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Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe is York Friday feature

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The Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes is Friday’s feature at York Racecourse.

With 18 horses declared for the five-furlong sprint, Wesley Ward’s unbeaten Bacio, winner of the Palace Of Holyroodehouse Handicap at Royal Ascot in June, is expected to go off as favourite for jockey Juan Hernandez.

Juddmonte reclaimed most of their sponsorship money on Wednesday when winning the Juddmonte International Stakes with Item, and Coolmore will attempt the same feat in the Nunthorpe with Mission Central.

Bred by Gigginstown House Stud, the gelded son of No Nay Never also won at Royal Ascot over five furlongs. He was a winner of the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes from Rayevka, who also re-opposed today, and will provide a strong challenge, and Overpass.

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The Aidan O’Brien-handled Mission Central disappointed the last day when only seventh in the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes at Newmarket, and it was noticeable that he faded in the final furlong. Back down to five furlongs on Friday, he should be more suited to the distance and should be in the final shake-up.

For last year’s winner, Asfoora, this may be her final race for trainer Henry Dwyer, who will hope to see her retire to the breeding shed on a positive note. She will again be the mount of Oisín Murphy.

Weatherby’s Lonsdale Cup

The Group 2 Weatherby’s Lonsdale Cup Stakes for the stayers goes to post at 2.25pm. The £250,000 contest sees the return of Cabelloa De Mar from his exertions in the God Cup at Royal Ascot in late June. The son of Phoenix Of Spain will represent George Scott and will be the mount of Oisín Murphy.

Amiloc has not won since the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2025, and was well supported the last day before jockey Hector Crouch was unseated leaving the stalls in the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes. Rossa Ryan, the son of Postponed’s regular rider will take the mount on Friday.

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Illinois will represent Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, with the in-form Colin Keane teaming up with Willie Mullins’ runner, Columbus. The Paddy Twomey-handled Carmers is now a non-runner.

Irish-trained runners at York on Friday, 21 August 2026.

1.50 Sky Bet Mile Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

Krasimir (IRE) G M Lyons

2.25 Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Group 2)

Columbus (GER) W P Mullins
Illinois (IRE) A P O’Brien

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3.00 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2)

Marco Polo (IRE) A P O’Brien

3.35 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1)

Mission Central (IRE) A P O’Brien

4.10 Assured Data Protection Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Truth Be Told (IRE) M C Grassick
Zanndabad (IRE) A J Martin

4.45 British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

Benjamin Hornigold (GB) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Oklahoma (USA) A P O’Brien

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The Vikings’ EDGE3 Job Could Now Be Settled

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Vikings fans at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay
Minnesota Vikings fans are shown before the start of the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It is the first time the draft will be held in Green Bay, the smallest market in the National Football League. © Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Many appear to believe that the Vikings’ EDGE3 position is unfilled. Or, perhaps, filled by somebody who isn’t particularly promising, such as undrafted talents like Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and/or Chaz Chambliss.

Does the team itself agree?

What has been so striking about the Minnesota Vikings’ approach to the edge rusher spot has been the near total neglect. Minnesota sent away Jonathan Greenard in a trade that now feels like it was a lifetime ago. Nobody got drafted at the position and the UDFA helping was modest for edge rusher help. Similar modesty characterized the free agency effort for the edge rusher spot. What gives?

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The Vikings’ EDGE3 Job May Be Settled Already

Do note, folks, that the worries about the edge rusher spot go beyond just Twitter (an online wasteland).

Former Vikings GM Jeff Diamond offers his writing for Vikings Territory. Consider what he had to say on the matter: “If the Vikings are considering adding a veteran edge rusher, the market is getting thinner with Jadeveon Clowney signing with the Texans, Von Miller joining the Cowboys, and Za’Darius Smith headed to the Falcons.”

And another thought not long afterwards: “They probably want to see if second-round pick Jake Golday can prove he can be an impact edge rusher/outside ‘backer along with backing up at inside linebacker.”

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NCAA Football: Central Florida at Cincinnati
Oct 11, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Cam Fancher (14) stiff-arms Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jake Golday (11) in the second half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images – Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Truth be told, I’ve been wondering about the same issue. Where is Jake Golday at in his pursuit of edge rusher snaps?

After today’s practice, I asked Golday about his opportunities at edge rusher. “My primary position right now is just focusing on WILL,” Golday explained, “and I’m going to do whatever is asked of me everyday. But like today I got a couple reps on the edge. And I love to be versatile.”

Golday, in short, likes playing edge rusher but has mostly played as the weak-side off-ball linebacker (a.k.a. WILL).

In contrast, Eric Wilson sounds like a man who is pretty excited about playing edge rusher when we chatted for a few minutes after today’s practice. Golday sounded eager to play the position more but accepting of whatever his job is. Wilson, in contrast, sounded ready to roll with his assignment.

Wilson’s take on things: “I’ve done it before. I’ve done it before my first time around, I’ve been on the EDGE a bit, just playing like SAM. And I kinda like it, honestly. I kind of like it a lot. I remember playing in high school, I played on the edge a bit. I wasn’t a d-end but would be here and there.”

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Wilson likes dabbling in different spots on the field, describing it as being fun and good for the team overall. He even reaches back into his past to highlight some reps at the specific spot, seeming to suggest a longstanding confidence in his capacity to get the job done if he’s the Vikings’ EDGE3.

Vikings LB Eric Wilson in 2025 against the Detroit Lions.
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (55) tackles Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Indeed, the suggestion here is that Eric Wilson is the Vikings’ EDGE3. That much has been obvious for a little while but the inaction from the team reinforces the idea more and more.

Per PFF, Eric Wilson got put up onto the defensive line for 336 snaps last season. Might he see a similar helping of reps in that spot?

Otherwise, the plan is to see a healthier Andrew Van Ginkel alongside a meatier workload for the insanely-talented Dallas Turner. Moreover, Ty Ingram-Dawkins is a chess piece who can get flexed out while also being kicked inside.

Here’s how you should actually think about the edge rusher depth:

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  • EDGE1 Andrew Van Ginkel
  • EDGE2 Dallas Turner
  • EDGE3 Eric Wilson
  • EDGE4 Ty Ingram-Dawkins
  • EDGE5/6 Jake Golday?
  • EDGE5/6 Bo Richter or Tyler Batty or Chaz Chambliss

The possibility exists that what the Vikings are cooking up doesn’t work. Injuries can pile up quickly in a sport as rough as NFL football. Seeing even one or two top options lose time would be a major gut punch. Or maybe the plan all along has been to add a veteran, something they could do whenever they want.

Vikings EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel pursues Caleb Williams in 2024
Dec 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) passes against the Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Given the promise that Wilson has shown as the Vikings’ EDGE3 last season, though, it’s not tough to follow how Minnesota is planning on attacking the depth issue.


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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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Backstage report on Road Dogg claiming AEW didn’t sign him for his political views

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Former WWE veteran Road Dogg recently caused a stir when he claimed on social media that he was refused a job in AEW because of his political beliefs. Now, a report has emerged questioning the validity of the Hall of Famer’s statement on the matter.

Following his retirement from in-ring action over a decade ago, Brian James aka Road Dogg held a number of backstage positions in WWE, primarily in writing, production and training roles. The New Age Outlaws member was appointed as the co-lead writer of one of the promotion’s flagship shows, Friday Night Smackdown, towards the beginning of last year. However, this past March, it was reported that the veteran was parting ways with the sports entertainment juggernaut.

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Recently, Road Dogg courted controversy on social media when he claimed that the AEW World Tag Team Championships are “beneath” Austin and Colten Gunn, the sons of his former tag partner Billy Gunn. During the online spat that ensued as a consequence, the former WWE Tag Team Champion also stated that he was denied a position in All Elite Wrestling because of his political beliefs.

On the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer questioned Brian James’ claim about the Tony Khan-led promotion not hiring him, noting that the company employs several individuals with conservative views, and that it supposedly does not discriminate with respect to hirings based on political philosophies.

“There are many people in AEW that have conservative viewpoints and I have never heard of anyone not being hired by AEW based on political viewpoints in one direction or the other,” Meltzer said. [H/T- Wrestling Inc]

Actually, I was turned away because of my political/ core beliefsThat happened IN AMERICA 🇺🇸 I didn’t donate to or vote for Trump, BUT his old man did, why was I punished ?

When were The Gunns last seen in action in AEW?

For the past several weeks, The Bang Bang Gang have been embroiled in a bitter rivalry with The Dogs and their allies, The Death Riders. Although Juice Robinson led his stable-mates Ace Austin and The Gunns to a victory against Jon Moxley’s crew on July 30, The One True King, along with Daniel Garcia, Wheeler Yuta and PAC, defeated Robinson, Austin and Colten Gunn, and Jack Perry in a multi-person tag bout on the August 8 edition of Collision, thanks to interference from Clark Connors and David Finlay.

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It remains to be seen what lies next for The Gunns and the rest of the Collision Cowboys in All Elite Wrestling.