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Business as usual for Cheltenham – Racing goes ahead

The news broke last night that the British minister of Heath had contracted the Coronavirus, so there were nerves over Cheltenham but racing goes ahead as normal.

Ian Renton, Regional Director Cheltenham and the South West, Jockey Club Racecourses, issued a positive bulletin regarding the continuation of the The Festival™ presented by Bulmers despite the rising impact of coronavirus in Great Britain.
The Manchester City vs Arsenal Premier League match scheduled for this evening has been postponed with a number of Arsenal players going into self-isolation having come into contact with the chairman of Olympiakos in a Europa League match two weeks ago, who revealed he had tested positive for the virus yesterday.
However, for Renton and the Cheltenham team it is merely business as usual ahead of day two of The Festival.
Renton said: “We had a fantastic first day here yesterday with seven brilliant races, which reminds us about what the sport is really about. All the measures we put in place were well used by racegoers and we were topping up our hand sanitiser gel stations all day long. The racegoers heeded the advice we gave to ensure that hygiene was kept at a maximum.
“The attendance being down was not a surprise. The last fortnight ticket sales have been very quiet. We had tremendous sales until then and I was delighted to see 60,000 people here yesterday in an atmosphere of such good racing, so it was a good start.
“We have been liaising with the government throughout this; their advice has been extremely helpful. We’ve been following that advice to the letter and we will continue to do so until the conclusion of The Festival.”
Highlights from ‘The Opening Show’ on ITV4
Some of today’s key participants were interviewed on this morning’s ‘The Opening Show’ on ITV4, as Oli Bell, Alice Plunkett, Mick Fitzgerald,Sally-Ann Grassick and Matt Chapman looked ahead to the second day of The Festival™ presented by Bulmers 2020.
Alice Plunkett had an update on the fitness of two leading jockeys, and said: “News from the weighing room. Paddy Brennan is out for the day, fingers crossed he will be riding later in the week. Richard Johnson is back today if he passes the doctor – he is remarkable.”
A huge day ahead for Gordon Elliott, with Envoi Allen and Tiger Roll two of the headline acts of the 2020 Festival, and likely to be the cornerstones of many a multiple bet today. Elliott spoke to Sally-Ann Grassick: “Keith Donoghue is happy with Envoi Allen, if he’s happy then I am. Tiger Roll is in good form, but the ground is the worry for me – he’s not as good on heavy ground.”
Keith Donoghue was later interviewed aboard Tiger Roll as he stretched his legs in the Cheltenham sunshine. Donoghue said: “He knows where he is alright. It is amazing to be part of the story with Tiger Roll.”

GAA player in Meath contracts Coronavirus

GAA player in Meath has been confirmed with the Covid19 Coronavirus after his club Simonstown released a statement this morning. The player had recently returned from Italy.

On the clubs website (www.simonstowngfc.com)  the Meath team said:

“Simonstown Gaels GFC wish to inform all concerned that on the 10th March a member of the club tested positive for Covid 19.

“This member is an adult player who recently went on holiday in Italy. We wish the club member a full and speedy recovery. The player was one of two players from the club on the trip abroad. In advance of their return these players were requested by team management to undertake and readily agreed to a period of two-weeks of self-isolation.

“The second player is still in isolation and currently showing no signs of symptoms. Neither player has visited the club since their return.

“The club informed the HSE and the County board of this development and is seeking advice and guidance from the HSE as we believe that our duty of care to our members and community in general is of paramount importance.

“We take this opportunity to ask that everyone respect the privacy of the players in question and their families and also ask that members acquire their information from reliable and verified sources.

“The club will provide details when further details become available.”

There has been no statement on GAA fixtures regarding Coronavirus

Postponed – Kilkenny v Waterford: Preview, Team News and live score updates

Kilkenny v Waterford takes place at on Sunday at 2pm. The games is in Nowlan Park. We have a preview and team news of the game below. Be sure to follow our live score updates from the below link.

Click here for LIVE GAA SCORES UPDATES

Preview

Brian Cody’s Kilkenny come into this game on the back of a decent enough league considering they were missing the Ballyhale contingent. They played 5, won 4 and lost 1. Kilkenny’s most recent game ended in a 3-22 to 1-19 win over Laois at Nowlan Park. Kilkenny’s only loss of the campaign came against neighbours Wexford. The Slaneysiders coming out on top 1-16 to 1-14. Brian Cody will look to players like Colin Fennelly, Eoin Cody, TJ Reid and Paddy Deegan.

Waterford come into this game after a good start under manager Liam Cahill. The Deise finished second in Division 1A behind Limerick. They played 5 games winning three and losing two. Their most recent game was in fact against Limerick. Limerick won that 1-21 to 1-17 in the end. 

Speaking to the Irish Examiner Liam Cahill said after the loss to Limerick. “It was step up in class and tonight, just maybe, one or two players just found the step up a little bit much”. He continued, “I’m conscious we’re doing a lot of work and it’s heavy winter hurling but there has to be more than our tenacity”. Cahill will look to players like Stephen Bennett, Jack Fagan, Austin Gleeson and Patrick Curran. Pauric Mahony and Jamie Barron will also be key players.

Team News

Kilkenny: TBA

Waterford: TBA

Betting

Kilkenny are the favourites here at odds 1/2. Waterford are priced at 15/8. I can’t see much separating the sides here but once again home advantage will likely swing in favour of Brian Cody’s charges. It is likely the Ballyhale players will make return also even boosting their chances further. Kilkenny v Waterford is live on TG4 at 2pm. Be sure to follow our match tracker if you can’t watch it.

Postponed – Wexford v Galway: Preview, Team News and live score updates

Wexford v Galway takes place at 3pn on Saturday in Chadwicks Wexford Park. We have a preview of the game, as well as team news. We also have betting news. If you can’t make the game be sure to follow our live score updates.

Click here for LIVE GAA SCORE UPDATES

Preview

Looking at Wexford first. They operated in Division 1B. They finished second in the table on 8 points behind table toppers Clare. Davy Fitzgerald scored 7 goals in their 5 games. They won four of these game and lost one. The loss coming at the hands of Clare. Wexford beat Laois, Kilkenny, Dublin and Carlow in the Division. Their most recent game was a 2-29 to 1-11 over Carlow. 

Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald will look to players like Conor McDonald, Paudie Foley and Liam Ryan here for leadership. Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Liam Og McGovern will add speed which will likely cause the Galway back line trouble.

Galway played in Division 1A of the league. They finished 3rd in the table after edging out Tipperary for the spot to progress to the quarter-finals. Galway needed to win against Tipperary to secure a quarter-final spot and they did just that with a 3-21 to 3-13 win.

Galway manager Shane O’Neill will look to the scoring threat of Brian Concannon, Cathal Mannion and Conor Whelan once more. Joe Canning could return to play some part in the game also.

Team News

Galway: TBA

Wexford: TBA

Betting

Galway are the slight favourites for this game at 10/11. Wexford are 11/10 to win. It is hard to separate the sides in truth. Wexford probably have been more consistent. Home advantage tends to count for a lot in league games so Wexford to win at 11/10 is probably a good bet. Wexford v Galway is live on TG4 on Saturday at 3pm. Dont forget to follow the game on our live match tracker also.

Ravenhill wins National Hunt Chase for Elliott and Codd

Gordon Elliott enjoyed an opening day success as Ravenhill (12/1), ridden by Jamie Codd, won the National Hunt Chase, beating Lord Du Mesnil (11/2) by two and a quarter lengths. Third-placed Lamanver Pippin (33/1) was 28 lengths further back, while the 10/11 favourite, Carefully Selected, fell at the final fence when looking most unlikely to trouble the first two.

Ravenill gave Jamie Codd a 10th Cheltenham Festival winner when taking the National Hunt Chase.

The winning trainer was full of praise for jockey Codd, stating:

“Jamie gave him a great ride, and just hunted away giving the horse time. He travelled brilliantly. Jamie is a star and ‘’m very lucky to have him riding for me.”

5.30pm National Hunt Chase (Amateur riders) (Grade 2)

1 Ravenhill (Try Ravenhill Syndicate) Gordon Elliott & Mr Jamie Codd 12/1

2 Lord du Mesnil (Paul Porter, Mike & Mandy Smith) Richard Hobson & Mr Sam Waley-Cohen 11/2

3 Lamanver Pippin (Donna Christensen) Colin Tizzard & Mr William Biddick 33/1

14 ran                              10/11 fav Carefully Selected (UR)

Distances: 2¼, 28.

Honeysuckle beats 4/7f Benie Des Dieux in thrilling Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

Honeysuckle (9/4), ridden by Rachael Blackmore and trained by Henry de Bromhead, defeated Benie Des Dieux in a cracking renewal of the £120,000 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle.

Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore, winners of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle. Credit: @HRIRacing.

Always prominent in the two miles and four furlong event, Honeysuckle stayed on gamely in the closing stages to fend off the sustained challenge of 4/7 favourite Benie Des Dieux, trained by Willie Mullins, by a half-length.

De Bromhead paid tribute to Honeysuckle, who is now unbeaten in eight starts over hurdles and is a four-time G1 winner, as well as rider Rachael Blackmore, registering her third winner in total at The Festival.

The winning handler, who registered an opening day double with the earlier success of Put The Kettle On in the Racing Post Arkle, said the winner Honeysuckle:

“The way she won her maiden hurdle, she looked nice. We let them try and develop in the track and see if they can work their way up, so you wouldn’t be trying to find out too much at home. She always looked nice and was strongly recommended to us after she won her point-to-point.”

4.10pm Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

1 Honeysuckle (Kenny Alexander) Henry de Bromhead & Rachael Blackmore 9/4

2 Benie des Dieux (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins & Paul Townend 4/6f

3 Elfile (Kenny Alexander) Willie Mullins & Danny Mullins 16/1

9 ran

Distances: ½, 6½.

Epatante gives owner JP McManus his 9th Unibet Champion Hurdle victory

Nicky Henderson extended his exceptional record in the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle to eight when Epatante took the two-mile championship contest under Barry Geraghty, for whom it was a fourth, record-equalling, success in the race.

Epatante and Barry Geraghty (near side) won the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle

2/1 favourite Epatante, a six-year-old mare, is the fifth of her sex to win the Champion Hurdle, and the first since Annie Power in 2016. She beat the Willie Mullins-trained Sharjah (16/1) by three lengths in what was a ninth success in the race for owner J P McManus.

Sharjah briefly threatened on the run to the last hurdle, while Darver Star (17/2), trained by 2019 Unibet Champion Hurdle winning trainer Gavin Cromwell, ran with huge credit to finish in third place.

The winner, Epatante, was unplaced in the G2 novice mares’ hurdle at The Festival last year, but Geraghty said: “She got lit up on the day last year, when we put the hood on her. She was keen at Exeter and we just felt that the occasion was going to light her up, so we put the hood on her. She ran with the choke out. We plugged her ears today – she settled lovely yet travelled sweetly. There are always a lot of decisions to be made in the run up to a race and thankfully, they went right, as they can often go wrong.”

A delighted Barry Geraghty on board Epatante returns to with winners’ enclosure.

3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

1 Epatante (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson & Barry Geraghty 2/1f

2 Sharjah (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins & Mr Patrick Mullins 16/1

3 Darver Star (SSP Number Twenty Two Syndicate) Gavin Cromwell & Jonathan Moore 17/2

17 ran.

Distances: 3, 3¾.

Irish 1-2 in Racing Post Arkle as Put The Kettle On beats Fakir D’oudairies

Put The Kettle On was a 16/1 winner of the Grade 1 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy for trainer Henry De Bromhead.

The mare, ridden by Aidan Coleman, won by one and a half lengths from Fakir D’oudairies (3/1), with Rouge Vif (9/1) another 18 lengths back in third. The unplaced 5/2 favourite was Notebook, a stablemate of the winning mare.

Put The Kettle On and Aidan Coleman jump the last to win the Grade 1 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase.

De Bromhead said of Put The Kettle On, the first mare to win the Arkle since Anaglogs Daughter in 1980:

“I’m delighted, especially for the Dermody family, and Mary Dermody who is such a good owner. Aidan rode her brilliantly and said she attacked every fence, and she had the course-and-distance form from last year [she won the Grade 2 Racing Post Arkle Trial at The November Meeting] so wasn’t to be underestimated.”

2.10pm Racing Post Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

1 Put The Kettle On (One For Luck Racing Syndicate) Henry de Bromhead & Aidan Coleman 16/1

2 Fakir D’oudairies (J P McManus) Joseph O’Brien & Mark Walsh 3/1

3 Rouge Vif (Kate & Andrew Brooks) Harry Whittington & Gavin Sheehan 9/1

11 ran 5/2 fav Notebook (6th)

Distances: 1½, 18.

Irish-owned Shishkin wins opening Grade 1 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

The Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin made it three victories for four starts over hurdles with a thrilling victory in the £125,000 Grade 1 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival.

Shishkin and jockey Nico de Boinville win the opening Grade 1 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Ridden by Nico de Boinville, the Donnellys 6/1 shot stayed on strongly up the Cheltenham hill to get the better of a battle with the Gordon Elliott-trained Abacadabras (11/4), with Shishkin’s stable companion Chantry House (15/2) was a further 11 lengths back in third.

Seven Barrows maestro Henderson, drew level with Willie Mullins as the most successful trainer ever at The Festival with his 65th victory.

Shishkin, a £170,000 purchase at Tattersalls Cheltenham in 2018, was providing Henderson with a fourth victory in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle following on from Altior (2016), Flown (1992) and River Ceiriog (1986).

1.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

1 Shishkin (Marie Donnelly) Nicky Henderson & Nico de Boinville 6/1

2 Abacadabras (Gigginstown House Stud) Gordon Elliott & Davy Russell 11/4

3 Chantry House (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson & Barry Geraghty 15/2

15 ran 9/4 fav Asterion Forlonge (4th)

Distances: hd, 11.

Why Manchester City is Dominating English Football

Manchester City has become a dominant force in English football. In the past three seasons, they have won the premier league twice, the FA cup once, and the EFL twice. Their dominance was more evident in the 2018-2019 seasons, where they won the treble. 

 

Therefore, in the last three seasons, City has managed to win more domestic trophies than any other club in the league. But how has Guardiola managed to win all those trophies while there are other competitive teams in the league? The success can be attributed to two factors. 

 

 

  • A Strong Squad 

 

 

In the last three seasons, Manchester city has boasted of having the strongest squad in English football.  

The team is made up of a long list of world-class players, who are also superstars at the international level. Furthermore, Guardiola has a surplus of these players, with each position having at least two players that can be called upon on any day. This has reduced the possibility of the team’s performance being affected by injuries. All these have resulted in Manchester City owning one of the strongest squad not only in England but also in the world. 

 

The nature of the squad has given City an advantage on the field. It has allowed Guardiola to pick the strongest lineup each time they compete with other teams. It has also led other teams into fearing City, thereby affecting their confidence every time they face City. 

 

The factors have played a significant role in helping City win matches every week, thereby enabling them to finish a season with at least one trophy. 

 

 

  • Valuing Every Domestic Competition 

 

 

The city’s domestic dominance is down to the fact that Guardiola appears to value every domestic competition. This is shown by the lineup he picks for every game. Be it the league, FA, or the EFL, the manager fields a strong squad even when playing against teams from the lower divisions. 

Thus, by choosing to value every competition, unlike other top teams, Guardiola has helped the team dominate even the least valued trophies. This is more evident through the EFL cup which City have won five times out of the last seven.

 

The practice of valuing every competition has been helpful to punters who like betting on online casinos such as joker 123. This is because they can make wise decisions when it comes to placing a bet involving City. 

 

For instance, given that the City usually has low odds, some punters often chose to avoid the bet and instead play slot machines online. The reason for this is that there is usually a high chance that they will make more money playing slots online instead of betting on City with the low odds.  

 

In conclusion, there are two main reasons why Manchester City are dominating English football. First, it is the strong squad that increases the chances of the team winning each match. Secondly, Guardiola values every domestic competition, and so chooses to field a strong team in every game. The practice helps punters who like betting online in casinos such as joker 123 since they can make wise decisions when placing a bet involving City.