with Frakie Dettori on board.
O’Brien does the Minding with 1000 Guineas one-two
If one favourite flopped at Newmarket, then the other delivered in style. Disappointment in the O’Brien didn’t last as his two 1000 Guineas runners Minding and Ballydoyle were the first pair home in the fillies’ Classic.
Football
Battles at both ends of the top-tier table continued in the Premier League this weekend, with crucial clashes in the title race, relegation wrangle and top four tussle…
Darlow darling of Tyneside as keeper denies Cabaye
Any potential escape from the relegation zone needs an unlikely hero, and Newcastle United’s third choice stopper Ken Darlow proved to be the protagonist at St James’ Park, as he stepped up to deny former Magpie Yohan Cabaye from the penalty spot due to injuries to Rob Elliot and Tim Krul.
The 25-year-old’s crucial save, in tandem with Andros Townsend’s 20-yard set-piece stunner, saw Crystal Palace defeated 1-0 and Rafa Benitez’s boys catapulted one point clear of the drop zone.
Dramatic Defoe leveller saves Sunderland for another day
In a fiercely fought battle at Britannia Stadium, Sunderland snatched a vital away point at the death through a last-gasp Jermain Defoe penalty.
Marko Arnautovic, shown tangling with Jan Kirchhoff in the image above and illustrating how close the contest was, put Stoke City ahead, before Defoe was brought down by Geoff Cameron and converted his late spot-kick. The Black Cats are still sat in the bottom three but crucially have a game in hand over Northeast foes Newcastle…
Morgan fires Foxes closer to title
Leicester City did not lift the Premier League title as many expected at Old Trafford, but did propel themselves closer having pinched a point and so passing one of their last few potential stumbling blocks.
Skipper and centre half Wes Morgan was the hero of the hour, as the Foxes fought back through his bullet header, after an early set-back when Anthony Martial coolly put Manchester United into the lead. Claudio Ranieri’s men will now eagerly await the Tottenham result tonight.
Mane dismantles Manchester City
As the Red Devils slipped up, cross-town rivals Man City had the perfect opportunity to canter into a seven point lead as the fight four a top four place goes on.
Southampton, still in contention for European football themselves, weren’t having any of that though and destroyed the depleted Sky Blues 4-2 at St Mary’s. Shane Long grabbed the opener but the match was all about Sadio Mane, whose slick hat-trick gave the Saints reason to celebrate.
Boxing
There were some fantastic fights on this weekend, so let’s relive them…
Fury earns technical decision over Kassa
Hughie Fury continued his climb up the heavyweight ladder by overcoming Fred Kassi by technical decision, with the referee halting proceedings during the seventh round when the cousin of world champion Tyson Fury sustained a bad cut to his eye. The unbeaten prospect claimed the vacant WBO intercontinental heavyweight title with scores of 69-66, 70-64 and 69-65 in his favour.
DeGale made to work for defence
Britain’s James DeGale was taken the distance in his second IBF super-middleweight title defence against Rogelio Medina in America, as the Londoner secured a unanimous decision victory with a 115-113 and two 117-111 cards.
Jack sets up potential DeGale unification bout
Swedish champion Badou Jack set up a possible super-middleweight unification fight with DeGale on the same night in Washington, D.C, as he retained his WBC strap with a majority draw against former world champion Lucian Bute.
