Day: 9 September 2021

A 14-year-old boy has been questioned by police in connection with a racist message sent to Swansea City midfielder Yan Dhanda. The abuse was posted on Instagram on February 10 after Swansea’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester City. South Wales Police launched an investigation and transferred the case to Kent Police in May after the account holder was traced to an address in Dartford. On Thursday, a teenager was interviewed as officers continued their probe. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Dhanda revealed in February that…

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Free Wind continued her rapid progression when routing her rivals the Hippo Pro3 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster. A second Group Two winner of the afternoon for Frankie Dettori and John and Thady Gosden, Free Wind was sent off the 15-8 favourite and ran out a hugely-impressive seven-length winner. Victorious in three of her four outings this season, this was undoubtedly a career-best performance and Dettori always looked in control. Yesyes took over at the head of affairs three furlongs from home, but Dettori was still motionless before beginning…

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Inspiral solidified her position at the head of the betting for next year’s 1000 Guineas with a straightforward success in the Cazoo May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. Owned by Cheveley Park Stud, the John and Thady Gosden-trained filly was sent off at the prohibitive price of 2-9 having won her first two races stylishly. A daughter of Frankel, she was settled in the middle of the field by Frankie Dettori in the early stages, as Prosperous Voyage took them along at a sedate tempo. When the pace quickened at halfway…

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European champion David Avanesyan is “levels above” Conor Benn and would “100 per cent” take that fight next, says the Russian’s manager Neil Marsh. Benn extended his unbeaten record to 19 victories with a wide points victory over Adrian Granados in Leeds last weekend. Avanesyan defends his European welterweight title on October 2, live on Sky Sports, and would relish a future battle with Benn after knocking out fellow British contender Josh Kelly. Image: Conor Benn defeated Adrian Granados by unanimous decision “I don’t want to disrespect Conor,” Avanesyan’s manager…

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Gordon Elliott has made a handful of entries for Tuesday’s Flat meeting at Punchestown after his six-month ban expired on Thursday. The trainer was suspended by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board in March after an image of Elliott sitting on a dead horse was widely circulated on social media. Elliott was banned for 12 months, with half of that sentence suspended, and ordered to pay costs of €15,000 with the IHRB stating the punishment reflected “the seriousness of the offence and the damage to the Irish racing industry” after the…

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Newmarket’s QIPCO Guineas Festival will be extended to three days next year. The Jockey Club has announced an extra day’s racing on Friday April 29, preceding the long-established weekend which features the 2000 and 1000 Guineas. The first two Classics of the season will retain their current Saturday and Sunday positions on the calendar, with a detailed race programme to be published for the new opening day. The famous meeting also expanded to three days last year, as part of the rescheduling caused by restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic –…

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St Mark’s Basilica, Tarnawa and Poetic Flare have all been declared among a field of four in Saturday’s Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old St Mark’s Basilica arrives on a four-race Group One-winning streak over the course of two seasons. He won the Dewhurst on his final start at two and this season has added the French Guineas and Derby before beating his elders in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. While a minor setback ruled him out of the Juddmonte International at York, O’Brien nominated this race as his…

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