TEMPELGATE takes on Friday’s card confident of firing in some winners.

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HYLAND (1.45, nap)

Looks destined for big things after his 15-length romp here last time out. While his main rivals faltered, Nico De Boinville bided his time on this seven-year-old who travelled really sweetly through the race.

He hit the front jumping the last and skipped up the hill to score without breaking sweat.He faces stronger company here but has a lot more to come.

MISTER COFFEY 2.55 Cheltenham, nb)

He enjoyed himself in last year’s Grand National so the Cross-Country course will be right up his alley.

VALGRAND (3.30 Cheltenham, treble)

Was so impressive when winning here last time. His jumping caught the eye and he can land a Grade 2.

CHELTENHAM ITV VERDICTS

1.10 DOUBLE POWERFUL

Has been living up to his name with an impressive five wins on the spin, with the last two victories coming by 24 and ten lengths. He has a 7lb penalty for his Fontwell success in this class and has plenty of stamina for this trip.

There’s every chance he’ll strike again for Neil Mulholland. American Sniper won this last year and is only 5lb higher in the handicap now.

He got back to winning ways at Newbury last week and has solid place claims. Plaisir Des Flos came back from six months off to score at Carlisle 22 days ago.

That was his fifth win on the spin too and a 7lb rise may not put the brakes on. Il Va De Soi was impressive when going in by five lengths at Uttoxeter last time.

He’s gone up the weights but trainer Harry Derham is in good form and there’s more to come. Whatsupwithyou was second in a big field here two runs ago and can figure too.

1.45 HYLAND

Has left his modest hurdles form behind over fences and looked a potential class act when winning here by 15 lengths at the October meeting. He jumped well and stormed up the hill. Nicky Henderson’s hopeful can cope with this hike in grade.

Springwell Bay impressed when taking a Chepstow Listed race on chase debut last month. He has winning hurdles form here and should cope with the longer trip. He’s another with a bright future. Resplendent Grey took well to fences with a Uttoxeter debut win.

This is much tougher so he’ll need to improve but he can’t be ignored. Buddy One has to bounce back from a poor run at Wexford.

2.20 JONBON

Kicked off last season by winning this race and, after a slight blip in the Clarence House, finished the season with Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Sandown. He has 14 wins and three places from his 17 runs, likes this trip and is fine on good ground.

He should win this without too much trouble. Edwardstone has an Arkle and Tingle Creek on his CV and was beaten nine lengths in this race last season. He’s been beaten by Jonbon several times now but he does go well fresh and should hit the forecast spot.

Boothill goes best at Ascot where he won a couple of hot handicaps early last season. He fell when upped in class before finishing behind Jonbon and Edwardstone at Sandown.

He likes good ground but has plenty to find. Unexpected Party is a solid handicapper over this trip but needs the other three to have an off day.

2.55 MISTER COFFEY

Has, amazingly, yet to win over fences but this could be the day. He jumped for fun in the 2023 Grand National and will still going strong at the four-mile point only to empty like a rusty bucket. He ran well a couple of times last season and comes back from a very fair mark.

He goes from the front and could take some stopping. Tommie Beau is hard as nails. Quirky Cartmel is his favourite track so he could well enjoy this challenge. More rain would be ideal but he’ll run his race.  

Conflated is a Grade 1 winner over three miles and was placed in that company last season. He is fit from a comeback run in the Charlie Hall and could hit the frame. Slipway has some solid handicap chase form in the book and stays all day.

3.30 VALGRAND kept up his unbeaten run over hurdles with a breathtaking Grade 2 success here last month. He went from the front and flew most of the flights in scoring by 17 lengths. He may get pestered for the lead this time but has enough quality to follow up.

Potters Charm did not hurdle like a natural here when scoring last time but his engine got him home. Nigel Twiston-Davies is sure to have worked on his jumping since then.

Gale Mahler was no match for the tip last time but is progressive and should get a bit closer this time. The others face a tall order with Rockstown Girl taking a modest contest at Chepstow last month.

4.00 CLAP OF THUNDER went like lightning when winning at Ascot last time out. He tanked along and jumped well to score by almost five lengths. That was just his second spin over hurdles so he can improve with good ground right up his street.

Fasol was a Group horse on the Flat in France and went close over timber at Kempton in May. His opening handicap mark of 108 may prove to be lenient.

Golden Maverick looked useful in winning a couple of minor races and went close again when second at Hereford. He’s another who could be ahead of the handicapper.

Wreckless Eric was well backed and going like the winner before falling two out at Wincanton 29 days ago. If that hasn’t left a scar he’ll be right on the premises. Balhambar ran well on turf last month and has a couple of handicap hurdle wins on his CV.

He likes this trip and rain would bring him into this as he likes it soft. Can’t Resist It caught the eye when second at Market Rasen when last seen in May and has an each-way shout for Fergal O’Brien.

Templegate’s tips

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NEW YORK – After more than 20 months of buildup, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic finally crossed paths in a formal setting in advance of their heavyweight title fight at Thursday’s UFC 309 pre-fight press conference.

After answering questions from the media, reigning champion Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) and former titleholder Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) came face to face for a staredown before what’s being promoted as a historic encounter between two all-time greats.

Jones made it clear during the press conference that things have gotten personal for him thanks tosome previous comments made by Miocic. When they came together to face off, Miocic extended for a handshake that Jones ignored, creating a tense moment before they clash in Saturday’s headliner at Madison Square Garden (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).

Check out the video above to watch the Jones vs. Miocic staredown from the UFC 309 pre-fight press conference.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

But rather than schedule a unification title bout, Jones was rebooked against 42-year-old Miocic.

Jones said he will not fight Aspinall because “it does nothing for my legacy”, before using an expletive to describe him.

Aspinall, the back-up fighter to the main event, has poked fun at Jones in an attempt to lure him into an undisputed fight, buying his dog a toy rubber duck after fans claimed Jones was “ducking” him.

Aspinall then shared a post on social media of him wearing a T-shirt which says “Hello Jon”, and “I have nothing against you personally, I just think I’m better than ya”.

While Jones smiled on stage and joked with a vocal crowd, the endless talk of Aspinall has irked the two-weight UFC champion.

He walked out of an interview with TNT Sports before it began, concerned he would have to field more questions about Aspinall with the British broadcaster.

Jones, the youngest UFC champion in the company’s history, was hailed on stage as the greatest ever by White.

He has just one loss on his record, a 2009 disqualification defeat by Matt Hamill.

“As long as this guy is active he’s the best,” White said.

Miocic, meanwhile, mostly kept his answers short.

The Ohio fighter is a two-time heavyweight champion, widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight in UFC history, but is a big underdog in his contest with Jones.

He has not fought since defeat by Francis Ngannou in 2021, but victory over Jones would mean he becomes the promotion’s first three-time heavyweight champion.

After Jones took issue with language he used in an interview, saying “respect was out of the window”, Miocic dismissed his opponent’s complaints.

“[Jones] was calling me out saying he was going to beat my ass in front of a whole arena. Sorry for defending myself,” Miocic said.

The face-off passed without major incident, although Jones refused the offer of a handshake from Miocic.

NEW YORK – Jon Jones’ demeanor toward Stipe Miocic has taken a turn during UFC 309 fight week, and with the fight more than 48 hours away, it’s clear things have gotten personal.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) returns from a more than 20-month layoff Saturday when he puts his heavyweight title on the line for the first time against former two-time champion Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the main event at Madison Square Garden (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+)

After initially displaying respect toward Miocic in the months leading up to this week, reigning champ Jones said he got riled up when Miocic called him a “b*tch” – “bring it on, b*tch” were his exact words – on the UFC 309 “Countdown” show. Jones also claims Miocic said he was a poor example for his children given his history of personal missteps, and now Jones’ attitude has changed.

“Everyone likes first responders, and I actually respect men and women in the armed forces and law enforcement, things like that, so I made it a point to try to be very respectful to him,” Jones told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC 309 press conference. “There’s been two scenarios now. First scenario, he said ‘my kids will never look at me like I’m an a**hole.’ That was a direct attack at me and my family and my relationship with my kids. Second attack was him calling me a b*tch. So the respect is a little bit out the window, and we’ll see that on Saturday.”

When asked outright how things have changed, Jones said, “It’s very personal to me, yes.”

Miocic appeared dumbfounded by Jones’ comments. He said with Jones claiming he would defeat him in front of a sold-out crowd in New York and in front of the world, he told him “bring it on, b*tch.” How that made things so personal is lost on Miocic, but it also doesn’t matter to him.

“I don’t even remember saying that, ‘My kids won’t look at me like an asshole,’” Miocic said. “That was no direct thing to him. And when I said ‘bring it on, b*tch,’ pretty much he was calling me out, telling me he was gonna beat my ass in front of a whole arena of people. So, sorry for defending myself. I apologize. …

“I think every fight is personal no matter what. You’re fighting another man in the octagon. It’s always personal.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

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ENGLAND fans called for Thomas Tuchel to be SACKED before he even starts his new job.

And some even accused The FA of “bottling it” over the appointment.

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Tuchel, 51, accepted a £5million-a-year, 18-month contract to succeed Gareth Southgate as England manager with the objective of leading his new team to 2026 World Cup glory.

But despite signing on the dotted line in October, the German will not take over until January.

And that has seen a final farcical November international break with Lee Carsley in charge – and nine players dropping out for the two must-win clashes with Greece and Ireland.

Carsley is set to return to his role as Under-21s boss when Tuchel comes in.

But after inspiring his inexperienced side to a stylish, emphatic 3-0 win in Athens, plenty of supporters piled in on The FA’s decision to let Tuchel wait until the New Year to begin his reign.

And instead, they want Carsley to stay in charge of the senior team permanently after all.

One said: “Send Tuchel home and give Carsley the job!”

Another wrote: “Is it too late to sack off Tuchel if Carsley has them scoring goals like that?”

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A third added: “Lee Carsley is a genius isn’t he? Who needs Thomas Tuchel?”

A fourth joked: “Who needs Tuchel?”

A fifth quipped: “Enjoying watching England tonight. Tuchel out.”

A sixth tweeted: “England with good patterns of play and attractive football. Yes defensively not well but if the football is this good who cares? Tuchel will be such a bad appointment.”

A seventh blasted: “FA totally bottled it with Carsley. Taking England in the right direction.”

And a final user simply typed: “Tuchel out!!”

England’s starting XI featured senior heads in Jordan Pickford, Jude Bellingham and stand-in skipper Kyle Walker – with Harry Kane surprisingly benched.

The remaining eight had just 78 caps between them.

They got off on the wrong notes, with an awkward rendition of the national anthem leaving ITV viewers hilariously covering their ears.

But the Three Lions were on song on the pitch as Noni Madueke teed up Ollie Watkins to break the deadlock inside seven minutes.

England weathered the Greece storm and got the all-important second goal when Bellingham’s shot came back off the post and bounced in off the hosts’ goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.

Curtis Jones rounded off his superb debut with a delicious, cheeky flick as England leapfrogged Greece at the top of their Nations League group ahead of the final fixture against the Irish at Wembley on Sunday.

After his penultimate game in interim charge, Carsley said: “The most pleasing thing was the amount of control we had. We had a lot of possession and created a lot of chances.

“It was brilliant for Ollie to get a goal. It’s important that if we want to put these players in a position to win the World Cup, they need to have as many experiences as they can, so it’s no slight on Harry. He’ll start the next game.

“Harry understands that it’s important that other players experience that kind of experience we had tonight. He’s a great example to the rest of the players. I expect him to start on Sunday and play well.

“Curtis was outstanding, played with quality and a matureness that we saw in the summer (at the Under-21 Euros). He showed he can adapt and he’s intelligent enough to know where the space is.”

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ANDY DILLON: Thomas Tuchel has all the ingredients to become a classic England manager – tactical nous, drive and a tangled love life

By Andy Dillon

THOMAS TUCHEL possesses all the ingredients to become a classic England manager.

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Tactical nous, drive, energy, experience – a tangled love life.

English football should welcome back the most explosive, dynamic, charismatic and impossibly tall and gangly coach to have lit up the Premier League.

Chelsea’s colourful former boss has been leading a settled life in Munich of late.

Far enough away from ex-wife Sissi but close enough to see his two daughters.

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Walking his dog in the streets in the east of Germany’s most fashionable city, residing in the posh Bogenhausen area. Living relatively quietly with his Brazilian girlfriend.

Tuchel is a vastly different personality to the man who led England quietly but assuredly to the brink of World Cups and European Championships.

An excitable nature can make him hard to handle for those seeking calm and who like to impose their way on a manager they view very much as an underling.

Read more on why Tuchel REALLY IS the best man for the England job

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