Sun

Saturday, January 28, 2023

EVERTON’S
LAST ROLL
OF THE
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THE

MALDIVES
DUBAI
FLORIDA
THAILAND
LAS VEGAS
SRI LANKA

LUXURY TO BE
HOLIDAYS WON

WORTH

£150K
SEE PAGE
30

EXCLUSIVE: SHOCK INTERVIEW
Ordeal . . .
Hannah and
below, in band,
third from left

S Club
Hannah
homeless

By STEPHEN MOYES

S CLUB 7 singer Hannah
Spearritt was left homeless at
Christmas despite her global
fame, she reveals today.
The 41-year-old — whose
band raked in £50million —
had to live in an office with her
partner and their two girls.
She said: “The kids’ beds
were there and we had the crayons out. It was stressful.”
Full Story — Pages Four and Five

POP STAR WAS FORCED TO LIVE IN OFFICE

2 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

2GM

HS2 ‘ON TRACK TO LONDON’
Works . . . Euston station

BRITAIN’S flagship high speed rail
project WILL run into central London,
the Chancellor insisted yesterday.
Jeremy Hunt spoke out amid claims
parts of HS2 could be scaled back or
scrapped to save billions of pounds.
He reckoned he did not see “any
conceivable circumstances” where the
line wouldn’t run on into Euston but

By RYAN SABEY

didn’t comment on the timescale. As
costs soar, HS2 chiefs are considering
delaying Euston’s redevelopment until
2038 or terminating HS2 at Old Oak
Common near Acton, West London.
More than £1billion has already
been spent on work at Euston over

the past six years. The Sun reported
yesterday the entire project could be
delayed by up to five years.
Mr Hunt went on: “I think that it is
a source of national embarrassment
the Japanese opened their first high
speed line in 1964, two years before
I was born.”
The first phase of HS2 between

London and Birmingham is due to
open by 2033. The next phases would
see the line extended from the West
Midlands to Crewe and Manchester.
In the North East yesterday PM
Rishi Sunak said the government was
“committed to delivering all the plans
that it’s announced with rail”.
The Sun Says — Page Ten

PLEA TO COVID QUITTERS

5M INACTIVE TOLD:
BRITAIN NEEDS YOU
JEREMY
Hunt
yesterday
urged up to five million jobless or newly-retired Brits
to get to work — declaring:
“Your country needs you.”
The
Chancellor
effectively
begged those who quit during
the pandemic or have been on
long-term sick leave to help
boost Britain’s fortunes.

He pledged a series of shake-ups,
which could include tax allowances,
to get them off their sofas as he set
out a vision for long-term prosperity.
Mr Hunt said: “We will never harness the full potential of our country
unless we unlock it for each and
every one of our citizens. Nor will
we fix our productivity puzzle unless
everyone who can participate does.”
He added: “‘If companies can’t
employ the staff they need, they

By RYAN SABEY, Deputy Political Editor

can’t grow.” He said there are “five
million people who don’t want to
work with around one in five working age adults economically inactive”.
Making a keynote speech hosted
by Bloomberg in central London, the
Chancellor said this was “an enormous and shocking waste of
talent and potential”.
Mr Hunt called upon
those who left employment
during Covid to rethink. He
said: “So to those who
retired early after the pandemic or haven’t found the
right role after furlough, I say,
‘Britain needs you’.
“And we will look at the conditions necessary to make work
worth your while.” And he said:
“Many of those people who

decide to retire in their fifties will
have a life expectancy well beyond
80. That is a very long time in
which a rich and happy life could
be one in which work plays a very
important part.”
UK unemployment figures have
been at some of their lowest in
nearly 50 years. And Bank of
England boss Andrew Bailey earlier this month said though a
long recession was expected, it
was likely to be “shallow”.
Whitehall sources said to get
the retired over-50s working,
they could raise the £1million
lifetime allowance on tax-free
pension savings. It is blamed
for driving doctors and
other
professionals
into early retirement.
ryan.sabey@
thesun.co.uk

The Sun Says —
Page Ten

Call . . . Mr Hunt yesterday

CORRECTIONS &
CLARIFICATIONS

THE TWO
BLONDIES

THE Sun aims to have the
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abide by the rules in the
Editors’ Code of Practice.
The Sun is a member
of the Independent Press
Standards Organisation. To
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email editorialcomplaints@thesun.co.uk, or write to Editorial Complaints, The Sun, 1
London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF.

ABERDEEN

8

GLASGOW

EDINBURGH

BELFAST

7

9

LEEDS
LIVERPOOL
MANCHESTER
8
NORWICH
BIRMINGHAM

DUBLIN

CARDIFF

7

NEWCASTLE

PLYMOUTH

7

7

7
BRISTOL

7

SOUTHAMPTON

7

LONDON

TODAY: A cold and frosty start
across southern England. Once
the early fog clears it will be sunny,
before thick cloud spreads
southwards bringing patchy rain.
Brighter with sunny spells in North.
TONIGHT: Largely dry with clear
spells but overnight cloud will build
with the chance of rain for most. In
northern and western Scotland
there will be a risk of gales.
OUTLOOK: Wet and windy
tomorrow with cloudy skies and
outbreaks of rain across Scotland
and Northern Ireland which will
track south-eastwards. Monday will
remain mainly overcast.

SUN 7˚
MON 8˚
TUE 9˚

BUSINESSES will get priority over
workers when it comes to cutting
taxes, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said.
He said he will push for slashing
corporation tax when conditions are
right after a planned increase from
19 per cent to 25 per cent in April.
Mr Hunt said: “If you’re saying to
me do I want to get taxes down, yes,
I do. If you’re saying where would I
prioritise, my first priority would actually be to bring down business taxes.”
He insisted the “best tax cut right
now is a cut in inflation” — but it
will require the public to be patient.
And he said it was unlikely there
would be any significant levy reductions in the Budget in March.

By PATRICK GYSIN

FORMER Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries
goes head to head with
her old boss Boris
Johnson as she kicks
off a new telly show.
Her interview with the
former PM is the first
of a weekly look at the
news launching at 8pm
this Friday on TalkTV.
Nadine said: “Now’s
the time to find out
what he really thinks
about a whole range of
pressing issues.”

SUJIKO

10

BUSINESS 1st
FOR TAX CUT

Place the numbers 1-9 in the
spaces so that the number in
each circle is equal to the sum of
the four surrounding spaces.
Solution on Puzzles page.

15

17

7
21

23

PUZZLES: PAGES 41-43

Pay row . . . teachers

Schools
strike ‘to
hit 4.5m’
By PATRICK GYSIN

MILLIONS of children
face being turned away
from
classrooms
next
week as teachers strike.
Half of state schools —
12,000
in
all
—
are
thought likely to have to
close in England and
Wales on Wednesday.
About 4.5million pupils,
including some in nurseries, will be affected.
Former schools minister
Jonathan
Gullis
said:
“Pupils are having their
education once again disrupted, harming their life
chances. It is a shameful
day for the profession.”
National
Education
Union
members
are
walking out over pay.
Leaders are expected to
meet Education Secretary
Gillian Keegan on Monday for last-minute talks.
Unless
there
is
a
breakthrough,
teachers
will join 100,000 civil
servants, 70,000 university
staff and thousands of
train drivers in what
some fear is, in effect, a
general strike.

Poll: Axe
Nadhim
MORE than half of voters
think
Nadhim
Zahawi
should be sacked as Tory
party chief, a poll shows.
The Cabinet minister is
under fire after paying a
penalty in a multimillionpound tax dispute.
Two-fifths
of
those
polled also told Redfield
and Wilton they did not
think PM Rishi Sunak
had a mandate to govern.

WE PAY FOR
YOUR STORIES
We are always after good stories
– and we pay big money for them
every day. Call our newsdesk
and we’ll call you straight back.

Call: 020 7782 4100
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email: exclusive@the-sun.co.uk
Need help with Sun Savers?
Call 0207 860 1129 (Mon-Fri 10am-5.30pm)
or email help@thesun.co.uk

Today’s
birthdays

CAPITAL radio host
ROMAN KEMP, 30, left,
Olympic gold-medallist
JESSICA ENNIS-HILL,
37, right, singer HRVY, 24,
and The Lord of the Rings
actor, ELIJAH WOOD, 42.
lLAST night’s Health
Lottery numbers: 5, 7,
29, 32, 45. Bonus: 16.
EuroMillions: 8, 9, 15, 19,
31. Lucky Stars: 10, 12.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

SO ABBY AND GLORIOUS
MODEL Abby Champion bronzes up
nicely on the beach.
She slipped into a copper-coloured
bikini during a photoshoot for Italian
fashion group Calzedonia.
The US catwalk star, 25, is used to
globetrotting. In the past two months
she has been working in Miami, Los

By EMILY WEBBER

Angeles, Milan, France’s Cap d’Antibes,
Senegal and at Paris Fashion Week.
And last month Abby was on holiday
in Rio de Janeiro with Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s son Patrick, 29,
right, who she has dated since 2015.

ACE’S NET PROFIT

..and it’s
a tradeMarc
finish from
Rashford
BID TO PATENT
HIS GOAL POSE
EXCLUSIVE by STEPHEN MOYES

MAN United star Marcus Rashford
is using his head and trying to
trademark his goal celebration.
Picture: CALZEDONIA

The striker, 25, has been pointing to
his bonce each time he scores.

KELLY: I STILL CAN’T
FACE MY WASHOUT
WEDDING VIDEO

PAGES 36 & 37

His finger salute is a nod to boss
Erik ten Hag, who has instilled a
positive mental attitude in Rashford
— who has nine Premier League
goals so far this season.
Other stars including Brighton’s
Danny Welbeck, Newcastle United’s
Joelinton and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka
have all imitated the celebration.
Now Rashford has applied to the
UK’s Intellectual Property Office to
trademark a silhouette design.
If passed, the patent would protect
against bootlegs for ten years on
everything from computer games and
digital images to sports gear, clothing, shoes, phone cases, books educational and motivational services.
An intellectual property lawyer said:
“This will give Marcus and his advisors the ability to take action against
third parties who may be using the relevant
image in the course of trade without consent.”
Explaining the motivation behind the new
celebration, England ace Rashford said: “It’s
a completely different energy around the
club. That puts me in a better headspace
and I just feel really motivated now. That’s
the area I was struggling in.”
stephen.moyes@the-sun.co.uk

Head Devil
. . Rash and
silhouette

3

4 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

V2

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
By

STEPHEN MOYES
Associate News Editor

S
CLUB
7’s
Hannah
Spearritt today tells of
her family’s homeless
hell after her landlord
sold their rented pad.
The pop icon, 41, partner
Adam Thomas, 42, and their
young daughters had two
days to find a new place.

They had to call in favours to
stay at friends’ homes after they
were asked a “crazy” £6,000 up
front for a short-term rental.
Hannah, who earned £150,000
a year and sang to packed
stadiums in the 2000s, even
temporarily crammed the family
into a mate’s office space, using
it as a living room.
But Hannah said they made
the best of their ordeal by
turning the office space into an
adventure for girls Taya, four,
and Tora, three.
Not including the office, the
family has been in four houses
in two months, and are still
without a home of their own.
To add to the agony, Hannah
had been bedbound with an
illness and the couple’s café
venture has stalled.
The singer admits her former
earnings may seem a big sum
for most people.
Yet it is a pittance compared
to the £50million generated by
the band in their heyday with
hits such as Don’t Stop Movin’
and Bring It All Back.
Hannah told The Sun: “We
were not on a good wage compared to the money being made.
“People think we must all be
millionaires but sadly it’s just
not true. It was what it was and
we enjoyed ourselves at the time.”
Partner
Adam,
a
personal
trainer, weighed in: “S Club 7’s
manager Simon Fuller did well
for himself, didn’t he?”
Fuller, 62 — also behind the
Spice Girls — is worth an estimated £445million.
The couple’s troubles began in
autumn when their landlord gave
them two months to quit the
home in South West London.
When he got a quick sale their
move was rushed forward. And
by early December they had two
days to find a new place.
They turned down the option
of short-term rentals, with Hannah branding the up-front cash
demands: “Crazy, extortionate”.
Instead, a pal who was away
over Christmas and New Year
offered their house in Surrey.
But it still left the couple with
nowhere to go for two weeks
before the festive season —
forcing them to take refuge in
another pal’s office, close to their
empty café premises.
Some nights they relied on
kindness
from
family
and
friends.
Hannah said: “Our landlord
needed the money and the property sold so fast. We ended up
with under two days to leave.
“What screwed us is we didn’t
have time to find another place.
“We
had
somewhere
over
Christmas but ran out of time
before we could move in. It was
just a couple of weeks.
“We filled the unopened café
with our belongings — we were
so lucky to have that storage
space — but had nowhere to go.
“We were allowed to stay in
our friend’s office.
“We just used it as our living
room. We could work in there
and the kids played.
“It was extra space. The kids’
beds were there and we had the
crayons out. The climbing frame
was up; it was fun for them.
“It was stressful but you deal
with it, don’t you? Especially
with the kids.”
Hannah’s ordeal came despite
the glamorous showbiz lifestyle
she enjoyed 20 years ago — being
wined and dined in glitzy venues

lWE HAD TO STAY AT
PALS’ PLACE AT XMAS
lWE MADE LIVING IN
OFFICE FUN FOR KIDS
S Clubber . . . teen
Hannah during her
time in the band

JUST 17 AND
IN 7 HEAVEN

1998: Simon Fuller forms
S Club 7 — Hannah, then
17, Bradley McIntosh, Jo
O’Meara, Jon Lee, Paul
Cattermole, Rachel Stevens
and Tina Barrett.
1999: The band star in
CBBC’s Miami 7 about
their hunt for US fame.
1999: Debut single Bring
It All Back hits No1 and
sells over 600,000 copies.
2000: The band scoop the
British Breakthrough Act
at the Brits.
2001: They go on their

and criss-crossing the globe as a
pin-up girl. S Club 7 launched
in 1999 and had four UK No1
singles and one UK No1 album.
They gained more fame via TV
shows including Miami 7 and
Viva S Club before splitting in
2003 — after selling more than
ten million albums worldwide.
Hannah then focused on her
acting career and headed for
auditions in Hollywood.
After landing a lead role in
ITV sci-fi drama Primeval in
2007, she appeared in a West
End show.
She had a short stint in EastEnders in 2017, and a part in
BBC’s Casualty. S Club 7 toured
the UK in 2015 and are set for

first tour after Don’t Stop
Movin’ reaches No1.
2002: Paul quits to form
a band with pals. The rest
continue as S Club.
2003: They split after a
greatest hits album,
saying it was “time to
move on and face new
challenges”.
2014: Reunion for
Children in Need.
2015: Bring It All
Back tour.
2023: Comeback
tour in the works.

reunion
gigs
this autumn. But
Hannah is the
only
original
group member yet
to
sign
on
the
dotted line for dates
including
shows
at
London’s O2 Arena.
She is wrestling with
her responsibilities as a
mum and the café plans.
Hannah said: “At the
moment it’s S Club 6.
“It hasn’t got the same
ring to it, has it, but I’m
going
to
make
a
final
decision soon.
“I just need to be sure everything will be okay health-wise.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

V2

5

S CLUB HANNAH’S HELL
Toughing it out
. . . Hannah and
partner Adam

S Club’s
manager
Simon Fuller
did well for
himself
didn’t he
– PARTNER ADAM

Picture: DOUG SEEBURG

Last year
was terrible
but this year
is going to
be great
– HANNAH

People think we’re
millionaires but we
have nowhere to live
There is no point being paid a pittance and getting exhausted. It has
to be worthwhile and I have the
kids to think about. I’d like them
to see me up there.
“It’s an opportunity to do things
right this time.”
She and Adam, who got together
in 2013, were due to open a holistic
café, Earth & Fire, last summer.
But setbacks delayed the venture
in
Twickenham,
South
West
London.
It
is
awaiting
more
building work ahead of a launch
later this year.
Brave Hannah hugged Adam as
she told The Sun: “There have
been delays with the café. The reasons are very personal. It’s life
stuff, and hard to explain. I had an

illness that took it out of me and I
hardly got out of bed in three
months. The depths of life hit us;
big hardships.
“But ultimately we’re still here.
And the café will open. We’re
looking forward to the future.
“The timing of it all is not
important. So many people have
had a difficult time.
“I was going through some stuff
but I’m not focusing on the past.
We’re steadfast and we’re good.
“Whatever doesn’t break you, as
they say . . . ”
Hannah added: “Last year was
terrible but this year is going to be
great. We hope our café will finally
open this summer, and we’ll be
able to move into our own home

by then too. We have an allotment,
and fruit and vegetables on sale in
our café will be homegrown.
“It’s exciting. We’ll be hands on,
and it’s our new venture.”
Last year Hannah thrilled her
online followers by sharing videos
of her kids excitedly running
around the unopened café.
The pop star revealed last June:
“We’ve been working together as a
family to create this brand-new
holistic cafe concept.
“They love visiting and seeing all
the building work.
“We
are
using
sustainable
materials and doing a lot of the
work ourselves.
“We’ll
be
using
high-quality
ingredients,
filtered
water
and

locally sourced produce. Opening
this summer in Twickenham!”
But setbacks delayed the venture
until last November, and that
target was also missed.
Hannah’s 80,000 followers were
simply told the café would be
“Coming soon”. She told The Sun:
“It has been tough but last year
was the worst.
“My
anxiety
has
heightened.
Moving is so stressful anyway. It
has been challenging but life is full
of ups and downs.
“One day, after we’ve made a
success of the café, I would like
to live in Costa Rica with Adam
and the girls. I’m giddy about
the future.”
stephen.moyes@the-sun.co.uk

BOOB OP
STRUGGLE
HANNAH suffered with her health
for three years after a 2013 boob
job. It left her with depression and
severe anxiety — which still has
knock-on effects today.
She talked about “breast implant
illness” as a potential side-effect of
silicone implants for ITV’s Celebrity
Health Stories last October.
Experts recognise the condition
but research is limited. Hannah
said she became so ill that at one
point she thought she was going to
die. She had the implants removed.

6 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

2GM

STILL WFH? WTF!

CBI: Bosses secretly want staff back in the office
MOST bosses want staff
back in the office rather
than working from home,
a business chief says.
Companies have put up
with workers only going in
on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday — if at all.

At home . . . worker

And Tony Danker, the director
general of the Confederation of
British Industry, said the world
of work had “gone crazy” since

By ASHLEY ARMSTRONG

the
pandemic.
Mr
Danker,
whose group represents 190,000
businesses, told a BBC podcast:
“You ask most bosses — everybody secretly wants everyone to
come back into the office.
“I just don’t think that’s going
to happen overnight. I think we
are all coping with this but
we’re going to be talking about
this for a few years.”
Around 38 per cent of workers

are still doing so from home,
according to official figures.
Before the pandemic, just 5.7
per cent worked from home but
that rose to 43.1 per cent just a
month into lockdown.
A recent poll found a quarter
of workers wanted to work from
home permanently while another
quarter wanted to return to the
office full-time.
The remaining 50 per cent
prefer a hybrid arrangement.
Many enjoy the flexibility of a

couple of days a week working
from home, allowing them to
walk the dog, avoid commutes,
take exercise or juggle parenting
and caring responsibilities.
But some businesses fear they
are falling behind their rivals as
a result of home working.
A LABOUR council cabinet
member was spotted knitting
on videolink as she discussed
cuts at a Monmouthshire budget
meeting. Rachel Garrick insisted:
“Knitting increases my focus.”
ashley.armstrong@the-sun.co.uk

KILLED
BY LOO

Victim . . Tyre Nichols

5 cops
face US
murder
charges
By PATRICK GYSIN

FIVE US cops have been
charged with murdering a
driver who was savagely
beaten during a traffic
stop.
Tyre Nichols, 29, died
in hospital three days
after he was also reportedly pepper sprayed.
Authorities were last
night set to release video
footage of the attack in
Memphis, Tennessee.
Nichols’ family said it
shows officers savagely
beating the FedEx worker
for three minutes. They
believe it caused him to
have a heart attack
They pleaded for any
protests to stay peaceful
as Memphis was braced
for public outrage.
All the officers are
black
and
each
face
charges of second-degree
murder,
aggravated
assault, aggravated kidnapping, misconduct and
oppression.

Army Brit
terror rap
A SERVING British Army
member has been charged
with terror offences.
Daniel Abed Khalif, 21,
is accused of placing an
item
that
had
the
appearance of a bomb.
He is also alleged to
have
“elicited
or
attempted to elicit information of a kind likely to
be useful to a person
committing or preparing
an act of terrorism”.
He was charged with
the offences, said to have
been committed in Stafford, after an investigation by the Met’s Counter
Terrorism Command.
Khalif is in custody
and due before Westminster magistrates today.
By JOE HADDEN

A MAINTENANCE worker was crushed to
death by this street toilet yesterday.
He got trapped by the “pop-up urinal”
below ground level in London’s West End.
Emergency workers called in a crane to
hoist it out in an attempt to save the
critically-injured man.
But horrified onlookers watched as he was
pronounced dead at the
scene in the capital’s
theatre district.
Also known as telescopic or hydraulic urinals, they are raised
out of the ground at
night and stored below
during the day.

Fuel falls
‘withheld’
GREEDY petrol station
chiefs have not passed on
huge falls in wholesale
fuel
costs
to
drivers,
according to research.
The RAC found wholesale diesel costs dropped
by 32p per litre between
October and December.
But average pump prices only fell by 20p per
litre during that time.
Retailers
have
been
accused of unfairly inflating prices for profit.
The stats come after
The
Sun
this
week
revealed plans to appoint
a Pumpwatch regulator
to close the gap between
forecourt prices and falling wholesale costs.

The Sun Says — Page Ten

GEAR UP FOR GONG
Black Panther actress
Angela Bassett, 64, will
be honoured for her style
at next month’s Costume
Designers Guild Awards.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

2GM

SHOCK AND ROLL STAR
CHALLENGER 2
1998–present
COST
WEIGHT
LENGTH
CREW
RANGE

£4.2M
75tons
44ft 3in
4
340miles (on-road)
160miles (off-road)
TOP 37mph (on-road)
SPEED 25mph (off-road)

SIGHT

The Challenger 2 holds the record
for the longest confirmed kill of an
enemy tank at 2.5miles in Iraq.

Thermal
Observation
Gunnery Sight
(TOGS)

SECONDARY
ARMAMENT
MAIN ARMAMENT
L30A1 120mm rifled
gun with 47 rounds

7.62mm
machine gun,
7.62mm
chain gun
and 2 x 5 L8
grenade
launchers

The rifling spins rounds as they
exit the barrel, making it more
accurate at range than Nato or
Russian equivalents.
With long-range diesel tanks it
can travel up to 340miles
in between refuelling.
Its second-gen Chobham shell
makes it among the best protected
in the world. It can be fitted with
explosive reactive armour, which
blasts outwards to intercept
incoming rounds.

COMBAT ARMOUR
Chobham/Dorchester
(Level 2) which can
withstand direct hits
from shellfire

STOP PUTIN
PINCHING
TANK
TECH
Plan to recover Brit war debris
Concern . . . Putin, Challenger 2 and Wallace

THE Army is thrashing out emergency plans to
recover British tanks if they are damaged in
Ukraine — to stop their top secret armour and
technology falling into Russian hands.
The fearsome Challenger 2s are protected by worldbeating Chobham armour made from a secret blend of
ceramics, steel and shock-absorbing compounds.
Britain led the world by pledging 14 Challenger 2s to Ukraine
— but defence sources say it would be a nightmare if one was
captured by Vladimir Putin’s invaders.
His military scientists would then be free to study the armour
and how to defeat it. A source
explained: “The British armour
EXCLUSIVE by JEROME
is the best in the world.
STARKEY, Defence Editor
“In the history of Challenger
2s only one has been destroyed
tractors
on standby to recover
in battle and that was by
stricken tanks.
friendly fire in Iraq.
On
paper
the UK boasts 227
“The Russians will be desperate to try and kill and capture Challenger 2 tanks but only
about
60
are
battle-ready.
a Challenger 2, partly for their
About 30 are in Estonia, with
propaganda but also to get
14
bound
for
Ukraine.
their hands on its secrets.”
The Challenger 2 holds the
The latest Chobham armour –
codenamed Dorchester — has record for the longest confirmed
kill of an enemy tank
never been breached by enemy
at 2.5miles in Iraq — thanks
fire, Army sources insisted.
to its super accurate 120mm
Top brass are working with main gun.
Ukraine’s high command to
Defence
Secretary
Ben
ensure UK tanks can be Wallace pledged to rethink
dragged back to safety if one is plans to cut the fleet as a
knocked out of action.
result of the war in Ukraine.
A defence source said: “If a
Under the last round of
tank is destroyed or disabled Ministry of Defence cuts the
the first option is always to try number was due to shrink to
and self-recover. You tow it 149 upgraded Challenger 3s.
with another tank or use a
Germany has also pledged
specialist armoured repair and tanks and US President Joe
recovery vehicle — which looks Biden has offered to supply
like a tank with a crane.
Ukraine with 31 Abrams tanks
“But the worst case scenario — but they are expected to take
is that a tank is destroyed when a year to arrive as they are
the lines are collapsing and due to be specially made.
friendly forces are in retreat.
A
Ministry
of
Defence
“Step one is the training and spokesman said last night: “We
working with mission planners conduct a rigorous assessment
to try and ensure the Challeng- of the risks associated with
ers are not used in scenarios providing
weapons
for
the
where they think that collapse defence of Ukraine.
a realistic possibility.
“The tanks we are providing
“Step two is making sure, at to Ukraine will be drawn from
the tactical level, the Ukrainians the Army’s high readiness fleet
are trained to recover a tank to ensure they reach Ukrainian
under fire. They certainly don’t Armed Forces as quickly as
lack the courage.”
possible. The platforms are
Other extreme options under already being prepared and
consideration include having will be ready to move in the
private military con- coming months.”

7

8 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

EXCLUSIVE: JUDGE

Top marks . . . Bruno on Strictly
By SIMON BOYLE
Executive Showbiz Editor

BRITAIN’S Got Talent is
bigger than rival Strictly
Come Dancing, new judge
Bruno Tonioli insists.
He became a shock addition
to the ITV panel after 17
series on the BBC show, but
Bruno reckons: “This is the
biggest show on TV — I mean
it, it is now that I’m here.”

And he says his relationship
with fellow judges Alesha Dixon
and Amanda Holden is “great”
after an unseemly pay row overshadowed news of his new job.
Bruno, 67, joined Simon Cowell,
63, Amanda, 51, and Alesha, 44,
this week for BGT auditions at
the London Palladium.
And after filming for the first
time, the Italian dancer declared
to us: “This is the biggest show on
British TV, now that I’m here.
“I mean it. Oh, Simon is going
to hate that I’ve said that — but
oh well. I have nothing bad to say
about Strictly, it changed my life.
“This is completely different and
it’s a completely different sort of
judging. The range of this show,
you see things that you have no
idea are coming.
“I have been in showbiz for 50
years now and I’ve worked with
everyone from Tina Turner and
French and Saunders to Michael
Caine, so I know when something
works and I know why it works —
I know what this job needs.”
Live-wire Bruno beat comic
Alan Carr, 46, to replace David
Walliams, 51, on the panel.
And he insisted there will be no
hard feelings with Alan, adding:
“It won’t be awkward at all.
“I haven’t had a clue about his
negotiations. I love Alan and I
know him, he is a very nice guy.
“I didn’t know the situation with
him, nothing was announced, and
that’s showbusiness.
“This was down to ITV — and I
just said yes to the job when it
was offered. He’s a professional,
he knows how things go.”
Bruno added: “I was actually
on holiday and I got a text
message
from
Simon’s
girlfriend.
“We’ve been friends
for a long time, me
and Simon, and
she suggested we
all get together.
“I had no idea
this
job
was
around. I arrived
in London on the
ninth of January
and my agent had
a call from ITV.
“I had no idea
what it was about
other than he said, ‘Oh, it’s
something very big’ and I thought,
‘That’s good’.
“Then I had a meeting on the
13th with ITV and I thought,
‘Great, this is fantastic’.
“I have known Simon forever. I

BGT is bigger
than Strictly
...especially
now I’m on it!
SAYS BRUNO TONIOLI
know that the show is right up
my street. There were no long
negotiations, I just said, ‘Yes, I
want to do it’.
“It happened so fast that I
have practically nothing to
wear. I am going to have
to go shopping next week
when I get to Manchester
— I must make Simon pay.
“Actually, he’s teased me
about joining for years and
then never offered me the
job, so I still didn’t believe it
until it finally happened.”
Bruno,
whose
name
was
chanted by fans as he arrived for
filming this week, joined BGT on
a reported salary of £850,000.
It is understood Amanda and
Alesha were put out by rumours
he would be paid more than them.

They formed a pact to quit unless
they were satisfied and a happy
settlement was reached amid fears
Simon would have to step in.
Bruno has defended himself
over the furore and insists that he
had no idea what his co-stars
were getting paid, but says their
relationship is now “great”.
He explains: “It is very vulgar
to talk about money but I am
definitely not getting what has
been claimed.
“I don’t know what the girls are
getting but if they are getting
more now then good for them,
they deserve everything.
“There is no frostiness with the
girls, of course not. Who is frosty?
We have been having a laugh.
“This is working with a group
of mates. I have known Alesha

since Mis-Teeq and then of course
from when she was on Strictly.
“I have known Amanda since
we met at a small party for
Simon’s 50th. We all enjoy each
other and respect each other.
“When I am on the panel, the
volume is a bit higher.
“Simon already has a headache
— he said I gave him a migraine
yesterday, but we’ve known each
other for years, since before he
was a big deal.
“He asked me to choreograph a
video
for
his
then-girlfriend,
Sinitta back in the Eighties but it
wasn’t So Macho or Toy Boy, I got
lumbered with a naff one.
“Simon used to drive a TVR in
those days, it was very vulgar, and
he was still living at home with
his parents. I remember one day I

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

POINTS THE FINGER
I don’t know
what the girls
are getting but if
they are getting
more now then
good for them

His fellow judges . . .
Alesha, Amanda and
Simon this week

New talent . . Bruno
at the BGT auditions
this week, and left

went to visit and he
had this rambling
rose that was so
unkempt so I got
out my pliers and
just trimmed his bush.
He was furious.”
Bruno was drafted
on to the BGT panel
when David quit after
ten years. That followed allegations that
Walliams
had
made
disparaging
remarks
about some of the contestants which had been
picked up by a microphone.
But despite the uncomfortable
exit, he was quick to congratulate
his replacement on bagging the
coveted role — sending a gift and
a warm message of support.

I’ve known
Simon since
he was a nobody
...I used to trim
his parents’
bushes

Bruno says: “David was actually
the very first person that sent me
a text and a fantastic bottle of
wine. He’s a very good friend.
“We worked with each other
ages ago on a film The Body In
The Library and he was one of
the cast. The second text was
from Piers Morgan, he’s even
trickier than Simon.
“He begged me for six months
to be on his Life Stories.
“When we were both in America,
I saw a lot of Simon on the CBS
lot. I was doing Dancing With The
Stars and he was doing American
Idol, but my trailer was like a
milk float and his was magnificent, he had a beautiful pile.
“But one weekend, he left his
jacuzzi on all weekend and
flooded the place, including my

trailer — and it ruined a pair of
beautiful blue suede Dior boots I
had just bought. I was furious. He
owes me a pair of boots.”
Bruno
spent
years
juggling
being a judge on Strictly and its
US counterpart, Dancing With The
Stars. Covid restrictions put paid
to him jetting across the Atlantic
and he left permanently in 2021.
He was replaced by former pro
Anton Du Beke. Because BGT
auditions start in the first half of
the year, Bruno would still be free
to judge on Dancing With The
Stars in the autumn.
But he says his own dancing
days are now well and truly over
after appearing recently on The
Masked Dancer as Pearly King,
which he jokes “ruined my back”.
simon.boyle@the-sun.co.uk

9

10 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Sun
THE

SAYS

Hunt’s punt
IT is certainly a welcome change to hear
the Chancellor bullishly talking up
Britain’s prospects. Few are currently
brave enough to do that.
Jeremy Hunt even said yesterday that
those despairing of our future, or even
our present, are plain wrong. Our
growth, he insists, is no worse than
Germany’s and better than in France.
This was a far chirpier Hunt than the
funereal individual parachuted into the
Treasury last year to calm the markets.
Back then he delivered grim sermons
about the impact of Covid, war and, yes,
the mini-Budget under Liz Truss.
But he and Rishi Sunak HAVE
steadied the ship — even if we are still
borrowing vast sums to stay afloat. And
it was refreshing to hear his optimism
about a new UK “Silicon Valley” of tech
startups and entrepreneurship.
Our Brexit freedoms, he said, are key
to turbo-charging flagging productivity
and growth . . . quite the admission from
a former Remain campaigner.
His ambition for “the most competitive
tax regime of any major country” was
music to our ears too.
But, Mr Hunt, when will that happen?
We agree that slashing inflation must
trump immediate tax cuts. But what we
see is the tax burden at a 70-year high —
and the Chancellor himself hiking corporation tax six per cent in April. How
is that attractive to the firms he wants?
Factor in our inability to build enough
affordable homes for workers and Mr
Hunt’s Silicon Valley looks way off.
Likewise his drive to lure comfortable
early-retirees back to work will remain
a pipe dream without some concrete
incentive such as pension tax breaks.
And, frankly, all talk of a golden future
rings hollow with prices still soaring,
pay lagging and the NHS in chaos.
Voters want immediate action on those,
plus major tax cuts in due course and
real growth to make us all better off.
The Tories may have little time to
achieve any of it.

Train shame
WE don’t agree with Mr Hunt that it’s a
“national embarrassment” Japan opened
its first high-speed rail line some 70 years
before we ever will.
What IS is that HS2 was always a
dubious idea, may never now do what it
set out to and may have tripled in cost.
What will be an embarrassment is if it
proves as pointless, archaic and underused as we suspect.
And the nation regrets the mind-blowing
price tag wasn’t spent more wisely.

Had our fill
AS diesel fell 32p a litre on the wholesale
market, the pump price dropped only 20p.
Clinching proof that drivers are routinely ripped off.
That Pumpwatch monitor cannot come
soon enough.

EXPERT’S VERDICT ON A SHAMBLES
GARETH MORGAN is just
the sort of businessman
they need in the North.
The company he founded
near Sheffield employs 100
skilled workers who manufacture high-tech parts for the
aerospace
industry,
which
they sell abroad to countries
including the USA.
But when his customers from
America fly into Manchester,
they are forced to take a
40-mile taxi ride to Sheffield
because the rail service — just
like in much of the North —
is
very
slow
and
totally
unreliable.
Dr Morgan, the boss of
Advanced
Manufacturing
(Sheffield), can travel easily to
London but to see suppliers
and customers in nearby towns
in the North he has to use
his car.
He agrees “1,000 per cent”
that the planned 250mph highspeed train from London to
Manchester should be scrapped
now.
It would take just half of the
£160billion that HS2 will cost
to give the North and Midlands
a frequent, reliable, comfortable, electrified rail network
that is as good as the service
enjoyed by commuters in the
South East.
I have spent my life in civil
engineering and was heavily
involved in the building of the
Channel Tunnel.
Sadly, I have come to the
conclusion that HS2 is a
£161BILLION vanity project that
is bleeding the rest of the rail
network to death.
As
The
Sun
revealed
yesterday, the project is not fit
for purpose, especially when
we can’t seem to design a
station at London’s Euston that
will accept the trains, which
does seem to be rather stupid.
HS2 must be abandoned
before we throw more good
money after bad.

Out of control
Governments
have
long
talked about bringing prosperity to the North but HS2 is
the biggest failure of the
levelling-up agenda.
All it will do is bring more
people and money into the
South East and not help the
North nor the Midlands.
Getting to and from London
may
be
a
priority
for
politicians and business leaders
but the existing services are
generally good.
Why do you need to get to
London 30 minutes quicker
when you have wifi and your
laptop on the train?
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said
yesterday that it is a “national
embarrassment” that Britain
does not have a high-speed
train like Japan.
But HS2 Ltd, the company
behind
the
project,
has
designed
the
scheme
for
trains to travel at 224-250mph
which is higher than any
other
high-speed
line
in
Europe or Japan.
Why do we need the greatest
and fastest and best in the
world for a little country like
ours?
England is much smaller
Civil engineer & Labour peer
geographically
than
France,
Germany or Italy. We don’t
need
trains
that
can
do
expected.
Calculations
for when he was Chancellor and
250mph an hour.
The extra cost of the earth income were based on 18 trains he was very interested in my
works and track to carry such an hour, with higher fares for figures.
He wouldn’t say he was
fast trains is enormous — and those using the line.
Even
the
HS2
company going to scrap it but I think
all for vanity.
The cost of HS2 Phase 1 admits that no other high- there is a good chance that
was originally meant to be speed line anywhere in the HS2 will either get truncated
£10billion to 12billion. By 2016 world is able to run more than or dropped altogether.
Spending about £80billion of
it had risen to £15.1billion and 12 to 14 services an hour.
It is time to bring the whole the money saved would dramby 2019 the cost had gone up
improve
local
and
to £54.5billion, an increase of project to an end before it gets atically
out of control.
regional rail services in the
361 per cent.
Cancelling Part 1 of HS2, North and Midlands, where
With
construction
from
Birmingham
to very few people used the
inflation running at 15
London,
would
lose railways even before the rail
to 20 per cent, the
around
£10billion strikes.
cost is now £161billion
because much of the
Like Dr Morgan in Sheffield,
— and who knows how
land could be sold or those people want a reliable,
much the final bill
repurposed.
east-to-west rail service so they
will come to.
HS2 Part 2, to Crewe can travel for education, jobs
As well as costing
and Manchester, could or shopping by rail rather
billions more than
easily be cancelled at than car.
planned,
HS2
minimum cost.
It doesn’t have to be highwill bring in
I talked to Rishi speed but it should have
much
less
Sunak about it proper links, electrified hopemoney than
BOW OUT . . . HS2 worker

By
TONY BERKELEY

fully, joining cities such as Hull
and
Leeds,
Doncaster
and
Sheffield,
Manchester
and
Liverpool. It would really help
places like Bradford, which has
a terrible service for such a big
city.
Leeds
station,
in
particular, is a mess.
There
is
an
enormous
amount that could be done but,
rather than wait 25 years for
the “benefit” of HS2, it is much
less financially risky to do
smaller projects and, if one
part goes wrong, you learn for
the next one.
I urge ministers to give the
regions a modern network of
rail services they deserve, as
good or better than that
around London, and to put the
suffering residents along the
HS2 route out of their long
misery.
The other £80billion that
would be saved could be spent
on the NHS, education and the
quality of life the people in the
North and Midlands so desperately need.
l Lord Berkeley is a civil engineer
and was deputy head of a
government review into HS2.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

WHAMMY

11

PAM

Ruling . . on judge

Boozing
shame of
judge at
tribunal
EXCLUSIVE by
ISAAC CROWSON

AN
employment
judge
caught boozing on the job
has been given a formal
warning by bosses.
Pauline Hughes sank
alcohol in her chambers
during a break in a case
in August.
The hearing was halted
when her two colleagues
on the panel noticed she
appeared intoxicated.
Judge Hughes said she
had “little recollection” of
the incident in Birmingham. She did not dispute
drinking on the premises.
A source said: “It’s
shocking and troubling
behaviour from someone
in that position.”
The Judicial Conduct
Investigations Office said
it had taken into account
Judge Hughes’s remorse.
It
added:
“Judge
Hughes, who has served
the tribunal for many
years, gave assurances as
to her future conduct,
including in relation to
alcohol use.”

By EMILY WEBBER

PAMELA Anderson fixes the
camera with a determined look
and says she is “not a victim”.
The ex-Baywatch star, 55,
has a Netflix documentary and
a memoir — which reveals a
life of abuse — out this week.
But she tells Variety magazine: “I’m not a victim and I’m
not the damsel in distress.
“I’ve made my choices in my
life, but I’ve always been able
to find myself again. And it’s
created a strong person.”

Discount gaffe . . chain

Shopper
joy over
Halfords
tills glitch
EXCLUSIVE by
ISAAC CROWSON

HALFORDS was hit with
a nationwide tech glitch
yesterday that saw discounts applied at tills.
Stunned customers were
handed
savings
when
money-off
promotions
were dished out randomly
at
the
motoring
and
cycling products chain.
Phil Gibbs, 44, only
had to pay £23 for bike
oil priced up as £44.
He was told by staff at
his local branch in Bedford that stores across
the country were affected.
The company director
told The Sun: “I was
gobsmacked. They looked
quite frustrated when the
products
were
being
scanned and they were
taking money off.
“They let me off some
oil — but wouldn’t let me
scan a bike and get a
load off that.”
Halfords said a “technical error” saw promotions
applied collectively but
was “quickly remedied”.

RAF BASE TARGET CLAIM

‘MATERNITY NURSE
TERROR BOMB PLOT’
A
STUDENT
nurse
appeared in court yesterday
accused
of
planning a lone-wolf
terror attack on an
RAF base.
Mohammad Farooq, 27,
was allegedly found with
a
bomb
outside
a
hospital last week.

Cordon . . bomb alert at hospital

He is said to have constructed a viable pressure
cooker device using 13.7kg of
a
home-made,
low-grade
explosive
mixture
and
a
length of pyrotechnic fuse.

By MIKE SULLIVAN
and PAUL SIMS

Farooq was arrested in Leeds
last
Friday
outside
the
maternity unit of St James’s
Hospital where he was due
to start a shift.
The alarm was raised at
4.23am after a man showed a
gun to a passer-by and allegedly said he “felt like killing
everyone”, the court heard.
When officers looked inside
a bag the man had, they
were said to have found a
pressure cooker with wires.
An imitation Gediz 9mm
PAK semi-automatic pistol

was allegedly found on a
nearby wall.
Prosecutor Mark Luckett
said the bomb squad was
called and dismantled the
device, while the defendant
was detained at the scene.
Yesterday, Farooq appeared
at
London’s
Westminster
magistrates’ court via a link
from Bradford police station.
Farooq was also said to
have carried out “hostile
reconnaissance”
at
RAF
Menwith Hill, North Yorks, in
preparation for an attack.
Farooq,
of
Roundhay,
Leeds,
is
said
to
have
researched the base and

staked it out on January 10
and 18. He is charged with
engaging in conduct with the
intention of committing acts
of terrorism between July 12
last year and January 20.
Farooq is further accused
of possessing an explosive
substance and an imitation
firearm outside the hospital.
There was no application
for bail and Farooq spoke
only to confirm his name,
date of birth and address.
He was remanded in custody ahead of an appearance
at the Old Bailey on Friday.
mike.sullivan
@the-sun.co.uk

12 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

2GM V2

DON’T FANCY SNORES
MUCH...THEY RUIN SEX
SNORING is ruining
women’s
sex
lives,
research shows.
It disrupts sleep, making
them tired and less likely
to fancy getting fruity.

Snort it out . . . snoring can hit sex

And if they do get in the
mood, they are 70 per cent
more likely to have a condition which blocks orgasms.
Researcher Dr Taylor Kohn
said: “We found a strong

EXCLUSIVE
by SAM BLANCHARD

association between female
sexual dysfunction and poor
sleep quality.
“Both often go undiagnosed
and untreated.”
The
findings
are
from
analysis
of
the
medical
records of 3million women.
Those with sleep apnoea —
which makes breathing stop
and start noisily during sleep

— were found to be twice as
likely to have sexual arousal
disorder, meaning they struggled to get turned on.
A link to female orgasmic
disorder also meant many
then struggled to climax.
And women with insomnia
were found two to three
times more likely than average to have sex problems.
Disruption
to
sleep
is
thought to trigger a drop in
oestrogen and testosterone,

hormones which are vital for
sex drive and function.
Dr Kohn, from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland,
said: “Our findings support
the
need
to
recognise
the
important
relationship
between sleep and sexual
health in women.”
Sleep apnoea is linked to
being overweight so can be
eased by losing weight and
cutting alcohol and smoking.
sam.blanchard@thesun.co.uk

FLAMES
OF HOPE

Sylvia . . . in WW2 drama

Ice Cold
actress
Syms is
dead, 89
By KATIE DAVIS

ACTRESS Sylvia Syms
has died at the age of 89.
The
star,
who
last
appeared in BBC drama
Gentleman Jack in 2019,
made her name playing a
nurse in 1958 World War
Two desert classic Ice
Cold in Alex.
Born
in
Woolwich,
South East London, she
was Bafta nominated for
her role in 1974 romantic
drama
The
Tamarind
Seed with Julie Andrews
and Omar Sharif.
She portrayed former
PM Margaret Thatcher in
Thatcher: the Final Years
on TV and on stage.
And in 2006 she played
the Queen Mother opposite Oscar winner Helen
Mirren in The Queen.
Sylvia’s kids Beatie and
Ben Edney said she “lived
an amazing life”, adding
she “died peacefully” at a
care home in London.

100 cops
sex quiz

By PATRICK GYSIN

THE King and Queen Consort light
candles to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
They were joined yesterday by Nazi
concentration camp survivor Dr Martin
Stern and Sudan genocide survivor
Amouna Adam at Buckingham Palace.
Charles, 75, said: “I hope this will be
one way to remember all those poor
people who had to suffer such horrors.”
Meanwhile, actress Dame Joanna Lumley, 76, was helped by Holocaust survivor
Joan Salter, 82, among others to hand
out candles at London’s Piccadilly Circus.

NEARLY 100 officers in
one
police
force
are
facing sexual misconduct
allegations.
Sixteen
are
already
awaiting
hearings
at
Greater
Manchester
Police. Another 82 are
under investigation.
The figures were disclosed after Met officer
David Carrick, 42, was
convicted of rapes and
multiple sex offences.
Gtr Manchester deputy
mayor Kate Green said
the force, the second
largest in England and
Wales, was committed to
reviewing vetting.
“The vast majority of
officers do a decent and
valued job,” she added.

7 killed in
shooting
AT least seven people
were shot dead last night
in a terror attack at a
synagogue in Jerusalem.
A gunman opened fire
at worshippers as they
left
the
building
in
Israel’s capital.
He was killed by security forces as he tried to
flee. He was said to be a
a Palestinian who lived
in East Jerusalem.
Ten people were wounded. A handgun used in
the attack was seized.
Last night the US condemned
the
“apparent
terrorist attack”.
The shooting came a
day after Israeli troops
killed nine Palestinians
in a West Bank raid.

HOLIDAY PAY
Light work . . . Dame Joanna with Joan

Half
of
employees
spend work time planning holidays — taking an
average of 65 hours a
year, a poll found.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

AFTER 20YRS AS ADVERT QUEEN..

Move
over
Mossy,
here’s
Maya

In demand . . .
popular Maya
presents Love
Island, inset

NEW FACE OF RIMMEL
MAYA Jama has replaced supermodel Kate Moss
as the face of Rimmel London after signing a
multi-million pound deal with the cosmetics brand.
The Love Island presenter, 28, shot her first campaign
on Thursday having taking over from Kate, 49 — who
fronted the beauty firm for almost two decades.

Star . . . Kate
in early Rimmel
advert, main
pic, and below

The contract is a sign of Maya’s growing stature in the industry.
However, insiders warned that appointing a much younger woman
as their new ambassador could
EXCLUSIVE by SIMON BOYLE
spark an ageism row.
A source said: “Rimmel is one
of the biggest brands in beauty come true for Maya.” The forwith a very British core, so mer Radio 1 DJ, who is worth
pinpointing Maya to be their £2million, brought out her own
figurehead shows she’s skincare range in 2020.
She has also released
very much the It Girl
fashion collections with
of the moment.
“They needed a big PrettyLittleThing and JD
name to take over Sports, plus modelled for
from Kate, who had brands such as Adidas
already stepped back and Maybelline.
The Bristol-born star
from the role.
“Rimmel
believes has been a hit with Love
Island
fans after replacing
Maya ticks that box —
plus they hope she Laura Whitmore, 37, on
the
ITV2
show in the
can also appeal to a
younger
and
more current winter series.
Her previous TV gigs
diverse audience.
“A
backlash
is include BBC3 make-up
expected given Maya show Glow Up, ITV talis nearly half Kate’s ent series Walk The Line
age, but the company and BBC1’s Peter Crouch:
are happy with their Save Our Summer.
decision. It’s a dream simon.boyle@the-sun.co.uk

PEAK BLINDER

I’ve lost my legs but
I’ll conquer Everest
SEE PAGES 32 & 33

13

14 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

2GM

15

Jeremy Clarkson
jeremy.clarkson@the-sun.co.uk

DAM FINE . . . Hoover

HS2 IS
A LOAD
OF BULL

WHEN the economy is
broken, it’s the job of
government to employ as
many people as possible
to build important new
stuff. This is how
Germany got its
autobahns and America
got the Hoover Dam.
Here, though, things
are different. Because we
are getting a railway line
that cuts the journey time
from London to
Birmingham by four
seconds. And now it
seems we aren’t even
getting that.
Sources inside the HS2
project say that it’s too
complicated and
expensive to get the line
all the way to Euston in
London, so it’ll stop at
Old Oak Common.
Yup. That’s what we’re
getting, folks. Not a
bridge across the
Channel or a new nuclear
power station or a
sewage system that
keeps our faeces out of
the nation’s rivers. But a
new railway line that will
only benefit people in Old
Oak Common who wake
up in the morning and
think: “I want to go to the
Bullring today.”
And how many people
is that? Well at a rough
guess, I’d say none.

CHINA
WON’T
LISTEN

WE were told this week
that if you buy a Chinesemade coffee machine it
could well be listening to
all the conversations you
have in your kitchen.
And it’s not just coffee
machines. It’s television
sets and doorbell
cameras and hot tubs.
Everything, everywhere
in your house is listening
to what you say. And
watching what you do.
Right. I see. So I am
expected to believe that
right now, in Beijing,
there’s a man in headphones, in front of a
screen, watching me
talking to the
cleaning lady about
getting more bin
bags. And is there
another man sitting
next to him who’s
watching you trying to
unblock the sink?
Because that would
mean they’d need six
billion people doing
nothing all day apart from
listening to the whole
non-Chinese world being
as dull as ditch water.

Royal magic is waning
but it’s still best option
WHEN I was younger, big
royal events came along only
once in a blue moon.
We had the Silver Jubilee in 1977
and Charles and Diana’s wedding
in 1981 then after that, nothing.
There was more monarchy-based
pageantry in North Korea.
Now, though, it feels like we are
breaking out the bunting and the
plastic flags every other weekend.
It’s a constant stream of weddings,
funerals and jubilees. And it’s not
over yet because in May, there’s a
Coronation.
It must be a nightmare for the
organisers, because how do they
make it feel different?
And bigger. And better. Fly-pasts
down the Mall? Done that. Put
Brian May on the roof of the
Palace? Done that as well. Soldiers
marching up and down? Been doing
that for centuries.
Whatever
they
come
up
with,
though, it’d better be good. Because I
have a sneaking feeling there won’t be
another Coronation after this one. It’ll
be the last.
For many years, there have been

BIG DAY
. . . Diana
& Charles

HIGH
NOTE . . .
Brian May
on roof

questions about the Royal Family.
People have said it costs too much
and that it’s stupid to have a hereditary head of state. And now, of course,
those questions are getting louder.
People are saying that thanks to
Prince Andrew and Harry’s book, the
whole royal thing is broken, that you
could take it down to Jay Blade’s
Repair Shop barn but the experts

would be forced to conclude that all of
the king’s horseman and all of the
king’s men couldn’t possibly put it
back together again.
I see their point. The monarchy is
built on a foundation of mysticism. It
derives its magic powers from forces
we don’t understand. It’s an institution built on fairy dust. And that is
lost somewhat when they’re all

Feisty Eva
gets even
more hot
THE actress Eva Green
described her film crew
as “peasants” and the
executive producer as
“pure vomit”, we heard
this week.
So, not only a great
actress and beautiful
but also full of vim and
vigour as well.
I’ve always liked her.
And now I like her even
more.

FORGET E.T. AND HUNT KILLER ROCKS
VERBAL
ROCKET . . .
Billy Bob in
movie

AN asteroid the size of a
Transit van screamed over
South America this week, at
an altitude of just 2,200
miles.
There are satellites that
are further away than that. It
was, by any definition, a
very close shave.
Did we see it coming?
Well, yes. Just three days
earlier, it had been
spotted by an amateur
star gazer in Crimea. But
neither NASA nor any of
the other big agencies
had a clue it was there.
They claim they know
the whereabouts of all the

really big asteroids. The
10km monsters that would
go fully Michael Bay on our
behinds. And they reckon
they have a handle on
90 per cent of those which
are one kilometre in
diameter. But the ones that
are smaller than this, which
could still kill hundreds of
millions of people if they
landed badly? They reckon
about half have not been
spotted.
If you are wondering why,
you have to remember what
Billy Bob Thornton told the
president in the movie
Armageddon. “Our object

collision budget is about
$1million. That allows us to
track about three per cent
of the sky. And begging
your pardon, sir, but it’s a
big-ass sky.”
That being said, I think
we’d all breathe a little
more easily if they
stopped searching for
signs of life on the other
side of the universe,
which we’ll never be
able to meet or even
talk to. And
concentrate on
finding the killer
rocks which are in
our back garden.

falling in dog bowls and, like Prince
Andrew, giving money to girls
they’ve never met.
At a Coronation, the congregation
is expected to believe that a normal
person goes under some kind of
cloth, with an archbishop and some
potions, and emerges a few moments
later as a king.
That might have worked in the
Middle Ages and it was still just
about working at the Queen’s Coronation back in 1953. But now? Nah.
People are going to look at the
scene in May when Charles is
anointed and go, “What the bloody
hell is that all about?”
The Australians and Canadians will
then excuse themselves, along with
most of the rocky islands dotted
round the world’s oceans, and then
we’ll have a vote here.
And everyone will decide
they’d rather have an
elected president.
Really? You mean
like Joe Biden, or
Emmanuel Macron or
Vladimir Putin?
Of
course,
here,
our head of state
doesn’t
have
the
ability to do much
of anything at all.
They can dissolve
Parliament
—
which right now
wouldn’t
be
such a bad idea
— and, theoretically, they can
start a war. But
mostly they just
go
around
the
country
being
famous and opening
ramps
at
libraries.
And can you even
begin to imagine
the
brightly
coloured,
prime-time
X Factor candidate
selection
process
that would be created to find a
suitable person?
The
mere
thought
of
it
makes a little
bit of sick come
in my mouth.
Because
I
know
that,
after months of
constant shiny
floored
nonsense and telephone voting,
there’d be a
shortlist
of
two,
Georgia
Toffolo
and
Joey Essex.
And shortly
after one of
them
won,
you’d look at
William and
Kate
and
think: “You
know what,
I’d rather
have
them.”

VIM . . . Eva on
red carpet

16 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Elt hubby
tour plea
SINGER Sir Elton John’s
husband has called on the
Government to ease red
tape for British bands.
Filmmaker David Furnish, 60, said artists and
their crews need to tour
“without bureaucracy”.
After
meeting
trade
and business leaders, he
said: “We need to recognise the financial and
diplomatic value of UK
culture internationally.”
The number of British
bands playing at European festivals has fallen
45 per cent since Brexit.

LOADSAMONEY

Plasterers, plumbers, joiners on over £1K a week
I’m
back!

The average wage broke
through the barrier at the
end of last year

FINAL McSTRAW
A pristine 1986 McDonald’s plastic straw in a
golden arches wrapper is
for sale on eBay at £1,500.

PLUMBERS,
plasterers
and builders are making
more than £1,000 a
week as they cash in on
a skills shortage.

Flash . . . TV Loadsamoney

It had already risen by four
per cent to £945 during the
year, according to Hudson Con-

By ASHLEY ARMSTRONG

tract, which provides payroll
services to the industry.
But customers and project
managers wanting jobs finished
before Christmas pushed the
average to £1,002 a week in
December, it reported.
The trend will revive memories of comic Harry Enfield’s
obnoxious wad-waving plasterer
Loadsmoney from the 1980s.
The surge is down to a post-

Covid skills shortage, with many
tradespeople having left the
country, given up or retired.
Britain is said to be short of
250,000 construction workers —
while just three per cent of
young people are considering a
career in the industry.
However, despite the economic
slump, many construction companies say they have full order
books and need staff.
Ian Anfield, MD at Hudson
Contract,
said:
“Our
figures

illustrate the excellent earning
potential for people who are
prepared to put in the time and
effort to learn a skilled trade.”
He said no one was coming
forward to replace Europeans
who had returned home — as
visa rules were too burdensome.
He added: “These are the forces driving up labour rates and
creating plenty of opportunities
for the self-employed to earn a
handsome living.”
ashley.armstrong@the-sun.co.uk

PITT &
CLONEY
Investigating . . airline

‘Upgrade
fiddle’ by
BA crew
EXCLUSIVE by
STEPHEN MOYES

AN air steward charged
a passenger £500 for an
illegal upgrade during a
flight, it is alleged.
The crew member got
the
businesswoman
to
transfer the money into
his account in exchange
for a seat in First Class.
But she reported the
shady deal to British Airways bosses at Heathrow.
They called in police
and began an investigation into last weekend’s
flight from Lagos.
A source said: “This
stinks.
No
passenger
should pay directly into a
crew member’s account.
“The incident sparked
an investigation with the
suspicion crew have been
fraudulently
upgrading
passengers — an easy win
for unscrupulous crew.”
First-class
flights
to
Nigeria with fine wines
cost £4,500 against a typical £1,120. BA said: “We
take allegations of this
nature seriously.”

Pupil loo
lock fury
A SCHOOL is accused of
breaching human rights
by
barricading
toilets
during lesson time.
It has installed metal
gates across the entrances
as part of a crackdown
on bad behaviour.
Parents and students
say it causes long queues
when they are opened at
break and lunch times.
One mum said: “It is
against human rights. It’s
like they are in a prison.”
Head Steve Durkin said
pupils could go during
lessons if they asked a
teacher at Castle View
School in Canvey, Essex.

SWEET MEMORIES
Emma Tighe, 45, star of
a Cadbury ad at three, is
auctioning 369 items of
memorabilia that could
fetch £4,000 in Shrops.

By EMILY WEBBER

SUPERSTAR
pals
Brad Pitt and George
Clooney are back out
in their matching
leather jackets as
they shoot a film.
Brad, 59, left, and
George,
61,
have
paired up for the first
time since Burn After
Reading 15 years ago.
They are in New
York filming Wolves
for Apple TV+. They
play a pair of “lone
wolf fixers” hired to
do the same job.
George later drove
a car with Brad riding
“shotgun”, inset. Like
their jackets, they
were a perfect fit.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

CELEBRITY COOKALIKE
Inquest . . . Olivia

Hanged
cadet ‘a
victim in
sex case’
By JEROME STARKEY

AN Army cadet was a
victim of sexual misconduct by senior officers
before she was found
hanged in her room at
the Sandhurst academy,
an inquest has been told.
Olivia Perks, 21, was
found dead at the elite
military training school
on February 6, 2019.
Mike Rawlinson, representing the officer cadet’s
mother, Louise Townsend,
said: “Her family are, of
course, very concerned
about sexual misconduct
committed against her by
senior military officers.
“It was clearly something on Olivia’s mind in
her last few days.”
He wants to be able to
question witnesses to find
out what happened.
His comments came at
a pre-hearing review to
set out the scope of the
full, 15-day inquest to
begin in Reading in April.
It will also consider
Olivia’s use of alcohol
and details of a previous
suicide attempt.

One to meat . . .
Razu, aka Salt
Bahi, in kitchen

Flamboyant . . .
the real Salt Bae
seasons food

Kingpin . . . Allen

Gang jail
for bid to
nobble
drug jury

That
looks
ya’reet
tasty

I’M SALT BAE
OF
OLDHAM
Takeaway chef mimics millionaire

By MIKE SULLIVAN

A DRUGS kingpin and
lackeys including a rogue
juror have been jailed for
attempting to fix a trial.
Boxing promoter Leslie
Allen, 66, recruited them
to help him get off charges of having £150,000 of
cannabis and cocaine and
a pepper spray in 2018.
Damien Drackley was
on the jury but others
grew
suspicious
and
reported him to the Warwick crown court judge.
Allen
was
convicted
without the jury and
jailed for 13 years. He
has now been given five
years to run consecutively
after an Old Bailey trial.
Drackley, 37, got four
years for his role. His
mum Lorraine Frisby, 56,
of Birmingham, got two
years and three months.
Mark
Walker,
57,
known as the one-legged
mechanic, was given nine
months. Laurence Hayden, 54, was also found
guilty over the conspiracy
to pervert justice. He has
been arrested in Spain.

A TAKEAWAY chef is pulling in foodie fans — after
taking on millionaire Salt
Bae at his own game.
Razu Kamali has won thousands of followers appearing as
Salt Bahi in videos mimicking
his celebrity counterpart.

The Bangladesh-born head chef,
44, wears round sunglasses, black
rubber gloves and a turned-round
baseball cap, just like Salt Bae.
And Salt Bahi, which means “salt
brother” in Bengali, even copies the
Turkish chef’s flamboyant seasoning
technique as he sprinkles sesame
seeds over a freshly cooked steak.
The videos have been so popular,
customers have been flocking to
Bank Grill in Oldham.
Boss Tayyab Ali, 27, said: “It’s

Salt Bahi

Affordable . . . Salt Bahi takeaway

EXCLUSIVE by RICHARD MORIARTY

done so well for us. We have had
more than 20million views and its
helped us attract new customers.”
The pair hit on the idea during
lockdown to give their customers
something to smile about.
However, instead of salt, Salt Bahi
uses sesame seeds, which feature in
many of the takeaway’s dishes.
Tayyab added: “We have an open
kitchen so you can see all the food
being prepared and meet him.
“When customers come in, he will
put his glasses on and get into character and have a picture with them.”
The takeaway is also a good deal
cheaper than 39-year-old Salt Bae’s
celebrity haunt in Kensington.
Its speciality Mix Mash Up meat
feast costs £14.95 — against hundreds
of pounds for a Salt Bae steak.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Salt Bae

Nusret Gokce
REAL NAME
Razu Kamali
39
AGE
44
28 across the world
The Bank Grill in Royton, near Oldham RESTAURANTS
A £1,450 24-carat gold-coated steak
SPECIALITY DISH
£8.45 waka waka chicken
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi
CELEBRITY CUSTOMERS
Local boxer Mark Heffron
50.5 million
NO OF INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
9,000
£40m
ESTIMATED WEALTH
Earns £35,000 a year
£250,000 Rolls Royce
CAR
£15,000 Mazda

Expensive . . . Salt Bae with steak

17

18 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

INVESTIGATES ANTWERP:
Accused . . . Letby

Doctor:
‘Always
me’ tears
of Letby
By RICHARD MORIARTY

A NURSE accused of
killing babies wept as
she told a colleague: “It’s
always me when it happens”, a court has heard.
GP Lucy Beebe said she
saw Lucy Letby, 33, make
the remark to another
nurse amid a series of
collapses of infants.
She had cared for a
girl said to have been
murdered at the fourth
attempt by Letby in 2015.
Dr Beebe added: “It
was unusual that she was
seemingly well and then
became unwell.
“It had never happened
to a baby I had been
involved in the care of
before or since.”
Another
nurse
told
Manchester crown court
she recalled Letby telling
her a baby looked “pale”
even though she was 6ft
away and the infant’s cot
was covered by a canopy.
Letby denies murdering
seven
babies
at
the
Countess of Chester Hospital. Trial continues.

‘Abandoned’ . . Laura

Mentally
ill woman
dead in
flat 3yrs
By ISAAC CROWSON

A MENTALLY ill woman
was found mummified
in her flat where she
had lain dead for more
than three years.
Laura Winham, 38, was
abandoned and left to die
by the NHS and social
services, relatives claim.
Schizophrenic
Laura
was estranged from her
family and is thought to
have died in November
2017. Her brother found
her skeletal and mummified remains when he
broke into her home with
police in May 2021.
Sister Nicky said those
with a duty of care for
Laura, of Woking, Surrey,
had “wiped their hands
of her and forgot her”.
Ahead of a pre-inquest
review at Surrey coroner’s court on Monday,
the family’s solicitor said
there were “so many red
flags missed”.
Surrey
and
Woking
councils said they would
support the inquest process. The NHS has been
contacted for comment.

From

OLIVER HARVEY
Chief feature writer, in Antwerp, Belgium

GESTURING toward the
mist-shrouded
port
of
Antwerp, one-time master
drug smuggler Paul Meyer
insists its security is “leaky
as a sieve”.
Known as The Tall Dutch
Guy in international drugtrafficking circles, Paul says
he once moved industrial
quantities
of
narcotics
through the Belgian container
port with nonchalant ease.

RAID . . . police
use explosives
to break into
container acting
as torture
chamber

110

CROSSFIRE . . .
Firdaous El J,
11, who was
tragically killed
in the violence

tonnes

of cocaine seized
last year...up from
just 16 tonnes
in 2015

£11

Sipping an espresso, the 60year-old former cocaine, heroin
and hashish smuggler told me:
“Every five or six weeks we did
20 tons. When you deliver, it’s party
time.
UK street value
“Whether it’s cocaine or hashish or
of that amount
something else, if you want it through
the port without authorities looking
of the drug
inside the container then Antwerp is
the best place to do it.”
Once better known for its cobbled
old town and diamond district, Antwerp now labours under the unwanted
label of Europe’s cocaine capital.
So much of the so-called white gold
was seized at the container port last
year that a vast “cocaine-berg” built
up, with incinerators unable to burn
the drug quick enough.
In its wake has come the bloodshed
and mayhem of warring narco gangs
using the port as a waystation to get
cocaine to the UK and across Europe.
This month an 11-year-old girl,
named as Firdaous El J, died in
Antwerp after being caught in the
crossfire of a suspected drugs feud.
Last year Bledar
Muca,
39,
an
Albanian with false
British papers, was
assassinated in cold
blood, with a shocking image of the
gun-toting
hitman
caught on camera.
And
25
miles
across the Dutch
border from central
Antwerp, a narco
gang built a soundproofed
torture
chamber to menace
rivals or those who
double-crossed
them.
A court heard
last
year
that
a
refashioned
dentist’s
chair,
with restraining
straps for arms
and
legs,
was
found in a shipping container.
One
encrypted
message
from
a
gang member said of
this chamber of horsuspected
narco you can crack the mafia, and I believe
rors: “It’s triple-isolated.
gangs,
whom
he we can do the same in Belgium.
50 miles
Even if you’re standing
compares
to
terror That’s the reason I’m not giving in.”
next to it, you’ll hear nothLocked in a war against what he
group IS.
ing.”
Also
his
country’s
Justice calls “narco terrorism”, the minister
Finger clamps, scalpels, pliers, claw Minister, he and his family have has vowed to go after the cartel
hammers, pruning shears, gas burners twice been forced to shelter in safe bosses hiding in places such as the
and duct tape were also discovered in houses
following
kidnap
threats UAE, Turkey and Morocco.
So why has this thriving and
the
container,
known
as
“the believed to be linked to drug cartels.
treatment room”.
Dad-of-two Mr Van Quickenborne, elegant North Sea city of 530,000
Former drug kingpin Meyer, who 49, revealed in a video interview: “In been hit with a “cocaine tsunami”?
Driving through the sprawling port
served seven years for trafficking, September a car was found 100 meters
says he was not surprised by the from our house containing gasoline, area — a sea of cranes, queuing
lorries
and stacked containers that
torture chamber revelation.
guns and things to cuff your hands.
could fill 16,600 football pitches — it
Almost 6ft 6ins, he explained: “In They had plans to kidnap me. We had is easy to see why it is so porous.
to
stay
in
a
safe
house
for
a
week.”
my time they would rent a place,
Last year customs seized a record
take you there and torture you.
Six Dutch nationals have been 110 tons of cocaine, which would have
“Or they would put you in the trunk arrested. Then in December, another a UK street value of £11billion. This
of a car and drive you to the forest threat was revealed and the family was up from 16 tons in 2015.
and torture you there. When you do spent Christmas in protective custody.
The most popular nations of origin
The minister said: “Again, there are Panama in Central America,
something wrong, when you don’t
keep your promises, when you steal, were plans to kidnap myself and my followed by Colombia then Peru, both
family. We had to hide in a safe in South America.
when you lie, you have a problem.”
On the face of it, the haul put a
Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister house for a longer time.
“It’s tough for me. Then I see what’s sizeable dent in the cartels’ interVincent Van Quickenborne tells me of
his own ordeal at the hands of the happening in Italy when, ultimately, national trade. Yet according to Mr

billion

l ‘Industrial quantities’
of drugs from Americas

DRUG ROUTES
TO UK AND
NETHERLANDS

Antwerp

France

Belgium

PORT
Van Quickenborne it is just 11 per
cent of the drug arriving in the port.
He added: “Experts say if we raise
that to 20 per cent we will be able to
breach the business model.
“And 90 per cent of the cocaine
arriving in Antwerp isn’t destined for
the local market, it goes to Holland
and it goes to the UK.”
In freezing fog, I joined Belgian
customs as they searched for narcotics
at the vast container port this week.
Officers use intelligence gathering
and intuition to attempt to secondguess the traffickers.
Trucks pass through one of the
port’s three X-ray machines. A few
are then opened and checked by hand.
Some seven million containers pass
through the port each year but only
two per cent can be scanned without
causing major delays.
Watching a lorry being checked,
customs spokeswoman Florence Angelici, 43, told me: “There’s a lot of
cocaine going to the UK. I don’t have
a percentage but it’s a huge destina-

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

EUROPE’S COCAINE IMPORTS CAPITAL
HORROR . . .
modified
dentist chair
in torture
chamber and
inset, tools

ASSASSINATED
. . . hitman Bledar
Muca caught on
camera before
being shot down
SEIZED . . . stacks of
cocaine taken at port

‘Britons
should know
drug use leaves
blood on their
hands...and on
their noses’
– BELGIUM’S
DEPUTY PM

X-RAY . . . lorry enters
machine to be scanned

SCAN . . . image
of inside a lorry
being checked

l90% is sent on to l Surge in murder
UK & Netherlands and gang violence

NARCO

tion from Antwerp.” She added that
the Belgian port is now expecting
another surge in cocaine before the
summer festival season starts.
She said: “The smugglers act on
demand. The two biggest peaks are
at Christmas and before summer
because of all the parties and
festivals.”
Smugglers will target shipments
of bananas and other perishable
fruit because they know they must
be moved through the port quickly.
Customs
officer
Sara
Van
Cotthem,
45,
explained:
“The
criminals try to be very creative.
They use fake bananas full of
cocaine and pineapples stuffed
with cocaine paste. They hide
it in hollow wooden or metal
beams and in false ceilings
or floors in the containers.”
Staring
out
at
the
snaking
queues
of
lorries
leaving
Europe’s busiest port,
it is clear the odds

are stacked in the cartels’ favour.
Sara admits that despite customs’
best efforts, the vast seizures do
not seem to be putting much of a
dent in street supply.
She said: “Cocaine is still selling
for 50 euros a gram. The price
would increase if the goods were
getting more scarce, but that’s not
the case.”
The billions in cash generated
mean the 62,000 port staff, and
others in the thousand or so
companies that operate here, are

susceptible to bribes from the cartels.
Workers finishing their shifts are
followed to bars by gang members
who then earwig their chats.
Stephan
Vanfraechem,
general
director of Alfaport, which represents private companies in the port,
said: “They don’t come at you with
a gun and tell you to do something.
“It’s more a matter of, ‘Would you
like to earn a little extra money? It
could take just 30 seconds and I’ll
give you 50,000 euros’.”
Cops, customs officers and dock
workers are all targeted.
Customs spokeswoman Florence added: “We currently
have four customs agents
in jail. It’s a problem but
we have 3,000 customs
agents in Belgium so it’s
a very small percentage.”
Mr
Van
Quickenborne
has
pledged
to
increase searches of
high-risk contain-

PLAYERS . . . Paul Meyer, MP Van Quickenborne and Dr Voeten

SEARCH . . . customs
official checks boxes of
bananas before giving
them the all-clear

ers from Latin America by ten
times and has earmarked more
than £60million for scanners and
additional staff. Yet officials face
lavishly funded criminals hell-bent
on protecting their supply lines.
Antwerp
has
witnessed
200
incidents of drug-related violence,
including threats, beatings and
planted explosive devices, over the
past five years.
In his flat in the suburbs, narco
gangs expert Dr Teun Voeten says
Antwerp is a clearing house for
cocaine,
with
Netherlands-based
mobsters orchestrating the trade.
The 61-year-old, who has written
a book on the cartels plaguing
Antwerp, revealed: “Holland is the
biggest narco state in Europe. It’s a
paradise for crime groups. There’s
corruption and it’s very easy to
launder money.”
The journalist and anthropologist
says the so-called Mocro Maffia —
crime groups of Moroccan heritage
— and syndicates from Holland,

Pictures by PAUL EDWARDS
Italy and Albania all operate in
Antwerp. Dr Voeten cites a severed
head of a drug dealer left outside a
shisha cafe in Amsterdam in 2016
as a measure of the ultra-violence.
He said the Mocro Maffia are
known for their “excessive and
symbolic violence” and that the
beheading
was
“from
Mexican
cartels’ textbook”.
With Belgium locked in a war
with the narco gangs, its Deputy
PM believes those snorting the drug
at British bars, dinner parties and
football matches are culpable in the
blood-soaked supply line.
A member of the centre-right
Flemish Liberals and Democrats, he
said: “Britons should know their
drug use isn’t without consequence.
“I’m not only talking about the
health impact for them. Through
their drug use they’re also supporting a network of violent criminals
and exploited people
“There’s blood on the hands of
the users, and on their noses.”

19

20 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

sunsavers.co.uk

Instagram: @sunsavers

DEAL OF DAY
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great for
less in the
V by Very
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very.co.uk.
SAVE:
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CHEAP TREAT
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SAVE: Up to 69p

What’s
new?

Facebook.com/thesunsavers

Edited by LEAH MILNER

TOP SWAP

TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF SPREAD BETTING

Where
to find
better
butter
deals
THE rising cost of butter is
taking a knife to household
budgets.

WALKERS is hunting
for the best heartshaped crisp, with a
£100,000 prize. Take a
pic of it and share it on
social media with
#LoveFromWalkers
while following
and tagging
@walkers_crisps. Keep the
crisp and packet safe in
case you win!

According to consumer group
Which? the dairy spread has
gone up by 29 per cent in the
past year.
With a 500g tub of Lurpak
now as much as £5, our
finances are being spread
ever more thinly.
Find ways to save on butter
with these easy tips.
DISLOYALTY PAYS: Just because
you have been using one
brand for generations, it does
not mean you have to stick
with it.
Although prices go up and
down, the best value of the bigname brands this week is Country

£2

A LITTLE squirt of Dettol
clean and fresh lemon and
lime burst, above, for £2 at
Iceland, will go a long way.
But you can clean up with
Wilko’s lemon
and mandarin
all-purpose
cleaner, below,
for £1.
SAVE: £1

LIVE AND
CHURN . .
don’t pay
over odds

By MEL HUNTER
Life Spreadable, £3.10 at Sainsbury’s for
500g. The same store currently has
the lowest price on Lurpak Spreadable,
at £3.75.
OWN IT: If you give supermarket ownbrand butters a chance, you can save
even more. Both Aldi and Tesco have
500g tubs for £2.19.
Aldi Nordpak spreadable is a good
swap for Lurpak and costs £2.29.
SPREAD THE LOVE: You might think that
old-school butter blocks work out
cheaper than spreadable versions, but
often it makes more sense to stick to
the soft stuff.
The cheapest 250g block of Anchor is
£2, while the cheapest 500g spreadable
version — so double the amount — is
£3.75 at Morrisons and Ocado.

GHEE WHIZ: You can make your own
butter using a pot of double cream. It
won’t save much money, but it’s fun!
You need a 600ml pot of double
cream, £2.30 at Tesco, a clean
marble and a litre jar with a lid,
then
use
the
recipe
at
bbcgoodfood.com. Give it a good
long shake for DIY butter.
GO LARGE AND GO HOME:
WARM up with a heated massage
Supermarkets tend to have
cushion for your car, £43.99 at
more deals on a regular 500g
Halfords, where you can
tub than the 750g version, but
save ten per cent
it pays to compare both sizes
on motoring
before picking up your usual.
products
when
Always
check
the
price
spending at least
per 100g to work out which
£30. Use code
will give you more dairy for
PAYDAY10 until
your dosh.
Wednesday.
lAll prices on page correct at time

Leah’s
little helper

of going to press. Deals and offers
subject to availability.

250
PRIZES TO
BE WON

PLUS!

ABC123

You can use
this code for
Sun Savers
competitions
and offers
too...

£1

IS YOUR CODE

WORTH £100?

SHOP & SAVE

SAY cheese! Original
Philadelphia, 280g, is now
£2, down from £3.25, for
Tesco Clubcard holders.
SAVE: £1.25

HOT
RIGHT
NOW
POP the question for
£1 with Asda’s
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that price, it’s worth
taking the risk!

V2

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

21

POP PAEDO
Row . . Carol & Michelle

Carol in
TV swipe
at ex-pal
Michelle
By AMANDA DEVLIN

CAROL Vorderman yesterday reignited her feud
with former friend and
Tory peer Michelle Mone.
She said on live TV: “I
dropped her like a stone
when I realised what
kind of person she was.”
The former Countdown
star — appearing on ITV’s
This Morning — then
looked at the camera
with both hands up and
said: “Sue me, Michelle.”
It came while Carol, 62,
was discussing a PPE
contracts controversy surrounding Michelle, 51.
The two were close pals
but recently it emerged
Carol ended the friendship “some time ago”.
Lingerie tycoon Lady
Mone denies that she or
her
husband
benefited
from the contracts.

CO-LEAN
IN FOR A
CLOSE-UP!

GLITTER
OUT OF
PRISON
IN DAYS

IF you have not
yet started
collecting for our
Hols From £9.50, it is
now too late to join in.
But for those already
taking part today’s
codeword and token
are below. If you are
collecting Sun Savers
codes, you will find
today’s on Page 20.

l

lT&Cs apply

TOKEN

22
FUZZ

A Maccy
D major
A McDONALD’S branch
is to play Beethoven to
calm rampaging yobs.
Fed-up staff are making the switch from pop
hits after being pelted
with coins during clashes
involving more than 20
young trouble-makers.
Classical music will play
from 5pm in the 24-hour
outlet in Wrexham. Wi-fi
will also be turned off at
times during the evening.
Police Inspector Luke
Hughes said: “Unless we
have some local and
unruly Beethoven enthusiasts, it should discourage some issues.”

ROUGH ’N’ REDDIES
Scruffy trainers covered
in worn-out effect stains
and graffiti are being
sold for £1,010 by luxury
fashion brand Balenciaga.

Pictures: EAMONN CLARKE

By EMILY WEBBER

COLEEN Rooney grabs a
coffee from her local
cafe — and causes a stir
as she drives off with a
film crew in her car.
The wife of ex-England
footballer
Wayne
was
dressed casual in a rollneck jumper and leggings
when she was spotted in
Alderley Edge, Cheshire,
with a Caffe Nero cup.
Coleen, 36, was then
met in her Land Rover by
cameramen getting footage as she drove, below.
It’s not clear why they
were filming but it comes
after she signed up with
Netflix for a documentary
on her Wagatha Christie
libel
case
win
over
Rebekah Vardy last year.

Set for release . . Glitter. Left, in 1970s

Travel plans checked
DISGRACED glam rock singer Gary Glitter will
be released from prison within a few days —
but will not be able to disappear abroad.
The pop paedophile, 78, will have just three days to
register his name with his local police station and will
risk being sent back to jail if he fails to attend.

He must tell officers seven days in advance of any foreign
travel, give details of his destination, any onward travel to
another country and duration of stay. Officers can veto a trip if
they believe there is a risk of
further offences taking place.
EXCLUSIVE by STEPHEN
Glitter was able to travel to
MOYES, Associate News Editor
Cambodia and Vietnam despite
a conviction for possessing hits in the 1970s. The Sun
4,000 child abuse images in revealed last year that he was
1999. He served two years for being readied for release after
serving half of his 16-year jail
child abuse in Vietnam.
He will also have to wear a sentence — imposed in 2015 for
tag and tell cops if he begins abuse offences.
Because he was sentenced to
a relationship with someone
a determinate term — a fixed
who has a child under 18.
that
cannot
be
A
charity
working
with period
dangerous sex offenders will reviewed — his case will not
mobilise a group of up to six go before the Parole Board.
Parole chiefs can block a revolunteers to be on hand 24
hours a day for Glitter so he lease if they believe a prisoner
does not feel lonely after still poses a risk to the public.
The Ministry of Justice said
leaving prison next month.
The aim is to make him feel freed sex offenders are monisafe and not tempted to slip tored by the police and Probation Service and may be sent
back into offending.
Glitter — real name Paul back behind bars if they
Gadd — owns a house in Lon- breach strict conditions.
stephen.moyes@the-sun.co.uk
don. He had a string of chart

22 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

23

MACCA’S ABBEY RD NEAR-MISS
Cumming . . . in 2009

Star Alan
in return
of OBE
By ISAAC CROWSON

ACTOR Alan Cumming
has given back the OBE
he was awarded in 2009
saying he does not want
to be associated with the
“toxicity of the Empire”.
The 58-year-old Scot
said he had made his
decision
following
the
Queen’s death.
Cumming, hosting the
US
version
of
The
Traitors now airing on the
BBC, received the OBE
for services to acting and
his gay rights activism.
He said on Instagram:
“The Queen’s death and
the ensuing conversations
about the role of monarchy and especially the
way the British Empire
profited at the expense
(and death) of indigenous
peoples across the world
really opened my eyes.
“So
I
returned
my
award, explained my reasons and reiterated my
great gratitude for being
given it in the first place.
“I’m
now
back
to
being plain old Alan
Cumming again.”

1
3

GET
BACK!

Ex-Tory’s
cash rap
A FORMER Tory MP has
been charged with failing
to provide information
relating to £39,000 of
party donations.
David Mackintosh, 43,
was elected as Northampton South MP in 2015
but stepped down before
the June 2017 election.
The offences are said
to have taken place in
2014, months after he was
selected to fight the seat.
Mackintosh, of Northampton, denied wrongdoing when he appeared
at the town’s crown court
by video. He is due to
stand trial in October.

By JOE MORGAN
PAUL McCartney gets
a hard day’s fright — past as he posed on the
as he’s nearly run over famous zebra crossing.
Sir Paul, left, was on a
on Abbey Road.
magical mystery tour with his

The former Beatle, 80,
almost needed help after
an Uber driver whizzed

daughter as she filmed him
recreating the Fab Four’s 1969
album cover, right, for her

documentary about the North
London
recording
studio.
Mary, 53, told S Magazine:
“The bit where the car nearly
ran him over was so funny.”
One fan commented: “How
did the driver not see him, it’s
not as though the road is long
and winding or anything?”

2
4

24 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

SAM: MY VILE ABUSE
SAM SMITH has claimed anti-LGBTQ
feeling in the UK is so bad that they
have been spat at in the street since
coming out as non-binary in 2019.
The Unholy singer, who uses
the pronouns they/them, said their
personal life has improved immeasurably since then, but in public the vile
abuse continues.
In an emotional interview, Sam said:
“What people don’t realise with trans/
non-binary people in the UK is it’s
happening in the street.
“I’m being abused verbally more
than I ever have. So that was the
hardest part.
“Someone spat at me. It’s crazy.
What I find hard is if that’s happening
to me and I’m famous, I’m a pop star,

can you imagine what other queer
kids are feeling?
“And it’s just so sad that we’re in
2023 and it’s still happening.”
That is different to experiences
in the US, where Sam believes
politicians are more prepared to
stand up for people.
The three-time Brit winner told
Apple Music 1: “It’s been crazy to
be in New York and LA, because
I feel like I can dress and be
myself more in these cities than I can at home.
“I went to the White
House and having
JOE BIDEN stand
TARGET . . .
up and say all these
singer has
things,
talking

been spat at

about trans people and how he sees
them, he sees us.
“I haven’t heard that in my own
country from politicians.”
In more positive news though,
Sam, who released their fourth
album Gloria yesterday, said
there’s lots more music to
come. They added: “I’ve
got my next three albums
planned and possibly half are
written. I have a very clear aim
that I want to bring out
probably another four
records before I’m
35, because at
35 I want to
go
travelling.”

SINGLES
1. Flowers – MILEY
CYRUS
2. Escapism – RAYE
ft 070 SHAKE
3. Kill Bill – SZA
4. Anti-Hero –
TAYLOR SWIFT
5. Messy In Heaven –
VENBEE &
GODDARD
6. Calm Down –
REMA
7. Let Go – CENTRAL
CEE
8. Creepin’ – METRO
BOOMIN, THE
WEEKND & 21
SAVAGE
9. Martin’s Sofa –
HEADIE ONE
10. Sure Thing –
MIGUEL
n MILEY
CYRUS
retains her spot at No 1
for a second week as
part of an unchanged
top
five.
HEADIE
ONE’s
new
song
zooms straight to
No 9 while US singersongwriter Miguel has
scored his first top ten
tune with Sure Thing –
13 years after release.

ALBUMS
1. What’s Rock And
Roll? – THE
REYTONS
2. Midnights –
TAYLOR SWIFT
3. SOS – SZA
4. The Highlights –
THE WEEKND
5. Rush! – MANESKIN
6. Wrong Side Of
Paradise – BLACK
STAR RIDERS
7. Curtain Call: The
Hits – EMINEM
8. Equals – ED
SHEERAN
9. Divinely Uninspired
To A Hellish Extent –
LEWIS CAPALDI
10. Diamonds – ELTON
JOHN
n YORKSHIRE indie
group THE REYTONS
have scored their first
No 1 album and said:
“We’ve been dreaming
of this for as long
as we can remember.”
Meanwhile
HARRY
STYLES’ third album,
Harry’s House, has
dropped out of the top
ten after 36 weeks.

TAYLOR SWIFT looks blooming lovely as she strips
off to immerse herself in a flower-filled pool, right,
in the video for latest single Lavender Haze.
She also poses in bed alongside hunky US
model Laith Ashley.
The superstar released the video yesterday,
which overshadowed the announcement of her ex
JOHN MAYER’s first-ever solo acoustic tour.
Speaking about the meaning of the song’s title,
Taylor said: “I happened upon the phrase ‘lavender
haze’ when I was watching Mad Men.
“If you were in that lavender haze, that meant that
you were in that all-encompassing love glow.”
The cover of a record in the video shows the
constellations of
Sagittarius and Pisces –
star signs of Taylor and
partner JOE ALWYN.
A video featuring the
two of them would
send Swifties into the
stratosphere.

WADING
IN . . . pool.
Left, video

HERE TO STAY

THE SPICE GIRLS lived
together before making
it big, and now new boy
band HERE AT LAST are
hoping to follow suit.
The five-piece have
already bagged three
million TikTok followers
and are preparing for a
UK tour, including a show
at London’s Shepherd’s
Bush Empire on Feb 17.
Life on the road won’t
be hard for them as they
are already used to being
in close proximity after
moving in together in
Reading. In their first

GETTING
ALONG . . .
new boyband
Here At Last

interview, JAMES
THOMAS told me: “When
we first got together we
thought it would be like
a uni house – arguments
and an absolute pigsty –
but it’s not that bad.”
The group, also
featuring PEDRO
SANTOS, TOMMY LYON,
ZACH LOIZOU and RYAN
BURNS, formed in 2020
and have won support
from LEWIS CAPALDI.
Now they hope to be as
big as ONE DIRECTION.
Zach said: “It’s something
to aspire to, definitely.”

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

Email:
simon.boyle
@the-sun.co.uk
Twitter:
@simonboyle87
MY TEAM
Howell Davies
Ellie Henman
Jack Hardwick
Emily Webber

KANYE
WEST
stepped out with new
wife Bianca Censori for a
shopping spree in Los Angeles.
The rapper wore a T-shirt printed
with the coat of arms of Germany.
Meanwhile, it was hard to miss
Aussie architect Bianca, who joined
Kanye’s Yeezy company in 2020, in
her huge mustard furry jacket.
Kanye was spotted with his
missus in a Balenciaga shop,
despite the French fashion
house cutting ties with
the rapper last year
following his antisemitic rants.

Gemma
beams in
Fat Tony

IT’S A
SPLASH
HIT FOR
TAYLOR

COULD GEMMA COLLINS
be about to become the new
KATE MOSS?
No, not as a catwalk model,
but as the new best mate of
the style icon’s closest pal,
Brit DJ FAT TONY.
Reality star Gemma claims
the universe has brought her
together with the DJ, after
she used “cosmic ordering” –
which she makes sound like
a hippy dippy version of
Amazon – to get him to
perform at an upcoming
party.
Speaking on The Gemma
Collins Podcast, she said:
“This is the power of cosmic
ordering, because he has
agreed to do my birthday
party which is just a dream
come true.
“I am a visual person and I
do manifest. I came on this
podcast a couple of weeks
ago and I told you that I want
the legendary DJ Fat Tony.”
She added: “He’s done
NAOMI CAMPBELL, KATE
MOSS, VB (VICTORIA
BECKHAM) and now
The GC.
“This guy is just something
else and I was like, ‘He’s
never going to do my
birthday’.
“But literally I truly believe
that the power of cosmic
ordering is so fabulous that
you can make it happen.”

KANYE
GOES
FUR IT

ORA: WEDDING WAS
WORTH THE WAITITI
RITA ORA has finally confirmed
she secretly tied the knot
with Hollywood director TAIKA
WAITITI last summer.

Rita finally backs my story and admits she is married

ceremony. She revealed: “Yes. I am
officially off the market. It was
The singer had dated some huge perfect, exactly how I wanted.
“It is nice to keep some things
celeb names over the past decade,
including DJ CALVIN HARRIS and just to myself sometimes. It was
nice
and sweet. Sorry it’s not that
Spider-Man star ANDREW GARFIELD,
interesting. One day I’ll
before finally finding The One.
throw a big party.”
Rita and her now
Rita has been coy for
hubby struck up a
months about her wedromance while they
ding — though in the
were both working in
video
for
comeback
Australia in 2021.
single You Only Love
Now, five months
Me, she wears a bridal
after I told how the
gown on a disastrous
couple
had
got
wedding day morning.
married in a low-key
The
clip
features
wedding in London,
self-shot
congratulaRita has at last lifted
tory
messages
from
the lid on the intimate
WED . . . my story in August

showbiz pals including LINDSAY
LOHAN and KRISTEN STEWART.
She continued on Heart Radio
Breakfast: “When the rumours came
out, the ‘Is she, isn’t she’, I wanted
to play on it, so for the video I
wanted to do a wedding that didn’t
go to plan . . . that’s not to say that
is actually what happened.”
On the track, Rita sings about
finding her dream man.
Rita sings: “I can’t believe you
look at me the way I look at you/
’cos no one has ever loved me the
way that you do.
“I’ve been messed up a thousand
times but you make it right/and
even on my darkest days you show
me the light.” Despite finding her

happy ending, Rita is still on the
fence about taking her man’s name.
She added: “I have thought about
taking his surname but I’ve worked
very hard for this Ora name. I don’t
know. I haven’t really decided yet.”
Later this year Rita will release
her third album — her first since
2018’s Phoenix.
For the first time, Rita has written or co-written the tracks as well
as including voice notes from Taika.
Rita added: “This is the first time
where the music does all the
talking. It explains my love story,
which is on the album.”
Massive congratulations to both
and I look forward to my party
invite arriving in the post.

HUBBY
. . . with
Taika

25

26 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Man on 7 ARE YOU A ROYAL MASTERMIND? TRY
sex raps
By MIKE RIDLEY

A MAN was yesterday
charged with raping a
woman
and
sexually
assaulting six others.
The alleged attacks by
Hanok Zeray, 31, were all
said to have taken place
in public spaces last year.
He was nicked by cops
probing a rape in the
centre of his home city of
Brighton last April.
Sussex Police confirmed
Zeray has been remanded
in custody pending a trial
starting on May 3.
Det Sgt Melissa Trevelyan said the women were
“in public spaces where
they should’ve felt safe”.
She added: “I’d like to
thank them for reporting
the incidents so we could
take positive action.”

Fort on a
hill’s £3m
A FORTRESS with a
helicopter pad and moat
is on sale for £3million.
Built in the late 1800s
and restored in 2010, the
five-bed,
four-bathroom
pad is set in 15 acres.
It also includes a warehouse, laundry room and
garage, plus an apartment for staff and a twobed caretaker’s home.
Surrounded by woodland, it is set at an altitude of 4,000ft in the
hills of the Liguria region
of Italy — and is just 30
minutes from the beach.
Estate agent Lionard
Luxury Real Estate says
the “truly unique historical property” also comes
with plans to build an
infinity pool.

Q5
Charles and
Camilla
marry

ARE you a
mastermind of
monarchy?
The Sun’s
legendary
photographer
Arthur Edwards
has been
covering the
Royal Family
for more than
40 years.
He has set 50
questions to
find out if
you will be
crowned as a
regal know-all.

LONG
MAY YE
BRAIN

LIFE & TIMES

Which current royal stepped away from
the spotlight and taught music at a
primary school in Hull for 13 years?
Queen Elizabeth’s parents were known
as the Duke and Duchess of what at the
time of her birth?
Who was the last royal to die in active
war service?
Which royal spent most of their
childhood in Australia?
Why was King Charles’s 2005 wedding
to Camilla Parker Bowles postponed for
a day?
Which country was Elizabeth II visiting
when she found out she had become
Queen?
What are the names of the late Princess
Margaret’s two children?
What infamous TV spectacular did
Prince Edward organise in 1987?
What year did Edward VIII abdicate?

!
$
%
&
(
)
*
+
,
.

What are the names of the children of
Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess
of Sussex?
What year was King Charles
formally “invested” as the Prince
of Wales at a ceremony at
Caernarfon Castle?
What tough boarding school
did King Charles attend in
Scotland, which he reportedly
described as “Colditz in kilts”?
What was Coronation
Day nicknamed in the
run-up to the Queen’s big
day in 1953?
Which actress was
the first to play
Queen Elizabeth II on
stage?
Which Prime
Minister sent the
Queen a gift of rubber
gloves after noticing
A Queen

/
0
1
2

Q2
is born

her doing the washing-up at Balmoral with
bare hands?
Which public building’s proposed
extension was labelled “a monstrous
carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and
elegant friend” by the then Prince Charles in
a speech in 1984?
Which year did the Queen dub as her
“annus horribilis”?
What was the name of the intruder who
managed to get into the Queen’s
bedroom at Buckingham Palace in 1982?
Who described the royals as “a seedy,
worn-out bunch of hags” on a rare visit
to London for Queen Mary’s funeral in 1953?
How old was the King at the Coronation
of his mother in 1953?
Which high street fashion retailer did
Catherine, Princess of Wales, once work
for?
Which dukes have been in charge of
organising Coronation ceremonies
since 1386?
What kind of dog do the new Prince and
Princess of Wales have?
What cocktail was said to be the
favourite of both the Queen and the
Queen Mother?
Why did Sun royal photographer Arthur
Edwards’ 1980 photo of Diana at the
nursery school where she worked cause
a stir?
How old was the Queen when she
first appeared on the cover of Time
magazine?
Which royal rebuffed a would-be
kidnapper by telling him: “Not
bloody likely!”
Charles came very close to death
in 1988 – what happened?
Which member of the Royal Family
was the last Viceroy of India?
What item was covered in gold to sit
atop the coronet worn by Charles at
his investiture as Prince of Wales?

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
:
;
<

=
>
?
@
A

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

OUR QUIZ

BY ARTHUR EDWARDS
ALEXI LUBOMIRSKI

RELATIONSHIPS
Q6
Q2
Princess
Margaret
and family
What is the
name of Queen
Consort Camilla’s first
husband?
What was the name
of the RAF officer
who Princess Margaret
was forbidden to
marry?
What year did the
then Prince
Charles marry Lady
Diana Spencer?
What was the
name of the
husband of Princess
Alexandra of Kent?
Which American
actress and model
dated Prince Andrew
in the early Eighties?
What is the name
of the woman
from Zimbabwe
who Prince
Harry
dated
before
Meghan
Markle?

!

$
Q 21
Princess
Kate . . . but
where did
she once
work?

%

&

(

)

HISTORY

Which king as a young
man spent six weeks on
the run, travelling around
England disguised as a
servant?
What was the name of the
artist who painted the
most famous portraits of
Henry VIII?

!
$

Q2

Prince Harry,
Meghan &
children

Which
of the
Queen’s
first
cousins
gave up his
place in the
succession
to marry a
divorced Catholic
woman?
Which university
was the meeting
place for Prince
William and Kate
Middleton?
Whose royal
wedding was
the first to be
televised?
What animal
went with
Princess
Elizabeth
and Philip
on honeymoon in
1947?

*

,

Q8
Kate and
Wills at uni

What was the name of the
battlefield where Richard
III was killed?
Who was the first
monarch of the Tudor
dynasty?
Which king died in
captivity in Yorkshire’s
Pontefract Castle?
Which king did
Shakespeare write three
plays about?
Which king was played on
the big screen by both
Laurence Olivier and Kenneth
Branagh?
Who was the monarch
who agreed to the charter
of rights known as Magna
Carta?
Which king’s feud with
Archbishop of
Canterbury Thomas
Becket led to the
churchman’s murder in
Canterbury
Cathedral?
How many
Answers:
children did
Queen Victoria have? Page 33

%
&
(
)
*

+

-

King
Henry
VIII

Q 10
Elizabeth and
Philip on
honeymoon

+

,

-

27

BRIGGS’
£6M TO
CHARITY
Snowman ace’s will
By PATRICK GYSIN

THE Snowman creator Raymond Briggs
left almost his entire £6million fortune
to charity, his will reveals.
Apart from a handful of gifts to pals, he told
trustees to distribute his legacy to good causes.
The writer and illustrator was well known as a
self-styled “grumpy old
man” who lived simply —
driving an old car and
buying clothes from a
charity shop. He died in
August aged 88.
His wife Jean died of
leukaemia in 1973.
Liz Benjamin, his
partner of more
than
40
years,
died in 2015.
Briggs, who also
created
Fungus
the Bogeyman, left
Briggs . . . and book
his
home
near
Lewes,
East
Sussex, ing of his and first
to
her
children.
He uttered by Liz’s threedecreed that his grave- year-old
granddaughter
stone be inscribed: “Ray- Connie in 1997.
mond is not a normal
patrick.gysin@
person” — a favourite saythe-sun.co.uk

28 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

WINDS HIT HUNT
FOR MISSING STAR
HIGH winds have again
grounded
helicopters
searching mountains for
British actor Julian Sands
— and delayed a high-tech
bid to pinpoint him.
Sands, 65, went missing two
weeks ago while hiking in the
Baldy Bowl area of California’s San Gabriel peaks.
Air and ground searches have
been hampered by bad weather.

By ALEX DIAZ

But rescuers were hoping to zero
in on his location using technology
that can detect electronic devices.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s
Department said cops from the
California
Highway
Patrol
were using high-tech kit
which sends out a radar
beam to detect lost climbers.
They
added:
“We
are
hopeful this can pinpoint an
area where we can focus our

Missing . . . actor Sands

search efforts.” Infrared devices
have also been used by search
parties, but proved ineffective.
Relatives of Sands have praised
the “heroic” search efforts and said
they were “deeply touched” by the
support they had received.
Yorkshire-born
Sands,
a
father of three, has an extensive film and TV career.
His rose to prominence in
1985’s A Room With A View
and later appeared in Arachnophobia, Boxing Helena and
Leaving Las Vegas.

PICK up a copy of
tomorrow’s Sun on
Sunday for our special
15th birthday issue of
Fabulous – featuring
Christine McGuinness.
The 34-year-old
mum-of-three says she
has been “shocked” by
the celebrities sliding into
her DMs since her split
with Paddy.
Our award-winning
magazine also looks back
at some of its most iconic
covers and life-changing
campaigns.
Plus, you’ll also get TV
Soap magazine for all the
telly gossip.
Both great mags are
FREE with tomorrow’s
Sun on Sunday.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

29

EXCLUSIVE
Icon . . the Scotsman

£4,450!
Loco fee
for Flying
Scot ride
EXCLUSIVE
by STEPHEN MOYES

HIGH-rollers are splashing out £4,450 to ride on
iconic steam train The
Flying Scotsman — more
than half what it cost to
build 100 years ago.
The
bright
green
engine, the first to reach
100mph, is marking its
centenary
by
crisscrossing the UK for various events.
Premier class tickets
are £4,450 per couple for
a trip from London to
Edinburgh, including a
night in York and three
in the Scottish capital.
A single supplement is
£425. Standard class is
£3,550 per couple.
One enthusiast called
the prices “disgusting”.
The famous engine cost
£7,995 when it was built
in Doncaster in 1923.
It was retired in 1963
and has undergone a
£4.2million refurbishment.

Soldier’s
£3.7m ‘lie’
A “DISHONEST” former
soldier who brought a
£3.7million
trench
foot
claim against the Ministry
of Defence could be jailed
for lying to a judge.
Former Royal Artillery
gunner Brian Muyepa, 34,
claimed the effects of
being left in wet boots
for hours were so severe
he was left waddling
about “like a penguin”.
But
his
case
was
kicked out of the High
Court after online footage
showed him dancing.
The MoD now wants
Mr Muyepa, who was
based in Salisbury, Wilts,
tried for contempt of
court. If found guilty, he
could face two years’ jail.

‘Pinch by
air drunk’
A DRUNKEN holidaymaker pinched a female
passenger’s bottom on a
plane, a court heard.
Mohammed Razaq, 29,
stood in a boxing stance
in front of horrified families, it was alleged.
And he caused £200
damage to a seat used by
cabin crew on the flight
from Dubai to Manchester
last March, the city’s
magistrates were told.
Razaq, 29, of Burnley,
Lancs,
denied
sexual
assault but did not plea
to charges of being drunk
on an aircraft and affray.
The damage charge was
not put. He was bailed to
appear at Minshull Street
crown court on March 2.

CAM AND GET IT
A new bus lane camera
caught out 52,355 motorists in a year — raising
£1.8million from fines for
the city of Derby.

WOLF’S
SQUID
LAME
Hardman out in first
round of real-life show
By JULIA ATHERLEY

ORIGINAL
Gladiator
Wolf has been knocked
out in the first round of
the reality TV version of
Squid Game.
The bodybuilder, real name
Michael
Van
Wijk,
was
believed to have been
flown to Britain from
his home in New
Zealand by producers.

But he was eliminated
during the Red Light,
Green Light challenge.
Fan favourite Wolf, now
70, starred in eight series
of Gladiators, which drew
up to 16million viewers in
the 1990s. He returned for
a 2008 revamp.
An insider told The Sun:
“Everyone
recognised
him
straight away and was excited to
meet him. He was a really nice
guy. It’s a shame he was taken
out in the first round but he
seemed in good spirits.
“It just shows you how
hard the competition was. If
he found it hard what hope
was there for any one else?”
Squid Game: The Challenge is being filmed for
Netflix at Cardington studios
in
Bedfordshire,
with recreations of
sets
from
hit

Tough . . . Wolf in ’90s
show and Sun story
South Korean drama. Hundreds of contestants are fighting
for a prize pot of £3.7million.
The Sun revealed this week
shooting had turned into a nightmare for some participants as
temperatures plunged to -3C on
the day they tried to get
through the first round by
standing still. Netflix said:
“All precautions were taken.”
julia.atherley@
the-sun.co.uk

Gladiator
NOT ready!

KNOTTY
GIRL IRINA
By HOWELL DAVIES

MODEL Irina Shayk wraps up Paris Fashion Week by
tying herself in knots on the catwalk.
The Russian, 37, wore an elaborate dress in the Thierry Mugler show. Irina, making her first Paris appearance in three years, wrote online: “It’s a hottt return.”
She also posed backstage, left, with models Eva Herzigova, 49, Amber Valletta, 48, and Shalom Harlow, 49.

30 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
WIN the holiday of a
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SPAIN: Hotel Garbi Ibiza & Spa,
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MALDIVES: Centara Grand
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Collect TEN unique Sun Savers codes from 18. One code printed daily from January 28 to February 14, 2023. Last chance to start collecting is February 5, 2023. Competition closes at 23:59pm on
February 20, 2023. Over 18, residents of the UK only. One entry per person. Winners selected at random from all valid entries. There will be 50 winners only. Allow 14 days from entry closing for draw to take place. Winners then
notified within seven days of the draw. No cash alternative to prize in whole or in part. Prize is non-transferable. Subject to availability and blackout dates apply. Your information will only be used to administer this Promotion in
accordance with our privacy policy. Promoter is News Group Newspapers Ltd. Not open to employees and agents of the Promoter and its group companies or Travel Republic, or third parties directly connected with the
operation or fulfilment of the Promotion and their immediate families and household members. Winners will be required to participate in reasonable publicity relating to this competition. For full T&Cs see sunsavers.co.uk.

Ulrika

adrian.chiles@the-sun.co.uk

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

31

Jonsson
Ulrika.Jonsson@the-sun.co.uk

I PREFER FRIENDS’ WISDOM TO DAFT ADVICE

SOME fancy schmancy expert
philosopher has come to the
conclusion that we must not
interfere in the big decisions made
by our friends.
Cambridge boffin Dr Farbod
Akhlaghi claims that telling our
mates to not marry someone,
not date a person, not have
children or not move abroad
“violates a crucial moral right”.
He says we must have absolute
autonomy over big dilemmas such
as this because they are

transformative and a friend’s
intervention can cause real harm.
Well, if ever there was a
friendship killer, this advice is
surely it.
I don’t know about you guys but I
depend heavily on my friends’
advice. I value their knowledge,
experience and wisdom – surely
that’s a human instinct and the
basis of a good strong friendship.
Sometimes I don’t trust my own
decisions but, moreover, when
things weigh heavy on my mind, I

always need a fresh, alternative
perspective and opinion.
I want and crave the input of
people I know and trust. It’s surely a
huge part of what friendship is
about?
We build our relationships on
honesty, and while friendships are
very much about what we have in
common with one another, it’s also
about listening to and hearing
about how we may differ.
I don’t surround myself with “yes
people” – friends who constantly

agree with me, pat me on the back immoral compass, and sometimes
and tell me I’m doing the right I probably also deliberately like to
thing.
do something I definitely
It’s often uncomfortable
shouldn’t.
to hear negative input,
My small circle of close
criticism or disagreement
friends
often
have
but I respect it far more
different
takes
on
than someone who just
decisions I might need
worships every decision I
to make, and I love,
make. So I always listen.
appreciate and value
Doesn’t always mean I
that far greater than I do
follow a friend’s advice,
the
opinion
of
a
DILEMMA . . . philosopher who hasn’t
because I have a strong
backbone and a somewhat Dr Akhlaghi walked a foot in my shoes.

ELOPE . . . cheap wedding

BRIDES
SAY ‘WE
DON’T’
TO £40K
BIG DAY
RECENT statistics from
UK wedding venues
reveal there has been an
exponential rise in
couples shunning the big
white wedding in favour
of eloping.
It’s not just the cost-ofliving crisis that has
brought this about.
Apparently it’s been
going on for a while.
When you consider that
some weddings might
include well over 100
guests and can cost
anything between £10k
and £40k (or even more,
if you’re really fancy), it’s
not surprising and it
makes complete sense
to keep the money and
run off and make the big
day a bit “basic”.
It is only one day,
after all.
As someone who has
been married three
times, I think you’ll agree
I speak with some
authority on this subject.

Don’t normalise nasty
narcissists like Maxwell
I DON’T think I heard
the word “narcissist”
until a few years ago.
And if I did, I probably
didn’t
pay
it
much
attention.
It
sounded
so extreme, so drastic and
so severe.
Is it me or do I hear the
word more often nowadays?
Are there more narcissists
around today?
Or perhaps we’re better at
recognising and identifying
them, because now I feel
like everyone I know seems
to have come into contact
with one.
Only
mental
health
specialists can diagnose this
condition, so far be it for
me to make any amateur
analysis. But without pausing
for breath, it’s easy to reel
off some well-known ones.
The King of the Narcissists
is surely Donald Trump —
displaying a few too many of
the characteristics associated
with this condition such as
an unreasonably high sense
of
his
own
importance;
attention seeking; desperation
for admiration; an overinflated ego; very few boundaries; a lack of empathy; a
pronounced sense of entitlement, the list goes on.

Marry again? I’d
be Team Elope

Deeply worrying
Picture: BACKGRID

I was never a bridezilla
and always did my best to
keep things relatively
simple.
My weddings were all
small, intimate affairs
with fewer than 20 people
in attendance each time.
The odd one might
have been a tad lavish in
nature but they were
never BIG.
Probably due to the
fact that I don’t even think
I know 100 people.
As things stand today,
there’s no chance of a
bloke ever putting a ring
on it EVER again (caveat:
I may have promised this
in the past then changed
my mind) but if I did, I’d
be Team Elope.
Or better still, Team
Wedding By Zoom.
But after my three
marriage experiences,
I’m not the most promarriage person in the
room.
In fact, if you’re a bride
in a meringue dress,
travelling in a fancy car
covered in white ribbons
and filled with flowers
and you see a mad,
middle-aged, blonde
Swede shouting: “Don’t
do it!” as you go past,
that’s yours truly.
Every time. Without fail.

Even royal Zara
is not immune
to ‘mum guilt’

I’VE always had great admiration
for Zara Tindall. Not just as a serious, ambitious and goal-driven
sportswoman but also for largely
shunning royal life, which is in
part thanks to her mother, the
Princess Royal, who refused to
give her children titles.
Now she’s opened up, very
personally, in a podcast with her
hubby, the cheeky Mike Tindall,
both above, about how – like so
many of us – she has suffered
from “mum guilt” for going to
work and leaving her children.
I didn’t feel overbearing guilt
about carrying on working after
having my children. More often
than not I just missed them and
wanted to be with them. But it

was very clear in my mind that, as
the sole breadwinner, it was a
need and therefore a must.
I would never want to belittle
stay-at-home mums for the great
job they do but I firmly believe
that continuing to work, just as
Zara concurs in the podcast, has
made us better mothers.
We’re both lucky to have the
opportunity to work and afford
the childcare but at the same
time, certainly for me, it really
was a necessity. What is slightly
frustrating, however, is that
we never seem to discuss “dad
guilt”. Either they don’t feel it or
they’re not piping up about it.
Maybe it’s something Mike can
explore in another episode.

Then, listening to Ghislaine
Maxwell being interviewed
on TalkTV this week, made
me think: “There’s another
one.” No hint of empathy for
any
of
her
victims.
In
complete denial about her
conviction, choosing instead
to moan about the food she’s
being made to eat in prison.
It’s deeply worrying how
people like this truly believe
their own PR. Or should that
be BS?
Then last week, in their
infinite wisdom, the BBC
started to broadcast a podcast with Shamima Begum —
giving her a very public
platform and opportunity to
manipulate people’s opinion
about her while she fails to
take full responsibility for
her actions.
Prince Andrew is another
contender, denying the merest hint of a suggestion that
he might have been involved
in anything dodgy. Incapable,
it seems, of even pretending
to have empathy or an
ounce of understanding and
responsibility.
I met him when I was 20

BIG EGOS . . .
Ghislaine Maxwell
and Prince Andrew
at Windsor Castle and he
looked me up and down as
if I was a heifer at a cattle
market.
Or as if he was God himself. Deeply uncomfortable.
It’s in personal relationships that signs of narcissism
appear to be becoming more
common.
I have two close friends
who were married to narcissists and their stories are
nothing short of shocking.
The arrogance of these
men; their disregard for others; their inability to understand the effect of their
behaviour on their wives; the
terrifying manipulation and
exploitation of their partners
for their own benefit.
It’s hard to even imagine
that these people are actually
human because, ultimately,
they are lacking so much in
humanity.
And with all these detrimental and dangerous characteristics comes the coercion and gaslighting.
The
relationships
often
start by saturating the victim
with attention and affection
— love-bombing them, in
short — all under the guise
of romance.
Making them feel special
and like they are the centre
of the universe, only for
them to gradually pull the
rug from under the casualty’s
feet.
By which stage it’s all too
hard to extricate yourself
from the relationship and
the narcissist, predominantly
because the perpetrator will
always convince the other
person that they are in the
right
because
they
don’t
carry guilt about anything.
Or anyone.
Granted, I’m sure many of
us have shown the occasional
narcissistic behaviour. Who
doesn’t like praise, attention

and admiration? Who doesn’t
sometimes have a burgeoning
ego and some repressed
insecurities?
I can think of a
few politicians and
divas like this but
they’re not permanent
characteristics
that go on to damage
other people.
Research
shows
that narcissism affects
7.7 per cent of men in
the population and 4.8
per cent of women.
Perhaps it's not that
surprising that there
are nearly twice as
many men with the condition, based on what I’ve
heard anecdotally.
On reflection, I now realise
I was definitely in a relationship with a narcissist
many, many years ago.
It
was
a
scary
time
because, as life marched on,
I began to normalise his
behaviour, I excused it and
didn’t have the tools to find
a way out.
I went from being a
happy,
confident
young
woman to a tense, insecure,
scared, dependent, shadow of
my former self.

Blurring the lines
I may not have seen the
signs all those years ago but
I do now. Either that’s
because
there
are
more
narcissists among us or we
more
clearly
understand
what makes one.
In a world where we
admire and promote ego and
confidence so often on social
media, where many have
fixations with power, success
and, moreover, beauty, where
plenty of people laud attention-seekers and hold arrogance and manipulation by
the likes of Andrew Tate in
sky-high regard, we run the
real danger of normalising
this kind of behaviour.
We also run the risk of
blurring the lines between
someone being a bit cocky
and someone being abusive
and taking advantage of
situations and other people.
I’m certainly hugely alert
to it now. It is a mental
health condition and needs
to be treated as such. Some
might say I’ve started to
become somewhat forensic
in my analysis of people’s
behaviour.
Because once bitten, twice
as sharp.

32 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

GURKHA HERO’S INCREDIBLE FEAT
By

MIKE RIDLEY
Did a runner . . . Roma

Trousers
off porn
star flees
cop car
By AMIR RAZAVI

A PORN actress high on
cocaine fled half-naked
after losing her trousers
in a struggle with police.
Roma Lawson undid
her seat belt as she was
being driven to a police
station
following
her
arrest for drug-driving.
Her trousers came off
as she wrestled the officers in the front seat
before she ran off, naked
from the waist down,
through Margate, Kent.
After being traced to a
friend’s house, Lawson,
who appears in adult
films as Romana Ryder,
was taken to hospital.
But she continued trying to escape and bit a
female officer on the leg.
Cocaine addict Lawson,
34, of Herne Bay, admitted escaping and assaulting an emergency worker.
She
was
given
a
suspended
eight-month
prison sentence at Canterbury crown court.
The judge said she had
showed a “prospect of
rehabilitation”.

IT was the news that left
the whole of Britain feeling
on top of the world on the
Queen’s Coronation day.
As millions packed the streets of
London to see young Queen Elizabeth
crowned, it was announced that
mountaineers Edmund Hillary and
Sherpa Tenzing Norgay had become
the first to conquer Everest.
Now, 70 years later, a wounded war
hero has a date with destiny to make
history when King Charles is crowned
in May.
Hari Budha Magar had both legs
blown off above the knee when he
was a soldier in Afghanistan and a
terrorist bomb exploded.
Despite his terrible injuries, fatherof-three Hari has set his sights on
climbing Everest, the world’s highest
mountain at 29,032ft, to coincide with
the King’s Coronation.
If he succeeds, ex-Gurkha Hari, 43,
will become the first above-the-knee
double-amputee to stand on the
Himalayan summit.
Hari, from Canterbury, Kent, had
aimed to do the climb in 2018. But
the Nepalese authorities banned him
because they feared he was too
disabled to make the gruelling climb
and would perish on Everest’s snowcovered slopes.
Three people died making the
attempt last year and four the year
before. Hari had to go to court to
overturn the ban.
He
says:
“Now,
by
a
happy
coincidence, I will be on Everest on
the King’s Coronation. It would be
amazing if I could do it on that day.
“I may be on my way to
the summit, or coming down.
If we are at Base Camp we
will organise a celebration, it
all depends on the weather
window.”
Hari, who lives with wife
Urmila,
40,
and
their
daughter Samjhana, 26, and
sons 15-year-old Brian and
nine-year-old Ubran, grew up
in Nepal before joining the
Gurkhas as a teenager.

PROUD . . .
Gurkha Hari
in camo

Childhood dream

Lane . . . in kiss scene

No Love
for movie
fan visits
Actually
By ISAAC CROWSON

FED-UP residents living
on a street featured in
hit movie Love Actually
say they are still plagued
by tourists 20 years after
the film was released.
Fans of the 2003 British
rom-com were urged to
stay away by the local
council three years ago.
But they continue to
flock to St Luke’s Mews
in Notting Hill, West
London, for pictures.
The lane, where homes
sell for up to £3million,
was in a famous scene as
Andrew Lincoln’s character Mark used carols and
cards to declare love for
Keira Knightley’s Juliet.
The owner of a pinkfronted house featured
said: “My main problem
is tour guides making
money off the place.”
Lauren Robertson, from
Austin, Texas, visited last
week and said: “It’s cool
to see it in real life.”
The Royal Borough of
Kensington and Chelsea
said: “We want to help to
protect residents’ privacy.”

His farming family were so
poor, he walked barefoot for
45 minutes to school each day.
IN ACTION . . .
He has dreamed of climbHari in the desert
ing to the top of the world
since he was a boy.
Hari says: “As children, we read the
legendary stories of Mount Everest.
Climbing the mountain is my destiny.”
His dreams of being a mountaineer
appeared to end in an instant on
April 17, 2010, when he was caught in
a boobytrap bomb blast. As well as
losing his legs he was also left with a
severely damaged arm.
Hari, a Corporal in the 1st Battalion
Gurkha Rifles Regiment, was told he
might not walk again.
He says: “Eighteen months after the
blast, I couldn’t even walk 100 metres.
“I thought my life was gone. I
started mixing my medication with
alcohol, as I was trying to deal with
my pain as well as my emotions.
“I was lost. I’d joined the Gurkhas
at 19, it was my life.”
DECORATED
But he used the Gurkha motto
. . . for his
“better to die than be a coward” to
bravery
inspire his recovery, telling himself
that not only would he walk again,
he would brave an extraordinary feat.
He set his sights on climbing
mountains, and started with the UK’s training climb on Himlung Himal, a
highest peak, 4,413ft Ben Nevis in 23,400ft peak near Nepal’s border
Scotland. He never looked back, scal- with Tibet, Hari stared death in the
ing ever higher peaks, including Mont face for the second time in his life.
His team were hit by a four-day
Blanc in the French Alps at 15,780ft,
Mount
Kilimanjaro
in
Tanzania, blizzard that left them battling for
survival
at 20,000ft.
Africa, at 19,340ft, before tackling
Buried by snow, the climbers had
20,000ft peaks in the Himalayas.
to
dig
themselves
out and descend to
He admits: “I don’t even walk
properly now, but that doesn’t stop 18,000ft in hip-deep drifts, resting in
howling gales that flattened their tents.
me climbing mountains.”
As they waited to be rescued, a
On his long road to recovery, Hari
has had amazing support from King freak accident with a camping stove
triggered a fire that threatened to
Charles and other royals.
He says: “I met The Queen, and engulf their tent. They managed to
I’ve met King Charles eight times, as douse the blazing shelter with snow
he is the Colonel-in-Chief of the and thankfully, Hari’s prosthetic legs,
which were inside, survived.
regiment. He always recognises me.
Now out of food, they were also
“He knows about me climbing
Everest. He’s always supportive. When down to their last two matches, vital
for lighting their back-up camping
I got injured, he sent me a letter.”
But just before Christmas, during a stove for hot water and heat until the

I lost my
legs in
Afghan...
now I’m
climbing
Everest
for the
King
storm blew out. Their only sustenance
was slices of salami and half a
packet of Horlicks malted milk drink
they found in an abandoned tent.
Hari says: “I did think I could die
on the mountain.
“When everything depends on the
last two matches in your hands, you
can feel a bit of pressure. At that
moment we were focused on one
thing — survival. I volunteered to
strike the match to relight our
camping stove. I was shaking.
“I said ‘Namaste’ and prayed ‘Please
make a spark’.
“I struck the match and it lit first
time, but it was so freezing that the
stove
started
sputtering.
I
was
thinking ‘Please don’t die’.
“We moved it closer to the tent
entrance and it lit with the extra
oxygen. We cheered and clapped with

relief, as we knew we were going to
survive another day.
“I hadn’t had Horlicks since I was
young — it was fantastic as we
desperately needed a hot drink and it
gave us energy.
“After three days there was a slight
break and five guys came to rescue
us and take us back to Base Camp.
Then, after four days, a Nepalese
Army helicopter airlifted us out.
“There were so many incidents
around the Himalayas due to the
storm. All the helicopters were busy
undertaking rescue operations.”
Hari’s
battle
to
overcome
his
physical injuries inspired him to go
to the Supreme Court in Nepal to
win the right to undertake his
historic climb, perviously prohibited
for people with certain disabilities.
He says: “While I’ve had to adapt

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

TO CELEBRATE THE CORONATION

SUPPORTERS . .
Hari, arrowed, and.
comrades meet
Charles and Harry

WHAT HE’S
CLIMBED

Picture: ANDY BATE/BLESMA

HITTING THE
HEIGHTS . . . Hari
at Everest Base
Camp, right, tackling
ice climb, below,
after conquering
Mt. Kilimanjaro

Ben Nevis (1,345m/4,413ft)
– UK’s highest mountain.
Mont Blanc (4,810m/15,780ft)
– highest in the Alps.
Mount Kilimanjaro
(5,895m/19,340ft) – highest
in Africa.
Mount Toubkal
(4,167m/13,665ft) – highest in
Morocco’s Atlas Mountains.
Chulu Far East
(6,059m/19,880ft) – in Nepal.
Mera Peak (6,654m/21,831ft)
– next to Everest.

after
my
injuries,
I’ve
realised
nothing is impossible. I just needed
to find a different way of doing it.
“I joined forces with other climbers,
disability organisations and people
with
disabilities
to
successfully
overturn a ban on double amputees
and the visually impaired from
climbing Everest, at the Supreme
Court in Nepal.”
The actual climb presents further
challenges. He explains: “Prosthetic
legs are not designed to climb ice.
Commercial crampons for amputees
don’t exist, so we had to design some.
I will take three different pairs of
feet with me, one for walking, one
for rock climbing and one for ice and
snow. I will also take two different
pairs of prosthetic legs. One longer
set to use on the walk to Base Camp.
“There I will change into my rock

and ice climbing legs, which are
short legs called ‘stubbies’ that have
also been specially adapted.
“Where my prosthetic leg
meets my stump there is a
heating element because of
frostbite. I can’t afford to
lose any more limbs.
“The human body is

not designed to operate at the
altitude I’ll be climbing. Add to that
my own challenges with reduced
mobility and there is a whole
new layer of difficulty.”
Hari has a Crowdfunder
page
which
has
raised
£150,000 of the £312,000
needed
to
fund
his
historic expedition.
What will drive him on
every one of the nearly
30,000ft of the mountain
will be the thought he can
inspire others. A film crew
will follow every gruelling,
courageous step.
FIRST . . .
Hari says: “Reaching the
Hillary and summit is the ultimate test.
Tenzing
“My main aim is to raise
beat Everest awareness of disability and
on day of my message is that what-

Coronation

ever happens, life goes on until your
last breath. People like myself should
not be seen as miserable and living
off
benefits,
but
changing
this
perception will be a bigger battle
than climbing Everest.”
At the summit of the world’s
highest peak he aims to take a
photograph of himself with a prayer
flag, the flag of his former regiment
and those of the charities and
organisations that have helped him.
He adds: “This climb is not just for
me, it’s for people with disabilities,
the Gurkhas, for veterans, for the
United Kingdom, for Nepal.
“This is for all the people who have
helped me. I hope I am able to make
them proud.”
Additional reporting: SARAH ARNOLD
lYou can donate to Hari’s crowdfunder at
crowdfunder.co.uk/p/harieverest

33

TELL US
YOUR
STORIES
OF 1953
DO you remember the
Coronation in 1953?
Were you or a relative
one of the 8,000
people who witnessed
history in Westminster
Abbey?
Did you see the
parade through
London?
Or were you among
millions who watched
TV for the first time
when the Queen’s
Coronation was
televised?
Perhaps you
attended a street
party.
Tell us YOUR
Coronation stories by
going online to
thesun.co.uk/theking.
We will publish as
many as we can
before the King’s
Coronation.

Go to
thesun.co.uk
/theking

ROYAL
QUIZ
ANSWERS

From Pages 26 & 27
LIFE & TIMES
1. Katharine, Duchess of Kent.
2. York 3. Prince George,
Duke of Kent – younger
brother of Edward VIII and
George VI 4. Princess Michael
of Kent. 5. So he could attend
the funeral of Pope John
Paul II 6. Kenya. 7. David
Armstrong-Jones and Sarah
Chatto 8. It’s A Royal
Knockout – officially known as
The Grand Knockout
Tournament. 9. 1936
10. Archie and Lilibet. 11. 1969
12. Gordonstoun 13. C-Day
14. Prunella Scales in Alan
Bennett’s play A Question of
Attribution. 15. Margaret
Thatcher 16. The National
Gallery in London. 17. 1992
18. Michael Fagan 19. The
exiled Duke of Windsor –
former Edward VIII – in a letter
to wife Wallis Simpson
20. Four 21. Jigsaw 22. The
Dukes of Norfolk. 23. A black
cocker spaniel 24. Dubonnet
and gin. 25. Her skirt was
backlit, revealing the outline
of her legs. 26. Three.
27. Princess Anne. 28. An
avalanche in Switzerland
missed him by feet, and killed
a friend in his skiing party.
29. Lord Louis Mountbatten.
30. A ping-pong ball.
RELATIONSHIPS
1. Andrew Parker Bowles.
2. Peter Townsend. 3. 1981
4. Angus Ogilvy. 5. Koo Stark.
6. Chelsy Davy. 7. Prince
Michael of Kent. 8. University
of St Andrews. 9. Princess
Margaret’s wedding to Antony
Armstrong-Jones in 1960.
10. Her corgi, Susan.
HISTORY
1. Charles II. 2. Hans Holbein.
3. Bosworth. 4. Henry VII.
5. Richard II. 6. Henry VI.
7. Henry V 8. King John.
9. Henry II. 10. Nine.

34 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

STUFF STORED IN ATTIC COULD BE WORTH £££s
GAME TECH
Hit by car . . McGregor

Conor is
almost
killed on
bike ride
By ANDY ROBINSON

MIXED martial arts star
Conor
McGregor
was
nearly killed yesterday
when he was hit by a car
while cycling.
The
ex-UFC
champ
was struck from behind
riding up a steep hill.
He filmed the aftermath of the smash and
posted it on Instagram,
saying: “I could have
been dead there.”
Car parts were scattered across the road
next to his broken £5,000
Orbea mountain bike.
McGregor, 34, said the
driver had been blinded
by the sun — but put the
bike in the boot and gave
the Irishman a lift home.
The fighter, who was
near home city Dublin,
said: “Full speed straight
through me. Thank you
God, it wasn’t my time.”
The notorious fighter
appeared
shaken
but
uninjured. Partner and
mum of their three children Dee Devlin, 35, commented: “Beyond blessed
babe Jesus Christ!!”

Court claims . . . Green

Bond girl
staff hires
‘were not
realistic’
By PATRICK GYSIN

FORMER Bond girl Eva
Green was “unrealistic” in
her desire to hire expensive production staff for a
sci-fi film, a court heard.
The actress, 42 — Vesper Lynd in 2006’s Casino
Royale — was an executive producer of A Patriot
and was due to appear in
it before production was
shut down in 2019.
Writer
and
director
Dan Pringle said: “Eva
was at times a little
unrealistic about some of
her suggestions of heads
of departments/key crew.”
He added: “I considered
we may have to lower
our sights to those with
experience
at
slightly
lower budget levels.”
He said Green wanted
to “reach for the stars”.
Green is suing White
Lantern Films claiming
she is entitled to her
£810,000 fee. It defends
the case and counter
claims she made “unreasonable demands”. The
London trial continues.

ON average, £814 of old tech has
been left languishing in drawers and
cupboards.
Mint condition old Super
Nintendos and limited edition Game
Boys in good nick can fetch
hundreds.
Video games are also a great
source of extra income.
The 1990s Mario Kart NES, below,
is bringing in
more than
£100 on
Ebay at the
moment.
I’ve also
seen the
classic
game
Legend Of
Zelda, right,
go for up to
£450.

FURNITURE
OLD everyday furniture is now worth
five times its value compared to ten
years ago, according to eBay.
This is largely down to an increased
demand for sustainability and more
households wanting to recycle and
upcycle their stuff.
Look at sites such as eBay and Etsy
for an idea of what kind of furniture is
selling well.
It’s not just old oak and elm
wardrobes and dressers
which are doing a roaring
trade. Even early Ikea
furniture and homewares
no longer in production
are worth more than their
original cost.
Ikea Skamt vases, left –
originally just 75p – can
fetch up to £15 each,
while multicoloured sets
can reach £90.

YOUR house could be loaded with
hidden gems . . . you just need to
know where to look.
This Morning’s moneymaking
expert and pawnbroker Dan
Hatfield says households have
£76BILLION in unwanted items
which usually get binned.
So instead of letting these little
treasures end up as landfill, untap
their hidden value by turning them

By KATY DOCHERTY
into cash. Dan said: “We’re a
nation of undersellers.
“It’s so important to do your
research and find out exactly how
much you are due.”
From Pyrex dishes to beanie
babies, follow Dan’s guide to the
treasure trove waiting to be
discovered in your humble abode.

Now’s the
time to get
your loft
converted
...to CASH

COMICS
OLD comics are collectable thanks to
the nostalgia factor.
The vast majority worth anything
are
American
and
tend
to be editions
when a new
hero or villain is
introduced.
A comic book
featuring
the
first appearance
of Spider-Man
sold
for
£3.2million on
eBay in 2014.
UK comics
can be worth a
fair bit too. A
first edition of
the Dandy, right,
is worth £5,000 – and if you have the
original whistle that came with it as a
free gift, that’s worth £20,000 all in.

PYREX DISHES
EVERYONE’S gran or mum has some
of these glass dishes – and even the
most basic type can fetch you around
£50 to £100.
It’s no surprise that a lot of these
get thrown away, but they have an
ever-increasing cult following.
Kitsch is often key to hidden
treasures, so the more retro your
dishes, the more they can fetch.
There are a few particular ones you
should look out for. The 1961 promo
gold gourmet casserole dish can go
for £1,500.
And a Lucky In Love patterned
casserole dish can
reach up to £4,800.
The more
garish
and oldfashioned your
item is, the
better.

VINTAGE TOYS

ROYAL DOULTON

EIGHTIES and Nineties kids are now
all grown up and have disposable
income.
So when it comes to toys which
were popular in their heyday they can
complete the collection.
A Princess Diana commemorative
Beanie doll sold for £60,000 recently,
and a Peanut Royal Elephant Beanie
can be worth £4,000.
Original Furbies will fetch £700 if
they are in pristine condition.
Film merchandise can also make
you a buck or two.
Original Jurassic Park action
figures are really popular and a T-Rex
figurine has been known to go for
£3,000.
Mint condition Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles figures can get you
anywhere between £200 and £800.
A Polly Pocket Partytime Stamper
can earn you £5,000.

THOSE china statuettes you used to
see on mantelpieces everywhere are
now worth a fair bit.
Surprisingly, demand for the
whimsical figures is
coming from Japanese
and Middle Eastern
markets, as well as the US.
Buyers love the kitsch factor –
especially statuettes from the
Eighties and Nineties.
A Romeo & Juliet figurine from
1990 can go for up to £1,000.
Even the ones that have been
gathering dust on your nan’s side
table could sell for £200 to £300.
Resale values depend on how
many of each design were made at
the time and their condition.
I suspect thousands of these have
been chucked in the bin, but they are
worth a fortune if you find the right
market.

n
Doultso
l
a
y
o
R igurine
f
0

£ 1,00

Furby
talking toys

£ 700

MONEY

SEWING MACHINES
HUNT out that old sewing machine
lying untouched in your attic.
Thanks to sustainability and the
cost of living crisis, everyone wants to
make and mend now.
Sewing machines are trading for
hundreds of pounds.
Keep your eyes peeled for a vintage
Singer Featherweight model 222k,
below.
One of these is going for £750 at the
moment.

Sewing
machine

£750

LEGO
LEGO is one of the most collected items
in the world – and limited edition and rare
builds will always sell well.
A Star Wars Millennium Falcon set from
2007 is currently going for £7,000, which
is 20 times more than its original value.
As with any collectable the price you
get depends on the condition.
If your Lego is missing pieces or is
clearly very used, you will see a decrease
in value.
Items still in original boxes will go for a
lot more.

Star Wars
Millennium
Falcon set

£7,000

YOU can make new money from old
money.
Old currency, especially limitededition 50 pence pieces, can be
worth much more than their
monetary value.
A rare 2012 5p, above, sells for
anywhere from £40 to £100.
Meanwhile, the Kew Garden 2009
50p coin can reach up to £200.
They are all still in circulation, so
check your wallet in case you’ve got
one already.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

35

IT’S AN EXPRESS DELIVERY
Regal . . star as Queen

By JULIA ATHERLEY

ACTRESS Claire Foy has
said she reprised her role
as the Queen in The
Crown because of her
love for Imelda Staunton.
She appears in a flashback that opens the fifth
series — showing the
Queen launch the Royal
Yacht Britannia in 1953.
Foy played Her Majesty
in the first two series,
and Staunton, 67, does so
in series five and six.
Foy said: “It is a lovely
thing to do and I love
Imelda. She is amazing.”
The
38-year-old
has
also discussed her movie
Women Talking, based on
the true story of sex
abuse in an isolated religious colony in Bolivia.
The film is up for an
Oscar and BBC’s Graham
Norton asked if she will
go to March’s ceremony.
Foy said: “There are 12
in the cast so it depends
on who they pick. It’s my
child’s birthday. I probably
shouldn’t go. Either way
I’ll have a great time!”

Picture: LEON IMAGES

Foy’s joy
at return
to Crown
Speedy arrival . . .
newborn Toby
and couple’s car
Baby zoomer . . .
Lauren and Jack
with son Toby

Good to
meet roo
A RARE tree kangaroo is
thriving in Britain.
The Goodfellow’s baby
was jelly bean-sized when
born last July and has
been growing in mum
Kitawa’s pouch since.
But it delighted staff
when it popped its head
out at Chester Zoo.
Manager David White
called it a “real celebratory moment” for the
endangered species usually found in Papua New
Guinea’s mountain forests.
But he added: “These
remarkable animals are
hunted for meat and their
habitat is disappearing.”

Birth as mum’s driven to hospital

Weight’s
rolled off
A MAN too fat to ride a
rollercoaster shed 5st and
has now won a national
weight loss award.
Joe Thompson, 35, was
a hefty 19st 9lb when he
was
turned
away
at
Thorpe Park, Surrey.
After joining Slimming
World, he weighs 14st 6lb
and has lost eight inches
off his waist.
He has been named
Slimming World’s 2023
Mr Sleek for keeping the
weight off for a year.
Joe,
of
Woodford
Green, East London, said:
“It’s
transformed
my
health and confidence.”

A MUM was in a hurry to
give birth as her tot arrived
in the passenger seat of the
car as her boyfriend raced
to hospital “at 90mph”.
Lauren Tilney popped son
Toby out as Jack Baugh sped
along despite nurses on speakerphone urging him to pull over.

Labour of love . . Lauren and tot

Lauren, 27, started having contractions in bed on Thursday night after
watching Love Island.
She jumped into their Honda
CR-V for the 30-minute journey up
the M6 from Stafford to Stoke.
But ten minutes after setting off,
mum-of-two Lauren realised they
would not make it in time.
The sales administrator told how
Jack ploughed on behind the wheel

ROGUE ROUNDABOUT
A TEMPORARY roundabout has caused
a series of crashes — as confused
motorists drive straight through.
Critics say unclear marking and poor
lighting at the winding junction mean
many do not realise it is a roundabout.
An eight-year-old boy suffered a head
injury in a pile-up at the danger spot

in Croesbychan, Aberdare, South Wales.
His gran Angela Williams, 62, said a
driver “appeared not to see the roundabout and didn’t slow”. One mum said
there are near misses there every day.
Councillors said the Welsh government promised layout changes in “six to
eight weeks” while a junction is built.

Sun
A COPY of the first
1962 Marvel comic to
feature
Spider-Man,
autographed by writer
Stan Lee, is tipped
to fetch £30,000 at
auction
today
in
Stamford, Lincs.

SPOT

EXCLUSIVE by ADAM BENNETT
and ELLIOT WRIGHT

as staff at Royal Stoke University
Hospital listened in on the telephone.
Lauren said: “Jack was speeding
down the motorway when I suddenly
realised that the baby was coming.
“I had to deliver it on my own.
The adrenaline must have kicked in
because I just pushed him out and it
was over as quick as a flash.”
The relieved couple arrived at the
hospital to be greeted by a row of
nurses waiting to check if the baby
and mum were both OK.
Toby weighed in at 6lb 13oz and is
now home with his family.
Jack, 30, recalled: “I knew I had to
put my foot down, focus on the road
and get Lauren to hospital as
quickly as I could.
“When Toby was being born next

to me, I was so worried. The nurses
at the hospital were on loudspeaker
screaming at us to pull over but
Lauren told me to just keep driving.”
Lauren, who also has a three-yearold daughter, added: “Toby started
crying immediately — which is
always a good sign.
“He looked in perfect health but
obviously we were anxious to get
that checked. I was taken in and
they checked Toby over.
“He weighed in at 6lb 13oz and, as
we hoped, he’s in perfect health.
“We’re now back at home and
everything is lovely.
“Looking back, I really can’t
believe what happened. It was
manic, it is unbelievable I managed
to give birth on the motorway. But
the main thing is our Toby is safe
with his family where he belongs.”
adam.bennett@the-sun.co.uk

I WED DAD’S ‘KILLER’
HISTORY fan Ellie Taylor fell in love
with her husband after he “killed” her
father at a battle re-enactment.
Peter Taylor, 32, was among Vikings
who fought the English — including
24-year-old Ellie’s dad — at a re-run of
1066’s Battle of Stamford Bridge.
She was also smitten when she saw

Peter, of York, drinking mead in the
rain. He said: “I recognised her from
other battles and we hit it off.
“She pointed out her dad and I was
like, ‘Oh, I killed him earlier’. Not the
best way to charm someone!” They had
a Viking wedding last year. Peter said:
“I’ve always lost to her dad since!”

36 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

REIGNING QUEEN OF

GLAM

By

ELLIE HENMAN
It was like
biblical rain, you
couldn’t see your
hand in front of your
So Kelly Brook must now face. It had not rained
have bags of it, after revealing her big day was almost
in that region for
a washout.
eight months and I
The former Page 3 pin-up
married her Italian model boydon’t think it
friend Jeremy Parisi, 37, in a lowkey ceremony in Arpino, Italy, last
has since
July.

Celeb fan . . . Reynolds

SOME say it is good luck
for a bride and groom
if it rains on the day of
their wedding.

Trekker:
Ryan put
spring in
my step
By ALEX WEST

And speaking about her big day
in depth for the first time, Kelly,
43, said: “We all got pretty wet. It
rained five to ten minutes before
we said our vows.
“We got ushered into this tower
and it was like something out of a
sitcom. There was a woman trying
to carry a harp up five flights of
stairs in this ancient tower. It
haunts me still.
“It was like biblical rain, you
couldn’t see your hand in front of
your face. It had not rained in that
region for eight months and I don’t
think it has since.”
Photos Kelly posted on her Instagram showed her looking dreamy
in her flowing white gown.
But she has now admitted that
the rest of the snaps in her wedding album show her drenched.
Kelly said: “I look completely
stressed and with straggly hair. Jeremy watches the wedding video all
the time but I can’t face it yet.”
While it did rain on Kelly’s
parade, she said it was still the
best moment of her life.
The TV beauty, who had been
engaged three times before, said:
“From someone who never thought
they would get married it was
magic — the best thing I have ever
done. We were winging it the
whole way. It made it so much fun.

A DAD on a 3,000-mile
charity trek across America was stunned to be
messaged by Hollywood
A-lister Ryan Reynolds.
The Deadpool actor, 46,
wanted to cheer on ultraendurance athlete Paul
Edwards, 57.
Football fan Paul is a
Wrexham supporter — the
National
League
club
co-owned by Reynolds.
Paul said: “I was having a coffee when my
watch, which is linked to
my phone, buzzed.
“Ryan Reynolds was on
the screen and I assumed
it was a Twitter post.
Then I read the message
and it started, ‘Hi Paul’.
“I thought it was someone messing around but
we chatted about Wrexham FC. He is now following me on Instagram.”
Paul hopes his fivemonth trek from the
Pacific Coast in California to the Atlantic Coast
at South Carolina will
raise £15,000 for Hope
House children’s hospices.

‘In a happier place’

Cancer . . nurse Angie

Labrador
headbutt
saved life
of nurse

Main picture: SLIMFAST/BACKGRID

By JULIA ATHERLEY

A VET’S nurse says a
labrador saved her life
after checks on a lump
the dog gave her led to a
breast cancer diagnosis.
Angie Shaw, 58, was
left with a bump on her
chest after being knocked
over and headbutted by
the canine patient.
Still sore a week later,
she went to her GP, who
referred her for tests —
revealing she had a fastgrowing tumour.
Doctors said that without the dog’s intervention,
it would not have been
detected for another ten
months due to its position, by which time it
would have been terminal.
Angie, of Leeds, who is
now
cancer-free
after
treatment, said: “That pet
saved my life.
“The lump was nothing
to do with the cancer.
But if the dog hadn’t
butted me, the cancer
would’ve spread and it
would’ve been too late.”
She is urging women to
get breast lumps checked.

“And it gave it the essence
and authenticity of it being
Italian and that is what I
really wanted. You can’t
have the rainbow without
the rain.”
Kelly met Jeremy in
2014, after she saw him in
an Instagram video and
sent a message.
The Sun revealed the
couple’s engagement last
June, just weeks before
they tied the knot.
Kelly wanted a legally
binding
ceremony
in
her Italian lover’s home
country — which left
her just six weeks to
organise their big day.
She
said
on
the
Secret To podcast with
Vicky Pattison: “Jeremy
has a farm in Italy.
“His home is Paris but
his blood is Italian. His
dream was to get married in
the town where he has such
fond memories growing up.
We didn’t want to have a
wedding in Italy and then
get married in London a
few weeks later and not tell
anyone. I wanted to do
everything on the day.
“By the time we had all
the paperwork we only
had
a
small
window
where we could actually
do it with all our work
commitments.”
Kelly was told she
would not be able to
have a bespoke wedding
gown made in such a
short space of time.
She said: “I bought
loads of beautiful fabric,
loads of Chantilly lace.
“I took it to a local
dressmaker I work with. I
showed her a few designs I
liked and we just started
making stuff.”
Then Savannah Miller, the
British designer and sister of
A-list actress Sienna, stepped in
to save the day for her main
bridal gown. Kelly revealed:

REAR PHEW
. . . Kelly, left, on
red carpet in
2000 and, right,
in 2021

“About
five
weeks
before,
Savannah
messaged me, and I
said ‘I am getting
married’ and she said
‘I will make you a
dress’.
“So she made my
wedding dress, which
was beautiful. I don’t
know how she turned
it around so quickly.”
I wore my stuff for
the parties. It was all
white — and I never
wear white.
Kelly wore her own
designs in the evening,
including a mini-dress
she wore for her first
dance with Jeremy. She
said: “I changed for din-

ner because I was soaked and I
changed again for the party.
“My dress for my first dance was
really short. Because I am booby
and curvy there are only so many
dresses that look good on me, especially in white.
“You have to just go with what
you feel comfortable with.”
The pair said their vows in the
Torre di Cicerone, a historic tower
on the Acropolis of Arpino, then
had the reception in the grounds
with
their
closest
family
and
friends.
Kelly said: “I came away wishing
I was a guest at my own wedding
because it goes so fast and you are
so stressed.
“When you do a destination wedding, you are there for a few days
so it doesn’t matter. As long as you

are
spending
time with people.
“You’re marrying the love of
your life. That’s
all that matters
at the end of the
day.”
Like
most
brides, Kelly said
she suffered from a
bout of post-wedding blues.
After
returning
from Italy, the couple
and their dog Teddy
headed to . . . Camber
Sands, East Sussex.
Kelly said the down time
gave them time to reflect,
although
she
plans
to
honeymoon in a more

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

ON HOW BIG DAY WAS NEARLY RUINED

My wedding
was a total
washout...
but it is still
the best
thing I have
ever done

AISLE KEEP AN
EYE ON WEATHER
ts
. . . empty seats for guesple
and platform where couthe
l
unti
were due to wed
weather turned

TRAIN DEL ED
BY BAD WEAAY
THER
. . . Jeremy and Kel
before the heaven ly just
s opened

BRIDAL
SHOWER
. . . time for a brolly as the
unexpected rains fall

MARRIAGE IS
FOR KEEPS
. . . Cicerone Tower
couple eventually where
got
married indoors

Says KELLY BROOK
exotic location later this year. Kelly
said: “When we came home, I said I
feel like I’ve lived my life in
technicolour and now it’s just black
and white.
“Being around all your favourite
people and dressing up in all those
gorgeous outfits — there is no point
doing it half-arsed. You would
regret it.”
“I had five changes in one day,
and the music and the food and the
flowers and the lights — all of it is
just so intoxicating and then you
come back.”
The couple, who have homes in
London and Kent, are now enjoying
married life.
And Kelly credits Jeremy with
changing her perspective.
She explained: “It is always good
to have goals and push yourself but

I’m not chasing loads of different
things. “I am quite specific in what
I want to do. It does become less
and less as you get older.
“Ninety per cent of the time I say
no to things. You could waste a lot
of time doing nonsense.”
The former Big Breakfast host
added: “There was a long time when
I was very career driven and
focused on myself.

He’s my soulmate
“It made other parts of my life
suffer and ultimately it made me
unhappy. I look back on pictures
when I was younger and I see this
skinny model and I think she was
really unhappy.
“She probably just got off a plane,
probably not happy in a relationship. Running on anxiety and stress

and adrenaline all the time is not
good for you. I am definitely in a
happier place. I make more mature
choices.
“It’s not that I want to step
completely out of the public eye — I
like being on telly and I like being
on the radio — but the desperation
has gone.”
And while Kelly has overhauled
the way she lives, there is one other
big change she is ready to make
after marrying Jeremy, who she
described as her “soulmate”.
Kelly said: “I will be Kelly Ann
Parisi.
“My passport is up for renewal in
a year so I will do it then. I love
that, I think it is traditional.
“I don’t use Kelly Brook for anything but work. We are called Mr
and Mrs Parisi.”

WE’RE HOME
AND DRY
. . . the happy cou
finally get married ple
ins
surrounded by fam ide,
ily
and friends

37

38 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
By NIKKI WATKINS and KIRSTY SPENCE

ALL ABOUT YOU
THE FAB DAILY TEAM: Senior Feature Writers Claire Dunwell, Kirsten Jones and
Alex Lloyd, Contributing Editor Nikki Watkins, Feature Writer Yasmin Harisha,
Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend, Senior Stylist and Fashion Writer Abby McHale

Edited by
LYNSEY
CLARKE
with JESS
WILSON
and JOEL
COOPER

TUCKING into stodge to beat the January blues?
You’re not alone. More than half of us are.
But while many are also trying to lose weight or
become healthier, maybe it’s time to turn to
lower-calorie “fakeaways” for our tasty treats.
Here, Latoyah Egerton, author of Slimming
And Tasty: 100 Delicious, Low-Calorie
Recipes And Healthy Fakeaways, right,
suggests comfort meals that will not
make you gain weight – from deliciously
healthy, calorie-counted kebabs and
pizza, to a Big Mac dupe.
l Slimming And Tasty: 100 Delicious, LowCalorie Recipes And Healthy Fakeaways, by
Latoyah Egerton (£20, Greenfinch) is out now.
Photography: Uyen Luu.

Pink hearts
tea caddy,
£9.50, Emma
Bridgewater

Embossed storage
jar, £5, John Lewis

Tala flour storage tin, £7, Ocado

Double cheeseburger

WHAT’S
IN STORE
TO TIDY
KITCHEN

(Makes two burgers)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Calories: 473 per serving
YOU NEED:
250g extra-lean beef mince
1 tbsp tomato ketchup
½ tsp English mustard
Sea salt and freshly ground
black pepper
Low-calorie cooking spray
For the burger sauce:
2 tbsp low-fat mayonnaise
2 small gherkins, chopped
1 tsp white vinegar

Pinch of white pepper
1 tsp English mustard
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp pickle juice
To serve:
3 burger buns
Iceberg lettuce, shredded
Low-fat cheese slices
METHOD: In a bowl, mix
the beef with the ketchup,
mustard and a pinch each of
salt and pepper. Then split it
into four balls. For the burger

sauce, mix all of the
ingredients together in a
small bowl.
Mist a pan with cooking
spray on a medium heat and
add two of the balls. Press out
as flat as possible with a
spatula. Fry on each side for
four minutes. Repeat with the
other two balls.
To build the burger, start
with the bun’s base and add
lettuce, burger sauce and a
cheese slice. Add one patty,
another bun slice, sauce and
lettuce. Then place the next
patty and the bun’s top.

SMART storage solutions are a priority this
year, according to consumer bible Which?.
Organise your cupboards and counters with
LEO ROBERTS’ stylish and practical finds.
Hessian potato bag, £5, Dunelm

Bamboo lunch box,
£5.99, Lakeland

Apollo wood egg cabinet, £15.98, Amazon

Rainbow
ceramic
coffee
canister,
£8, Dunelm

Swan retro bread bin, £14.99, shop.swan-brand.co.uk

Speedy cheesy pizza
(Makes two small or
one large to share)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Calories: 473 per serving
YOU NEED:
110g self-raising flour, plus
extra for dusting
125g fat-free Greek yoghurt
Low-calorie cooking spray
80g reduced-fat Cheddar,
grated
120g reduced-fat fresh
mozzarella
For the sauce:
170g cherry tomatoes,
halved
1 large garlic clove

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
Sea salt and freshly ground
black pepper
METHOD: Preheat the oven
to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Put
all of the sauce ingredients
into an ovenproof dish and
bake for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the
base. Mix the flour and
yoghurt together in a large
bowl until combined to form
a dough.
Sprinkle flour on the worktop and turn the dough out.
Knead until it is springy to
the touch. Spritz a pizza dish

or large baking tray with
cooking spray.
Press the pizza dough on
to the tray, forming two
small pizzas or a large
sharing one.
Remove the sauce ingredients from the oven and
mash the cherry tomatoes
with a fork.
Spread the sauce on the
pizza base, then top with the
Cheddar.
Rip the mozzarella into
small chunks and spread out
evenly on top.
Place the pizza in the oven
on a high shelf and bake for
15 minutes.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

LET THEM
EAT FAKES
Tandoori chicken kebab
(Makes two kebabs)
Prep time: 10 minutes, plus one
hour marinating
Cook time: 20 minutes
Calories: 400 per portion
YOU NEED:
4 tbsp fat-free Greek yoghurt
2 tsp chilli powder (adjust
according to taste)
½ tsp garam masala
½ tsp ground coriander
½ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ground cardamom
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, grated
1 lemon, juice only
2 skinless and boneless chicken
breasts, cut into chunks
Low-calorie cooking spray
Lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber,
to serve
For flatbreads:
75g self-raising flour, plus a little
extra for dusting
½ tsp baking powder
75g natural yoghurt
Pinch of crushed garlic
Sea salt
METHOD: Make the chicken

marinade by mixing the yoghurt,
chilli powder, garam masala,
ground spices, ginger, garlic and
lemon juice together in a large bowl.
Add the chicken and mix well to
make sure it is well coated. Cover
and leave to marinate for one hour.
Put all the ingredients for the
flatbreads into a bowl, mix with a
spoon, then use your hands to bring
everything together into a dough.
Sprinkle the worktop with flour.
Turn out the dough and knead for a
minute to bring it all together.
Split the dough into two portions,
then pat and flatten each piece.
Use a rolling pin to roll each piece
into a 12cm round, about 2mm to
3mm thick.
Spray a griddle pan with
low-calorie cooking spray and heat
over medium-high heat.
Add each flatbread, one at a time,
and heat for two minutes on each
side until it has slightly puffed up
and has griddle lines.
Thread the chicken pieces on to a
metal kebab stick (if using wooden
sticks, soak them in water for
30 minutes first).
Preheat the grill to high and grill
the kebabs for seven minutes on
each side until the chicken is
cooked all the way through.
Serve the chicken in the
flatbreads with salad.

Fish & chips
(Makes two portions)
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Calories: 560 per portion
YOU NEED:
2 wholemeal bread slices, blitzed in the
food processor to make breadcrumbs
1 medium egg, beaten
2 x 150g skinless cod or haddock fillets
300g frozen or tinned peas
Lemon wedges, to serve
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the chips:
2 large potatoes, peeled, cut into chips
½ tsp smoked paprika
Low-calorie cooking spray
For the tartare sauce:
4 tbsp low-fat mayonnaise

1 tbsp capers, drained and chopped
2 tbsp gherkins, drained and chopped
1 small shallot, finely chopped
½ lemon, juice only
1 tbsp chopped parsley.
METHOD: Preheat oven to 200C/180C
fan/gas 6. Meanwhile, bring a saucepan
of water to the boil and add the chips.
Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for
seven minutes.
Drain the chips and give them a good
shake in the pan so they get fluffy on the
outside to help with the crispness.
Season the chips in the pan with salt,
pepper and smoked paprika.
Spread the chips on a baking tray and
give them a good covering of low-calorie
cooking spray. Bake for 15 minutes.
Next it is time to prepare the fish. Put

the breadcrumbs and the beaten egg in
separate bowls.
Use one hand to pick up the fish and
put it in the egg, and the same hand to
take it out of the egg and drop it into the
breadcrumbs. Then use the other hand to
take it out of the breadcrumbs. Repeat
this process twice.
Lay the fish out on a baking tray, and
after the chips have been cooking for
15 minutes, add the fish on the shelf
below. Allow the fish and chips to cook for
a further 15 minutes until the fish is
cooked through and flaky.
Prepare the tartare sauce by mixing all
the ingredients together in a bowl.
Warm the peas in a small pan or the
microwave.
Serve the fish and chips with the peas,
tartare sauce and lemon wedges.

Chinese chicken curry noodles
(Makes 4 portions)
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 hours
Calories: 400 per portion
YOU NEED:
500g skinless and boneless chicken
breast, diced
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp tomato purée
1 x 400g tin of light coconut milk
1 tbsp ground turmeric
2 tbsp curry powder
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
Thumb-sized piece of fresh

ginger, grated
1 tsp chilli powder
½ tsp Chinese five-spice
1 tsp soy sauce
150g dried egg noodles
100g frozen peas
METHOD: Place all of the
ingredients, except for the noodles
and peas, into the bowl of a slow
cooker and stir well.
Set the slow cooker to high and
leave for four hours. Add the noodles
and peas and stir them together.
Leave for another hour in the slow
cooker, then serve.

39

dear deidre

40 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

No matter what the issue, I answer every single problem

stories

deidre’s
photo
casebook

OLIVIA GETS THE WRONG IDEA: DAY 6
YOU MUST THINK
I’M AN IDIOT. HOW
COULD YOU CHEAT
SO BLATANTLY AND
SO MANY TIMES?

SINCE my husband left, I
have kept agreeing to
sex with him because I
miss him so much.

I FOUND THE
WOMEN’S
UNDERWEAR
AND PYJAMAS!

OH! I SWEAR.
IT’S NOT WHAT
YOU THINK

But this means I have not
found the closure I need and I
actually feel worse — like a
prostitute.
I’m 35 and he is 36. We were
married for ten years and I
hoped we would start a family.
Then eight months ago, he
told me he wanted to be single
again. I was devastated and
cried myself to sleep for weeks.
Just as I started to feel better,
he called to say he missed me.
He said he wanted to talk and
invited himself round.
When I saw him, all my
feelings flooded back.
We chatted about old times
over a bottle of wine and then

ONLINE &
SOCIAL
Dear Deidre

I REALLY THOUGHT
HE LOVED ME BUT
ALL THE TIME HE
WAS PLAYING AWAY

NOT
NECESSARILY.
THERE IS
ANOTHER
EXPLANATION…

THE UNDERWEAR COULD BE HIS

WHAAAAAAT?

CONTINUES TOMORROW

SALLY LAND
Team:
JANE ALLTON
HILARY FREEMAN
KALLY LEWIS
CATHERINE THOMAS
MICHELLE HARRIS

Ex-hubby uses me
like free prostitute

Dear Deidre

WHAT ARE
YOU GOING
ON ABOUT?

Edited by

HERE TO HELP YOU

MY team of counsellors is ready to
help every day. We usually reply to you
within 24 hours and always change
details on any published problems to
protect identities. The Dear Deidre
team advises and assists people for
free, in an age when counselling
sessions can cost £80 and funding
for support is at an all-time low.
If you want our help, please email
deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk or write
(enclosing an SAE) to Dear Deidre,
The Sun, London SE1 9GF

fell into bed. He said this would
help us to say goodbye.
The sex was the best we’d

ever had because it was so
intense and part of me thought
that afterwards he would change
his mind and ask to get back
together.
But he didn’t. And after he
had left, I felt empty and alone.
The next time he called, we
had
sex
again,
because
I
couldn’t resist.
It’s now been happening for
months, and I’ve realised his
words mean nothing. He doesn’t
miss me, he is just using me
when he is bored or lonely.
To him, I’m nothing more
than a free prostitute. Now I
wonder if he ever loved me.
I feel I’m going backwards,
not moving forwards. He keeps
breaking my heart over and
over again.
I know I need to break this
pattern.
0 DEIDRE SAYS: Feelings of love
and
attraction
don’t
vanish

Need help with a dilemma or want to know more about how we can help?
ONLINE: thesun.co.uk/deidre Follow and message us on: INSTAGRAM
@dear.deidre TWITTER @DearDeidre FACEBOOK @DearDeidreOfficial

WHEN my new girlfriend and
I get to the bedroom, I’m
always an embarrassing flop.
She’s beautiful and kind
and has a cracking figure,
so I don’t understand why I
can’t cope when we try to
have sex.
My mind is turned on,
but my body just won’t
co-operate. It’s never
happened before.
I’m 29 and my girlfriend is
20. We’ve been seeing each
other for two months and I
fear that if something doesn’t
change, she’ll dump me.
To be honest, I’m surprised
she was ever interested in me
in the first place. She’s out of
my league – a ten, while I’m a
five, maximum.
She told me she likes older
guys and she thinks I’m cute,
sexy and funny.
Each time we go to bed
and I lose my erection, she is
understanding, and I try to
please her in other ways.
She says she has enjoyed
it, but obviously we both want
to have proper sex.
I’m starting to dread her
sleeping over because I’m so
anxious about this.
I’m sure her patience is
going to run out soon just like
I’m running out of excuses.
0 DEIDRE SAYS: Most men
have trouble keeping an
erection at some point.
In young men, this
is almost always a
psychological issue, not
a physical problem.
If you get early morning
erections and masturbate
normally, it’s likely the
cause is in your mind.
Usually, it’s a vicious
circle – the more you worry
it’ll happen, the more it
occurs. My support pack,
Erection Problems, will tell
you how to sort this out.
You sound like you may
have low self-confidence,
which won’t help. Remind
yourself this girl really likes
you. And read my support
pack, Raising Self-Esteem.

Dear Deidre

I AM stuck in a sexless
marriage with a man who
says he isn’t sure he loves
me any more.
We have an eightmonth-old baby girl and
although I love her dearly, I
feel like crying every day.
I’m 30 and my husband
is 32. We have been
together for seven years.
Our sex life went off the
boil five years ago and has
never recovered.
It has left me feeling

THANK
YOU
FOR...

unwanted, with no confidence.
My husband said he
wanted a child and I hoped
once the baby was born
things would improve, but
instead they have got
worse.
We
haven’t
been
intimate for six months.
I’ve stopped trying to
initiate it because I’m sick
of being rejected. He won’t
even hug me.
When I tried to talk to him
about it, he admitted he
wasn’t sure how he felt

about me, but didn’t want
to split up our family.
0 DEIDRE SAYS:
You
can’t carry on like this.
Please talk to your
husband again and tell
him you’re at crisis point.
Couples counselling is
a good idea, if he’ll agree.
But if not, you can talk to
someone alone.
Find support through
Tavistock Relationships
(tavistockrelationships.
org, 020 7380 1960).
My Counselling support
pack will tell you more.

HELPING ME TO GET
ON BETTER WITH SON

Dear Deidre

FOLLOWING my divorce, my wife
made it difficult for me to have a
relationship with my sons.
She constantly undermined me.
When I wrote to you, this had been
going on for seven years. I’m 42 and
my ex-wife is 40. My older boy, who is
15, constantly bullied my 13-year-old
son, often hitting and kicking him.
If I punished him, by taking his tablet
away for instance, he would get his
mum to come and pick him up. She
never told him off or supported me.
You suggested my son might still be
angry about our divorce and said I
should try talking to him directly. You

Dear Deidre

MY
sister-in-law
has
ghosted me since I
announced I was pregnant
with my first child.
I feel so hurt and I’m not
sure what her problem is.
We have been best
friends since we met, but
now she wants nothing to
do with me. I’m 29 and
she’s 34.
A couple of months ago
she announced she was
pregnant with her third
child. I was over the moon

sent me your Troubled Teenagers
support pack and suggested I call
Families Need Fathers (fnf.org.uk,
0300 0300 363). Thank you so much.
I’ve had a breakthrough.
I took him out for a meal and he
opened up. He is angry and also
having some problems at school.
I offered to help him and told him he
could call me any time.
We’re now getting on much better.
0 DEIDRE SAYS: I’m so pleased you
have been able to start building a
relationship with your son, and hope
you can help him with his problems.
So often, spending real quality
time with a child can make a big
improvement.

for her. I did everything I
could to support her. I
accompanied her to her
scans, helped her with
shopping, and even babysat when she needed it.
Yet since I fell pregnant
there has been complete
radio silence.
I can’t understand what
I’ve done. Surely she
should be happy for me.
0 DEIDRE SAYS: It
is
very possible that she
could be feeling fed up
with her own pregnancy
and is projecting her

feelings on to you. She
might not know how to
handle you being happy
about your baby.
However, there is no
way to truly understand
why she is acting this way
without talking to her.
Ask to speak to her and
explain how you were
looking
forward
to
sharing your pregnancy
news and wonder if there
is something wrong.
I’m
attaching
my
support pack, Rows With
Friends?, which will help.

overnight. And sex with an ex can
feel both exciting and familiar – a
thrilling combination.
However, as your ex knows that
you still love him and want him back,
he is taking advantage of this.
And you are letting him do it.
That’s because love really can be a
drug. My support pack, Addictive
Love, explains more.
The best way to get over him and
to take control back is to go cold
turkey.
Block him and make it clear
that this can’t happen again
because it’s destroying your selfworth and stopping you from
moving forward.
Tell yourself, and him, that you
deserve so much better than this.
Ask a friend for support. You
might find it helpful to talk to a
counsellor.
See my support pack, Moving On,
for tips on how to get over a painful
break-up.

TEENAGE
TROUBLES
Dear Deidre

I REALLY want to find a
girlfriend but I’ve been on
tons of dating apps and never
get any matches.
I’m starting to think I will
never find a girl to date.
This is really getting me
down. I’m 19 and haven’t even
kissed a girl.
Dating apps don’t work.
Should I give up on finding
love?
0 DEIDRE SAYS: Don’t give
up. But dating apps aren’t for
everyone and they can be
very superficial.
You’re better off finding
love by getting involved in
activities you enjoy and
making friends.
That way you’ll meet
someone you have things in
common with. And your new
mates can introduce you to
their friends.
My support packs,
Widening Your Social Scene
and Finding The Right
Partner For You, will help.

Dear Deidre

MY relationship is going
nowhere and I want out.
But I’m scared that if I break
up with my boyfriend, I’ll be
making a big mistake and I’ll
end up single and lonely.
I’m 18 and he’s 20. We’ve
been together for two years,
and he was my first boyfriend.
But he is always on social
media looking at, and liking,
other women’s pictures. And
he makes no effort with me.
I’m feeling bored and
miserable. Is this just how a
relationship is once it’s
established?
0 DEIDRE SAYS: Relationships aren’t meant to make
you unhappy.
It sounds like yours has
run its course. Don’t be
scared to end it. In the long
run you’ll be happier and
have the chance to meet
someone better for you.
Read my support pack,
Learning To Love.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

41

We’ve got all your favourite brain teasers

SUNDIAL

3 PAGES OF PUZZLES
START HERE

double Sun
DOKU

CALL 0905 757 0156 FOR
CLUES OR SOLUTION

TODAY’S TEASER

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0905 757 0152 FOR
TODAY’S TOUGHIE CALL
CLUES OR SOLUTION

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O S S E L

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TOUGHIE

TEASER

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N A R
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MINDBENDER

The following twelve pairs of letters can be put before and
after the letters “UD” to form six six-letter words:

GE
AL

LO
LY

EX
DY

IO
FE

ST
TR

PATHFINDER

Beginning with the letter
J in the shaded square
below, follow a
continuous path in the grid to find 16 words and names relating
to Last Tango In Halifax. The trail passes through each and every
letter once, and may twist up, down or sideways, but never
diagonally.

I

J O S A L

L Y R A ANNE REID

COMEDY-DRAMA

O C O B H S O J H A S GARDNER
J A L S I N H W R I T IN HALIFAX
O Y T A R R E N

I

G H

R R A M D E K W A S A
K D Y D E C E R
S H

I

I

H C

R M O E R E A N

T S A E A N N D

I

L X

T A L R E N D G

I

F A

G N C O W A R A L

A H

O N

I

I

L

A L K E R

I

O P
L

T

G N M N O P
I

A U E W

N O R B B D Y
I

ACROSS
DOWN
2 Prince who married Grace Kelly (7)
1 Milky pudding topped with heated sugar (5,7)
3 Leaf depicted on the Canadian flag (5)
8 Fuel obtained from coal (4)
4 African state bordering Niger, Libya and Sudan (4)
12 Actor best known for Drop The Dead Donkey
5 Surname of Rising Damp star Leonard (8)
and Between The Lines (4,7)
6 Ritzy resort in the principality of Monaco (5,5)
13 Surname of Shape Of You singer Ed (7)
7 Saxophone‑playing member of the Simpson
14 Nickname of rap star Marshall Mathers (6)
family (4)
15 Yorkshire resort between Scarborough and
8 Member of a Native American people (8)
Bridlington (5)
9 White wine and blackcurrant drink (3)
16 First name of soap actress Ms Wallace (6)
10 First part of Dante’s The Divine Comedy (7)
20 Location first reached by Robert Peary (5,4)
11 Form of WWII air‑raid shelter (8)
22 Mountain range with Corno Grande as its
17 Capital of the US state of New Mexico (5,2)
highest peak (9)
18 Britain’s smallest bird (9)
23 Replace (a software program) (7)
19 Surname of the famous French stage
25 Surname of swashbuckling actor Errol (5)
tragedienne Sarah (9)
26 Normandy ferry port (4)
21 Greek equivalent of the Roman goddess Juno (4)
29 Jump named after an Austrian figure‑skater (4)
24 Plant of the nightshade family with funnel‑shaped
30 ‘Hunter’ constellation (5)
flowers (7)
31 Non‑Christian opponent of the Crusaders (7)
27 Spiced lamb cooked on a spit (5,5)
35 Memphis’ state (9)
28 Capital of Azerbaijan (4)
36 Integer not divisible by two (3,6)
29 Angular distance from the Equator (8)
38 Shipping forecast area south of Humber (6)
32 Front part of the brain (8)
39 Phone system on the internet (5)
33 Chopin or Bach, for example (8)
40 Epithet given to Mary, mother of Jesus (6)
34 Scottish islands, informally (7)
44 First name of Ms Meaden, Dragons’ Den
37 WE Johns’ flying ace (7)
investor (7)
41 US state dominated by the Rocky Mountains (5)
46 John Cleese sitcom character (5,6)
42 First name of Kojak, as played by Telly Savalas
47 Description given to zero on the Beaufort
on TV (4)
Scale (4)
43 Glossy magazine launched in France in 1945 (4)
48 Queen Victoria’s Isle of Wight residence (7,5)
45 Doctors’ organisation (inits)(3)

I

Answers tomorrow.
Check today’s answers before midnight by calling 0905 757 0158 for Across and 0905 757 0159 for Down.
Calls cost £1 per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

Purchase the latest Sun Puzzle Books, including crosswords, wordsearches & sudoku, for as little
as £4.99 from the HarperCollins website harpercollins.co.uk or phone 0141 306 3100

L E O N E P

1

T S E T C O S S E

U O A K E Y A C L O

2

3

4

5

N

JACOBI
JOHN
JOSH BOLT
LANCASHIRE
LAST TANGO
NICOLA
SALLY
SARAH
SIR DEREK
WAINWRIGHT
WALKER
YORKSHIRE

6

7

8

9

10

11

A R D H M H R G L U
V S T M C A W I

U T

12

13

E N V E A P S E B O
H R H

I

E U A T H N

T T S A W S
S B

I

I

T E T

G B R E A K R

BIG BREAK
BULLSEYE
GLADIATORS
LINGO
POINTLESS
TASKMASTER
TENABLE
THE CHASE

THE CODE
THE CUBE
THE VAULT
THE WALL
THE WHEEL
TISWAS
WIPEOUT
YOU BET

14

15

MINI ANAGRAM

Correctly solve the anagrams (there may
be more than one option) to fill in the grid
and complete the crossword.
1
4
5

6

2

3

ACROSS
1 ALGA
5 THORN
6 ROXY
DOWN
2 YARRA
3 EACH
4 NOT I

Calls for extra clues and
answers last no longer than two
minutes (Sundial answers may
vary). Helpline: 0333 202 3390
(9am-5.30pm). Service provider:
Spoke, W1T 4HD

16

18
20

21

23

17

19
22

24

25

26

27

For how to enter see details on
the following page.

Answer tomorrow.

B

I

T A L

Calls cost £1 per minute from BT landlines plus network rates

CR
ED

I

C D D R L

1
2
4
3
6
8
7
5
9

T N

V L N R N C D R E Y

2

7
6
8
5
2
9
4
3
1

£50

M G T H E W A L

9
6
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS
2
4
5
3
1
7
6
9
8

WIN!

The 16 names listed
below are all TV game
shows, but which one
isn’t in the grid?

7

5 8
9 6
8 3
4
3 1 5

7
1
8
6
4
9
5
2
3

Check today’s answers by calling
0905 757 0155 before midnight.
Calls cost £1 per minute plus your
telephone company’s network
access charge.

WORDSEARCH

8

4

SEE how many words of four or
more letters you can “dial”
using the one at the centre in
each word.
You can make at least one
word using all of them. Don’t
use the letters more than once
in any word.
No proper names or plurals. Words
from Collins Concise Dictionary.
BRILLIANT: 35. EXCELLENT: 29.
GOOD: 21. GREAT SCORE FOR
KIDS: 16.
YESTERDAY: Acorn, actor, cant, canto,
carrot, cart, carton, cartoon, coat,
coma, contra, coot, corn, corona, cram,
croon, macro, macron, motorcar, orca,
CORMORANT.

the BIG quizword

29

28

30

31

32

33

35

34

36

38

37

39

40

42
44

45

47

43
46

48

41

42 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
We’ve got all your favourite brain teasers

Place these words in the horizontal rows so that the
letters in the diagonal staircase spell out another
word connected with Location, Location, Location.

Complete the puzzle and rearrange the letters in the
shaded squares to spell out a Hollywood actress (8,8).
1

2

3

4

6

5

ADVICE

7

ALLSOPP

8
9

10

BEDROOM

11

13

14

DRIVE

15

17

18

19

6&3

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

The stage name of School's Out singer Vincent Furnier

has played Ash "Three Socks" Morgan in Hustle and
10 & 7 He
Nicholas Blake in Spooks
Former
5 & 8 St. Johnfootballer who formed a TV punditry duo with Ian
Clistjers, Belgian tennis star and winner of multiple
4 & 2 Ms
women's US Open singles (first and second letters of name)
Driver, who played Skylar in Good Will Hunting (first and
1 & 9 Ms
last letters of name)

1

SELLER

2

3

4

5

6

23

24

25
26

27

29

28

30
31

ACROSS
DOWN
1 Brother of AJ Pritchard (6)
1 ___ Ev’ry Mountain, song from The
Sound Of Music (5)
2 Kate ___, Running Up That Hill
singer (4)
6 Keith ___, Nicole Kidman’s
3 First name of Little Women actress
husband (5)
Ms Ronan (7)
7 ___ Jupitus, comedian (5)
4 Jurassic World star (5,5)
9 Mark ___, Luke Skywalker in the
5 ___ Moon, EastEnders character (5)
Star Wars series (6)
8 Parklife singers (4)
11 2001 film starring Judi Dench and
10 Musical featuring Daddy
Kate Winslet (4)
Warbucks (5)
12 ___ Dennis, Neighbours actor (6)
13 Surname of Inspector Morse actor
15 The ___, Irish band (6)
John (4)
17 ___ Perry, Chandler in Friends (7)
14 DJ whose real name is Norman
Cook (6,4)
18 Dire ___, band who sang Sultans Of
Swing (7)
16 ___ Laurel, Oliver Hardy's partner (4)
19 ___ Motown, Supremes’ record
21 First name of actress Ms Lumley (6)
label (5)
23 ___ On The Bounty, 1962 film
20 1980s singer with the
starring Marlon Brando (6)
Blockheads (3,4)
26 ___ Daly, Strictly presenter (4)
22 Robert De ___, Goodfellas actor (4)
27 Amanda ___, The Good Karma
24 ___ Fielding, presenter of Most
Hospital star (6)
Haunted (6)
29 ___ Walters, Billy Elliot actress (5)
25 ___ Lupin, Harry Potter character (5)
30 Annual pop-music awards (5)
28 Johnny ___, singer of I Can See
31 ___ Berry, X-Men actress (5)
Clearly Now (4)

INITIALS

If S is Silverview, what are these other
John Le Carré novels?

John
Le Carré

SUGURU
Each cell in an outlined
block must contain a
digit: a two-cell block
contains the digits
1 and 2, a three-cell
block contains the
digits 1, 2 and 3; and
so on. The same digit
must not appear in
neighbouring cells,
not even diagonally.

8

®

ACROSS
1 Reed instrument (4)
4 Grotesque spout (8)
8 Flemish artist (6)
9 Royal residence (6)
10 Velvety fabric (8)
12 Hue (4)
13 Colleague (6)
15 Tooth covering (6)
17 Female relative (4)
19 Car driver (8)
21 Market cart (6)
22 Scam artist (3,3)
23 US party member (8)
24 Whirling current (4)

5 1
3 1
3
2
3
1 4

2

2 Clergy

3

3 Band of colour

4

4 Ski-slope

5

5 Phase

6

6 Animal kept in the home
7 Measuring reel

7

8 Jumped

8

9 Crockery items

9

10 Paper fasteners

1. SP
2. TRH
3. TTSS
4. TNM
5. ASTIG
6. CFTD

PIECEWORD
T E D
A
D I S
C
L I S O
H
E L Y E R K T R I
I
C E R A
E
E N
O
E R OW
E R N I C N
E A S T E N L L
A T T H
U
A R
T
E S E
N
N T
E F A S
A L I E S T
C
R
E E
I C H E

1. OH, US EURO
2. BOAST GREY RUGS
3. PHRENETIC
4. AS MEMBER RANTS
5. DENOTE BOY’S PEN
6. MOVE SUBTITLE

Ten letters
have been
given a
number
from 1 to
10. Break
the code to
complete
the
crossword.

10
11

1

14

12

15

17

18

16

19

20

DOWN
2 Fox's tail (5)
3 Everlasting (7)
4 Chatter (3)
5 Portray (9)
6 Baby bird (5)
7 Freedom (7)
11 Grass-cutter (4,5)
14 Instruct (7)
16 Orchestrate (7)
18 Human body section (5)
20 Pottery fragment (5)
22 Feline (3)

22

23

24

Check today’s answers before midnight by calling 0905 757
0150 for Across and 0905 757 0151 for Down. Calls cost £1 per
minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

1

11 Christ’s
followers

13

11

21

Answer each clue so that every word contains the
same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one.

UNSCRAMBLE MINI CODE
Unscramble these anagrams to spell
out six songs by Madness.

10

BRICKWORK
1 Temporary
breaks

9

10

8

5

1

9

2

7

1

5

4

9

4

8

2

9

A

3

A
D
E
L
N
O
P
R
S
T

1
2

A

6
7

3

8

4

9

TWO-SPEED CROSSWORD

22

Answer tomorrow.

Coffee time

7

20
21

A seven-digit passcode uses
every digit from 1 to 6, one
digit is repeated, and the
sum of all the digits is 27. The
third and fourth digits form
a square number, and the
fifth and sixth form a number
one less than a square. The
final two digits form a prime
number. There is only one
pair of adjacent digits which
add up to an odd number, and
adjacent digits are never the
same as each other. What is
the code?

10

9

Two sets of clues but the answers are the same

HOUSE

16

1

Yesterday: Late Actor RIK MAYALL (Mahershala Ali, Little Richard,
Yusuf Islam, Ang Lee, Karen (Carpenter)). Another Name Game in
The Sun tomorrow.
If you can’t wait until tomorrow for the answers, just call 0901 293 6298.
Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

COUPLES
12

THE NAME GAME

UP TO £200 CASH TO BE WON!
SUNRISER
Crossword WIN!
£100

BRAINBOXER

EACH clue leads to a well-known name. Put the initials or
stated letters in the appropriate squares to identify a singer:

WORD WORKOUT

theworld’s
world’s
THISis
is the
best best
N THIS
6
6
2
3
5
10 brainteaser,
brainteaser, TheThe
Sun’s Sun’s
clueless
crossword.
clueless crossword.
Here
play:
Here is is
howhow
to play:to
Each
grid
number
in our
Word Workout
Each
grid
number
in our
game represents
a letter.
Word
Workout
game
With the help of the Across clues only, can you fit the pieces into their correct positions
So if you think
is the letter A,
in the grid? See next page for solution.
represents
a 4letter.
write
in all think
the squares
a
ACROSS
So
if Ayou
4 iswith
the
I G N 1
4.
All
the
alphabet
is used and
1 Fazed, unnerved
letter
A,
write
A
in
all
the
we have supplied some letters
N
O 2
3 Bird’s sound •
squares
with
a 4.will print the
to start you
off. We
Agreeably
G E R 3
All
the alphabet
answers
tomorrow. is used
5 Extraterrestrial •
andYESTERDAY’S
we have SOLUTIONS
supplied
I
O 4
ACROSS:
Mass, Wit,
Dessert purée
some
lettersWily,
to start
you
Rite,
Volt,
Exchanged,
C O U 5
6 Long period of time • off. We will print the
Mannequin, Took, Vale,
answers
___ up, feel more
Fly, Bite,tomorrow.
Jeep. DOWN: Work,
A
P 6
Latex, Pizza, Alone, Site, Elm,
cheerful
YESTERDAY
Con,
Gnu,
Den, Aloft, Early,
7
C O N
7 Point of the
Irate,Wily,
Stub, Mass,
Hemp. Wit,
ACROSS:
compass • Early
8
N
Rite, Volt,
For 4Exchanged,
Extra Clues
cloth measure
L L
9
Call 0901 293
6299 Vale,
or text
Took,
8 Confirm • Bowman’s Mannequin,
SUNWORD
Fly, Bite,
Jeep.to 64343
missile
D E 10
10 Bind • Deem worthy
DOWN:
Work,
Calls cost
£1 plus Latex,
your telephone
11
A
company’s network access charge.
12 Fast-food meal in a
Pizza,
Site,
Elm,
B U R 12
TextsAlone,
cost £1 plus
your standard
bun
Con, Gnu,network
Den,rate.
Aloft,
Early, Irate, Stub, Hemp.

N

Cryptic clues

ACROSS
DOWN
1 Hooligan beheaded with Old English
2 Sweeper's light touch (5)
instrument (4)
3 Endless ale drunk entertaining
4 Carving may result in a gory leg (8)
flier (7)
8 Dancing nurse embraces beloved painter (6)
4 Short cut to get fuel (3)
9 Football team in China excellent (6)
5 Show on here (9)
10 In church there's female with evil
material (8)
6 Towel out for young winger (5)
12 Some sit in the shade (4)
7 007 has one to kill (7)
13 Guy destructive with old wife (6)
11 Cutting tool won war with elm in
15 Title kept by the Spanish Crown
bits (4,5)
Protector? (6)
14 EU acted to build train (7)
17 Soldier brought round uniform for
kinswoman (4)
16 Settle musical score? (7)
19 One behind wheel sees hill in wet (8)
18 Trunk found in Brest or
21 Simple vehicle comes to burial mound (6)
somewhere (5)
22 Tory chap is swindler (3,3)
20 Glass broken away in enormous
23 Frenchman in red coat slammed
building (5)
politician (8)
24 Man from Gwynedd yielding (4)
22 Moggy fur has nothing missing (3)
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION
ACROSS: 8 E-pit-aph, 9 I'm-age, 10 Rob-ot, 11 Ragtime, 12 Deb-a-table, 14 So-b, 16 Do-t,
17 Min-or-poe-t, 19 Simila-r, 21 Pit-ta, 22 Cha-o-s, 23 Ob-s-c-ure.
DOWN: 1 D-egrade-d, 2 Bit-by-bit, 3 C-art, 4 C-her-ub, 5 Kin-g Lear, 6 Da-l-i, 7 Here,
13 Time-les-s, 14 Short-cut, 15 Betrayer, 18 N-arrow, 19 Sack, 20 M-eat, 21 Posh.

17

10

12

14
23

6

11
11

12

8

16

12

7

26

23

16

14

5

9

24

20

21

26

3

26

23

4

23
2

3

8

22

1

26

11

14
21

26

18

19

9

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

1
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3

22

25
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25

8

26
12

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14

8

8

9

26

23

12

3

12

16

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26

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26

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20
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B W

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Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

43

3 pages
of puzzles
3 pages
of puzzles

WIN!

Mini Anagram

Sujiko

Suko

538
792
146

3

＜

＜

5

2

4

1

Last Saturday’s Prize Answers
Crossword STEPHEN FRY
T
I
I S
L
L AU

R
PO
B
R I
N
E
R
S I
T
MA

L

Wordsearch

N

SAURON

Arroword

AIDAN TURNER

9 12 15
N
I
C
O
L
B L E

6

C

3

POST COUPON IN AN ENVELOPE TO: The Sun Puzzles Competition,
PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GP

L
O
V
E
I
S
L
I T S A
H
N
O L D
R
HAM
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＞

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＞

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＞

F I N D

TEL

A
B
B OWE
B
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A L AN
E
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C
D
E
E S S
L
D R E A
I
B
GRA
G M
A
I B
A

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NEWSPAPER FOR ANSWERS

EMAIL

ME E R
I
L
L
E
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L
A
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F
A
AN
C
A
MARR
S
A
G EMM
Y
A

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POSTCODE

＞

Sunriser

5

RO
A Y

Allsopp, Drive, Advice,
Bedroom, Vendor,
House, Couples –
spelling ADDRESS.

3

S A

4
5
4
2

3
2
1
5

Suguru
1

SEE SATURDAY’S
NEWSPAPER FOR ANSWERS

1
4
3
2

5
2
1
5

ACROSS: 1 Gala
5 North 6 Oryx
DOWN: 2 Array
3 Ache 4 Into

PAGE 2
Top line 516
Middle 273
Bottom 849
2

2

Venus boosts personal charisma, while Mercury is powerfully
placed in your chart of friendship and teamwork. While it’s
good to be a valued member of a group, deep down you know
you’re ready for leadership. If you’re single, a foodie friend can
be a brilliant love and business match. Do think it through.

GRADUATE

1
3
4
3

4

Enter the numbers 1 to 9 in
the spaces so that the
number in each circle is
equal to the sum of it’s
surrounding squares. Each
coloured area should add up
to the colour totals below.

Pathfinder
3

1

5

The luck centre of your chart puts you in the right place at the
right time to be a contender for a dream opportunity or a major
prize. Romance rewards patience – and just when you think a
relationship is fading, a partner says the loving words you’ve
been longing for. Single? New love is wearing brand new shoes.

Fill the squares so that
each row and column
contains 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The symbols tell you if the
number in the square is
larger (>) or smaller (<)
than the number next to it.

A
S
T
H
A
C
N
X
A
H
N

4

2

4

22

R
A
I
G
S
H
A
L
F
A
I

5

＞

4

＞

3

5

3

＞

1

1

LOSE, Lone,
Line, Fine, FIND.

Add It Up
144

Futoshiki
2

Word Ladder

24

Y
H
R
I
A
I
E
I
I
L
R

S
O
Y
A
＞

4 × 1 + 3
+
+
−
5 × 6 + 9
×
+
+
7 × 2 + 8

D
R
A
G

21

L
J
W
N
W
R
R
D
G
A
E

Set Square

A
U
R
A

You learn new skills quickly and feel at home wherever you are –
especially if starting, or seeking, a new job. Venus, the planet of
luxury as well as love, sets up a meeting with a lifestyle
champion you’ve always wanted to meet. You may stumble over
words, but your true meaning will shine. Luck circles “87”.

21

L
O
H
E
K
E
E
N
D
R
K

L
E
T
S

A
S
N
R
E
C
O
N
N
A
L

Letter Box

3
2
1
5
4
6

S
H
I
R
D
E
M
A
E
W
A

6
1
2
4
3
5

O
B
S
A
M
D
R
E
R
O
L

5
4
3
6
2
1

J
O
L
T
A
Y
I
A
L
C
I

4
3
6
1
5
2

12

Initials

1
5
4
2
6
3

＜

ADDRESS

2
6
5
3
1
4

＞

NAME

TV Mag Solutions

Sudoku

19

2 1 4 1 3
1. Smiley’s People
2. The Russia House
3. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Brickwork
4. The Night Manager
5. A Small Town In
Germany
6. Call For The Dead

ENTERING OUR PRIZE PUZZLES IS NOW EASIER THAN EVER!
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can enter one, two or
all three puzzles.)

Commitment is your route to success and you have excellent
money ideas, even when circumstances seem to change.
Uranus, in your wellbeing chart, helps you devise an unusual
but delicious eating plan and others follow it. Single? You’re
smarter about love and see new potential in an old flame.

14

Mini Code
1 Respites 2 Priests
3 Stripe 4 Piste 5 Step
6 Pet 7 Tape 8 Leapt
9 Plates 10 Staples
11 Apostles

1
3 2

Neptune, the dreams-come-true planet, has influence in your
creative zone today – so be sure pride doesn’t stop you saying
yes to a second try at an activity. The rocky road to true
romance has taught you a lot – and now you put it into practice,
whether you’ve been with a partner for years or have met today.

Unscramble

4

Delays are replaced by decisions as your chart regroups. But
as Venus gets tangled up in your fitness zone, do remember
purely physical romances need the most careful handling. If
you’re already in love, there’s still time for a bond to fulfil your
highest hopes. A family talent shows up in you – and it’s great.

1

R
T
P
N
S

4
1
2 4

A
E
D
O
L

1

4 1
2
4

D
N E
ON
N
E D

TIBIA
UPPER
6 letters
DOTING
EUREKA
7 letters
MEANDER
9 letters
EMERGENCE
ITINERANT
11 letters
IMPERMEABLE
TYPEWRITTEN

A S P
L A
T A L
OP E
R
R

Using only the numbers 1-4, fill the
empty spaces so every row, column
and smaller 2x2 grid contains the
numbers 1 to 4.

3 letters
EAT
ELM
ITS
OAR
WIT
WOE
4 letters
ARUM
EASE
TROT
WITH
5 letters
INTER
INTRO
SCREE
TAPIR

Yes, you have some important relationship choices to make,
between a love that makes you feel secure about the future and
a more passionate bond that may burn out too fast. An idea for
sharing property with the wider family sounds great, but think
carefully about how this would work in practice.

1. Our House
2. Baggy Trousers
3. The Prince
4. Embarrassment
5. One Step Beyond
6. It Must Be Love

Minidoku

Fit the words into the grid below.

Pieceword

KRISS KROSS

Your fast-thinking, calm-talking chart makes you the zodiac’s
smartest candidate for success. Jupiter adds the vital touch of
luck to a project that means a great deal to you and yours. If
you’re not completely sure of a new partner, think about how
they treat their old friends, and your doubts should vanish.

Kriss Kross

Food from
bees

What you assume is a relative’s tall tale could lead to an
interesting, even profitable, family discovery. When a new
neighbourhood face looks familiar, you’re looking at future
love, and someone who could make you blissfully content. If
they’re a Pisces, there could be a spectacular wedding.

4

Solutions

Under the
weather

That guy’s

GN
O
E R

Baby
kangaroo

I
C
A
Y
R
D
H
S
A
N
N

Public
persona

B
O
J
O
R
K
S
T
T
G
O

The piper’s
son!

T
R
O
T

Beard of
barley

E D
C
L Y
A
I S
RK
E
OW

Entry
document

Stare
lustfully

S
C
R
E
E

Tailless
primate

R T
E
C E
O
U L
P E
A
RR
N
E I
N
RG

Boat paddle

C E
O
N I
I
CO
A
L L
A
N
D
A
BU

Split open

ON
N
L
I
N
E R
E
S T
I
E N
U
S E

Examine
thoroughly

At an
opportune
moment

Hang on to

SEE SATURDAY’S
NEWSPAPER FOR ANSWERS

Send
into exile

D I S C
O H
T R I L
N
I E
E
S T
T E
E
S T
H
E E

Cheap
and nasty

Mars and Mercury are rooting for you, so you have energy and
courage. As soon as you spot an opportunity you go for it, even
if it means pitting yourself against a good friend. When it comes
to romance, you have almost too much attraction power – so be
sure you don’t complicate your life. Initial “I” could be special.

SEE SATURDAY’S
NEWSPAPER FOR ANSWERS

Nicola __,
actress

A L
R
E A
A T
T
F A
C
CH

Pear-shaped
Tiny
fruit
vegetable

Minidoku

Bath fixture

E RAN T
U
R
Y
R
U P P E
E LM E
K
W I
AN D E R
O
I T
E A T
T
A
I N T E
S
N
E
E RGE NC

Commotion
(2-2)

An ambition you’ve kept secret is to be revealed – this could
mean spending some time away, but it shouldn’t harm a good
relationship (and it could create some special reunions). Ready
for new love? Your soulmate comes from an unusually talented
family. Text messages can build a strong, lasting relationship.

I T I N
N M
T A P I
R
E
OA R
ME
E
A
B I
L
EM

Earth for
plants

4
3
1
2

Be in possession of

Thoughts

You can keep a conversation going until everybody
understands the changes you want to make. Family weekend
responsibilities can be shared out in a way that’s fairer to
everyone involved but don’t forget to include yourself this time.
Luck calls at a freshly painted blue door.

WO
I
T I
H

Apply
friction to

2
1
4
3

TAYLOR
SWIFT

1
2
3
4

Sporting
venue

3
4
2
1

Pictured
singer’s
first name

2
4
1
3

Assemble (a Novel in
meal) in a digital form
hurry (6,2)
(1-4)

Glass
container

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call)* or text CROSSWORD then your answer, name
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write your answer and contact details on a postcard and
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HOW TO ENTER

4
1
3
2

Complete the puzzle and rearrange the letters in the
shaded squares to spell out a TV dancer (5,5).

3
2
4
1

ARROWORD

44 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
GOOD WEEK

BAD WEEK

JUSTIN Bieber, who sold
his back catalogue of 209
tracks for £162million to
London-listed Hipgnosis
Songs Fund.

NEW Greencore sandwiches boss Dalton
Philips, who gave a lowexpectation
profits
forecast four months in.

busin ss
By ASHLEY ARMSTRONG

ashley.armstrong@the-sun.co.uk
@AArmstrong_says

A CUT OF
SAINSBOS
Corner shop chain grabs 3%
THE owner of COSTCUTTER
and BARGAIN BOOZE convenience shops stunned the
markets yesterday by spending nearly £200million on
Sainsbury’s shares.
Family-owned BESTWAY took a
3.45 per cent stake,
making it the supermarket
chain’s
sixth
largest shareholder.
Bestway said it “did not
intend to make a takeover
offer” — and as a result
will be blocked from making an bid for Sainsbury’s
for six months.
But the group explicitly
appealed
to
buy
more

Share grab . . . Costcutter

shares from other shareholders as an
investment opportunity.
Sainsbury’s is one of just two listed
British supermarkets and despite its
recent profit upgrade and strong
sales, it trades relatively cheaply.
Shares rose 4.5 per cent yesterday as
investors were excited by the move.
Bestway is Britain’s largest wholesaler, providing 3,000 stores with
goods, and has 760 pharmacies through its WELL
PHARMACY arm.
Industry experts said it
could use its Sainsbury’s
shares to strike some sort
of supply deal.
And LLOYDS PHARMACY
recently
announced
it
would be pulling out of
Sainsbury’s shops, potentially paving the way for
Bestway’s Well Pharmacy
to replace those services.

SUPERDRY DIP DIRECTED OUT

DIRECT LINE boss Penny James has
been shown the door just two weeks
after scrapping its dividend.
The insurer’s shares fell almost a
quarter after it axed the award,
blaming a cold weather claims surge.
James is out after four years, cutting the number of women running
London-listed companies to just 17.

SHARES in SUPERDRY tumbled by
20 per cent yesterday as the fashion retailer blamed a profit warning on shipping delays.
It will break even rather than
make £20million of profits as it had
hoped. Boss Julian Dunkerton fears
a squeeze on consumer finances
may lead to “soft” spring sales.

WEEKLY SHARE PERFORMANCE
21st Century Fox Inc A.....................2731 ½
21st Century Fox Inc B.....................2551 ½
Anglo American......................................3557
Assco Br Foods.....................................1857
AstraZeneca............................................10622
Aviva................................................................457 ¼
BAE Sys.........................................................851 ¼
BAT*.............................................................3036 ½
BP.....................................................................489 ¼
BT Group*....................................................129 ¾
Barclays..........................................................185 ¾
Barratt.............................................................465 ¾
Bco Santander..........................................277 ¼
British Land ................................................. 441 ½
Bunzl.............................................................2978
Burberry Grp*.........................................2433
Carnival..........................................................786
Compass* .................................................. 1900 ½
Currys plc*....................................................66 ½
Diageo.........................................................3422
Drax Group.................................................637
Esken Limited.................................................5 ½
Experian*....................................................2895
Ferguson*..................................................11275
FirstGroup .....................................................109 ½
Frasers Group ............................................771
GSK.................................................................1410
Greggs........................................................2688
HSBC..............................................................600 ½
IAG......................................................................171 ¼
IMI...................................................................1463
ITV.......................................................................82 ¾
Imperial Brands......................................2010
Int Distrib Serv.........................................230 ¾
Intercont Htls .......................................... 5688
Johnson M*..............................................2162
Kingfisher......................................................272
Legal&Gen...................................................260 ¾
Lloyds Bkg Gp...........................................52 ½
London St Exch....................................7386
Man...................................................................251 ¾

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

177
147
9
30
578
18
1
85
13
7
20
6
7
54
75
28
12
257
37
41
325
1
6
3
60
7
8
39
3
42
9
50
27
10
5
3
104
12

½
¼
½
¼
¾
¼
½
¼
¾
½
½
¾
½
½
½

¾

¾
½
¾
½
¾
¾
¼
½

THE FTSE 100 CLOSED
UP 321.72 AT 7,765.15
Marks&S.........................................................146
Mitch & Butlers..........................................161
Mitie Gp*........................................................79 ½
Mothercare ......................................................10
NWG................................................................308 ½
National Express.......................................135 ¼
Natl Grid.....................................................1028
News Corp A..........................................1659 ¼
News Corp B..........................................1676 ¼
Next ..............................................................6636
Pennon* ........................................................939 ½
Persimmon ................................................. 1443 ½
Prov Fincl.....................................................242 ¼
Prudential......................................................1371 ½
Rank...................................................................88
Reckitt..........................................................5584
Rentokil Itl ................................................... 503
Rio Tinto.....................................................6291
Rolls-Royce....................................................110
SSE*...............................................................1734
Sage Gp* ....................................................763 ½
Sainsbury ......................................................252 ½
Segro..............................................................843 ¾
Severn Trent............................................2844
Smith WH...................................................1594 ½
Smith&N........................................................1122
Smiths News*..............................................50 ¾
Stand Chart ................................................. 712 ½
TUI.....................................................................179 ½
Tesco..............................................................246 ¾
Unilever........................................................4021
Utd Utils* ...................................................1078
Vesuvius..........................................................418 ¼
Vodafone*.......................................................93 ¼
abrdn................................................................212 ¼
* = ex dividend

Data by MORNINGSTAR

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

4
10
2
13
2
7
100
86
200
16
70
40
69
1
218
2
78
3
16
3
9
32
27
6
20
4
12
4
1
68
21
4
1
7

¾
¼
½

¾
¾
½
½
¼
¾
½
½
¾
½
¾
½
½
½
½
¾
½
¾

SLASH spiralling grocery bills
by finding ways to get free food
and supermarket essentials.
Households are paying £677
a year more due to rising
prices, according to market
research firm Kantar.
From supermarket vouchers
to free food, shoppers can find
ways to ease the price hikes.
LUCY ALDERSON explains how.

CHEAP FOOD CLUBS

JOIN a food club near you and
save hundreds of pounds on your
groceries.
They are usually run by local
community groups or charities.
And unlike food banks, you don’t
need to be referred by a GP,
school or community organisation.
These clubs link up with local
supermarkets, who donate food
nearing their sell-by date. They
are usually run from public
places, such as church halls.
What you can get, and how
much you’ll pay for it, varies.
Some charge a small annual
fee or a few pounds on the door,
while others are free.
For example, charity BS3,
which runs a weekly food
club in a community hall in
Bedminster
in
Bristol,
charges £1 for an annual
membership, plus £3.50 on
the door. For this, you’ll get a
bag of food worth between
£10-£15.
Elaine Wilshart, inset, who uses
Bedminster’s food club, said she
saves around £1,000 a year.
She added: “There’s always
tinned goods like tomatoes and
chickpeas, and a good selection
of fruit and veg.
“Sometimes there’s protein like
chicken and lamb koftas. There’s
even been sea bass a few times.”
Ask your local Citizens Advice
branch or council if you have a
food club in your area.
You can also look on social
media as many have Facebook
pages posting regular updates.

GET APPY

SAVE money at the click of a
button by downloading receipt
scanner apps.
GreenJinn, CheckoutSmart and
Shopmium are popular ones.
CheckoutSmart says shoppers
can save hundreds of pounds a
year
on
its
website,
while
GreenJinn says you can save up
to £1,500, and Shopmium says
you can make £624.
The free apps list offers on
products you can buy from
supermarkets.
You then take a picture of the
receipt, upload it to the app and
you can get cashback on your
shopping.
The money will be paid back
into
your
PayPal
or
bank
account, but it could take up to
two weeks to process.
Download all of them, and you
may find you can get the same
deal multiple times.
Money blogger Charlotte
Jessop,
who
runs
the
Looking
After
Your
Pennies site, said: “I pick
up healthy snacks, like
dried fruit bars, and
drinks, like tonic water,
from Shopmium, while I
usually
get
yoghurt
and
fresh
fruit
and
veg
from
GreenJinn.
“On CheckoutSmart, I like to
get cereal bars and lunchbox
snacks, like fruit Winders.”

FREE OR SUPER
CHEAP FOOD
THERE are apps and websites
shoppers can use to pick up food
for free.
App Olio lists food nearing its

‘I save £500 at food club,
I couldn’t cope without it’
SINGLE mum-of-two Vicky
Johnson saves nearly £500 a
year thanks to her local food
club, where she picks up
family essentials for free.
Money is tight for the
47-year-old mental health
worker from Alton, Hants.
She gets up to £600 a
month in Universal Credit
and £145 child benefit,
but struggles to make her
cash stretch.
Vicky visits the Alton
Community Cupboard, run
by a charity that collects
leftover food from nearby
supermarkets, including

M&S, Sainsbury’s and Aldi.
Food is given out free to
residents, but they can make
a donation.
Vicky tries to go twice a
month and picks up about
£20 worth of food per trip.
Items include bread,
cheese, meat, fruit and veg to
feed her and children Luis,
16, and Sofia, 12.
She said: “This saves me a
lot of money and I wouldn’t be
able to cope without it. It
takes the pressure off.
“I can put the money
towards other vital things or
to pay bills.”

Want to
Join the
sell-by date, available for free.
You can often get bread, fruit
and veg, pastries and more.
You don’t pick up the food
directly from the store but
collect it from an Olio
volunteer.
Volunteers,
known
as
food waste heroes, pick up
the food from shops and
take it home. They can keep
ten per cent of the haul. The
rest is listed on the app for
neighbours to pick up.
App Too Good To Go works in
a similar way. It allows you to
find local shops and restaurants,
including Greggs, Burger King,
Morrisons
and
M&S,
selling
surplus food at big discounts.
You can buy a “magic bag” of
food through the app for around
£3 and then pick it up directly
from the store. You don’t know

what’s inside though, so you can’t
guarantee you’ll have what you
need.
Big boxes of food nearing, or
past, their best-before dates can
be bought through the website
Approved Food.
A “lucky box” costs £1 but,
again, you won’t know what’s
inside. They can contain crisps,
fizzy drinks, chocolate and cereal
bars.

GET CASH FROM
YOUR COUNCIL
IF you are struggling, you can
apply to your local council for
free cash or vouchers for food
from the £421million Household
Support Fund.
What you can get varies, as
each council decides what to do
with the money.
You’ll usually need to be on a

GET MORE MONEY ADVICE IN

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

By TARA
EVANS

Got money problems?
Email: money@the-sun.co.uk
Write: Sun Money, News UK,
1 London Bridge Street,
London SE1 9GF

6I switched provider but
TalkTalk billed me £83’
WHEN I moved house last year I
Q
asked TalkTalk to switch my
broadband to my new address, but

VITAL
SUPPORT
. . . Vicky
relies on food
club to make
ends meet

Picture: OLIVIA WEST

cut bills?
food club
low income to qualify, but local
authorities
may
have
different
eligibility criteria.
Luton Council is awarding up to
£500 in supermarket vouchers.
Some councils also have a separate welfare assistance scheme.
You can get top-ups for energy,
white goods, furniture and clothing
as well as food vouchers.
Again, what you can get will
vary, and not every council
will have a scheme — but in
some cases, you could get
hundreds.
North Somerset Council,
for instance, will pay out up
to £600 a year to struggling
families.
Anna Stevenson, senior benefits
specialist at Turn2Us, a charity
that helps people in financial need
access money available to them,
said: “Be sure to contact your local

council to find out what support is
available in your area.
Find
your
local
council
at
gov.uk/find-local-council.

HELP FOR FAMILIES
PREGNANT mums or families with
small children can get up to £442
a year for fruit, vegetables and
other healthy food essentials.
Under
the
Healthy
Start
scheme, you get £8.50 a week
— £442 a year — for children
under one or £4.25 a week
— £221 a year — for children
between one and four years
old.
Expecting mums can get
the same amount for each
week of their pregnancy, starting
from the tenth week.
People can apply by emailing
healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk or they
can call 0300 330 7010.

TOMORROW’S

it didn’t work. I moved to a new
provider but TalkTalk still sent me a
bill for £83. Can you help?

IRENE RUSSELL, Wolverhampton

You were tearing your hair out
when a simple broadband switch
didn’t go to plan.
In September, you asked TalkTalk if
your broadband service could be
swapped over to your new home.
But when you moved in and tried to
get your internet fired up, it wasn’t
working. The switch hadn’t worked
properly, and you were left offline.
You and your husband are in your
mid-70s and confess you are not
computer literate, so struggled to
figure out how to get hold of TalkTalk

A

LUCY
ALDERSON
Sorts out your
money issues

to solve the issue. You ended up
sending six letters in the post
complaining about the service.
After two weeks of trying to get the
problem fixed, you decided to move
to Sky. You sent TalkTalk a letter
explaining this and cancelled your
direct debit.
TalkTalk still continued to charge
you for the following three months
and in total you paid almost £83.
TalkTalk told me that it did try to

£86,354

contact you over email and phone
about the issue, but couldn’t get
through.
You said there were no missed calls
on your mobile.
It seems there had been a communication breakdown, but TalkTalk has
provided you with a full refund, and a
spokesman said: “We’re sorry to hear
about Irene’s experience.”
Always contact your provider
before cancelling your contract or
stopping your direct debit.
Keep a record of when, and how,
you tried to contact your provider if
you’re struggling to get a response.
If you’re still having issues after
eight weeks, contact the communications ombudsman, who can help
resolve your case.

45

46 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

AWARD-WINNING
hot
spot

Edited by LISA MINOT
VIRGIN Atlantic has
named its newest plane,
the Airbus A330neo, in
honour of Queen
Elizabeth II.
The Queen of the Skies
aircraft will begin flying in
April this year, with routes
from Heathrow to Miami, New
York and Tampa, among
other destinations.
Corneel Koster, at Virgin

l

IT’S 27C in EGYPT – 14
nights’ all-inclusive
at the 4H Grand
Makadi Hotel is
from £771pp
including flights
from Manchester
on February 10. See
redseaholidays.co.uk
or call 0207 332 2660.

DISNEY is launching an
augmented reality experience
to celebrate the 100th anniversary
of the Walt Disney Company.
Launching in London in spring,
Wonder of Friendship: The
Experience will be a series of
installations and experiences
spread across four themed rooms.
Visitors will venture through the
1,000 square metre plot using
Snapchat to scan QR codes,

Atlantic, said: “Just like
Queen Elizabeth during her
historic 70-year reign, Virgin
Atlantic is proud to fly the flag
for the United Kingdom
around the world.
“We’re delighted to soon
be welcoming ‘Queen of the
Skies’ to our fleet and hope
that it serves as a fitting
tribute to an unforgettable,
much-loved monarch.”

l

hot
spot

TURKEY is 20C – seven
nights’ all-inclusive
at the 4H Sherwood
Exclusive Lara in
Antalya is from
£589pp, including
flights from
Manchester on
February 20. See
jet2holidays.co.uk.

which bring favourite characters to
life, as well as participate in special
experiences based on the films.
There’ll be surfboarding games
in the Lilo & Stitch world, musical
swings in a jungle-themed Lion
King world and an Alice in
Wonderland-themed maze, left,
in the Garden of Mystery.
Disney’s Sarah Fox said:
“Throughout our 100 years,
Disney stories have shown the

importance of friendship and
appreciating the differences in
others, so we couldn’t think of a
better theme to celebrate our
milestone anniversary.”
The experience will open in
London from May 12 to 21, before
moving to Berlin and Paris.
Tickets cost £17.50pp and H&M
members can gain early-bird
access two weeks ahead of
general sale at seetickets.com.

FRENCH RESORT GREAT FOR SKIING, EVEN BETTER FOR FOOD

Good,
Plagne
home
cooking

ELEGANT . . . hotel room
MERCURE SEAFRONT
HOTEL, BRIGHTON
WHAT’S IT LIKE? While it is a
bit seaside-worn on the
outside, the Mercure
Seafront Hotel
feels plush on the
check
inside – and
in...
comes at a
check
relatively
affordable price.
it out
The Grade II-listed
building is newly
renovated and boasts a
flashy reception with velvet
armchairs, spacious
bedrooms with all the mod
cons and a ballroom with
capacity for 150 people.
ROOMS ANY GOOD? They
are large and the king-size
beds make for a good night’s
sleep. Some rooms offer
views looking on to the
promenade and the sea. Our
suite had a giant Art Deco
bath with a rainfall shower.
EAT HERE OR GRAB A
PIZZA? Guests can enjoy
dinner with a view at The
Goulty, which serves steaks,
salads and a great selection
of ice creams. We tucked into
the pan-seared salmon, with
Parmentier potatoes (£17.50)
and a Thai Panang curry
(£16). For special occasions,
you can book the restaurant’s
Coast View Suite which, of
course, offers stunning views
across Brighton beach.
WHAT ELSE? It’s the perfect
spot for a romantic weekend
break in Brighton. You’re right
on the beach and can take a
stroll along the prom, or the
city centre and The Lanes are
just a 15-minute walk away.
Brighton Palace Pier and the
i360 – a huge tower that
takes visitors 162m above
sea level – are both close by.
For those wanting to
venture a bit further, there
are lots of National Trust sites
for hikes in the East Sussex
countryside.
SO YOU’D GO BACK? Yes.
It’s perfectly situated to
explore Brighton and the
South Downs. The city has
great train links or you can
drive and park at the hotel.
WHAT’S THE DAMAGE?
Double rooms cost from £134
per night with an inland view.
Car parking from £25pn. See
mercurebrighton.co.uk.
EMMA GLANFIELD

OUR home away from home
in the heart of the French
Alps made for a perfect
relaxing winter escape.
At Ski Beat’s hosted Chalet Laurier
hideaway in La Plagne, my mate
Hughie and I felt our troubles simply
melt away.
A spread of homely treats, laid out
for us to enjoy after an exhilarating
day on the slopes, were devoured on
comfy sofas by the toasty log burner.
And our rooms, left in a terrible
mess in our morning rush to hit the
chair lifts, were tidied and prepared,
ready for another night of muchneeded sleep.
Simply put, everything was taken
care of.
The joy of a chalet break is you
get to concentrate on the skiing —
with the price you’ve paid meaning
you don’t have to budget for all your
food and drink.
Canapes and the first of many tipples were served on our arrival by
delightful hosts Naomi and Sam
before we settled into our woodpanelled mountainside home.
That set the tone for a week of
sensational service from the couple.
We were roused each morning by
sounds and smells of Naomi and
Sam preparing a traditional full

APRES SKI . . .
plenty of
watering holes
in La Plagne

ALPINE EATS
. . . creamy
chicken and
tartiflette

COMFY . . .
cosy cabins

STUNNING VIEWS
. . . La Plagne
sits right in the
heart of the Alps

GO: LA PLAGNE

GETTING/STAYING THERE: A week’s
fully hosted ski holiday in Plagne 1800
starts from £1,002pp including Gatwick
flights, transfers, hosted chalet, cooked
breakfast, evening meals with wine (six
nights). A week’s stay at the Chalet
Laurier starts from £1,230pp. See
skibeat.co.uk or call 01273 855100.
English breakfast — complete with
imported Heinz baked beans.
And if the bacon, sausage and egg
combo is not for you, alternative
options were laid on, including fruit,
porridge, cereal, bread, yoghurt and
cheese.
Afternoon
treats
consisted
of
home-baked cakes of lemon drizzle,
carrot, coffee and walnut varieties,
and, of course, a classic Viccy sponge.
And the dinners . . . wow.
Starters included baked Camembert, courgette crumble and feta and
goat’s cheese salads.
Then hearty mains saw chicken
Provencal, parmesan-crusted salmon,
pork stroganoff, roast duck and beef
casserole served up. All accompanied
by mounds of fresh veg and assorted
sides and sauces.
But the tartiflette was the piece de

resistance by a mile. A piping-hot
pot of cheese, bacon, potato, onions,
cream and white wine. Indulgence of
the highest order.
Of course, I always made sure to
save room for dessert. Peach crumble, Bakewell tart, brownies and
panna cotta were the highlights.
But if all that meaty and cheesy
food is not for you, don’t fear
because vegan Hughie was extremely
well catered for.
As for the slopes, La Plagne is
perfect for a mixed abilities trip.
It is challenging enough for an
experienced skier like me.
And there are plenty of wide,
sweeping green and blue slopes for
Hughie, who had hit the snow just
once before.
With 52 per cent blue runs, 44 per
cent red or black, plus 18 fun zones
and snow parks, a boardercross course,
toboggan runs and a waterslide, you
couldn’t get bored if you tried.
And with 70 per cent of runs
above 2,000m and two skiable glaciers at 3,000m, we need not have
worried about a lack of snow.
It was definitely worth spending
the extra £30 for a full Paradiski
pass which granted access to Les
Arcs as well as La Plagne for 265
miles of downhill runs in one of the
world’s largest ski areas.
The
annoyingly
charming
and

47

infuriatingly handsome Julien, Oxygene ski school’s director, took us on
a tour which ensured we were clued
up on the best runs and lifts and
learned our way around.
Some of our group also went for
daily lessons and improved rapidly,
thanks to the patient, friendly and
professional
approach
of
the
instructors.
La Plagne sits in the heart of the
Alps and provides stunning views of
Mont Blanc and breathtaking open
landscapes with snowy peaks poking
through the clouds.
For those, like me, who enjoy a
tipple or four between runs, there
are plenty of watering holes dotted
about.
We drank pints aplenty but our
personal favourite was “warm-up
water”— Fireball cinnamon whisky.
La Folie Douce — famed for its
wild après-ski parties — opened its
first spot in Les Arcs in 2020 and
it’s a must-do.
As is the perfectly positioned La
Bergerie bar with its DJs, live music
and plenty of precarious table
dancing.
The ski down to the chalet, just in
time for a pre-dinner hot tub dip,
always seemed a little easier after a
few late looseners.
WILL PUGH

48 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
Edited by LISA MINOT
take

3

OUR Take Three column
offers a trio of cut-out-andkeep holiday suggestions.
This week, we have picked
out some top holiday
suggestions for dog owners,
including a stay at a cottage by the coast
and a rustic escape near Bath.

BREAKS FOR
DOG LOVERS

Flittermouse Cottage, near Bath: Just six
miles from Bath city centre, this cottage is
geared up for adventurous families and their
four-legged companions.
It sleeps four in two country-chic
bedrooms and features a rustic woodburner. You are also close to a dog-friendly
village pub, The Poplars Inn, which serves
homemade pies and a catch of the day.
There are also plenty of great walking
spots nearby. Seven nights’ self-catering
costs from £193pp, for arrival on February 11.

SHOELESS RESTAURANT LEGEND SERVES UP

Eating all seafood
in Rhodes taverna
was some feet!

South Downs Cottage, Eastbourne, East
Sussex: This traditional fisherman’s cottage
in a quaint village is 200 yards from the sea,
where you can rent a beach hut for the day.
When your dog gets bored of paddling in
the ocean or exploring the Victorian pier,
take a walk through the magnificent South
Downs National Park.
The romantic home sleeps two. There is
a pretty courtyard garden for al fresco
dinners, a well-equipped kitchen and a
living room with fireplace.
Seven nights’ self-catering costs from
£205pp.

CHILL . . . view from the
beach front Grand Suite at
the Ixian. Inset, seafood
dishes at Stegna Kozas

THEY call him the Barefoot
Prince of Rhodes, as he
slips shoeless between the
packed restaurant tables,
greeting customers with a
huge grin.

GO: RHODES

And that’s literally what happens. A stunning selection of seafood arrives at our tiny
table at Stegna Kozas, overlooking the calm,
clear waters in the pretty village of Stegna.
Huge chunks of crispy calamari, delicate
clams and a steaming bowl of mussels are
followed by yet more treasures of the deep —
sea urchin sliced and pickled, grilled octopus,
deep-fried red fish in a golden crumb.
The Greek salad, glistening with olive oil,
and garlic pittas are irresistible.
And even with full tummies, we are
envious of the whole sea bass and bream
served to fellow diners.
Dimitris is the third generation of Kozas to
dish up the freshest seafood at this cracker
of a restaurant, which this year is celebrating
its centenary.
It’s obvious why the place has been around

for so long and its latest barefoot owner is
continuing the tradition of letting the island’s
fish shine.
I have to thank the clever team at the
Ixian Grand & All Suites hotel for the stellar
recommendation.
Manager Michaelis has a host of ideas for
exploring the very best of Rhodes, although
leaving our swim-up suite was a struggle.
The 5H adults-only beachfront hotel sits on
the shores of the Aegean, with easy access to
the sands and great views from its pools.
Rooms are chic with a cool, calm palette
but it is the private pools — some on rooftops, others tucked away in the landscaped
grounds — that are difficult to resist.
Our top-end sea-view suite is spacious and
comes complete with an over-water deck

“You like fish, yes?” says Dimitris. “I
will bring you everything!”

Lyme Hideout, Lyme Regis, Dorset: The
contemporary Lyme Hideout has so much
land for four-legged friends to roam, plus it
is within walking distance of a pretty pebble
beach with cafes and restaurants.
It sleeps two, with one modern bedroom,
a spacious lounge and great facilities for
cooking. You will also be tucked away from
the crowds and sheltered by tall trees.
Brilliant walking trails, dog-friendly pubs
and seaside attractions are right on your
doorstep. Seven nights’ self-catering costs
from £312pp.
lEach of the above properties charges a
£20 supplement for a dog. See
holidaycottages.co.uk.

GETTING THERE/STAYING THERE: Rooms at the
hotel start from £115 for an inland-view room and
from £350 for a Beachfront Grand Suite, per night.
See theixiangrand.gr.
A seven-night, all-inclusive package holiday
including flights with easyJet from Gatwick on
June 1 costs from £795pp. For more details see
onthebeach.co.uk.

with loungers, where even in early summer
the chance to cool off with a dip was welcome.
Opt for the all-inclusive and you have got
plenty of choice. There is a buffet restaurant
serving a good selection of fresh salads, meat
and fish, plus pizza and pasta.
And two à la carte restaurants promise
relaxed fine dining.
Muza Htista has a quirky Peruvian/
Japanese theme. And for traditional Greek
delicacies, Milonges offers hearty fare at
lunch and dinner.
The speciality restaurants need to be
booked in advance but the snack bar near
the pool was our go-to when peckish during
the day, the gyro wraps a big hit with my
other half.
Entertainment is low-key, with the lobby
bar’s terrace overlooking the sea and pool
bar perfect for a post-dinner nightcap.
For those looking for a bit more nightlife,
Rhodes Town is 15 minutes away and easily
accessible by bus or cab.
We took a cab there after dinner for a
stroll through the pretty streets of the Old
Town. Younger clubbing fans should head to
Orfanidou Bar Street for partying until the
early hours.
For those looking to explore a little more
of the island, car hire can be picked up for
less than £40 for a couple of days. Lindos

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

49

Follow on Facebook @TheSunTravelEditor

TREAT IN GREEK PARADISE
ANCIENT WONDERS
Acropolis at Lindos . . .
below, a pool at the and,
Ixian

PRAGUE: Three
nights’ B&B at the
4H Hotel Ambiance
lates
in the Czech capital
is from £230pp,
including flights from
Manchester on
February 6. See easyjet.com/
en/holidays or call 0330 365 5005.
NORFOLK: Seven nights’ selfcatering at Rose Cottage in
Winterton-on-Sea is from £592 in
total, based on four sharing. Dogs
welcome. For further details see
wintertoncottages.co.uk or call
01493 800645.
CYPRUS: Five nights’ half-board at
the 5H Constantinos the Great
Beach Hotel is from £219pp including
flights from Gatwick on February 24.
See thomascook.com.
YORKSHIRE: Four nights’ selfcatering at The Hayloft at
Flamborough Rigg in the North Yorks
Moors National Park is from £356 in
total, sleeping four and arriving on
selected dates in February. See
sawdays.co.uk.
CARIBBEAN CRUISE: Enjoy a
transatlantic cruise from Barbados to
Southampton from £809pp,
including a 13-night full-board cruise
and flights to Barbados. Departing
March 25, it calls at St Lucia, St Kitts,
Antigua and Ponta Delgada in the
Azores. See cruise.co.uk or call 0870
990 8824.

LANCS GEM
IS UK’S TOP
GRUB PUB

GRINNING RECIPE
. . . Lisa with the
barefoot Dimitris
and its incredible clifftop
Acropolis, with the 4th-century Temple of
Athena, is a must-see.
But go early or late as possible in the day
to avoid the crowds.
And prepare for a climb as you wind
your way up through the narrow, whitewashed streets.
Spring or autumn are perfect times to
explore, with plenty of sunshine but lower
temperatures.

Toast the sunset
Stop off for a breather at one of the
many lovely rooftop bars and restaurants
and after your clifftop ascent, grab some
rays on the beach.
Lindos and Pallas beaches have lots of
facilities but the rocky cove at St Paul’s Bay
offers a more relaxed, less-crowded vibe.
Heading back to the Ixian Grand & All
Suites, we stop off at Kalithea Springs.
This thermal spa by the sea is an Art
Deco gem and is once more welcoming
guests following a ten-year restoration
programme.
It is five euros to enter and after
admiring
the
restored
buildings
and
beautiful pebble mosaics, you can relax on
the beach or take a dip in the clear waters.

Or simply sip a coffee or glass of wine at
the on-site bar and restaurant.
Back at the hotel, we grab two loungers
in the gardens to soak up the last of
the rays with a beer and wine to toast the
sunset.
Then it’s back to our room for a quick
refresh and another night of great food,
served yet again by friendly and attentive
staff.
Our fellow guests range in age from
Instagram-obsessed young adults in their
twenties to couples in their sixties.
While it may not be right in the centre of
the action on this popular Greek island,
that is a huge part of its charm.
We enjoyed days exploring the treasures
of Rhodes but also had time to relax by the
pools, on the beach or in the hotel’s
excellent spa.
It is close enough to the action to keep
younger guests happy but secluded enough
to ensure a properly relaxing, chilled break.
You can almost see why the lovely Dimitris at Stegna Kozas chooses to go barefoot.
A week at this lovely resort and I’d
happily follow suit.
LISA MINOT

A LANCASHIRE inn has been
crowned the UK’s best gastropub for
2023 by brewers Estrella Damm.
The Parkers Arms just outside
Clitheroe was described as “a little
gem”. It is set deep in the hills and
earned top spot for great food, made
using locally sourced ingredients.
The pub, above, came second last
year and has swapped places with
The Unruly Pig near Woodbridge in
Suffolk, the previous year’s winner.
Other top foodie pubs include the
Freemasons at Wiswell, also in
Lancashire, which came third, and
Michelin-starred The Sportsman in
Seasalter, Kent.
The South had the largest number
of pubs in the top 50 this year, with
the Mariners in Rock, Cornwall,
owned by celebrity chef Paul
Ainsworth, coming 11th. There were
five newcomers, including The Baring
in Islington, North London.
See top50gastropubs.com for the
full list.
ALTON Towers has revealed
details of a horror attraction
coming to the theme park this year.
The Curse at Alton Manor has been
built on the former site of Duel – The
Haunted House Strikes Back, after
that ride was closed in September.
Opening in spring, the new one will
take visitors on a journey of twists
and turns through a cursed manor.
While many details are yet to be
released, the theme park said the
latest attraction will include special
effects designed to scare and
surprise thrill-seekers.
Kate McBirnie, head of product
excellence at Alton Towers Resort,
said: “The Curse at Alton Manor is no
ordinary dark ride.
“It has all the components of a
supernatural tale. It is dark,
compelling and promises some
thrilling and scary moments along
the way. Fans of eerie rides will
certainly appreciate this one.”

l

PALM AND TRANQUIL . . . Love Island’s Ludus Magnus

FIND THOSE
LOVE ISLAND
VILLA VIBES
THE latest series of Love
Island is well under way with
its tanned and toned passion
hunters – and a new base in
sizzling Cape Town.
But why leave all the fun to
the contestants in South
Africa? If you are sick of the
cold weather in Britain, these
sun-kissed villas from Pocket
Wanderings are sure to be
100 per cent your type on
paper. And who knows, you
may even find your match
while you are there.
SOPHIE SWIETOCHOWSKI
picks out the best Love
Island-inspired villas in
Europe, big enough to sleep
the whole family (and more).
For those after the real
deal, you can book a room in
the actual property featured
in this Love Island series. It is
the Ludus Magnus Estate –
and the price is pretty
reasonable for what you get.
You will wake up each
morning to the same rural
mountain views as this year’s
contestants do, enjoy the
splendid swimming pool and
relax on the swanky daybeds
like them.
The only difference is that
instead of spending days
lounging around the estate,
you can explore the best of
the area, including aprivate
beach, the nearby Jonkershoek Nature Reserve and the
Boschenmeer golf course.
You will be sharing the villa
with others, but there is plenty
of room, including a huge
garden backed by fields and
rows of vines belonging to a
Shiraz vineyard.
A two-person room costs
from £151.50pppn. For further
details or to book, see
booking.com.
On a budget? The tenperson Enerji Villa in the
Turkish coastal town of
Kalkan costs just over
£38pppn (see vintagetravel
.co.uk).
But you will not be
scrimping on luxury here.
The villa is perched on a hill,

with a huge balcony
overlooking the ocean, and
five modern bedrooms giving
the same unbeatable views.
There is an indoor and
outdoor pool, several sun
loungers and a cosy corner
with an outside cushioned
sofa if you want to “pull
someone for a chat”.
Or you can stay in the
pristine Villa Admetos, set in
five-and-a-half hectares of
private land in the celebrity
hotspot of Mykonos, Greece.
It sleeps six in three tranquil
bedrooms. But instead of the
colourful cushions and fairy
lights you see in the Love
Island HQ, the Grecianthemed holiday home has
simple and stylish furniture,
wooden beams and whitewashed walls.
It’s also got a barbecue
area, pool and outdoor dining
table – and you are within
walking distance of a popular
beach. The villa costs from
£90pppn (see
oliverstravels.com).

More privacy
Anyone travelling in a group
and with a little more cash to
splash can splurge on a week
in the 13-person Villa Lucy on
the south-west coast of
France. It costs from
£188.81pppn (see
lecollectionist.com) and is
geared up for a blow-out
family bash.
There is a huge garden that
boasts a pool and plenty of
sun loungers, large dining
spaces and even a cinema
room – not that you will use it
with the scorching summer
temperatures in this region.
And with seven bedrooms
and seven bathrooms, you
will have way more privacy
than the contestants in the
Love Island villa.
If you get bored of soaking
up the green landscapes from
your sunbed, take a stroll into
town for traditional
restaurants and a
quiet beach.

STYLE . . . Villa Admetos, where you can
chill like ex-Islander Olivia Attwood

50 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

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V2

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

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Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............
Overseas Travel

Book your advertising
24/7 at:
thesun.co.uk/advertise

55

56 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

With
Steve and
Val Bradley

WIN

Town & Country
Curbridge boots
worth £43.99

SHORT CUT: If your garden
is looking dull at the
moment, check out the container
plants on sale in garden centres.
You can pick up small plants
such as Skimmia Rubella for a
fraction of the price of the bigger
ones – and they will soon catch
up if you grow them on.

l

PLANT OF THE WEEK – Hamamelis
‘Jelena’: This witch hazel has fragrant,
coppery, spidery flowers singly or in
clusters during mid to late winter. It is a
hardy, deciduous shrub that likes neutralacid soil and can grow to 3m high and 4m
wide. The deep green leaves turn orangered in autumn. Plant in well-drained soil in a
sunny or partially shaded position.

l

TIMELY TIP: Take hardwood
cuttings now of woody plants
such as gooseberry, dogwood,
blackcurrant, redcurrant, forsythia,
rambler roses and willow. Use last
year’s shoots and insert pencilsized cuttings in soil or compost,
leaving the top third showing above
ground. See sungardening.co.uk.

Winter rescue mission
KEEP your feet dry this
winter with these fully
lined, 100 per cent
waterproof, rubber-shell
women’s boots.
The fleecy insoles are
odour-resistant and
hypoallergenic, which
will make everyone
happy! We have six pairs
to give away.
TO ENTER: write your
name and address on a
postcard and send to
T&C Boots Competition,
PO Box 3190, Colchester,
Essex CO2 8GP or visit
sunoffers.co.uk/
gardeningcomp and
complete the entry form
using code TC2801.
Entries close at noon on
February 3.
For more product
information, see
townandco.com.

ACT NOW TO COMBAT COLD

be there in summer. If your lawn
is waterlogged, go over it with a
garden fork, making sure you
push the tool in to the full depth
of the tines.
It is best to work backHow many will survive
wards to avoid treading
is partly down to luck,
where you worked and
but your actions now
closing up the holes.
can help make a
Brush garden sand
difference.
into the holes if the
Lie
waterlogged
flooding
was bad.
containers on their
Plants
may
look
side for 48 hours to
dead, but the collet excess water drain
lapsed leaves protect
out, then stand them
the crown and can keep
on pot feet or bricks so
several degrees of frost
drainage continues.
If they are too big or DRAINAGE . . . tip at bay.
Leave them alone until
heavy to move, push a
cane 10-15cm into the pots on their side the early spring, when
you will see new buds
compost several times to
open air holes for the roots and pushing up.
The key right now is patience,
increase evaporation.
Be careful to keep off frosty waiting to discover what makes it
grass, or the footprints will still and helping where we can.

YOU
ASK

l

DO I need to insulate
Q
my water butt against
frost?
C SHAW, Thirsk,
North Yorks

Protecting the tap and
water spout with
several layers of bubble
wrap is a good idea.
Lower the water level in
the butt so that it will leave
room for the water inside
to rise and expand as it
turns to ice.
HOW can I protect my
pot-grown olive in cold
weather?

A

Q

THIS winter has thrown
everything at our plants,
from torrential rain to subzero temperatures.

R KING, Wrexham

Branches and stems of
most olives may cope
with temperatures down to
-5C, so cover them with
fleece if it gets colder.
The roots can be
frosted, so wrap the pot in
two to three layers of
bubble wrap.
Move it to a sheltered
spot if you can.

A

GET IN TOUCH

SAFETY COVER . . . Val says dead leaves
help to protect the crown of the plant

Sun Gardening:
1 London Bridge Street,
London SE1 9GF.
Email: gardening@
the-sun.co.uk. Website:
sungardening.co.uk.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

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Daly’s KO is
Ell for Borth
By ADAM HATHAWAY

ELLIOT DALY is out of the Six Nations
adding to boss Steve Borthwick’s
England injury nightmare.
Saracens confirmed utility back Daly
(below) will miss 12 weeks after tearing a
hamstring against Edinburgh in the
Champions Cup on Sunday.
Bath centre Ollie Lawrence has been
called up by Borthwick, who already had
doubts over forwards Courtney Lawes
and Jamie George for next week’s opener
against Scotland.
Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie is out with
an ankle injury, flanker
Tom Curry misses games
against the Scots and
Italy at least and another
hooker George McGuigan is also crocked.
However, Lions wing
Anthony Watson will
play for Leicester in
today’s
Premiership
clash with Northampton
after a month off with
leg trouble.
Henry Arundell starts
on London Irish’s bench
against Harlequins tomorrow after being
sidelined since October with a foot injury.
l ARRON REED scored a dramatic lastminute try as SALE beat BATH 30-27 in
the Gallagher Premiership.
First-half tries from Joe Carpenter,
Sam Dugdale, Tom Roebuck and Tommy
Taylor had put the hosts in control but
17 points from the visiting captain Ben
Spencer gave Bath a sniff of victory until
wing Reed struck.
l RFU chiefs issued a grovelling apology
for bungling changing rules for tackling
in club games.
They will now ask players and coaches
to agree a height limit instead of a new
‘waist-or-below’ regulation.

2GM

CRICKET FIRST ODI

Chastened
Roy

SCOREBOARD
First One Day International
South Africa v Engla

nd
BLOEMFONTEIN:
South
won the toss. South AfricaAfrica
beat
England by 27 runs.
SOUTH AFRICA
†Q de Kock c Buttler b Curran
37 (41b)
*T Bavuma c Curran b Ali
H van der Dussen c Duckett b Curran 36 (28b)
111 (117b)
A Markram c Malan b Stone
13
(19b)
H Klaasen lbw b Rashid
30 (32b)
D Miller c Willey b Curran
53 (56b)
W Parnell c Malan b Archer
2 (4b)
S Magala not out
5 (4b)
K Rabada not out
2 (2b)
Extras (lb1, w5, nb3)
9
Total (7 wkts 50 overs)
Fall: 61, 87, 116, 171, 281, 287, 295.298
Bowling: Willey 6-0-38-0, Archer
10-0-81-1,
Ali 8-0-51-1, S Curran 9-0-35-3, Rashid
10-055-1, Stone 7-0-37-1.
ENGLAND
J Roy c Parnell b Rabada
113
(91b)
D Malan c Bavuma b Magala
59 (55b)
B Duckett c de Kock b Nortje
3 (5b)
H Brook lbw b Magala
0 (3b)
*†J Buttler c de Kock b Nortje
36 (42b)
M Ali c van der Dussen b Magala
11 (17b)
S Curran c de Kock b Rabada
17 (21b)
D Willey c Miller b Nortje
8 (9b)
A Rashid not out
14
(17b)
J Archer c Klaasen b Nortje
0 (4b)
O Stone c & b Shamsi
1 (5b)
Extras (lb2, w4, nb3)
9
Total (10 wkts 44.2 overs)
Fall: 146, 151, 152, 196, 222, 234,271
250, 266,
267.
Bowling: Parnell 8-0-42-0, K Rabada
10-046-2, Markram 2-0-18-0, A Nortje
T Shamsi 5.2-0-55-1, Magala 9-0-46-310-0-62-4,
Umpires: B P Jele & M Erasmus. .

TON BUT
A DEFEAT
FOR JASE

ROY ROAR . . .
Jason lets rip
after reaching
his century

JASON
ROY
scored
a
brilliant,
barnstorming
century that could save his
career — but England still
contrived to lose.

Roy plundered 113 from just 91
balls but it was not enough to
prevent England collapsing to a
27-run defeat in the opener of a
three-match 50-over series.
Being bowled out for 271 was a
collapse of epic proportions after
Roy and fellow opener Dawid
Malan had raced to 146-0 inside
20 overs, in pursuit of South
Africa’s 298-7.
Fine
bowling
by
speedster
Anrich Nortje and burly trundler
Sisanda Magala, plus a string of
poor dismissals, turned the match
at Bloemfontein on its head.
Roy’s departure to a catch on
the boundary was a big moment
and half of England’s batsmen
departed to flat-footed wafts or
miscued attempted pull shots.
Ben Duckett, playing his first
one-dayers for six years, was
caught behind for just three and
Harry Brook, another star of
England’s Test series win in Pakistan in December, was out for a
duck on his ODI debut.
Captain Jos Buttler made 36
but England’s chances started to

ANDERSON . . . victory

Ando’s
back in
groove
By PHIL LANNING

GARY ANDERSON claimed
he is ‘too old to worry
about’ slipping down to
world No 22.
The Flying Scotsman
was adamant it is a fresh
start for him in 2023
after winning his opening
Cazoo Masters clash in
Milton Keynes.
Ando, 52, beat Dimitri
Van den Bergh 6-4 and
now faces Rob Cross in
the second round today.
The
Scot
had
his
earliest world championship exit since 2010 when
he lost to Chris Dobey in
the third round last month.
But
Anderson
said:
“New year, fresh start, a
lot to learn again.
“It’s hard doing something you don’t want to do.
“I’ve been playing darts
for a long time, it’s in my
blood, so I might as well
bite the bullet and get
back on the board.
“The main thing is that
I’m back and enjoying
playing darts.
“We’ll keep plodding on,
I’m too old to worry about
things now.
“The doubles tonight
were a bit shaky. I had
about 20 coffees before I
played, I think I overdid
the caffeine.”
DAVE CHISNALL came
from 4-1 down to beat
RYAN SEARLE 6-5.
JAMES WADE triumphed
6-2 over CALLAN RYDZ
and STEPHEN BUNTING
knocked out NATHAN ASPINALL 6-5.
ROSS SMITH saw off
DAMON HETA in another
match that went to a
deciding leg.

FIA chief
‘no sexist’
By JOHN
ETHERIDGE
evaporate when he was caught
behind. Sam Curran departed in
similar fashion.
The final wicket came when
No 11 Olly Stone was caught and
bowled by left-arm wrist-spinner
Tabraiz Shamsi.
Buttler said: “We played some
excellent cricket for the majority
of the game. After that opening
stand, we should have won.
“We try to play a positive brand
of cricket that has served us well.
We didn’t quite commit to that.
We could have put more pressure
back on South Africa’s bowlers.”
Despite England’s defeat, it was
still a significant match for Roy,
whose desperate recent collapse
in form left his position hanging
by a thread.
He has already been dumped
from
England’s
World
Cupwinning Twenty20 side.
But there can be few doubts
now that Roy remains one of
England’s first-choice openers at
the start of a year in which they
defend the 50-over World Cup.
The Surrey slugger was back to

his dynamic best with a string of
brutal blows which shredded a
high-class Proteas attack.
Roy had not reached 50 in any
of his previous 14 international
innings since scoring a century
in Holland last summer.
His demise spread to domestic
cricket, too, with dire form for
Surrey and the Oval Invincibles
in the Hundred.
And he managed just 100 runs
in eight innings in the South
African T20 tournament.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow —
and maybe Ben Stokes if he can
be coaxed out of one-day retirement — are certain to return.
And with Phil Salt and Will
Jacks pushing for a place, Roy
knew he had to deliver.
The fact is he has an average
above 40 and a strike-rate above
100 across his one-day international career.
That is why England have
persisted with him despite a
dramatic slump.
Earlier, Jofra Archer struggled
for consistency and went for 81
runs in ten overs in his first
England match since March 2021.
Rassie van der Dussen made
111 for the Proteas with Curran
by some distance England’s best
bowler, taking 3-35 in nine overs.

By BEN HUNT

FORMULA ONE’S governing
body the FIA claims sexist
remarks attributed to its
president “do not reflect
his beliefs”.
Quotes from Mohammed
Ben Sulayem resurfaced
from his old website.
He is reported as saying
he does “not like women
who
think
they
are
smarter than men”.
The content has long
been
the
subject
of
paddock talk.
But an FIA spokesperson said: “He has a
strong record on promoting women and equality
in sport, which he is
happy to be judged on.
“It was a central part
of his manifesto and
actions taken over many
years prove this.
“The
remarks
from
2001 do not reflect the
president’s beliefs.”
Ben Sulayem has been
a controversial chief since
taking over in 2021. This
week F1 lawyers wrote to
him for tweeting about a
potential sale of the sport.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

2GM

AUSSIE OPEN TENNIS

DJOK’S DAD
DUPED
Novak claims pro-Putin
fans ‘misused’ Srdjan
Srdjan Djokovic, who stayed
away from his son’s semi-final,
was criticised for posing with
protestors holding a Russian flag
with an image of Vladimir Putin.
Novak, 35, said the subtitles
displayed in a right-wing YouTube video were incorrect.
He
insisted
Srdjan
said
“cheers” and not “long live the
Russians” as the Putin sympathisers have claimed.
It is undecided if his dad will
be present as Djok aims to win
a record-equalling 22nd
Grand Slam crown —
and his TENTH Aussie
Open title — against
Stefanos
Tsitsipas
(right) tomorrow.
Serb Djokovic said:
“It can happen to
many people what
happened to him.
“He was passing
through, made a photo,
it has escalated. He was
misused in this situation
by this group of people.
“I can’t be angry with him or
upset because it wasn’t his fault.
He went out to celebrate with
my fans and that’s it.
“It was unfortunate the misinterpretation of what happened
has escalated to such a high level.
“It has got to me, of course, as
well. It wasn’t pleasant not to
have him in the box.
“My father, my whole family
and myself have been through
several wars during the 90s.
“We’re against the war, we
never will support any violence
or any war.
“I hope people understand that
there was absolutely no intention
whatsoever to support any kind

tennis
star’s
representatives,
Djokovic Sr said: “I am here to
support my son only. I had no
intention of causing such headlines or disruption.
“I was outside with Novak’s
fans, as I have done after all of
my son’s matches, to celebrate
his wins and take pictures with
them. I had no intention of
being caught up in this.
“My family has lived through
the horror of war, and we wish
only for peace.”
Djokovic was not at his
unstoppable best in the
first set but was then
brilliant in the next
two as he prevailed
7-5 6-1 6-2 against
limited Tommy Paul.
Greek ace Tsitsipas, 24, will present
a different challenge
after he eliminated
Russian Karen Khachanov 7-6 6-4 6-7 6-3 from
the first semi-final.
But Djokovic said: “The fact
that I never lost the Australian
Open finals definitely serves as
a great confidence booster.”
A fan snapped on the Rod
Laver Arena on Wednesday
wearing a T-shirt with the letter
Z — a pro-war, pro-Putin symbol
— was allowed back in the
stands for this semi-final. ProPutin flags were also flown.
But one of Ukraine’s leading
tennis stars, Marta Kostyuk,
said: “It hurts a lot because
you’re not allowed to bring out
the flags and so on.
“It really hurts that they were
there for quite some time.
“I don’t understand how this
can be possible.”

The Moscow-born Kazakhstani
lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish
last summer at SW19 (right).
Though her “lucky” sister was
there on Centre Court, Rybakina’s
parents were not in London, with
some believing it was down to
possible visa issues.
But the whole gang are here in
Melbourne as she aims to beat
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in
today’s Australian Open final,
which starts at 8.30am UK time.
Rybakina, 23, said: “For sure,
they’re nervous. Every match I
play they’re nervous, no matter if

How lucky is my sister? She
really is.
‘‘Wimbledon
was
only
the
second tournament she’d come to
and I won.
“Now she’s here with my parents, mum and dad. It’s the first
time they’re all together here.
“I’m super happy. They don’t see
me often playing live, so I think
this time, it’s a big result already.”
Florida-based
Sabalenka,
24,
missed Wimbledon because Russians and Belarusians were banned
owing to the war in Ukraine.
She said: “I was feeling really
bad that I missed it.”

From DAVID FACEY in Dubai

RORY McILROY and Patrick
Reed are throwing birdies and
eagles at each other.
World No 1 McIlroy shrugged off
the storm caused by
Reed lobbing a tee peg
at him with two birdies
and an eagle in his final
three holes at the Hero
Desert Classic yesterday.
That left him with a sixunder-par 66, a firstround score American Reed (above)
equalled by eagling the 18th.
McIlroy (left) grinned: “That was an
extremely sweet way to finish a round.
I’m usually a master at turning potential 66s into 70s.”

SPORTS ROUND-UP: RESULTS & FIXTURES
EMIRATES FA CUP FOURTH ROUND
MAN CITY (0)
1 ARSENAL (0)
0
Ake 64
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP
COVE (0)
0 AYR (1)
5
McAllister 21
Dempsey 55
Mullin 61, 89
Bryden 82
P W D L F A Pts
21
22
20
21
20
21
22
22
22
21

12
11
10
10
8
8
8
5
3
3

4 5 44 27
6 5 46 29
5 5 33 25
3 8 42 36
6 6 28 22
6 7 30 28
5 9 28 29
7 10 30 47
9 10 20 36
5 13 17 39

40
39
35
33
30
30
29
22
18
14

BUNDESLIGA - RB Leipzig 2 Stuttgart 1.
LIGUE 1 - Lorient 2 Rennes 1.
LA LIGA - Almeria 3 Espanyol 1.
SERIE A - Bologna 2 Spezia 0, Lecce 1
Salernitana 2.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

(Melbourne)
MEN’S SINGLES SEMI-FINALS - (3) S
Tsitsipas (Gre) bt (18) K Khachanov (Rus) 7-6
(7-2) 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 6-3; (4) N Djokovic (Ser) bt
T Paul (USA) 7-5 6-1 6-2.
WOMEN’S DOUBLES SEMI-FINALS - (1)
B Krejcikova (Cze) & K Siniakova (Cze) bt M
Kostyuk (Ukr) & E Gabriela Ruse (Rom) 6-2
6-2; (10) S Aoyama (Jpn) & E Shibahara (Jpn)
bt (2) C Gauff (USA) & J Pegula (USA) 6-2
7-6 (9-7).
MIXED DOUBLES FINALS - L Stefani (Bra)
& R Matos (Bra) bt S Mirza (Ind) & R Bopanna
(Ind) 7-6 (7-2) 6-2.

BASKETBALL

BBL CHAMPIONSHIP - Caledonia Gladiators 76 Bristol Flyers 88, Manchester Giants
97 Surrey Scorchers 92, Sheffield Sharks 82
Plymouth City Patriots 77.
NBA - Charlotte Hornets 111 Chicago Bulls
96, Brooklyn Nets 122 Detroit Pistons 130,
Boston Celtics 117 New York Knicks 120 (OT),
Houston Rockets 95 Cleveland Cavaliers 113,
Phoenix Suns 95 Dallas Mavericks 99, LA
Clippers 138 San Antonio Spurs 100.

CRICKET
FIRST ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL
South Africa v England
Bloemfontein: South Africa 298-7 (50
overs; van der Dussen 111, Miller 53). England 271-10 (44.2 overs; Roy 113, Malan 59; A
Nortje 4-62). S Africa won by 27 runs.
FIRST TWENTY20 INTERNATIONAL
India v New Zealand
Ranchi: New Zealand 176-6 (20 overs;
Mitchell 59no, Conway 52). India 155-9 (20.0
overs; Sundar 50). New Zealand won by
21 runs.

DARTS

DJOK IN SHOCK . . . but Novak Djokovic defended dad
Srdjan (inset, left) after he was pictured with Putin fans

ELENA’S FAMILY TIES
ELENA RYBAKINA has vowed to
From ROB MAUL
give her family a taste of what
it’s live or they’re watching on TV.
they missed at Wimbledon.

Rory throws
in low one

Queen’s Park
Ayr
Dundee
Partick
Morton
Inverness
Raith
Cove Rangers
Arbroath
Hamilton

NOVAK DJOKOVIC says his From ROB MAUL in Melbourne
father was “misused” by
war initiatives. I hope that
Russian propagandists — of
people will let it be and we can
stressing that all his family focus on tennis.”
In a statement released by the
are anti-war.

Reid enjoys
Andy result
GORDON REID was inspired by Andy
Murray as he lifted a 20th Grand
Slam wheelchair doubles title.
Reid (right), 31, was blown away by
Muzza’s gutsy display in
an epic five-set win over
Thanasi Kokkinakis at this
month’s Australian Open.
Alfie Hewett and Reid
beat Maikel Scheffers and
Ruben Spaargaren 6-1 6-2
for their fourth Aussie crown.
Reid said: “Andy’s grit and determination was so inspiring for me as a
fellow Scot and a British player.”

63

THE MASTERS (Milton Keynes): 1st
Rnd - D Chisnall (Eng) bt R Searle (Eng)
6-5, J Wade (Eng) bt C Rydz (Eng) 6-2, D
van Duijvenbode (Hol) bt K Ratajski (Pol) 6-3,
S Bunting (Eng) bt N Aspinall (Eng) 6-5,
G Anderson (Sco) bt D van den Bergh (Bel)
6-4, J de Sousa (Por) bt G Clemens (Ger) 6-4,
C Dobey (Eng) bt J Cullen (Eng) 6-4.

GOLF

DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC (Emirates GC,
Dubai, UAE): 1st Rnd (GB & Irl unless
stated) - 65 I Poulter, L Aaberg (Swe), 66
A Hidalgo (Spa), R McIlroy, P Reed (USA), L
de Jager (Rsa), 67 R Bland, V Perez (Fra),
T Pieters (Bel), A Arnaus (Spa), 68 T Fleetwood, O Wilson, C Syme, M Jordan, D Gavins, M Wallace, J-H Wang (Kor), H Du Plessis
(Rsa), O Bekker (Rsa),.
FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN (Torrey
Pines, San Diego): 2nd Rnd (USA unless
stated) - 132 S Ryder 64 68, 135 B Steele
65 70, 137 E Goya (Arg) 70 67, 138 B Grant
64 74, M Homa 68 70, T Montgomery 67 71,
V Norrman (Swe) 67 71, S Stevens 66 72, S
Theegala 66 72,.

HOCKEY

MEN’S WORLD CUP (Bhubaneswar &
Rourkela, India): Semi-finals - Australia 3
Germany 4, Belgium 3 Netherlands 2 (SO).

ICE HOCKEY

ELITE LGE - Belfast Giants 5 Sheffield Steelers 3, Glasgow Clan 1 Guildford Flames 5.

SQUASH
J.P MORGAN TOURNAMENT OF
CHAMPIONS (New York): Finals, Men
- D Elias (Per) bt M El Shorbagy (Egy) 11-2
11-6 11-4. Women - N El Sherbini (Egy) bt
Nouran Gohar (Egy) 11-9 3-1.

RUGBY UNION
GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP
SALE (22)
30 BATH (10)
27
Sale - Tries: Carpenter, Dugdale, Roebuck,
Taylor, Reed. Cons: R. Du Preez. Pens: R.
Du Preez.
Bath - Tries: Annett, Joseph, B. Spencer.
Cons: B. Spencer (3). Pens: B. Spencer (2).
Saracens
Sale
Harlequins
Gloucester
Exeter
North’pton
Leicester
Newcastle
Lon Irish
Bath
Bristol

P
12
13
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
11

W
11
10
6
6
6
5
5
5
4
4
3

D
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1

L
1
3
6
6
6
7
6
7
8
8
7

B F
8 392
8 352
7 303
7 272
6 299
9 343
7 294
6 286
10 309
8 277
7 237

A Pts
268 52
259 48
307 31
276 31
293 30
366 29
336 29
319 26
308 26
300 24
332 21

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
SCARLETS (27) 37 BLUE BULLS (14) 28
Scarlets - Tries: D. Davis, Mathias, G. Davies, McNicholl. Cons: Costelow (3), D. Jones.
Pens: Costelow (3).
Blue Bulls - Tries: Z. Burger, Jacobs, Brink,
Matanzima. Cons: C. Smith (4).
ULSTER (21)
35 STORMERS (0) 5
Ulster - Tries: Doak, Moxham, Timoney,
Toomaga-Allen, Lowry. Cons: Doak (4),
Cooney. Stormers - Tries: Venter.
Leinster
Stormers
Ulster
Blue Bulls
Glasgow
B Treviso
Munster
Edinburgh
Sharks
Cardiff R
Connacht
Lions
Ospreys
Scarlets
Dragons
Zebre

P
12
12
12
13
11
12
12
12
10
12
12
11
12
13
12
12

W
12
8
8
8
7
7
6
5
6
6
5
5
3
4
3
0

D
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0

L B F
0 8 384
3 11 349
4 11 370
5 8 406
4 6 286
5 5 293
6 8 249
7 10 321
4 5 284
6 5 270
7 5 228
6 4 241
7 8 270
8 4 296
9 5 261
12 5 200

A Pts
188 56
260 45
261 43
345 40
259 34
330 33
198 32
266 30
261 29
288 29
274 25
315 24
310 24
380 22
336 17
437 5

TODAY’S SPORT
GOLF (all weekend)
USPGA Tour Farmers Insurance
Open (Torrey Pines, San Diego).
DP World Tour Dubai Desert Classic
(Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE).
DARTS (all weekend)
The Masters (Milton Keynes).
ICE HOCKEY
Elite League (7.0): Belfast Giants v Sheffield Steelers, Cardiff Devils v Fife Flyers,
Guildford Flames v Coventry Blaze (6.0),
Manchester Storm v Nottingham Panthers.
RUGBY UNION
Gallagher Premiership (3.0): Exeter v
Gloucester (4.30), Leicester v Northampton
(2.0), Saracens v Bristol.
United Rugby Championship (5.05):
B Treviso v Munster (2.30), Connacht v Lions
(7.35), Dragons v Glasgow (3.0), Edinburgh v
Sharks (5.15), Leinster v Cardiff Rugby.
RFU Championship (2.30): Caldy v
Bedford (2.0), Cornish Pirates v Jersey Reds,
Doncaster v Nottingham, Ealing Trailfinders
v Coventry (3.0), Hartpury RFC v Richmond,
London Scottish v Ampthill (3.0).
National League 1 (3.0): Birmingham
Moseley v Bishop’s Stortford, Cambridge v
Rams (2.0), Leeds Tykes v Hull (2.30), Plymouth Albion v Chinnor (2.30), Rosslyn Park
v Darlington Mowden Park, Sale FC v Cinderford (2.30), Taunton Titans v Esher.
Allianz Women’s Premier 15s (3.0):
Bristol Bears v Saracens (12.30), DMP Sharks
v Harlequins (12.0), Gloucester-Hartpury v
Sale Sharks, Wasps v Exeter Chiefs (1.30),
Worcester Warriors v Loughborough.
TENNIS (all weekend)
Australian Open (Melbourne).

TOMORROW
BASKETBALL
BBL Cup Final: Leicester Riders v London
Lions (3.30).
CRICKET
Second One Day International:
South Africa v England (Bloemfontein, 8am).
Second Twenty20 International:
India v New Zealand (Lucknow, 2pm).
ICE HOCKEY
Elite League: Dundee Stars v Cardiff Devils (5.0), Fife Flyers v Manchester Storm (6.0),
Nottingham Panthers v Glasgow Clan (4.0).
RUGBY UNION
Gallagher Premiership: London Irish v
Harlequins (3.0).
United Rugby Championship: Zebre
v Ospreys (3.0).

64 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

BOXING THE BRIT v THE BEAST
MAGUIRE . . . boss rant

Maguire:
Snooker
is ‘dying’
By HECTOR NUNNS

STEPHEN MAGUIRE has
attacked snooker bosses
— claiming the sport is
‘dying’ and accusing them
of breaking promises.
The former UK Championship winner hit out
after
March’s
Turkish
Masters was cancelled
because of funding issues.
But the Scot, 41, claims
the problem goes deeper.
Ex-world No 2 Maguire
raged: “The game’s dying
right in front of our eyes.
“They
have
to
do
something
—
there’s
something wrong.
“I spoke to the suits at
the start of the season
and they promised there
would be tournaments on.
“Turkey was always a
question mark and it’s
turned out to be cancelled, so the suits aren’t
doing their job, which is
not good enough.
“They all gave me the
same answer: We’ll look
after you, the tournaments
will be there, don’t worry.
“The tournaments aren’t
there, so there’s something wrong at the top of
the game. I’ve either been
lied to that things will be
OK or they’ve just not
been able to fulfil it.”
A World Snooker Tour
spokesperson said: “We
share the player’s frustrations in the loss of the
Turkish Masters from the
tour this season. This
event will be replaced.
“We are proud to have
built a sustainable business where prize money is
growing, where players
have a guaranteed income
and which captures the
imagination of the fans.
“Unfortunately, this
narrative doesn’t fit
the
story
being
peddled by a few
players.”

Hard Yardes
ANT: I FEAR NO ONE AFTER GUN TERROR
By WALLY DOWNES Jr
ANTHONY YARDE has no fear
taking on big-punching Artur
that flying bullets are much
Beterbiev after facing down explains
scarier than fists.
guns on London streets.
After staring down the bearded

The 31-year-old from Hackney
grew up among deprivation and
crime, with his childhood home
brushed into the shadows of the
flashy Westfield shopping centre in
Stratford.
Stabbings
and
robberies
were
commonplace until boxing helped
lift the light-heavyweight ace up and
out of a perilous environment.
But his life is in danger again
tonight as he takes on the 18-0
WBC, IBF and WBO champ
Beterbiev, who has battered all his victims
inside the distance
and starves himself three days out
from a fight to
make himself as
angry as possible.
Yarde
has
shown no sign of
nerves
in
the
build-up to the
Wembley
Arena
showdown
and

caveman that is Beterbiev, 38, he
revealed: “It’s different. We are
talking in terms of fear and I don’t
fear anybody.
“There’s no person in this world I
fear because of certain situations I’ve
been in and grown up around.
“I’ve been approached by people
with guns, I’ve had loads of boys
around me with knives trying to
stab me, getting ready to rob me.
“I’ve been in certain scary situations, your heart is beating and you
can’t go outside because madness is
going to happen.
“This is me being paid to
fight — and I like fighting!
“For someone who has come
from where I have, this is
special. I’m here to seize the
moment.”
Brave Brit Callum Johnson
was bludgeoned inside four
rounds by the Canada-based
Chechen in 2018, labelling him
a ‘pound-for-pound killer, an
animal,
a
monster’.
The

Bond-villain accent, bear-like hair
and thirst for blood make Beterbiev
a frightening force.
But Yarde reckons he has the chin
and characteristics to win this war
of the whiskers.
Under
a
perfectly
manicured
moustache, he explained: “There’s
nobody on this planet who can have
his record and do what he’s done
and be nothing to worry about.
“I’ve seen little clips of him, he’s
done basic things very well.
“Clearly he hits hard but the little
things he does do, he does well and
he does them repeatedly.
“He’s got a good engine but, at the
same time, he gets hit. I’m not a
person you can stand there and get
hit by. It’s exciting.
“I’ll admit he’s got
a better beard than
me. I can’t grow a
beard like that.
I’ve got to give
myself
a
trimming and
a
grooming
before
the
fight.”
Yarde
is
the 6-1 long-

thes
un.c
o.uk
/sp
ort

Firs
big- t with
rep fight
ort

Wane’s
Tong-tied
ENGLAND hope to arrange
autumn
rugby
league
Tests against Tonga.
Their three-match series
against New Zealand is
likely to be canned.
SunSport
understands
England chief Shaun Wane
aims to set up matches
with the Pacific Islanders.
Yet an ugly row between
the NRL and Rugby League
Players Association, which
threatens the start of the
season Down Under, could
KO those plans.
The stand-off is over
delays in agreeing to a
deal over wages and
worker rights.
Players are pulling out
of promotional duties and
will not rule out striking.
And talks over a series
with Tonga — World Cup
quarter-finalists — can
only move forward once
the row is sorted out.

shot with even his diehard fans giving him only a puncher’s chance.
But he is refusing to dwell on the
enormity of the task ahead — and
will only look back at bashing
Beterbiev and the bookies once he
has secured the belts.
He said: “I’ve not looked at the
odds. There’s certain things I don’t
pay attention to, it can distract you,
it can take away your focus, it can
make you overcompensate.
“Someone can come and tell you
stuff but sometimes I’m a bit dismissive.
“I’m like, ‘ah, keep it to yourself, I
don’t care’.
“I’d rather find out after the fight.
“You can hear something and it
will play on your mind. It’s just
human nature but certain things
don’t matter.
“The only thing that matters
to me is when we both step
into the ring, the bell goes
ding, ding, ding
and we start
shimmying.
“That is
all
that
matters.”

UP FOR IT . . . Yarde (right) says
he can surprise rival Beterbiev

BIG JAKE DATE
TOMMY FURY has finally secured his celebrity fight
with American YouTube sensation Jake Paul for
February 26 in Saudi Arabia.
The Riyadh showdown is, hopefully, part of the deal to
take his big brother Tyson’s undisputed decider with
Oleksandr Usyk back there two months later on April 29.
The fight was twice postponed, with Tommy blaming
a chest infection and then alleged US visa issues.
Paul (bottom right), 26, has beaten YouTube novices,
a basketball player and a few retired MMA veterans.
Love Island hunk Fury, 23, is 8-0 at light-heavy.
Fury (top right) said: “The world is about to see what
happens when a proper boxer faces a YouTuber.”
Paul said: “The moment of truth has finally arrived.”

BRIT Matt Weston
P
stormed to the world
skeleton title in St Moritz.
The 25-year-old star,
who took the Euro crown
last week, smashed the
field to win by a huge
1.79sec over four runs.
He is Britain’s first
world champion since
Lizzy Yarnold in 2015 —
and our first male winner
since Kristan Bromley 15
years ago.
Weston said: “It’s been
a brilliant season but this
is pretty special.”

CON HORROR

CONOR McGREGOR says knowing how to land “saved
my life” after revealing a speeding car ploughed into him
while he was out cycling.
The Irish mixed martial artist and former twodivision UFC great posted a picture on social media of
his wrecked bike in the middle of a road.
McGregor (left) wrote on his Instagram page: “Got a
bang off a car just now from behind. A sun trap, the
driver couldn’t see me. Full speed straight thru me.
“Thank you God, it wasn’t my time. Thank you
wrestling and judo also. Having an awareness on the
landing saved my life.”
McGregor, 34, has not fought since suffering a serious
leg injury in July 2021 but is expected to return to the
octagon later this year.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

65

WATFORD
landed
P
defender
Ryan
Porteous on a 4 -year
contract from Hibernian
for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old, who
has one Scotland cap,
made 157 appearances
for Hibs.
He helped them to
third in the Scottish topflight in the 2020-21
season.

TETE . . . lots of interest

Foxes in
for Tete
LEICESTER are set to
complete the signing of
Brazilian striker Tete until
the end of the campaign.
Foxes
boss
Brendan
Rodgers has got in ahead
of a number of Prem
clubs who have been
tracking Tete, 22, since
last season.
West Ham, Brentford
and Leeds were also
interested.
The forward has been
on loan at Lyon from
Shakhtar Donetsk.
Fifa let foreign stars
suspend their deals with
Ukraine clubs following
Russia’s invasion.
The ruling has complicated a move to the Foxes
as it expires at the end of
the season.
It means Rodgers will
only be able to sign Tete
until the summer initially,
while an agreement has
also had to be reached
with the French club
over the termination of
his loan.
Tete has six goals and
three assists in 17 Ligue 1
games this season and
will give Leicester muchneeded firepower.

SEMENYO . . . switch

Ant is a
Cherry
BOURNEMOUTH sealed a
£10.5million
deal
for
Bristol City striker Antoine
Semenyo.
The Ghana World Cup
star has signed a 4 -year
contract, with the Cherries retaining an option
for a further 12 months.
Bournemouth have paid
£9m up front with a further £1.5m in add-ons.
Semenyo, 23, is the
club’s third January signing as boss Gary O’Neil
battles to keep them in
the Premier League.
West Ham keeper Darren Randolph and Burkina
Faso forward Dango Ouattara have also joined.
Semenyo was born in
London and came through
the ranks at City.
Bournemouth
chief
executive Neill Blake said:
“Antoine is an exciting
player and one we have
monitored for a while.
“He had interest from
elsewhere and so we’re
delighted to welcome him
to the club.”
But the move for Villarreal’s Nicolas Jackson is
OFF after the forward
failed a medical ahead of
a £22.5m switch.

Ecua-door’s
open, Conte
HINCAPIE SPURS DREAM
By ALESSANDRO SCHIAVONE

PIERO HINCAPIE admitted he is open
to joining Tottenham after revealing
his love of the Premier League.

UP FOR IT . . .
Hincapie is a
big admirer of
Conte ’n Kane

The left-sided centre-back, 21, has
attracted interest from a host of elite
clubs worldwide after some standout
displays for Ecuador in Qatar.
Spurs are exploring a deal for Hincapie but will be unwilling to match
Bayer Leverkusen’s £80million valuation.
Boss Antonio Conte wants a new
defender in this window to beef up a
struggling defence that has shipped 31
goals in only 21 Prem games — and
Hincapie is on the shortlist.
A summer deal would be more likely
for a player who is happy at his
current club and still learning his trade.
And Hincapie could reportedly be
snapped up for £20m this month
before
being
loaned
back
to
Leverkusen until the end of the
season, in a deal similar to that of
Pape Matar Sarr.
The presence of Conte and
Harry Kane at Tottenham are
trump cards for Hincapie.
He said: “I like the Premier
League. In truth, Antonio Conte is
a very good coach, undoubtedly one
of the best in the world and I
appreciate it if he likes me.
“Also, they have Harry Kane, who
is a fantastic striker, one of the
greatest in the world.
“I would like to play at Spurs at
some point in my life but right
now I am happy in Leverkusen and
100 per cent focused on them.”
Spurs have already landed Dutch
star Arnaut Danjuma on loan and are
linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon
wing-back Pedro Porro.

GELHARDT A CAT
LEEDS forward Joe Gelhardt has
joined Sunderland on loan for the
rest of the season.
The hitman, 20, could make a
debut against Millwall next week.
Gelhardt (right) said: “I know
how big the club is and the playing
style seemed a perfect fit for me.”
Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray
said: “Joe is an exciting signing.”

Kepa’s Spain
pain soothed
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA is
due to be rewarded for
reclaiming
Chelsea’s
No 1 spot — with a nod
from new Spain boss
Luis de la Fuente.
Stamford Bridge keeper
Kepa has played the last
seven Blues games and,
despite mixed results for
the team, is showing a
vast improvement that
has not gone unnoticed.
Spain next play in
March — with the Euro
2024 qualifiers at home
to Norway then away in
Scotland.
And Kepa, 28, is set to
be named in the squad
having not played for
Spain since October 2020.
He did not get on
well with previous Spain
coach Luis Enrique and
was heartbroken to miss
the delayed Euro 2020.
Kepa
has
a
much
healthier
relationship
with new man De la
Fuente, who has let it be

By ANDREW DILLON

known the keeper is very
much in his thoughts.
Kepa, also overlooked
for last year’s World Cup,
played for De la Fuente
in Spain’s Under-21s and
was in the Athletic Bilbao
academy when he bossed
the seniors.
The 2020 arrival of
Edouard
Mendy
at
Chelsea saw him drop
down the Blues’ pecking
order — so much so he
was axed from last year’s
Club World Cup final.
Kepa played in the
semi-final and kept a
clean sheet, only to be
benched
when
Mendy
flew to Abu Dhabi direct
from Senegal’s victory at
the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mendy, 30, had surgery
on a fractured finger this
month,
helping
Kepa
cement his place in goal.
And
Mendy’s
Blues
contract
talks
have
stalled over wages.

Silva service
By ALESSANDRO SCHIAVONE

BENOIT BADIASHILE says Thiago Silva is having a
huge influence on him at Chelsea.
The Frenchman joined the Blues in a £35million
move from Monaco earlier this month.
And he has partnered Silva, 38, for back-to-back
clean sheets, including a draw at Liverpool.
Badiashile, 21, said: “In Thiago Silva and Kalidou
Koulibaly I have great defenders on my side who
will make it a lot easier for me to learn, both in
training and in matches.
“I will keep watching them to pick stuff up. Silva
is giving me beneficial tips all the time, on and off
the pitch and in training.
“He is a great defender, a legend — and having
the chance to play with him is fantastic.”

POT ARMY

ALL GO AT WOLVES
WOLVES have agreed to sign
midfielder Joao Gomes from
Flamengo for £15million.
He is due in England next week
for a medical — despite his
Brazilian club pushing for the
21-year-old to join Lyon.
Gomes (left) only made his club
debut in 2020 but has become a
star in the Brazilian league.

KEP-ING IT REAL . . . Kepa reclaimed spot between the sticks

From Back Page
EX-CHELSEA defender Marcos Alonso has agreed
a new deal with Barcelona until June 2024.
The Catalan giants signed Alonso, 32, on a free
last summer as part of a major squad overhaul
funded by a controversial sale of future TV rights.
MILLWALL’S £2.4million bid to sign Scotland
striker Kevin Nisbet collapsed after the 25-yearold decided to stay at Hibs.
Nisbet’s agents Quantic Sports said in a statement: “Kevin has thought long and hard but
he’d rather focus on Hibs for the time being.”

OUT-OF-FAVOUR Stoke defender Aden Flint, 33, is
joining Sheffield Wednesday on loan.
Flint, who played for Owls on loan from Cardiff
in 2020, signed a one-year deal with the Potters
last year but has not featured since October 2.
BOLTON swooped to sign Cameron Jerome on
an 18-month deal after the veteran forward was
released by Luton yesterday.
The 36-year-old, who has scored 137 goals in
614 league games for eight English clubs, could
make his Trotters debut at Charlton on today.

thinking
and
working
together.
Deep-thinking Potter is
renowned for employing
off-the-wall
tactics
to
encourage team spirit.
While
manager
of
Swedish side Ostersunds
he got his players to
perform ballet, write a
theatre show about Vikings
and perform Finnish rap
songs to an audience.
Chelsea are already out
of the FA Cup and have
no game until they host
Fulham on Friday.
So Potter is using the
time to work on mental as
well as physical training.
He has another couple
of ideas planned for next
week but they remain a
closely-guarded secret.
Chelsea’s new American
owners turned to Potter
as manager in September
as part of a long-term
project to transform the
club after a £4.25billion

takeover. Six new players
have been signed this
month alone at a total
cost of £163.2million —
which includes the £9.7m
loan fee for Portugal
forward Joao Felix.
And they have agreed a
£26m
deal
for
Lyon
defender Malo Gusto, 19.
Potter, whose side have
won only two of their last
ten games, wants the
growing numbers to be in
harmony as quickly as
possible.
He said: “There will be
an element of team bonding. We need to try to
bring the group together.
“It’s not just about the
grass, it’s about how you
interact as a team and as
a group.
“We have a window to
do it and, with a lot of
players here, we need to
build some togetherness,
some understanding. And
we have to be creative
with how we do it.”

66 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

MAN U v READING

FA CUP

RED-HOT
SPELL

KANE . . . record bid

Kane’s a
doubt for
End tie
Preston v
Tottenham
6pm, BBC1 &
By CARL LONG

HARRY KANE could miss
Spurs’ FA Cup trip to
Preston today with illness.
The Tottenham striker
went level with Jimmy
Greaves as the club’s alltime top scorer on 266
goals with his Prem winner at Fulham on Monday.
Kane had a fever before
that game and missed
training on Wednesday
and
Thursday
before
returning yesterday.
Tottenham No 2 Cristian
Stellini said: “We have
only one problem, with
Harry, because he played
the last game full of
illness.
“He didn’t train during
the week, he trained this
morning, but he wants to
come with us and be
available.
“We know very well that
Harry wants to play every
game, so we are happy
that Harry is involved in
the game. But the only
situation we have to take
care of is this.”
Richarlison is pushing to
make his first start since
a hamstring injury after
last month’s World Cup.
Arnaut Danjuma, who
joined on loan from Villarrealy, is set to be on the
bench against North End.
Talks are continuing
with Sporting Lisbon over
the signing of right wingback Pedro Porro.
Spurs have not won a
trophy since 2008 and
Stellini added: “We have
to change the mentality.
You don’t have to talk
about winning trophies,
you have to do it.”
It’s time to dig Deep —
Goals Page 10

Gil wind
for Sevilla
By TOM BARCLAY

SEVILLA manager Jorge
Sampaoli
has
spoken
of his desire to sign
Tottenham’s Bryan Gil.
Spurs were not planning
to let the Spanish winger,
22, go out on loan during
this window.
But their loan capture
of Arnaut Danjuma could
change
things
before
Tuesday’s deadline.
Argentine Sampaoli, who
took over at Sevilla in the
summer having bossed
Marseille last term, said:
“Bryan Gil is on my radar.
I called him personally
last year in Marseille.
“He would give us
things on the wing.”
SunSport
understands
no deal is close and Gil
will be in Spurs’ squad for
today’s FA Cup fourthround clash at Preston.

8PM, ITV4 &

ETH: Marcus is wizard, not me

MAGIC BOOTS
. . . firing forward
Rashford is in a
rich vein of form

ERIK TEN HAG claims
Marcus Rashford has
conjured up his own
revival rather than any
‘Harry
Potter’
magic
from the boss.

RASHFORD FOR
MAN UTD SINCE
WORLD CUP
Date

Opponents

Mins Goals Assists

Dec 21 Burnley (h)

85

1

-

Dec 27 Nottm Forest (h)

86

1

1

Dec 31 Wolves (a)

-

45

1

Jan 3

Bournemouth (h)

90

1

-

Jan 6

Everton (h)

90

1

1

Jan 10 Charlton (h)

30

2

-

Jan 14 Man City (h)

89

1

-

Jan 18 Crystal Palace (a) 90

-

-

Jan 22 Arsenal (a)

1

-

90

Jan 25 Nottm Forest (a)

57

1

-

TOTAL

752

10

2

The Manchester United chief
wanted to play down his own
part in the incredible turnaround of the player’s fortunes
under his charge.
Instead, he puts it all down
to the England international’s
determination to find his very
best form that has brought ten
goals in his last ten games.
Ten Hag said: “I’m not Harry
Potter!
It’s
just
confidence.
Every player has to make his
own confidence. He fought for
this, he invested in this.
“Of course, with my coaching
staff, we bring in structures,
especially in the way of play,
that give him routines he needs
to get into the right position.
“But finally, it’s up to him, to
the player, and when the player
has the confidence then I’m
convinced.
“The way of play is most
important but the environment
and culture are also important,
then the player can perform at
his best.
“It’s obvious that Marcus at
this moment is in really good
shape, really good form.”
Rashford’s
goalscoring
run
since returning from the World
Cup is the best of any player
in Europe’s top leagues.
He scored another wonder
goal against Nottingham Forest
in the midweek on the back of
his
spectacular
opener
at
Arsenal last weekend.
New on-loan signing Wout
Weghorst also broke his duck
in the Carabao Cup tie at the
City Ground and with Antony

By NEIL
CUSTIS
on form in that game too, Ten
Hag
is
confident
in
his
attacking line-up — despite
Anthony Martial’s ongoing fitness problems.
Ten Hag said: “The front line
now gives me a positive feeling,
it’s getting stronger and they
take benefit from each other.
“In the first part of the
season, we had many problems
in the front line.
“Often we had games where
we didn’t have players who
were 100 per cent physically
and mentally fit.
“Now that’s not the case as
much and Marcus can take
even more benefit from such
situations.”
United
take
on
Reading
tonight in the FA Cup fourth
round as the only team in the
country still fighting on four
fronts.
It means they are in a fixture
run of ten games in 30 days but
Ten Hag is not complaining.
He said: “It’s tough but I
think it’s always better to have
games rather than training.
Players like more games.
“There is a good spirit and a
good mood in this dressing
room to cope with that.
“We want to stay in those
competitions as long as possible
so we have to fight for that. It
is good for the development of
this squad.
“Every day we have to give
our maximum, good is not
good enough. We have to do
better.
“It’s never at an end. We
want to win every game. It
doesn’t
matter
who
the
opponent is.”
Tonight’s Cup game could give

club captain Harry Maguire a
chance to stake his claim for a
regular first-team spot again.
He is right down the pecking
order for one of the centreback spots given the form of
those ahead of him.
And Ten Hag (above) told him
to battle to get his place back.
The Dutchman said: “It’s up
to him. He has to fight for his
position and things can change
quickly. I have to say he’s
training very well, I think he is
making progress.
“After the World Cup, he
should have played but then
he got ill. I can’t do anything
about that and he knows that.
“Then he has to wait for his
chance, you have to wait for a
change and make sure you are
ready if the chance is there.”
Meanwhile, Ten Hag says
Jadon Sancho is on his way
back after being sidelined since
October, with the manager
believing he has not been physically or mentally right to play.
The winger, 22, only recently
returned to full training with
the first team since his last
appearance at Chelsea.
Ten Hag added: “He is
training with the team and
improving and we will make a
decision after training.”
Sancho is more likely to
make the bench for tonight’s
game as United aim for two
trips to Wembley this season.
They look to be on their way
in the Carabao Cup after
winning the first leg of their
semi-final against Forest 3-0.
But Ten Hag will not underestimate their opponents this
evening, despite Reading standing 14th in the Championship.
He said: “Every opponent will
be tough, especially in the Cup.
“For them it’s a perfect
chance, we have to be aware of
that and be on the front foot.”

INCE: ERIK MUST SORT IT DROUGHT
PAUL INCE says Manchester United
By SAM ALEXANDER
must lift a trophy for Erik ten Hag’s
European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991. Ince
reign to fully take off.
said: “It’s important for United to keep
But the former United midfielder is

determined to stop them winning this
season’s FA Cup — by sending them
tumbling in the fourth round tonight.
Reading boss Ince knows all about
ending a silverware drought having
been part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side
that ended a 26-year wait for title glory.
Ince, 55, was recruited by Fergie from
West Ham in 1989 and went on to be a
key part of United’s 1993 league triumph
and Double success a year later.
But he believes the building blocks
were put in place when United lifted
the FA Cup in 1990 and followed that
CUP JOY . . . Ince and Bruce back in 1994 by beating Barcelona in the final of the

winning trophies. They haven’t done so
in six years, which can’t be right.
“We knew we hadn’t won a title in
26 years. The important thing for us in
1990 was winning the Cup — United has
to be seen to be winning trophies.
“In that year we finished 12th or 13th,
so to win an FA Cup was great.
“But the second year, when we went
to Rotterdam and beat Barcelona, the
next pre-season after winning that there
was a different feel around the club.
“There was a belief and a faith to go
on and win the title. We had this aura,
a presence about us that we could beat
teams even before we went out on the

pitch. That was the most important
thing, we could mix it. We could go
to Wimbledon with John Fashanu and
Vinny Jones — we could do that.
“But we could also go to Liverpool
and play, we could do that too. We had
both components of a very good side.”
Ince believes Ten Hag has brought the
fear factor back to Old Trafford and
sees similarities with the trophy-winning
machine he was part of in the 90s.
He reckons the prospect of facing
United this season is very different to
just 12 months ago.
Ince added: “I sense that previously
teams felt they could go to Old Trafford
and get something.
“What Ten Hag is doing now is giving
this team a presence. I’m excited at the
way they’re moving forward.”

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

2GM

PLEA TO SEAGULLS

FA CUP

Caicedo: Let
me leave

ANTONIO . . . no move

Moyes:
Antonio
won’t go
By JORDAN DAVIES

DAVID MOYES maintains
Michail Antonio will NOT
leave West Ham before
the transfer deadline.
And the Hammers boss
is backing his wantaway
star to deliver on the
pitch — especially as
he is the club’s ONLY
fit central striker.
Antonio, 32, hinted
at a January exit
while speaking on the
Footballer’s Football
Podcast, admitting:
“There are talks, so
whatever
happens,
happens.”
The forward —
whose contract runs
out in June 2024 —
has been linked with
moves to Nottingham
Forest, Wolves as well
as MLS in America.
But Moyes and Hammers’ board insist he
is not for sale with
Gianluca Scamacca and
£12million new-boy Danny
Ings out with knee issues.
Asked
if
he
was
disappointed by Antonio’s
comments, Moyes said:
“Players are all entitled to
having a voice but it is
not coming from the club
or me.
“Sometimes
players
choose to do that, some
of them want to go. But
we want Michail here.
“Sometimes players can
be played around and
talked to by agents. That
can disrupt players but it
can happen to any player,
not just Michail.
“We just need to hope
he finds the form he had
a while back and get us
the goals which can get
us away. I have given him
every opportunity to try to
do that for us.”
Moyes revealed Ings was
crocked 15 SECONDS into
his West Ham debut as a
sub in last week’s 2-0 win
over Everton.
He also has just three
central defenders fit for
Monday’s FA Cup fourthround trip to Derby, following Craig Dawson’s
move to Wolves and Kurt
Zouma’s hip problem.
That may force Moyes
back into the market
before Tuesday’s deadline.
He said: “I need to
assess that and see if I
can get by with what I
have got.
“If not, I would maybe
need to go to the loan
market. At the moment I
don’t see that probably
happening just yet, but it
is a bit up in the air.”

GUNNERS £60M BID REJECTED
BRIGHT FUTURE . . .
Caicedo’s terrific form
has attracted big bids

CAICEDO
BRIGHTON RECORD
THIS SEASON
(all comps)

21
Games
1,832
Mins played
20
Chances created
1,248
Passes
Passing accuracy 89%
1/1
Goals/assist
52%
Win rate

By JACK ROSSER

it’s important for him to stay for
another four months.

Brighton v

“He’s relaxed. I spoke with him
MOISES CAICEDO last
Liverpool
like a father, not like a coach.
night begged Brighton to
“I am not an egoist, I underallow him a dream move Tomorrow, 1.30pm, ITV1 &
stand the possibility to change
to Arsenal.
team
and go to a very big team.
The Gunners have had a understand why I want to take

£60million bid rejected for
the midfielder, while Chelsea
saw a £55m offer turned
down this month.
Albion insist the Ecuador
ace, 21, is not for sale and
boss Roberto De Zerbi held
talks with him on Wednesday
to convince the player to stay
until the summer.
But Caicedo made a plea
to Seagulls owner Tony Bloom
on Instagram last night.
He posted: “I am grateful
to Mr Bloom and Brighton for
giving me the chance to come
to the Premier League and I
feel I have always done my
best for them.
“I always play with a
smile and with heart.
“I am the youngest of
ten siblings from a poor
upbringing
in
Santo
Domingo in Ecuador.
“My dream was always to be
the most decorated player in the
history of Ecuador.
“I am proud to be able to bring
in a record transfer fee for
Brighton which would allow them
to reinvest it and help the club
continue to be successful.
“The fans have taken me into
their hearts and they will always
be in my heart so I hope they

“But my work is to give the
up this magnificent opportunity.”
Hours earlier, De Zerbi had style of play and advice for his
said he had no concerns over career — and for his life.”
If Caicedo leaves, De Zerbi says
playing Caicedo.
Ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup he would “expect” replacements
before
the window closes on
clash with Liverpool, the Italian
says Caicedo was “relaxed” and Tuesday but the ex-Shakhtar
Donetsk
boss is hoping for a
not distracted by the speculation.
He said: “I’m sure Caicedo will quiet end to the month.
Brighton have already sold
play focused only on Brighton.
For him, so much can change if Leandro Trossard to Arsenal
he leaves now or in the summer. for an initial £21m after the
“The opportunity if you are a Belgian star, 28, fell out with
good person and good player is De Zerbi following this winter’s
there now. But it will also be World Cup in Qatar.
there now, in the summer and
next winter. Always.
“I spoke with him only one
time and his decision is with
owner Tony Bloom and the
club.
“I can say my advice, my
vision and my idea — but
after this I just stay in my
place.
“I hope he can stay
with us until the end
of the season because
my opinion is that is
the best solution for
both him and us.
“It’s always difficult to change in
the season because
you can find some
problems. For us,
HANDS OFF . . . De Zerbi wants

Caicedo to stay at Albion for now

JURGEN’S KOP FLOP WARNING
By KEN LAWRENCE
JURGEN KLOPP warned his players
will be “screwed” if they make a Seagulls video nasty on repeat and
the same mistakes again at the stressed: “We had a few pretty
scene of his biggest horror show. intense discussions after that.

Sport
WIGAN’S Miguel Azeez
has been banned for
one match for holding a
flare after his side’s late
equaliser in Cardiff.
On-loan
midfielder
Azeez will miss the
February 6 trip to
Blackburn.

SHORT

67

SHOCKER . . . Alexander-Arnold during 3-0 defeat

But he has taken pity on those who
produced what he calls the worst
display of any team he has managed.
That is why he will not force them
to sit through more re-runs of the 3-0
defeat by Brighton a fortnight ago.
The Liverpool chief defines that
loss as the low point of his managerial career, admitting: “That was
still the worst I saw. Pretty much
everything went wrong.”
Klopp (right) returns to Brighton’s
home tomorrow in the FA Cup praying lessons have been learned.
He points to two clean sheets since
— a goalless draw with Chelsea and
1-0 third-round replay win at Wolves
— as evidence of improvement.
Klopp made his players sit through

“But, no, they won’t be made to
see it all again. It was a horror show
and they could see everything that
went wrong against Brighton.
“We have changed. When
you consider the performances
in
the
two
games
since
Brighton, it is like looking at
two different sports.
“But it’s Brighton and a lot
of things are clear in what
they are doing. You have to
respect that and defend that.
“If you don’t do that then you are
screwed, there is no doubt.”
Klopp revealed crocked Virgil van
Dijk will not train for another fortnight — raising fears he could miss
their Champions League last-16 clash

with Real Madrid on February 21.
Asked about his defence, Klopp said:
“Last time we played Brighton, the
front three did not defend properly.
So it is not about defence, or midfield, it’s how we defend in general.”
And Klopp accepts his star striker
Mo Salah is struggling with an
unsettled forward line.
In his last three matches,
the make-up of the front three
has been different in each.
Klopp said: “Oh yes, of
course he is suffering. It was a
well-drilled machine the front
three, everything was clear.
“In two or three weeks more
options will be available [Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota are back
from injury] and we can mix it up.
We have Cody Gakpo as an important asset, like a connector.
“There is no light at the end of the
tunnel, there are finals and trophies.”

68 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
(3.0 unless stated)

TODAY

EMIRATES FA CUP FOURTH ROUND

1
2
3
4
5
6

Accrington Stanley v Leeds (BBC 1)....................... 12.30
Blackburn v Birmingham..................................................
Bristol City v West Brom...................................................
Fulham v Sunderland.........................................................
Ipswich v Burnley...............................................................
Luton v Grimsby..................................................................
Man Utd v Reading (ITV4)............................................ 8.0
Preston North End v Tottenham Hotspur (BBC 1)... 6.0
Sheff Wed v Fleetwood Tn...............................................
Southampton v Blackpool................................................
Walsall v Leicester (BBC Interactive)..................... 12.30

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

Coventry v Huddersfield...................................................
9 Hull v QPR.............................................................................
10 Middlesbrough v Watford.................................................

SKY BET LEAGUE ONE

11 Burton Albion v Oxford Utd..............................................
Charlton v Bolton (Sky Sports Main Event).......... 12.30
12 Cheltenham v Port Vale....................................................
13 Lincoln City v Cambridge Utd...........................................
14 Milton Keynes Dons v Exeter............................................
15 Morecambe v Bristol Rovers.............................................
16 Peterborough v Portsmouth...........................................
Shrewsbury v Forest Green..............................................

SKY BET LEAGUE TWO

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

AFC Wimbledon v Stockport County...............................
Barrow v Northampton.....................................................
Crawley Tn v Salford City..................................................
Harrogate Tn v Sutton Utd...............................................
Hartlepool v Colchester....................................................
Mansfield v Doncaster.......................................................
Rochdale v Carlisle.............................................................
Swindon v Gillingham........................................................
Tranmere v Leyton Orient................................................

27
29
30
31

Hibernian v Aberdeen........................................................
Rangers v St Johnstone.....................................................
Ross County v Kilmarnock................................................
St Mirren v Motherwell.....................................................

32
33
34
35

Dundee v Queen’s Park......................................................
Morton v Arbroath.............................................................
Partick v Hamilton.............................................................
Raith v Inverness CT...........................................................

36
37
38
39
40

Airdrieonians v Alloa.........................................................
Clyde v Dunfermline..........................................................
FC Edinburgh v Falkirk.......................................................
Montrose v Kelty Hearts...................................................
Peterhead v Queen of South............................................

41
42
43
44
45

Albion v Forfar....................................................................
Annan Athletic v East Fife................................................
Dumbarton v Bonnyrigg Rose..........................................
Stenhousemuir v Elgin......................................................
Stirling v Stranraer............................................................

CINCH PREMIERSHIP

CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

CINCH LEAGUE ONE

CINCH LEAGUE TWO

VANARAMA NATIONAL

46 Aldershot v Oldham...........................................................
Altrincham v Boreham Wood...........................................
Barnet v Chesterfield........................................................
47 Dag & Red v Yeovil..............................................................
48 Dorking Wanderers v Solihull Moors...............................
49 Notts County v FC Halifax.................................................
Scunthorpe v Bromley.......................................................
Southend v Eastleigh.........................................................
Torquay v Maidstone Utd..................................................
Wealdstone v Gateshead..................................................
York v Maidenhead Utd.....................................................

VANARAMA NORTH - AFC Fylde v Chester FC, AFC Telford
v Southport, Alfreton Tn v Kettering, Blyth Spartans v Buxton,
Boston Utd v Scarborough Athletic, Brackley v Gloucester, Bradford P A v Chorley, Curzon Ashton v Farsley Celtic, Darlington v
Spennymoor Tn, Hereford FC v Banbury Utd, Leamington v
King’s Lynn Tn, Peterborough Sports v Kidderminster.
VANARAMA SOUTH - Bath City v Farnborough, Chelmsford
v Welling, Cheshunt v Slough, Dulwich v Eastbourne Borough,
Ebbsfleet United v Concord Rangers, Havant and W v Hampton
& Richmond, Hemel Hempstead v Dover, Hungerford Tn v Chippenham, Oxford City v Weymouth, Taunton Tn v St Albans,
Tonbridge Angels v Braintree Tn, Worthing v Dartford.
THE PITCHING IN NORTHERN PREMIER - Atherton Collieries v South Shields, Belper Tn v Bamber Bridge, FC Utd of
Manchester v Warrington Tn, Guiseley v Hyde Utd, Lancaster
City v Matlock Tn, Marine v Ashton Utd, Morpeth Tn v Radcliffe,
Stafford R v Marske Utd, Stalybridge Celtic v Gainsborough Trinity, Warrington Rylands v Liversedge, Whitby Tn v Nantwich Tn.
THE PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN PREMIER - Bowers & Pitsea
v Potters Bar, Brightlingsea Regent v Folkestone Invicta, Canvey Island v Herne Bay, Corinthian Casuals v Bognor Regis Tn,
Cray Wanderers v Lewes, Enfield Tn v Carshalton Ath, Haringey
Boro v Hastings Utd, Hornchurch v Aveley, Horsham v Billericay,
Kingstonian v Bishop’s Stortford, Margate v Wingate & Finchley.
THE PITCHING IN SOUTHERN PREMIER CENTRAL Rushden & Diamonds v Stratford T, Basford U v Tamworth,
Hednesford T v Alvechurch, Hitchin T v Bedford T, Ilkeston T v
Coalville T, Kings Langley v Barwell, Leiston v St Ives T,
Mickleover v Rushall Olympic, Nuneaton Boro v Stourbridge,
Redditch U v Bromsgrove Sporting, Royston T v Needham Mrkt.
THE PITCHING IN SOUTHERN PREMIER SOUTH Beaconsfield T v Chesham U, Bracknell T v Winchester City,
Dorchester T v Swindon Supermarine, Gosport Boro v Hayes &
Yeading, Hendon v Harrow Boro, Merthyr T v Salisbury, Met Police v Hanwell T, North Leigh v Hartley Wintney, Plymouth Parkway v Poole T, Weston-S-Mare v Truro C, Yate T v Tiverton T.

TOMORROW

EMIRATES FA CUP FOURTH ROUND
Brighton v Liverpool (ITV 1)...................................... 1.30
7 Stoke v Stevenage....................................................... 2.0
8 Wrexham v Sheff Utd (BBC 1)................................... 4.30

CINCH PREMIERSHIP

26 Dundee Utd v Celtic (Sky Sports Main Event).......... 4.0
28 Livingston v Hearts (Sky Sports Football).............. 1.30

FA WOMEN’S CUP 4TH ROUND

AFC Wimbledon v Charlton...............................................
Arsenal v Leeds Utd..................................................... 2.0
Aston Villa v AFC Fylde................................................ 6.0
Bristol City v Oxford Utd...................................................
Burnley v Cardiff.......................................................... 2.0
Chelsea v Liverpool FC...................................................1.0
Coventry United v Hashtag United............................ 2.0
Durham v Crystal Palace............................................12.0
Everton v Birmingham City.........................................1.0
Ipswich v Lewes............................................................ 2.0
Leicester v Reading...................................................... 4.0
Man City v Sheff Utd.....................................................1.0
Sunderland v Man Utd..................................................1.0
Tottenham v London City (BBC Interactive)...........12.0
West Brom v Brighton & Hove Albion........................ 2.0
Wolverhampton v West Ham...................................... 2.0

KARREN BRADY
COLUMN – GOALS P16

OUR COLUMNIST ON

Toffees
had to
roll
the
Dyche

TO THE MANOR
SEAN . . . Dyche
worked wonders at
Burnley and helped
spark Troy Deeney’s
Watford career (below)

MY OLD PAL SEAN
WILL UNITE CLUB
THERE was only ever one
man who could save Everton
from their prolonged crisis
and I’m convinced that man
is Sean Dyche.

Now the former Burnley boss is
heading for Goodison Park, I’d put
my house on the Toffees avoiding
relegation.
Now I’m biased when it comes
to Dyche but I also have some
insight about him, which I hope
will cut through the snobbery
which seems to go against him.
He is pigeon-holed as a long-ball
merchant and that might make
him unpopular with a large section of Everton’s restless fanbase.
Many of them would doubtless
have preferred Marcelo Bielsa.
But the former Leeds chief tends
to be an 18-month sort of manager
and I couldn’t see his extreme
methods working in mid-season.

Troy Deeney
ON HIS EX-MANAGER FROM WATFORD DAYS

Everton need a boss for the long
term and have found one.
Dyche is flexible with his tactics
and outstanding in his manmanagement.
Sure, his Burnley side were quite
direct but they had one of the
smallest budgets in the Premier
League and they thrived under his
management for years.
Believe it or not, Everton do
have better players than Dyche’s
Burnley ever did.
It is just that the club has
lacked identity, direction and lead-

ership for so long that many
players have regressed there.
Dyche won’t have Everton playing
one-dimensional
route-one
football.
Dyche was my assistant manager, and then my manager, when
I was at Watford.
I was a young idiot and Dyche
told me as much. He was right
and I needed it.
When he was No 2 to Malky
Mackay I didn’t like him and I
didn’t think he liked me.
So when he took over, I

assumed I’d be out. Instead, he
was the making of me.
He told me home truths because
he rated me and believed in me —
he could see something there
when a lot of people couldn’t.
The season I spent under him
was my breakthrough campaign, as
I played regularly as a striker and
scored 11 Championship goals.
That following summer, I spent
three months in prison, the lowest
point of my life.
But while I was inside, Dyche
visited me and wrote to me.
Watford were taken over by the
Pozzo family that summer and
Dyche lost his job.
But he continued to ring me and
message me regularly as my career
progressed, telling me I deserved
my successes.
So, yes, I owe him a huge debt
of gratitude but it is not just for
the influence he had on my career

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

EVERTON MESS

69

FLASH GORDON
. . . winger’s gone
from hero-to-zero
with Everton fans

IT’S A GOOD JOB
From Back Page

down — or Moshiri will have to
pay up the remainder of his deal.
Dyche, who beat Sam Allardyce
and Ralph Hasenhuttl to the post,
will be joined by old Burnley
coaches Ian Woan and Steve
Stone.
The 51-year-old will also be
reunited with with former Turf
Moor players James Tarkowski,
Michael
Keane
and
Dwight
McNeil at Goodison.
Burnley sacked Dyche after nine
years in April as they sank
towards the Championship.
His first game back in the
Premier League will be a baptism

of fire at home to leaders Arsenal used to his methods. He then
next Saturday.
planned to take over in the sumBielsa, 67, appeared primed to mer — leaving an interim mantake over from sacked Frank ager battling to beat the drop.
Lampard after jetting to London
The club were unwilling to
on Thursday for crunch talks with accept his proposal and turned to
Moshiri.
Dyche, who now faces a transfer
The former Leeds boss, who scramble to bring in reinforcewanted a £6m-a-year pay packet, ments for a relegation scrap
P W had
D L before
F A Pts
had already made
Tuesday’s deadline.
Arsen it clear19he
16 2of 1 45
reservations aboutal the balance
He16 will
50 have funds from the
Man
City
20 14 the
3 3 £45m
Everton’s squad and whether
sale of winger Anthony
53 20 45
astleto his
players couldNewc
adapt
high20 10
9 1 Gordon
33 11 39to Newcastle.
Man Utd
intensity style.
deal could signal the £18m
20 12 3 5 32That
25 39
Bielsa then
told
of Coventry City striker
Totte
nhamMoshiri
21 11 3he arrival
40 31 36
wanted to Brigh
worktonwith Everton’s 7 Viktor
Gyokeres, 24, who has 12
19
9 4 6 strikes
37 27 31
younger players
for
the
remainder
in
27 Championship games
Fulham
9 got
4 8 this
32 30season.
31
of the season while
the 21
club
Brentford
20 7 9 4 32 28 30
Liverpool
19 8 5 6 34 25 29
Chelsea
20 8 5 7 22 21 29
Aston Villa
20 8 4 8 23 27 28
Crystal Palace 20 6 6 8 18
27 24
Nottm Forest 20
P W
F 35
5 D
A Pts
6 L9 16
21
Arsen
Leicesal
19
ter
1 45
20 16
5 2
3 12
50
28 16
35
18
Man
City
Leeds
20
14
3
19 4 6 3
45
9 53
26 20
33
18
Newc
West astle
20 10
Ham
1 33
5 9
3 12
17 11
25 39
18
Man
Utd
Wolve
20 12
s
5 32
4 3
5 11
12 25
30 39
17
Totte
Bournnham
emouth 21
11
3
7 40
20 4 5 11
36
19 31
42
17
Brigh
Evertton
19
on
6 37
20 9
3 4
6 11
15 27
28 31
15
Fulha
Southm
ampton 21
8 32
20 9
4 4
3 13
17 30
35 31
15
Brentford
20 7 9 4 32 28 30
Liverpool
19 8 5 6 34 25 29
Chelsea
20 8 5 7 22 21 29
Aston Villa
20 8 4 8 23 27 28
Crystal Palace 20 6 6 8 18
27 24
Nottm Forest 20 5 6 9 16
35 21
Leicester
20 5 3 12 28 35 18
Leeds
19 4 6 9 26 33 18
West Ham
20 5 3 12 17 25 18
Wolves
20 4 5 11 12 30 17
Bournemouth 20 4 5 11 19
42 17
Everton
20 3 6 11 15 28 15
Southampton 20 4 3 13 17
35 15

BOTTOM OF PREM

DYCHE MANAGEMENT RECORD
Seasons
2011-12
2012-22

Club
Watford
Burnley
TOTAL

Games
49
425
474

Win rate
35%
35%
35%

PREM

HIS LEAGUE POSITIONS AS MANAGER
7th
16th

19th

CHAMP

(R)

2nd
(P)

11th

15th

10th
17th

*
18th

1st
(P)

11th

2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
Watford
which makes me believe Dyche is
the right man for Everton — it’s
his all-round managerial abilities.
He will get the team fit and
focused, he will give them a clear
identity and he will connect with
the fanbase. The club is horribly
divided and Dyche will unite it.
Footballers are like schoolkids.
They need to be told what to do,
they need direction and clarity.
Fill their heads with too many
weird and wonderful ideas and
you risk losing them.
Dyche gets that. He can be flexible but he is also clear and firm
in his beliefs. His No 2 Ian Woan
is an absolute top man as well.
Everton need Dyche, as a squad
and as a club, because they have
been a mess for too long.
For instance, I couldn’t understand why they were after Arnaut
Danjuma. He’s a great talent —
which is why Spurs ended up

Burnley
hijacking his move from Villarreal
— but another flair player on the
wing is not what Everton need.
They need a back-up to Dominic
Calvert-Lewin, a player I’m convinced Dyche will work wonders
for, and they need someone to
anchor the midfield.
Everton have a vast number of
midfielders but no one who seems
able to control things, to do the
simple things well.
So many good players have gone
there over the last seven years and
seem to have shrunk.
There are a lot of players there
on good contracts who the club
want to get rid of.
You can’t blame the players for
that — it was the club who offered
them big money — but that is not
a healthy situation.
The majority shareholder, Farhad
Moshiri, has invested vast amounts
in the squad and gone backwards.

*When he left the club
I’m not surprised he wants to sell
up. But building a successful
football club is not all about
throwing money at it. It’s about
having
that
long-term
vision,
which is what Dyche will bring.
Everton were in severe danger of
being relegated, of being out of
the top flight for the first time in
almost 70 years.
Some say they need relegation to
refresh and reset the club but I’m
not having that.
The Championship is tough,
believe me, and there is no guarantee that Everton would come
straight back up.
They could have ended up in the
wilderness for a generation like
Leeds did if they hadn’t got this
appointment right.
I’m convinced they have made
the right call for a change. With
Dyche, Everton should be as safe
as houses.

Ant-ics are
out of order
SPEAK to Anthony Gordon and
you will discover one of the most
headstrong young players in the
Premier League.
But even he must be having a
little wobble over how the decisions
he has made in the last week may
cause irreparable damage to his
reputation at his boyhood club.
Just 14 months ago, having made
only eight top-flight starts, the
winger spoke to the media after his
first England Under-21 call-up.
He said: “My aim is to be Everton’s
best player, whether that’s this year,
next year or however long it takes.”
Maybe Gordon felt he already
fulfilled that goal last season as he
helped the Toffees narrowly avoid
relegation.
And objectively — once Richarlison had been sold to Tottenham in
July — maybe he had. Yet to throw
his toys out of the
pram so quickly to
force a move away from
the club, as he has
done this week by failing to show up for
training three days in a
row, has been staggering to watch.
You might expect that
kind of brazen unprofessionalism from ageing Cristiano Ronaldo,
frustrated that living off
his former glories was
not going to cut it
at Manchester United
under Erik ten Hag. But not from
someone who has made just 42
Prem starts and scored only seven
top-flight goals.
It is understandable Gordon, who
turns 22 next month, may be finding it overwhelming playing for a
club his friends and family support.
It is somewhere that every loss
and disappointment — and there
have been a lot — weighs down on
him more than other players.
And he has admitted as much in
the past.
Certainly, to have idiots chasing
you down the street shouting
“f***ing d***head” — as he had after
this
month’s
home
defeat
to

By TOM
BARCLAY
Southampton — was an horrendous
experience that could justifiably
have led to him thinking, ‘to hell
with them’.
But there are ways of going about
it, and especially with Everton’s
69-year run as a top-flight club in
serious jeopardy.
Gordon comes across as a hearton-his-sleeve kind of guy who will
tell you what he really thinks.
In an age of anodyne interviews
from stars media-trained to the nth
degree, he is a breath of fresh air
when he speaks.
His chat with the England Under21s press pack after September’s
win over Germany at Bramall Lane
was a perfect example.
He branded modernday price tags like his
own of £60million as
“absolutely crazy” and
made no bones about
his intention to gatecrash England’s World
Cup squad in Qatar.
That
honesty
also
hinted he would have
liked to have left Everton in the summer when
Newcastle, Chelsea and
Spurs came calling.
He said: “Because the
place (Everton) is so
good, it’s not a place where I’m like
devastated because I have to stay.
“That’s never been the case. I was
never desperate to leave Everton.”
He does seem to be now, though,
and while his refreshing candour in
interviews should be commended,
the action he has taken to get his
move should not.
For the good of all parties, let us
hope Newcastle can now come to
an agreement with the Toffees for
the young star, with a £45m deal
said to be close.
Because after the way he has
conducted himself of late, it is hard
to see the Everton fanbase forgiving
their fallen idol.

GORDON PREM RECORD AT EVERTON
Season

2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
TOTAL

Games

Starts

% Games

Mins

Goals

11
3
35
16
65

4
1
25
12
42

29%
8%
92%
80%
49%

440
88
2,284
1,096
3,908

0
0
4
3
7

Assists

1
0
2
0
2

70 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

2GM

FA CUP 4TH ROUND

MANCHESTER
AKE 64

MIKS AND

Out of the Cup
but Arteta eye
is firmly on title
THEY THINK IT’S ALL OVER
. . . City superstar Haaland
attempts a bicycle kick

MIKEL ARTETA retreated from
the Etihad, out of the FA Cup
but unbruised for the title
race ahead.
The Arsenal boss made six
changes against a virtually fullstrength City side but was only
undone by a second-half Nathan
Ake strike.
This was the first meeting of the
season between the Premier League
leaders and the champions and it
was a decent appetiser for the
more serious battle at the Emirates
on February 15.
City
progressed
but
Arsenal
proved they have greater squad
depth than many reckoned.
It was not the worst outcome for
Arteta because had he selected his
strongest side and lost, we’d be

3

By DAVE
KIDD

CHIEF SPORTS WRITER
talking of psychological scars. And
while the old refrain of ‘Cit-eh,
tearing
Cockneys
apart
again!’
resounded around the Etihad in the
final stages, Pep Guardiola’s men
had done nothing of the sort.
Leandro Trossard, on his full
Arsenal debut, illuminated the first
half and will add serious competition for places at the north London
side, who lead City by five points
with a game in hand.
The previous time Arsenal visited
this place, they were gubbed 5-0
early last season, with resounding

NATHAN AKE’S last three goals for Man
City have all been netted in different
comps — FA Cup last night, v Liverpool
in the Carabao last December and at
Leeds in the Prem in April last year.

5

calls for Arteta’s head. How times
have changed for Guardiola’s former
right-hand man, now threatening to
dethrone his old boss.
City, despite their dominance of
the Premier League, have only won
one FA Cup in the last decade and
Guardiola clearly has an appetite
for another.
Beating the leaders cannot be
bad for their confidence yet this
was not exactly convincing.
For 64 minutes, it felt as if we
were heading for a replay and a
heavyweight
trilogy
between
England’s best two sides in the
space of 19 days.
Ake ended that idea with a cool
finish after sub Julian Alvarez had
crashed a shot against a post.
But
Arsenal,
closer
to
full
strength after Arteta had made his

substitutions, staged a serious spell
of late pressure in an attempt to
take City back to the Emirates next
month.
When the teams were announced,
it was clear where Arteta’s priorities lay — those six changes
included the benching of skipper
Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli
and William Saliba.
Guardiola, clearly up for the Cup,
changed only two of his starting
line-up from last weekend’s victory
over Wolves.
Arsenal have added depth this
month with the £21million signing
of Trossard from Brighton.
The Belgian forward, on his first
Gunners start, gave John Stones an
early filleting and teed up Takehiro
Tomiyasu for a rattling long-ranger
which City’s impressive stand-in

ARSENAL lost their first away
game since October 27 against PSV
Eindhoven in the Europa League.
They had won five in a row on the
road before last night.

14

keeper Stefan Ortega pushed away.
At the other end, Erling Haaland
was giving Rob Holding a physical
going-over.
And when City’s goal machine
pounced on a mistake from his
marker, keeper Matt Turner raced
out of his area to block and the
Norwegian
attempted
a
saucy
25-yard bicycle kick, only for Tomiyasu to clear.
Trossard, having plenty of joy on
the left flank, rinsed Rico Lewis
and drilled a shot which Ortega
dived to fend away.
De Bruyne got some serious bend
on a shot which narrowly cleared
the far post.
But for once, De Bruyne wasn’t
even the liveliest Belgian on this
pitch — Trossard continued to torment City’s defence and squared for

MAN CITY have won 14 of their 17
meetings with Arsenal in all comps
under Pep Guardiola (D1 L2), level
with Burnley as the highest win
count since he took charge of City.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

2GM

71

CITY 1 ARSENAL 0

MATCHED
AKE OF THE NET . . . defender
Nathan Ake fires home City winner

MATCH
STATS
Man City

V

Arsenal

8
Shots
5
Shots on target
3
2
Possession
54%
46%
493
417
Passes
11 Touches in opposition box 10
0
3
Corners
9
14
Fouls conceded
Yellow cards
1
2
Red cards
0
0

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Dream Team
ratings scan
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smartphone

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Dream Team
ratings scan
here with your
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Eddie Nketiah to shoot wide at the
near post.
Despite all their changes, Arsenal
were playing some excellent stuff,
knocking it about with pace and
purpose.
For City, though, there was
always Haaland, who beat Gabriel
and lobbed Turner only for his
effort to land wide.
City were growing tetchy — with
ref Paul Tierney and with one
another. Guardiola was doing his
conkers on the touchline, even outFawltying Arteta.
Stones limped off in first-half
injury-time, after a heavy challenge
from Trossard, and was replaced by
Aymeric Laporte.
Holding had just been booked
for rugby tackling Haaland, the
Arsenal
centre-back’s
selection

Feb 5
Feb 12
Feb 15
Feb 18

Tottenham (a)
Aston Villa (h)
Arsenal (a)
Nottm Forest (a)

Prem
Prem
Prem
Prem

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here with your
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always looked like Arteta’s riskiest.
To get
your
And at half-time
Holding
was
Team while
hooked in favour Dream
of Saliba,
Albert Sambi Lokonga
replaced
ratings
injured Thomas Partey
in midfield.
scan here
Guardiola soon with
turned
your to Kyle
Walker and Alvarez but the spark
was beginning tosmartphone
go out of the
contest when — out of the blue —
City scored.
Alvarez, Argentina’s World Cup
winner, leathered a long-range shot
against the foot of a post, Jack
Grealish
received
the
rebound,
dribbled around Tomiyasu and laid
back for Ake to guide his shot
inside the far post.
Arsenal
almost
managed
an
immediate response, Granit Xhaka’s
artful centre almost fell to Nketiah
but Laporte nicked it off his toes in
the six-yard box. Arteta wasn’t

NEXT 4
GAMES

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Feb 4
Feb 11
Feb 15
Feb 18

going to lie down, though, and he
get your
brought on formerToCity
man OlekDream
Team
sandr Zinchenko and
Odegaard.
The visitors enjoyed
plenty of late
ratings
pressure but City, scan
with
Laporte to
here
the fore and Ortega,
withheld
yourfirm for a
place in the last 16.
smartphone
There will be better
to come next
month, when these teams meet at
full strength and at full tilt for
the title.
But for the blessed Arteta, even
a rare defeat felt like a minor
triumph.

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BLOW . . . John
Stones’ matchending injury

HOW THEY LINED UP

MAN CITY: Ortega, Stones (Laporte 45), Akanji, Ake,
Lewis (Walker 58), Rodri, Mahrez (Alvarez 58), De Bruyne
(Bernardo 75), Gundogan, Grealish, Haaland. Booked:
Gundogan.
ARSENAL: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding (Saliba 46),
Gabriel, Tierney (Zinchenko 66), Vieira, Partey (Lokonga
46), Xhaka, Saka (Odegaard 74), Nketiah, Trossard (Martinelli 66). Booked: Holding, Zinchenko.

Everton (a)
Brentford (h)
Man City (h)
Aston Villa (a)

Prem
Prem
Prem
Prem

CAICEDO PLEA TO LEAVE AS

GUNNERS BID £60M – P67

GUARDIOLA . . . through

AKES

From Back Page
personality and second
half we didn’t have him.”
City exploited Partey’s
exit as Ake, 27, struck
his first FA Cup goal to
book a fifth-round spot.
It also handed Pep
Guardiola’s Prem champs
a psychological edge over
Arsenal in the title race.
Arteta hopes to bring in
£80million-rated Brighton
midfielder Moises Caicedo
before the window shuts
on Tuesday after a £60m
Gunners bid was rejected.
He added: “If something is available, the
club will try to do it when
it is reasonable and is a
player that can improve
our squad.”
Arsenal had chances to
level after Ake’s opener
but Eddie Nketiah missed
their best chance of the
night, while City keeper
Stefan Ortega made two
good first-half saves.
Arteta, who made six
changes to the starting
XI who beat Manchester
United 3-2 last Sunday,
added: “We have taken
chances in big games —
that’s why we have beaten
a lot of the big teams.
“We must be more
ruthless. We made it
really difficult for them
but lacked something to
beat a team like this.”
City had an injury blow
of their own as defender
John Stones limped off
with a hamstring injury.
The England man also
earned a rocket from
boss Guardiola, who said;
“Today he was not ready,
I saw it in the first minutes, maybe he was tired.
“I don’t know how long
he’ll be out but he was
not ready and that’s why
you get injured.”
It was the 18th time
Guardiola has got the
better
of
the
north
London giants in his managerial career — meaning
he has beaten them more
than any other team.
They meet again in the
Prem at the Emirates on
February 15 in a match
that will be crucial to the
title hopes of both teams.
And Guardiola says this
result will not have much
impact on the league —
and expects a different
game next month.
He said: “I don’t think
that it will have any
effect on the league.
“But now I know they
can go man to man when
we go there. They saw
what we can do — we
saw what they can do.
“We
were
definitely
better in the second half.
But Arsenal have taken
a step forward.
“It was a tight game
and you realise how good
a side they are.”
Dutch ace Ake said: “It
was the first one I ever
scored with my right foot
so I’m pleased with that.”
GABRIEL
MARTINELLI
has agreed a new Arsenal
deal until 2027.
The Brazilian, 21, will
get £180,000 a week
— more than double his
current salary.

72 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

2GM

BLUE
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DYCHE GETS
GOOD JOB

EXCLUSIVE by ANDREW DILLON

By KEN LAWRENCE

GRAHAM POTTER has turned to the
Army in a bid to build a better team
spirit at Chelsea.

SEAN DYCHE is Everton’s new
boss after Marcelo Bielsa snubbed
the Goodison Park job.

Boss Potter took his troops to meet real
soldiers as part of a bonding day to encourage more togetherness in the dressing room.
He wanted to use the experience to help
the flood of new signings settle in quickly at
the club while Chelsea have some down time.
The whole squad were taken to an army
base near Liss, Hampshire, last Tuesday.
But there was no rough stuff or hardcore
drilling. Instead, Potter (right) used the experience to train the minds of his players with
a series of mental exercises to get them

Bielsa was owner Farhad Moshiri’s
No 1 target but incredibly the Argentinian was only prepared to coach the
club’s Under-21 side until the summer.
After talks broke down with Bielsa in
London, Moshiri turned to Dyche (left) to
stop the Toffees tumbling out of the top
flight for the first time since 1951.
Dyche is understood to have agreed a
contract worth around £5million a year until
2025. It contains a clause stating he will
either dodge the sack — even if Everton go

Turn to Page 65

Turn to Page 69

FIRST BLOOD TO PEP & CITY
GORDON . . . medical

Toon tie
up £45m
Ant deal
By FRANKIE CHRISTOU

y(7HA3A7*MQSSQL( |||+"!&'

NEWCASTLE are set to
splurge more cash after
agreeing a £45million deal
for Anthony Gordon.
The Everton winger, 21,
will travel to Tyneside
today for a medical and to
discuss personal terms
after the Toffees dropped
their £60m asking price.
Gordon made it clear he
wanted out of Goodison
and trained away from the
first team yesterday after
failing to show up for the
previous three sessions.
Eddie Howe’s Toon will
pay £40m up front, with
£5m in add-ons, and
Everton also benefiting
from a sell-on clause.
It takes the Magpies’
spending
spree
since
October
2021’s
Saudi
takeover to £242m.
The deal could make
him the club’s secondbiggest signing — behind
£60m record-buy Alexander
Isak
from
Real
Sociedad in August.
Gordon made 65 Prem
appearances for Everton
but last started in the
Boxing Day loss to Wolves.
Toon have also handed
defender Kieran Trippier,
32, a new deal until 2025.
Out of order — Page 69

IT’S AKES
AND PAINS
Nath dumps Gunners out as
Partey faces rib injury scan
Manchester City.............................1
Arsenal..............................................0
By MARTIN BLACKBURN

NATHAN AKE settled the battle between
the champions and challengers to send
Manchester City through in the FA Cup.

POINT MADE . . .
Ake after his winner
while Partey (above)
has a rib problem

And Prem leaders Arsenal suffered a double
whammy with midfielder Thomas Partey needing
an MRI scan on a worrying rib injury.
Defender Ake’s 64th-minute strike
clinched City’s first FA Cup win over
the Gunners since 1904 — when they
were known as Woolwich Arsenal.
Boss Mikel Arteta (left) revealed:
“Thomas had discomfort and it was
getting worse. He was uncomfortable and couldn’t continue.
“We didn’t want to take any
risks. On Saturday or Sunday
he will have an MRI scan and
see what he has.
“It is true that Thomas
is a big influence and a big

Turn to Page 71

CAICEDO BEGS TO LEAVE BRIGHTON AS GUNNS BID £60M – P67

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Gosh, Jupiter
could be new
star for Gary

BROTHERS in arms Jupiter Du
Gite and Editeur Du Gite will chase
a unique Cheltenham double.
The former tackles the Triumph
Hurdle Trial at 11.40 while his big
brother takes on mighty Energumene and Edwardstone in the
Clarence House at 1.20.
It’s always a family affair for
Gary Moore — his boys Jamie,
Josh and Ryan have ridden hundreds of winners for him.
And ‘mad’ Jupiter Du Gite, has
a touch of the yard’s top hurdler

By JACK KEENE

Goshen about him. He bolted up
at 66-1 at Newbury and is 12-1
for the Triumph — a race
Goshen threw away in 2020.
Moore said: “I was shellshocked at Newbury but he
couldn’t have won any easier.
“He is mad in the head but he
behaved well on the day, apart
from when he went through the
roof when I saddled him up.
“He has been as good as gold

since and hopefully he will get
calmer as he gets older. Hopefully he is as good as Goshen.
“It would be great if both could
win but it will be tough for Editeur — it’s the Champion Chase
in all but name.”
Meanwhile WILLIE MULLINS
could bring up his 4,000th
career win today. The Closutton
King sits on 3,999 global victories and would love to reach the
feat with Energumene in the ClarJU BEAUTY . . . Jupiter Du Gite at Newbury
ence House at Cheltenham.

Favourite
FREE WITH

in
association
with

Saturday,
January 28, 2023

By JACK KEENE

HOTSHOT Sean Bowen believes National
treasure Noble Yeats will be poetry in
motion on Trials Day at Cheltenham.

The top jockey rides last year’s gutsy Grand National
winner in the £100,000 Cotswold Chase on a bumper
NINE-RACE Trials Day card at Prestbury Park.
They teamed up to great effect at Aintree in December when bagging the Many Clouds Chase in style.
That win catapulted Emmet Mullins’ nine-year-old
into Gold Cup contention — with only Golden Miller and
L’Escargot having done the Aintree-Cheltenham double.
Noble Yeats is as short as 6-1 to join that exclusive
club — but Bowen (left) is not looking that far ahead.
First Noble Yeats needs to take down Protektorat in
today’s Grade 2. Dan Skelton’s chaser, co-owned by
Old Trafford legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
And Bowen, 25, said: “It will be a tough
race, Protektorat was third in last year’s
Gold Cup and looked great at Haydock.
“He is the one to beat on that form,
but I wouldn’t swap my horse for him.
“This will be the first time I’ve sat
on him since Aintree and I’m really
looking forward to it. I’ve not heard
too much from Emmet as he likes

Turn to Page 8

BOWEN
ARROW

AINT HE GOOD
. . . Noble Yeats
hit the big time at
Aintree and runs in
Cotswold today

Sean: I’ll hit bullseye on National hero Yeats

2 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Favourite BIGGEST & THE BEST, ALL
OH, how I’d love to just
write about some of the
awesome horses running
this afternoon.

MATT

CHAPMAN

But that would be the easy
route. So much is accepted
and so little rarely questioned
in the world of horse racing
that I need to get a few
things off my chest.
I’ve not met a single person
who thinks a person closely
associated with one sport is a
good option to promote another
with
sport they have nothing to do
in association
with in the eyes of the general
public.
In other words, AP McCoy would
not be top of the list to advertise
weight-lifting, and Frankie Dettori
unlikely to be considered to promote synchronised swimming.
But that’s what Great British Racing (GBR) decided was clever when
they chose ex-footballer and soccer
pundit Jermaine Jenas to front an
advert to try and get people back
racing after Covid.
This week, unsurprisingly, it was
revealed the project had failed dismally.
Typically, GBR chose not to hold
its hands up and admit it had
wasted £1.6 million on the exercise.
That’s an awful lot of cash in
anyone’s book — and could have
been used to really make a differ- be extinct. And all this at a time
ence in so many areas of the game. when we are all trying to convince
Instead, first we were told horse Government that betting on horses
racing had to fight for its relevance. is a justified and fun.
You could even discuss its role as
I mean who knows what they
actually even mean by that? But an intellectual pursuit.
After all you have to be pretty
just go with it for now.
Then it was revealed a survey switched-on to bet on racing with
so
much information to sift through
suggested people were very keen to
go racing. Unfortunately, that dis- with weights, form, jockeys, trainers,
courses
and going.
counted the relevance claim.
It is certainly nothing like the
But keep with me here.
hell
and
chance of the dreaded
Because
out
came
Fixed Odds Betting Teranother backtrack. We
minals where failure is
were
then
informed
guaranteed.
even
though
people
Anyway, how about
were keen to go racing,
today’s racing?
we couldn’t take that
Well, quite simply, it’s
for granted.
brilliant. I will be at
Talk
about
going
Donny keeping a very
round in circles.
close eye on the action
CAP DU NORD (3.15
Just say you failed.
at Cheltenham.
Doncaster) is nicely
GBR is linked with,
It’s quality stiff at
weighted
and
a
top
and so not surprisingly
both tracks though.
each-way bet in the
similar, to the British
In Gloucestershire we
Sky
Bet
Chase.
The
Horseracing Authority.
we go again for a twoground should suit
Both — unlike normal
mile
smash-up between
and
canny
Christian
folk like you and I who
Energumene
and
Williams can ready
make mistakes every
Edwardstone.
I expect
one
for
a
pot.
day of our lives and
Willie
Mullins’
runner
are quite happy to
to win and give the
admit it — find it
genius trainer his 4,000th
impossible to ever actually tell it as
winner worldwide.
it is. It’s just excuse after excuse.
Energumene is the class act and
There is nothing wrong with a
cock-up, even if it has cost £1.6m. this course suits him better than if
the
race had been at Ascot.
And in general, other than the
Also at Cheltenham are leading
odd crusade, I am fairly sure those
Gold
Cup hopes Protektorat and
at the BHA and GBR want the best
for the sport. If they could just be Noble Yeats who fight it out in the
Paddy
Power Cotswold Chase.
honest, and not talk to all of us as
I think it is between those two
if we are stupid, it would all be a
and
my
money is on Protektorat
lost easier to comprehend.
after his Betfair Chase win.
If I had £1 for every time a
Then
we have Paisley Park,
child or family have asked me
who struts his stuff in the
to give them a ‘Yeeehaaa’ on
Cleeve. He might be 11 now,
course I could fund the
but I think he can down
sport myself.
these and win the race for
But
GBR
would
a fourth time. He is some
never latch on to anytestament to his great
thing like that.
trainer Emma Lavelle.
It reminds me what
Former Champion Hurdle
outsiders in racing
heroine Epatante, who is in
are up against — it’s
the Yorkshire Rose Mares’
about who you are
Hurdle at Doncaster, is the
and who you know.
star turn up north for
If GBR wants to
Nicky
Henderson.
justify racing’s relevance
She’ll get the job done
then talk about the jobs
but
is no price.
it provides and money
We have a fantastic
it raises in taxes.
day
of racing ahead.
Then mention the
Relevance?
love and dedication
It’s there for
given to animals by
everyone to see.
those in the industry
Even
GBR
and
the
fact
that,
can see that.
without the sport, the
Then again,
thoroughbred would
maybe not.

ON
AND

Hands up if
you wasted
£1.6m, GBR

M

BOO
OR BUST

CAP IN HAND . . .
Cap Du Nord can win
Donny feature

MATCH
OF THE
DAY!
Energumene’s in
Bloomin’ top form
By JACK
KEENE

LIFE’s Bloomin’ marvellous
for one of horse-racing’s
shrewdest owners.

Not only is Tony Bloom’s star
chaser Energumene odds-on for a
big Grade 1 on the telly today,
but his super Seagulls are flying
high in the Prem.
The hugely popular chairman
of Brighton & Hove Albion has
long loved the Sport of Kings,
but he only owns a handful of
horses and has focussed on quality rather than quantity.
You could say the same of
Albion’s first team, who cost just
£30 million to assemble but are
battling for a place in Europe
next season.
World-class
stars
such
as
Alexis
Mac
Allister,
Moises
Caceido and Kaoru Mitoma are
currently taking Bloom’s beloved
team to new heights.
But racing fans would argue
the most talented athlete on

Bloom’s books is Energumene,
who is chasing a fifth win at the
highest level this afternoon.
The nine-year-old was pencilled in for the Clarence House
Chase at Ascot last weekend
before that meeting was frozen
off without a ball being kicked.
The race was saved and added
to a mouthwatering Cheltenham
Trials Day card — but it is worth
just £90,000 compared to the
original purse of £175,000.
Bloom and Co were still happy
to ferry the horse across the Irish
Sea, and if anything it was a
relief to the former pro-poker
player that Ascot bit the dust.
‘Uncle Tony’ — as he is known
to Seagull fans — was in the
stands to watch his Brighton

team draw 2-2
with
Leicester
last weekend, but
with
the
race
delayed by seven
days he will now be
able to cheer his
champion chaser on
in the flesh.
After the race he
will jump in his chopper
and hotfoot it back to the
south coast ahead of tomorrow’s
crunch FA Cup tie with Liverpool — the team they recently
demolished 3-0 in the Prem.
But
there
is
a
monster
match-up with Edwardstone to
contemplate first — with the winner of today’s big race likely to
head home as the strong favourite for the Champion Chase at
the Festival in March.
Energumene’s
big-race
jock
Paul Townend has been under
the weather with the flu this
week, but he wasn’t going to let

TIME FOR A PRO BET
PROTEKTORAT can edge out Noble
Yeats as two top Gold Cup hopes go
head-to-head in the Cotswold Chase.
The Skeltons think a lot of their
eight-year-old who was third in the
Festival’s big one 12 months ago.
FRODON HHH
DON the case. Won this in 2019 and
has been in fine form with a third in
the King George last time. Will go
from the front and his excellent
jumping gives him a chance.
NOBLE YEATS HHHH
NOBLE hope. Grand National winner
who showed his speedier side when
winning an Aintree Grade 2 in style.
He is a massive player for the Gold
Cup in March and can go close here
before a tilt at the big one.
PROTEKTORAT HHHHH
PRO bet. High-class chaser who was
third in the Gold Cup last season but
looked better and stronger when taking the Betfair Chase at Haydock. He

By STEVE
MULLEN

TEMPLEGATE

stays well and the decent
ground is ideal.
AHOY SENOR HH
AHOY where? Grade 1 winning
novice but hasn’t matched that
form this year. Poor in the King
George and has questions to answer.
DUSART HHH
DU to improve. Ended last season
with a decent handicap win and had
a quiet run over hurdles on comeback here last month. This is a hike
in class though.
SOUNDS RUSSIAN HHH
RUSSIAN in. Personal best when
a close second in the Rowland
Meyrick. Stays trip well and
capable of better.

STAR
RATING
S
Wold bea
ter
Wold cup
Miss Wold
A Wold a
way
End of th
e Wold

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

YOU NEED EVERY SATURDAY
AS plenty of ex-jockeys will tell you
— age is just a number.
And I reckon old boy PAISLEY
PARK (3.00) can prove just that
and win a stunning fourth Cleeve
Hurdle today at Cheltenham.
The roof will come off if it happens and I think he can.
This is competitive but, even
though he’s 11 now, we’ve seen a
better horse this year.
His first run when a close second to Champ was very good and
then he went to Kempton, which
wouldn’t be his ideal track, and he
backed up that Newbury run.
Things went wrong for him in this
race last year and he still managed
to win. Let’s hope he can do it again
— he’s been some horse.
The Clarence House is the big one
after being switched from Ascot and
now it’s a completely different race.
Energumene made the running in
last year’s renewal and just got outstayed by Shishkin in a thriller.
This is going to be a stiffer test at
Cheltenham, particularly as it’s on
the New Course which demands
more stamina up the straight.
Editeur Du Gite likes to go forward,
so will Paul Townend try to drop in
Energumene like he did in the Champion Chase last season?
EDWARDSTONE (1.20) is a good
stayer and his style of racing will
suit a race with a strong pace. He’ll
be dropped in for sure.
It’s fascinating, and if I was forced
to go with one I’d have to go with
the value in Edwardstone.
The Cotswold looks a cracker and,
although Noble Yeats is a horse with
great potential. He was good in the
Many Clouds but only beat Dashel
Drasher just over three lengths.
PROTEKTORAT (2.25) is a different
proposition. For my money he was
even more impressive when he won
the Many Clouds in 2021 and then
he ran a great race to be third in the
Cheltenham Gold Cup last season.
His performance in the Betfair
Chase was excellent and he is proven
at this level. He’s the one for me.
The action gets underway with the

in association with

BARRY

GERAGHTY

MENE MACHINE . . .
Energumene (left), owned by
Tony Bloom (far, left) clashes
with Edwardstone (above)

a runny nose stop him riding
one of the best horses around.
Townend said: “I am delighted
that the Clarence House Chase
was rescheduled at Cheltenham.
“It is a bigger field but Energumene is still the one you
would want to ride in the race.
He is the reigning champion
chaser after all.
“His run at Cork in the
Hilly Way Chase was a
nice introduction for
the season. He didn’t
do anything flashy, just
did what he needed to.
“This will be a bigger
test as he takes on
Edwardstone.
Edwardstone
is
exciting but comes here off the
back of an unseat which isn’t
ideal, especially when you are
taking on a horse like ours.
“Reports say he is jumping
well, but in top class races like
this, you can’t come with any
excuses. Editeur Du Gite will

play a hand in the race as well;
he likes to go forward but the
bigger field isn’t a worry.
“Energumene showed us last
year that he can be versatile
with the way he runs. I am
really looking forward to getting
going on him and I hope he can
do the business.”
So do most punters, with the
Ladbrokes among a host of
bookies to report strong support
for the hot 1-2 favourite.
It will be far from straightforward, though, with Alan King’s
stable star Edwardstone waiting
in the wings.
The nine-year-old, who bagged
last season’s Arkle at Cheltenham, has been serially underrated throughout his career and
was relatively unfancied in the
Tingle Creek last month.
But he handed both Greaneteen and Shishkin their respective
backsides with a runaway win
under regular jock Tom Cannon.

MY mate Frode has been going
like a rocket up the gallops.
And like me, he just cannot
wait for the Cotswold Chase.
The last couple of weeks
have been about as frustrating as it gets with all the racing being frozen off.
We have a period like this
every winter where we lose a
few meetings, but we’ve had
two big cold snaps in a little
over a month and it’s driving
us jockeys up the wall.
But these big days make up for
it and I’m really looking forward
to Cheltenham with Frodon.
I was gutted we lost Taunton’s
card last weekend as we strongly
fancied him for the Portman Cup.
I’ve won it a few times in the
past on Yala Enki and we thought
it was tailor-made for Frode.
The Cotswold is obviously going
to be a tougher task — it’s a
Grade 2 and there are a couple
of serious Gold Cup contenders
in here against him.
Protektorat showed improved
form to win the Betfair Chase in

BRYONY

He has 6lb to find with Energumene on official ratings and if
it wasn’t for his blip over Christmas — when he unseated early
doors — he might be rated a little
closer.
King said: “The switch from
Ascot to Cheltenham is no issue
for our horse and nor is the
delay of a week. He remains in
fine form at home.
“Of course, Energumene has
been rerouted as well and he’ll
be just as hard to beat this
weekend as he would have been
last — he’s a top-class two-mile
chaser.
“But
we
think
plenty
of
Edwardstone too and we are
excited to be taking on the
reigning champion with him.
“You have to give these races a
go especially when you have a
horse like Edwardstone.”
The football can take a backseat for once — this is the real
match of the day.

he will run another cracker and
do us and the team proud.
He’s won six times at Cheltenham after all. Not many horses
have a record like that.
It’s not a huge field, only
six, and that probably helps
our chances, too.
Lucy Wadham’s Midnight
Mary warmed me up at WethNING erby
on Thursday with a tidy
GRADE 1-WIN
victory in the mares’ handiJUMP JOCKEY
cap chase. She is a real
with trier and she battled
in association
bravely for me to win from the
front fending a few off.
Whenever another horse
came to challenge her she
found a bit more when it was
needed each time.
November and Noble Yeats is a
That was a personal best perGrand National winner who has formance so I’m hoping we can
progressed again this year.
have a bit more fun with her in
But Frodon is in absolutely fly- the coming weeks and months.
ing form at home — he might be
It’s gradually warming up and
11 now, but try telling him that.
Cheltenham seem pretty positive
He has been bouncing at Dit- that Trials Day will go ahead —
cheat and we know he loves it so I say bring it on!
around Cheltenham, especially on
As always stay safe and keep
the New Course, so I’m confident kicking!

FROST

STAY AWAY FAY (2.40 Doncaster)
can come home alone in the
River Don Novices’ Hurdle.
William Hill report loads of lolly
for this young gun and he goes
to post with a five-star recommendation from Paul Nicholls’
gaff who believe he will prove to
be well worth the 300k he cost
cashed-up owner Chris Giles.
And Hills are giving punters a
right squeak by paying a massive
six places online in the 1.50 at
Cheltenham. That has got the curtains twitching and there has been
early each-way dosh for Karl Philippe and Silver Hallmark.
Meanwhile, a clued-up chap tells
me Nicky Henderson’s crew are
sending out positive signals about
top-notch stayer Buzz.
This fella looked a proper shooting star before fracturing his pelvis
in December 2021.
It’s a long trudge back from that,
but Hendo’s gang are chuffed with
their old pal’s progress and he will
be ready to rumble this spring.
And it was a belting week for a
member of the tartan army who
owns the filly Ciao Adios.
A few shekels went west when
she dropped anchor at Chelmsford
in early January. But one of the
nag’s caledonian cheerleaders kept
the faith and whacked a ton on the
schnozzle when she popped up at
25s in a two-bob heat at Southwell.
Our man celebrated by hopping
over Hadrian’s Wall to watch Celtic
play a pub team in the Scottish
Cup a day later. And he stuffed
another fistful of folding in his
sporran after having his wedge on
The Hoops to win that mis-match
5-0 which they duly did.
My mate ‘Lenny The Loafer’
needs a new goal after being given

JUMP JOCKEY
LEGEND

with
in association

Paisley to
give rivals
Cleeve-ho
Triumph Hurdle Trial where it should
be a good battle between the four at
the head of the market.
I will be siding with SCRIPTWRITER
(11.40) who improved from his first
run to his second when winning here
back in November.
He has won a decent handicap at
Wolverhampton since and he’s now
rated 104 on the Flat which shows
the speed he has.
The vibes from trainer Milton Harris have been very strong and I think
he might have the class edge here.
It looks a match between HENRI
THE SECOND (3.35) and Pembroke in
the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
Henri The Second was a good winner of a Grade 2 at Sandown and he
beat Authorised Speed in a bumper
last season. He has a good, solid
level of form and won like a progressive type the last day.

ANDY AYRES

TRACKMAN
in association

with

the heave-ho from his job at the
funeral parlour. Not that Len was
unduly bothered . . . he’s never
been a mourning person.
Anyway, the old rascal has been
on the blower about GA LAW (3.15)
at Donny and he must have been
putting his money where his mouth
is as Hills report a carrier-bag of
readies for Jamie Snowden’s classy
top-weight.
Away from the jumps, have a
gander at Emma Owen’s DIVINE
MESSENGER
in the opener at
Kempton Park (5.30).
A shrewd pal told me this fella
was being revved up for a tickle a
few weeks back.
The dough duly arrived at Lingers
last time and a gaggle of geezers
with well-worn faces and wideawake
clobber
looked
double
morose when he was chinned.
‘King of Kempton’ Danny Muscutt
is booked for this recovery mission
and can steer Emma’s engine home.

3

4 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Favourite

WE’RE THE BIGGEST AND THE BEST

DONCASTER ON ITV: 2.05, 2.40 & 3.15
TEMPLEGATE

12.20 ..... Galahad Threepwood
12.55 .......... Watergrange Jack
1.35 ....................................Boothill
2.05.................................Epatante
2.40..................... Stay Away Fay
3.15 ..................................... Ga Law
3.50.....................................Jaytee
4.25 ..................................Go West

TOM PEPPER

12.20 ........................ Fringill Dike
12.55 ............. Give Me A Cuddle
1.35 ...................................Cormier
2.05.........................Martello Sky
2.40.......................Idalko Bihoue
3.15 ..........................Tea For Free
3.50....................Croagh Patrick
4.25 ............ Beep Beep Burrow
TIC-TAC: Left-handed pear
shaped course, two miles in
circumference, with 11 fences
and a run-in of 240 yards. Apart
from a slight hill 1m 2f from
home the course is quite flat.
FAVOURITES: (2018-2023): 418
have won out of 1,263 (33%).
At the previous corresponding
meetings, 27 have won out of 96
races (28%).
LIVE ON SKY SPORTS RACING

12.20

12.55

2

TRAINER TRACE

FIRST RACE FOR NEW YARD:
2.05 Finest View A King to A
Martin; 4.25 Bombay Sunset L
Bevin to L Wadham; Monteplex
A Honeyball to B Ellison.
RACEFAX: B Pauling won the
2.40 in 2016, 2019 & 2021.
LONGEST TRAVELLERS:
Saint Segal (1.35) & Galice
Macalo (2.05) trained by Mrs J
Williams, South Molton, round
trip of 494 miles; Hold The Note
(3.50) trained by Ewan Whillans,
Hawick, round trip of 458 miles;
Cap Du Nord (3.15), C Williams,
Bridgend, round trip 434 miles.

IN THE MONEY

MONEY TALKS: Headscarf Lil
(12.20) opened 9-2, second at 5-2f;
Galice Macalo (2.05) opened
4-1, won at 3-1f; Since Day One
(1.35) opened 5-2, won at 85-40;
Cap Du Nord (3.15) opened 10-1,
unplaced at 7-1; Norley (12.55)
opened 13-2, third at 5-1.
TOP EARNERS
2.05 Epatante ............... £957,344
3.15 Cap Du Nord ..........£215,914
3.15 Cloth Cap ............... £214,978
1.35 Tommy’s Oscar ...£165,893
1.35 Boothill ................... £144,682
3.15 Ga Law .....................£143,912

UNDER ORDERS

FIRST TIME BLINKERS: None.
VISORED FIRST TIME: None.
FIRST RUN SINCE WIND OP:
Maximilian (2.40).
WEIGHTWATCHER: 3.50 The
Late Legend (won off 112, down
6lb to 106); 12.55 Zafar (won off
111, down 6lb to 105).
JOB JOCKEYS: J J Burke rides
Salsada (2.05) for B Ellison, 5
from 12, 42%. D McMenamin
rides Tommy’s Oscar (1.35) for
A Hamilton, 18 from 60, 30%.
C O’Farrell rides Beep Beep
Burrow (4.25) for Jedd O’Keeffe,
3 from 12, 25%.

17-U63 CORMIER 21

B Ellison 7-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ross Chapman 83
Runs: 14 Wins: 4 (S,GS,2G)
Places: 1
£104,699
Tough, plenty of ground to make up on Since Day One at Newcastle, ignore

3

113325 GANAPATHI 32 (T;D)

P Neville 7-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . Sam Twiston-Davies 86
Runs: 14 Wins: 3 (S,G)
Places: 1
£58,926
Experienced, raced too keenly at Wetherby latest, this is tougher

4

14-121 SINCE DAY ONE 21 (P;D)

D McCain 7-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Hughes 92
Runs: 13 Wins: 6 (2S,3GS,G)
Places: 3
£54,762
Made all and jumped well when winning at Newcastle, more to come

5

9-1252 TOMMY’S OSCAR 21 (BF,D)

A Hamilton 8-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . Danny McMenamin 97
Runs: 27 Wins: 10 (3S,4GS,2G) Places: 10
£165,893
Touch of class, ran well carrying a big weight at Newcastle, dangerous

6

TOP TRAINERS

2018-2023 B Hughes 17-128, N
De Boinville 13-51, S TwistonDavies 5-63, L Williams 4-17, R T
Dunne 4-27, C Hammond 4-36, K
Woods 4-52. THIS SEASON: B
Hughes 3, N De Boinville 2.

-P1121 BOOTHILL 32 (T;D)

H Fry 8-11-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonathan Burke l99
Runs: 13 Wins: 5 (S,2GS,2G)
Places: 4
£144,682
Class act, won with a bit in hand at Kempton latest, hard to beat

HOT ‘N NOT

TOP JOCKEYS

LIGHTNING NOVICES’ CHASE (GRADE 2) (1)
winner £28,475; 2m
(6 runners)

1

TRAINERS with best record
in last 14 days: B Ellison 4 wins
from 14 runners; K Lee 2 from 4;
J O’Keeffe 2 from 4; C Longsdon
3 from 6; N Henderson 3 from 10;
L Wadham 2 from 9; I Williams 3
from 15; Jonjo O’Neill 2 from 13.
JOCKEYS with best record in
last 14 days: N De Boinville 3
wins from 6 rides; N Moscrop 2
from 7; E Smith-Chaston 2 from
7; S Twiston-Davies 2 from 10.
TRAINERS who have had the
most runners since last win:
Miss A Murphy 40; G Boanas 38.
JOCKEYS who have had the
most rides since last win: B
Lynn 37; J Hamilton 33.
2018-2023 I Williams 21-154, N
Henderson 20-83, P Nicholls
16-69, N Twiston-Davies 13-62,
D McCain 13-85, F O’Brien 12-57,
C Longsdon 11-84, N Richards
10-67, B Pauling 10-79, N
Mulholland 8-48. THIS SEASON:
N Henderson 4, D McCain 3.

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY NEIL YOUNG HANDICAP
HURDLE (DIV 2) (4); £4,330; 2m 3f.
(9 runners)

1
R21-184 VINTAGE FIZZ 63 J O’Keeffe 6-12-1.................................Charlie Hammond 92
2
-435258 BIG BAD BEAR 30 (CD) N Richards 9-11-12................... Conor Rabbitt (7) 93
3
5-47213 NORLEY 38 (T;D) B Pauling 8-11-7 .....................................Beau Morgan (7) 97
4
0-21403 WATERGRANGE JACK 33 (D) N Mulholland 7-11-7.......... Robbie Dunne 96
5
621-126 GIVE ME A CUDDLE 54 N King 7-11-6..............................Nico De Boinville 92
6
/36-282 TREVADA 57 (T) O Sherwood 7-11-4 .................................. Jonathan Burke 95
7
1P47-32 KEEPYOURDREAMSBIG 31 N Twiston-Davies 5-11-3 .. Sam Twiston-Davies 98
8
214/3-1 GILBERTINA 33 (C,D) N Kent 6-11-2 .................................... Brian Hughes l99
9
5224-63 ZAFAR 54 (P) D McCain 8-10-13 ..........................................................Doubtful 89
BETTING: 4 Trevada, 9-2 Keepyourdreamsbig, 5 Gilbertina, 6 Vintage Fizz, 13-2
Norley, 8 Give Me A Cuddle, 10 Watergrange Jack, 16 Big Bad Bear
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED and 2022: See Div 1.

1.35

0-65112 SAINT SEGAL 1 (T;D;BF)

J Williams 5-10-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ciaran Gethings 90
Runs: 8 Wins: 4 (S,3GS)
Places: 1
£41,667
Taken well to chasing, given average ride here yesterday, this is tougher

BETTING: 5-4 Tommy’s Oscar, 11-8 Boothill, 12 Since Day One, 14
Saint Segal, 16 Cormier, Ganapathi
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 1 1 1 1 1
2022: Third Time Lucki 7-11-5, H Skelton 8-15 Fav (D Skelton), 3 ran.

Sunracing FORM
(btn 14l) (Newcastle 2m nov Limited
BOOTHILL (11-4) 7-4 jumped well,
hcap ch (3) £7,922 good to soft).
raced keenly in 4th, closer 2 out, led
last, driven clear, bt Aucunrisque (11- GANAPATHI (11-10) 18-1 held up,
headway 4 out, every chance 2 out,
4) 1l (4 ran) (Kempton 2m nov ch Grd
weakening last, 5th of 6 (btn 9l) to
2 (1) £30,538 good to soft).
Grandads Cottage (10-6) (Wetherby
SINCE DAY ONE (10-5) 85-40 made
2m 3f nov hcap ch (3) £6,045 soft).
all, went clear 2 out, alway in
control, bt TOMMY’S OSCAR (11-10) SAINT SEGAL (11-2) 11-10 fav close up,
bad mistake 7th, went 2nd before
5-4 fav chased leader, ridden and
2 out, led next, stayed on well, bt
outpaced 2 out, plugged on last, 41/2l
Christopher Wood (11-0) 21/2l (5 ran)
CORMIER (10-5) 9-4 held up, pushed
along 3 out, never landed a blow, last
(Hereford 2m nov ch (3) £8,450 soft).

2.05

TEMPLEGATE’S VERDICT

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY NEIL YOUNG HANDICAP
HURDLE (DIV 1) (Class 4); £4,330; 2m 3f. (9 runners)

1
83515-P GLENTRUAN 99 (H,T) P Neville 8-12-2 ..............................Tom Midgley (5) 89
2
-12343F COULD BE TROUBLE 33 (P,T) D McCain 8-12-1 .............Mr W Maggs (10) 92
3
2721563 THE NAVIGATOR 16 D Sayer 8-11-12 ................................... Conor O’Farrell 95
4
21-1175 FRINGILL DIKE 63 J O’Keeffe 6-11-9 .................Emma Smith-Chaston (3) 91
5
57-518P ERNESTO 28 (T,V) I Williams 8-11-7 .....................Mr Daire McConville (7) 87
6
-2P5524 GALAHAD THREEPWOOD 33 B Pauling 6-11-5.................. Kielan Woods 97
7
13-4012 KAJAKI 104 (B) N Richards 10-11-3 .............................. Danny McMenamin 98
8
2212234 GOOD BYE 33 (B;D) S Ender 8-11-2 ................................ Phillip Armson (3) 95
9
3148-62 HEADSCARF LIL 79 (BF) N Richards 9-10-11 .................... Brian Hughes l99
BETTING: 9-4 Headscarf Lil, 4 Galahad Threepwood, 5 Kajaki, 6 Good Bye, 13-2
Fringill Dike, 12 Glentruan, 14 Could Be Trouble, 16 The Navigator, 33 Ernesto
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 3-4 1 6 3 2
2022: Jay Jay Reilly 6-11-10 Harry Skelton 6-1 (D Skelton), 15 ran.

SKY BET YORKSHIRE ROSE MARES’ HURDLE
(GRADE 2) £28,475; 2m 1f
(6 runners)

1

213-22 EPATANTE 33 (D)

2

17-222 MARTELLO SKY 21 (PH;D)

N Henderson 9-11-8. . . . . . . . . . . .Nico De Boinville l99
Runs: 20 Wins: 11 (5S,4GS,2G) Places: 8
£957,344
Class act, not disgraced behind Con Hill this season, impossible to oppose
L Wadham 7-11-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Hughes 91
Runs: 16 Wins: 8 (3S,2GS,3G) Places: 3
£88,102
Consistent, form has dipped this season compared to last, forecast bet

3

1-1114 FINEST VIEW 216 (D)

A Martin 6-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Martin 86
Runs: 10 Wins: 5 (A,4G)
Places: 2
£35,114
Connections hoping for black type, but improvement needed at this level

4

3-2431 GALICE MACALO 20 (TH)

J Williams 7-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ciaran Gethings 88
Runs: 20 Wins: 4 (S,GS,2G)
Places: 3
£49,050
Bounced back to winning ways at Chepstow latest, can hit the frame

5

01U54P PELTWELL 33 (P)

N Mulholland 10-11-2 . . . . . . . Sam Twiston-Davies 76
Runs: 23 Wins: 8 (4GS,4G)
Places: 1
£33,735
Struggled when pulled up over fences at Wincanton, hard to fancy

6

122- SALSADA F220 (PH,TH;BF,D)

B Ellison 6-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonathan Burke 80
Runs: 3 Wins: 1 (G)
Places: 1
£8,601
Useful Flat form, jumping is not the best but she’s scope to improve

BETTING: 2-7 Epatante, 4 Martello Sky, 12 Galice Macalo, 16 Finest
View, 33 Salsada, 100 Peltwell
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 1 1 1-3 2 2
2022: Miss Heritage 8-11-2, Sean Quinlan 10-1 (L Wadham), 5 ran.

Sunracing FORM
2m 1f hcap hdle (2) £21,124 good).
EPATANTE (11-3) 7-1 held up, headway
4 out, went 2nd turning in, ridden GALICE MACALO (12-2) 3-1 fav led,
went clear 2 out, very easily, bt
and no chance with winner, btn 17l by
Progressive (11-5) 10l (10 ran) (ChepConstitution Hill (11-10) (5 ran) (Kempstow 2m hcap hdle (4) £4,330 soft).
ton 2m hdle Grd 1 (1) £74,035 soft).
PELTWELL
pulled up latest, (11-7) 28-1
MARTELLO SKY (11-8) 10-3 tracked
chased leader, shaken up to lead
leader, reminder after 3 out, pushed
home turn, soon ridden and headed,
along and four lengths down 2 out,
no extra 2 out, 4th of 5 (btn 73/4l) to
no chance with winner, btn 13l by
Wynn House (11-6) (Wincanton 2m 5f
Love Envoi (11-7) (5 ran) (Sandown
hcap hdle (2) £15,249 good to firm).
21/2m Listed hdle (1) £14,238 soft).
SALSADA
(11-0) 1-2 fav handy, outFINEST VIEW (11-8) 11-2 mid-division,
paced 2 out, one pace, btn 51/2l by
pushed along before last, ridden and
Carn A Chlamain (10-6) (9 ran) (Southno impression run-in, 4th of 13 (btn
well 2m nov hdle (4) £5,446 good).
61/4l) to Island Mahee (10-7) (Cartmel

EPATANTE will be pleased to see Constitution Hill isn’t in
the line-up as the former Champion Hurdler has chased
home her superstar stablemate on both runs this season.
This is her first drop from Grade 1 level in more than
three years. She has been working well on the
gallops and her class can see her home at
short odds. Martello Sky is the best of the
rest after a trio of seconds in Listed races.
Her stamina has been a little stretched a
couple of times and dropping to this twomile trip looks a wise move. The others
would be happier in a handicap. Galice
Macalo had 10 lengths in hand at Chepstow last
time when running them into the ground from the front.
She’s likely to try those tactics again but is up against
stronger opposition. Finest View was in good form for
Alan King before joining new trainer Andrew Martin
but she isn’t used to this higher standard.

2.05
2.40

ALBERT BARTLETT RIVER DON NOVICES’
HURDLE (GRD 2) £22,780; 3m (10 runners)
1

7-7111 GRAND SOIR 41 (D)

J McConnell (Ire) 7-11-0 . . . . . . . . . .Mr Ben Harvey 96
Runs: 7 Wins: 4 (2G)
Places: 1
£22,521
Irish raider, yard won this last year, should be in the thick of the action

2

53-213 HURRICANE BAY 33 (BF,C)

L Wadham 7-11-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nico De Boinville 89
Runs: 7 Wins: 1 (G)
Places: 4
£9,291
Course winner, not suited by drop in trip at Hereford, better expected

3

1-13 IDALKO BIHOUE 28

N Twiston-Davies 5-11-0 . . . . Sam Twiston-Davies 97
Runs: 3 Wins: 2 (S)
Places: 1
£10,940
Promising, lacked pace in the Challow at Newbury, looks a real stayer

4

2523-1 MAHONS GLORY 97

R Newland 7-11-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie Hammond 92
Runs: 14 Wins: 1 (GS)
Places: 7
£18,015
Ex-Irish, struck first time out for new yard at Aintree, more to come

5

11-113 MAXIMILIAN 57

6

21-141 PARK THIS ONE 27

D McCain 7-11-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Hughes 90
Runs: 6 Wins: 5 (3S,2GS)
£24,391
Classy, unbeaten prior to Grade 2 third at Sandown, big threat to all
J Snowden 6-11-0. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonathan Burke 98
Runs: 8 Wins: 4 (S,2G)
Places: 2
£16,135
Talented, only defeat in three starts came in a Grade 2, could surprise

7

41-P36 ROCK ON COWBOY 27

8

1-1 STAY AWAY FAY 64 (T)

B Pauling 6-11-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kielan Woods 86
Runs: 5 Wins: 1
Places: 1
£1,129
Poor at Cheltenham, needs new trip to have a big effect, hard to fancy
P Nicholls 6-11-0. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lorcan Williams l99
Runs: 2 Wins: 2 (G)
£6,535
Expensive recruit, won well on sole start at Newbury, strongly fancied

9

3-3112 THE WOUNDED KNEE 99 (T;D)

P Neville 6-11-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Midgley 90
Runs: 8 Wins: 2 (GS,G)
Places: 3
£15,133
Stable debut, yet to finish out of the three in four starts, one to consider

10

-12121 TWIG 82

B Pauling 8-11-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beau Morgan 96
Runs: 16 Wins: 9 (GS,4G)
Places: 3
£23,337
Impressive at Kempton, yard have a great record in this, more to come

BETTING: 9-4 Stay Away Fay, 7-2 Grand Soir, 5 Maximilian, 6 Twig,
7 The Wounded Knee, Idalko Bihoue,, 10 Mahons Glory
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 8 2-3 2-4 PU 3
2022: Mahler Mission 6-10-12, James Bowen 11-2 (J McConnell Ire), 7 ran.

Sunracing FORM
GRAND SOIR (12-0) 9-4 jt fav held up,
progress 3 out, led 2 out, clear last,
kept on well, bt Level Neverending
(11-6) 23/4l (6 ran) (Thurles 2m 7f nov
hdle €9,000 good to yielding).
HURRICANE BAY (10-11) 2-1 fav soon
led, headed 2 out, no impression
on winner flat, 3rd of 13 (btn 4l) to
Supreme Gift (11-0) (Huntingdon
21/2m nov hdle (4) £4,084 soft).
IDALKO BIHOUE (11-7) 18-1 tracked
leaders, pushed along home turn,
plugged on in 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 12 (14l)
to Hermes Allen (11-7) (Newbury 21/2m
nov hdle Grd 1 (1) £34,170 soft).
MAHONS GLORY (11-4) 14-1 slowly
away, towards rear, headway 2 out,
challenged last, led flat, bt Heezer
Geezer (11-4) 3/4l (8 ran) (Aintree 21/2m
mdn hdle (3) £5,446 good to soft).
MAXIMILIAN (11-2) 11-4 held up,
pushed along 4 out, rallied 2 out,
went 3rd last, 3rd of 6 (btn 81/4l) to
Henri The Second (11-2) PARK THIS
ONE (11-2) 20-1 chased leaders, hit 3
out, outpaced before next, plugged

on last, 4th (btn 91/2l) (Sandown 21/2m
nov hdle Grd 2 (1) £34,170 soft).
PARK THIS ONE (11-12) 8-15 fav led
5th, drew clear last, bt Happywifehappylife (10-7) 5l (7 ran) (Catterick
2m 3f nov hdle (4) £4,248 soft).
ROCK ON COWBOY (11-7) 28-1
tracked leaders, disputing 3rd and
outpaced last, well held flat, 6th of
13 (btn 30l) to Weveallbeencaught
(11-7) (Cheltenham 21/2m mdn hdle (2)
£10,562 good to soft).
STAY AWAY FAY (11-0) 15-8 fav chased
leaders, closer 2 out, plenty to do
last, led run-in, soon clear, bt Heezer
Geezer (11-0) 5l (10 ran) (Newbury
21/2m nov hdle (3) £6,535 good).
THE WOUNDED KNEE (11-8) 20-1
chased leader, led 2 out, edged right
flat, headed towards finish, btn 3/4l by
Mofasa (11-5) (10 ran) (Cheltenham
21/2m nov hdle (2) £10,406 good).
TWIG (10-7) 1-4 fav chased leaders,
led 2 out, soon clear, eased, bt Ajp
Kingdom (11-0) 14l (6 ran) (Kempton
2m 5f nov hdle (4) £4,357 good).

TEMPLEGATE’S VERDICT
STAY AWAY FAY cost north of £300,000 and looked a
good prospect for Paul Nicholls when winning nicely on
debut at Newbury in November. The form of that race
has been franked and the 13-time champion trainer
has been patient with him. Stepping up to three miles
should suit given how strongly he finished last
time and he is expected to kick on from
that. Maximilian has had a wind op since
an excellent third in a Grade 2 at Sandown
early last month. He saw out a testing trip
well when winning in the mud at Bangor
before that and won’t be far away. Grand
Soir made it three wins on the spin in
Ireland when staying on strongly to win at
Thurles. He will appreciate this stamina test and is
high on the shortlist for the excellent John McConnell.
Idalko Bihoue won easily at Worcester on debut and
was pitched into the Grade 1 Challow where he was a
promising third. He’ll be a threat if seeing out this extra
half-mile. Mahons Glory was good at Aintree and has
place claims in this tougher race.

2.40

3.15

SKY BET HANDICAP CHASE (1) value to the
winner £56,950; 3m
(12 runners)
1

132/31 GA LAW 77

J Snowden 7-12-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonathan Burke l99
Runs: 9 Wins: 5 (S,F,3G)
Places: 1
£143,912
Classy, powerful win in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham, one to beat

2

PP-P4P WINDSOR AVENUE 33 (CD)

B Ellison 11-11-6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ross Chapman 94
Runs: 26 Wins: 8 (4S,GS,2G)
Places: 5
£122,590
Tough win last year, 2lb lower this time but comes here completely out of form

3

244-16 ELVIS MAIL 56 (T)

4

2220-2 MISTER COFFEY 32

5

U0-127 DEMACHINE 27 (T;D)

N Alexander 9-11-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruce Lynn (3) 89
Runs: 24 Wins: 6 (3S,2GS,G)
Places: 4
£84,000
Strong traveller, best form is over shorter, may find a few too tough

N Henderson 8-11-4. . . . . . . . . . . .Nico De Boinville 98
Runs: 13 Wins: 3 (2S,G)
Places: 7
£72,691
Encouraging return at Chepstow latest, will be sharper here, big run expected
K Lee 9-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caoilin Quinn (5) 90
Runs: 14 Wins: 3 (S,GS,G)
Places: 6
£63,771
Strong traveller, yet to prove he wants 3m, improvement needed

6

R3P-56 CLOTH CAP 56 (P,T)

Jonjo O’Neill 11-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Hughes 87
Runs: 27 Wins: 5 (2GS,3G)
Places: 3
£214,978
Regressive, but shaped better in the Becher at Aintree, more needed

7

2-1111 TEA FOR FREE 28 (D)

C Longsdon 8-11-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lilly Pinchin (3) 96
Runs: 11 Wins: 5 (S,3G)
Places: 2
£31,845
Winning machine, looked good when hacking up at Newbury, more to come

8

41P-3P UNDERSUPERVISION 28 (P;C)

N Twiston-Davies 7-10-12 . . . Sam Twiston-Davies 94
Runs: 13 Wins: 3 (3S)
Places: 2
£54,141
Won the Grimthorpe here last year, only 2lb higher this time, interesting

9

311-32 JAVA POINT 27 (T;D)

T George 8-10-11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ciaran Gethings 91
Runs: 19 Wins: 5 (2S,GS,G)
Places: 7
£48,406
Consistent, never stopped trying at Chelts latest, leading contender

10

UPP-22 SHANTY ALLEY 28 (P;C,D)

B Case 9-10-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conor O’Farrell 90
Runs: 22 Wins: 3 (S,GS,G)
Places: 7
£30,688
Bold jumper, ran well when second at Newbury latest, this is tougher

11

P-2132 COOPER’S CROSS 27 (PH)

12

5-5350 CAP DU NORD 27 (P;D)

W Coltherd 8-10-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sam Coltherd 94
Runs: 14 Wins: 3 (2GS)
Places: 5
£28,319
Improving with racing, solid effort at Musselburgh latest, place claims
C Williams 10-10-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Tudor 87
Runs: 44 Wins: 7 (5GS,2G)
Places: 8
£215,914
Strong stayer, flopped at Cheltenham but comes here off a competitive mark

BETTING: 11-4 Ga Law, 5 Tea For Free, 6 Mister Coffey, 7 Cap Du
Nord, 8 Cloth Cap, 10 Java Point, 12 Cooper’s Cross, 14 Demachine,
Elvis Mail, 16 Undersupervision, Windsor Avenue, Shanty Alley
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 3 6 0 3 5
2022: Windsor Avenue 10-11-1, Sean Quinlan 40-1 (B Ellison), 16 ran.

Sunracing FORM
GA LAW (11-0) 5-1 headway 2 out, ran
on gamely, led finish, bt French
Dynamite (11-6) 3/4l (14 ran) (Cheltenham 21/2m (1) £90,032 good to soft).
WINDSOR AVENUE pulled up latest,
earlier (10-8) 25-1 chased leaders,
mistake 3rd, ridden before 4 out, no
impression run-in, 4th of 9 (btn 61/4l)
to L’Homme Presse (12-0) (Newcastle
2m 7f (1) £39,865 good to soft).
COOPER’S CROSS (10-10) 11-1 held up,
headway 3 out, ridden, no extra near
finish, 3rd of 13 (btn 51/2l) to Brave
Seasca (12-1) ELVIS MAIL (11-8) 9-1
prominent, outpaced 2 out, no extra,
6th (btn 13l) (13 ran) (Aintree 21/2m
hcap ch (2) £20,576 good to soft).
MISTER COFFEY (11-10) 5-1 led, joined
3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on but
no match for winner, btn 5l by Super
Survivor (10-9) (6 ran) (Chepstow 3m
nov hcap ch (3) £6,535 soft).
DEMACHINE (10-13) 20-1 towards rear,
ridden 3 out, no impression 2 out, 7th
of 16 (btn 15l) to Midnight River (11-4)
(Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) £56,950 soft).
CLOTH CAP (11-7) 33-1 prominent, led
16th, headed last, faded, 6th of 22
(14l) to Ashtown Lad (11-5) (Aintree
31/4m hcap ch (1) £84,195 soft).

TEA FOR FREE (10-13) 7-1 jumped
soundly made all, went clear 2 out,
stayed on strongly, unchallenged, bt
Halo Des Obeaux (11-4) 61/2l (7 ran)
(Newbury 23/4m (3) £7,407 soft).
UNDERSUPERVISION pulled up
latest, (11-8) 7-2 held up, outpaced 3
out, rallied, 3rd of 8 (btn 51/2l) to Eva’s
Oskar (11-12) (Cheltenham 31/4m hcap
ch (1) £39,865 good to soft).
JAVA POINT (11-2) 11-2 chased leaders,
went 2nd last, hung left flat, no
impression, btn 81/2l by Rapper (11-6)
CAP DU NORD (10-11) 7-1 rear of middivision, hit 18th, soon weakened,
last (btn 39l) (11 ran) (Cheltenham
31/4m hcap ch (2) £13,008 soft).
SHANTY ALLEY (11-4) 11-1 chased
leader, hit 4 out, led 2 out until last,
kept on, held, btn 3/ 4l by Grumpy
Charley (12-0) UNDERSUPERVISION (12-1) 6-1 chased leaders,
mistake 14th, ridden 5 out, faded
4 out, pulled up (13 ran) (Newbury
31/4m hcap ch (3) £12,853 soft).
COOPER’S CROSS (10-11) 3-1 midfield,
headway 4 out, mistake last, held
on for 2nd finish, btn 61/2l by Minella
Drama (12-0) (7 ran) (Musselburgh
21/2m hcap ch (2) £15,609 soft).

TEMPLEGATE’S VERDICT
GA LAW was impressive when winning the Paddy
Power Gold Cup in November. He dug deep up the hill
and was going away at the line. He has Grade 1 placed
form on his CV and it would be no surprise to see him
progress into more than a handicapper pretty quickly
for trainer Jamie Snowden. Tea For Free is
in the form of his life and made it four
convincing wins in a row at Newbury
on New Year’s Eve. A 7lb rise means
he needs to take another step forward
but there’s every chance he’ll do so.
He gets on well with Lilly Pinchin who
takes off valuable weight. Shanty Alley
was carried out on his shield after a right
battle at Newbury. He has winning form around here
and stays well so has solid each-way hopes. Mister
Coffey went close at Chepstow and is back from the
same mark. He was second in the Kim Muir at last
year’s Cheltenham Festival so won’t lack for stamina.
Java Point has run well on both starts this season and
is only 3lb higher than his last win.

3.15

PAUL NICHOLLS believes Stay Away Fay will have a good day
at Donny. His six-year-old won on debut for the
king of Ditcheat and is stepped up in class for
the Grade 2 River Don Hurdle.
Betfair ambassador Nicholls (left) said: “He
won his point to point in Ireland and pleased us
a lot at Newbury. He is a lot sharper now, stays
well, wants good ground and I’ve had this race in
mind for him since. He is in great shape.”

Favourite

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

ALL YOU NEED ALL THE TIME
UTTOXETER

GOING: GOOD
TRADING FLOOR

3.50

SKY BET EXTRA PLACES EVERY DAY HCAP CHASE
(4); value to the winner £5,281; 3m. (12 runners)

1
2111-56 TIM PAT 37 (T) D McCain 7-12-2 ...............................................Brian Hughes 92
2
6524-19 HAWTHORN COTTAGE 50 (B,T;D) A Murphy 10-11-13 .. Lilly Pinchin (3) 95
3
2423-2P EYEOFTHESCORPION 28 (P) F O’Brien 9-11-12 .................. Connor Brace 96
4
6-34323 TASTE THE FEAR 18 (P) R Newland 8-11-8..............Sam Twiston-Davies 89
5
27212-4 JAYTEE 53 I Williams 8-11-7 ..................................................................Doubtful 96
6
33-4P15 HOLD THE NOTE 30 E Whillans 9-11-6 ....................... Danny McMenamin 92
7
25-33F4 THE MACON LUGNATIC 33 B Pauling 9-11-5...................... Kielan Woods 90
8
F1-F231 GREAT D’ANGE 55 (T;D) T George 7-11-3 .....................Jonathan Burke l99
9
P41-360 THE LATE LEGEND 28 (T;CD) T Weston 10-11-0 ......................Jack Tudor 81
10
P21-533 MOROZOV COCKTAIL 15 (B;D) T Easterby 7-10-11 ........Jamie Hamilton 87
11 -2542P8 CROAGH PATRICK 31 (T) S England 8-10-8 ...............Jonathan England 76
12
2814/26 TOP DECISION 55 (T;C) S Drinkwater 10-10-6.................... Robbie Dunne 85
BETTING: 7-2 Great D’Ange, 9-2 Morozov Cocktail, 6 Eyeofthescorpion, 13-2 The
Macon Lugnatic 8 Hold The Note, 10 Hawthorn Cottage, 12 Tim Pat
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: UR 2 4 1 4
2022: Hard To Forget 9-11-1 James Davies 9-1 (Henry Oliver), 6 ran.

Sunracing FORM
TIM PAT (12-0) 13-2 mid-division, ridden
10th, no impression 3 out, 6th of 8
(btn 91/2l) to Hitman Fred (10-10) (Ayr
3m hcap ch (3) £7,624 good to soft).
HAWTHORN COTTAGE (11-5) 6-1
always in rear, outpaced 7th, well
beaten 4 out, 9th of 10 (well btn) to
Dame du Soir (10-0) (Cheltenham 2m
5f mrs hcap ch (3) £10,892 good).
EYEOFTHESCORPION pulled up
latest, (11-4) 4-1 held up in touch,
headway 2 out, chased winner
last, no impression, btn 41/4l by The
Changing Man (10-8) (5 ran) (Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcap hdle (3) £8,823 soft).
TASTE THE FEAR (11-12) 15-2 tracked
leader, led 14th, headed 3 out,
weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6 (btn 31l)
to The Questioner (10-9) (Doncaster
31/4m nov hcap ch (4) £7,922 soft).
JAYTEE (10-9) 11-2 in touch, effort
when not fluent 3 out, stayed on
same pace last, 4th of 8 (btn 61/2l) to
Hurricane Harvey (11-8) (Uttoxeter 2m
7f hcap hdle (4) £4,684 good to soft).
MOROZOV COCKTAIL (10-13) 6-1 in
touch, mistake 5th, pushed along
4 out, plugged on flat, 3rd of 11 (btn
13l) to Rath An Iuir (11-1) HOLD THE
NOTE (11-3) 17-2 prominent, , led 5
out, headed last, weakened run-in,
5th (btn 17l) (11 ran) (Kelso 31/4m amat

4.25

hcap ch (4) £4,414 heavy).
THE MACON LUGNATIC (11-9) 6-1
chased leaders, pushed along 8th,
hanging left 3 out, well beaten 2 out,
4th of 8 (btn 31l) to Loup De Maulde
(11-5) (Huntingdon 3m 1f cond hcap
hdle (4) £4,575 good to soft).
GREAT D’ANGE (11-9) 3-1 prominent,
jumped well, led home turn and soon
pushed along, stayed on strongly
last, bt TASTE THE FEAR (12-2)
18-1 chased leaders, reminders 10th,
headway 3 out, every chance last,
no impression, 13/4l TOP DECISION
(11-4) 13-2 towards rear, ridden 3 out,
well held, 6th (btn 16l) (8 ran) (Huntingdon 3m hcap ch (4) £5,446 good).
THE LATE LEGEND (11-2) 25-1 led,
ridden and headed after 4 out,
weakened 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 14
(btn) to Shot Boii (11-9) (Uttoxeter 2m
7f hcap hdle (5) £4,684 heavy).
MOROZOV COCKTAIL (11-3) 10-3
chased leader, bad mistake 10th,
outpaced 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 6 (10l)
to Onestepatatime (10-2) (Sedgefield
3m 3f hcap ch (4) £7,393 soft).
CROAGH PATRICK (11-10) 9-1 towards
rear, pushed along 4 out, ridden and
weakened 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 12
(btn) to Pilot Show (11-10) (Catterick
3m 1f hcap ch (5) £4,423 soft).

GOOD LUCK BEEP BEEP BURROW NH FLAT RACE (5);
value to the winner £2,614; 2m 1f.
(15 runners)

1
B BALCOMIE BREEZE 84 G Boanas 5-11-2 .......................... Tom Midgley (5) —
2
BEEP BEEP BURROW J O’Keeffe 6-11-2 ..............................Conor O’Farrell —
3
2 BOMBAY SUNSET 251 L Wadham 5-11-2 .......................Nico De Boinville 90
4
2-2 GO WEST 71 (BF) P Nicholls 5-11-2 .....................................Lorcan Williams 98
5
0 REMEMBER ALLY 33 (TH) T Leeson 5-11-2 ................... Tom Buckley (3) 73
6
RUE GALILEE T Easterby 5-11-2 ........................................... Nathan Moscrop —
7
10 DINO BELLAGIO 27 D McCain 4-10-10 ............................... Brian Hughes l99
8
97 LUNA AOIFE 33 J O’Keeffe 5-10-9 ............................................... Jack Garritty —
9
5-35 MONTEPLEX 249 (HH,T) B Ellison 6-10-9 .................... Patrick Wadge (7) 95
10
5 MUG BOOKIES 32 J Ponting 5-10-9 .................................Danny Burton (5) 89
11
0 CALL ME JACK 18 M Walford 4-10-3 ..................................Jamie Hamilton 73
12
ELUSIVE ENEMY T Weston 4-10-3 ................................................. Jack Tudor —
13
0 JOSH THE BOSS 58 (TH) N Twiston-Davies 4-10-3 .. Mr Jamie Neild (7) 77
14
JUST CHASING MAY B Pauling 4-10-3 .................................... Kielan Woods —
15
TEDLEY N Twiston-Davies 4-10-3 .................................. Sam Twiston-Davies —
BETTING: 9-4 Go West, 5 Dino Bellagio, 7 Just Chasing May, 8 Beep Beep Burrow,
12 Mug Bookies, Bombay Sunset, Balcomie Breeze, Monteplex, Tedley
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 2
2022: Prairie Wolf 5-11-9 Ryan Mania 14-1 (Sue Smith), 8 ran.

BIG-RACETRENDS

Year Going Ran
2022 Good 16
2021 Soft 11
2020 G/Soft 14
2019 Good 11
2018 Soft 13
2017 Good 14
2016 Good 15
2015 G/Soft 14
2014 Soft 15
2012 G/Soft 15
2009 Soft 13
2008 Good 20

Winner
Age
WINDSOR AVENUE 10
TAKINGRISKS
12
OK CORRAL
10
GO CONQUER
10
WAKANDA
9
ZIGA BOY
8
ZIGA BOY
7
IF IN DOUBT
7
THE RAINBOW HUNTER 10
CALGARY BAY
9
BIG FELLA THANKS 7
AN ACCORDION
7

Jockey
Quinlan, Sean
Quinlan, Sean
O’Connor, D
Bellamy, Tom
Brooke, Henry
Bellamy, Tom
Powell, B
McCoy, A P
Scholfield, N
Elsworth, D
Williams, C
Farrelly, J (5)

CLOTH CAP is a topper in
the Sky Bet Chase.

Horses towards the higher end of the weights have a
good recent record with the
past five winners all having
at least 11st on their back.
Undersupervision,
Java
Point, Shanty Alley, Cooper’s
Cross and Cap Du Nord fall
down on that trend.
You must go back to 2016
for the last time a horse
aged younger than eight
came out on top so stick
with the experienced tried
and tested contenders.
Ga Law, Mister Coffey and
Tea For Free are all decent
prospects and clearly have
the talent to buck that
trend but it has paid to to
go with the older horses.
A run within the past

Trainer
SP Wt
Ellison, B 40/1 11-1
Richards, N 40/1 11-2
Henderson, N 9/1 11-12
T-Davies, N 8/1 11-10
Smith, S J 8/1 11-0
King, A
10/1 10-11
King, A
8/1 10-0
Hobbs, P J 4/1 10-11
Bailey, K C 25/1 10-9
Knight, H C 12/1 11-11
Nicholls, P F 9/2 11-2
Pipe, D E
11/2 10-3

OR Days
144 34
146 63
146 24
151 42
145 32
137 49
133 32
139 39
136 63
151 27
136 28
132 25

3.15 Doncaster
Sky Bet Chase
couple of months has also
been essential with all of
the winners this century
ticking that box.
Another must is for your
fancy to have scored over at
least three miles.
It is testing at Doncaster
at the best of times and this
isn’t a race for a doubtful
stayer. Elvis Mail struggles
to tick that box.
So we are left with last
year’s winner Windsor Avenue, Demachine and Cloth
Cap. They are all big prices so you can spread your
stake but if you back just
one the Cap fits best.

EACH-WAY
THIEF

EACH-WAY THIEF

HAVE a Cheltenham each-way double. BRAVE
SEASCA (1.50) didn’t show his true form
last time and is capable of bouncing
back. Pair him with CAN YOU CALL (3.35) who
was impressive when winning easily at Uttoxeter last time. His staying power is a big asset.

5

PROTEKTORAT is being
backed in the clash of
the Gold Cup hopefuls at
Cheltenham today.
The Skelton runner
faces Grand National
winner Noble Yeats in a
Cotswold Chase that will
tell us plenty about the
Festival’s big race.
Protektorat is on offer
at 13-8 while the Emmet
Mullins hope is 9-4.
Coral’s Andy Lobo
said: “Noble Yeats may
be shorter for the Gold
Cup but we think this will
be Protektorat’s day.
“He likes the track and
was impressive at Cheltenham while we’re not
sure exactly what Noble
Yeats beat at Aintree last
time.”
The Clarence House
Chase has been rerouted from Ascot and Lobo
thinks there may be a
shock result.
He said: “Energumene
is 8-15 ahead of 9-4 shot
Edwardstone but don’t
rule out Editeur Du Gite
at 10s. He cashed in on
Edwardstone falling last
time but won it well and
he can give them a scare
off the front.”
Paisley Park is another
Festival favourite strutting his stuff – and he

PUNTERS
FANCY A
PRO BET
looks vulnerable too according to Coral’s form
boffins.
Lobo said: “Paisley is
11-8 and we’re keen to
take him on along with
Gelino Bello at 9-2.
“We have got old pal
Dashel Drasher in there
at 3-1 and his form is
solid. Don’t ignore Botox
Has at 7-1 which looks
solid each-way.
“He has run well at
Cheltenham before and
will enjoy a longer trip.”
Coral are celebrating passing the 50,000
mark with their free to
join Racing Club.
They have clocked up
that impressive number
of members in less than
three months.
The club gives all its
members the experience
of racehorse ownership,
including stable visits,
race day tickets and
hospitality, all free to
Coral customers.
The firm’s Simon Clare
said: “We are delighted to hit the 50,000
mark so quickly and
hope it gives the
sport a timely
boost.”

TEMPLEGATE

12.15 ..................................Fazayte
12.47 ................................ Benassi
1.27 ..................................Rambo T
1.57 .................Fortunes Melody
2.32................................ Go Dante
3.07 .....................................Animal
3.42...................Your Own Story
4.17 ....................... Barrier Peaks

TOM PEPPER

12.15 .............................Royal Mer
12.47 ...................... Mr Hailstone
1.27 ......................... Astromachia
1.57 ......................Victorias Peak
2.32..................A Different Kind
3.07 .......................Point Him Out
3.42............................. Party Fuzz
4.17 ............................Nefyn Point

nTIC-TAC: Left-handed oval course of 1m 2f, there are 10 fences per circuit and a
run-in of 300 yards. nLEADING TRAINERS (2018-2023): D Skelton 80-322, O Murphy
30-168, F O’Brien 29-186, Dr R Newland 25-110. THIS SEASON: F O’Brien 11. nTOP
JOCKEYS (2018-2023): H Brooke 13-101, N Scholfield 11-81, L Edwards 9-109, R
Patrick 8-83. THIS SEASON: H Brooke 5. nLONGEST TRAVELLER: Your Own Story
(3.42) trained at Kinross. Round trip of 584 miles. nFIRST RUN SINCE WIND OP:
Bobby Socks (12.15), Ready To Please (4.17). nLIVE ON SKY SPORTS RACING

12.15

CAZOO CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’ TRAINING SERIES
HCAP HURDLE (Class 5); £4,330; 2m. (11 runners)

1
73221/8 ROB ROYAL 28 (D) J Coulson 11-12-0 ....................................... Toby Wynne 90
2
P4-6837 COUSU MAIN 33 (CD) N Mulholland 7-12-0 ..........Thomasina Eyston (6) 93
3
P72 ROYAL MER 59 (TH) D Pipe 5-11-12 .......................................... Jamie Brace 97
4
-513123 FAZAYTE 24 (BF) R Potter 8-11-12 .........................................Finn Lambert l99
5
95788-5 ELMOUNT 253 (T) A Ralph 7-11-11 ...........................................Jay Tidball (3) 90
6
2-1U553 BOBBY SOCKS 60 O Murphy 6-11-11 .....................................Daire Davis (6) 98
7
P1-809 YEOMEN WARDER 32 D Skelton 6-10-13 ......................Tristan Durrell (3) 74
8
4P9P310 RAZZO ITALIANO 28 (P,T;D) G Hanmer 6-10-13 .........Elizabeth Gale (5) 86
9
P9P5PP8 CHARLIE SIRINGO 89 (P) M Young 8-10-12 ............................... Luke Scott 72
10 95U-0PP THE WIRE FLYER 37 (B;D) J Flint 8-10-2 .............................Ellis Collier (3) 70
11
7789-6 CHRISTOPHER CLIVE 51 C Harris 5-10-2 ....................... Bradley Roberts 81
BETTING: 9-4 Bobby Socks, 7-2 Fazayte, 4 Yeomen Warder, 7 Royal Mer, 8 Cousu
Main, 16 Elmount, 20 Razzo Italiano, Christopher Clive, Rob Royal
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 2 1 abd 2
2022: Good Impression 7-9-9 Ellis Collier 9-2 (D Burchell), 8 ran.

12.47

GREENBANK GROUP UK MAIDEN HURDLE (DIV 1) (4);
value to the winner £4,466; 2m.
(14 runners)

1
43F3-3 BENASSI 32 O Murphy 6-11-8 ............................................ Fergus Gregory l99
2
4-U0 FINEST HOUR 21 N Twiston-Davies 5-11-8 ........................Ben Bromley (7) 70
3
59 GENERAL HUBBLE 31 K Bailey 5-11-8.........................................David Bass 73
4
9-90 LIBOR LAD 38 (T) D Dennis 5-11-8 .......................................... James Davies 70
5
58/2- MR HAILSTONE 634 R Newland 7-11-8 .................................Luke Scott (7) 89
6
1-65 PEDLEY WOOD 21 J Tizzard 6-11-8 ...................................Harry Kimber (3) 93
7
38/3- SATURDAY SONG 563 A King 7-11-8 ................................Thomas Bellamy 90
8
5488 VIA DANTE 19 (H) D Pipe 6-11-8........................................ Fergus Gillard (3) 84
9
3P-70 WARNER’S CROSS 15 C Hobson 6-11-8....................Bradley Roberts (7) 71
10
73-9 BLACK SAM VICKI 92 A Ralph 5-11-1 ............................... Alex Edwards (3) 79
11
0 DOLLY BIRD 88 C Honour 5-11-1................................................Bryan Carver 70
12
26 GAYE LEGACY 38 T Symonds 5-11-1 ...................................Benjamin Poste 83
13
26F- ICONIC ROCK 352 A Ralph 7-11-1............................................Jay Tidball (7) 86
14
110/2- MILANS EDGE 630 (BF,D) D McCain 8-11-1 ...................... Theo Gillard (3) 98
BETTING: 13-8 Milans Edge, 2 Benassi, 7 Mr Hailstone, 8 Iconic Rock, Gaye Legacy
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 7 4 abd 2
2022: Grey Skies 6-11-1 Theo Gillard 12-1 (D McCain), 10 ran.

1.27

GREENBANK GROUP UK MAIDEN HURDLE (DIV 2) (4);
value to the winner £4,466; 2m.
(14 runners)

1
522 ASTROMACHIA 31 (BF) R Newland 8-11-8 ....................... Luke Scott (7) l99
2
907 CLARAS SOLDIER 29 F O’Brien 5-11-8 ........................... Liam Harrison (3) 72
3
66P-1 COILROCK 279 D Jeffreys 6-11-8 ............................................. Max Kendrick 94
4
0 HEY MISTER DJ 59 A Ralph 5-11-8 ....................................Thomas Bellamy 73
5
P- IMPORT EXPORT 284 O Greenall & J Guerriero 5-11-8 ...... Henry Brooke —
6
565-6 NIGHT JET 33 T Symonds 6-11-8 ..........................................Benjamin Poste 92
7
OUT OF IDEAS F176 Sarah Hollinshead 9-11-8 ....................Chris Ward (3) —
8
2321-32 RAMBO T 33 O Murphy 6-11-8 ....................................................Will Kennedy 98
9
15 SOME SCOPE 31 R Hobson 5-11-8.............................................Paul O’Brien 89
10
80 WEST PARK BOY 32 P Hobbs 5-11-8 ....................................Sean Houlihan 72
11
090 MILAGROSA 18 D Skelton 5-11-1.............................................David England 70
12
5- STARLIGHT GLANCE 284 H Daly 6-11-1.............................Richard Patrick 90
13
73-4 SWEET MAGIC 86 A Ralph 5-11-1 ...................................... Alex Edwards (3) 94
14
4-8P WITH POISE 27 C Honour 5-11-1 ................................................Bryan Carver 82
BETTING: 11-8 Astromachia, 5-2 Rambo T, 8 Sweet Magic, 12 Coilrock, Some Scope
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 3
2022: Sullivan’s Brow 7-11-1 Theo Gillard 16-1 (D McCain), 8 ran.

1.57

EBF MARES’ NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP CHASE (3);
value to the winner £6,244; 2m 5f.
(6 runners)

1
1/342-7 FARNE 37 (PH) Noel Williams 9-11-10..................................... James Davies 93
2
212/4 WILD ROMANCE 63 D Skelton 8-11-9 .............................. Bridget Andrews 97
3
-211353 FORTUNES MELODY 33 (P,T) H Fry 6-11-7......................Ben Bromley (7) 94
4
/2-1232 VICTORIAS PEAK 28 (P,T;BF) N Twiston-Davies 8-11-3 .Thomas Bellamy l99
5
221-317 FAIRFIELD FERRATA 60 (D) J O’Keeffe 7-11-1 .................... Henry Brooke 89
6
805-758 MOON EAGLE 48 (PH) T Gretton 6-10-9.................................Lee Edwards 74
BETTING: 2 Victorias Peak, 3 Fortunes Melody, 4 Wild Romance, 11-2 Farne, 6
Fairfield Ferrata, 20 Moon Eagle
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED and 2022: No corresponding race.

Sunracing FORM
FARNE (10-5) 25-1 behind, outpaced VICTORIAS PEAK (11-2) 9-4 fav chased
13th, never on terms, 7th of 8 (btn) to
leaders, nudged along 6th, stayed on
Complete Unknown (10-12) (Ffos Las
one pace last, btn 41/4l by Felicie Du
Maquis (11-4) (10 ran) (Warwick 2m
2m 5f nov hcap ch (3) £7,352 soft).
5f nov hdle (4) £3,703 good to soft).
WILD ROMANCE (10-13) 28-1 in touch,
ridden 2 out, weakened, 4th of 5 (btn FAIRFIELD FERRATA (11-6) 4-1 led until
9th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 8 (17l) to
20l) to Harper’s Brook (11-2) (Bangor
Ile De Jersey (11-6) (Southwell 21/2m
21/2m nov hcap ch (3) £7,080 heavy).
FORTUNES MELODY (10-8) 5-1 always
mrs nov hcap ch (4) £8,496 soft).
prominent, 3rd when ridden after 3 MOON EAGLE (12-0) 50-1 mid-division,
under pressure 3 out, no extra, 8th
out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7 (btn
of 24 (27l) to Nephin Beg (11-11) (Cork
11l) to Tweed Skirt (10-13) (Wincanton
21/2m nov hcap hdle €6,300 soft).
21/2m (3) £7,407 good to soft).

2.32

DIEGOS 69TH KEEP BATTING BIRTHDAY HANDICAP
HURDLE (2); winner £9,678; 2m 4f.
(9 runners)

1
0P-P018 FLOUEUR 28 (PH,T) G Hanmer 8-12-1 ........................ Tabitha Worsley (3) 94
2
1137-20 A DIFFERENT KIND 76 D McCain 6-11-4.........................Theo Gillard (3) l99
3
15-0953 WEST TO THE BRIDGE 32 (P,T;D) D Skelton 10-11-2.. Bridget Andrews 95
4
PP1PP-P BALLYBEGG 81 (VH;CD) K Lee 8-10-13 .............................Richard Patrick 86
5
31F241/ ES PERFECTO 678 A King 8-10-12 .....................................Thomas Bellamy 95
6
1/124- GO DANTE 395 O Murphy 7-10-11 .........................................Fergus Gregory 98
7
32-101P RATHMACKNEE 14 (D) N Henderson 7-10-9 ..............Sean O’Briain (10) 92
8
12/7-3P CORRIEBEN REIVER 30 E Whillans 9-10-8 ............................. Craig Nichol 87
9
P273P-F DARGIANNINI 30 (T;D) H Derham 8-10-6 ................................Paul O’Brien 90
BETTING: 3 Go Dante, 9-2 West To The Bridge, 6 Rathmacknee, A Different Kind, Es
Perfecto, 8 Floueur, 10 Dargiannini, 14 Ballybegg, 16 Corrieben Reiver
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 5 2 1 abd 5
2022: Hart Of Steel 7-10-12 Theo Gillard 7-1 (D McCain), 8 ran.

Sunracing FORM
FLOUEUR (11-10) 11-2 weakened quickly
before 2 out, 8th of 10 (well btn) to
Saint Sam (11-6) (Punchestown 2m 3f
rated hdle €10,501 soft to heavy).
A DIFFERENT KIND (11-8) 6-1 chased
leaders, outpaced and weakened 2
out, 11th of 13 (well btn) to I Like To
Move It (12-0) (Cheltenham 2m hcap
hdle (1) £56,270 good to soft).
WEST TO THE BRIDGE (11-10) 20-1 no
impression 2 out, 3rd of 10 (btn 93/4l)
to Flight Deck (12-0) (Chepstow 3m
hcap hdle (2) £15,609 soft).
BALLYBEGG pulled up latest, (11-12)
10-1 made all, idled run-in, held on
well close home, all out, bt No Word
Of A Lie (11-1) 13/4l (6 ran) (Uttoxeter
21/2m hcap hdle (3) £4,956 heavy).
ES PERFECTO (11-7) 10-11 fav tracked
leaders, jumped into lead 2 out, in

control last, comfortably, bt Pozo
Emery (11-7) 5l (16 ran) (Chepstow 2m
3f nov hdle (4) £3,769 good to soft).
GO DANTE (11-7) 11-1 raced keenly in
rear, never on terms, 4th of 7 (btn 13l)
to Stage Star (11-7) (Newbury 21/2m
nov hdle Grd 1 (1) £34,170 soft).
RATHMACKNEE pulled up latest, (112) 10-3 led finish, readily, bt Gaelik
Coast (11-9) 11/4l (5 ran) (Doncaster
2m 3f hcap hdle (3) £6,644 good).
CORRIEBEN REIVER pulled up
latest, (11-6) 13-2 led, headed 4 out,
weakened 3 out, 3rd of 4 (btn 36l)
to Since Day One (11-2) (Ayr 2m nov
hcap ch (3) £7,917 good to soft).
DARGIANNINI fell latest, (10-13) 9-2 led
2 out, headed last, held, 3rd of 11 (3/4l)
to Storm Dennis (10-6) (Kempton 2m
5f hcap hdle (3) £6,753 good).

GOING: GOOD TO SOFT

3.07

PAUL WAINWRIGHT 60TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
HANDICAP CHASE (4); £5,175; 2m 4f. (12 runners)

1
24212/4 FRANIGANE 30 H Whittington 8-12-0 ..................................... Henry Brooke 92
2
210-33P HOMETOWN HERO 33 (PH,T;BF) D Skelton 8-11-11 ... Bridget Andrews 98
3
1P3P-62 CHANCEUX 28 A Ralph 7-11-10........................................... Alex Edwards (3) 95
4
6412-62 POINT HIM OUT 79 E Lavelle 6-11-9 .................................Joe Anderson (7) 97
5
2PP5/7F DIOMEDE DES MOTTES 33 (T) R Newland 10-11-9 ...........Luke Scott (7) 83
6
8P11-3 GOLD EMERY 37 (BF) D McCain 7-11-7.............................. Theo Gillard (3) 94
7
413-633 ANIMAL 33 S Smith 7-11-5................................................... Liam Harrison (3) 89
8
P2-4441 NOT SURE 24 (B) K Lee 7-11-3........................................... Richard Patrick l99
9
63F4-37 DROP HIM IN 33 O Murphy 7-11-1 ..............................................Will Kennedy 92
10
4123-14 TIP TOP MOUNTAIN 26 (T;BF,CD) R Walford 8-11-0 ..........Bryan Carver 95
11
2/326-F DISCKO DES PLAGES 69 (T) R Hobson 10-10-7....................Paul O’Brien 87
12 0FP/705 LUIS VAN ZANDT 12 (T) S Davies 9-10-2................... Tabitha Worsley (3) 72
BETTING: 7-2 Not Sure, 6 Gold Emery, Animal, 13-2 Tip Top Mountain, 8 Chanceux
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 3 4 3
PU
2022: Keep Rolling 9-11-12 Tom O’Brien 3-1 (P Hobbs), 7 ran.

3.42

QUINNBET DAILY FREE BET NOVICES’ HCAP CHASE
(4); value to the winner £5,281; 3m 2f. (8 runners)

1
/332-22 AUTONOMOUS CLOUD 38 F O’Brien 7-11-12................... Adrian Heskin l99
2
4/2P-16 PARTY FUZZ 27 (T) K Bailey 8-11-10 .............................................David Bass 92
3
7F52/5R SMACKWATER JACK 30 O Murphy 9-11-10 ......................Fergus Gregory 79
4
3F/1-53 PRESENTING JEREMY 29 D Skelton 8-11-9 .................. Bridget Andrews 95
5
1145-74 TIP TOP CAT 65 F O’Brien 8-11-9 ...................................... Liam Harrison (3) 90
6
315-242 YOUR OWN STORY 26 L Russell 7-11-7 .......................Stephen Mulqueen 97
7
6/P23-P JOBSONFIRE 93 S Allwood 11-11-4 ......................................Charlie Price (3) 82
8
3434-16 FAUSTINOVICK 69 (P,T) J Tizzard 9-11-2.........................Harry Kimber (3) 94
BETTING: 2 Autonomous Cloud, 4 Presenting Jeremy, 5 Your Own Story, Party Fuzz
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 3
2022: Docpickedme 6-11-12 Jack Quinlan 3-1 (H Whittington), 5 ran.

4.17

QUINNBET HANDICAP HURDLE (5); value to the
winner £4,330; 2m 4f.
(16 runners)

1
625/50- WINTER GETAWAY 452 (P,T) C Hitch 10-12-1 .......................Will Kennedy 87
2
87-24F INFLAGRANTE 59 K Bailey 7-12-1..................................................David Bass 97
3
7040-3U MIDNIGHT GOLD 24 N Mulholland 6-11-9.............................Adrian Heskin 94
4
3-26360 GEORGE BANCROFT 53 (BF) C Longsdon 5-11-9 ....................Ben Jones 85
5
3-54650 SAFE DESTINATION 33 N Twiston-Davies 5-11-9...........Finn Lambert (5) 87
6
6/3-306 KRACQUER 72 A Ralph 9-11-6 ...................................... Tabitha Worsley (3) 80
7
/055P-3 FLOY JOY F44 (BF) S Pearce 7-11-4......................................Nick Scholfield 91
8
1545233 NEFYN POINT 109 (T) D McCain 9-11-4.............................. Theo Gillard (3) 94
9
70960 OUT FOR THE COUNT 32 J Candlish 5-11-3 ..........William Shanahan (7) 76
10
5-90931 BARRIER PEAKS 18 (T) D Pipe 7-11-0 .........................Fergus Gillard (3) l99
11
3/848-9 HARD FROST 22 (PH) H Derham 6-10-13 ................................Paul O’Brien 82
12
2-30483 WATERLOO QUAY 14 (P) D Dennis 7-10-12 ....................Thomas Bellamy 97
13
31/38-P GOLAN CLOUD 28 (VH;D) J Candlish 10-10-11.................... Henry Brooke 90
14 /0P84-P MONEY FOR JAM 96 (BF) S Allwood 6-10-4 .......................... Craig Nichol 87
15
370633- KILCARAGH BOY 317 (T;D) R Armson 14-10-2 .................. Chris Ward (3) 93
16
0PPP- READY TO PLEASE 390 S Edmunds 7-10-2 ........................ James Davies 70
BETTING: 5-2 Barrier Peaks, 7 Nefyn Point, Inflagrante, 10 Midnight Gold, Hard Frost

6 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

CHELTENHAM COLOURS ON ITV: 1.2
TEMPLEGATE

TOM PEPPER

11.40........................... Dixon Cove
11.40.........................Scriptwriter
12.10.............................Stage Star
12.10........................Panic Attack
12.40........... DELTA WORK (nap)
12.40.................... Minella Times
1.20.......................... Energumene
1.20......................... Edwardstone
1.50....................... Nocte Volatus
1.50.............................. Fugitif (nb)
2.25..................Protektorat (nb)
2.25............................Ahoy Senor
3.00.........................Paisley Park
3.00...........GELINO BELLO (nap)
3.35........................Rock My Way
3.35...............Henri The Second
4.10............. Hacker Des Places
4.10..........................................Pikar
TEMPLEGATE’S TRIO: Delta Work and Protektorat (double) with
Paisley Park (all Cheltenham).
TOM PEPPER’S DOUBLE: Gelino Bello and Fugitif (both Cheltenham).
SUNRATINGS’ NAP: KARL PHILIPPE (1.50 Cheltenham).
SIRIUS, Sun On Sunday, nap: IL RIDOTO (1.50 Cheltenham).

11.40

TRAINER TRACE

FIRST RACE FOR NEW YARD:
11.40 Naeva B Beaunez (Fr) to A
Dunn; 12.40 Singing Banjo J P
Walsh (Ire) to Barry Walsh; 4.10
Front View J P O’Brien (Ire) to
Jonjo O’Neill; Jason The MilitantH
De Bromhead (Ire) to P Kirby.
RACEFAX: N Henderson won the
2.25 in 2020 & 2022. M Keighley
won the 12.40 in 2014 & 2021. N
Twiston-Davies won the 1.50 in 2017
& 2022. W P Mullins won the 1.20 in
2016, 2017 & 2018. V Williams won
the 1.50 in 2013 & 2020. E Lavelle
won the 3.00 in 2019, 2020 & 2022.

TOP TRAINERS

2018-2023 N Henderson 41-299, W
P Mullins 36-304, G Elliott 30-230,
D Skelton 23-248, F O’Brien 21-189,
P Nicholls 21-244, H De Bromhead
18-119, N Twiston-Davies 17-212,
D Pipe 9-103. THIS SEASON:
D Skelton 3, N Henderson 3, B
Pauling 2, P Nicholls 2.

TOP JOCKEYS

2018-2023 H Skelton 22-196, P
Townend 17-95, P Brennan 16-154, H
Cobden 13-184, A Coleman 12-120, T
Scudamore 11-145, G Sheehan 9-76,
C Deutsch 8-74, T Cannon 7-79,
S Bowen 7-84. THIS SEASON: H
Skelton 3, L Morgan 2, H Cobden 2.

IN THE MONEY

MONEY TALKS: Noble Yeats
(2.25) opened 9-2 won at 3-1;
Malinello (12.10) opened 5-1 third
at 10-3; Henri The Second (3.35)
opened 9-4 won at 7-4f; Can You
Call (3.35) opened 9-2 won at
7-2f; Now Where Or When (1.50)
opened 5-1 won at 4-1.
TOP EARNERS:
2.25 Frodon 		.................... £1,129,959
12.40 Roi Mage .................... £798,792
12.40 Delta Work .................. £714,626

SCOOP6

LEG 1 .................... 1.50 Cheltenham
LEG 2 ...................... 2.40 Doncaster
LEG 3 ........................3,15 Doncaster
LEG 4 ....................3.35 Cheltenham
LEG 5 ...................... 3.50 Doncaster
LEG 6 .....................4.10 Cheltenham

UNDER ORDERS

SEVEN-DAY WINNERS: None. BLINKERED FIRST TIME: None.
VISORED FIRST TIME: 12.40 Legends Ryde.
FIRST RUN SINCE WIND OP: Caribean Boy (1.50).
WEIGHTWATCHER: 1.50 Allmankind (won off 160, down 11lb to 149)
JOB JOCKEYS: Ned Fox rides Fautinette (4.10) for V Williams, 9 from
20, 45%. A Coleman rides Camprond (4.10) for P Hobbs, 4 from 10, 40%.
P Townend rides Energumene (1.20) for W P Mullins, 797 from 2409, 33%.
T Cannon rides Your Darling (1.50) for B Pauling, 6 from 18, 33%. Bryony
Frost rides Frodon (2.25) for P Nicholls, 111 from 392, 28%. David Maxwell
rides Simply The Betts (1.50) for P Nicholls, 17 from 62, 27%. A Cheleda
rides Hacker Des Places (4.10) for P Nicholls, 18 from 72, 25%.

131 COMFORT ZONE 32

2

1142 MOMBASA 21 (T;D)

P Hobbs 11-5  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr David Maxwell 89
Runs: 4 Wins: 2 (S,GS)
£54,892
French recruit, UK form is nothing special, watching brief advised

3

11 SCRIPTWRITER F29 (TH;C,D)

4

3 ACTIVE DUTY 22

M Harris 11-5  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Paddy Brennan 98
Runs: 2 Wins: 2 (2G)
£33,322
Well regarded, impressive Grd 2 win here in Nov, leading contender
B Pauling 11-0  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Luca Morgan 76
Runs: 1
Places: 1
£1,254
Maiden on the Flat, but shaped with promise in his maiden, one for hcaps

TIC-TAC: The New course is an undulating left-handed, oval track of 1m
5f round with ten fences and an uphill testing run-in. FAVOURITES: (20182023): 159 have won out of 550 races (29%). At corresponding meetings,
74 have won out of 256 races (29%). JACKPOT: 1-6. LIVE ON RACING TV
TRAINERS with best record in
last 14 days: C Longsdon 3
winners from 6 runners; D Skelton
8 from 19; W P Mullins 15 from 40; N
Henderson 3 from 10; G L Moore 3
from 12; I Williams 3 from 15.
JOCKEYS with best record in last
14 days: P W Mullins 3 wins from
5 rides; P Townend 10 from 18; R
James 2 from 4; S Bowen 5 from 12;
Jamie Moore 2 from 5; H Cobden 3
from 8; H Skelton 6 from 16.
TRAINERS who have had the
most runners since last win: P
Hobbs 38; T Symonds 28.
JOCKEYS who have had the most
rides since last win: S Ewing 61; T
J O’Brien 29.

1

J O’Brien (Ire) 11-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Jonjo O’Neill Jr 98
Runs: 3 Wins: 2 (2S)
Places: 1
£38,333
Tough, battled well to win a Grade 1 at Chepstow, strongly fancied

TRACKFAX . . .

HOT ‘N NOT

JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE (GRADE 2) 4-Y-O;
winner £45,560; 2m 1f
(8 runners)

5

63F11F FILS DE ROI 32 (D)

F O’Brien 11-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Hogan 88
Runs: 8 Wins: 2 (S,G)
Places: 2
£25,488
Jumped poorly in a Grd 1 at Chepstow, will need to be slicker, oppose

6

3-1 JUPITER DU GITE 28 (H)

G Moore 11-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Moore 97
Runs: 2 Wins: 1 (S)
Places: 1
£5,970
66-1 but no fluke about his impressive debut win at Newbury, dangerous

7

2-3112 DIXON COVE 32 (T;D)

8

611712 NAEVA 27 (H,T;D)

P Nicholls 10-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Cobden l99
Runs: 6 Wins: 2 (2GS)
Places: 4
£59,049
Hardy filly, went down by a neck in a Grd 1 at Chepstow, respected

A Dunn 10-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam Wedge 75
Runs: 6 Wins: 3 (2S)
Places: 1
£29,630
Experienced, goes well in the mud but sure to lack the class of some

BETTING: 9-4 Comfort Zone, 5-2 Jupiter Du Gite, 7-2 Scriptwriter,
Dixon Cove, 20 Fils De Roi, 25 Mombasa, 33 Active Duty, 50 Naeva
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 1 3 4 abd 1
2022: Pied Piper 11-0, Davy Russell 11-8 Fav (G Elliott Ire), 8 ran.

Sunracing FORM
COMFORT ZONE (11-0) 10-11 fav rear,
led 2 out, not fluent, stayed on gamely
when challenged run-in, bt DIXON
COVE (10-12) 7-1 handy, outpaced
home turn, stayed on, p just held,
nk FILS DE ROI (11-0) 15-2 led, not
fluent 3rd, 5th and 3 out, headed 2 out,
faded, fell last (9 ran) (Chepstow 2m
hdle Grd 2 (1) £29,720 soft).
MOMBASA (11-7) 4-1 ran on one pace,
btn 17l by I Have A Voice (11-3) (4 ran)
(Sandown 2m hdle (3) £6,244 soft).
SCRIPTWRITER (11-0) 4-1 led last, bt
Perseus Way (11-0) 21/4l (8 ran) (Cheltenham 2m hdle Grd 2 £28,475 good).

ACTIVE DUTY (10-11) 10-3 kept on, 3rd of
8 (btn 31/4l) to Romancero Le Dun (11-7)
(Ludlow 2m hdle (3) £5,446 soft).
FILS DE ROI fell latest, earlier (11-0) 2-1
fav led 2 out, clear last, comfortably,
bt Admiralty House (11-7) 41/4l (5 ran)
(Huntingdon 2m hdle (4) £5,119 good).
JUPITER DU GITE (10-3) 66-1 made
all and set strong pace, drew well
clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly,
unchallenged, bt Klitschko (11-7) 15l (11
ran) (Newbury 2m hdle (4) £4,520 soft).
NAEVA (11-4) 9-2 kept on, btn 12l by
Sniper Point (11-2) (13 ran) (Cagnessur-Mer 2m 1f claim hdle £7,731 heavy).

TEMPLEGATE’S VERDICT
DIXON COVE was edged out by Comfort Zone in a Chepstow
Grade 2 last month but can turn the form around
now she’s 5lb better off. She finished strongly
in Wales so the Cheltenham hill should be
ideal. The Joseph O’Brien runner will be
no pushover though and he’s got more to
offer. Scriptwriter was impressive when
scoring here in November and is fit from
a win on the all-weather. This is tougher
opposition but we know the track suits and
he won’t be far away. Jupiter Du Gite tanked home by 15
lengths in modest company at Newbury and deserves
a crack at this even though he’ll have to raise his game.

11.40

Sunracing
STAGE STAR (11-7) 1-9 fav led, shaken
up and went clear 2 out, ran on well,
bt Mortlach (11-7) 11l (2 ran) (Plumpton
21/2m nov ch (3) £10,075 soft).
FERN HILL (11-9) 11-1 chased leader who
went clear, ridden, faded, 9th of 14 (btn
25l) to Remastered (12-1) (Kempton 3m
hcap ch (2) £26,015 soft).
UNEXPECTED PARTY (11-4) 8-13 fav
handy, ridden 2 out, btn 12l by Loughderg Rocco (11-4) (6 ran) (Leicester
21/2m nov ch (3) £7,407 good).
DATSALRIGHTGINO (11-10) 10-3, plugged on one pace, 4th of 8 (btn 16l) to
Haddex Des Obeaux (11-2) (Doncaster
2m nov hcap ch (3) £6,535 good).
LLANDINABO LAD (11-6) 5-2 fav tracked
leaders, ridden and outpaced 3 out,
rallied 2 out, stayed on, btn 51/2l by In
Excelsis Deo (10-10) (6 ran) (Hereford
2m nov hcap ch (3) £7,352 soft).
ANY NEWS (11-9) 11-1 rear, brief headway
4 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 10 (btn

TEMPLEGATE

STAGE STAR was high class o
all good signs as a chaser. H
before a moderate effort in a
he bounced back
month and can
over a trip that
done much wr
went close in g
latest despite a
drop in distanc
Fire Dancer came
when an all-out win
He’s up a fair 6lb for that and
coming too soon. Fern Hill d
won well at Uttoxeter before
this test. Consistent Unexpec
and has a tongue tie on for t

12.10
12.40

GLENFARCLAS CROS
CHASE (2); £18,210
1

6613-1 DELTA W

2

FPB3-P MINELLA

G Elliott (Ire) 10-12-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 29 Wins: 11 (4S,4G)
Class act, won here in March, lo

H Bromhead (Ire) 10-12-0
Runs: 24 Wins: 4 (3S,GS)
2021 National hero, likely to do w

3

517-33 ROI MAGE

4

312000 FRANCKY

5

1P-P87 SNOW LE

6

FP-635 FOXY JAC

7

6/314- DIESEL D

8

337-6P PLAN OF

9

5P-923 BACK ON

10

05948- MORTAL

11

24-362 SINGING

12

2P-65P DEISE AB

13

PPP-00 EASYSLA

14

11-333 LEGENDS

15

45-611 CREALION

P Griffin (Ire) 11-11-3 . . . .
Runs: 48 Wins: 9 (3S,GS)
Lots to like about his comeback

P Bowen 10-10-10  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 42 Wins: 9 (2S,7G)
Bold jumper, this test could suit

C Longsdon 11-10-8  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 23 Wins: 9 (3S,2GS,
Stout stayer, won the Becher las

M Morris (Ire) 9-10-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 34 Wins: 3 (S,G)
Useful, jumping can be erratic b

R Bandey 10-10-8  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 26 Wins: 6 (4S,2GS)
Strong traveller, not seen since r

SOFT (7.30AM INSPECTION) 12.10

TIMEFORM NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE (2)
winner £15,609; 2m 5f
(11 runners)

BIG-RACETRENDS

1

PP-121 STAGE STAR 26

2

52-219 FERN HILL 32

M Keighley 9-10-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 23 Wins: 8 (S,GS,6G
Strong stayer, decent form here

3

1P-232 UNEXPECTED PARTY 31 (TH;BF)

G Elliott (Ire) 11-10-4  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 31 Wins: 3 (S,G)
Promising earlier in his career, b

4

4-2134 DATSALRIGHTGINO 30

5

4P-422 LLANDINABO LAD 38 (BF)

P Hobbs 10-10-3  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 21 Wins: 5 (3S,2GS)
Quirky but talented, seems to sa

6

2343-8 ANY NEWS 33

Jonjo O’Neill 9-10-2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 23 Wins: 8 (4S,GS,G
Lost his way of late, but shaped b

7

212/13 MALINELLO 28 (T)

8

1-2713 PANIC ATTACK 33 (B,T)

Year Going Ran
2022 Good 10
2020 Soft 10
2019 G/Soft 11
2018 Heavy 14
2017 Soft 13
2016 Heavy 9
2015 Soft 10
2014 Heavy 10
2013 Heavy 16
2012 G/Soft 10
2011 G/Soft 10
2010 Soft 12

Winner
Age
TORN AND FRAYED 8
CEPAGE
8
SIRUH DU LAC
6
FRODON
6
FOXTAIL HILL
8
ANNACOTTY
8
ANNACOTTY
7
WISHFULL THINKING 11
KATENKO
7
THE GIANT BOLSTER 7
WISHFULL THINKING 8
THE SAWYER
10

FUGITIF can take the
spoils in the Paddy
Power Premier Chase.

Finishing in the first four
last time out has been an
important factor in winning this hot handicap.
Some 17 of the past 25
winners could tick that
particular box.
That cuts out Brave Seasca, Allmankind, Coole Cody,
Caribean Boy, Simply The
Betts, Spiritofthegames, Your
Darling and One True King.
Looking at the official ratings, Now Where Or
When, Precious Eleanor and
Guy are on the low side to
be winning this.
It’s not essential to be a
distance winner but a victory over the 2m4f is a definite plus. That’s where we

Jockey
Trainer
Tw-Davies, S Tw-Davies, N
Deutsch, C Williams, V
Kelly, L (3)
Williams, N
Frost, B (5) Nicholls, P F
Bargary, J (3) Tw-Davies, N
Popham, I
King, A
Sheehan, G Keighley, M
Johnson, R Hobbs, P J
Coleman, A Williams, V
Scudamore, T Bridgwater, D
Johnson, R Hobbs, P J
Sweeney, N (10) Buckler, R H

SP Wt OR Days
5/1 10-10 131 30
8/1 11-12 154 24
6/1 10-6 134 50
13/2 11-7 154 35
12/1 10-0 133 14
13/2 11-9 151 49
5/1 11-8 144 56
9/1 11-12 156 49
4/1 10-13 147 21
7/2 10-3 145 45
9/2 11-3 148 50
11/2 10-0 134 7

1.50 Cheltenham
Prem Hcap Chase
part company with Il Ridoto
who is talented but has yet to
score at the important twomile mark.
It’s unusual to win this
without having run at least
once over fences at Cheltenham before.
Phoenix Way, Karl Phillipe,
Silver Hallmark and Nocte Volatus come up short on that
score.
That leaves just one runner standing – FUGITIF.
The
Richard
Hobson
hopeful has track experience, carries the right sort
of weight and won last time
out, which has been a good
pointer to success.

P Nicholls 7-12-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Cobden 98
Runs: 11 Wins: 6 (3S,2GS,G)
Places: 2
£86,399
Top prospect, won a Grade 1 last season as a novice hurdler, lots to like
B Case 8-11-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Quinlan 92
Runs: 12 Wins: 3 (3S)
Places: 4
£35,137
Down the field at Kempton, but form prior was solid, one to consider
D Skelton 8-11-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Skelton l99
Runs: 10 Wins: 2 (S,GS)
Places: 4
£46,776
Handicap debut, sent off at single figures for last year’s Coral Cup, fancied
J Snowden 7-11-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gavin Sheehan 97
Runs: 13 Wins: 3 (3G)
Places: 4
£33,549
Consistent, found 2m too sharp recently, crying out for this sort of trip, go well
T Symonds 8-11-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Noonan 89
Runs: 15 Wins: 2 (2S)
Places: 6
£42,742
Disappointing at Hereford, but new trip could help, check the market
N Mulholland 8-11-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richie McLernon 84
Runs: 12 Wins: 2 (S,F)
Places: 2
£23,783
Poor at Wetherby, but should strip fitter for that reappearance, do better
B Pauling 8-11-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Luca Morgan 90
Runs: 7 Wins: 2 (S,GS)
Places: 3
£19,224
Lightly raced, but has a bit to find on his Newbury third, up against it
D Pipe 7-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Scudamore 83
Runs: 16 Wins: 5 (3S,2G)
Places: 5
£73,252
Course winner, outpaced at Kempton last time, others preferred

9

2362-3 IAMASTAR 71 (PH,TH)

10

35-12F DALAMOI 32 (BF,D)

P Hobbs 5-11-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr David Maxwell (3) 78
Runs: 9
Places: 4
£70,940
Underwhelming at Kempton, set a tough task here, one for another day
T Vaughan 6-11-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan Johns 85
Runs: 9 Wins: 2 (S,GS)
Places: 4
£16,721
Taken well to chasing, but faces another step up the ladder, best watched

11

3932/1 FIRE DANCER 22

V Williams 7-10-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie Deutsch 96
Runs: 7 Wins: 2 (S,GS)
Places: 1
£44,299
Ex-French, scraped home at Ludlow on stable debut, should go well

BETTING: 10-3 Stage Star, 5 Fire Dancer, 13-2 Unexpected Party, 8
Malinello, Dalamoi, Datsalrightgino, Panic Attack, 12 Iamastar
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 3-PU 3 2 abd 5-PU
2022: Imperial Alcazar 8-11-12, Paddy Brennan 9-1 (F O’Brien), 8 ran.

H Bromhead (Ire) 10-10-6
Runs: 29 Wins: 5 (S,2G)
Taken well to this test, jumping i

B Walsh 13-10-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 50 Wins: 5 (2F,S)
Hard as nails, gave Delta Work a

J Snowden 8-10-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 21 Wins: 5 (3S,GS,G
Tough mare, very reliable but sh

T George 7-10-2  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runs: 22 Wins: 5 (2S,GS)
Speedy type, not sure if he has t

BETTING: 4 Delta Work, 11-2 Min
Diesel D’Allier, 8 Roi Mage, 10 Back
Attack, 14 Snow Leopardess, 16 Morta
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED:
2022: No corresponding race.

Sunracing

DELTA WORK (11-9) 4-6 fav pushed
along 3 out, ridden and led narrowly
final 100 yards, stayed on well, all R
out, bt SINGING BANJO (11-2) 40-1
led 18th, mistake 6 out, joined 3 out,
headed next, led again last, headed
final 100 yards, rallied, just failed, sh hd F
FOXY JACKS (10-11) 14-1 held up rear,
ridden in 11th 3 out, stayed on, 3rd (btn
6l) (17 ran) (Punchestown 3m 1f crs
S
cntry ch €10,501 yielding).
MINELLA TIMES pulled up latest, earlier
(11-0) 5-2 tracked leader in 2nd, ridden

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

20, 1.50, 2.25, 3.00 & 3.35

g FORM
29l) to The Paddy Pie (10-2) (Wetherby
2m 3f hcap ch (3) £6,045 good to soft).
MALINELLO (11-0) 10-3 stayed on, 3rd
of 7 (btn 63/4l) to Tea For Free (10-13)
(Newbury 23/4m (3) £7,407 soft).
PANIC ATTACK (11-0) 17-2 tracked
leaders, plugged on, 3rd of 10 (btn 10l)
to Balco Coastal (11-3) (Kempton 21/2m
nov Limited hcap ch (3) £13,615 soft).
IAMASTAR (10-10) 14-1 chased leaders,
outpaced 3 out, 3rd of 4 (btn 41l) to
Thunder Rock (11-10) (Ascot 2m 3f nov
hcap ch (3) £9,258 good to soft).
DALAMOI fell latest, earlier (12-0) 11-10
fav tracked leaders, ridden 4 out,
stayed on well, btn 1/2l by Enzo D’Airy
(11-6) (8 ran) (Chepstow 2m 3f hcap ch
(3) £6,535 good to soft).
FIRE DANCER (11-8) 9-4 made all, clear 2
out going well, eased down from last,
just held on close home, bt Striking
Out (10-13) hd (7 ran) (Ludlow 2 1/ 2m
nov hcap ch (4) £6,073 good to soft).

E’S VERDICT

over hurdles and is showing
He won on debut at Warwick
Newbury Grade 2. However
k at Plumpton earlier this
take another step forward
should suit. Malinello hasn’t
rong in his two chases and
good company at Newbury
a late mistake. This slight
ce can help him get home.
back from three years off
at Ludlow three weeks ago.
d will be a threat if this isn’t
didn’t fire at Kempton but
e that and should appreciate
cted Party won’t be far away
the first time to help him.

SS COUNTRY HANDICAP
0; 3m 6f
(15 runners)

WORK 69 (T;CD)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr Rob James (7) l99
Places: 8
£714,626
ot of weight but ace claiming amateur up

A TIMES 31 (T)

0  . . . . . . . . . . .  Jonjo O’Neill Jr 98
Places: 6
£489,679
well in these races, leading contender

E 27 (T)

. . . . . . . . . . Mr Patrick Mullins 92
Places: 16
£798,792
k at Tramore latest, one to watch closely

Y DU BERLAIS 32 (T)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Bowen 81
Places: 13
£162,803
but he does lack experience, bit to find

EOPARDESS 21

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Aidan Coleman 95
,3G)
Places: 4
£227,846
st season, stays well but has a bit to prove

CKS 32 (P)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shane Fenelon (7) 91
Places: 7
£105,871
but does have an engine, each-way shot

D’ALLIER 318 (T;CD)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Bannister 97
)
Places: 6
£113,799
running well here in March, dangerous

ATTACK 31 (B)

6  . . . . . . . . . Darragh O’Keeffe 95
Places: 9
£78,020
is improving and big run expected

N THE LASH 76 (CD)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Bowen 90
G)
Places: 4
£82,660
e and can go well off a nice racing weight

356 (P,T)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Sam Ewing 85
Places: 3
£71,823
but regressive these days, easily dismissed

BANJO 69 (P)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Mr B J Walsh (7) 95
Places: 14
£44,328
a real scare at Punchestown, respected

BA 29 (P)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom O’Brien 87
)
Places: 3
£88,695
ave his best for Sandown, interesting

AND 27 (P;CD)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richie McLernon 90
G)
Places: 1
£177,978
better here latest, chance on his best form

S RYDE 50 (T,VH)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gavin Sheehan 89
G)
Places: 6
£55,118
he does take a big step up in class

N 68 (P,T)

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie Deutsch 83
Places: 2
£88,906
the stamina for this test, bit to find

nella Times, 13-2 Singing Banjo, 7
On The Lash, Foxy Jacks, Plan Of
al, 20 Deise Aba, 25 Easysland
1 5 4 1

g FORM

3 out, 3rd of 5 (btn 25l) to Melon (11-8)
(Cork 3m ch Grd 3 (1) €18,000 heavy).
ROI MAGE (11-3) 50-1 led 2nd, not fluent
at 5th, headed 2 out, faded, 3rd of 5
(btn 16l) to Minella Indo (11-0) (Tramore
23/4m ch Grd 3 €19,501 heavy).
FRANCKY DU BERLAIS (11-5) 80-1 rear
mid-division, pushed along 10th, 10th
of 12 (btn 39l) to Fugitif (10-7) (Chepstow 2m 3f hcap ch (2) £18,210 soft).
SNOW LEOPARDESS (11-13) 8-1 chased
leaders until lost place and 9th, brief
rally out wide when hit 3 out, never

dangerous after, 7th of 18 (btn 12l) to
Wishing And Hoping (11-7) (Sandown
3m hcap ch (2) £51,440 soft).
FOXY JACKS (10-7) 28-1 prominent, 2nd
halfway and led 10th, slight mistake
and headed 3 out, ridden and headed
straight, hampered early run-in, kept
on one pace, 5th of 28 (btn 21/4l) to
Real Steel (10-8) (Leopardstown 3m
hcap ch €112,000 yielding).
DELTA WORK (11-4) 5-2 fav went 2nd 2
out, ridden, challenged last, stayed
on, led finish, bt Tiger Roll (11-4) 3/4l
PLAN OF ATTACK (11-4) 25-1 rear,
headway when pecked 19th, went 3rd
3 out, outpaced 2 out, 3rd (btn 22l)
DIESEL D’ALLIER (11-4) 12-1 in touch,
ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th (btn
30l) BACK ON THE LASH (11-4) 22-1
prominent and led a few times, lost
place and mistake 24th, pulled up next
EASYSLAND (11-4) 17-2 made most
until 24th, behind when pulled up
before 28th (16 ran) (Cheltenham 33/4m
crs cntry ch (2) £39,022 heavy).
PLAN OF ATTACK pulled up latest,
earlier (11-0) 22-1 challenging when
jumped big 2 out, ridden, 6th of 12 (btn
11l) to Clifton Warrior (11-7) (Clonmel
2m hcap hdle €12,600 soft to heavy).

BACK ON THE LASH (10-13) 9-2 led
until 3 out, rallied, one pace, 3rd of
11 (btn 33/4l) to Does He Know (12-0)
(Cheltenham 3m 3f (1) £42,712 good).
FOXY JACKS (10-3) 33-1 rear, kept on
one pace, btn 11/4l by Birchdale (9-7)
MORTAL (10-0) 18-1 faded, 8th (well
btn) MINELLA TIMES (11-12) 25-1 rear,
detached 7th, effort 4 out, never a factor,
pulled up last (17 ran) (Leopardstown
2m 5f hcap ch Grd 3 €75,000 yielding).
DEISE ABA pulled up latest, earlier (120) 11-2 chased leaders, ridden 3 out,
weakened last, 5th of 11 (btn 16l) to
Quick Wave (11-12) (Sandown 3m 5f
hcap ch (2) £31,218 good to soft).
EASYSLAND (11-6) 40-1 chased leaders,
ridden 3 out, lost place 2 out, 10th of 11
(btn 27l) to Rapper (11-6) (Cheltenham
31/4m hcap ch (2) £13,008 soft).
LEGENDS RYDE (12-0) 7-1 mid-division,
held 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 10 (btn 53/4l)
to Dame du Soir (10-0) (Cheltenham
2m 5f mrs hcap ch (3) £10,892 good).
CREALION (11-3) 12-1 made all, challenged 3 out, pushed along 2 out,
ridden last, ran on strongly run-in, bt
Kapking (11-4) 5l (13 ran) (Fontainebleau 23/4m hcap ch £21,176 soft).

TEMPLEGATE’S VERDICT
DELTA WORK can show his class with Rob James’ 7lb
claim taking off valuable weight. He’s an amateur in
name only and Gordon Elliott’s star won the Festival
Cross-Country just ahead of the great Tiger Roll. He was
then a good third in the Grand National and returned
with a solid win at Punchestown. He’s different gravy
to these rivals and can give the weight away.
Minella Times’ formline looks like a bad hand
at Scrabble but he won the 2021 Grand
National so will have no issue with this
stamina test. It would be no surprise to see
him return to form on this quirky track.
Defending champion Back On The Lash goes
from a 1lb lower mark and shaped well on the
conventional track here in November. He looks
solid each-way. Singing Banjo pushed Delta Work all the
way at Punchestown and is almost two stone better off
at the weights today. That can bring them close together
again. Snow Leopardess has a fine record over the Grand
National fences at Aintree so should be suited to this
and is another for the shortlist.

12.40
1.20

ALBERT BARTLETT CLARENCE HOUSE CHASE
(GRADE 1); winner £52,280; 2m (6 runners)
1

156-11 AMARILLO SKY 63 (T;CD)

J Tizzard 7-11-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brendan Powell 84
Runs: 17 Wins: 7 (S,GS,4G)
Places: 1
£86,617
Improving hcapper, but this is a huge step up in graded, outclassed

2

14P-31 EDITEUR DU GITE 32 (CD)

G Moore 9-11-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Niall Houlihan 93
Runs: 17 Wins: 6 (S,2GS,2G)
Places: 4
£190,562
Huge career best when hacking up at Kempton, jumps well, respected

3

112-1U EDWARDSTONE 32 (BF,CD)

A King 9-11-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Cannon 98
Runs: 22 Wins: 9 (2S,6GS,G)
Places: 6
£398,893
Classy, bolted up in the Tingle Creek but unseated at Kempton, can bounce back

4

1211-1 ENERGUMENE 48 (CD)

W Mullins (Ire) 9-11-10  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Paul Townend l99
Runs: 13 Wins: 11 (5S,G)
Places: 1
£648,521
Reigning champ, looked as good as ever in the Hilly Way at Cork, sets the standard

5

PADDY POWER CHELTENHAM PODCAST HCAP
CHASE (1) £56,270; 2m 5f
(17 runners)
1

13F-10 BRAVE SEASCA 27

2

5P7-70 ALLMANKIND 32 (D)

3

3-7P15 COOLE CODY 14 (CD)

4

0F1P-5 CARIBEAN BOY 56 (P)

5

252-79 SIMPLY THE BETTS 27 (PH;CD)

V Williams 8-12-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie Deutsch 96
Runs: 12 Wins: 5 (3S,2GS)
£60,089
Talented, ran in the Arkle last year, expect a much improved performance
D Skelton 7-11-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Sean Quinlan 80
Runs: 17 Wins: 8 (4S,GS,3G)
Places: 2
£203,389
Struggling, form has been abysmal since his Old Roan win in 2021, avoid
E Williams 12-11-7  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam Wedge 96
Runs: 42 Wins: 10 (4S,3GS,2G)
Places: 7
£351,524
Poor here last year, but then went on to win at the Festival, respected
N Henderson 9-11-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Bowen 92
Runs: 20 Wins: 4 (2S,G)
Places: 2
£96,378
Only midfield at Chepstow, but can progress from that, needs more
P Nicholls 10-11-5  . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr David Maxwell (3) 88
Runs: 22 Wins: 7 (5S,2G)
Places: 5
£158,478
Track and trip winner, but still chasing a first win for this yard, e-w claims

6

112-12 KARL PHILIPPE 33

F O’Brien 8-11-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Hogan (5) l99
Runs: 14 Wins: 6 (3S,2GS,G)
Places: 5
£47,064
Progressive, always staying on at Wetherby, one for three miles after this

7

448-21 FUGITIF 32 (T)

8

21FP-4 PHOENIX WAY 32 (T;D)

9

4P3-53 SILVER HALLMARK 32

10

383-44 IL RIDOTO 27 (PH,T)

11

5-2627 SPIRITOFTHEGAMES 27 (B)

12

F12U-2 NOCTE VOLATUS 38 (T)

13

3P4-15 YOUR DARLING 32 (BF,D)

14

1-0185 ONE TRUE KING 59 (P;D)

15

3P32-1 NOW WHERE OR WHEN 85 (P,T)

16

211-43 PRECIOUS ELEANOR 21 (CD)

R Hobson 8-11-3  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gavin Sheehan 98
Runs: 16 Wins: 4 (3S,GS)
Places: 3
£55,447
Impressive at Chepstow, shoulders 10lb more now, leading contender
H Fry 10-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Brogan 93
Runs: 14 Wins: 5 (2S,2GS)
Places: 2
£96,263
Lightly raced for his age, shaped well on return at Chepstow, dangerous
F O’Brien 9-11-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Jonjo O’Neill Jr 90
Runs: 10 Wins: 2 (2S)
Places: 3
£30,535
Grade 2 winner, showed more at Chepstow, but others have stronger claims
P Nicholls 6-10-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Cobden 97
Runs: 14 Wins: 3 (GS)
Places: 2
£72,689
Classy, fourth in two of these here already this season, go well again
D Skelton 11-10-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Skelton 89
Runs: 37 Wins: 5 (S,GS,2G)
Places: 14
£215,891
Third last year, returns now off 1lb lower, should show up well again
T Lacey 8-10-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stan Sheppard 90
Runs: 17 Wins: 3 (2S,G)
Places: 3
£30,518
Steady improver, should come on a bundle for promising return, go close
B Pauling 8-10-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Cannon 95
Runs: 12 Wins: 4 (S,GS,2G)
Places: 2
£34,278
Shaped like a non stayer over 3m at Kempton, drop in trip should help
N Twiston-Davies 8-10-4 . . . . . . .  Mr James Turner (7) 81
Runs: 27 Wins: 7 (2S,3GS,G)
Places: 5
£63,852
Solid handicapper, yard won this last year, but others appeal more
S Crawford (Ire) 8-10-4  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J J Slevin 93
Runs: 16 Wins: 3 (S)
Places: 8
£40,074
Better at Down Royal, but that was over the minimum trip, interesting

12P-64 FUNAMBULE SIVOLA 32 (D)

H Daly 8-10-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom O’Brien 86
Runs: 22 Wins: 3 (GS,2G)
Places: 13
£64,843
Course winner, but mare has a bit to find on her Sandown run, dismiss

0-1295 SIZING POTTSIE 32 (T;D)

N Twiston-Davies 8-10-2 . . . . . . . . . . . Jordan Nailor (3) 81
Runs: 16 Wins: 1 (G)
Places: 9
£53,814
Consistent, but rarely strikes gold, will be plugging but lacks a bit of class

V Williams 8-11-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie Deutsch 90
Runs: 21 Wins: 6 (2S,2GS,2G)
Places: 6
£229,789
Runner-up in the Champion Chase, but yet to click this season, best watched

6

1.50

D Pipe 9-11-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Scudamore 85
Runs: 25 Wins: 6 (4S,GS)
Places: 5
£120,365
Mudlark, but peak form still leaves him with plenty to find

BETTING: 8-15 Energumene, 2 Edwardstone, 10 Editeur Du Gite, 50
Funambule Sivola, Amarillo Sky, 100 Sizing Pottsie
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 1 1 1-2 2 1
2022: Shishkin 8-11-7, Nico De Boinville 5-6 Fav (N Henderson), 4 ran.

Sunracing FORM
earlier (11-10) 5-1 rear, always going
AMARILLO SKY (11-13) 11-8 fav led going
well, hit 8th, pecked, smooth headway
well 4 out, ridden clear last, stayed on,
tracking leaders 4 out, went 2nd 3 out,
bt Only Money (10-6) 14l (6 ran) (Newstayed on to lead next, soon clear,
bury 2m hcap ch (2) £20,812 good).
impressive, bt Greaneteen (11-10) 9l
EDITEUR DU GITE (11-2) 28-1 made all
FUNAMBULE SIVOLA (11-10) 18-1
set strong pace and soon clear, stayed
chased leaders, pushed along 3 out,
on strongly, unchallenged, bt Nube
carried left 3 out, soon outpaced and
Negra (11-8) 13l FUNAMBULE SIVOLA
beaten, last (btn 23l) (6 ran) (Sandown
(11-8) 22-1 plugged on, 4th (btn 36l)
1m 7f ch Grd 1 (1) £99,662 good to soft).
SIZING POTTSIE (11-8) 66-1 tailed off,
5th (btn 40l) EDWARDSTONE (11-8) ENERGUMENE (12-0) 1-9 fav made all,
not fluent 6th, clear 7th, not fluent 2
2-5 fav dropped to rear when blunout, easily, not extended, bt Epson Du
dered and unseated rider 5th, (7 ran)
Houx (11-4) 15l (4 ran) (Cork 2m 1f ch
(Kempton 2m ch Grd 2 £56,950 soft).
EDWARDSTONE unseated rider latest,
Grd 2 €60,000 yielding to soft).

TEMPLEGATE’S VERDICT
ENERGUMENE was superb when winning the Champion
Chase on the Old Course at the Festival and can strike
again. He followed his Queen Mother success with an
equally easy victory at Punchestown in April. He didn’t
see a rival when skipping around Cork to land a Grade 2
on
comeback last month. His only defeat came to
a still-firing Shishkin in this race 12 months
ago but that was Ascot and this track suits
much better. Edwardstone won the Arkle
but took his form to a new level when
stunning a strong field to win the Tingle
Creek at Sandown. He then suffered a rare
blip when unseating in the Desert Orchid
at Kempton’s Christmas meeting. He usually
jumps brilliantly and will give Willie Mullins’
raider lots to think about. Editeur Du Gite is clear best of
the rest. He took that Desert Orchid when Alan King’s
star ditched Tom Cannon and has run well at Cheltenham
before. Funambule Sivola was second in the Champion
Chase but hasn’t come close to that form since.

1.20

THIS WAY FOR REST OF CHELTENHAM

17

222-23 GUY 39 (P)

BETTING: 5 Fugitif, 11-2 Il Ridoto, 8 Your Darling, 10 Now Where Or
When, Brave Seasca, Karl Philippe, 12 Phoenix Way, Nocte Volatus, 14
Guy, Caribean Boy, Silver Hallmark, 16 Coole Cody, Precious Eleanor
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 4 2 UR abd 1-7
2022: Torn And Frayed 8-10-10, S Twiston-D 5-1 JtFav (N Twiston-D), 10 ran.

Sunracing FORM
IL RIDOTO (10-12) 8-1 handy, lost place
3 out, switched and closed 2 out, one
pace, 4th of 16 (btn 8l) to Midnight
River (11-4) SIMPLY THE BETTS (11-5)
14-1 chased leaders, well held from 8th,
9th (btn 21l) BRAVE SEASCA (12-0)
17-2 rear, mistake 13th, well beaten 3
out, 11th (btn 22l) (16 ran) (Cheltenham
2m 5f hcap ch (1) £56,950 soft).
FUGITIF (10-7) 6-1 smooth headway into
3rd 5 out, led 4 out, forged clear 2 out,
stayed on strongly, easily, bt Golden
Whisky (10-2) 5l SILVER HALLMARK
(11-1) 9-1 handy, pressed leader 11th,
ridden 5 out, kept on, 3rd (btn 7 1/4l)
PHOENIX WAY (11-4) 14-1 rear, headway 5 out, ridden 3 out, kept on, 4th
(btn 12l) ALLMANKIND (12-0) 33-1 rear,
no show, 11th (btn 40l) (12 ran) (Chepstow 2m 3f hcap ch (2) £18,210 soft).
COOLE CODY (11-8) 16-1 chased winner,
lost place 7th, weakened 12th, tailed
off, 5th of 6 (btn 41l) to Pic D’Orhy (11-8)
(Kempton 21/2m ch Grd 2 £45,560 soft).
CARIBEAN BOY (11-4) 17-2 handy, ridden
and held from 4 out, weakened, 5th of
10 (btn 21l) to Farinet (10-0) (Chepstow
3m hcap ch (2) £13,008 good to soft).
KARL PHILIPPE (11-10) 5-2 ridden 3 out,
stayed on well, btn 21/4l by The Paddy
Pie (10-2) (10 ran) (Wetherby 2m 3f
hcap ch (3) £6,045 good to soft).

SPIRITOFTHEGAMES (11-6) 7-1 held
up mid-division, well in touch when
mistake 4 out, shaken up 3 out, soon
ridden and one pace, 7th of 11 (btn 15l)
to Rapper (11-6) (Cheltenham 3 1/ 4m
hcap ch (2) £13,008 soft).
NOCTE VOLATUS (11-6) 4-1 led 3rd,
headed 7th, led again 2 out, not fluent
next, driven, no extra, btn 2 3/ 4l by
Equus Dancer (11-2) (7 ran) (Hereford
2m 5f hcap ch (3) £7,352 soft).
YOUR DARLING (11-2) 10-3 fav middivision, outpaced 4 out, rallied next,
stayed on one pace, held, 5th of 14
(btn 91/4l) to Remastered (12-1) (Kempton 3m hcap ch (2) £26,015 soft).
ONE TRUE KING (12-1) 17-2 pushed
along and weakened from 5 out, 5th
of 7 (btn 46l) to Laskalin (11-7) (Ludlow
31/4m hcap ch (3) £10,130 good to soft).
NOW WHERE OR WHEN (11-5) 4-1 made
all, ridden run-in, all out, bt The Greek
(11-2) 1/2l (10 ran) (Down Royal 2m hcap
ch €9,600 yielding to soft).
PRECIOUS ELEANOR (12-0) 9-1 every
chance 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 8 (btn
21l) to Certainly Red (11-11) (Sandown
21/2m hcap ch (3) £8,325 soft).
GUY (11-4) 7-1 held up rear, chased
winner 2 out, held, 3rd of 9 (btn 53/4l)
to Bobhopeornohope (12-0) (Ludlow
3m hcap ch (3) £10,674 good to soft).

TEMPLEGATE’S VERDICT
NOCTE VOLATUS is capable of winning this and showed
plenty when second on comeback at Hereford last
month. He sees out this trip well and won’t mind
some give in the ground. Brave Seasca was too
bad to be true here last time after winning at
Aintree. He stays strongly and can finish a
lot closer. Il Ridoto has ability and has gone
close in hot handicaps here on his past two
runs. A drop to 2m would help as he doesn’t
seem to quite stay this far but he’s a threat.
Fugitif had lots in hand clocking a big personal
best at Chepstow. He’s up 10lb for that but should have
more improvement in him. Keep an eye on old boy
Coole Cody with the Festival in mind.

1.50

7

8 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Favourite FIRST PAST THE POST FOR TIPS AND FORM
REST OF YOUR CHELTENHAM COLOURS

SEAN
From Page One

to keep himself to himself
but if he is going for a race
like this I put full faith in Emmet getting him right for the
day. Noble Yeats is very much
going the right way.”
Ain’t that the truth.
Since winning the National last April under amateur
jockey Sam Waley-Cohen,
Noble Yeats has two comfortable victories to his name.
The ease with which he
beat some classy rivals in the
Many Clouds shows he is a
genuine Gold Cup contender.
But Bowen is keen to find
out just how good he is today.
He added: “He will be
having a proper race in the
Cotswold and we will learn a
lot about him.
“To be honest he does
need to take
another step
forward
but
again I think
he is capable
of that.
“He’s won a
bumper race,
a hurdle race
and chases
over regulation fences and
also over the Grand National
fences so he has done it all.
“He is a very straightforward and doesn’t do much
until you ask him. Hopefully there is plenty left in the
locker when I need it.”
Quiet-man Mullins said: “It
was a nice performance in
the Many Clouds which was a
good race, a proper Grade 2
and he came through it well.
“He’s had a nice step between runs and seems fresh
and well and he should be
able to equip himself well.
“If he wins or be there or
thereabouts then it will be on
to the big one.
“Sean has been great on
him since taking over in the
saddle. The horse has been
working well and is spot-on.”

3.00

2.25

PADDY POWER COTSWOLD CHASE (GRD 2);
winner £67,524; 3m 1f
(6 runners)
1

70-133 FRODON 33 (T;CD)

2

91-P11 NOBLE YEATS 56 (D)

2

2134-1 PROTEKTORAT 70 (T;C,D)

3

21-535 AHOY SENOR 33 (D)

4

1151-6 DUSART 50 (BF)

5

12-142 SOUNDS RUSSIAN 33

6

7

8

31-217 BOTOX HAS 27 (C,D)

2

135-21 PAISLEY PARK 33 (T;CD)

G Moore 7-11-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Moore 89
Runs: 17 Wins: 5 (2S,GS,2G)
Places: 5
£196,401
Always outpaced when tailed off here in the Relkeel Hurdle, ignore

E Lavelle 11-11-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aidan Coleman l99
Runs: 25 Wins: 11 (5S,3GS,3G) Places: 9
£670,890
Three-time winner, looked as good as ever at Kempton, one to beat

11-11F GELINO BELLO 33

P Nicholls 7-11-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harry Cobden 96
Runs: 11 Wins: 6 (2S,3GS,G)
Places: 4
£121,069
Won the Sefton at Aintree last season, not clicked over fences, do better

4

2P-122 DASHEL DRASHER 27 (C)

5

33-312 GOLD TWEET 28 (T)

6

-53129 LORD ACCORD 63 (P,T)

7

1P8-13 MOLLY OLLYS WISHES 68 (D)

J Scott 10-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rex Dingle 97
Runs: 24 Wins: 11 (7S,3GS,G)
Places: 6
£279,669
Tough, ran well here in the Relkeel Hurdle latest, won’t be far away

G Leenders (Fr) 6-11-2. . . . . . . . . . Johnny Charron 85
Runs: 17 Wins: 6 (5S)
Places: 4
£239,414
Fair form in France, not sure if he has the stamina for 3m, best watched
N Mulholland 8-11-2. . . . . . . . . . . Richie McLernon 81
Runs: 18 Wins: 6 (2GS,4G)
Places: 3
£88,762
Improved over fences, not sure how good he is over timber, ignore
D Skelton 9-11-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Skelton 87
Runs: 21 Wins: 7 (5S,2GS)
Places: 4
£106,581
Tough mare, put in her place last time, find a few of these too classy

BETTING: 11-10 Paisley Park, 10-3 Gelino Bello, 7-2 Dashel Drasher,
10 Botox Has, Molly Ollys Wishes, 33 Gold Tweet, 66 Lord Accord
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: PU 1 1 abd 2
2022: Paisley Park 10-11-6, Aidan Coleman 5-1 (E Lavelle), 5 ran.

Sunracing FORM
ahead 3 out, stayed on well, easily, bt
DASHEL DRASHER (11-0) 8-1 led,
City Chief (11-4) 29l (2 ran) (Exeter 3m
ridden 2 out, headed run-in, outpaced
nov ch (2) £13,615 good to soft).
by winner, kept on, btn 6l by Marie’s
Rock (10-13) BOTOX HAS (11-6) 7-1 GOLD TWEET (11-2) 6-4 fav headway
to lead at the last, headed soon after,
pressed leader until 7th, faded quickly
rallied and kept on but always held,
3 out, 7th (btn 28l) (9 ran) (Cheltbtn 1 1/4l by Rosario Baron (10-7) (9
enham 21/2m hdle Grd 2 £39,865 soft).
ran) (Pau 2m 1f hdle £12,101 heavy).
PAISLEY PARK (11-7) 9-2 behind,
LORD
ACCORD (10-4) 10-1 ridden 4
ridden closer 3 out, pushed along,
out, 9th of 15 (btn 26l) to Le Milos (11outpaced, rallied next, ran on, led
0) (Newbury 31/4m (1) £142,375 good).
last, stayed on strongly run-in, bt
Goshen (11-7) 41/4l (5 ran) (Kempton MOLLY OLLYS WISHES (11-6) 9-4 led
and clear, quickened 3 out, headed
3m hdle Grd 1 (1) £45,560 soft).
next where mistake, held, last of 3
GELINO BELLO fell latest, earlier (11-9)
(btn 12l) to Miranda (11-0) (Kempton
4-9 fav made all, jumped right, joined
10th, led again 11th, went five lengths
3m Listed hdle (1) £14,238 soft).

TEMPLEGATE
PAISLEY PARK turned
back the clock with a
brilliant Long Walk Hurdle
win at Kempton last time.
He ran his rivals into
the ground despite that
speed track not playing
to his strengths. He has
won this race three times
already and has seen off
stronger opposition than
this. He looks a banker
for today’s accumulators.
Dashel
Drasher
was
second in the Grade 2
Relkeel Hurdle here on
New Year’s Day. He’s an
honest performer who
likes the track so
can go close
again. Gelino
Bello goes
back
over
hurdles
after
an
unlucky fall
at
Kempton.
He won the Grade
1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle
in style at Aintree last
March and Paul Nicholls
will be hoping this is
a confidence booster.
A decent effort could
see him jump into the
Stayers’ Hurdle picture.
The others have a fair
gap to bridge with Botox
Has returning here after a
poor effort in the Relkeel.
Molly Ollys Wishes may
finish closer if repeating
the form she showed
when winning a Listed
contest at Wetherby. That
was over two miles but
she has lots of staying
power and could pick up
the pieces for a place.

3.00

F1-711 PEMBROKE 39

D Skelton 6-11-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Skelton l99
Runs: 6 Wins: 3 (2S,GS)
Places: 1
£11,192
Improving fast, couldn’t have won any easier at Ludlow, more to come

(btn 41/2l) (6 ran) (Aintree 3m 1f ch
Grd 2 £45,016 good to soft).
PROTEKTORAT (11-10) 15-2 in touch,
headway 11th, led 4 out, stormed
clear, very impressive, bt Eldorado
Allen (11-10) 11l FRODON (11-10) 9-1
handy, ridden 15th, kept on one
pace, held, 3rd (19l) (5 ran) (Haydock
31/4m ch Grd 1 £112,540 soft).
DUSART (12-0) 9-4 fav handy, closed 4
out, chance 2 out, held, 6th of 8 (15l)
to Captain Morgs (10-12) (Cheltenham 3m hcap hdle (2) £11,447 good).
SOUNDS RUSSIAN (11-12) 13-2 midfield, outpaced briefly 4 out, ridden
2 out, stayed on well, btn 1/2l by Into
Overdrive (10-11) (11 ran) (Wetherby
3m hcap ch (1) £28,475 good to soft).

9

P3-12 ROCK MY WAY 27

S Hosie 5-11-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Scudamore 94
Runs: 4 Wins: 1
Places: 2
£4,860
Promising, ran a cracker when second here on hurdles debut, fancied

10

17-411 WAR SOLDIER 29

A Thomson 6-11-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ryan Mania 96
Runs: 8 Wins: 3 (S,2GS)
Places: 1
£14,103
Improving, battled well to win at Haydock latest, test of stamina will suit

11

1-2302 WAY OUT 19

S Hosie 6-11-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Cannon 78
Runs: 7 Wins: 1
Places: 3
£4,089
Looks a future chaser, solid effort at Taunton latest, best watched

12

TEMPLEGATE’S VERDICT

1

6325-P MOKA DE VASSY 28

J Williams 5-11-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Noonan 74
Runs: 5
Places: 2
£15,721
Highly tried, pulled up in the Challow at Newbury latest, hard to fancy

Sunracing FORM

2.25

3440-5 DOCTOR BROWN BEAR 33 (T)

M Brassil (Ire) 5-11-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J J Slevin 72
Runs: 7
Places: 2
£5,516
Exposed as moderate, 0-7 over hurdles, flying way too high, avoid

BETTING: 13-8 Protektorat, 2 Noble Yeats, 7 Frodon, 15-2 Ahoy
Senor, 8 Sounds Russian, 14 Dusart
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 3 2 1 2 1
2022: Chantry House 8-11-6, N De Boinville 5-6 Fav (N Henderson), 5 ran.

PROTEKTORAT was brilliant when winning the Grade 1
Betfair Chase at Haydock on comeback and can cement
his Cheltenham Gold Cup credentials here.
The Skeltons say he’s a stronger horse 12
months on from his third in the big race
last season and he’ll have no issues seeing
out this trip. Grand National winner Noble
Yeats soared to new heights when winning
the Many Clouds over the Mildmay Course
at Aintree last time. His engine makes him
a massive danger. Sounds Russian is a nice sort
and can stay on to take third ahead of the admirable
Frodon after an impressive effort at Newbury last time.

217-1 CRUZ CONTROL 33

T Lacey 6-11-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stan Sheppard 95
Runs: 4 Wins: 2 (2S)
Places: 1
£8,016
Well regarded, cruised clear on hurdling debut at Newcastle, interesting

R Jefferson 8-11-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Quinlan 92
Runs: 11 Wins: 4 (3S,GS)
Places: 5
£73,796
Progressive, stays well and ran a cracker at Wetherby latest, interesting

FRODON (11-10) 18-1 led 2nd, until
ridden and headed 3 out, kept on,
one pace 3rd of 9 (btn 18l) to Bravemansgame (11-10) AHOY SENOR
(11-10) 12-1 chased leader until 10th,
ridden 3 out, faded, 5th (btn 33l)
(Kempton 3m ch Grd 1 £142,375 soft).
NOBLE YEATS (11-8) 3-1 led until 2nd,
handy, dropped to last and pushed
along 12th, closed 15th, switched and
quickened to lead again last, stayed
on well, bt Dashel Drasher (11-4) 31/4l
AHOY SENOR (11-7) 2-1 fav jumped
right, blundered badly 1st, led and hit
2nd, not fluent 13th, headed 15th, led
4 out, headed 3 out, held, 3rd (btn
31/2l) SOUNDS RUSSIAN (11-4) 13-2
held up behind leaders, kept on, 4th

F31-21 CAN YOU CALL 28 (T;D)

E Williams 8-11-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam Wedge 92
Runs: 12 Wins: 3 (3S)
Places: 4
£24,448
Impressive win in a hcap at Uttoxeter latest, this is tougher, e-w claims

N Henderson 8-11-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Bowen 90
Runs: 7 Wins: 4 (3GS,G)
Places: 1
£58,105
Outclassed here in March, still has more to offer over fences, check betting

6

-41111 BLENKINSOP 28 (D)

H Daly 6-11-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Doubtful 97
Runs: 9 Wins: 4 (2S,GS,G)
Places: 1
£29,819
Improving through the ranks, loves a slog in mud, ruled out yesterday

L Russell 8-11-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Derek Fox 96
Runs: 14 Wins: 6 (S,4GS,G)
Places: 2
£249,244
Smart novice, but yet to click this season, this track will suit better

5

4-114 MOFASA 63 (BF,CD)

M Scudamore 7-11-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luca Morgan 88
Runs: 4 Wins: 2 (GS,G)
£16,592
Won here in Oct, flopped when beaten at 4-9 at Newcastle, jury’s out

D Skelton 8-11-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Skelton l99
Runs: 19 Wins: 6 (3S,3GS)
Places: 6
£384,132
Powerful, bolted up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, sets the standard

4

11P-21 HENRI THE SECOND 57 (TH;D)

P Nicholls 6-11-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harry Cobden 98
Runs: 5 Wins: 3 (S,GS,G)
Places: 1
£50,294
Progressive, looked a real stayer when winning at Sandown, go well

E Mullins (Ire) 8-11-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Bowen 98
Runs: 16 Wins: 6 (2S,2GS)
Places: 2
£590,562
National hero, showed plenty of gears at Aintree latest, more to come

3

BALLYMORE CLASSIC NOVICES’ HURDLE
(GRADE 2); £28,475; 2m 4f (12 runners)
1

P Nicholls 11-11-10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bryony Frost 92
Runs: 47 Wins: 19 (F,4S,4GS,9G) Places: 5
£1,129,959
Ran a cracker when third in the King George, jumps well, respected

CHAPEL STUD CLEEVE HURDLE (GRADE 2)
(1); winner £39,389; 3m
(7 runners)

3

3.35

111-22 BONTTAY 54 (BF)

F O’Brien 6-10-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paddy Brennan 90
Runs: 5 Wins: 3 (3G)
Places: 2
£30,657
Useful bumper performer, not disgraced on hurdling debut, do better

BETTING: 15-8 Pembroke, 11-4 Henri The Second, 6 Rock My Way,
10 Can You Call, 14 War Soldier, 16 Cruz Control, Mofasa, 25 Bonttay,
Doctor Brown Bear, 33 Moka De Vassy, 66 Way Out
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 4 FE 2 abd UR
2022: North Lodge 5-11-5, Adrian Heskin 7-1 (A King), 6 ran.

Sunracing FORM
HENRI THE SECOND (11-2) 7-4 fav held
up in last pair, went 2nd 2 out, led
last, stayed on strongly, bt Henry’s
Friend (11-2) 41/4l (6 ran) (Sandown
21/2m nov hdle Grd 2 £34,170 soft).
MOFASA (11-8) 4-9 fav led until 2 out,
faded, tailed off, last of 4 (btn 29l) to
Tiger Jet (11-5) (Newcastle 23/4m nov
hdle (2) £7,804 good to soft).
BLENKINSOP (10-6) 10-3 rear, headway 3 out, led run-in, ran on, bt Moulins Clermont (10-5) 43/4l (10 ran) (Newbury 21/2m hcap hdle (2) £10,406 soft).
CAN YOU CALL (11-2) 7-2 fav going
well 3 out, led 2 out, drew clear after
the last, stayed on, easily, bt Hermes
Boy (11-3) 8l (11 ran) (Uttoxeter 21/2m
hcap hdle (3) £11,110 heavy).
CRUZ CONTROL (11-4) evens fav close
up, every chance 3 out, led next, bt
Leading Force (11-4) 8l (11 ran) (Newcastle 2m 1f mdn hdle (4) £4,901 soft).
DOCTOR BROWN BEAR (10-13) 7-1
ridden 2 out, no extra last, 5th of 18
(btn 21l) to Foxy Girl (10-1) (Limerick
2m mdn hdle €7,501 soft to heavy).
MOKA DE VASSY pulled up latest,
earlier (10-12) 8-1 held up, headway

3 out, weakened, 5th of 11 (btn 21l)
to Knight Salute (11-3) (Kempton 2m
hdle Grd 2 (1) £34,170 good to soft).
PEMBROKE (11-6) 2-1 held up in touch,
closed from 5th, led and dived at 3
out, clear 2 out, easily, bt Amrons
Sage (11-0) 16l (15 ran) (Ludlow 2m
nov hdle (4) £4,929 good to soft).
ROCK MY WAY (11-7) 66-1 went 2nd 2
out, ridden, challenged run-in, held
finish, btn 11/4l by Weveallbeencaught
(11-7) (13 ran) (Cheltenham 21/2m mdn
hdle (2) £10,562 good to soft).
WAR SOLDIER (11-6) 2-1 chased
leader, hung left and challenged last,
led soon after, hung left, stayed on,
bt Matata (11-6) 3/4l (11 ran) (Haydock
2m nov hdle (3) £7,080 soft).
WAY OUT (11-5) 8-1 led until 4th, chased
winner, every chance 3 out, held last,
kept on one pace run-in, btn 6l by
Iliko D’olivate (11-5) (12 ran) (Taunton
2m 3f nov hdle (4) £4,792 soft).
BONTTAY (11-4) 10-11 fav tracked
leaders, every chance, wandered 2
out, stayed on, btn 3/4l by Jane Du
Berlais (11-4) (17 ran) (Lingfield 2m
nov hdle (4) £4,901 good to soft).

TEMPLEGATE’S VERDICT
ROCK MY WAY went off at 66-1 on his hurdle debut in
good company here last time and was mighty close to
landing the spoils in second. That was a fantastic start
against quality opposition over this trip and
any improvement can get him off the mark.
Pembroke zipped away from his rivals for
a 16-length win at Ludlow on the back of
an equally easy success at Wetherby. His
sights are raised here by the Skeltons but
he clearly has a big engine and there’s
every chance he’ll cope with it. Henri The
Second is a massive threat after a Grade 2
victory at Sandown. He’ll have no problem getting up
the hill and could give the weight away. War Soldier
knows how to battle and can go well at double-figure
odds for the in-form team of Sandy Thomson.

3.35
4.10

SSS SUPER ALLOYS HANDICAP HURDLE
(2); winner £15,609; 2m 1f (16 runners)
1

U7/3-4 JASON THE MILITANT 118 (T;BF)

2

41-U4B CAMPROND 14 (C,D)

3

1232-8 MIGHT I 70 (BF)

P Kirby 9-12-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Williamson (5) 93
Runs: 12 Wins: 3 (2S)
Places: 2
£71,223
Smart form in Ireland, but not sure how much ability he retains, bit to find
P Hobbs 7-11-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aidan Coleman 96
Runs: 16 Wins: 5 (4G)
Places: 7
£142,623
Quirky, not enjoyed chasing this season, big chance on best form
H Fry 7-11-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lorcan Murtagh (3) 97
Runs: 7 Wins: 2 (2S)
Places: 2
£37,033
Well regarded, found 3m too far at Haydock in Nov, better expected

4

2343-8 MARTATOR 56 (D)

5

414-24 NELLS SON 62 (PH)

6

4131-2 HACKER DES PLACES 91 (D)

7

17-332 BARRICHELLO 25

V Williams 6-10-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlie Deutsch 85
Runs: 14 Wins: 2
Places: 3
£189,995
Useful form in France, but showed nothing at Sandown, plenty to prove
N Richards 8-10-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Quinlan 98
Runs: 10 Wins: 4 (3S,G)
Places: 2
£53,971
Northern raider, did well over timber last season, fascinating contender
P Nicholls 6-10-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . Angus Cheleda (5) l99
Runs: 10 Wins: 4 (3S,GS)
Places: 4
£73,921
Ultra consistent, best form is in the mud and big run expected
D McCain 7-10-6 . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Kavanagh (5) 92
Runs: 16 Wins: 4 (4GS)
Places: 7
£51,684
Not a natural chase, but solid form over timber, one to watch closely

8

531U0/ FRONT VIEW 721

9

12124- TAKEIT EASY 413

10

2F5-16 PIKAR 28 (BF)

Jonjo O’Neill 8-10-6 . . . . . . . . . . . Richie McLernon 90
Runs: 12 Wins: 3 (S)
Places: 4
£36,403
Useful in Ireland, joined shrewd yard but long absence to overcome
P Sly 8-10-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan Johns 93
Runs: 14 Wins: 4 (GS,3G)
Places: 4
£30,844
Progressive when last seen in 2021, likely to be better for the run, ignore
D Skelton 6-10-3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Skelton 96
Runs: 5 Wins: 1 (GS)
Places: 1
£7,960
Unexposed, below par at Newbury, trainer rates him his best chance of the day

11

911-11 PUNCTUATION 50 (T;CD)

F O’Brien 6-10-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paddy Brennan 97
Runs: 8 Wins: 4 (3S,G)
£24,252
Winning machine, impressive win here in Dec, 8lb rise is fair, dangerous

12

13P6-4 HYSTERY BERE 63 (D)

13

1P-P FAUTINETTE 21 (HH)

T Symonds 6-10-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordan Nailor (3) 86
Runs: 13 Wins: 3 (2S)
Places: 5
£33,291
Ran well when third last year, disappointing since, best watched
V Williams 5-10-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ned Fox (7) 80
Runs: 3 Wins: 1 (S)
£9,000
Lightly raced, pulled up on both starts for this yard, hard to fancy

14

4111-7 MALAKAHNA 63 (P,T;CD)

I Williams 5-10-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlie Todd 89
Runs: 8 Wins: 4 (4G)
£41,888
Struggled at Newbury in Nov, freshened up since and more needed

15

121/23 LONG STAY 86 (T;BF,D)

16

-42445 CASTEL GANDOLFO 86 (B,T)

F O’Brien 8-10-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Hogan (5) 94
Runs: 8 Wins: 2 (GS,G)
Places: 3
£10,692
Consistent, beaten fav at Newbury, can go well off lovely racing weight
F O’Brien 6-10-2 . . . . . . . . . Mr Tom Broughton (7) 97
Runs: 18 Wins: 2 (GS,G)
Places: 8
£46,731
Takes a step up in class, but plenty to prove at this level, avoid

BETTING: 7-2 Punctuation, 4 Might I, 13-2 Hacker Des Places,
8 Pikar, 10 Nells Son, 12 Barrichello, 14 Camprond, 16 Takeit Easy,
Jason The Militant, Long Stay, 20 Martator, Front View, Fautinette
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 4 2 7 abd 1-PU
2022: Cormier 6-11-6, Jonathan Burke 9-2 JtFav (B Ellison), 12 ran.

Sunracing FORM
JASON THE MILITANT (11-3) 7-4 jt
fav tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent
behind clear leader 3rd, closer 4 out,
one pace, 4th of 5 (btn 23l) to Jesse
Evans (11-3) (Tipperary 2m hdle Grd 3
(1) €22,501 good to yielding).
CAMPROND brought down latest,
earlier (11-4) 13-2 not fluent, ridden,
never dangerous, last of 4 (btn 34l) to
Sebastopol (11-9) (Newbury 21/2m nov
ch Grd 2 (1) £28,475 good).
MIGHT I (11-9) 10-3 fav mid-division,
ridden 2 out, soon one pace and
held, 8th of 13 (btn 23l) to Botox Has
(11-4) (Haydock 3m (1) £71,188 soft).
MARTATOR (11-13) 16-1 led and went
clear from 2nd, reduced lead 3 out,
headed turning in, weakened quickly
2 out, soon tailed off, 8th of 9 (btn
42l) to Love Envoi (11-10) (Sandown
2m hcap hdle (2) £31,218 soft).
NELLS SON (11-4) 3-1 rear, went 4th
5 out, ridden 3 out, no impression,
4th of 7 (btn 13l) to Bass Rock (11-4)
(Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) £6,317 soft).
HACKER DES PLACES (11-9) 8-1
tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out,
ridden run-in, held, btn 71/2l by Highway One O Two (11-11) (10 ran) (Ascot
2m hcap hdle (2) £32,676 good).
BARRICHELLO (11-10) 9-4 chased
winner, not fluent, shaken up 3 out,
ridden, no extra, btn 16l by Notlongtillmay (10-11) (5 ran) (Musselburgh
21/2m nov hcap ch (3) £6,337 soft).
FRONT VIEW (10-13) 20-1 handy,
ridden, 12th of 22 (btn 27l) to Drop

The Anchor (10-5) (Leopardstown 2m
hcap hdle €75,635 soft to heavy).
TAKEIT EASY (10-13) 9-2 held up in 5th,
headway 3 out, every chance when
ridden, one pace, 4th of 9 (btn 51/2l) to
Tommy’s Oscar (11-12) (Doncaster 2m
1f hcap hdle (2) £9,626 good to soft).
PIKAR (10-13) 9-4 fav pushed along 3
out, plugged on, 6th of 10 (btn 16l)
to Blenkinsop (10-6) (Newbury 21/2m
hcap hdle (2) £10,406 soft).
PUNCTUATION (10-12) 9-2 headway
travelling well last, driven along to
lead after, ran on well, bt Too Friendly
(11-0) 33/4l (9 ran) (Cheltenham 2m 1f
hcap hdle (3) £11,110 good).
HYSTERY BERE (11-2) 13-2 chased
leaders, ridden 2 out, faded, 4th of 6
(btn 16l) to Filey Bay (10-10) (Doncaster 2m 1f hcap hdle (3) £6,971 good).
FAUTINETTE pulled up latest, earlier
(11-0) evens co fav led 5 out, ridden
out, easily, bt Purprod Boiz (10-7) 1l
(7 ran) (Vichy 2m hdle £9,000 heavy).
MALAKAHNA (11-0) 13-2 mid-division
out wide, lost place after 5th, pushed
along and outpaced, 7th of 9 (btn
44l) to Red Risk (11-12) (Newbury
21/2m hcap hdle (2) £21,784 good).
LONG STAY (11-0) 9-4 fav chased
leaders, outpaced 3 out, rallied 2
out, switched 2 out, every chance
last, 3rd of 7 (btn 71/2l) to Herbiers
(11-10) CASTEL GANDOLFO (11-2)
11-2 led, hit 3rd and joined, headed
3 out, ridden, 5th (btn 20l) (Newbury
2m cond hcap hdle (3) £5,609 good).

TEMPLEGATE’S VERDICT
HACKER DES PLACES never runs a bad race and looks
the answer to this red-hot handicap. He was third in
the Imperial Cup at Sandown last season before a
good win at Aintree. He returned with a decent second
at Ascot and will stay out of trouble up front. Might I
looked pretty rusty on return at Haydock and is
better judged on his second in the Grade 1
Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand
National meeting. Dropping to two miles
at Cheltenham looks wise and he has
more to come. Punctuation landed his
fourth win on the spin with lots in the tank
here last month. He is best over this trip and
an 8lb rise in the weights may not be enough
to put the brakes on. Nells Son has been chasing with
mixed results but is a Grade 2 winner over hurdles and
could be a threat back at handicap level. Pikar was well
backed before his handicap hurdle debut in a good race
at Newbury. He didn’t fire there as the 2m4f trip may
have stretched his stamina. Don’t write off the Skelton
hope who still has few miles on the clock.

4.10

Favourite

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

MORE OF TODAY’S RUNNERS

LINGFIELD ALL-WEATHER ACTION ON THE FLAT

12.33

SPREADEX SPORTS BEST PREMIER LEAGUE ODDS
HANDICAP (Class 6); £3,402; 1m.
(12 runners)

1 (3) 75226-1 LORDSBRIDGE GIRL 21 (D) W Knight 4-9-9 ............. Jamie Spencer l99
2 (1) 2954-14 MABRE 16 (CD) P Evans 6-9-9 ...................................Jordan Williams (5) 95
3 (10) 58/78-4 WAKE UP HARRY 21 (CD) S Dow 5-9-9...................................John Egan 81
4 (8) 77447-7 COME ON JOHN 21 (P;D) M Attwater 4-9-7 ...................William Carson 76
5 (11) 810968- IT’S A LOVE THING 37 J Butler 5-9-6............................ Darragh Keenan 90
6 (9) 91266-3 ALWAYS FEARLESS 21 (B;CD) R Hannon 6-9-6 .............Joe Leavy (7) 95
7 (4) 49607-0 LOST IN TIME 24 (B,HH) D Ivory 6-9-6 ..............................Robert Havlin 83
8 (5) 27313-8 BLUE COLLAR LAD 26 (CD) R Brisland 4-9-3...... Billy Loughnane (5) 98
9 (2) /2317-6 ADAAYINOURLIFE 22 (P;CD) M Usher 4-9-2 .................. David Probert 92
10 (12) 69352-6 STARRY EYES 24 (CD) B Johnson 7-9-2 ....................... Harry Burns (3) 94
11 (6) 527770/ HONOURS 444 G Deacon 5-9-2 ...............................................Rob Hornby 71
12 (7) 770009- TASKHEER 45 (H,T) D Steele 5-8-13 ....................................Joshua Bryan 70
BETTING: 3 Lordsbridge Girl, 4 Mabre, 6 Always Fearless, 7 Starry Eyes, Wake Up Harry
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 1
2022: Coase 5-9-5 Hollie Doyle 10-3 Fav (M Wigham) drawn 9, 10 ran.

1.08

TALKSPORT POWERED BY FANS HANDICAP (5); 3-y-o;
value to the winner £4,187; 7f.
(8 runners)

1 (5) 8294-83 STATES OF THUNDER 15 (P) M Botti 9-10 ........... Billy Loughnane (5) 93
2 (2)
681-5 MOLLY VALENTINE 24 (C) D Ivory 9-8 ...............................Nicola Currie 95
3 (3) 5222-1 ABBEY’S DREAM 26 (D) A Watson 9-7 .................................Luke Morris 98
4 (4) 076242- GERALT OF RIVIA 47 C Hills 9-7 .................................. Kieran Shoemark 93
5 (6) 334-6 IMPULSIVE LADY 25 J Tate 9-6 ................................................. Jason Hart 90
6 (1)
02-4 VASILISSA 14 R Hannon 9-4...................................................... Sean Levey 96
7 (7)
062- GWENDOLINA 28 C Cox 9-2 .....................................................John Fahy l99
8 (8)
905- ANGEL TIME 84 R Brisland 8-4 ....................................... Aidan Keeley (5) 83
BETTING: 11-4 Abbey’s Dream, 3 Gwendolina, 5 Geralt Of Rivia, 6 Vasilissa, 7 States
Of Thunder, 10 Molly Valentine, 12 Impulsive Lady, 20 Angel Time
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 1 4
2022: Golden Spice 9-5 Luke Morris 9-2 (G Margarson) drawn 7, 8 ran.

Sunracing FORM
STATES OF THUNDER (9-4) 13-2
plugged on, went 3rd final strides,
3rd of 6 (4l) to Pocket The Packet
(9-11) (Lingfield 7f hcap (5) £4,187 AW).
MOLLY VALENTINE (9-4) 17-2 tracked
leaders, kept on final furlong, 5th
of 9 (btn 4l) to Expert Agent (9-3)
(Kempton 6f hcap (5) £4,187 AW).
ABBEY’S DREAM (9-2) 5-4 fav led 2f
out, bt Sprezzatura (9-5) 11/4l (9 ran)
(Newcastle 7f mdn (5) £4,320 AW).
GERALT OF RIVIA (9-8) 11-2 close
up, outpaced 2f out, stayed on, btn
13/4l by Huberts Dream (10-3) (5 ran)
(Lingfield 6f hcap (5) £4,536 AW).

1.43

IMPULSIVE LADY (9-5) 10-1 in touch,
ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders,
last of 6 (btn 41/4l) to Star Child (9-7)
(Chelmsford 1m hcap (5) £5,051 AW).
VASILISSA (9-2) 13-2 one pace, 4th of 8
(41/2l) to Star Guest (9-2) (Lingfield 1m
fll nov stks (5) £4,320 AW).
GWENDOLINA (9-2) 7-1 tracked
leaders, stayed on to go 2nd near
finish, 1/2l by Captain Cisco (9-7) (14
ran) (Lingfield 7f nov (5) £3,672 AW).
ANGEL TIME (9-2) 150-1 led, headed
final furlong, one pace, 5th of 7 (71/4l)
to Miss Sarajevo (9-2) (Chelmsford 7f
fll nov stks (5) £3,725 AW).

BETUK’S ACCA CLUB 5 FREE BET HANDICAP (6);
value to the winner £3,402; 6f.
(12 runners)

1 (7) 68409-8 HUDDLETON MAC 24 (T) C Wallis 5-9-9...............................Luke Morris 83
2 (8) 34550-3 GIVE A LITTLE BACK 23 (B) S Curran 4-9-9..................Jamie Spencer 94
3 (12) 679562- MUMAYAZ 47 A Carroll 4-9-8................................................. Jack Mitchell 97
4 (3) 03008-2 BEZZAS LAD 24 (D) A Carroll 6-9-8 ............................Alistair Rawlinson 92
5 (2) 87831-5 BOBBY ON THE BEAT 25 (P;BF,CD) P McEntee 5-9-8 . Josephine Gordon l99
6 (6) 2/2469- DESERT BOOTS 45 (BH;C,D) S Pearce 5-9-8 ........... Darragh Keenan 88
7 (5) 7418-78 VANDAD 17 (P,T;C) M Attwater 6-9-8..................................Robert Havlin 90
8 (10) 35628-4 DEPUTISE 4 (BH;D) M Wigham 7-9-6 ..................................... Sean Levey 95
9 (1) 706/99- MOOSMEE 142 (D) S Dow 6-9-1 .................................. Paddy Bradley (3) 72
10 (11) 5/434- JACK LESLIE 249 P Murphy 4-9-1 ........................................Joshua Bryan 93
11 (4) 57544-0 SOLAR PROPHET 13 (B,T;BF) G Boughey 4-9-1 .. Billy Loughnane (5) 87
12 (9) 05043-7 THOMAS EQUINAS 25 (PH) D Ivory 4-8-10 ........................Nicola Currie 82
BETTING: 7-2 Bezzas Lad, 6 Bobby On The Beat, Give A Little Back, 7 Mumayaz, 8
Solar Prophet, Desert Boots, 10 Deputise, 12 Jack Leslie
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 1-2 6 3 7
2022: Bobby On The Beat 4-8-10 Callum Shepherd 10-1 (P McEntee) drawn 2, 9 ran.

KEMPTON TONIGHT
TEMPLEGATE

5.30.............Divine Messenger
6.00 ....................................Rooful
6.30 ..................Cotopaxi Moon
7.00................................. Uzincso
7.30 .......................................Ziggy
8.00 ............Kensington Agent
8.30...........Swaffham Bulbeck
TOM PEPPER: 5.30 Chloellie,
6.00 Rooful, 6.30 Karakoy,
7.00 Tiger Beetle, 7.30 State
Legend, 8.00 Cool Lightning,
8.30 Tibbie Dunbar
nTIC-TAC: Right-handed Polytrack
course. 1m round with tight turns and a
3f run-in. nDRAW: None. nLEADING
TRAINERS (2018-2023): H & R Charlton
48-272, C Cox 45-354, M Botti 42-405,
E Walker 39-271. THIS SEASON: C
Johnston 3. nTOP JOCKEYS (20182023): T Marquand 79-669, D Muscutt
56-474, R Ryan 48-4112. THIS
SEASON: T Marquand 4. nLONGEST
TRAVELLER: Angel Amadea (6.00)
trip of 548 miles. nFIRST RUN SINCE
WIND OP: Pride Of America (7.30).
nLIVE ON RACING TV

THE Placepot is a bet where
you select a horse to be
placed in the FIRST SIX
races of any meeting.
You can pick more than
one horse in a race – you
just multiply the number of
selections in each race to
calculate your stake.
So for staking it’s
2x2x1x1x2x1 which adds up
to 8 lines in the Placepot.
You can stake what you

POT LUCK

want upwards from 5p a
line and 50p a line would
cost £4. £1 a line is £8 and
so on.
Provided at least one of
our horses in each race is
placed, we get a paid!
TODAY’S SELECTIONS
AT CHELTENHAM
LEG 1: ..................Dixon Cove,
........................ Comfort Zone
LEG 2: ..Stage Star, Malinello
LEG 3: ................. Delta Work
LEG 4: ............... Energumene
LEG 5: ............ Nocte Volatus,
.........................Brave Seasca
LEG 6: .................Protektorat

5.30

Sunracing FORM
BEZZAS LAD (9-1) 40-1 led, driven 1f
out, headed towards finish, btn nk by
Libra Tiger (9-7) HUDDLETON MAC
(9-8) 22-1 held up, ridden over 2f out,
never involved, 8th (btn 63/4l) (9 ran)
(Kempton 6f hcap (5) £4,187 AW).
GIVE A LITTLE BACK (9-9) 15-2 keen
in touch, stayed on final furlong,
3rd of 12 (btn 1l) to Bond Boy (9-5)
(W’hampton 7f hcap (6) £3,402 AW).
MUMAYAZ (9-10) 9-2 raced keenly
towards rear, hung left over 1f out,
went 2nd inside final furlong, btn 11/4l
by Calonne (9-8) (8 ran) (Lingfield 7f
hcap (6) £4,266 AW).
BOBBY ON THE BEAT (9-10) 15-8 fav
close up, pushed along 1f out, kept
on, 5th of 8 (btn 3 3/ 4l) to Beauzon
(9-9) THOMAS EQUINAS (8-12)
16-1 led, ridden and headed 2f out,
weakened final furlong, 7th (btn 91/2l)
(Chelmsford 6f hcap (6) £4,004 AW).
DESERT BOOTS (9-10) 11-2 held up,
pushed along 3f out, never a factor,

2.18

BETUK OVER 40,000 LIVE STREAMED RACES HCAP
(4); value to the winner £5,129; 6f.
(7 runners)

Sunracing FORM
headed 2f out, weakened, 5th of 7
COUNT OTTO (9-10) 7-4 tracked
(btn 41/4l) to Manigordo (9-1) (Musselleaders, led over 1f out, soon clear,
burgh 7f hcap (3) £8,100 good).
ran on well, bt Touchwood (9-6)
1
IMPEACH
(8-13) 11-1 always outpaced in
2 / 4l IMPEACH (9-8) 4-1 weakened
1
rear, never on terms, 5th of 6 (btn 6l)
final furlong, 4th (btn 6 / 4l) (7 ran)
to Miss Nay Never (9-9) (Chelmsford
(Lingfield 6f hcap (4) £4,995 AW).
5f hcap (3) £8,100 AW).
TYGER BAY (8-1) 5-1 in touch, pushed
along 2f out, ran on, nearest finish, THE GREEN MAN (9-10) 20-1 held up,
struggling 2f out, plugged on, 7th of
3rd of 9 (btn 1 3/ 4l) to Annaf (9-9)
13 (btn 53/4l) to Justcallmepete (9-6)
(Lingfield 6f hcap (2) £13,190 AW).
(Southwell 6f hcap (4) £5,129 AW).
STONE OF DESTINY (8-11) 9-1 in rear,
ridden 1f out, not trouble leaders, RATTLING (9-8) 10-1 held up, ridden 2f
out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th
6th of 8 (btn 4 1/ 4l) to Embour (8-1)
of 9 (btn 5l) to Elegant Charm (9-2)
(Lingfield 5f hcap (3) £18,319 AW).
(Kempton 6f hcap (4) £6,281 AW).
TOUSSAROK (9-9) 16-1 led, ridden and

HUGE DAILY BOOSTS ONLY AT BETUK NOVICE STAKES
(5); value to the winner £4,320; 1m 4f. (6 runners)

1 (2)
4-1 NOW THEN WENDY 11 (D) H Morrison 6-9-9 ........................ Jason Hart 97
2 (1)
5 ARIS DE CRAT 22 L Allan 5-9-7 ...................................... Darragh Keenan 78
3 (5)
FERROBIN J14 (P,T) M Young 9-9-7..........................Billy Loughnane (5) —
4 (6) 33227-2 BERKSHIRE BREEZE 11 (BF) A Balding 4-9-4 ............... David Probert 98
5 (3)
4 POLEMON 14 (T) A Watson 4-9-4 ............................................Luke Morris 93
6 (4)
4-3 CASA LUNA 14 R Varian 4-8-13 ..........................................Jack Mitchell l99
BETTING: 7-4 Berkshire Breeze, 3 Casa Luna, 7-2 Now Then Wendy, 4 Polemon, 14
Ferrobin, 50 Aris De Crat
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED and 2022: No corresponding race.

GOING: STANDARD TO SLOW

CLASSIFIED STAKES (Class 6);
winner £3,140; 7f.
(14 runners)

1 (8) 900- AXEL JACKLIN 179 (B;D) C Banham 7-9-2 .. J Haynes
2 (14) 0-42 CHLOELLIE 21 (V;CD) J Jenkins 8-9-2 .............. C Lee
3 (10) 526- CHRISTINES ANGEL 50 A Carroll 6-9-2.. J Fisher (5)
4 (6) 5-82 DIVINE MESSENGER 7 (V;C) E Owen 9-9-2 D Muscutt
5 (4) 579- EASTERN STAR 50 A Carroll 7-9-2 ....... M Phillips (3)
6 (3) 5-66 ELEGANT ELLEN 9 (H) A Murphy 5-9-2 A Farragher (3)
7 (13) 59-5 FACT OR FABLE 23 (P;C,D) J Moore 6-9-2 .. C Bishop
8 (7) 9-00 FAST FLO 8 (BH,HH) C Dunnett 4-9-2 ....... K O’Neill
9 (11) 60-9 NAADYAA 14 (VH) J Parr 4-9-2 .. T Hammer Hansen
10 (9) 8-77 NO DIGGITY 14 (B;C,D) J Butler 7-9-2 ....... S Cherchi
11 (12) 437- RIVER CHORUS 30 (D) P McEntee 5-9-2........ R Ryan
12 (1) 00-5 SECRET TRYST 21 (H) W Knight 4-9-2 .. T Marquand
13 (2) 5-33 SHAMSHON 16 (BF) S Williams 12-9-2 .. L Catton (5)
14 (5) 60-0 SIX O’CLOCK SWILL 24 (T) M Pattinson 5-9-2 O Stammers (3)
Divine Messenger l99, River Chorus 98, Eastern Star 97.
4 Divine Messenger, 9-2 Shamshon, 5 River Chorus, 15-2
Eastern Star, 8 Elegant Ellen, 12 Christines Angel, Naadyaa

6.00
1
2
3
4
5
6

(5)
(3)
(4)
(1)
(2)
(6)

FILLIES HANDICAP (5); winner
£4,187; 7f.
(6 runners)

-243 QUEEN OF BURGUNDY 10 (T;CD) M Appleby 7-9-9 F Larson (3)
424- ANGEL AMADEA 116 (BF) R Menzies 5-9-6 ... C Bennett
43-2 PIFFLE 19 (D) E Walker 4-9-6 .................... T Marquand
998- AREILLE 37 (P) J Jones 4-9-4 .......................... D Hogan
112- ROOFUL 40 (CD) E J-Houghton 5-8-13......... C Bishop
00-9 SOCIAL CONTACT 23 (D) A Carroll 4-8-10 ....... C Lee
Rooful l99, Queen Of Burgundy 98, Piffle 97.
15-8 Rooful, 9-4 Piffle, 4 Angel Amadea, Queen Of Burgundy,
20 Social Contact, 33 Areille

6.30

MAIDEN STAKES (5); winner £3,780;
1m.
(14 runners)

1 (13)
3- COTOPAXI MOON 70 (BF) J Ferguson 4-10-2 D Muscutt
2 (5)
TABLES TURNED (HH) J Auvray 4-10-2 .. M Tabti (7)
3 (7) 8-8 MEMBERRY 15 G Deacon 4-9-12 ............... G Bass (3)
4 (4)
SAPPERDEAN L Dace 4-9-12 ................ R Clutterbuck
5 (11) 6-9 CHERWELL 24 E J-Houghton 4-9-7 .............. C Bishop
6 (14) 7-5 ACLAIMED ART 25 (P) J Tate 3-8-10 .................. C Lee
7 (2)
2- PERFECT APPROACH 32 M Botti 3-8-10 ..... Doubtful
8 (6)
KARAKOY H & R Charlton 3-8-8 .................... T Whelan
9 (9)
PAPAL MUSIC C Cox 3-8-8 .......................... S Osborne
10 (1)
LEXINGTON HERO J Channon 3-8-6 ..... R Dawes (7)
11 (8)
GOLDKIT P & O Cole 3-8-5 .............................. K O’Neill
12 (10)
0 CARAMAY 13 W Muir & C Grassick 3-8-3 .... C Hardie
13 (3)
8 EXQUISITE BEAUTY 14 W Jarvis 3-8-2 ........ F Norton
14 (12) 97- SARATOGA SPIRIT 45 C Hills 3-8-2 ..... Jimmy Quinn
Cotopaxi Moon l99, Saratoga Spirit 89, Aclaimed Art 87.
9-4 Cotopaxi Moon, 9-2 Karakoy, 6 Goldkit, 13-2 Papal Music,
10 Aclaimed Art, 14 Lexington Hero

7.00

9th of 13 (btn 8l) to Satin Snake (9-3)
(Kempton 7f hcap (6) £2,916 AW).
VANDAD (9-7) 50-1 chased leaders,
ridden 2f out, soon weakened, last
of 8 (63/4l) to Man On A Mission (9-2)
(Lingfield 5f hcap (5) £4,187 AW).
DEPUTISE (9-10) 9-1 held up towards
rear, headway 2f out, stayed on
under pressure inside final furlong,
never going pace to reach leaders,
4th of 8 (btn 3l) to Blackjack (9-5)
(Southwell 6f hcap (6) £3,402 AW).
MOOSMEE (8-12) 25-1 in touch, ridden
and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10
(btn 12l) to Hodler (9-5) (Epsom 7f
hcap (4) £6,156 good to soft).
JACK LESLIE (9-2) 6-1 tracked leaders,
ridden 2f out, no impression, 4th of 8
(btn 6l) to Spangled Mac (9-2) (Bath
6f mdn (5) £3,942 good to soft).
SOLAR PROPHET (9-7) 4-1 fav ridden
3f out, no extra final furlong, 11th of
13 (btn 11l) to Run Teddy Run (9-1)
(Southwell 1m hcap (6) £3,402 AW).

1 (6) 773751- COUNT OTTO 270 (H;CD) A Perrett 8-9-11..........................Sean Levey l99
2 (1) 3311-23 TYGER BAY 14 (B,T;CD) C Allen 6-9-8 ...................... William Carver (3) 98
3 (3) 46626-6 STONE OF DESTINY 7 (D) M Appleby 8-9-5 ............Alistair Rawlinson 94
4 (5) 417605- TOUSSAROK 164 (D) C Johnston 5-9-5 .................................. Jason Hart 87
5 (7) 47227-5 IMPEACH 16 (B,T;CD) C Allen 5-9-5 ....................... Billy Loughnane (5) 90
6 (4) 21230-7 THE GREEN MAN 13 (P;D) J Parr 4-9-4 ............................ David Probert 86
7 (2) 71351-5 RATTLING 17 (D) R Hannon 4-9-3................Alexander Voikhansky (7) 93
BETTING: 6-4 Count Otto, 3 Tyger Bay, 7 Stone Of Destiny, 8 Rattling, 10 Impeach,
Toussarok, 12 The Green Man
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED and 2022: No corresponding race.

2.53

9

HANDICAP (4); winner £6,281;
1m.
(13 runners)

1 (5) 01-6 BILLY MILL 17 (CD) B Millman 5-9-11 ........ S Osborne
2 (13) 17-9 GEORGE MORLAND 25 (PH;C,D) A Murphy 5-9-7 F Larson (3)
3 (10) 048- SEASETT 58 (P;D) C Fellowes 5-9-7 ....... C Shepherd
4 (9) 9-29 COUNSEL 5 (H,T) I Williams 5-9-7 ................. K O’Neill
5 (12) 097- SENSE OF WORTH 32 A Carroll 7-9-6 ............... C Lee
6 (11) 81-5 TIGER BEETLE 25 (PH,TH) M Rimell 5-9-6.... W Cox
7 (8) -229 MAY NIGHT 7 (P,T;C) S Williams 5-9-5 ............ R Ryan
8 (1) 344- CRYSTAL CASQUE 28 (CD) B Millman 8-9-5 O Searle (7)
9 (4) 0-04 UZINCSO 9 (CD) J Butler 7-9-5.................... D Muscutt
10 (3) 219- SPELLS AT DAWN 221 (H) A French 4-9-3 J Watson
11 (2) 1217 ASDAA 7 (P;CD) C Johnston 7-9-3 ................. F Norton
12 (7) 2-13 MAWKEB 14 (B;BF,D) M Appleby 5-9-2 T Marquand
13 (6) 700- NEW SHEPARD 247 (CD) R Eddery 4-9-0 ... D Hogan
Mawkeb l99, Asdaa 98, Crystal Casque 97.
7-2 Mawkeb, 5 Asdaa, 15-2 Crystal Casque, 8 Tiger Beetle,
May Night, Billy Mill, 10 Uzincso, 12 Counsel

7.30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

(8)
(4)
(2)
(1)
(7)
(6)
(5)
(3)

HANDICAP (2); winner £12,885;
1m 3f.
(8 runners)

12-5 KING OF THE SOUTH 16 (V;D) W Knight 6-10-0. C Shepherd
118- PRIDE OF AMERICA 217 (T) A Murphy 6-9-9 T Marquand
01-2 ZIGGY 16 (C) H Eustace 5-9-6 ..................... D Muscutt
9/5- SKY DEFENDER 117 (C) D O’Meara 7-9-1 .. J Watson
241/ VAZIR J26 (P) A King 5-8-10 ............................ K O’Neill
493- STATE LEGEND J29 I Williams 4-8-8 ........ S Osborne
11-2 CAPITAL THEORY 17 (BF) C Johnston 4-8-7 F Norton
315- MELEK ALREEH 156 D Simcock 4-8-7 A Farragher (3)
Ziggy l99, Capital Theory 98, Pride Of America 97.
5-2 Ziggy, 11-4 Capital Theory, 11-2 King Of The South, 15-2
Pride Of America, Melek Alreeh, 10 Sky Defender

Sun FORM
ZIGGY (9-6) 10-3 close up in 3rd, headway final furlong,
stayed on and went 2nd post, btn 11/4l by Forest Of Dean
(9-6) KING OF THE SOUTH (9-6) 5-1 tracked leader,
ridden and weakened over 1f out, 5th (btn 4l) (6 ran)
(Newcastle 11/4m cnd stks (2) £15,462 AW).
PRIDE OF AMERICA (8-13) 4-1 led to 2f out, weakened
rapidly when headed, 8th of 9 (btn 10l) to Quest The
Moon (8-13) (Compiegne 11/4m Listed £25,210 good).
SKY DEFENDER (9-10) 25-1 tracked leaders, unable to
quicken over 1f out, no extra, 5th of 11 (btn 4l) to Surrey
Mist (9-4) (Windsor 1m 3f hcap (3) £7,560 good).
VAZIR (9-2) 5-4 fav held up, nudged along 2f out, progress
into 4th when bumped rival over 1f out, joined leader
100yds out, kept on well and led close home, bt Teddy
Blue (9-2) 1/2l (8 ran) (Deauville 11/2m mdn £9,821 AW).
STATE LEGEND (9-9) 4-1 led, headed inside final furlong,
3rd and no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8 (btn 2l) to
Thundering (9-5) (Newcastle 11/2m hcap (4) £4,995 AW).
CAPITAL THEORY (8-11) 2-1 fav prominent, led over 9f out,
ridden over 1f out, headed close home, btn 3/4l by Base
Note (9-8) (9 ran) (Lingfield 11/2m hcap (3) £8,208 AW).
MELEK ALREEH (9-11) 5-2 led, joined 4f out, headed 3f out,
weakened final furlong, 5th of 10 (btn 43/4l) to Jahoori (9-4)
(Ffos Las 11/2m nov mdn (4) £4,860 good to soft).

8.00
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

FILLIES HANDICAP (5); winner
£4,187; 6f.
(7 runners)

(1) 321- ROGUE MISSILE 188 (D) T Clover 5-9-9 . T Marquand
(5) 946- STARSONG 45 (P;D) M Appleby 4-9-6 ............ T Ladd
(3) 22-1 COOL LIGHTNING 23 (D) J Tate 4-9-6 ............. R Ryan
(4) 848- SHARRON MACREADY 89 (D) D Loughnane 4-9-5 L Pearson (3)
(2) 52-1 KENSINGTON AGENT 10 (D) A Carroll 4-9-1 ... C Lee
(6) 46-5 ANNIE GALE 11 J Fanshawe 4-8-11 ............ D Muscutt
(7) 4-62 CAMACHESS 11 (CD) P McBride 7-8-9 A Farragher (3)
Rogue Missile l99, Cool Lightning 98, Kensington Agent 97.
9-4 Cool Lightning, 7-2 Kensington Agent, 4 Rogue Missile,
7 Annie Gale, 8 Camachess, 10 Sharron Macready, Starsong

8.30

HANDICAP (6); winner £3,140;
2m.
(11 runners)

1 (5) 157- TIBBIE DUNBAR J79 W Kittow 7-9-13 .... C Shepherd
2 (9) /06- PRESUMING ED J38 A West 8-9-12 T Hammer Hansen
3 (2) 534/ ISAYALITTLEPRAYER J21 (PH;BF) G Moore 6-9-12 R Clutterbuck
4 (11) 21/5 CHENG GONG 20 (VH) N King 7-9-12 ......... T Whelan
5 (10) 558- RAY’S THE ONE J33 M Pattinson 6-9-11 O Stammers (3)
6 (7) 660- GOLD SOUK J21 D Steele 6-9-10........................ W Cox
7 (4) 93-2 HOOVES LIKE JAGGER 23 (H;BF) A Carroll 5-9-10 T Marquand
8 (3) 507- FIGHTING POET 28 (T) R Phillips 5-9-9 .... D Muscutt
9 (1) 06-0 ABSTRACT 24 A Carroll 5-9-6 .............................. C Lee
10 (6) 9/2- SWAFFHAM BULBECK J32 S Edmunds 9-9-5.. C Hardie
11 (8) 80-0 BALLET BLANC 21 A Perrett 4-9-4 ................ G Rooke
Swaffham Bulbeck l99, Hooves Like Jagger 98, Tibbie Dunbar 97.
13-8 Swaffham Bulbeck, 15-8 Hooves Like Jagger, 10 Tibbie
Dunbar, Presuming Ed, 12 Ray’s The One, 20 Fighting Poet

3.28

GOING: STANDARD

TOP ODDS EVERY DAY WITH BETUK CLASSIFIED STAKES
(6); value to the winner £3,402; 1m 2f. (8 runners)

1 (7) 4342-31 BEAU GESTE 7 (C) A Carroll 7-9-4 .....................................Molly Gunn (7) 98
2 (2) 9609-73 CATCH MY BREATH 3 (P,TH;C) J Ryan 7-9-3 ........... Darragh Keenan 91
3 (8) 84267-0 GLENCOE BOY 14 A Carroll 6-9-3..............................................John Egan 83
4 (4) 355-683 NO SUCH LUCK 7 (H,T;CD) R Ingram 6-9-3 .....................Robert Havlin 97
5 (1) 06631-6 GUITAR 19 M Smith 4-9-2 ...................................................... Luke Morris l99
6 (3) 47045-6 HAMMOCK 23 (P) J Moore 4-9-2 ......................................... David Probert 80
7 (5) 55678-7 VAXHOLM 24 (P,T;CD) F Brennan 4-9-2 .................Jordan Williams (5) 82
8 (6) 019650- VOLENTI J104 S Durack 4-9-2............................................... Jack Mitchell 77
BETTING: 9-4 Beau Geste, 3 No Such Luck, 9-2 Guitar, 5 Catch My Breath
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED and 2022: No corresponding race.

4.03

IT’S TIME TO TURN TO TALKSPORT HANDICAP (6);
3-y-o; winner £3,402; 1m 2f.
(8 runners)

1 (1)
087- THINK CHAMPAGNE 94 A Carroll 9-11 .....................................John Egan 87
2 (7)
6634- DOVENA 107 (HH) A Perrett 9-10 .........................................Robert Havlin 98
3 (5) 3253-36 DOWNTOWN DUBAI 15 (BH) C Johnston 9-10..................... Jason Hart 97
4 (4) 0806-32 THE PUG 17 (BH) S Kirk 9-9 ................................................. Rob Hornby l99
5 (2) 0806- WILPENA POUND 72 (BH) Sir M Prescott 9-9 ....................Luke Morris 83
6 (3) 93341-6 FULLFORWARD 17 (B) M Madgwick 9-9..................... Aidan Keeley (5) 91
7 (8) 690-8 ALODIA 22 S Kirk 9-6 ................................................... Billy Loughnane (5) 77
8 (6) 04999-4 ARLECCHINO’S STAR 22 M Usher 9-0............................. David Probert 84
BETTING: 11-4 Wilpena Pound, 3 Downtown Dubai, 4 The Pug, 5 Dovena, Fullforward
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED and 2022: No corresponding race.

Sunracing FORM
THINK CHAMPAGNE (9-2) 50-1
pushed along 3f out, soon beaten,
7th of 10 (13l) to Laafi (9-2) (Nottingham 1m mdn (4) £6,426 good to soft).
DOVENA (9-1) 8-1 kept on, 4th of 7 (41/4l)
to Solitary Trees (8-13) (Chelmsford
11/4m hcap (6) £3,996 AW).
DOWNTOWN DUBAI (9-8) 9-4 no extra,
6th of 8 (5l) to The Angelus Belle (9-6)
(Newcastle 1m hcap (6) £3,402 AW).
THE PUG (9-9) 11-2 rallied final furlong,
went 2nd last stride, btn 1 1 / 4l by
Gilded Moon (9-5) DOWNTOWN
DUBAI (9-10) 6-4 fav led, headed
inside final furlong, lost 2nd last

stride, 3rd (btn 11/4l) (5 ran) (Lingfield
11/4m hcap (6) £3,402 AW).
WILPENA POUND (9-7) 200-1 behind,
last of 6 (17l) to Majestic Pride (9-7)
(Chelmsford 7f nov (3) £8,100 AW).
FULLFORWARD (9-9) 10-3 no extra,
last of 6 (btn 1l) to Little Roman (9-1)
(Kempton 1m hcap (6) £3,140 AW).
ALODIA (9-2) 25-1 weakened, 8th of 10
(btn 71/4l) to Comedian Leader (9-9)
(Southwell 7f hcap (6) £3,402 AW).
ARLECCHINO’S STAR (9-2) 12-1
weakened 1f out, 4th of 5 (btn 91/2l)
to Tollerton Forest (9-8) (Kempton 7f
class stk (6) £3,140 AW).

NELLS SON (4.10 Cheltenham) hasn’t
taken to chasing and will be much
happier back over the smaller obstacles
where he has a Grade 2 win on his CV.

TEMPLEGATE
12.33 ..............Always Fearless
1.08................... Molly Valentine
1.43 ...............Give A Little Back
2.18.............................. Tyger Bay
2.53.............................Casa Luna
3.28......................No Such Luck
4.03..........................Fullforward

TOM PEPPER
12.33 ...................................Mabre
1.08.................................Vasilissa
1.43 ............ Bobby On The Beat
2.18.................................Impeach
2.53..............Now Then Wendy
3.28..................................... Guitar
4.03.............Think Champagne
nTIC-TAC: Left-handed all-weather
Polytrack of 1m 2f, 2f run-in. nDRAW:
Little effect. nLEADING TRAINERS
WITH RUNNERS (2018-2023): A
Watson 77-392, R Hannon 74-526, A
Balding 49-268, A Carroll 42-434. THIS
SEASON: G Boughey 3, A Carroll 2,
M Appleby 2. nTOP JOCKEYS WITH
RIDES (2018-2023): L Morris 98-920,
D Probert 83-655, R Havlin 55-373,
J Mitchell 48-327. THIS SEASON: L
Morris 3, B Loughnane 2, D Probert 1.
nLONGEST TRAVELLER: Toussarok
(2.18) & Downtown Dubai (4.03) trained
at Middleham. Round trip of 540 miles.
nFIRST RUN SINCE WIND OP:
Taskheer (12.33), Jack Leslie (1.43).
nLIVE ON SKY SPORTS RACING

nGROUP 1 winner Princess Zoe
is set to make her hurdling debut at Punchestown on Monday.
Tony Mullins said: “She has
schooled well and Punchestown
looks a nice place to start.”

10 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Favourite 9-1

WINLESS in their last ten, Everton
are 9-1 with Ladbrokes to lose their
next five — v Arsenal, Liverpool,
Leeds, Aston Villa and Forest.

LEAGUE TWO 2017-18

THE BOOKIES’
BOOTROOM

SCAN FOR ALL
TODAY’S ODDS
CORAL
MARKET
LEADER
MAN City to win
Champions
the
Arsenal
League,
the Europa League
and David Moyes’
(right) West Ham
the Europa Conference is a 57-1
treble with us.

CORAL
SUPER
SERIES
EVERY week get a
free hit at £50
Coral
the
with
Super Series.
up
sign
Just
online and answer
four questions on
one of the weekend’s big games.
This week it’s
Brighton v Liverpool tomorrow.
So, Q1 Who will
win the match? Q2
When will the first
goal be scored?
many
How
Q3
corners will there
be? Q4 How many
players will be
carded?

12.30pm, BBC1 &
CHELTENHAM

CHESTERFIELD

CAMBRIDGE UNITED

CARLISE

COLCHESTER

COVENTRY

THERE will be shocks in the FA Cup
this weekend — but this will not be
one of them.
Stanley are 20th in League One
and needed a replay and extra-time
to beat mid-table Conference side
Boreham Wood in the third round.
And after fighting back from 2-0
down at Cardiff, before going
through 5-2 in their own replay,
nobody can doubt Leeds’ appetite.
New striker Georginio Rutter (left)
is in line for his Whites debut after
arriving from Hoffenheim.
He looks a nice price at Sky Bet’s
5-1 to score the opener.
FORECAST: 0-3

football traders

CRAWLEY TOWN
WLEY TOWN FC
CRA

CREWE

EXETER CITY

Leeds
to win to
nil today

FOREST GREEN

WEST

SUS EX
S

NOLI
CEDERE

18

96

GRIMSBY TOWN

LINCOLN CITY

MORECAMBE

NEWPORT COUNTY

STEVENAGE

SWINDON

LUTON TOWN

NOTTS COUNTY

WYCOMBE WANDERERS

MANSFIELD

PORT VALE

29-20

YEOVIL

Brighton Cup KO would put heat on Klopp
T

EV

.

to 8-1 to land the
centre-back.
His
old
club, the Foxes, are 14-1.
STOKE COULD CROAK
The third round of the
Cup was full of shocks,
so we might be asking
too much for more of
the same.
But as well as Derby
getting one over West
Ham, 4-1 League Two
high-fliers
Stevenage
could cause Stoke some
Cup pain. And I wonder
if 11-5 Ipswich might
just see off Burnley.
REAP WHAT YOU ’STOW
A Walthamstow punter
pulled off one of the
most incredible accas
I’ve ever seen last week.
His £10 turned into
£162,000
when
he
correctly predicted the
outcome of 20 matches
across Europe.
BET OF THE WEEKEND
Sunderland have lost
just four times in 14
games on the road in
the Championship and
banged in 22 goals.
So, Fulham to beat the
Black Cats today and
both teams to score will
hopefully give us some
fun at 15-8.

BARNET

ACCRINGTON STANLEY

S

NO HAPPY ENDING
TO THIS MOY STORY
West Ham’s David Moyes
is
the
short-priced
favourite to be the next
Prem manager out.
And with Derby on a
decent run, the League
One side will fancy their
chances of a Cup upset
at home on Monday.
At odds of 4-1 or so,
I’d be backing the Rams
to inflict more pressure
on Moyes.
HARRY COULD GET
THE HURRY UP
Harry Maguire has had
just four league starts
this campaign as Erik
ten Hag’s new-look Man
United have galloped up
the table.
Not a great outlook
for the former England
captain, now 29, who
cost United £80million
when he arrived from
Leicester in 2019.
While the Old Trafford
gaffer may not fancy
him, plenty of other
clubs do.
Villa are our 3-1
favourites to land him
before the end of the
transfer window with the
struggling Hammers in

Accrington Stanley
v Leeds

.
ENAGE F

C

Inside line from

16-5

HILLS go 16-5 that leaders Arsenal
win the Prem, Chelsea finish top
six and Manchester City’s Erling
Haaland finishes top Prem scorer.

GULL DE
SACK!
WHEN I was kid I had a
trial for Brighton, who
were then — just about —
still a First Division side.
I’d played on rock-hard
pitches and had big rubber
boot studs but when I trotted
on to the Goldstone that May
morning it was so lush.

I ran back into the dressing
room and chief scout Jimmy
Melia helped change my studs.
Anyway, I didn’t score, got
subbed at half-time . . . and was
never heard of again!
Things turned out a bit better

KEVIN DUNNE
in association with

for Jimmy, who became manager
and took the Albion to the 1983
FA Cup final the following season.
As he led ’em out at Wembley,
I said: “There’s the bloke who
used to do my boots up.”
Brighton beat soon-to-be topflight champs Liverpool that year
to make the final — but were then
relegated themselves.
It’ll be no shock if
they KO the Reds at

Wrexham v
Sheffield Utd
Tomorrow, 4.30pm, BBC1 &
WHATEVER level you’re playing at, winning
12 out of 12 home games in the league says
something.
And National League leaders Wrexham
have battered in the goals at a rate of
nearly four a game.
How good are they? It’s very hard to say
— but they came through one test by
winning 4-3 at Sheffield United’s fellow
Championship outfit Coventry in the
last round.
Dragons’ slayer is Paul Mullin
(right), with 26 goals in 30 games
— and he looks a very decent
shout at Sporting Index’s 13-5 he
scores anytime.
FORECAST: 2-2

the Amex as
they beat them
3-0 in the Prem
this month.
But Liverpool will want
to avoid another embarrassment
and are best-priced 6-4 favourites
with Coral and Ladbrokes.
Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi
has made them into a side which
now takes their many chances.
They’ve scored six in two

Wrexham &
Sheff Utd
draw 2-2

14-1

7-2

WEST HAM’S Declan Rice is 7-2 with Paddy
Power NOT to sign or agree a contract with
any other club before next September. Arsenal
are 7-4 favourites to sign him.

Preston v
Tottenham

Harry Kane
to score in
both halves

6pm, BBC1 &
THEY’VE both won the Double,
are both called the Lilywhites
and have both been pretty
inconsistent this term.
Preston have lost seven at
home in the Championship
but are just two points off
the play-offs.
Tottenham have been
their usual Spursy self,
none more so than when racing into
a 2-0 half-time lead at Manchester
City before losing 4-2.
But Dejan Kulusevski (left) makes
Spurs look a better side — and the
Swede can get the first goal at 8-1
with Sky Bet.
FORECAST: 1-3

6-1

Favourite
FAIRYHOUSE TODAY
12.26

PRO BET

RETIREMENT BET

THE DARK HORSE BET

BRIGHTON’S World Cup winne
Alexis Mac Allister got two r
at
Middlesbrough in the FA Cup
third round, takes free-kicks and
is a boosted 22-1 with Sky Bet
to score from outside the box
against Liverpool tomorrow.

Bristol City to beat West
Brom,
Sunderland to win at Fulha
m, Ipswich to beat Burnley, QPR
Hull, Watford to win at to win at
Middlesbrough, Cheltenham to
Vale, Wimbledon to beat beat Port
Stock
Doncaster to win at Mansfield. port
TOP DRAW
1x8-fold, 8x7-folds, 28x6-folds. Perm Charl
ton v Bolton, Lincoln
Acca
pays 52,156-1 with bet365.
Barrow v Northampton, v Cambridge,
ere v
AWAY DAY
Orient. Acca pays 99-1 with Tranm
bet365.
Oxford to win at Burto
n,
TV SPECIAL
Exeter at MK Dons, Bristol
Leeds to win at Accri
Rovers
at
Morecambe, win at Preston, Brigh ngton, Spurs to
ton to beat LivCarlisle at Rochdale. Acca
erpool BTTS, Wrexham v Sheff
pays 31-1 with Unibet.
Utd
draw. Acca pays 27-1 with
Betway.

Brighton v
Liverpool
Tomorrow, 1.30pm, ITV1 &
games against the
Reds this term and
19 in their last six
outings so Brighton
to win and BTTS
at William Hill’s
15-4 is my pick.
Sporting
Index
head trader Neville
Burdock said: “It’s likely
nothing will separate the sides in
90 minutes, with our prediction
being a 1-1 draw.”
His firm go a best-priced 13-2
on that but I fancy Hill’s 20-1
on a 3-1 Brighton win.
For goals, £37million
Cody Gakpo must
break
his
duck

sometime and is 13-5 with William
Hill to score anytime.
Albion’s new star Evan Ferguson
has three Prem goals in his first
four starts and is 6-1 to strike first
with bet365, while three-goals-infive-games Kaoru Mitoma (left) is
13-5 to score anytime with Index.
Before that recent 3-0 victory,
Albion had not beaten Liverpool at
home in the league in 62 years.
But like buses — suddenly two
may come along at once.
l We hit a hat-trick in last week’s
column by going with Arsenal to
beat Manchester United and BTTS
at 5-2, Gunners to win from behind
at 17-2 and Marcus Rashford to
score anytime at 13-5.

Brighton win
both halves
v Liverpool

8-1

SOIL.IE WORKING WITH FAIRYHOUSE BEGINNERS
CHASE; winner €7,800; 2m 6f.
(3 runners)

1
1521-42 BRONN 74 W Mullins 6-11-12 ......................................................Daryl Jacob l99
2
4/1123- CLONDAW HOLLOW 302 (T) J McConnell 9-11-12 ................Brian Hayes 90
3
11P4-3U GRANDERO BELLO 60 E & P Harty 7-11-12 .............................. Ricky Doyle 92
BETTING: 4-9 Bronn, 5-2 Grandero Bello, 6 Clondaw Hollow
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 1 1 1 6 4
2022: Floueur 7-11-11 Jordan Gainford 7-1 (G Elliott), 16 ran.

1.01

JUMP INTO JANUARY HANDICAP CHASE; value to the
winner €8,700; 2m 1f.
(10 runners)

1
/02-041 SHAKEYTRY 20 E O’Grady 11-11-12 ...................................... Phillip Enright l99
2
59-035P SERENITY GROVE 51 (P) H Bromhead 7-11-9 ............... Conor Brassil (5) 82
3
5594-23 RAZZLE DAZZLE LOVE 55 (T) T Gibney 9-11-7 ....................... E Walsh (5) 97
4
-36411F BRIDESWELL LAD 126 S Neville 7-11-6................. Michael O’Sullivan (5) 98
5
533-65P ALICE AVRIL 33 (T;D) H Bromhead 6-11-5 ................Rachael Blackmore 84
6
86U1-9P DONT GO YET 31 (D) E Cawley 9-11-5 ...............................Keith Donoghue 89
7
-242333 HALSAFARI 21 (P) M Bowe 10-11-5 .......................................Cian Quirke (7) 96
8
917-908 BETTER TIMES AHEAD 40 (H) R Tyner 6-10-11................. Simon Torrens 79
9
6244231 UNION PARK 11 (T) P Rothwell 7-10-6.............................. P J O’Hanlon (5) 95
10
03-5214 KNOW THE GAME 33 (BF) J Dreaper 7-10-5 ..................... Luke Dempsey 90
BETTING: 2 Shakeytry, 5 Brideswell Lad, 11-2 Union Park, 6 Halsafari, 10 Alice Avri
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 6 2-6 3 5 1
2022: Sil Ver Klass 8-10-13 Bryan Cooper 3-1 Fav (A J Martin), 8 ran.

1.36

Blackburn to beat Birm
ingham,
Coventry
to
beat
ersfield,
Peterborough to beat Hudd
Ports
Shrewsbury to beat Fores mouth,
t Green,
Swindon to beat Gillingham
. Acca
pays 29-1 with Coral.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............
in association with

FOLLOW FAIRYHOUSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA HANDICAP
CHASE; winner €6,600; 3m 1f 110yds. (9 runners)

1
-23708P TURBOJET 40 (B,T) D McLoughlin 12-12-0 ..................... P J O’Hanlon (5) 75
2
8-78281 JOY OF LIFE 21 (P) S Neville 6-11-12 ...................................... Sean O’Keeffe 97
3
7001632 BALLYADAM DESTINY 21 (P,T;BF) D Hogan 9-11-11................ D King (5) 98
4
-143361 TYRE KICKER 27 (P) G Cromwell 6-11-11.......................Keith Donoghue l99
5
9037615 LIZRONA 30 (BH) E Larkin 7-11-10 .......................... Michael O’Sullivan (5) 90
6
67-P504 COOLCULLEN 13 B Duke 5-10-13................................... Kieren Buckley (5) 85
7
P-50694 ENNEMI PUBLIC 21 (T,V) D Howard 9-10-12 ...................Richard Deegan 89
8
0P05F22 MADE IN THE WOODS 13 (H) N Lee 6-10-3 ........................Phillip Enright 95
9
-928114 HIGHSTREETFASHION 13 (P,T;D) P Rooney 8-10-0 ..... P M O’Brien (7) 90
BETTING: 5-2 Tyre Kicker, 11-4 Ballyadam Destiny, 4 Made In The Woods, Joy Of Life
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: PU PU 2 1 1
2022: Where’s Frankie 6-10-8 Donagh Meyler 6-4 Fav (K Thornton), 16 ran.

2.11

AWARDSANDGIFTS.IE SOLERINA MARES NOVICE
HURDLE (GRD 3); €17,400; 2m 2f 110yds. (6 runners)

1
4-11151 SAYLAVEE 40 (D) W Mullins 6-11-0 ..............................Rachael Blackmore 97
2
241-133 ASHROE DIAMOND 32 W Mullins 6-10-10 ........................Danny Mullins l99
3
1-11 HALKA DU TABERT 39 G Elliott 6-10-10 ................................. Davy Russell 98
4
1-03212 JETARA 33 J Harrington 5-10-10 ............................................. Sean O’Keeffe 92
5
631 WHATCOULDHAVEBEEN 14 (CD) J Fahey 5-10-10................ Aidan Kelly 90
6
3 GOODIE TWO SHOES 32 (T) J O’Brien 4-10-0 .................. Simon Torrens 96
BETTING: 2 Halka Du Tabert, 9-4 Ashroe Diamond, 3 Saylavee, 8 Jetara
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 1 1 2 2 1-2
2022: Allegorie De Vassy 5-10-13 Sean O’Keeffe 7-4 JtFav (W P Mullins), 8 ran.

11

GOING: SOFT

EAMONN HAMES

12.26 .................................... Bronn
1.01...Better Times Ahead (nb)
1.36..............Ballyadam Destiny
2.11 ....HALKA DU TABERT (nap)
2.46............................ Parmenion
3.21......................Malton Groove
3.56.....................Waittillitellyou

TOM PEPPER

12.26 .................................... Bronn
1.01..............Razzle Dazzle Love
1.36........................... Tyre Kicker
2.11 ...............Goodie Two Shoes
2.46.......................Park Of Kings
3.21............................... Duncarrig
3.56...............Beating The Odds

nTIC-TAC: Right-handed galloping track of 1m 6f with an uphill finish. There are 12 fences
and eight hurdles per circuit. nLEADING TRAINERS (2018-2023): G Elliott 105-685, W P
Mullins 95-462, J P O’Brien 27-190, H De Bromhead 24-234. THIS SEASON: G Elliott 16,
W P Mullins 14, H De Bromhead 2. nTOP JOCKEYS (2018-2023): D N Russell 35-170,
Rachael Blackmore 26-216, D E Mullins 21-183, S W Flanagan 17-216. THIS SEASON:
M O’Sullivan 4, L Dempsey 3, D E Mullins 3. nLONGEST TRAVELLER: Grandero Bello
(12.26), Tony’s Pet (2.46), Harvard Guy (3.21). Round trip of 246 miles. nJACKPOT: 3-6.
PLACEPOT: 1-6. nTRAINERFAX: W P Mullins won the 12.26 in 2018, 2019 and 2020,
and won the 2.11 in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2022, and won the 2.46 in 2017, 2021
and 2022. P J Rothwell won the 1.01 in 2018 and 2021. nLIVE ON RACING TV

2.46

RICH HISTORY AT KEDRAH HOUSE STUD MAIDEN
HURDLE; winner €7,501; 2m.
(25 runners)

1
ARABIAN DIAMOND G Elliott 5-11-12................................... Jordan Gainford —
2
32- BOCELLI’S VOICE 293 D McLoughlin 7-11-12 .................... Conor Maxwell 90
3
CATCH THE BEAST E Cawley 5-11-12.................................. Keith Donoghue —
4
COCO KOLADA K Thornton 5-11-12........................................ Donagh Meyler —
5
0 DO WHATEVER 13 J Dreaper 6-11-12 ................................... Luke Dempsey 76
6
1-2 FOUND A FIFTY 76 (BF) G Elliott 6-11-12 ................................. Davy Russell 98
7
P-29 FREE PARKING 32 (T) J McConnell 6-11-12 .................. Thomas Reilly (7) 83
8
5 MAKINGACHAMP 40 N Meade 5-11-12 ................................Denis O’Regan 90
9
MIGHTY OAK LAD K Thornton 5-11-12 .........................................Ricky Doyle —
10
60 MUST GO NOW 31 E Cawley 6-11-12.......................................Phillip Enright 79
11
34 PARK OF KINGS 33 P Nolan 5-11-12 .................................... Jody McGarvey 87
12
3 PARMENION 33 (TH;BF) W Mullins 5-11-12.......................... Bryan Cooper 98
13
SHANROE ACT K Thornton 5-11-12 ......................................... Sean Flanagan —
14
30 SLATE LANE 7 P Hennessy 5-11-12 ..............................N T Prendergast (7) 75
15
66 STAR OFFICIAL 21 (H) R Donohoe 5-11-12 .................. Kieren Buckley (5) 74
16
/34-142 TAG MAN 30 (D) H Bromhead 7-11-12...................... Rachael Blackmore l99
17
8 TONY’S PET 67 (BF) B Connell 6-11-12 .................. Michael O’Sullivan (5) 73
18
WALHAAN F24 C Murphy 7-11-12 .................................................... E Walsh (5) —
19
ANNIE BEAG W Austin 6-11-5 ......................................................Adam Ellis (7) —
20
DOYEN FOR A DRINK P Nolan 6-11-5 ................................. Richard Deegan —
21
09 FLEMENSREVA 11 P Nolan 5-11-5 ......................................... Sean O’Keeffe 70
22 P65P-PP GETAWAY MOLLY 27 (PH) P Rooney 7-11-5 .................... P M O’Brien (7) 70
23
98 REALISM 33 (TH) J O’Brien 4-10-13 ...................................... Simon Torrens 73
24
S AEGIRINE 33 E O’Sullivan 4-10-6 ................................... Richard Condon (5) —
25
0 WENDELL’S LASS 38 T Gibney 4-10-6 ...........................Gavin Brouder (5) 70
26
0 VERBAL SPARRING 62 D McDonogh 4-10-13............................. RESERVE 72
27
9-23897 RINGSEND JOHN 20 T Cooper 7-11-12 .......................................... RESERVE 77
BETTING: 13-8 Parmenion, 7-2 Found A Fifty, 5 Tag Man, 7 Arabian Diamond
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 4 3 2 1 1
2022: Ha D’Or 5-12-0 Paul Townend 1-4 Fav (W P Mullins), 17 ran.

GET YOUR SUN ON SUNDAY
FOR TOMORROW’S CARDS
TICKETS ONLINE AT FAIRYHOUSE.IE MAIDEN
3.21 BOOK
HURDLE; winner €7,200; 2m 4f.
(15 runners)
AT FONTWELL, NAAS,
1
0670 ASK BOB 13 (H) J McConnell 6-11-12 ................................... Simon Torrens 89
SOUTHWELL & SEDGEFIELD 2
0-80 AWAY TO MILAN 13 P Rothwell 5-11-12 ............................ P J O’Hanlon (5) 73

ABC RUNNERS’ CHECK

KEY: C-Chelt, D-Doncaster, K-Kemp, L-Lingfield, U-Uttox
Jaytee 3.50D
Rob Royal 12.15U
A Different Kind 2.32U Dovena 4.03L
Rock My Way 3.35C
Downtown Dubai 4.03L Jobsonfire 3.42U
Abbey’s Dream 1.08L
Josh The Boss 4.25D
Rock On Cowboy 2.40D
Drop Him In 3.07U
Abstract 8.30K
Jupiter
Du
Gite
11.40C
Rogue Missile 8.00K
Dusart
2.25C
Aclaimed Art 6.30K
Just
Chasing
May
4.25D
Roi Mage 12.40C
Eastern
Star
5.30K
Active Duty 11.40C
Kajaki 12.20D
Rooful 6.00K
Easysland 12.40C
Adaayinourlife 12.33L
Karakoy 6.30K
Royal Mer 12.15U
Editeur Du Gite 1.20C
Ahoy Senor 2.25C
Karl Philippe 1.50C
Rue Galilee 4.25D
Edwardstone 1.20C
Allmankind 1.50C
Keepyourdrmsbig 12.55D Safe Destination 4.17U
Elegant Ellen 5.30K
Alodia 4.03L
Kensington Agent 8.00K Saint Segal 1.35D
Always Fearless 12.33L Elmount 12.15U
Kilcaragh Boy 4.17U
Salsada 2.05D
Elusive Enemy 4.25D
Amarillo Sky 1.20C
King Of The South 7.30K Sapperdean 6.30K
Elvis Mail 3.15D
Angel Amadea 6.00K
Kracquer 4.17U
Saratoga Spirit 6.30K
Angel Time 1.08L
Energumene 1.20C
Legends Ryde 12.40C Saturday Song 12.47U
Animal 3.07U
Epatante 2.05D
Lexington Hero 6.30K
Scriptwriter 11.40C
Annie Gale 8.00K
Ernesto 12.20D
Libor Lad 12.47U
Seasett 7.00K
Any News 12.10C
Es Perfecto 2.32U
Secret Tryst 5.30K
Areille 6.00K
Exquisite Beauty 6.30K Llandinabo Lad 12.10C
Sense Of Worth 7.00K
Aris De Crat 2.53L
Eyeofthescorpion 3.50D Long Stay 4.10C
Lord Accord 3.00C
Shamshon 5.30K
Arlecchino’s Star 4.03L Fact Or Fable 5.30K
Lordsbridge
Girl
12.33L
Shanty Alley 3.15D
Asdaa 7.00K
Fairfield Ferrata 1.57U
Lost
In
Time
12.33L
Astromachia 1.27U
Sharron Macready 8.00K
Farne 1.57U
Luis
Van
Zandt
3.07U
Autonomous Cloud 3.42U Fast Flo 5.30K
Silver Hallmark 1.50C
Luna
Aoife
4.25D
Axel Jacklin 5.30K
Simply The Betts 1.50C
Faustinovick 3.42U
Mabre 12.33L
Back On The Lash 12.40C Fautinette 4.10C
Since Day One 1.35D
Mahons Glory 2.40D
Balcomie Breeze 4.25D Fazayte 12.15U
Singing Banjo 12.40C
Malakahna
4.10C
Ballet Blanc 8.30K
Six O’clock Swill 5.30K
Fern Hill 12.10C
Malinello
12.10C
Ballybegg 2.32U
Sizing Pottsie 1.20C
Ferrobin 2.53L
Martator
4.10C
Barrichello 4.10C
Sky Defender 7.30K
Fighting Poet 8.30K
Martello Sky 2.05D
Barrier Peaks 4.17U
Smackwater Jack 3.42U
Fils De Roi 11.40C
Mawkeb 7.00K
Beau Geste 3.28L
Snow Leopardess 12.40C
Hour 12.47U
Maximilian 2.40D
Beep Beep Burrow 4.25D Finest
Social Contact 6.00K
Finest View 2.05D
May Night 7.00K
Benassi 12.47U
Solar Prophet 1.43L
Fire
Dancer
12.10C
Melek Alreeh 7.30K
Berkshire Breeze 2.53L Floueur 2.32U
Some Scope 1.27U
Memberry 6.30K
Bezzas Lad 1.43L
Sounds Russian 2.25C
Floy
Joy
4.17U
Midnight Gold 4.17U
Big Bad Bear 12.55D
Spells At Dawn 7.00K
Fortunes
Melody
1.57U
Might I 4.10C
Billy Mill 7.00K
Spiritofthegames 1.50C
Foxy
Jacks
12.40C
Milagrosa 1.27U
Black Sam Vicki 12.47U
Stage Star 12.10C
Francky
Du
Berlais
12.40C
Milans Edge 12.47U
Blenkinsop 3.35C
Starlight Glance 1.27U
Franigane
3.07U
Minella Times 12.40C
Blue Collar Lad 12.33L
Starry Eyes 12.33L
Fringill
Dike
12.20D
Mister
Coffey
3.15D
Bobby On The Beat 1.43L
Starsong 8.00K
Frodon
2.25C
Mofasa
3.35C
Bobby Socks 12.15U
State Legend 7.30K
Front View 4.10C
Moka De Vassy 3.35C
Bombay Sunset 4.25D
Of Thunder 1.08L
Fugitif 1.50C
Molly Ollys Wishes 3.00C States
Bonttay 3.35C
Stay Away Fay 2.40D
Fullforward 4.03L
Molly Valentine 1.08L
Boothill 1.35D
Stone Of Destiny 2.18L
Funambule Sivola 1.20C Mombasa 11.40C
Botox Has 3.00C
Swaffham Bulbeck 8.30K
Ga Law 3.15D
Money For Jam 4.17U
Brave Seasca 1.50C
Sweet Magic 1.27U
G’had Threepwood 12.20D Monteplex 4.25D
Call Me Jack 4.25D
Tables Turned 6.30K
Galice Macalo 2.05D
Moon Eagle 1.57U
Camachess 8.00K
Takeit Easy 4.10C
Ganapathi 1.35D
Moosmee 1.43L
Camprond 4.10C
12.33L
Gaye Legacy 12.47U
Morozov Cocktail 3.50D Taskheer
Can You Call 3.35C
Taste The Fear 3.50D
Mortal 12.40C
Gelino Bello 3.00C
Cap Du Nord 3.15D
Tea For Free 3.15D
General Hubble 12.47U Mr Hailstone 12.47U
Capital Theory 7.30K
Tedley
4.25D
Caramay 6.30K
George Bancroft 4.17U Mug Bookies 4.25D
The Green Man 2.18L
Caribean Boy 1.50C
George Morland 7.00K Mumayaz 1.43L
The Late Legend 3.50D
Naadyaa 5.30K
Casa Luna 2.53L
Geralt Of Rivia 1.08L
The Mac Lugnatic 3.50D
Naeva 11.40C
Castel Gandolfo 4.10C
Gilbertina 12.55D
The Navigator 12.20D
Catch My Breath 3.28L Give A Little Back 1.43L Nefyn Point 4.17U
The Pug 4.03L
Chanceux 3.07U
Give Me A Cuddle 12.55D Nells Son 4.10C
The Wire Flyer 12.15U
New
Shepard
7.00K
Charlie Siringo 12.15U
Glencoe Boy 3.28L
The Wounded Knee 2.40D
Night
Jet
1.27U
Cheng Gong 8.30K
Glentruan 12.20D
Think Champagne 4.03L
No
Diggity
5.30K
Cherwell 6.30K
Go Dante 2.32U
Thomas Equinas 1.43L
No
Such
Luck
3.28L
Chloellie 5.30K
Go West 4.25D
Tibbie Dunbar 8.30K
Noble Yeats 2.25C
Christines Angel 5.30K Golan Cloud 4.17U
Tiger Beetle 7.00K
Nocte Volatus 1.50C
Christopher Clive 12.15U Gold Emery 3.07U
Tim Pat 3.50D
Norley 12.55D
Claras Soldier 1.27U
Gold Souk 8.30K
Tip Top Cat 3.42U
Not Sure 3.07U
Cloth Cap 3.15D
Gold Tweet 3.00C
Now Then Wendy 2.53L Tip Top Mountain 3.07U
Coilrock 1.27U
Goldkit 6.30K
Now Where Or W 1.50C Tommy’s Oscar 1.35D
Come On John 12.33L
Good Bye 12.20D
Top Decision 3.50D
One True King 1.50C
Comfort Zone 11.40C
Grand Soir 2.40D
Out For The Count 4.17U Toussarok 2.18L
Cool Lightning 8.00K
Great D’Ange 3.50D
Trevada 12.55D
Out Of Ideas 1.27U
Coole Cody 1.50C
Guitar 3.28L
Twig 2.40D
Paisley Park 3.00C
Cooper’s Cross 3.15D
Guy 1.50C
Tyger Bay 2.18L
Panic Attack 12.10C
Cormier 1.35D
Gwendolina 1.08L
Undersupervision 3.15D
Corrieben Reiver 2.32U Hacker Des Places 4.10C Papal Music 6.30K
Unexpected Party 12.10C
Park This One 2.40D
Cotopaxi Moon 6.30K
Hammock 3.28L
Uzincso 7.00K
Party Fuzz 3.42U
Could Be Trouble 12.20D Hard Frost 4.17U
Vandad 1.43L
Pedley
Wood
12.47U
Counsel 7.00K
Vasilissa 1.08L
Hawthorn Cottage 3.50D Peltwell 2.05D
Count Otto 2.18L
Vaxholm 3.28L
Headscarf Lil 12.20D
Pembroke
3.35C
Cousu Main 12.15U
Henri The Second 3.35C Perfect Approach 6.30K Vazir 7.30K
Crealion 12.40C
Via Dante 12.47U
Hey Mister Dj 1.27U
Phoenix
Way
1.50C
Victorias Peak 1.57U
Croagh Patrick 3.50D
Hold The Note 3.50D
Piffle
6.00K
Vintage Fizz 12.55D
Cruz Control 3.35C
Hometown Hero 3.07U Pikar 4.10C
Volenti 3.28L
Crystal Casque 7.00K
Honours 12.33L
Plan Of Attack 12.40C
Wake Up Harry 12.33L
Dalamoi 12.10C
Hooves Like Jagg 8.30K Point Him Out 3.07U
War Soldier 3.35C
Dargiannini 2.32U
Huddleton Mac 1.43L
Polemon 2.53L
Cross 12.47U
Dashel Drasher 3.00C
Hurricane Bay 2.40D
Precious Eleanor 1.50C Warner’s
Jack 12.55D
Datsalrightgino 12.10C
Hystery Bere 4.10C
Presenting Jeremy 3.42U Watergrange
Waterloo Quay 4.17U
Deise Aba 12.40C
Presuming Ed 8.30K
Iamastar 12.10C
Way Out 3.35C
Delta Work 12.40C
Pride Of America 7.30K West Park Boy 1.27U
Iconic Rock 12.47U
Demachine 3.15D
Protektorat
2.25C
Idalko Bihoue 2.40D
West To The Bridge 2.32U
Deputise 1.43L
Punctuation 4.10C
Il Ridoto 1.50C
Wild Romance 1.57U
Desert Boots 1.43L
Queen Of Burg’dy 6.00K Wilpena Pound 4.03L
Impeach 2.18L
Diesel D’Allier 12.40C
Rambo T 1.27U
Import Export 1.27U
Windsor Avenue 3.15D
Dino Bellagio 4.25D
Rathmacknee 2.32U
Impulsive Lady 1.08L
Winter Getaway 4.17U
Diomede Des Mott 3.07U Inflagrante 4.17U
Rattling 2.18L
With Poise 1.27U
Discko Des Plages 3.07U Isayalittleprayer 8.30K
Ray’s The One 8.30K
Yeomen Warder 12.15U
Divine Messenger 5.30K It’s A Love Thing 12.33L Razzo Italiano 12.15U
Your Darling 1.50C
Ready To Please 4.17U
Dixon Cove 11.40C
Jack Leslie 1.43L
Your Own Story 3.42U
Doctor Brown Bear 3.35C Jason The Militant 4.10C Remember Ally 4.25D
Zafar 12.55D
Dolly Bird 12.47U
Java Point 3.15D
River Chorus 5.30K
Ziggy 7.30K

3
706 BUDDY ONE 62 P Gilligan 6-11-12 ...........................................J G Gilligan (7) 85
4
7-S0688 CARLAS BIG JIM 48 L Archdeacon 5-11-12 ......................... Mr C Shine (7) 80
5
85704 COOLE VISION 30 (T) N Lee 6-11-12 ............................. R P Geoghegan (7) 96
6
PP-005 DUNCARRIG 27 (PH) P Rothwell 6-11-12 ....................Rachael Blackmore 85
7
58-65 EL CAPITAINE 31 (H) M Lynch 5-11-12 ...............................Keith Donoghue 97
8
095 HARVARD GUY 20 E & P Harty 5-11-12................................. Luke Dempsey 94
9
47-4P4 I AM ROCCO 11 W Mullins 6-11-12 ........................................... Brian Hayes l99
10
8-4P MALTON GROOVE 38 G Elliott 6-11-12..................................... Davy Russell 91
11
95-P60 COOL CROI 11 G Elliott 6-11-5 ............................................. N R Andrews (7) 82
12
P-885 JANE WILDE 39 (T) C Murphy 5-11-5 ............................. Liam McKenna (7) 89
13
0-007 NEEV’S DREAM 39 (T) T Gibney 5-11-5 ...................................... E Walsh (5) 76
14
7-07F ROCCABAKER 21 A Slattery 5-11-5 ......................................Cian Quirke (7) 94
15
0658 SOLDARO 38 (T) G Cromwell 5-11-5 ......................................Sean Flanagan 91
BETTING: 3 El Capitaine, 4 I Am Rocco, Malton Groove, 6 Buddy One, Roccabaker
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 3 2 1 0 7
2022: L’yser 5-12-0 Donal McInerney 3-1 (B Connell), 16 ran.

3.56

ADARE MANOR OPPORTUNITY HANDICAP HURDLE;
value to the winner €7,200; 3m.
(10 runners)

1
-003706 MILLEN TO ONE 20 F Flood 9-11-13...................................C D Smithers (4) 90
2
44-1393 OTTOMAN STYLE 56 (T) D McLoughlin 7-11-13 ............. P J O’Hanlon (2) 96
3
55-069P MERCURY LANE 31 (P,T;D) P Nolan 9-11-12 .......... Kieran Callaghan (4) 89
4
-424215 RUN FOR PAT 118 (B;D) G Elliott 6-11-7 ......................... C McGivern (4) l99
5
330-23P BEATING THE ODDS 27 (C,D) W Austin 10-11-0 . Michael O’Sullivan (2) 95
6
77-P23P HARDWIRED 63 T Walsh 7-11-0 .............................. Shane O’Callaghan (4) 92
7
08/61-5 WAITTILLITELLYOU 31 (T) E Cawley 9-11-0 ......................Cian Quirke (4) 98
8
/21-U70 NATIVE GOLD 31 (P,T) E Cawley 9-10-9 ...................... Liam McKenna (4) 83
9
0038-80 CHOSEN DIAMOND 70 E Cawley 7-10-8 ..........................Philip Byrnes (2) 80
10
45-1894 ROYAL RHYTHM 12 (B;D) P Rothwell 7-10-3 ..........................C Owens (4) 90
BETTING: 4 Waittillitellyou, 5 Royal Rhythm, 11-2 Beating The Odds, 6 Run For Pat
WHERE FAVOURITES FINISHED: 1 3 2 1 6
2022: Western Zara 6-11-0 Richard Deegan 5-1 (P Nolan), 16 ran.

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12 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Jack Keene
TURF TALKING EVERY SATURDAY IN THE FAVOURITE

Wee tip for Festival

HOW have you been keeping
yourself busy over the last
couple of weeks?

WOLVERHAMPTON

5.15: 1 RENDITION M Phillips (10-1); 2
Winklevi (9-2); 3 Typewritten (10-3). 10
ran (First C 5-2 fav). 1/2l; 11/4l. S Edmunds.
T: £12.40; £3, £1.40, £1.50. Ex: £60.90.
Tric: £186.70. Trif: £244.40. CF: £55.13.
5.45: 1 TRUSTY SCOUT C Hardie
(7-1); 2 Donald Llewellyn (11-10 fav); 3
Stranger Things (7-4). 8 ran. 31/4l; 21/4l.
D Shaw. T: £10.70; £1.50, £1.10, £1.10. Ex:
£20.70. Trif: £40.90. NR: The R Breen.
6.15: 1 SAPPHIRE SEAS B Loughnane (8-11 fav); 2 Mountain Song (3-1);
3 Too Much (5-1). 10 ran. ns; 4l. C
Appleby. T: £1.73; £1.02, £1.40, £1.60. Ex:
£4.10. Trif: £9.50. CF: £3.48. NR: Hosana.
6.45: 1 JILLY COOPER O Stammers
(7-2); 2 Starshiba (11-4 fav); 3 Algheed
(3-1). 8 ran. 11/4l; hd. Charlie Johnston.
T: £4.50; £1.30, £1.50, £1.40. Ex: £11.70.
Tricast: £31.31. Trif: £33.80. CF: £13.62.
4.30: 1 MISS VIZEUN A Caffrey (101); 2 Final Fantasy (10-1); 3 Nevada
Queen (9-4 fav). 10 ran. nk; shd. N
Slevin. T: €15.20; €2.70, €2.60, €1.20. Ex:
€104.60. Trifecta: €604.90. CF: €108.46.
NR: Beyond Boundaries, Make The
Switch, The Peckhampouncer.
5.00: 1 HIGHER KINGDOM S
Rutledge (11-2); 2 Burren Song (7-1);
3 Je T’ai Porte (8-1). 12 ran (Roman
Bull 9-4 fav). 3/4l; 11/2l. J McConnell. T:
€6.60; €2, €2.40, €2. Ex: €62.50. Tricast:
€311.78. Trifecta: €365.90. CF: €44.04.
5.30: 1 MALACANNE S B Kelly (7-2); 2
Arabian Legend (9-1); 3 Tabuk (9-1). 8
ran (Jazz F 3-1 fav). 3/4l; 3/4l. J P Murtagh.
T: €4.50; €1.80, €2.10, €2.70. Ex: €41.80.
Tric: €267.80. Trif: €824. CF: €36.17.
6.00: 1 BOLD RIBB H J Horgan (4-5
fav); 2 Lauroline (12-1); 3 Storm Eric
(80-1). 13 ran. 1/ 2l; 2 1/ 2l. J P O’Brien.
T: €1.80; €1.02, €4, €18.40. Ex: €14.10.
Trifecta: €809. CF: €13.50.
6.30: 1 MACADAM’S ROCK Adam
Caffrey (10-1); 2 Ghumama (9-1); 3
Tawaazon (5-1). 13 ran (Selective Power
10-3 fav). 1 1/ 2l; shd. H McLoughlin. T:
€13.60; €3.80, €3, €2.50. Ex: €134.60.
Tric: €535.34. Trif: €896.20. CF: €101.11.
7.00: 1 SONG FOR WHOEVER W J
Lee (8-15 fav); 2 Dynamite Katie (13-2);
3 Anann (5-1). 7 ran. 31/4l; 11/4l. J O’Donoghue. T: €1.54; €1.20, €2.40. Ex: €4.80.
Trif: €14.80. CF: €5.63. NR: Brasilian P.

Brosna Pet (4-1-5) 1.36 Montana Flash (4-3-6)
1.51 Confey Life (1-2-3)
nCRAYFORD: 10.17 Moaning Sinatra
(2-6-5) 10.37 Ardnasool Flash (nap) (1-2-3)
10.53 Phoenix Puma (2-4-5) 11.09 Moaning
Sampras (6-3-2) 11.24 Cathals Icon (1-3-4)
11.39 Ragtime Honey (3-5-2) 11.54 Havana
Robusto (2-3-1) 12.09 Kid Dillon (3-6-1) 12.24
Miss Dior (1-6-3) 12.39 Borna Rhythm (6-43) 12.54 Roanna Broc (5-1-6) 1.09 Peejays
Forever (6-2-4) 1.24 Luna Jezabelle (nb) (4-51) 1.39 Prove The Point (6-4-1)
nNEWCASTLE: 2.04 Dungannon Tommy
(2-4-5) 2.19 Killieford Katic (4-6-1) 2.36
Westforth Ceejay (nap) (3-1-6) 2.54 Second
Move (1-2-4) 3.09 Dunquin Puma (4-3-6) 3.26
Darver Mammy (6-2-1) 3.44 Pennys Lalun
(5-6-1) 4.04 Anybodys Guess (3-5-4) 4.23
Blackhouse Megan (3-6-5) 4.43 Ridgedale
Polly (6-4-3) 5.03 Supa Cybil (3-4-6) 5.22
Droopys Clare (nb) (3-1-2)
RESULTS
nCENTRAL PARK: 11.43 Sandwood Vat 5-2
(2-5-6 BAGS F £7.75 TC £13.69). 11.58
Outdoor Ace 7-1 (6-5-4 £26.51 TC £122.52).
12.13 Marcias Blue Boy 9-4 (2-1-3 £20.91
TC £113.46). 12.28 Curraghmore Kit 8-1
(5-3-2 £46.47 TC £179.76). 12.43 Barnora
Michael 5-2 (2-1-6 £8.02 TC £30.93).
12.58 Decisive Dash 9-2 (4-6-2 £57.48 TC
£148.55). 1.13 Greenview Lass 3-1 (3-6-5
£11.14 TC £27.22). 1.28 Decisive Amy 6-1
(4-3-2 £34.83 TC £104.30). 1.44 Thornhill
Percy 13-8jt (5-2-6 £18.69 TC £77.82). 1.59
Clounanna Nell 2-1 (1-4-2 £14.24 TC £65.42).
nKINSLEY: 11.06 Bandit Euro 3-1 (2-4-3 BAGS
F £24.94 TC £50.97). 11.21 Direct Breda 2-1f
(2-4-3 £9.16 TC £19.25). 11.36 Roseanna
Glen 7-2 (2-3-4 £16.84 TC £48.72). 11.51

Call The Cops 9-2 (1-2-4 £13.78 TC £42.32).
12.06 Highview Reality 6-1 (6-4-5 £37.23
TC £99.04). 12.21 Croaghill Hawk 5-2 (1-6-3
£22.43 TC £66.31). 12.36 Ballymac Donna
7-2 (1-4-5 £22.92 TC £87.32). 12.51 Milbank
Patrick 5-1 (2-3-6 £21.15 TC £55.90). 1.06
Tiermana Dash 6-1 (1-3-4 £20.91 TC £48.06).
1.21 Ballymac Foxrock 15-8f (1-5-4 £10.35
TC £19.66). 1.36 Marriedinamonth 5-1 (6-3-2
£27.68 TC £60.78). 1.51 Derrymore Allie 5-2f
(2-1-4 £13.67 TC £33.35).
nNEWCASTLE: 2.04 Alnwick Charlie 6-4f (1-4-3
BAGS F £9.18 TC £18.91). 2.19 Crooks Anna
2-1f (2-6-1 £8.25 TC £31.48). 2.36 Cheap Thrills
5-4f (3-6-2 £5.42 TC £13.19). 2.54 Kenwho 9-4f
(2-5-4 £10.43 TC £23.87). 3.09 Liberty Loch
6-1 (3-6-1 £32.92 TC £105.86). 3.26 Happy
Stranger 2-1 (2-3-1 £6.96 TC £26.41). 3.44
Highview Dusk 5-2 (2-4-5 £17.85 TC £35.90).
4.04 Coolemount Flo 15-8 (2-6-3 £22.92 TC
£39.06). 4.23 Westforth Pixie 2-1f (4-3-1
£18.01 TC £42.43). 4.43 Watermill Timone
11-4 (3-2-5 £28.54 TC £60.80). 5.03 Coppice
Believer 11-8f (6-2-4 £6.22 TC £16.02). 5.22
In This Moment 6-1 (6-4-3 £23.43 TC £57.50).
nSWINDON: 2.44 Sondicow 9-4f (1-5-4 BAGS F
£23.88 TC £69.59). 2.59 Arthur Cucumber 11-8f
(3-6-5 £6.43 TC £19.69). 3.14 Bluejig Daisy 3-1
(3-5-1 £48.93 TC £103.70). 3.34 Ballymac Conti
7-4f (1-3-4 £11.42 TC £40.13). 3.54 Carrow Ace
9-4f (4-6-3 £11.11 TC £23.91). 4.14 Moyar
Rose 6-1 (1-3-4 £49.12 TC £200.19). 4.34
Stormy Emma 15-8f (5-6-1 £14.28 TC £44.64).
4.54 Confey Rocket 4-1 (3-4-5 £18.88 TC
£70.01). 5.14 Westwind Sonny 7-1 (6-5-2
£32.13 TC £123.65). 5.33 Daraghs Lucy 4-1
(2-5-1 £44.28 TC £137.04). 5.52 Monster Hulk
5-1 (3-6-5 £29.10 TC £79.31). 6.12 Granard
Coco 15-8f (1-6-2 £7.34 TC £20.82).

DUNDALK

GREYHOUND ROUND-UP WITH CHRIS OLIVER

AFTER
. . . a wee
splash back
on trousers
and shoes

POLY FILLER
JUMPS CAN
FIX THE HOLE

by staging jumps on the brown
stuff you can near-enough guarantee (barring heavy snow and the
like) the show will go on when
the turf is unraceable.
Racing could do without blank
days when it’s competing for eyeballs and bums on seats with
other sports and leisure activities.
I for one think it would be good
fun if we had some jumping on
the sand to watch on the box
during these long, harsh winters.
This isn’t totally pie in the sky
stuff — in 2009 the BHA were

HUNTINGDON

T: £6.10; £1.50, £1.30. Ex: £17.70. Tf:
£1281.50. CF: £13.72. NR: Miss Chawner.
P/POT: £33.60 Q/POT: £17.40

12.55: 1 GRANDEUR D’AME T
Bellamy (7-4 fav); 2 Maninsane (14-1);
3 Trapista (4-1). 8 ran. 1l; 7l. A King. T:
£2.75; £1.30, £3.80, £1.20. Ex: £27.80. Tc:
£89.99. Tf: £113.20. CF: £25.90.
1.25: 1 IMPERIAL BEDE Jonjo
O’Neill Jr (8-1); 2 Arqoob (3-1 jtfav);
3 Rayapour (3-1 jtfav). 14 ran. 31/4l; 4l.
Jonjo O’Neill. T: £9; £2.30, £1.80, £1.60.
Ex: £41.40. Trifecta: £205. CF: £32.51.
1.55: 1 SPOTTY DOG L Harrison (12-1); 2
Furkash (9-1); 3 Born At Midnight (11-2). 11
ran (Ear’bob 4-1 fav). 23/4l; 21/4l. M Hawker.
T: £14.90; £3.90, £3.10, £1.70. Ex: £145.90.
Tric: £670.62. Trif: £993.70. CF: £115.90.
2.30: 1 MOVEIT LIKE MINNIE F
Lambert (9-4 fav); 2 Mullinaree (15-2);
3 Merry Mistress (18-1); 4 Stroll On
By (16-1). 17 ran. 11/4l; 5l; 1/2l. N T-Davies.
T: £3.25; £1.20, £2.50, £3.50. Ex: £23.80.
Tc: £269.37. Tf: £256.40. CF: £19.86.
3.00: 1 JEREMYS FLAME K M
Donoghue (3-1); 2 Zambella (6-5 fav);
3 Tweed Skirt (10-3). 6 ran. 61/2l; 61/2l.
G Cromwell (Ire). T: £4; £1.80, £1.30. Ex:
£8.20. Trifecta: £16.90. CF: £7.31.
3.35: 1 ITCHY FEET S Bowen (201); 2 The Changing Man (11-4 fav);
3 Scarpia (40-1). 12 ran. 1 1/ 4l; nk. O
Murphy. T: £22.70; £5, £1.40, £9.60. Ex:
£126.30. Tc: £2267.40. Tf: £3284.40. CF:
£75.43. NR: My Bobby Dazzler.
4.10: 1 DONTYAWANTME C Brace
(5-1); 2 Little Miss Dante (7-4 fav); 3 It’s
Maisy (100-1). 10 ran. 1/2l; 21/4l. F O’Brien.

open to the idea of bringing allweather jumping back.
It came off the back of a brutally cold winter in 2008 when
dozens of meetings were lost to
snow and frost.
A spokesman at the time said
that all-weather racing would
‘undoubtedly’ have a part to play
in jumps racing’s future, given our
changing climate.
Come on, let’s ’ave it.
And before you tell me to put a
sock in it . . . I’ll get back to
sorting out that drawer.

I’M not sure I would want to be in the trenches with
trainer Henry Daly.
When asked by Nick Luck this week if he was
eyeing the Cheltenham Festival with improving
hurdler Blenkinsop — who had been due to run
at Cheltenham this afternoon before being
pulled out — a rather downcast Daly (left)
glumly said: “What’s the point?”
The Shropshire-based trainer says it’s a ‘waste of
time’ taking on Willie Mullins and his pals.
Now you may well be right, Henry.
In fact, you almost certainly are, but come on . . .
let’s show a little fight.
We all need to pull together and man the barricades against the Mullins invasion or else, the
great game will die on its arse.
Anything can happen in this sport — but
if you’re not in it you can’t win it.

nOLIVER’S ARMY: Geelo Vera (T1,
11.39 Cray); Roanna Broc (T5, 12.54
Cray); Southfield Hawk (T1, 9.12
Hove); Trigger Point (T6, 9.43 Hove)
7.36
7-2
6-1
11-4
9-2
5-1
11-4
7.56
2-1
2-1
8-1
8-1
8-1
7-4
8.17
11-2
5-2
9-2
11-8
8-1
8-1
8.38
4-1
8-1
8-1
7-4
5-2
4-1
8.54
6-1
3-1
8-1
8-1
8-1
4-5
9.12
7-2
4-1
5-2
8-1
4-1
7-2
9.28
4-1
13-8
6-4
5-1
8-1
8-1
9.43
11-8
8-1
9-2
9-2
9-2
4-1

HOVE’S OPEN RACES
(Open) 285 Metres
Outback Laura=
sa
16.55
Blastoff Mason
rl
16.57
GETOUTTAMYWAY md
—.—
Precede
md
16.48
Only Maloney
wd
16.30
TINTREACH JET
wd
—.—
(Open) 285 Metres
MOLLY MAID
rl
16.39
MOORSTOWN BUSTER md
—.—
Arthur Trifle
md
—.—
Bogger Duke
sa
—.—
Tintreach Honcho
wd
—.—
Pukrockcaramelo=
wd
16.36
(Open) 515 Metres
Barnfield Rising
rl
—.—
CLAIREKEITH REMY rl
—.—
Letter Pat=
rl
—.—
DROOPYS BARRY
rl
—.—
Thunder Black
md
30.05
Wedreamagain
wd
—.—
(Open) 500 Metres
Watsons Avenue=
rl
29.72
Typhoid Mary
rl
29.80
Bradys Bullet
sa
—.—
DROOPYS REQUEST md
—.—
SEOMRA SYD
sa
29.65
Imahappylassie
sa
29.44
(Open) 515 Metres
Stellas Fruity
sa
—.—
Laughil Sean=
md
30.56
Ower Smasher
sa
—.—
GLENGAR THUNDER md
—.—
Sudden Spike
sa
—.—
DROOPYS MURAL
wd
30.13
(Open) 500 Metres
SOUTHFIELD HAWKH rl
29.73
Lightfoot Roman
md
29.66
HAY BALE
md
—.—
Four From Two
md
—.—
Elegant Fashion
ep
29.68
Moustows Muttley=
md
29.52
(Open) 515 Metres
Macho Camacho=
rl
30.75
GLOBAL VISION
sa
30.18
ARTHUR PUMPKIN
md
—.—
Droopys Sputnik
md
—.—
Droopys Goodtime
wd
30.42
Narcos Tata
wd
—.—
(Open) 500 Metres
DRIVE ON LAD
rl
29.49
Loco Sharky
rl
—.—
Footfield Ruby
md
29.67
No Detail=
md
29.66
Crystal Power
sa
29.64
TRIGGER POINTHH md
29.75

SELECTIONS
nROMFORD: 10.12 Blooming Annie (1-3-4)
10.31 Its The Best (6-1-5) 10.46 Crackling
Haze (nap) (2-6-3) 11.01 Comeragh Magpie
(4-2-5) 11.16 Kilcurra Luna (1-4-5) 11.31
Dragonflyinamber (nb) (1-2-3) 11.46 Bubbly
Bounty (4-3-6) 12.01 Goodtime Louise (3-46) 12.16 Exve Blaze (4-5-1) 12.31 Patagonia
(2-5-4) 12.46 Pantone Angel (3-5-2) 1.02
Crohane Dezzie (3-2-1) 1.17 Seven Of Nine
(4-1-2) 1.33 Longslip Sue (3-2-1)
nSWINDON: 11.06 Mohican Bernie (5-1-6)
11.21 Southfield Kite (4-3-5) 11.36 Sawpit
Smokey (nb) (6-5-3) 11.51 Reality Force
(6-5-1) 12.06 Cloheena Mac (2-5-4) 12.21
Ashway Snowy (1-2-3) 12.36 Westwell
Jenny (1-3-5) 12.51 Swift Feminism (1-23) 1.06 Franco Elenore (nap) (4-6-2) 1.21

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Extra Places
Cheltenham 1:50pm

We’re paying
6 places
instead
of 4
A

ST OD
ALL

DS

No hooray, Henry

nSOUTHFIELD HAWK (1) can
swoop at Hove and complete
a hat-trick in heat two of the
Coral New Year Gala 500.
Seamus Cahill’s improving
local arrives on the back of a
pair of easy A1 wins and can fly
home on the rails at 9.12.
Cahill has strong claims in
the third heat (9.43) as well
courtesy of TRIGGER POINT (6),
who also bids for a three-timer
after an A1 double here.
As the sole wide seed, the son
of Droopys Sydney should turn
prominently and he remains on
an upward curve.
Crayford’s morning meeting
also features on RPGTV and
GEELO VERA (1) is fancied to
land the first (11.39). Unexposed
over staying trips, Sean Davy’s
bitch was an impressive winner
over 660m at Sheffield and can
build on a decent 45.78 trial
over this 714m last weekend.
ROANNA BROC (5) is in
sparkling form at present and
will take some catching again
in the Peter Bussey Memorial
Trophy Trial Stakes at 12.54.

GU

With next-to-no jumps racing in
Britain for nearly a fortnight, I’ve
mainly spent my time rearranging
my sock drawer and bingeing on
Homes Under The Hammer.
Who knew Dion Dublin would
take to the property development
game like a duck to water.
I was especially gutted when Jack
Frost claimed the prize scalp of
Lingfield’s Winter Million meeting.
The Flat card was the only one
of the three scheduled days that
went ahead and it got me thinking — shouldn’t we give all-weather
jumps racing another bash?
No doubt there will be plenty of
snobs out there who turn their
nose up at the idea, but I think
it’s one that has legs.
When all-weather tracks were
launched in this country in the
late 80’s and early 90’s, jumping
on the sand was pretty common.
Problem was, surfaces back then
were not as safe as they are now.
They were pretty firm and
unforgiving and, after a spike in
horse and jockey injuries, racing’s
top brass decided to knock the
experiment on the head in 1994.
They were right to do so then
but times have changed.
The Polytrack and Tapeta tracks
in this country are super-safe and
you can make them as fast or as
slow as you like.
So what say you, racing chiefs?
Reckon it’s time we dusted off the
portable hurdles and gave it
another whirl?
After all, these days, there’s not
a jumps trainer worth their salt
who doesn’t school their horses on
some sort of artificial surface.
And I bet there are plenty of
owners and trainers who would
rather run their horses over
obstacles on the all-weather than
have them stood in a box twiddling their hooves.
Though several powerful nutjobs
around the world would have you
think otherwise, climate change is
very real and it affects racing as
much as any sport, if not more so.
A blend of face-melting temperatures in the summer, soaking
wet winters and sharp cold snaps
has made life a misery for tracks
up and down the country.
The future is very uncertain, but

LINGFIELD

12.45: 1 DULCET SPIRIT Kaiya Fraser
(5-1); 2 Suzi’s Connoisseur (20-1); 3
Come On Girl (2-1 fav). 8 ran. 1/2l; nk. B
Johnson. T: £6.10; £2, £3.90. Ex: £108.
Tc: £264.74. Tf: £531.40. CF: £94.20.
1.15: 1 REAL ESTATE R Havlin (3-1); 2
Billian (9-4 fav); 3 San Juan (14-1). 8 ran.
1
/2l; nk. M Attwater. T: £4; £1.40, £1.30,
£3.50. Ex: £11. Tf: £95.30. CF: £10.04.
1.45: 1 COLORS OF FREEDOM L
Morris (15-8 fav); 2 Cuban Grey (5-2);
3 Imperiousity (9-2). 5 ran. 1/2l; 11/4l. A
Watson. T: £2.88; £1.20, £1.60. Ex: £6.80.
Tf: £16.30. CF: £6.61. NR: Star Adorned.

2.20: 1 HALIC R Clutterbuck (5-2);
2 Vega Sicilia (8-11 fav); 3 Greystoke
(18-1). 7 ran. 3/4l; nk. Owen Burrows. T:
£3.50; £1.80, £1.10. Ex: £5.10. CF: £4.37.
2.50: 1 MR FREEDOM T Whelan (9-2);
2 Ciao Adios (9-2); 3 Mr Rumbalicious
(7-2 fav). 9 ran. 23/4l; nk. Miss S West. T:
£5.50; £1.90, £1.70. Ex: £28.20. Tricast:
£78.01. Trifecta: £115.10. CF: £24.41.
3.25: 1 FIRST SIGHT James Doyle
(11-8); 2 Nazymbek (1-2 fav); 3 Great
Bedwyn (66-1). 7 ran. 3 / 4 l; 2 3 / 4 l. C
Appleby. T: £2.60; £1.10, £1.10. Ex: £2.80.
Trifecta: £15.70. CF: £2.48.
3.55: 1 MICK’S SPIRIT S M Levey
(7-2); 2 Pablo Del Pueblo (11-4); 3
Lilkian (11-2). 7 ran (Man On A Mission
15-8 fav). 2 1/ 4l; 3/ 4l. C Allen. T: £4.50;
£1.60. Ex: £14.60. Tc: £50.26. Tf: £64.50.
CF: £13.39. NR: Level Up, Ooh Is It.
P/POT: £6.20 Q/POT: £2.70

UK
Horse Racing
Online only

D

. . . a puddle
of pee is
left on the
pavement

the racecourse that causes
wee to “splash back” at the
perpetrator.
He said: “It is unpleasant
to see and makes people feel
uncomfortable or threatened.
“Last year, I saw a line of
men brazenly weeing against a
wall near town, with people sat
in traffic just yards away —
they were totally shameless.
“We shouldn’t have to put
up with this anymore.”
Extra portaloos were
installed along the
Evesham Road near
the track during the
November meeting
and they will be in
place once again.
Wilkinson
added:
“The
extra loos are good but the
hydrophobic paint would be
an excellent deterrent.
“I’m sure the prospect of
wet and smelly trousers will
make people think twice.”

DONCASTER

EE

BEFORE

CHELTENHAM councillors are
taking action to ensure it’s
only the horses who make a
splash during Festival week.
Local
residents
have
become
increasingly
disgusted at the number of
boozed-up punters who have
been peeing in public.
Tens of thousands of racegoers pour into Cheltenham
town centre after racing, and
plenty of them get caught
short along the way.
Rather than finding a public toilet or nipping into a
pub, some spend a penny
in the open against trees
and walls.
Councillor Max Wilkinson described public urination as a “blight on our
town during race week” —
but he has come up
with a cunning plan.
He is working to
put a special paint
on walls leading to

RACING RESULTS ROUND-UP
1.05: 1 PARRAMOUNT B Roberts
(1-2 fav); 2 Glory Bridge (16-1); 3 Benny
Silver (50-1). 14 ran. 21l; 9l. C Longsdon.
T: £1.50; £1.10, £4, £8.60. Ex: £12.10.
Tf: £169.90. CF: £11.92. NR: Arqoob,
Dickens, Father Of Jazz, Joe Dadancer.
1.35: 1 WILL STING T Cannon (9-1); 2
Dash Of Blue (7-1); 3 William Cody (5-4
fav). 7 ran. 41/2l; 6l. L Wadham. T: £11;
£4.40, £2.90. Ex: £65.20. Tric: £131.85.
Trif: £191.30. CF: £66.37. NR: Maninsane.
2.05: 1 STORMINHOME K Woods
(11-8 fav); 2 Gaelic Park (9-4); 3 Gentle
Frank (12-1). 10 ran. 11/4l; 51/2l. B Pauling.
T: £2.38; £1.10, £1.20, £2.90. Ex: £5.70.
Trifecta: £26.80. CF: £5.21. NR: Richhill,
Spago, Syltezar.
2.40: 1 GREYVAL P Brennan (11-4); 2
Arclight (6-5 fav); 3 Cianciana (28-1).
9 ran. 2l; 11/4l. F O’Brien. T: £3.75; £1.40,
£1.10, £4.30. Ex: £6.80. Trifecta: £81.80.
CF: £6.75. NR: Naeva.
3.15: 1 MALYSTIC D McMenamin (121); 2 Saint Segal (13-8 fav); 3 Gold Des
Bois (40-1). 11 ran. 1/2l; 3/4l. P Niven. T:
£15.40; £3.60, £1.40, £9.20. Ex: £47.80.
Tc: £794.17. Tf: £963. CF: £33.23.
3.45: 1 THE KNIPHAND S TwistonDavies (11-4 fav); 2 Kadex (11-1); 3
Starlyte (8-1). 15 ran. 11/4l; 10l. N TwistonDavies. T: £3.75; £1.70, £4.50, £3.20. Ex:
£41.90. Tc: £236.44. Tf: £480.80. CF:
£34.54. NR: Merry Mistress.
4.20: 1 HALF THE FREEDOM K
Brogan (8-1); 2 Morandi Second (13-2);
3 Clay (20-1); 4 Telhimlisten (2-1 fav).
17 ran. 21/4l; hd; 11/2l. Jonjo O’Neill. T: £10;
£2.20, £1.40, £4.40, £1.50. Ex: £72.20.
Tricast: £1046.28. Trifecta: £409.90. CF:
£58.19. NR: Mutual Respect.
JACKPOT: Not won, £5,650.05 c/over.
P/POT: £52.70 Q/POT: £5.90

BE

Favourite

in association with

RAN T

Online Only. Extra Places: 1/5 the odds. 16 or more must run for 6 places, 14 or
more must run for 5 places, 12 or more must run for 4 places, 11 or less standard
E/W place terms apply. Best Odds Guaranteed: Online only. Max benefit £25,000
per customer, per day. Available from 10:00 on the day of the race until the ‘off’.
Customer restrictions and rules apply. William Hill rules apply. Over 18s only. For advice
& information visit begambleaware.org. National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.

Saturday,
January 28, 2023

COMEBACK KING . . .
Walsall’s Liam Gordon
nearly lost his left leg after
horror injury (above)

Jesse’s Wham
romance —
pages 4-5

MIRACLE
MAN
LIAM GORDON is
Walsall’s
miracle
man who is out to
KO Premier League
giants Leicester.
The defender, 23,
THREE
operations
FIVE DAYS after
lapsing in his
training session
the League Two

in association with

had
in
colfirst
with
club

Walsall v
Leicester

12.30pm

and nearly lost a leg in
his brush with death.
Now he has the Foxes
in his sights in the FA
Cup fourth round.

Full interview — P 2,3

Gutsy Gordon a real Cup hero

2 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
GORDON
CAREER
RECORD

FA CUP
MIND THE GAP

THE biggest difference in
league
placings
in
this
weekend’s FA Cup fourth
round is the last non-league
side left in the competition,
Wrexham, hosting second-tier
Sheffield United (71).

DIFFERENCE IN
LEAGUE PLACES

Wrexham (Nat Lge)

v

Sheff Utd (Ch’ship)
Walsall (Lge 2)

v

Leicester (Prem)
Luton (Ch’ship)

v

Grimsby (Lge 2)
Accrington (Lge 1)

71

65

57

v

49

v

32

Leeds (Prem)
Stoke (Ch’ship)
Stevenage (Lge 2)
Derby (Lge 1)

v

West Ham (Prem)
Man Utd (Prem)

v

Reading (Ch’ship)
Preston (Ch’ship)

v

Tottenham (Prem)

32

30

26

Ipswich (Lge 1)

v

Burnley (Ch’ship)
Southampton (Prem)

v

Blackpool (Ch’ship)
Fulham (Prem)

v

Sunderland (Ch’ship)
Blackburn (Ch’ship)

26

23

22

v

15

v

15

Birmingham (Ch’ship)
Sheff Wed (Lge 1)
Fleetwood (Lge 1)
Bristol City (Ch’ship)

v

West Brom (Ch’ship)
Brighton (Prem)

v

Liverpool (Prem)
Man City (Prem)

v

Arsenal (Prem)

7

3

1

FIFTH-ROUND
DRAW

THE draw for the fifth round will
take place on Monday during The
One Show on BBC One from 7pm.

(All competitions)
2016-20
Dagenham & Redbridge
2017-18
Whitehawk (loan)
2017-18
Hendon (loan)
2019-20
Dartford (loan)

Docs told
me I may
lose my
leg..now
I’m facing
the Foxes

Games
55
17
3
10

By GRAEME BRYCE

LIAM GORDON cannot forget
his first training session with
Walsall — because it almost
became his LAST!

Like most new signings, the
23-year-old’s
biggest
concern
before his first pre-season run
was the odd butterfly in his
stomach as he looked to make a
favourable impression on his new
Saddlers team-mates.

Half an hour later Gordon was in the
back of an ambulance gasping for
breath inside an oxygen mask, trying to
alleviate the excruciating pain coursing
through his body, as he was raced
to hospital.
What followed was a nightmare
ordeal which could have cost him his
life and led to one chilling conversation
with a surgeon who warned his left leg
might have to be AMPUTATED.
However, Gordon battled through
THREE major operations on his leg in
FIVE DAYS to salvage a career
which had literally been hanging
by a thread.
Incredibly, 3 months later
the Croydon-born full-back
made his Saddlers’ debut
at Cheltenham.
And today, Walsall’s warrior defender faces Leicester’s James Maddison, Jamie
Vardy and Youri Tielemans,
in one of the most uplifting
FA Cup fairytales.
Gordon said: “It will be a
surreal moment. After all I’ve
been through, the most important part is that I’m playing
football at all.
“I’m pinching myself at
being able to play against a
Premier League side like
Leicester, who won the
trophy so recently.”
Gordon recalled the
freak events of that
summer’s day as he
reported for his first
pre-season
session
following his move
from
Bolton.
He

CLUB SAVED LIAM’S LIFE
LIAM'S
2022
TIMELINE

Signs
for
Walsall

25
MAY

20

JUNE

Walsall report back for
pre-season training
(injury occurs)

OPERATIONS

29

JUNE

Returns to first
team action - lost
away v
Cheltenham.

25
OCT

2

SEP

Rejoins
squad
training

12
SEP

First goal for Walsall
v Harrogate (3-1
home win)

Returns
to solo
training
on grass

2

SEP

3

JULY

1

JULY

Walsall v
Leicester
12.30pm

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............
2020-22
2020-21
2022-

Bolton
Dagenham & Redbridge
Walsall
TOTAL

Games
36
25
17
163

HIS WALSALL
RECORD IN
2022-23 (all comps)

REHAB . . . Gordon on his
first day back in training
after his nightmare injury

explained: “It was just a routine 2km
run at the training ground and my blood
circulation completely went in my legs. As
I finished the race I collapsed.
“At first everyone thought I was joking
but then they realised that there was a
serious problem.
“I had just signed for the club and I’m
lying there on the ground with all these
thoughts flying through my head.
“I’m the new guy and this is everyone’s
first view of me. I worried the perception
people would have of me was I wasn’t fit
enough to handle my first training run!
“What followed obviously proved that
wasn’t the case.
“The surgeon and specialists later explained the
problem
would
have
existed in my shin prior
to the run.
“It’s a condition called
compound
compartment
syndrome,
often
put
down to shin splints,
which would have built
up over time.
“The club physio told me
such
injuries
usually
result
from
car
crashes
or
a
similar, sudden trauma
and
there’s
usu-

ally a compound break. But that wasn’t
the case with me — I was just running!”
As his anxious team-mates watched on,
Gordon fought back the excruciating pain
which is a symptom of the condition.
He said: “I was given oxygen immediately, then gas and air in the ambulance
when I told them I needed something
more for the pain.
“I probably used up the entire tank in
the ambulance yet the pain was still
unbearable — off the scale. On a scale of
1-10 it was 100! It was brutal.
“If I go on to have kids and my partner
tells me there is no greater pain than
childbirth, I’ve earned the right to say:
‘Really? Try this one!’.
“They say what doesn’t kill you makes
you stronger. Well I must be pretty strong
to bounce back from that.”
Others without the backing of a club
with a highly-trained medical team could
have DIED.
The Guyana international added: “When
I was discharged from hospital initially
they said I had a sprained shin and to
rest for three weeks.
“If I had followed that advice and
the club hadn’t intervened, I’d have been
done for.
“I constantly felt sick. I was so
nauseous. I just felt faint and hot
and cold.
“I developed a massive infection which caused me to have
no movement in my toes at
all and I still suffer from
numbness, even now.

Games

17

Minutes played
Clean sheets

1,154
3

Passing accuracy

70%

Fouls won/conceded

11/5

Yellow/red cards

1/0

Thankfully Walsall insisted on me having
an MRI scan and quickly got to the heart
of the matter.
“We wouldn’t be having this conversation
now if they hadn’t. The club didn’t just
save my career — they saved my life.
“I was readmitted to hospital and the surgeons and specialists told me I should have
had surgery six hours after it happened. I
had mine more than SIX DAYS later.
“That’s what caused the infection which
almost cost me my career because I was
told there is a point where the only option
would have been to amputate the leg.”
Mercifully, three operations in five days
saved Gordon’s career, coupled with hour
upon lonely hour of hard rehabilitation.
He said: “I have been left with a scar
from my knee to my ankle which shows
the full extent of the damage.
“I’ve still got numbness in my toes and I
can’t feel the big toe or my second toe at
all. I’ve also got constant numbness in my
shin.
“I have to wear inner soles in my shoes
and football boots to lessen the pressure
on my shins.
“To this day, I do more weight work on
my calves to make them stronger because
they removed a lot of muscle for my
left leg.
“As a result my right leg started to overcompensate, which led to pain in my
‘good’ leg. So I needed to build up the
strength again on my left.
“Some players can sometimes cheat with
training. I just can’t afford to do that!
“The gaffer, Michael Flynn, was great
and kept it quiet at the start, which
helped me get through my rehab without
pressure or fans constantly messaging me,
or worrying about me.
“He just said it was a freak accident in
training, then when I returned against
Cheltenham he explained to everyone what
had actually happened.
“The fans backed me all the way and
provided
massive
motivation
for
me
throughout.
“I am a Christian and this ordeal has
enhanced my faith in God because I
couldn’t have got through this without him
— or my club physios Ellie Hargreaves and
Ewan Turnbull.”
He added: “All new signings are told not
to worry, no one could possibly get off to
a worse start than I did, with the 2K run
which almost killed me!”

RODGERS
CHINS ’EM

Compiled by Russell Lanning

OPENING SHOTS
1

CURTIS WESTON is the youngest player to appear in
an FA Cup final - aged 17 years and 119 days. But who
was he playing for?

2

IN 1988, who became the first player to miss a
penalty in an FA Cup final at Wembley?

3

WHICH player has scored in four FA Cup finals - more
than any player in the history of the competition?

CAN YOU PASS THE 11-PLUS?

HERE is a Premier League starting XI that appeared last weekend.
All you have to do is work out the side by the players and their
badges of the side they played for before their current team.

WHICH PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM FIELDED
THIS STARTING XI LAST WEEKEND?
(Badges are players and their former clubs)
Sunderland
Barcelona

Burnley

Wolves
Lille

Sligo Rovers

PSG

Arsenal

Dynamo Kiev

B Leverkusen

Sheff Utd

FUNNY OLD NAME

CAN you unscramble this anagram to reveal a team who are
in the FA Cup fourth round and have played in four FA Cup
finals, winning one.

S UDD E N

E L I T E

PLAY YOUR CAPS RIGHT
HIGHER OR LOWER?
Stuart
Pearce
(1987-99)
78 caps

Harry
Kane
(2015-present)
???

HARD AS NAILS TOUGH TACKLER

MANCHESTER UNITED’S Kevin Moran was the first player to
be sent off in an FA Cup final in 1985, but who was the
second to be shown a red card in a final
exactly 20 years later?

FUN

AFTER Nottingham Forest’s Jesse
Lingard revealed this week he
wanted to become an actor, here
is our own Film football XI.

F I L M X I
TitaNick Pope
Harry Jerry
Maguire
Erik Bakke
to the Future
Gladia-Tore
Andre Flo

E.T.hiago Silva
Jurassic
Park Ji-sung

The Lukeshawshank
Redemption

Roberto
Gan-di Matteo

Erling
Ha-La-Land

Team:
Nottingham
Forrest
Gump

Good Will
Hughes
Hunting

Rocky
Santa Cruz

Manager: One flew over the Philip Cocu’s Nest. Mikel Braveheart-eta
ANSWERS: OPENING SHOTS: 1 Millwall (2004). 2 John Aldridge. 3 Didier Drogba.
11-PLUS? It’s Everton. Pickford (previous club Sunderland), Mina, Coady, Tarkowski,
Coleman, Onana, Gueye, Mykolenko, Iwobi, Gray, Calvert-Lewin. FUNNY OLD
NAME: Leeds United. PLAY YOUR CAPS RIGHT: Harry Kane is higher with 80 caps.
HARD AS NAILS: Jose Antonio Reyes.

BLAZING SADDLER
. . . Gordon is back in
action after his ordeal

Foxes have won just twice since the
World Cup break — both against lower
league opposition in cup games.
And Rodgers let rip after Leicester
conceded a late Brighton equaliser in
last weekend’s 2-2 draw, labelling the
performance “nowhere near the level I
would want it to be, in terms of quality”.
But the King Power chief reckons his
‘harsh’ words were needed ahead of
today’s FA Cup tie at Walsall.
He said: “We’re at the elite level of
sport. It’s not all rosy in the garden all
the time and sometimes you have to be
harsh to be clear.
“When I’m talking about technical
quality, I expect players come in every
day to improve.
“They’ve been here long enough.
They’ve improved their contracts, they’ve
improved their lives.”
Leicester could give a debut to Danish
left-back Victor Kristiansen after his
£12.5million move from Copenhagen and
Rodgers hopes to add to his squad again
before Tuesday’s deadline.
He said: “If we can get one or two in
that the club are working towards,
that’ll really shift the balance of the
team around again.
“We have been trying to deal with
situations where we perhaps don’t have the
right type of player
in the position.
“If we do that, then
we come out of January
in a really good place.”

in association with

UESTION OF
SPORT

By GRAHAM HILL

LEICESTER boss Brendan Rodgers says
his players need to take criticism on
the chin after their post-Qatar slump.

3

4 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
THEIR TWO DEC 15
PREVIOUS
MEETINGS

FA CUP

2009

Johnstone’s
Paint Trophy

LEEDS

(1) 2

(Elland Road)
Att: 12,696

ACCRINGTON

(0) 0

Ephraim 9, Kilkenny 50

DATE NIGHT AT..
Romance of the Cup is alive and well as
Marsch takes missus to Wham Stadium!
LEAGUE TWO 2017-18

of environment and match atmosphere skipper Liam Cooper and midfielder
By JASON MELLOR
JESSE MARSCH knows all about
they have.
Tyler Adams are both expected to
the romance of the Cup — even
“Accrington have a lot of pride in miss out through injury.
date nights. You take your wife to the
though his missus might not agree. match.
their pitch and the crowd generates a
The head coach added: “We’ll
“We went along and met their owner good atmosphere. Their team competes have a lot of travelling fans
Andy Holt and managing director hard and you can see they care a lot backing us and we’ll have
about winning.
to be ready for whatever
Dave Burgess.
BARNET
CAMBRIDGE
STANLEY
“They
value the FA Cup
and UNITED
Accrington throw CARLISE
at us.
“We sat with them and ACCRINGTON
they
as a team they specialise in
“We know the David
were both very gracious and
set-pieces
and
throw-ins.
versus Goliath narrawelcoming. Quite rightly,
“I think they’ll play a tive
can
be
very
they have a lot of pride
lot of long balls, defend inspiring
for
the
in what they’ve built
hard and play direct underdog.
there.”
against us.”
“We won’t be takMarsch used his busLeeds’ only win in ing
anything
for
man’s date night to
the last nine games granted
when
we
pick
up
plenty
of
came in the 5-2 third- step out on that
inside information on
round replay demoli- pitch.
how to avoid a tricky
tion of Cardiff as COLCHESTER
they
“We need to COVENTRY
be
potential banana skin
CHELTENHAM
CHESTERFIELD
take a welcome break ready to play our
in front of the live TV
from their battle for kind of football and
cameras by preventing
Premier League survival. to be confident to
Accy making it through
They are desperate to command the ball and
to round five for the first
avoid
Accrington
adding score goals.
time in their history.
their name to the likes of
“That’s our challenge
The 49-year-old has never
Histon,
Rochdale,
Sutton
and and we’ll be up for it.
lost to a lower-league side in a
“We’ve got a chance
Crawley who have all dumped them
12-season coaching career.
to push in this tournaAnd he added: “I think it’s always out of the Cup in recent years.
Marsch is set to hand a debut to ment and we want to
important when you play at a lower
division team to go and see what kind £25million signing Georginio Rutter but take it totally seriously.”

Accrington
v Leeds Utd
12.30pm
BBC 1

CRAWLEY TOWN
WLEY TOWN FC
CRA

CREWE

EXETER CITY

FOREST GREEN

WEST

SUS EX
S

NOLI
CEDERE

18

96

GRIMSBY TOWN

LINCOLN CITY

NEWPORT COUNTY

STEVENAGE

SWINDON

S

T

EV

.

MORECAMBE

.
ENAGE F

C

When the Leeds boss invited wife
Kim out on a date, little did she
expect it would be a wet and windy
night at Accrington’s Wham Stadium.
Instead of fine dining and cocktails at
a swanky city centre brasserie, it was
pies and pints in the Pennine foothills.
Mrs Marsch was treated to the
homely delights of the Wham Stadium
as Stanley squeezed through their
replay against Boreham Wood after
extra time to book a fourth-round visit
by the Premier League strugglers.
The food on offer at the Wham
includes a range of Pukka Pies at
£2.80 or even Pot Noodles at £1.80.
Marsch felt a bit guilty about dressing the scouting mission up as a
romantic meal for two but insists the
welcome from their League One hosts
could not have been warmer.
But he is expecting a less hospitable
afternoon as his side bid to avoid an
FA Cup giant-killing.
The American revealed: “I suppose
it’s how us coaches manage to find

LUTON TOWN

NOTTS COUNTY

WYCOMBE WANDERERS

MANSFIELD

PORT VALE

YEOVIL

LOVING CUPLE . . . Leeds
boss Jesse Marsch took his
missus Kim to an FA Cup
replay at Accrington Stanley

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

AUG 12

2014

League Cup,
1st round

LEEDS

(2) 2

(Elland Road)
Att: 13,407

ACCRINGTON

(0) 1

Doukara 19, 38
Gray 84

ACCRINGTON have lost each of their
previous three ties in the FA Cup fourth
round, with each defeat coming against
sides from a higher division.

ACCRINGTON

5

in association with

Harvey fans
the flames
HARVEY RODGERS was heartbroken over Leeds
suffering past cup shocks but the Accrington
defender is out to cause another one today.
Tyke Rodgers (below) is a lifelong fan and still goes
to Elland Road games when he gets the chance.
His Leeds-supporting mates hope he will be ‘tortured’ by Jesse Marsch’s men, although Rodgers
believes League One Stanley have enough weapons to
give for their illustrious visitors a big headache.
The Selby-born centre-back, 26, said: “Yeah, I have
been a big Leeds fan all my life. I watch them when
I can and look out for
the results.
By MARTIN BLACKBURN
“There’s been a lot
more downs than ups but his family and friends but,
the last couple of years in true Yorkshire style,
have been brilliant. I’ve refused to pay for them
managed to get to a few all so some have decided
games when we got pro- to watch on TV instead.
He added: “Obviously
moted to the Prem.
my mates are bigger fans
“From watching Leeds than me who go all the
I know that we will time. It is nice for them
cause them problems
to come and watch
from
set-pieces
on Saturday.
and long throw“If
you
hear
ins — so we can
anyone
shouting
definitely go out
for Leeds in the
and get a result.
Accrington end it
“There’s been a
might be a couple
few upsets over
of my mates.
the years against
“I’ve got quite a
them
from
lower
lot coming but as
league teams, so it’s defi- soon as I said they had
nitely do-able.”
to pay, I stopped getting
Rodgers’ phone started replies.
buzzing as soon as Tues“I’d like to think my
day’s third-round replay family want me to win
against Boreham Wood but a couple of my mates
said they’d still definitely
finished.
He managed to secure like to see me get tortured
tickets for around 15 of by the Leeds players.”

6 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

DIVISION 1

(Anfield) Att: 28,574

MAR 6

1982

LIVERPOOL ........... (0) 0

LIVERPOOL &
BRIGHTON

6It felt
special
scoring in
front of
the Kop 7

IN THE 1981-82 SEASON
LIVERPOOL
League
FA Cup
Chelsea (a)
League Cup
Tottenham
European Cup
CSKA Sofia

Champions (1st)
5th round
L 2-0
Final
W 3-1 (aet)
Qtr-final
L 2-1 (agg)

BRIGHTON
League
FA Cup
Oxford (h)
League Cup
Barnsley (a)

41

By ANDY RITCHIE

13th
4th round
L 3-0
3rd round
L 4-1

Margaret
Thatcher

US
PRESIDENT

Ronald Reagan

NO 1
IN THE
CHARTS
The Lion
Sleeps
Tonight
by Tight Fit

(3 weeks at No1)

TOP
FILM

E.T:
The
Extra
Terrestrial

TOP NEWS

The Falklands
War begins
as Argentina
invades
the
Falkland
Islands

RITCH KICKINGS . . .
Andy Ritchie’s scrappy
goal for Brighton was
enough to see off serial
winners Liverpool

Sub
(not used):
Sheedy

Manager:
Mike
Bailey

Kennedy
Grobbelaar

Lawrenson

Whelan

Hansen
Souness
McDermott

Neal
Lee

TOP TOY

Stompers
Truck battering
powered
vehicles
that ran on a single AA
battery and featured
four-wheel drive. The first
“go anywhere” toys.

Ritchie 40

WITH
Brighton
playing
Liverpool tomorrow in the
FA Cup fourth round
at the AMEX, former
Seagulls
striker
ANDY
RITCHIE heads back 41
years to his winner in a
top-flight game at Anfield.
Ritchie joined Brighton
from Manchester United
in 1980, spending three
years at Albion.

It ranks up there with
one of the top matches in
terms of unexpected
victories in my career.
Brighton were the
new kids on the
block in the top
flight, while Liverpool
were serial trophy winners
and European Cup holders.
You only have to look at
their team that we played
against that day to see why.
I was also up against
Mark Lawrenson, my old
team-mate
at
Albion
who had left the previous
summer for £900,000.
Mark and Alan Hansen
were the two best centrebacks I’ve ever seen, two
Rolls-Royces.
Despite our win
at
Anfield,
they
still went on to win
the title that season.
I
remember
my
winning goal was a
scrappy one.
I’m pretty sure I
was on the deck in a
muddy goalmouth and
in the melee the ball
found itself to me and
I managed to get my
foot to it and
poke it home.
I know it
was in front of
the
Kop
too,
which was special.
We may have won
1-0 but at times Liverpool
absolutely battered us.
Even 41 years on, I recall
an Ian Rush shot everyone
thought was going in but
the ball somehow stopped
just inches from the line in
the boggy mud.
That
wouldn’t
have
happened on today’s
pitches. I remember
Jimmy
Case
(right),

PRIME
MINSTER

The U.S
police drama
Cagney &
Lacey makes
its debut
on BBC1

BRIGHTON ............ (1) 1

FOR Brighton to win at
Liverpool for the first
time in history — and
to do it at a fortress
like Anfield — remains
an incredible memory.

1982
AT-A-GLANCE

TOP TV

YEARS AGO

Dalglish
Case

Ritchie

Rush
Robinson

Foster

Ryan
Stille
(Shanks)

Gatting
Nelson

Manager:
Bob Paisley

Referee:
Mark Scott

Stevens

Grealish

Digweed

HOW THEY
LINED UP

also
ex-Liverpool,
being
really
wound up before
the game going back
to Anfield. He was
really geeing us up.
Afterwards in the
dressing room he
was
so
happy
—
hugging
us,
shaking our hands.
And
then
he
disappeared for the
weekend.
Presumably
he
stayed up that weekend to see old friends
and team-mates.
At the time we were
sponsored
by
British
Caledonian, so north of
Birmingham we’d fly to

the games. I had three
wonderful years at
Brighton
from
1980-83. It was a
perfect
fit
joining
from
Manchester
United at that time.
I finished top scorer in
1981-82 and moved into a
house with my wife-to-be
in Peacehaven near Hove.
Team-mate Tony Grealish
moved nearby and most of
the team lived quite close.
I’d walk to training with
Tony. It’s so sad he is no
longer with us.
The fact we were in the
top flight was a great feat.
We punched above our
weight and we picked up
several great wins.
The
old
Goldstone
Ground was wonderful too.
Strangely we only ever
used to get capacity crowds
when we hosted Crystal
Palace or Tottenham.

Interview:
RUSSELL LANNING

So proud of flying

Seagulls
IT has been an incredible season so
far for Brighton.
I was concerned that the departure
of manager Graham Potter to Chelsea
in September might have seen a dip
in form — but if anything they now
look stronger under new boss
Roberto De Zerbi (right).
As FA Cup holders, this is a real
tough draw for Liverpool. They were
soundly beaten 3-0 only 14 days ago
at Albion in the Premier League.
Several of Jurgen Klopp’s squad
look a shadow of the same players
who chased the Quadruple last term.
It’s been a delight to see my old
club doing so well — it is remarkable
they go into tomorrow’s fourth-round
tie three places above Liverpool in
the Premier League table . . .
The 1982 Anfield win was a big
shock. It shows how Albion have
grown since that a home win tomorrow would not be such a big surprise.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............

FA CUP

SUNDERLAND make their first appearance
in the FA Cup fourth round in eight years
since (2014-15), when they knocked out
today’s opponents Fulham (3-1).

CHALLENGE . . . Ipswich boss McKenna

Vincent is
Kier class
Ipswich v
Burnley

Gray hails huge
impact of Diallo

3pm

By MEL HENDERSON

KIERAN
McKENNA
studied
Vincent Kompany as a young
coach — now he has to find the
answer to beating Burnley.

Tayl up for
more glory

CHARLIE TAYLOR believes there
is much more to come from
Championship leaders Burnley.
The Clarets go into today’s FA
Cup clash at Ipswich with a fivepoint advantage at the top and on
course for an instant Prem return.
And defender Taylor, 29, thinks
victory at Bournemouth in the last
round supports their belief they can
mix it in the top flight again.
He said: “As unbelievable as we
have done so far this season, there
is still room for improvement.
“We have a very talented group
and young players in their first
season in English football who’ll
only improve. The step up is huge
but there is no reason why we
couldn’t compete.”
Clarets boss Vincent Kompany
has successfully converted Taylor
from a left-back to a centre-half.
Taylor added: “There are not
many who know more than him.
“So you are learning from one
of the best and I am learning
something every day.”

in association with

AMAD
SKILLS

TOP CAT . . .
Amad Diallo is
shining at the
Stadium of Light

Ipswich boss McKenna launched
his coaching career at Manchester
United and often used video
analysis of then Manchester City
defensive star.
Kompany is boss at Burnley, five
points clear in the Championship.
McKenna, who aims to mastermind an FA Cup fourth-round
upset for his League One side at
Portman Road today, said: “I’ve yet
to meet Vincent so I can only say
he’s doing a good job at Burnley.
“He was a fantastic player. He
was the study for lots of defensive
best-practice videos I would have
done as a young coach.”
The young bosses are both 36,
born just 34 days apart.
Kompany won four Prem titles,
two FA Cups and four League
Cups as a City player.
In contrast, McKenna’s playing
career was wrecked by a hip
injury as a rising star at Spurs.
The Northern Irishman turned to
coaching, working his way up to
become assistant to Jose Mourinho,
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf
Rangnick at Old Trafford.
Now he views his match-up with
Kompany as his biggest test of his
13-month reign at Ipswich.
He said: “Vincent was a fantastic
defender and is transferring that
well to his team.
“I see elements of Manchester
City in the way that Burnley play.”

7

Fulham v
Sunderland

By IAN MURTAGH

FULHAM will face a very different
Amad Diallo today to the one they
saw briefly 20 months ago.

DIALLO THIS
SEASON

(all competitions)
Games
Mins played
Passes
Passing accuracy
Total shots
Shots on target
Goals/assists
Win rate

22
1,446
665
86%
40
17
7/2
41%

Amad barely got a kick as sub against
the Cottagers in Manchester United’s
final home game of the 2020-21 season.
It was his last Premier League
appearance at Old Trafford and by the
time he was loaned out to Rangers in
January last year, the Ivorian was being
written off.
His form at Ibrox did little to dispel
the feeling that the youngster — signed
from Atalanta for what could top an
incredible £37million — had been thrust
into the spotlight too hastily.
And yet, five months into another loan
spell, the 20-year-old is the Championship’s Player of the Month, Sunderland’s
talisman and again being tipped as a
United star of the future.
Black Cats legend Michael Gray, who
covers United as a media pundit,
believes his time on Wearside has been
the making of Amad.
Gray said: “I remember watching him
after his move and while the talent was
there, he looked raw.
“But he’s matured ten-fold and looks a
very good footballer.”
Gray claims Sunderland manager Tony
Mowbray — who also nurtured Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott during his time at
Blackburn — deserves credit.
But he adds the player himself is
mainly responsible for the transformation.
Gray said: “When a young lad goes
out on loan from a club like United, it
can go one of two ways.
“Some think they’re too good for their
new surroundings and have the wrong
attitude from the outset. But he’s shown
great character, knuckled down and is
now reaping the rewards.
“He struggled at first but has gone from
strength to strength. Mowbray is the kind

3pm,

of manager who wants his forwards to
express themselves and he’s been great
for the kid but Amad’s body language
tells you everything you need to know.
“He’s happy in his new environment
and the way he celebrates goals shows
there’s a real camaraderie between himself and his team-mates.”
Some of those team-mates are in awe
of Amad’s natural ability. He has scored
seven goals in his last 14 games and all
have been gems.
Midfielder Alex Pritchard said: “He
came here not having had much gametime at Rangers so needed to play
regularly and affect games.
“That’s what he’s doing and long may
it continue. He’s a down-to-earth person
who works hard and you can see his
qualities during every game.”
Gray would love to see Amad blossom
at Sunderland but reckons he will
return to Old Trafford.
He added: “I think if he goes back,
he’ll be pushing Antony hard for a
place because mentally he’s much
stronger than he was two years ago.
“Belief isn’t necessarily about knowing
you’re good, it’s feeling like an important member of the team, too.
“He knows he’s a big player for Sunderland but probably doesn’t realise just
how good the move has been for him.”
Ex-Fulham youngster Patrick Roberts
has formed a superb partnership with
Amad down the Black Cats’ right.
Gray added: “There’s a real telepathy
between them and they’re capable of
wreaking havoc against anyone.
“Of course, Fulham start favourites but
if those two are on fire, it should be
quite a game.”

SILVA’S GOLD STANDARD

By ANDREW DILLON
MARCO SILVA warned his Fulham
players to toss away the FA Cup at
quality.
They
are doing well, some
their peril.
After today’s fourth-round tie at players in their attack can punish you

home to Championship Sunderland
comes a glamour Premier League trip
to neighbours Chelsea on Friday.
But hardline boss Silva promises
to axe any of his squad who fail to
deliver 100 per cent commitment as
he bids to change Fulham’s image
as soft touches.
Silva said: “There’s not a single
reason to not be serious. We
FUL THROTTLE
have to go with full ambition,
. . . Silva wants a
even if I change some players.
big performance
“We have an obligation to
respect Sunderland and their

if you are not at your best.
“Any players who are not serious in
the game tomorrow will not play
against Chelsea. That is clear to me
because the focus is one game —
tomorrow’s match against Sunderland.
“It is really important for me and
the club that we do our best to be in
the next round of the Cup.”
Fulham are seventh in the Premier
League with growing dreams of European football next season.
But they have not won an FA Cup
fourth-round match in six years. That

was against Hull in 2017 when Silva
was the visiting boss. Fulham were
later
thumped
3-0
at
home
by
Tottenham in the fifth round.
Silva is confident of signing two
players before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, with Arsenal defender Cedric
Soares and Torino midfielder Sasa
Lukic top of the Portuguese’s list.
Leading scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic
will be involved in some way today but
may not start, while midfielder Harry
Wilson may get a chance to impress.
The former Liverpool trainee is finding first-team time hard to come by.
And Silva said: “In the next few
weeks, I think we will see the best of
Harry Wilson.”

8 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
SOUTHAMPTON
v BLACKPOOL
Head-to-head

FA CUP
INSIDE TRADING
TOP TIPS FROM TRADING FLOOR
in association with

ADVERTORIAL

My bags w
...I’m ready
A TANGERINE
DREAM FOR
WILY BOSS

ALTHOUGH the FA Cup fourth round
glamour tie was last night, there remain
some match-ups today where the EFL clubs
will give themselves a squeak at an upset.
First up is Accrington Stanley against Leeds
at the brilliantly named Wham Stadium.
Struggling Leeds dispatched Cardiff after a
replay in the previous round, which is incidentally their last win since November, while
Accrington also needed a replay to navigate
past non-league Boreham Wood.
Stanley are struggling in League One — but
being in the division at all with their meagre
resources is an incredible achievement.
This won’t be easy for the Whites, but after
an initial scare I see them going through, so
Leeds and both teams to score is the bet at 9-5.
In the 6pm kick-off, Tottenham travel to
Preston with the away side not a particularly
happy camp as usual.
It seems Antonio Conte is unlikely to be
there next season while striker Harry Kane
is fluttering his eyes at Manchester United.
Preston are 11th in the Championship but
only four points off third. Tottenham, I imagine, will be taking this tie very seriously and
their class should eventually tell, so Spurs to
win to nil is the selection at 23-20.
Manchester United host Championship Reading, with one Wembley trip seemingly already
booked for the Red Devils in the Carabao Cup.
There is a feel-good factor at Old Trafford
and although there will be some changes,
Erik ten Hag won’t take massive chances.
This on paper is a real mismatch, so the
hosts to win by three or more is the 11-10 play.

McCARTHY MANAGEMENT es
m
RECORD
Ga

SPORTSCODE
THERE are 20 players in the grid below who won the FA Cup in the 1970s.
Each number represents a letter (no Q or Z) and surnames can be found
horizontally. In the lower grid you will discover another player’s surname. Find the
name and before Thursday at noon, send it to sportsquiz-sm@the-sun.co.uk and
you could win £50. We will need the winner’s bank details. January 21 winner: Aliza
Catlin, Surrey. Last week’s answer: POWER

A

11

4

13

17

21

4

7

8

10

24

8

3

M

B

9

11

12

20

18

21

9

24

22

5

6

6

C

22

11

3

23

15

10

7

18

15

10

24

8

D

19

24

8

5

10

15

15

11

9

9

24

8

N
X
O
X

E

10

17

24

23

5

10

18

12

24

13

8

14
2

F

22

14

3

5

5

8

4

24

1

1

15

7

8

18

21

6

7

8

17

24

21

23

H

15

3

7

21

5

12

16

13

3

6

5

12

I

4

11

3

2

5

12

20

16

3

11

9

12

3

11

9

1

24

3

9

22

22

5

16

16

J
K
L

19

5

8

8

7

8

14

10

3

3

7

20

7

18

24

8

17

14

24

18

5

3

12

2

N

0 N T

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

T

8

9

10

11

12

20

21

22

23

24

0

P
R
S

T
X
U
V
W
X
Y

207

te
ra
in
W
36%

68

43%

1992-96

Millwall

1996-2002

Republic of Ireland

2003-06

Sunderland

147

43%

2006-12

Wolves

270

39%

2012-18

Ipswich

279

38%

2018-20

Republic of Ireland

10

50%

2020-21

APOEL

8

25%

2021

Cardiff

38

37%

1,027

39%

TOTAL

G

Blackpool WINS
19 (39%)
Southampton
GAMES
DRAWS
WINS 21
PLAYED
9 (18%)
(43%)
49

MICK McCARTHY

EXCLUSIVE

By JUSTIN ALLEN
MICK McCARTHY’S bags were
already
packed
BEFORE
my
grandkids
more than ever. I
Blackpool asked him to help
have loved it. And I had Christmas
save them from relegation.
at
home
with
the
family and loved
The straight-talking Yorkshireman

could not wait to swing back into
action after 15 months out of football
following his sacking at Cardiff.
And eight days shy of his 64th
birthday, today he takes charge of
his first game as boss of the
Championship strugglers in the FA
Cup fourth round at Southampton.
McCarthy said: “I’m a complete
glutton for punishment aren’t I?
“I hoped it wasn’t the end of my
managerial career. It wasn’t my
intention to call it a day.
“My intention was to be at Cardiff
a long time. It didn’t work out.
“I hadn’t retired but did worry if
the game might have retired me —
thankfully it hasn’t.”
McCarthy has been in management for 31 years — bossing Millwall,
the Republic of Ireland (two spells),
Sunderland, Wolves, Ipswich, APOEL
and Cardiff.
The Barnsley-born manager was
getting comfy with his new routine
though.
He said: “I played more golf than
I’ve ever played. I loved it. I’ve seen

it, too.
“But as soon as I got an opportunity to come back, my bags were
packed. Well, being honest, they
were ALREADY packed and ready to
go before I got the call!
“I was out of the door. I love
being on the grass and the challenge
of being in the dugout on Saturday.”
Blackpool have had a tough first
half of the season and sit secondbottom of the Championship — three
points adrift of McCarthy’s ex-club
Cardiff, who are fourth-bottom.
But the challenge of trying to keep
the Seasiders in the division, as well
as his love for Bloomfield Road, got
McCarthy’s juices flowing.
He said: “Whenever I’ve been
there as an opposing manager, the
crowd has always been brilliant. I
like the stadium. It has a great history. I’ve played at the old Bloomfield Road and always loved it.
“And then you look at how they’ve
done in recent seasons.
“They did well under Neil Critchley, getting promoted and then staying up last season. Last year was

my first game against Blackpool. We
had a great game up there and the
atmosphere was brilliant.
“It was a great chance to get back
into the game and we can keep
them up. I’ve been impressed with
them so far.”
McCarthy feels for his predecessor
Michael Appleton, who was sacked
after only managing to win seven of
his 29 games.
The Yorkshireman said: “There are
a lot of good aspects to what has
happened here and I feel sorry for
Michael because I’ve been in his
shoes.
“The stigma of losing your job
ends when someone like Marcelo
Bielsa gets sacked by Leeds and
Sean Dyche loses his job after what
he did at Burnley for many years. It
can go wrong. It’s as simple as that.”
McCarthy is up against another
manager today who is fighting fires
in Nathan Jones.
The Welsh boss opted to swap a
Championship play-off challenge
with Luton back in November
for a Premier League relegation
fight
at
bottom-of-the-table
Southampton.
And McCarthy said: “I
know Nathan and we’ve
become good friends.
“I’ve sent him a couple

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............
BLACKPOOL eliminated Premier League side Nottingham
Forest in the third round but have not knocked out more
than one top-flight side in an FA Cup campaign since
their victorious season in 1952-53 (four).

THIS afternoon will be the first meeting between
Southampton and Blackpool in any competition
in nearly 11 years, since March 2012 when the
Tangerines won 3-0 in a Championship clash.

were packed
y to GO!
SULEMANA . . . rapid

Jones is
plotting
a quick
escape
By RYAN WALKER

NATHAN
JONES
says
Southampton are on a
mission to add more
attacking power.
The Premier League’s
bottom side yesterday had
a £17million bid rejected
for
Rennes
forward
Kamaldeen Sulemana.
The Ghanaian winger,
20, was the quickest
BLACKBURN
BLACKPOOL
BRADFORD CITY player at the World Cup in
Qatar — clocking speeds
of 22mph.
Boss Jones said: “You
can never have too much
pace, never have too
much power, never have
too much aggression.
“You never have too
BURY
CHARLTON
DONCASTER
much quality.
“We will constantly, as
long as I am at the club,
be striving to add more
pace, power, aggression
and quality to the team.
“We will never rest and
think ‘We’re OK now’.
NORTHAMPTON
GILLINGHAM
MK DONS
“This squad will get better every single window
and
that’s all you can do.
of messages recently when he
“I don’t think I have
has won his games. I’m delighted
ever left a club in turmoil.
for him.
“It was too good a chance to turn
“We
have
always
down for him.
recruited well with real
“If anyone can turn it around it’s
potency
for
whatever
OXFORDbecause
UNITED
PETERBOROUGH
ARGYLE
him
he works
nine days PLYMOUTH
a
system or shape and that
week! He has such a big work ethic.
is what we try to do.”
“That Premier League is so tough.
Quizzed about Sulemana
If you’re bottom all you’re ever
specifically, Jones said:
doing is punching above your weight
“He’ll
add potency to
trying to get out of it.
anyone in terms of the
“In a strange way the worst place
way he is.”
to be in is third, fourth or fifth
bottom because all you’re ever
Saints host ChampROCHDALE is looking beneath
ROTHERHAM
doing
you. It SCUNTHORPE
ionship strugglers
happened when I was at Wolves.
Blackpool in the
“When you’re bottom you kind
FA Cup fourth
of relax a bit and think, ‘At this
round today.
moment in time we’re going
Jones
(left)
down so there’s no point
said: “It will
worrying. We may as well
be
tough.
just crack on.’ It’s a
“I’ve been
weird feeling.
WALSALL
WIGAN
SOUTHEND
in
the
“I had it at IpsChampionship
wich.
We
had
seven
points
and we really
from 13 games
enjoyed going
and
ended
after Premier
up with 60.
League sides.
“Hope“Is it a gulf?
fully
we
It’s
a difference
can
do
but I’m not sure
the same at
it’s a gulf.”
Blackpool.”

LEAGUE ONE 2017-18
AFC WIMBLEDON

BRISTOL ROVERS

Southampton
v Blackpool
3pm

FLEETWOOD

OLDHAM

PORTSMOUTH

SHREWSBURY

9

in association with

WREX FACTOR . . . defender Tozer

TOZER’S
THROW
OF DICE
Wrexham
v Sheff Utd

Tomorrow, 4.30pm, BBC1 &

By KEN LAWRENCE

BEN TOZER leads the Red
Dragons into battle on another
giant-killing quest.
The Wrexham club captain
already has a few impressive
scalps to his name.
He was in the Northampton
side that KO’d Liverpool on penalties in the League Cup in 2010.
Only a late Harry Kane leveller
in 2018 stopped Tozer’s Newport
creating a huge FA Cup shock
before Tottenham won the replay.
His National League leaders host
Sheffield United tomorrow having
previously disposed of Coventry
in a 4–3 third-round thriller.
Tozer’s monster throw-ins will
be a massive weapon against
another Championship opponent.
And the defender, 32, cannot
help but dream having almost
quit the game six years ago.
Looking back at being dumped
by ex-Newport boss Graham
Westley for being a “bad egg”, he
said: “I suffered from anxiety and
had grown to hate the game.
“I went downhill mentally and
had my fiancee Sophie not told
me to go to counselling, I don’t
know how it would have gone.
“In my head I had given up. I
didn’t kick a ball for six months.
I wasn’t interested, I’d sit in front
of the TV for hours on end.”
Counselling sessions, Sophie’s
support and the sacking of
Westley for Michael Flynn turned
it around for 32-year-old Tozer.
Tozer joined Wrexham — owned
by Hollywood A-listers Ryan
Reynolds and Rob McElhenney —
from Cheltenham 18 months ago.
He added: “What is happening
here is amazing, it’s fantastic to
be part of the journey.
“I’ve had some brilliant cup
exploits, this is a free hit for us.
“We’re the Red Dragons, playing in front of a full house, on
a pitch that isn’t great — what’s
not to go for?”

STARS . . . McElhenney (left) ’n Reynolds

10 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
THE last time Preston met Tottenham in any competition
was nearly 14 years ago. They lost 5-1 in a Carling Cup
tie at Deepdale with Peter Crouch netting a hat-trick for
the North London club.

FA CUP

Al: It’s time
WE NEED EU to dig Deep
WITH BRUM
PROTEST . . . Birmingham’s faithful make feelings known

CHAMPIONSHIP 2017/18

LEAGUE ONE 2017-18
BLACKBURN

BLACKPOOL

ASTON VILLA

BARNSLEY

BRADFORD CITY

BIRMINGHAM

BOLTON

BRENTFORD BRISTOL CITY BURTON ALBION

MILLWALL
O OT B A

NOTTINGHAM

PRESTON

BIG SCALP OVERDUE

QPR

READING

L
UB

Ewood Park to kick-start
a revival.
The Blues boss said:
SHEFFIELD UTD
“The only way we get
through
these
difficult
GILLINGHAM
DONS
periods is MKby
stickingNORTHAMPTON
together — which is what
we are doing.
“We knew there
were going to be
tough times but
it’sPETERBOROUGH
about getOXFORD UNITED
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
ting
through
that.
“It’s
vitally
important that
everyone keeps
believing
and
SCUNTHORPE
keeps ROTHERHAM
working.
ROCHDALE
“The weekend’s tie
gives us another chance
to put things right, to
implement the work we
have been doing on the
training field.WALSALL
SOUTHEND
“We want to go to WIGAN
Blackburn and be very
competitive.
“It’s a chance for the
whole squad, about giving
people the right minutes
to showcase themselves.”

NORWICH

FULHAM

CL

MI L L

A

F
LL

DERBY

L

BIRMINGHAM boss John
Eustace has urged the
HULL
LEEDS
MIDDLESBROUGH
club to “stick together
3pmIPSWICH
CHARLTON
DONCASTER
BRISTOL ROVERS
through tough
times”. BURY
is aiming for a victory at
Eustace’s strugglers visit
Blackburn today hoping
their Cup form is better
than their Championship
displays
—
after
five
straight league
defeats.
FLEETWOOD
Fans protested against
Far East-based owners
BSHL
during
last
week’s
defeat
at
home to Preston.
Since then, the
OLDHAM
club have made
it known talks
have
started
between one of
their shareholders and a ‘third
party’
overPORTSMOUTHa
proposed investment
deal — for ownership of
the stadium and a stake
in Birmingham City.
The prospective investor
is currently undertaking
due diligenceSHREWSBURY
— and an
announcement has also
been made to the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange.
But
Eustace
(above)
knows he has to be
focused on football — and

CARDIFF

Blackburn v
Birmingham

W

AFC WIMBLEDON

By GRAHAM HILL

By MARTIN BLACKBURN

I885

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

SUNDERLAND

WOLVES

ALAN BROWNE believes it is time
for Preston to shake off the
nearly-men tag and claim one of
the big scalps.

The Republic of Ireland international
has seen Liverpool, Arsenal and both
Manchester clubs come to Deepdale for
cup games during his nine years with
the club.
On each occasion the Championship
side have given their opponents a scare
but ultimately bowed out.
Now it is the turn of Tottenham — and
skipper Browne (left) hopes North End
can finally have their day and steal the
headlines away from record-hunting
England captain Harry Kane.
The midfielder, 27, said: “We’ve never
quite done it have we? In recent years,
when we have come up
against these sides we’ve
given a good account
of ourselves.
“This is another
one of those big
tests
and
big
nights.
You’ve
got to focus
your mindset

DARYL’S SO
ON BRAND
By GRAEME BRYCE

DARYL DIKE believes his
rivalry with Baggies buddy
Brandon
Thomas-Asante
can inspire a Cup run.
West Brom were dumped
out of the competition at
home to Brighton by the
time Dike, 22, made his
debut last January.
The American striker,
who cost £7million from
Orlando City, then suffered
a season-ending hamstring
injury in his first
start
against
Peterborough the
following week.
Dike
(right)
endured another
setback
when
he tore a thigh
muscle in July —
and missed the cut
for USA’s Qatar World
Cup squad.
But since returning in
December, Dike has three
goals in nine appearances.
And pal Thomas-Asante
— with five goals in eight
games — is pushing him
all the way.
Ahead of today’s FA Cup
trip to Bristol City, Dike

on
causing
an
upset
because
the
pressure is off.
“No
one
will
bat an eyelid if we
lose the game.
“But if we win, it
will be talked about
around the country.”
Manager Ryan Lowe
still remembers the feeling
of sending Everton crashing
out of this competition when
he was playing as a striker
for Shrewsbury 20 years ago.
He would love his Preston
players to get a taste of it too —
but with his team just two points
off a play-off place he knows what

Bristol City
v W Brom
3pm

said: “Brandon and I get
along — he’s my homie.
We make jokes and have
very similar interests.
“I think that’s what
makes us both better. We
both want each other to
succeed, so we push each
other in every training
session and that
bond has grown.
“Off the pitch
we hang out
— but on the
pitch there is a
friendly,
competitive nature.
It drives us both
to be better.
“One game he’ll start
and then I’ll start. One
game he’ll score and
then I’ll score.
“If he scores a real
screamer, I’ll be the first
to congratulate him and
be super-excited.
“That’s just the relationship we have and it’s good
for the whole team.”

Preston
v Tottenham
6pm, BBC 1

the bigger picture is. Lowe said: “The
Everton upset was the biggest with
Shrewsbury — and then we got drawn at
home against Chelsea, so I have
fantastic memories as a player.
“These types of games can bring
memories but we got relegated after
beating Everton.
“Gay Meadow used to flood and we
had about seven games in hand, so we
thought we would be all right but we
weren’t, obviously.
“I’m not saying we want to go out —
we will enjoy the ride. But ultimately
the league is where we want to really
achieve something good.”
Kane is a doubt after illness but will
travel and Lowe is planning for the
Spurs ace to play — as he aims to
surpass the 266-goal Jimmy Greaves
club record that he equalled scoring the
winner against Fulham on Monday.
And Lowe feels it is the perfect way
for his side to test themselves.
He said: “I’m not too sure he will be
rested with records to break but I’m
hoping he saves that one for Manchester
City the week after.
“You only have to see what he has
done in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup,
where he has wanted to play all the
games, so we expect him to play.
“What an opportunity for my defenders to come up against someone of his
qualities. I’m hoping he has a quiet one.”
But Browne warned his North End
team-mates not to focus too much on
the England captain as Spurs have other
players who can hurt them.
He said: “Kane never gives the ball
away, doing the simple and unbelievable
things. His all-round game is pretty
much spot on.
“We are aware of the threats he can
cause us but, at the same time, it’s
going to be a collective effort.
“It’s not about stopping a one-man
team, it’s about stopping 11 individuals
who are playing at the highest level.
“If we do prevent Kane from scoring
then they’ve got plenty of other players
that are more than capable of taking
the game by the throat and putting you
to bed. They’ve got quality throughout.”

BROWN STRIKE CALL

SCOTT BROWN wants more
from
his
strikers
as
Fleetwood bid to avoid defeat
at Sheffield Wednesday for
the second Saturday in a row.

Sheff Wed v
Fleetwood

The Cod Army have lost three
on the spin in League One
including last weekend’s 1-0
Hillsborough loss.
And only once have they
scored more than one in a
game since December 10, when
beating QPR 2-1 in the third

round. Boss Brown said: “We’ve
been poor, especially in the
final third which isn’t like us.
“We need to work on that
and put all our focus on today
as it’s a huge game.”
Defender Shaun Rooney is set

3pm

to return to the squad after a
four-match ban following his
red card against the Owls on
Boxing Day.
Wednesday
chief
Darren
Moore said: “I look forward to
seeing him. I’ve got the biggest
hug for him!”
The Owls beat Newcastle 2-1
in the third round but Moore
added: “We know what difficult
opponents Fleetwood will be
and if we’re to progress we
have to be really good.”

COD SQUAD . . . Brown on the attack

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............
LUTON are looking to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup in
consecutive seasons for the first time since 1984-85/198586. The Hatters have won their last 16 FA Cup ties as a
Football League team against sides from a lower division.

HOEVER . . . loan switch

Ki’s not a
bad egg

GRIMSBY have won both of their previous
FA Cup ties against Luton — winning 4-3
away in January 1950 and 7-1 at home in
January 1996.

in association with

NINJA SPICE
TV warrior Khan dreams
of tasty clash with United

Stoke v
Stevenage
Tomorrow, 2pm
By GRAHAM HILL

ALEX NEIL brushed off
any suggestion Stoke’s
new loan signing Ki-Jana
Hoever is a bad boy.
The Holland Under-21
defender has joined on
loan from Wolves.
And Hoever, 21, could
make his debut against
League Two Stevenage in
tomorrow’s FA Cup clash.
But the move comes
after his loan spell at PSV
Eindhoven was cut short.
Hoever fell out last term
with ex-Wolves boss Bruno
Lage, who said he ‘would
not waste time with guys
who don’t work hard’.
But manager Neil is
delighted to have him at
the Championship club.
He said: “I meet all players before we sign them. I
spell out everything we
won’t put up with.
“In terms of character
and
professionalism,
I
want to look into their
eyes and them to understand what we want.
“I saw a humble lad
who looks as if he’s learnt
his lesson. I didn’t sense
any sort of arrogance.
“Everyone knows he has
talent, he’s been at Liverpool, Wolves and PSV.”

Praying
to Evans

OTIS KHAN once appeared on
hit ITV show Ninja Warrior UK.

And the Grimsby midfielder hopes his
side can overcome their next obstacle in
today’s FA Cup fourth-round tie.
If the League Two Mariners get past
Championship Luton, Khan will be
praying the draw sets up a dream clash
with Manchester United.
Khan was a schoolboy at his childhood team and spent ten years in the
United academy.
But he suffered heartbreak at 16
when his beloved Red Devils decided
to let him go.
And Khan, 27, suffered more
anguish when he missed out on
facing United — who take on
Championship
side
Reading
tonight — while playing for
Yeovil in 2017 after he was sent
off in a previous game.
He said: “Fingers crossed, if
we beat Luton we will get
United in the next round as I
haven’t played against them at
any level since I left. I’d want to
play them at Old Trafford.
“We know playing Luton is
going to be tough but we beat
Plymouth, who are top of
League One, in the third round
— so we know we can do it.”
Manchester-raised
Khan
thought he would be signing
scholarship forms with the Old
Trafford
side,
having
come
through their ranks.
But he suffered a huge blow
when he was told he would be leaving, having played alongside Marcus
Rashford in United’s youth teams.
Khan said: “I was heartbroken and
didn’t go into school for a week afterwards. I didn’t want to face anybody
because everyone was under the impression I was going to get a scholarship.
“Thankfully, I managed to get over it
and realised that there were other clubs
out there.”
Khan signed for Sheffield United,
before
spells
at
Yeovil,
Mansfield,
Tranmere, Walsall and Leyton Orient.
He moved to Grimsby’s Blundell Park

KHAN-DO SPIRIT
. . . Otis Khan aims
to make the most
of his opportunities

By ISABELLE BARKER

STEVE EVANS believes his
Stevenage side will need a
little divine intervention
against Stoke tomorrow.
The Boro boss led them
to a miracle 2-1 win over
Aston Villa with two very
late goals to book the
clash with the Potters.
And Evans is keeping
faith his League Two club
can cause another upset
against pal Alex Neil’s
Championship side.
Asked if Stevenage will
need help from a higher
power, Evans said: “I
think we may need some.
“I looked at the sky
when
Dean
Campbell
scored at Villa Park and
thought someone’s having
a little smile down on us.
“We need all the help
we can get — we need
Stoke to have an off day.
“We need them to miss
chances that come at key
times in the match.
“Then we just need to
hang in there and give
ourselves a Cup tie.
“If we can do that then
we can change things in
that last 15 or 20 minutes
of a game. That’s what we
did at Villa Park.”

GAME SHOW . . .
Shephard, Humes
and Kamara

Luton
v Grimsby
3pm

By SIMON YAFFE

last summer and is thoroughly enjoying
life on Humberside.
He said: “I thought I had a deal at
Sunderland but that fell through, so I
went to Leyton Orient.
“The manager, Kenny Jackett, was
sacked two or three weeks after I’d
arrived. The new boss, Richie Wellens,
wanted to do things his way and
wanted me off the books — but that is
how football is sometimes.”
He competed in Ninja Warrior UK —
hosted by Ben Shephard, Chris Kamara
and Rochelle Humes — in 2016.
Khan recalled: “I was sitting watching
TV with my sister when an advert for
Ninja Warrior came on and she said I
should apply for it.
“I had a good time and managed to
reach the semi-final.”
Khan is also looking to boost his
international credentials by playing for
Pakistan.
His paternal grandfather, Jamil Khan,
emigrated to the UK and he still has
relatives in the city of Faisalabad.
Khan was first called up to the
Pakistan national team when he was 17
but visa complications and the country
being banned by Fifa because of thirdparty interference means he has still not
made his international debut.
He is now trying to gain Pakistani
citizenship so he can play in their
World Cup qualifiers, which take place
this year.
The lack of players of South Asian
heritage in the professional game has
long been a hot topic, with only 16 represented in England’s top four divisions.
And Khan has worked with PFA
player inclusion executive Riz Rehman
in a bid to help the next generation of
footballers from that part of the world.
He is also in regular contact with
United youngster Zidane Iqbal, who is
of Pakistani and Iraqi descent, to offer
his advice and guidance.
Khan said: “If you are good enough
and if you impress the right people,
there will always be opportunities to
make it in football.”

11

12 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

CHAMPIONSHIP
SAB-FAB . . . new
boss Lamouchi
has a tricky job on
his hands to save
struggling Cardiff

ABRA
CARD
ABRA

Sabri: I’m not magic
By CHRIS HUGHES
SABRI LAMOUCHI warned fans
he is not a ‘magician’ after
birds defender Sol Bamba as his
becoming struggling Cardiff’s assistant, takes charge of the club
THIRD manager this season.
until the end of the season — when

Lamouchi,
51,
replaces
Mark
Hudson, who lasted just 118 days
and took over from the sacked
Steve Morison in September.
The former Parma midfielder had
a successful tenure with Nottingham Forest but his last job was
Qatar-based side Al-Duhail.
The Frenchman takes over a club
in the relegation zone in 21st
position and without a win in their
last 11 games in all competitions.
Lamouchi warned: “I am not a
magician.
“So we need the people, the
players need confidence and the
team needs the fans and the fans
need emotion.
“We need to be all involved, our
fans are really important and the
players need to play with confidence.
“When you are in our situation it
is not easy but I am lucky to be
here and we will be positive.
“We will do our best in every
training session and every day. We
will see what happens at the end
of the season.”
Lamouchi, who has former Blue-

both parties will review his position.
The former Ivory Coast boss
plans to keep his powder dry in
the transfer market to focus fully
on Cardiff’s next game at Luton —
which comes on deadline day on
Tuesday.
Lamouchi said: “I am not looking
to bring in new players because I
have enough experience to know in
a few days it is hard to find the
right players.
“I am not here to just save the
club, I am here to try to have a
future together.
“I cannot talk about the future if
the job was not done.
“So the first goal is to work
together and do a great job right
now until the end of the season
and to see Cardiff in the Championship next season. That’s it.
“I am very happy to be here
because I know the history of the
club. It’s not an easy challenge but
an exciting challenge.
“We have three days to find the
right and good players for the team
to be better and we have our first
game on Tuesday in Luton.”

SINCE the start of
last season, striker
Viktor
Gyokeres
(right)
has
been
directly involved in
36
league
goals,
with 29 strikes of
his
own
and
another
seven
assists — at least 17
more
than
any
other
Coventry
player in that time.

HUDDERSFIELD have earned seven points from
their last four away games in the Championship
(W2 D1 L1), five more than they had won in their
first eight matches of the season (D2 L6).

QPR have lost only
one of six league
games under Neil
Critchley (W1 D4 L1)
although four have
ended level. It is
the first time a QPR
manager has drawn
four of his first six
league
games
in
charge since Jimmy
Floyd Hasselbaink in
2016 (D4 L2).

Burnley
Sheff Utd
Watford
Blackburn
Norwich
Middlesbro
Luton
Millwall
Sunderland
West Brom
Preston
Swansea
QPR
Reading
Coventry
Hull
Bristol City
Stoke
Birmingham
Rotherham
Cardiff
Huddersfield
Blackpool
Wigan

P W
18
17
12
14
12
12
11
12
11
11
11
10
10
11
9
9
8
9
8
7
7
7
6
6

28
28
28
28
28
28
27
27
28
28
28
28
28
28
27
28
28
28
28
28
28
26
27
28

D
8
6
8
1
6
6
9
6
8
8
7
9
8
4
8
7
9
6
8
10
8
5
8
7

L
2
5
8
13
10
10
7
9
9
9
10
9
10
13
10
12
11
13
12
11
13
14
13
15

F A Pts
26 62
24 57
29 44
35 43
31 42
35 42
29 42
27 42
32 41
30 41
31 40
38 39
34 38
42 37
31 35
44 34
38 33
37 33
35 32
40 31
31 29
33 26
40 26
49 25

55
48
34
31
40
42
35
33
41
38
26
40
31
31
29
33
37
33
30
33
21
25
28
27

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............
ONLY Championship league leaders
Burnley (17) have won more points from
losing positions in the Championship this
season than Middlesbrough (15).

ALONG with Huddersfield, Slaven Bilic’s
Watford have used more players this season
than any other Championship teams — 34.
Swansea have used the fewest (22).

13

in association with

Bach yourself

DAN WANTS HORNETS TO AIM FOR TOP TWO
KEEPER Daniel Bachmann has
By GARETH DAVIES
told his Watford mates: We can
still finish in the top two.
couple of seasons ago. Brentford looked
The Austrian No 1 insists that automatic promotion from the Championship is not out of reach, despite the
table making forbidding reading.
The Hornets are third, 13 points
behind Sheffield United and a massive
18 adrift of leaders Burnley.
Add to that a massive injury list and
the fact that Watford have scored just
four times in their last six games, and
a top-two finish looks the equivalent of
climbing Everest.
The fixture list over the next five
weeks also looks like a minefield.
The Hornets visit top-six rivals
Middlesbrough today.
And before the end of February they
travel to Burnley and Sheffield United
while facing play-off contenders Blackburn and West Brom at home.
But Bachmann said: “It’s not mission
impossible with 18 games left and a lot
of points to play for.
“If we win every game we can get 98
points and we’re going up without a
doubt. With 92 or 93 you’re very likely
to be in the top two.
“We were in a similar situation the
last time we were promoted two years
ago. We were nine points behind
Brentford in mid-February but we went
up quite comfortably with three games
to spare and Brentford went
up via the play-offs.
“It’s not over, that’s for
sure. Burnley and Sheffield United have a nice
cushion but the Championship is a great league.
“Burnley play very good
football and will be tough
to catch. They deserve the
plaudits
they’re
getting
after winning nine in
a row. That’s so
impressive and
they look very
good.
“But
I’m
comparing
Sheffield
United to
Brentford a

in a different league and were winning
matches by high scores.
“Nobody would have said at the end
of January that they wouldn’t go up
directly, but they didn’t.
“There are no easy fixtures now. But
look at our game at Norwich a couple
of weeks ago — we went into that
match massive, massive underdogs. We
deserved to win. It was a tight game
but we were the better team, which
shows the quality and desire we have.
“We’ve had 16 injuries and we’ve still
got half the team out. It’s been incredibly tough.”
Those
missing
in
action
have
included eight-goal leading scorer Joao
Pedro, club captain Tom Cleverley,
striker Keinan Davis and Moroccan
midfield star Imran Louza.
Bachmann, 28, added: “I’ve never
experienced anything like the run of
injuries we’ve had.
“I don’t think we’ve had a game this
season where our best eleven have
been on the pitch.
“They haven’t been little injuries,
either. They’re things like broken legs,
ruptured Achilles, bad knee injuries.
“It’s tough to take but we’ve had to
stick together and a couple of the
young lads have come in, like Tobi
Adeyemo, who scored a massive goal
on his debut against Blackpool.
“Once everyone’s back, we have an
incredibly good team for this league.
That’s what we
have to capitalise on.”
Striker
BACH OF THE
Davis could
NET . . . Daniel
return
at
Bachmann is
Boro today.
still confident
While onloan Benfica
striker Henrique Araujo
— so highlyrated
his
contract has
a
buyout
clause
of
£88MILLION — is
in the squad.

+CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP+
MARK ROBINS claims Coventry will be
spinning plates all the way up to
Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
The Sky Blues have been one of the
busiest clubs in the January window.
They recruited Brooke Norton-Cuffy,
Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Luke McNally
all on loan deals from Arsenal, Manchester City and Burnley.
And Sean Maguire (right), 28, could
feature against HUDDERSFIELD
today after sealing a move
from Preston on Thursday.
But boss Robins is not ruling
out more movement — if the
right player comes along.
He said: “We’ve got plates
spinning but we will see.
“Essentially we’re done with
this window, unless the one
falls that we’re waiting for.
“Whether that’s now or the summer,
it doesn’t make much difference but
we will see.
“We’ve got 19 games left. This is a
big one against Huddersfield because
we’ve lost the last two league games.
“Huddersfield is a really good club
and it’s a surprise where they are.
“They’ve got some really good players but they’ve had some injuries and

By FRANKIE CHRISTOU

some of them are coming back now.
You can guess what they’re going to
do but it’s their prerogative.
“For us, it’s about us and going out
and performing to a level.
“Our
performances,
certainly
against Burnley and some of the game
against Norwich, were actually good.”
Neil
Critchley
got
QPR
warmed up for their clash
against HULL with a behindclosed-doors London derby.
The R’s beat Brentford’s B
team 3-1 in midweek.
Boss Critchley said: “The
match was played in three
thirds and some players played
60 minutes, some 90. It was a
great run-out for sharpness.
“Of my six league games so far,
we’ve lost one but only won one, too.
“If you look at the four draws, we
should have turned some of those into
wins — those extra points would put
us where we want to be this season.
“There is such a fine margin
between teams. We’re nearly there but
nearly is not good enough and we
have to be better.”

(3pm unless
stated)

LEAGUE ONE

WEEKEND
FIXTURES

14 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023
Charlton v Bolton (12.30)
Burton v Oxford
Cheltenham v Port Vale
Lincoln v Cambridge

MK Dons v Exeter
Morecambe v Bristol Rovers
Peterborough v Portsmouth
Shrewsbury v Forest Green

WELL ’WORTH IT
By GARETH DAVIES
BOSS Gareth Ainsworth said
a big ‘thanks’ to Wycombe
be an almighty fight. We’re a small
owner Rob Couhig for helping club and we want to gatecrash the
turn up the heat on their rivals. party once more.”

New Orleans-based lawyer and
businessman Couhig footed the bill
to turn on undersoil heating at
Adams Park — costing thousands of
pounds a time — so the squad
could train before Tuesday’s M40
derby with Oxford United.
It paid off with a 2-0 victory lifting Wycombe within two points of
the top six on a night when three
League One games were frozen off.
Now the Chairboys, play-off final
winners in 2020 and beaten finalists last year, are in position for
another unlikely promotion assault.
Ainsworth said: “I have to thank
Mr Couhig because he’s put the
undersoil heating on for more days
than he needed to after I asked to
put a training session on the pitch.
“The training ground was frozen,
half the boys can’t train on a 4G
pitch because it wrecks their joints,
so he switched on the heating for us.
“Football clubs are not exempt
from these crazy heating bills
everyone is getting at the moment
so that does cost a lot of money.
“It’s great to have people who
understand what I need and will
go the extra mile for this brilliant
football club.
“It’s brilliant to be in the mix
with some huge, huge sides to contend with. Portsmouth won again in
midweek, Bolton are
there,
Barnsley
are
there and it’s going to

‘Small’
does
not
begin
to
describe Wycombe in comparison
with some of their rivals.
This season’s average crowd at
Adams Park is 5,579, which is puny
against former Premier League
clubs. Derby average 27,156, Ipswich
25,711 and Sheffield Wednesday
24,001. Bolton and Portsmouth both
weigh in with 18,000-plus.
Ainsworth, second longest-serving
manager in the top four divisions’
92 clubs — behind Harrogate’s
Simon Weaver — took over in the
dark days of 2012 and knows
money will never be plentiful.
He said: “Anyone coming in during this window will have to be
the right player at the right price.
“Never, ever will I put this football club in jeopardy . . . Rob won’t
let me anyway!
“I know where this club was. I’ve
scrimped and scraped and done
extra jobs because we had nothing
at one stage. I don’t ever want to
put this club back there.
“Rob’s been superb so there’s no
way I would ever try and take
advantage.
“There may be one or two coming in, but don’t hold your breath.
This is Wycombe Wanderers and
we don’t often do big business in
transfer windows.”
No, but they don’t have to worry
about the electricity bill!

HOT STUFF . . . Ainsworth
smiles after Anis Mehmeti’s
goal helps sink rivals Oxford

CHELTENHAM have
picked up only 12
points
in
their
League One games
to be played on
Saturdays
this
season
(W3
D3
L12), the fewest
of any team in
the third tier.

CAMBRIDGE striker
Joe Ironside has
scored in all three
of his EFL games
against
Lincoln,
netting home and
away last season
and scoring both
goals in their 2-0
win in September.

P W D L
Plymouth
28
Sheff Wed
27
Ipswich
28
Derby
27
Bolton
28
Barnsley
25
Wycombe
27
Peterborough 25
Shrewsbury 27
Portsmouth 25
Bristol Rovers 27
Oxford Utd
27
Exeter
27
Port Vale
26
Charlton
26
Lincoln City 25
Fleetwood
27
Cheltenham 26
MK Dons
27
Accrington 25
Morecambe 26
Cambridge
26
Burton Albion 26
Forest Green 28

18
17
15
14
13
13
12
12
11
9
10
9
9
10
8
6
6
8
7
6
5
7
5
5

7
7
9
8
8
4
5
2
5
10
7
8
8
5
10
12
11
4
4
7
9
3
7
6

3
3
4
5
7
8
10
11
11
6
10
10
10
11
8
7
10
14
16
12
12
16
14
17

F A Pts
51
47
53
40
35
33
35
41
33
33
42
33
39
28
40
24
29
23
25
24
26
23
32
23

29
18
28
21
22
24
27
31
30
30
45
31
39
36
36
30
30
34
38
41
39
46
54
53

61
58
54
50
47
43
41
38
38
37
37
35
35
35
34
30
29
28
25
25
24
24
22
21

EXETER
will
be
looking for their
first ever away
league win against
MK
Dons
when
they
go
there
today,
winning
none
of
their
four visits to date
(D1 L3).

CHARLTON
have
won
their
last
three games in
the league — they
last managed four
in a row in a run
of six in October
and
November
2020 under exboss Lee Bowyer.

Gareth turns on heat

(All 3pm)

LEAGUE TWO

WEEKEND
FIXTURES

Saturday, January 28, 2023 ...............
AFC Wimbledon v Stockport
Barrow v Northampton
Crawley v Salford
Harrogate v Sutton
Hartlepool v Colchester

15

in association with

Mansfield v Doncaster
Rochdale v Carlisle
Swindon v Gillingham
Tranmere v Leyton Orient

++LEAGUE ONE ROUND-UP++

NEW boss John Mousinho revealed
even he has surprised himself at
how quickly PORTSMOUTH have
bounced back.
Mousinho was appointed manager
last week and ended Pompey’s
ten-game winless run in the
league with victories over Exeter
and Fleetwood.
And the 36-year-old is aiming
for a treble at PETERBOROUGH.
He said: “It was a surreal experience coming in on Friday morning without any time to properly
prepare for the first training
session and a game straight away.

By FRANKIE CHRISTOU

I knew we had good players
although I wasn’t sure how quickly
they’d be able to bounce back and
show that confidence again.
“We have to take confidence
and positives from our recent wins
but there’s another job for us to
do on Saturday.”
Dean Holden believes CHARLTON
have what it takes to stop
BOLTON’S charge.
Wanderers have suffered just
one defeat in their last ten games.
But Addicks boss Holden is

confident his side can stop them in
their tracks.
He said: “They’ve got a real
distinct style of play.
“When you think about what Bolton used to be compared to where
they are now, it’s at the complete
opposite end of the spectrum.
“It’s a difficult game for us but
we proved in our last one against
Barnsley that we’re up for the
challenge.
“It’s live on Sky and we want to
show ourselves in the best
possible light in front of a
national audience.”

2010
SWINDON
striker
Charlie
Austin (left) could appear in
this game — his only other
league appearance against
Gillingham was in January
2010 with the Robins, scoring
in a 3-1 win.

++LEAGUE TWO ROUND-UP++
HARTLEPOOL defender
Rollin
Menayese
was
KO’d for the season with
a fractured ankle.
The Walsall loanee
faces six months on the
sidelines
after
being
taken off on a stretcher
in the closing stages of
Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat at
Carlisle.
Congo-born Welshman
Menayese will have an
op in London on Monday
before returning to the
Midlands to recover.
Menayese, 25, whose
Pools
side
face
Colchester
today,

By WILL PUGH

tweeted: “Absolutely gutted to be out for the
rest of the season.
“Thank you to everyone
associated
with
Hartlepool for my time
with the club.”
SALFORD
striker
Conor McAleny is looking to score in the fifth
game on the spin for the
first time in his career
at CRAWLEY today.
The Ammies are fifth
and 15 points off top
with a game in hand
over leaders Leyton Ori-

ent. Boss Neil Wood
said: “I want to push the
players, they want more.
“It’s my job to remind
them that you can’t
come to places like this,
take your foot off the
gas and think it’ll be a
nice game.”
ORIENT are looking for
their first double over
TRANMERE since 2014
when the East Londoners visit today.
They have won just
twice in 13 League Two
matches but the O’s
have only scored once in
their last six.

O’s go for Sadlier
By WILL PUGH
LEAGUE TWO leaders Leyton Orient
are desperate to snap up forward
win-win exit deal for Ayoub during the
Kieran Sadlier from Bolton.
summer transfer window to help fund
The Trotters only signed the ex-

West Ham trainee, 28, a year ago but
he failed to force his way into the side.
But the O’s, who visit TRANMERE
today, face competition from League
One sides Barnsley and Charlton.
Elsewhere, AFC WIMBLEDON have
sold
midfielder
Ayoub
Assal
to
Al-Wakrah for a club record fee of
more than £1million.
The Qatari side triggered the 21-yearold’s buyout clause ending a 12-year
spell at Dons, who host STOCKPORT.
Wimbledon chairman Mick Buckley
said: “It was always our plan to find a

MANSFIELD
boss
Nigel
Clough
is
unbeaten in his
last ten league
games
against
Doncaster (W6 D4)
since losing 3-1
while
he
was
Derby manager in
March 2011.

AFC
WIMBLEDON
have lost just one
of
their
last
13
matches
in
League Two (W6
D6). In that run
they have shipped
only eight goals,
keeping
seven
clean sheets.

a competitive budget for next season.
“Sadly, the buyout clause in his contract was activated but happily it’s a
record transfer fee received by the club
since we re-formed in 2002.”
ROCHDALE, who entertain CARLISLE,
have signed D’Mani Mellor, 22, on loan
from Wycombe. Mellor came through
the ranks at Manchester United.
CRAWLEY have sealed a deal for
Swindon midfielder Ben Gladwin, 30.
He links up with former Robins boss
Scott Lindsey, who finally gets to take
charge of a game at home to SALFORD
today after getting the job 17 days ago.

P W D L
Leyton Orient 27
Stevenage
26
Northampton 26
Carlisle
26
Salford City 26
Swindon
26
Bradford
26
Barrow
26
Mansfield
26
Stockport Cty 25
Walsall
24
Doncaster
25
AFC Wimbledn 26
Sutton Utd
27
Tranmere
26
Grimsby
24
Crewe
24
Colchester
28
Newport Cty 26
Harrogate Tn 25
Crawley Tn
24
Hartlepool
27
Gillingham
25
Rochdale
27

17
16
13
12
12
11
11
12
11
11
10
11
9
10
9
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
5

6
7
7
9
6
8
8
4
6
5
7
4
9
6
8
6
9
6
8
6
7
7
8
5

4
3
6
5
8
7
7
10
9
9
7
10
8
11
9
10
8
15
12
13
12
15
13
17

F A Pts
36
39
40
42
35
33
31
32
36
35
30
30
29
27
28
26
20
27
24
32
26
27
11
22

16
18
28
26
25
25
25
30
35
23
22
35
28
35
23
32
28
36
30
40
39
50
28
41

57
55
46
45
42
41
41
40
39
38
37
37
36
36
35
30
30
27
26
24
22
22
20
20

NONE
of
the
last
15
league
games
between
Tranmere
and
Leyton Orient have
ended in a draw,
with eight wins
for
Rovers
and
seven victories for
the O’s.

GILLINGHAM
have
won
their
last
two League Two
games, as many
as
in
their
previous 29 put
together. The Gills
last won three on
the
bounce
in
December 2020.

16 ............... Saturday, January 28, 2023

Karren

READ HER EXCLUSIVE VIEWS
IN Saudi Arabia, they
are enjoying Ronaldo’s
Last Adventure.

And how can this latterday Robinson Crusoe fail
to like his pay packet
reportedly worth north of
£3million a week?
A little research will tell
you that this sum equates to
the
earnings
of
Kylian
Mbappe, Lionel Messi and
Kevin De Bruyne combined.
Which rather points to the
fact that Ronaldo’s new club
have more money than they
know what to do with!
Ronaldo’s £170m annually
is seven times De Bruyne’s
figure, which might imply
he’s seven times a better
player — but it doesn’t and
he isn’t.
The Portuguese is at the
supernova stage in which he
emits
a
final
blast
of
eye-aching brightness before
subsiding
into
a
postfootball afterlife.
Any chance of a reputation to match those of Pele
or Messi appear to be gone.
Pele was at one club,
Santos, for nearly 20 years
and earned three World
Cup-winning medals.
Messi has one of those but
also has seven Ballon d’Or
awards to Ronaldo’s five.
And, with an eighth close
thanks to Argentina’s Qatar
victory, there must be a real
possibility of Middle East
fortunes for him as well, as
his light begins to dim too.
The side issue of these
huge sums is what they are
doing to football.
It still hangs on to its
reputation as a working
man’s game: a woman’s too!
But the driving force of
wages
is
spurring
the
creation of haves and havenots among clubs.
Chelsea have spent £420mplus on players this season
in an effort to return to the
Premier League’s top six.
The growing divide is all
but unbreachable for many
even in the top flight —
never mind in the EFL —
leading
to
a
growing
drain-off
of
the
better
players
and
a
lack
of
competition,
which
will
sooner or later result in a
fall in attendances.
There is a cliff edge
forming below the top six
clubs in the Premier League,
boosted by the Champion
League’s millions . . . and the
rest.
But back to Ronaldo —
while the 37-year-old player
remains a jumping jack in
his bid for headed goals, last
season saw a slowing down
of
reactions
and
pace,

Brady
EVERY SATURDAY IN

Champagne
Supernova!
FADING STAR RONALDO’S WAGES
LEAD TO GREAT DIVIDE IN GAME

LAST HURRAH . . . Ron off to Saudi and facing Messi in all-star tie
marginal
perhaps
but
enough to limit his supreme
effectiveness.
Not that he saw it this
way. He wished to remain
the exception, the worldfamous one who, it appears,
thought he could break the
rules and defy Erik ten Hag
at Manchester United —
adding
an
insulting
TV
interview to the damage.
The manager won and
Ronaldo was out.
Jorge Mendes, his agent
and close friend, did not
approve of the interview
because it would put off
leading clubs — no manager
likes a diva.
He was right and it did.
So off he went (without his
agent, Mendes) to Al Nassr.
Maybe there’s a lot to like
about Ronaldo.
He’s
athletic
and
an
unstoppable goalscorer. But

this recent comment reeks
of conceit: “I’m happy, proud
to join Al Nassr . . . This
contract is unique because I
am a unique player. It’s
normal for me.”
For a start he isn’t a
unique player. He does most
things well and some brilliantly but nothing others
can’t or haven’t.
Neither Messi nor Pele
would say anything like this.
And nudging at Ronaldo
all the time is his obsession
with Messi, whose career at
Barcelona was at least the
equal of his at Real Madrid.
Imagine his indignation at
being benched in Portugal’s
Qatar campaign — compared
with Messi’s wonders.
Worse, how would he live
with Messi going to the
Middle East and earning
more than £170m a year? It’s
a real possibility.

NUMBER’S UP . . .
Ronaldo as his side
Al Nassr lost Thursday’s
Saudi Super Cup
to Al Ittihad

CUTHBERT . . Cup dream

Erin eye
for Reds
revenge
By SANDRA BROBBEY

ERIN CUTHBERT is hoping
to finally get revenge on
Liverpool in tomorrow’s FA
Cup fourth round.
Her Chelsea side threw
away the lead to lose 2-1
at the Reds in the
Women’s Super League
back in September.
Blues planned to get their
own back last weekend —
but their home WSL clash
at Kingsmeadow was abandoned due to a frozen
pitch after six minutes.
But Cuthbert, 24, hopes
to make up for that by
beating the Reds at home
tomorrow.
She said: “I want to
progress and we’ll make
sure we’re doing our
homework on Liverpool.
“We know that they are
a threat because they
beat us in the first game
of the season.
“We are under no
illusions it’s going to be a
tough game and their
coach Matt Beard is
going to make them a
tough team to beat.”
The Blues will have to
navigate their way through
an injury crisis.
Summer signings Eve
Perisset and Katerina
Svitkova joined Pernille
Harder on the sidelines.
Boss Emma Hayes
said:
“Svitkova
has
been struggling with
her knee, so she’s not
available this week.
“Eve will also be
missing. Beyond that
Pernille Harder is the
only long-term absentee.
“With Pernille, I don’t
know exactly how she’s
doing or where she’s at
with her recovery.
“She’s making progress
but we have to give her as
long as she needs.”
Liverpool were given a
huge boost with Katie
Stengel escaping a jaw
fracture this week.
The striker took a blow
to her face in the 1-0
Continental Cup quarterfinal loss to West Ham —
but a scan showed no
break and US ace could
play tomorrow.