After Churchill’s Choice’s near-rail triumph on the outside, trainer Nathan Doyle was filled with joy and release.

“She has been a frustrating mare as she’s always had the ability but hasn’t won one of these stakes races,” Doyle said.

“But she’s got that good win now and I’m really happy for her owner, Kevin (Hill). He has been quite crook and is in hospital in Brisbane so hopefully that picks him up.”

Regan Bayliss aboard the $26 Churchill’s Choice flew externally to take the Hawkesbury Gold Cup by a half length ahead of $19 Palmetto, War Eternal ($31) third a matching distance away, nosing out $3.30 Taken.

For top Sydney owner Carl Holt, disappointment struck as his royal blue and red vee was carried by the jockeys placing second through fourth.

This led to big payouts for select TAB players, with Trifecta at $6739.10 and First Four an enormous $53,067.20.

Doyle credited a tactical riding switch for unlocking Churchill’s Choice’s best career result.

“We took her back to the trials because we thought she might be a mad fresh horse,” Doyle said.

“She went so well first-up but then was a bit plain at her next run.”So, I got Regan up for the trial as she can hit a flat spot between the 500m and the 300m.

“She is probably dropping back two to three lengths and that’s where she has been losing her races.

“But you could see today that Regan got on his ‘bike’ at the 500m and got her into the race.”

Answering Doyle’s call for a Gosford barrier trial ride on Churchill’s Choice proved crucial for Bayliss at Hawkesbury.

“I’m glad I trialled her as that flat spot can cost her races,” Bayliss said.

“I just wanted to have her within striking range today and when she started to think about ‘dropping’ at the 500m, I kept at her.

“Once she got balanced up in the straight, she had to show a really good turn of foot today but she was strong to the line.”

It was Churchill’s Choice’s third appearance back from a break, with the Hawkesbury result booking her spot in the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick for Melbourne Cup Day, the first Tuesday in November.

Doyle, though, eyes something closer, contemplating the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) at Scone on May 15.

Discover the finest betting sites offering odds on the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.

After Matheus Cunha told Casemiro to change his mind on leaving Manchester United, the midfield general has spoken out on his final decision

Casemiro has said there is “no chance” he will be staying at Manchester United. Back in January, the Brazilian midfielder revealed he will leave Old Trafford at the end of the current campaign.

He has since gone on to become a huge player for Michael Carrick, contributing some huge goals and being the perfect midfield partner for the rejuvenated Kobbie Mainoo. United fans have been singing “One more year, one more year, Casemiro,” throughout the campaign, which appeared to move the ex-Real Madrid ace’s wife at the end of the victory over Liverpool.

Matheus Cunha also recently gave some fans hope Casemiro may remain at the club, by saying “you never know” while hinting he wants his teammate to stay. However, the midfield veteran confirmed himself he will walk out of Old Trafford with his head held high at the end of the season.

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Speaking to ESPN, when asked if he might now stay at the club, Casemiro replied: “I don’t think there’s a chance. There’s no chance. Mostly because of what I said, you know? Go out the big door.

“I think it was four beautiful, wonderful years and I am eternally grateful not only to the club, but to the fans. But I think I have to leave in good terms, I have to go out on top.

“I will be an eternal United fan here in England and I just have to thank all the love from the fans.”

This will be a huge disappointment for Cunha especially, who recently said: “I play with him in the national team and I know how important he is. He’s an amazing guy. And yeah, to have this guy in the dressing room is a privilege.

“We don’t know in the end how it is with his contract, and then of course we, everyone, hopes there’s a little bit more. Of course, I know it’s harder than we talked about, but yeah, in the end, you never know.”

Carrick also told the United fan base to enjoy Casemiro’s performances and spirit as much as they can between now and the end of the campaign. The United interim boss said: “Case’s had an influence within the group.

“He’s got huge experience, he’s a big player, he’s achieved an awful lot in the game, and I have to say, since I’ve been here, he’s given everything that he could possibly give.

“The situation’s probably helped that, knowing exactly where it’s at, there’s nothing to hide and he’s thrown himself right into it. It’s football, you know, it’s football. Some players have come and gone, players have come and left this football club over the years and you’ve got to evolve and you go with that.

“That’s kind of the world we’re in, but he’s definitely given everything and I think it’s nice that he’s got that connection with the supporters and it comes from both ways because I know he’s an emotional guy and it means a lot to him.”

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

It was another underwhelming display by the Delhi Capitals batters. Delhi Capitals’ struggles with the bat at home continued as they faltered on a testing track to end up with a below-par 155 for seven against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday. On a pitch offering assistance to the spinners, with the odd ball holding up, the home team’s batters failed to apply themselves.

The free fall began with the loss of opener Pathum Nissanka, who failed to clear the mid-on fielder off a slower ball from left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary. Both Nissanka (19 off 15) and K.L. Rahul (12 off 13) began with crisp boundaries but did not last long. After Nissanka’s dismissal, Rahul attempted an inside-out hit off left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein but could not get to the pitch of the ball on the charge and was caught by opposition captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.

According to Cricbuzz, DC have been the ‘worst’ team in the IPL 2026 powerplays on four parameters.

DC in Overs 1-6 in IPL 2026

Wickets lost: 21

Average runs per wicket: 23.85

Run rate: 8.35

Dot-ball percentage: 46.4%

DC laboured to 37 for two in the powerplay, with Hosein bowling half of the overs, including one from the other end that produced the wicket of Rahul.

With DC’s innings failing to gain momentum, the crowd-mostly clad in yellow in support of CSK and M.S. Dhoni, who did not even travel for the game-added to the pressure on the ‘home team’. Chants of “CSK, CSK” were heard regularly during the innings.

With such a batting performance, it appeared that DC had not overcome the mental demons of being bowled out for 75 in their previous game at the venue.

After the powerplay, another spinner, Noor Ahmad, dominated the opposition, removing Karun Nair and Nitish Rana, both of whom fell to poorly executed sweep shots.

DC captain Axar Patel had an ideal opportunity to make an impact with the bat but fell to a soft dismissal, offering a sitter to the cover fielder off a Gurjapneet Singh delivery that appeared to stop on him. DC were reeling at 69 for five in 11 overs.

Tristan Stubbs (38 off 31) and Impact Player Sameer Rizvi (40 not out off 24) struck a flurry of sixes to push the innings forward during their 65-run stand, but the damage done in the first half of the innings could not be undone as DC finished with an underwhelming total.

With PTI inputs

Featured Video Of The Day

IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi

Last year, when the Minnesota Vikings needed summer cornerback depth, some argued that the club should sign veteran Rasul Douglas. Fast forward to May 2026, and that’s happening once again — the same guy.

Minnesota’s CB room looks deeper than last year, but one more veteran would still make sense.

Douglas remains a free agent, and if he sounds familiar, it’s because he spent time with the Green Bay Packers.

Douglas Would Add Size and Experience to Flores’ Secondary

Do the Vikings really need another cornerback?

Pro Football Network: Vikings Should Sign Douglas

PFSN’s Jacob Infante outlined the league’s Top 25 free agents, with Douglas checking in at No. 10.

He explained Douglas’ availability and connected him to the Vikings, “The Dolphins needed a stopgap starting option at cornerback last year, and Rasul Douglas filled that role admirably. He had two interceptions and ranked No. 15 in the league in PFSN’s CB Impact Scoring at 84.3.”

“He’ll be 31 in August, so he’s hardly a long-term solution for any team, but he should get the chance to battle for a starting role. 2026 Predicted Team: Minnesota Vikings.”

In 2025, Minnesota ended up rolling with Jeff Okudah at CB3 after many fans’ requests to sign a guy like Douglas. Okudah later struggled and suffered a season-ending injury after six underwhelming games.

The PFF and Career Resume

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Douglas in Round 3 of the 2017 NFL Draft, the same day the Vikings picked running back Dalvin Cook. Since then, he’s forged a career with 135 games, including 93 starts and 21 interceptions.

Here’s his Pro Football Focus resume in the last nine years:

And the passer rating allowed:

Finally, the complete destination list:

• Philadelphia Eagles (2017–2019)
• Carolina Panthers (2020)
• Las Vegas Raiders (2021)
• Houston Texans (2021)
• Arizona Cardinals (2021)
• Green Bay Packers (2021–2023)
• Buffalo Bills (2023–2024)
• Miami Dolphins (2025)

SI.com‘s Nate Gosney made the case for Gosney to the Los Angeles Chargers this week, as well: “One spot remains wide open for a free agent to come in and sign…immediately. That is cornerback, a position that the Chargers lost Benjamin St-Juste to the Green Bay Packers and did nothing to replace the snaps he played in 2025.”

“Douglas has long been linked with the Chargers, dating back to his stint with the Green Bay Packers, where he solidified himself as one of the better cornerbacks in the entire NFL. Midway through 2023, he was traded to the Buffalo Bills, where he continued his prowess as a veteran DB who can learn a new system and thrive.”

Eight times in his career, Douglas has faced the Vikings as an opponent.

Gosney added about the Chargers angle, “Douglas seems like an outlier (due to his playstyle and multiple years on different teams) and would play the same snaps seen from St-Juste the year before. The Chargers coaching staff knows how to get the best out of players, as seen by St-Juste’s career resurgence in 2025. Why not Douglas as well?”

Minnesota’s Current CBs

While the Douglas free-agent idea is intriguing, the Vikings are actually in a better spot than last year at this time, mainly because they signed veteran James Pierre in March and drafted Stephen F. Austin’s Charles Demmings in April.

This is the CB room before organized team activities later this month:

Unless a training camp injury rattles the Vikings or they just want a cornerback room five defenders deep, Douglas really isn’t needed, especially due to Brian Flores’s defensive practices. He proved last year that he could get by with 3-4 decent corners.

Other Free Agents to Consider

Of course, Minnesota could still enhance the roster by filling out other positions. The WR3 hole on the depth chart is particularly glaring, making a player like Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk (trade), Jauan Jennings, Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, or DeAndre Hopkins look attractive.

The Vikings could also use a third outside linebacker after trading Jonathan Greenard two and a half weeks ago. Players like Jadeveon Clowney, Joey Bosa, Leonard Floyd, and A.J. Epenesa are eagerly awaiting free-agent phone calls.

Douglas will turn 31 in late August.

Delhi Capitals’ captain Axar Patel shares a light moment with Chennai Super Kings’ Kartik Sharma and Sanju Samson (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

NEW DELHI: There are very few sports teams that look as out of place in home conditions as Delhi Capitals do at the Ferozeshah Kotla. For the second match in a row here, the Capitals brought their unsure and inept batting forward to post 155/7 for Chennai Super Kings to chase it down with eight wickets and 15 balls to spare on Tuesday evening. Not for nothing that the local crowd invariably supports the visiting teams. The stadium turned yellow in favour of CSK despite MS Dhoni not even travelling for the game. The deafening roar after each wicket must have been intimidating for Delhi Capitals. That doesn’t help when you are playing for your survival in the tournament. At the end of the day, CSK’s bowling and Sanju Samson’s assured innings of unbeaten 87 off 52 offered a lesson in playing on a comparatively sluggish surface. This is why CSK are still breathing in this tournament while Capitals are now pushed to the brink.