The Cheltenham Festival is back and the 2026 edition promises to be action-packed before culminating in Friday’s Gold Cup with Inothewayurthinkin attempting to win the trophy for a second successive year.
St. Patrick’s Thursday looks set to follow in the footsteps of two fabulous days of racing with Willie Mullins’ Irish Gold Cup winner, Fact To File, the odds-on favourite to triumph in the Ryanair Chase (4.00pm). Also of note is another Mullins’ charge at Bambino Fever goes off in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle while Henry de Bromhead’s Slade Steel takes on the Jack Richards Novices’ Chase again but without last year’s winning jockey Rachael Blackmore.
(PA)
Following Lossiemouth’s victory in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, Mullins continued his form when Il Etait Temps won the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The Irish trainer is now two for two from the champion races this year and looks set for a third victory on Thursday.
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Our racing correspondent Jonathan Doidge will be at Cheltenham all week to share his thoughts, insights and tips. Plus legendary former jockey Ruby Walsh has shared his tips with Paddy Power.
Thursday 12 March – St Patrick’s Thursday
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1.20: Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Ruby Walsh’s tip: Bambino Fever
“Bambino Fever has an outstanding chance. She was beaten by Oldschool Outlaw at Naas, but improved markedly to win at Fairyhouse on her second start over hurdles. She was last year’s Champion Bumper winner, and she’s in very good form at home. I couldn’t oppose her.”
Jonathan Doidge’s tip: Oldschool Outlaw (e/w)
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“There’s little to choose between the top two in the market on what they’ve achieved so far but the second favourite, Oldschool Outlaw is a much bigger price than Bambino Fever, whom she’s already beaten when they met at Naas in December. Of the Brits, La Conquiere looks the most interesting.”
2.00: Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2)
Ruby Walsh’s tip: Sixmilebridge
“I really like Simmilebridge, who’s done nothing wrong over fences. He’s won all three starts over the larger obstacles, including the Scilly Isles at Sandown, where he beat Kala Conti impressively.”
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Jonathan Doidge’s tip: Ben Solo (e/w)
“I think there may be some value in Ben Solo. He’s a seven-year-old trained by Rebecca Curtis and is still feeling his way as he tries to establish himself over fences. He’s certainly shown ability, having won one of his four starts over the bigger obstacles, that coming over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow last November.”
2.40: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Ruby Walsh’s tip: Wodhooh or Jade De Grugy
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“This looks between Wodhooh and Jade De Grugy, and I’m finding it hard to split them. I can’t see Wodhooh out of the first two, and Jade De Grugy is the only one I can see beating her. The rest will struggle to match that pair for pace, so I’ll be playing them in a reverse forecast.”
Jonathan Doidge’s tip: Wodhooh
“She’s several pounds clear of the field on official ratings and I think last year’s Martin Pipe winner Wodhooh is still a half decent price at a shade of odds-on.”
3.20: Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
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Ruby Walsh’s tip: Honesty Policy
“I can’t see a lot of pace on, and that may suit Honesty Policy, who has plenty of gears. If Gordon Elliott’s string starts firing, I’d be keen on this improving six-year-old. I loved his run at Ascot last time, and he’s a big player.
Jonathan Doidge’s tip: Bob Olinger (e/w)
“Surely it’s only the fact that he’s now an 11-year-old that means Bob Olinger is a 15/2 chance for the staying hurdlers’ championship, as I write this. He is 4-4 at Cheltenham, three of those wins coming at the Festival.”
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4.00: Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
Ruby Walsh’s tip: Fact To File
“Fact To File can avoid back luck, he should win. Impaire Et Passe could be the one to chase him home for a Willie Mullins 1-2, but I can’t see past Fact To File.”
Jonathan Doidge’s tip: Fact To File
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“I’ve been praying that Willie Mullins would send Fact To File to this race and Gaelic Warrior to the Gold Cup and I’ve got my wish in that respect. I’m not saying that Fact To File can’t win a Gold Cup but I do think he is perfectly suited by this trip at a stiff track and on more or less any ground.”
4.40: Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap)
Ruby Walsh’s tip: Yeah Man
“I’m giving a shout to Yeah man for the Gavin Cromwell team. He ran in the Red Mills Hurdle to get his fifth qualifying run in after finishing second in a Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown. He’s off a higher mark in the UK, but on a going day, he’s a solid proposition.”
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Jonathan Doidge’s tip: Red Dirt Road (e/w)
“I’m prepared to take a chance here on a lightly raced nine-year-old who I’ve already tipped to no avail this season but I’m happy to hold my nerve and suggest a small each-way play on Red Dirt Road. He was my selection at Sandown in January, where he’d won a Grade 3 decisively last year. On this occasion, he led before going out like the proverbial light on ground described as heavy.”
5.20: Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145)
Ruby Walsh’s tip: Kim Roque
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“Kim Roque made the trip to Cheltenham on his first two starts for Joseph O’Brien. He then went to Leopardstown and ran well in the handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. If the step up in trip brings about any improvement, he’s got a solid chance under John Gleeson.”
Jonathan Doidge’s tip: Gericault Roque (e/w)
“Only two of the last 10 favourites have won this and I’ll warn you, I’ve not backed the winner in that entire decade. I’m going to go with a sporting selection in Gericault Roque, who was third here in the Ultima in 2022 and went on to be third in Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup later that year.”
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — After a lengthy and uncomfortable-looking range session, Rory McIlroy officially designated himself a “game-time decision” for the Players Championship.
“So, yeah, probably a game-time decision,” the career Grand Slam winner said during a short press availability on Wednesday afternoon. “But all indications are pointing in the right direction, so hopefully good night tonight. The drugs are working wonders, and then just keep it going from there.”
McIlroy has been absent from the typical early-week proceedings at the Players Championship as he deals with back spasms after tweaking something during a warmup session on Saturday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The spasms forced McIlroy to withdraw from the event before his third round on Saturday afternoon, casting sudden doubt on his availability at the Players, where he was scheduled to return as the defending champion.
On Wednesday, he arrived at TPC Sawgrass for the first time after making the quick trip up from Palm Beach, where he had been rehabbing with his physiotherapist. After arriving at the course, he engaged in a lengthy range session, hitting from his wedges all the way up to his six-iron while pausing briefly for pushups and other back stretches.
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“I hit up until 6-iron on the range and it felt okay,” he said, cautioning that he was still taking the injury “hour-by-hour.”
McIlroy, 36, has dealt with an impressively clean bill of health throughout his playing career to this point. He said Wednesday that he has only dealt with a similar back injury once before in his career, at the 2023 Tour Championship.
“I had this at the Tour Championship in 2023, and I remember on Thursday I was in so much discomfort and chipping it around and got through the round, and I remember on Sunday I felt like a whole new person,” McIlroy said. “So I’m hoping that it starts to progress like that.”
The Masters champion said he is not worried about aggravating the injury further by competing this week, though the injury is still causing him some level of discomfort.
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“The sensitivity — it’s not even in the back,” he said. “It’s more just the muscles around it. The glutes and the hip flexors — and that’s just a little tight and a little angry.”
As of now, McIlroy is scheduled to tee off at 1:42 p.m. local time on Thursday afternoon in the Players Championship.
“Is it 20 hours until I tee off — or I’m supposed to tee off — tomorrow?” McIlroy said. “So, yeah, we’ll see. I’m taking it sort of hour by hour. But it feels better. That’s all I can say. I couldn’t stand to address the ball on Saturday morning on the range at Bay Hill, and it’s obviously better than that.”
Oct 4, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City SC head coach Oscar Pareja prior to the game against the Columbus Crew at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Orlando City SC and head coach Oscar Pareja mutually have agreed to part ways, effective immediately, the team announced on Wednesday.
Hired on Dec. 4, 2019, Pareja posted a 103-72-66 record across all competitions and helped the club capture the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2022.
Orlando has limped out of the blocks this season, yielding an MLS-high 11 goals and losing all three matches. The team hosts CF Montreal (1-2-0, 3 points) on Saturday.
“I want to thank Oscar for the dedication, leadership and professionalism he brought to our club,” general manager and sporting director Ricardo Moreira said. “He delivered one of the most significant moments in Orlando City’s history with the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and helped establish the competitive foundation that has propelled us forward, highlighted by our active club-record run of six straight playoffs appearances, which is currently the longest streak in MLS.
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“At the same time, we believe this is the right moment to take the club in a new direction as we look to the next phase of our growth and ambitions. We are grateful for everything Oscar has contributed and wish him nothing but success in the next chapter of his career.”
“Oscar’s impact on our club and community will always be remembered,” said Mark Wilf, Orlando City SC owner and chairman. “He helped elevate Orlando City on and off the field, guided us through milestones that reshaped our trajectory and represented our crest with integrity. We are grateful for all he has given to the organization.”
Pareja, 57, previously coached the Colorado Rapids (2012-14) and FC Dallas (2014-18) as well as Liga MX side Club Tiajuana (2018-19).
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the club’s players, staff and supporters for the trust they’ve given me over these last several years,” Pareja said. “Together, we shared moments that will stay with me forever. While it is the right time for both me and the club to move in new directions, I leave proud of the work we did and with deep appreciation for the people who made it possible. Orlando will always have a special place in my heart, and I wish the team nothing but success in the future.”
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Assistant coach Martin Perelman takes over as the interim head coach. He has served as Orlando City’s first team assistant coach since 2024.
The United States will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. (Image credit: X)
NEW DELHI: Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday that the country cannot participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the United States killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to a report by Al Jazeera citing Reuters.“Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Ahmad Donyamali told state television on Wednesday, according to the report.
Gautam Gambhir reflects on India’s World Cup win and backing Sanju Samson in the tournament
The latest round of conflict between Israel and the United States on one side and Iran on the other began on February 28. The West Asia conflict has also disrupted global energy supply chains.Ahmad Donyamali said the conditions required for participation in the FIFA World Cup do not exist.“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist. Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence,” Donyamali said, according to the Al Jazeera report citing Reuters.The United States will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 104 matches, beginning at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 and culminating at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the final on July 19.All of Iran’s group-stage fixtures are scheduled to be played in American cities, including Los Angeles and Seattle.Donyamali’s remarks came after Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, said in an Instagram post on Wednesday that Iran’s participation in the World Cup would be welcomed by US President Donald Trump.“President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Gianni Infantino said in the social media post.Earlier, Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), also questioned Iran’s participation in the tournament following the recent attacks, saying it would be difficult for the country to approach the competition with optimism.“After this attack [on Iran], we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope. If the World Cup is like this, who in their right mind would send their national team to a place like this?” Taj said on Iranian state television.
The bracket has been released, and the 2026 Big East Tournament — one of the most exciting events in all of sports — tips off on Wednesday in New York. St. John’s will be the No. 1 seed in this week’s tournament after clinching the outright league title during the final weekend of the regular season. After the Red Storm took care of business against Seton Hall in their final game and UConn was upset by Marquette, it opened the door for the reigning Big East Tournament champions to earn the top seed.
UConn finished second in the Big East standings and will be the No. 2 seed. Villanova, led by first-year coach Kevin Willard, will be the No. 3 seed. Seton Hall is the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 seed Creighton in the quarterfinals. The top five teams in the Big East standings all received a first-round bye.
Entering the weekend, only three teams (St. John’s, UConn and Villanova) were in CBS Sports’ latest Bracketology projections. Seton Hall is one of the teams on the outside looking in heading into the final week of the season and will need a strong showing to potentially get back into the conversation to receive an at-large berth.
The first round of the Big East Tournament begins Wednesday with three games on the slate. No. 9 seed Providence will face No. 8 seed Butler in the opening game of the tournament. After that game ends, No. 7 seed Marquette will face No. 10 seed Xavier.
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No. 11 seed Georgetown vs. No. 6 seed DePaul is the final game of the first round.
Location: Madison Square Garden — New York Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) | Follow live:CBS Sports App
All times Eastern; some start times approximated
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First round — Wednesday, March 11 Game 1: No. 9 Providence 91, No. 8 Butler 81 | Recap Game 2: No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 Xavier | GameTracker Game 3: No. 6 DePaul vs. No. 11 Georgetown | 9 p.m. on Peacock
Quarterfinals — Thursday, March 12 Game 4: No. 1 St. John’s vs. No. 9 Providence | Noon on Peacock Game 5: No. 4 Seton Hall vs. No. 5 Creighton | 2:30 p.m. on Peacock Game 6: No. 2 UConn vs. Game 2 winner | 7 p.m. on FS1 Game 7: No. 3 Villanova vs. Game 3 winner | 9:30 p.m. on FS1
Semifinals — Friday, March 13 Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner | 5:30 p.m. on Fox Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner | 8 p.m. on FS1
Big East Tournament Championship Game — Saturday, March 14 Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner | 6:30 p.m. on Fox
NEW DELHI: India had a mixed day at the Swiss Open on Wednesday, with some impressive wins but several early exits. The biggest highlight came from Kiran George, who stunned former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in straight games. Ranked 42nd in the world, Kiran edged past the third seed 23-21, 21-19 in the opening round and will next face Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan. However, Gunawan knocked out former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, defeating him 21-15, 12-21, 21-4 in the round of 32.India also celebrated an upset victory in mixed doubles as Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto beat Denmark’s fourth-seeded pair Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund 21-15, 21-14. They will now take on China’s Gao Jia Xuan and Wu Meng Ying in the next round.Despite these wins, several Indian shuttlers were knocked out early in the Super 300 tournament. In men’s singles, US Open champion Ayush Shetty lost 18-21, 19-21 to Canada’s Brian Yang. In women’s singles, Unnati Hooda was beaten 21-14, 21-14 by Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin-Chian, while top seed Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia comfortably defeated India’s Tanvi Sharma 21-11, 21-10 in just 30 minutes.India also faced a setback when HS Prannoy, the 2023 World Championships bronze medallist, gave a walkover to Japan’s Koki Watanabe. In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde were eliminated after losing 19-21, 14-21 to Thailand’s fifth-seeded pair Ruttanapak Oupthong and Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat.On a positive note, India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty moved into the round of 16 with a 21-19, 21-19 win over Singapore’s Eng Keat Wesley Koh and Junsuke Kubo. H Amsakarunan and M R Arjun also advanced after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chen Zhi Ray and Lin Yu Chieh 21-16, 24-22.
Manchester City were thrashed 3-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League to leave them needing a miracle in the second leg next week
Manchester City saw their Champions League hopes disappear for another year on another horrible night for them at the Bernabeu. Pep Guardiola picked an attacking team to take the game to Real Madrid but instead they were undone by three goals from Fede Valverde in an astonishing first 45 minutes.
Gianluigi Donnarumma gave away a penalty in the second half that could have buried City, but the keeper did get back to his feet to keep Vincius’s spot-kick out. That will give City a glimmer of hope for the second leg, but they were unable to build on that by getting any goals back in Madrid.
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An outstanding reaction save from Thibaut Courtois stopped a certain goal from Nico O’Reilly and City had nothing else to offer. Here are the player ratings from the Manchester Evening News.
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Donnarumma: Could possibly have done better on at least one of the goals and gave away the penalty, but a good save to keep City alive. 5
Khusanov: Started really well against Vinicius but lost his way and then couldn’t reassert himself in the game. 5
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Dias: Couldn’t keep things together at the back, although he did try to push them forward in the second half. 5
Guehi: Probably his most uncomfortable night in a City shirt, struggling to stay on top of his game and beaten by Valverde for a goal. 5
O’Reilly: Exposed for the opening goal and struggled defensively all game. Improved in midfield but far from his best. 4
Rodri: Not a return to Madrid that he will remember fondly as he could not stop Real from bypassing City’s midfield. 5
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Silva: Wasn’t great on set-pieces or corners and couldn’t get on the ball to have an impact. 5
Semenyo: Willing to get on the ball and tried to make something happen in the final third, albeit his touch was loose. 5
Savinho: Didn’t do much wrong and won a couple of free-kicks in dangerous territory but was sacrificed for the system at half-time. 5
Doku: Looked like he was going to have Alexander-Arnold on toast yet he was double-marked out of the game and made some poor decisions in the final third. 5
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Haaland: Didn’t offer anywhere near enough, and being taken off before the end tells its own story. 4
Substitutes
Reijnders (for Savinho, 46) Couldn’t influence the game. 5
Cherki (for Semenyo, 70) Tried to make things happen. 6
Ait-Nouri (for Silva, 70) Some good, some bad. Booked. 5
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Marmoush (for Haaland, 82) No time.
Not used: Trafford, Bettinelli, Nunes, Alleyne, Ake, Stones, Gonzalez, Foden
Jude Bellingham watched on as his Real Madrid team-mates raced into a 3-0 lead against Manchester City, largely thanks to a top-class showing from Fede Valverde, who bagged a hat-trick
21:12, 11 Mar 2026Updated 21:37, 11 Mar 2026
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Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham was left speechless after watching team-mate Federico Valverde score an astonishing hat-trick in Wednesday night’s Champions League clash against Manchester City.
Valverde ran onto Thibaut Courtois’ long ball to put the Spanish giants ahead before doubling his tally seven minutes later. Towards the end of the half, the midfielder completed his hat-trick with a sensational goal.
Brahim Diaz’s neat looped ball inside the box played Valverde in, he flicked the ball over Ruben Dias and then Marc Guehi before volleying past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
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During the half-time interval, TNT Sports showed Bellingham watching the goal on a screen from the stands and being left jaw-dropped.
He appeared to watch the goal twice on the screen inside the Santiago Bernabeu before bowing to his teammate.
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Things nearly went form bad to worse for Pep Guardiola’s side after Donnarumma brought Vinicius Junior down inside the area. However, the Italian shot-stopper denied the Brazilian from the spot.
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Bellingham is currently nursing a hamstring injury, though there is hope that he can return for the return leg at the Etihad Stadium next week.
Mbappe is also thought to be pushing for a return to action for the second leg.
Watch Real Madrid vs Man City on TNT Sports
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Man City have reached the UEFA Champions League round of 16 where they face Real Madrid on March 11. Fans can watch the game on the TNT Sports Prime Video channel.
Mike Tyson is expecting a good fight between 49-year-old Floyd Mayweather and 47-year-old Manny Pacquiao when they meet for a rematch this September.
The two fighting icons first fought in 2015, with Mayweather running out a unanimous points winner after twelve rounds of action that failed to deliver on incredible hype that had been built up for around six years.
Despite the general consensus that both men were significantly past their best, the event was a money-spinner and set various records in the sport that still remain intact today. The best chance of those records being broken may only be a return fight.
Speaking to FightHype, Tyson was excited at the prospect of the rematch, praising Pacquiao’s latest performance against Mario Barrios.
“I think that’ll be a good fight. I hope Manny’s serious. Manny looked good in his last fight he fought, too.”
Pacquiao fought to a draw with then WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in July last year. Mayweather, who retired in 2017, has only been active on the exhibition circuit – something he says he will continue twice this year before putting his famous 50-0 professional record on the line against his Filipino rival.
Many had assumed that scheduled exhibitions for both men – Tyson for Mayweather, Ruslan Provodnikov for Pacquiao – would be canned due to the magnitude of the rematch. Asked if his bout with Floyd would still go ahead, Tyson remained tight-lipped, dialling back on an interview earlier this week in which he said with certainty it was going ahead.
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“Hey, you never know. Anything’s possible … You know he’s crazy.”
