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TEMPLEGATE tackles Thursday’s racing confident of winners.

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NICKELFORCE (1.40 Ludlow, nap).

He was a big improver on chase debut for trainer Ben Case at Stratford last time. He jumped well and tanked along in winning by five lengths so a 6lb rise looks fair.

TEMPER TRAP (5.00 Nottingham, nb)

Has won his past two in testing conditions. He wasn’t stopping at the end of seven furlongs at Redcar last time so this mile holds no fears. Tim Easterby’s hope can land the hat-trick under 4lb penalty.

LOVE DYNASTY (2.03 Nottingham, treble)

Stormed through the mud to score on debut at Newmarket. He’s been off a year since that effort but he looked a hot prospect for William Haggas.

OPERA KING (4.30 Ludlow)

Completes the Lucky 15. He went close at Market Rasen last month and a 3lb rise in the weights isn’t a problem.

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Match of the Day pundits reflect on Vinicius Junior’s performance in Real Madrid’s thrilling 5-2 comeback victory against Borussia Dortmund and discuss whether the Brazilian will win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

WATCH MORE: Vinicius Jr hat-trick seals thrilling comeback for Real Madrid against Dortmund

Dustin Poirier is one of the most prolific knockout artists in UFC history. And if he couldn’t shut Max Holloway’s light off, he struggles to see Ilia Topuria doing so at UFC 308.

Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has been nothing short of adamant he will be the first to stop Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) with strikes in MMA competition when they meet in Saturday’s featherweight title headliner at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+). He has promise to turn the lights of on “Blessed” at every turn, which is a bold statement given Holloway has the most fights in octagon history without being put down.

Poirier, who was one of the few fighters to stagger Holloway in the octagon in their epic Fight of the Year candidate at UFC 236 in April 2019, struggles to see Topuria doing what so many others before him couldn’t.

“To go out there and one-punch Max is going to be almost impossible, I think,” Poirier said on “The Bohnfire” podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn. “It can happen, for sure. But I don’t think it will.”

Poirier will be working as a desk analyst for UFC 308 alongside Brendan Fitzgerald, Chael Sonnen and Din Thomas. He is leaning toward Holloway leaving with the belt in the highly anticipated encounter, but said it would be a tremendous statement from Topuria if he can get the job done.

“This is a big test,” Poirier said. “If he goes in there and beats Max or lasts with Max in the volume game and outpoints him, outfights him technically on the feet – that’s going to say so much about Ilia and where he’s going to go.

“I can’t pick against Max. I could see Topuria winning, but just Max, the experience and the championship fights he’s been in.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

MIKEL ARTETA’S unusual pre-match methods have included lemons, giant domino pieces and an undercover waiter.

But Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko is confident the Gunners boss is close to “surpassing” mentor Pep Guardiola in their battle for the Premier League title.

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Arteta has been known to think outside the box when it comes to preparing his squad for big games in the past, using props such as lightbulbs, speakers and flipcharts.

As Arsenal prepare for another title bout with Pep’s Manchester City, Zinchenko revealed: “We had one where every player was given a lemon, a knife and a glass.

“Mikel said, ‘Guys, I want you to squeeze these lemons as hard as you can.

“In the end, we will add all of it in a bowl and we will see how much we can achieve together. The juice is our team magic. Everyone starts cutting and squeezing.

“Then Mikel calls time. ‘Let’s see how much you squeezed.’ He went to one of the players and said, ‘Did you squeeze enough?’ ‘Yes, boss.’ Okay, let me see.’

“He took the lemon, squeezed it and a bit of juice came out, still. He said: ‘Guys, this is the message, you can always add more.

“You can always give more.’ Simple but quite effective.”

Zinchenko added: “Another one I really liked involved hundreds of big domino pieces. We came into the room and saw a ball next to a basket.

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“There were very detailed instructions on what size dominos you could use and how they had to set up. Mikel asked us to work together and build this spiral of stones.

“He said: ‘Pay attention to the details and get all your angles right, because if only one stone is out of place, the whole thing breaks down.’

“Each one of us felt the responsibility. You don’t want to be the one who lets the team down and have the chain reaction fail.

“Again, a simple idea, but it worked so well to put everybody in good spirits before a big game and remind them that we were in this together.”

At one group dinner, Spanish boss Arteta hired several professional pickpockets to steal phones and wallets from the players to teach them about always being prepared and alert.

And in January 2023, before beating Manchester United at home 3-2 thanks to an injury time winner from Eddie Nketiah, Arteta produced another secret experiment in a lunch meeting.

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Zinchenko said: “Mikel announced it was going to be another players vs staff freestyle battle.

“The other day, it had been me against Nicolas Jover, our set piece specialist, and I had won.

“So, the manager says: ‘It’s rematch today. Alex, let’s see if you can do it again’.

“So, I get up and do a few tricks and so on. Then it’s Nico’s turn. But he’s holding his hamstring, saying he’s injured and can’t play.

Everyone’s is looking at each other like, ‘What the f**k is this?

Oleksandr Zinchenko

“Mikel looks around the room and says: ‘We need a substitute. Anyone?’ At that moment, a waiter raises his hand. Mikel says: ‘Okay. You can try.’

“And guess what? This guy is killing it. He’s basically destroying us. He even nutmegs [Bukayo] Saka.

“Everyone’s is looking at each other like, ‘What the f**k is this? Everyone’s cheering him on and laughing.

“Turns out he’s a professional freestyler with millions of followers whom Mikel had planted at the hotel as a waiter.

“You realise how much work must have gone into that behind the scenes.

“That guy was there for at least three hours undercover, serving up coffee and cakes and waiting patiently for his big moment.

“The mood in the camp was incredible after that. People were buzzing on the way to the bus. That whole thing really pushed the right buttons.

“But it happens so often. Every one of Mikel’s meetings is special.”

Zinchenko added: “Mikel is on a similar level to Pep and might one day surpass him. He is a winner and demands maximum intensity.

“He likes to say: ‘Boys, you must do everything full throttle. Football, partying, or in the bedroom with your wives: everything at full throttle.’”

Arsenal ratings vs Shakhtar: Jesus reminds fans of his quality but Trossard flops for poor Gunners

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ARSENAL continued their unbeaten run in the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk – but it was far from a convincing performance.

Gabriel Martinelli orchestrated the decisive goal when his low-driven strike hit the post and deflected in off the back of goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk.

Here’s how SunSport’s Tony Robertson rated the Gunners…

DAVID RAYA – 7

Seldom asked to do much aside from recycle the ball to Gabriel or Saliba until the final stages

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Pushed a potentially dangerous cross out of danger in the 84th minute. Pulled out a magnificent low save in injury time before claiming a dangerous cross to keep his clean sheet.

BEN WHITE – 6

Back in at right-back today and played as if he had never been out of the team. 

Received a yellow card in the 34th minute. Subbed at half-time for Mikel Merino.

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WILLIAM SALIBA – 7

In the team after his red card against Bournemouth, played like his typically assured self marshalling the defence.

One or two sloppy passes late in the second half but otherwise can have no complaints with another solid performance.

GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 5

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Sloppily gave the ball away to hand the visitors a dangerous chance out of nothing. Had another lapse just after the opener but in the end he was bailed out by Calafiori.

Marked improvement in the second half.

RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 6

Skied a golden chance over the bar after six minutes. Tested the goalkeeper again after 24 minutes.

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Dragged his foot and went down injured after skipping under a tackle in the 67th minute. Replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly in 71st minute.

THOMAS PARTEY – 6

Comfortable evening in midfield for him. Recycled the ball well when at his feet and kept play ticking over.

Moved to right back as White was hooked but didn’t have too many worries. When he was caught out of position Rice was able to cover.

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DECLAN RICE – 6

Like Partey, he had a quiet night in midfield with Shakhtar unable to retain meaningful possession.

Moved into the six as White was hooked and Partey moved to right-back. Cut out a dangerous low cross at the edge of the area. 

LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4

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Nothing quite went right for him all night with some sloppy touches ending attacks and putting Arsenal in trouble.

Summed up his night by missing a 77th minute penalty and was hooked in the 88th minute.

GABRIEL JESUS – 8

Wore the captain’s armband and looked bright down the right wing.

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Denied a well-deserved goal by the feet of the keeper in the 43rd minute after Havertz played him in.

Second half saw more good link play, but never had another chance to end his goal drought as he was replaced by Sterling in the 68th minute.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7

Grew into the game following a quiet start and was rewarded with a goal, of sorts, after 30 minutes.

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Brazilian cut inside from the left wing before firing a shot to the near post before the shot rebounded off the woodwork and hit the goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk to go in the net. 

KAI HAVERTZ – 7

Centimeters away from getting Arsenal’s second in the 39th minute after Jesus squared a volley back across goal.

Returned the favour to set up his team-mate moments later only for the goalkeeper to prevent a goal.

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Won a free-kick at the very end of the game to run the clock down.

SUBS

Mikel Merino (on for White HT) – 6

Some nice touches and stitched play together well. A solid yet unspectacular performance.

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Raheem Sterling (on for Jesus 68 mins) – 6

Tried to play on the shoulder of the last man but did not have the pace find the clear cut chance he would have liked.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (on for Calafiori 71 mins) – 6

Slotted in at left-back and was not afraid to show for the ball but often did not receive it while tucking infield.

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Jorginho (on for Trossard 88 mins) – N/A

• Believe by Oleksandr Zinchenko is published by Bloomsbury

ABU DHABI – UFC featherweigth champion Ilia Topuria is challenging Max Holloway to meet in the middle of the octagon, point to the ground, and throw down in his signature style. However, he doubts that will happen.

Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) makes his first title defense this Saturday in the main event of UFC 308. He takes on former champion Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in a heated and highly anticipated matchup. Both Topuria and Holloway teased of a brawl in the middle of the octagon, but Holloway said at Wednesday’s media day that he’s not deserving of a vintage, Holloway shootout.

“To me, I don’t think he deserves,” Holloway said. “You have to earn that, and I don’t think he’s deserved that right.”

Topuria responded by saying that Holloway is actually wary of his knockout power, and that the deserving argument is an excuse to avoid a brawl.

“He’s already backing out,” Topuria said at the UFC 308 media day. “If he brawls with me, he’s already knocked out. He’s already knocked out.

“If I were another type of fighter like Yair Rodriguez or Brian Ortega, he’d say, ‘Of course, I’ll throw down for a few seconds. It’s no big deal.’ He says he’s running a big risk, but what risk is he running? The only thing that makes him relevant is the BMF, which he’s not event putting on the line. I’m the one that’s risking everything. I’m the one that’s putting this belt on the line. I’m the one risking it all. And even then, he doesn’t want to do it. Why? Ask him. Go slide a note under his door.”

Holloway also accused Topuria of being a copycat to Conor McGregor, to which Topuria also had a response.

“He doesn’t even know what to say anymore,” Topuria said. “Why doesn’t he talk about what we’re here to do? Which is the fight. That’s because he doesn’t see any flaws i me. He doesn’t know where to grab from. He knows I’m much better than him, and now he has to resort to other things, just like when Conor (McGregor) was saying I wasn’t Spanish. Because I don’t have any flaws as a fighter, and I’m much better than them, they go to that. But we’ll see on Saturday, he shows up, and I’m shutting his mouth.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.