Alas Pilipinas Women have arrived in Nagoya, Japan all set for the Asian Games 2026.–Photo from Alas Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas Women are all set for their Asian Games comeback after arriving in Japan on Sunday.

The Philippine women’s volleyball team safely landed ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Games. The country’s women’s volleyball team is participating in the Asiad for the first time since 2018.

READ: Asian Games 2026: Complete list of Team Philippines athletes

Alas is slated in Pool B, facing defending champion China on September 16 and Kazakhstan on September 17.

Shaina Nitura, the reigning UAAP MVP from Adamson, was with the young squad after being a late replacement for libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig.

Captain and setter Jia De Guzman was the lone holdover from the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, where she played with Jaja Santiago-Minowa, Alyssa Valdez, Majoy Baron, and Aby Maraño.

READ: Bella Belen confident Alas Pilipinas women ready for Asian Games

The eight-time league Best Setter will now lead a new generation of players, led by Angel Canino, Alyssa Solomon, Bella Belen, and Eya Laure.

Young middle blockers Amie Provido, Thea Gagate, Niña Ytang, and veteran Dell Palomata, as well as backup setter Mars Alba and libero Justine Jazareno will also make their Asian Games debuts under Japanese coach Taka Minowa.

The core won a historic silver medal in the SEA V Cup Leg 2 last month in Thailand.

When Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper traded up to draft quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, he proclaimed the Alabama product was the guy who could bring the franchise “multiple” Super Bowl titles.

With the 25-year-old Young entering his fourth season, Tepper hasn’t wavered from that belief.

“I think he has a lot of talent, and with the right weapons and the right situation, yeah,” Tepper said in a rare news conference with reporters on Wednesday.

Young is 14-30 as the team’s starting quarterback and the Panthers have yet to sign him to a long-term contract extension. Young is under contract through 2027 after the team picked up his fifth-year option.

Tepper declined to say if the Panthers have offered Young a long-term deal — one that would reaffirm the organization’s believe that he is worthy of being a franchise quarterback.

But Tepper is pleased with the way Young progressed in his third season, leading the Panthers to the NFC South title and snapping a seven-year playoff drought before losing 34-31 to the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs.

Young threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score against the Rams, but Carolina fell on a late touchdown pass from league MVP Matthew Stafford.

Young beat the Rams earlier last season, and finished with the best statistical numbers of his career surpassing 3,000 yards passing with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

“He has performed at a high level against high-level competition,” Tepper said. “It seems to bring the best out in him. Bryce is the type of guy who doesn’t feel the pressure. You saw that against the Rams twice (last year). When you see that, you know it’s there. Can he bring it every single game? I know it’s there.”

Young Can Lead Rallies, But Looking For Faster Starts

Young has displayed an ability to rally the Panthers. He has 12 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in the past three seasons.

Tepper said that’s great, but now he’d like to see Young — and the Panthers as a team — start games faster.

Young has also had trouble starting the season fast.

He is 0-3 in Week 1 games and the Panthers have been outscored 97-30 in those defeats entering Sunday’s home opener against the Chicago Bears. Young has not thrown for more than 161 yards in any of those games and has six interceptions with only two touchdown passes.

Young said that starting fast has been a point of emphasis for the Panthers.

“We have talked a lot about that as a team, as a unit and as an organization,” Young said. “That comes with work. It’s about having the best week possible and going into the game, with as much communication as we can and just being on the same page.”

Tepper likes Offensive Players Panthers Have Added

Tepper has referred to Young as a point guard who can distribute the ball, but added he could have used more playmakers to work with in past years.

Tepper believes the Panthers now have those.

Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan has a season of experience after winning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Jalen Coker is looking like a legitimate No. 2 receiver. The jury is still out on talented, but underachieving 2024 first-round draft pick Xavier Legette, but the Panthers added free agent veteran Darren Waller to give Young a pass-catching tight end.

The Panthers have Chuba Hubbard in the backfield and are hoping Jonathon Brooks can overcome his knee injury and can give the team a big-play threat in the backfield.

Tepper also thinks the team’s overall depth has improved, pointing to the team’s 3-1 record in the preseason.

“We are more of a playoff team this year than we were last year,” Tepper said. “I think the pieces are there and we have everything we need.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

Just as racegoers believed Sheza Alibi’s Makybe Diva Stakes victory had put things right after Oliveanotherday’s setback in the Bobbie Lewis Quality, Pondalowie stepped in with the day’s major surprise in the 2026 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m).

The David and Emma-Lee Browne-trained Deep Field six-year-old, based at Pakenham, recorded the first Group 2 win of her career by surging past her competitors in the 1400m contest at odds of $51.

This victory represented her fourth win from 22 starts, a career that has frequently been hampered by misfortune. Winning jockey Lachlan Neindorf indicated that this time, unlike previous races, he almost went looking for trouble.

“I spoke to my form man – he’s a genius and massive shout out to him, James. Jordan – and he said, ‘I’m so convinced with this horse you need to ride it almost for bad luck’,” Neindorf commented. “I found a lot of bad luck. She was in what seemed like an unwinnable position at the 200, but that’s when she really lets and she let rip today and she got over top.”

Pondalowie finished a short-half-head ahead of another outsider, Too Darn Discreet ($21). On Display ($6), who appeared to have the race won when clear at the 150m mark, came in a half-back third. The $2.10 favourite, Gold Coast Belle, finished a disappointing seventh in the field.

Ready to place a bet on the next big race? Explore the leading Australian betting sites for the best racing odds and offers. Find your next favourite betting site here.

Man Utd have conceded twice in every Premier League game this season, and that defensive record could be put to the test this weekend.

It was a welcome clean sheet for Manchester United against Sabah on Thursday night, but it’s fair to say Manchester City’s front line will pose a bigger threat than the journeymen of Azerbaijan this weekend.

United had conceded twice in their first three Premier League games of the season, but despite a first-half scare, they kept Sabah at arm’s length to record a 4-0 win to open their Champions League campaign.

That soft underbelly could be back in the spotlight on Sunday, however, when Erling Haaland and co rock up at Old Trafford. If Hull, Ipswich and Everton can all breach this rearguard twice, then City will fancy their chances of doing some damage.

United have conceded twice in 10 of Michael Carrick’s 20 Premier League games in charge, and although they have won five of those games and lost just twice, that kind of record feels unsustainable.

There is no shortage of defensive know-how on Carrick’s backroom staff, with Jonny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate bringing plenty of experience, and another former United centre-back believes it is more about a team issue than individuals.

“They need to not only control the game, but defensively control the game by not giving away opportunities,” Jaap Stam told the Manchester Evening News, in an interview via Betfred.

“We know that if you want to win a league or win trophies then you need to be steady as a team and be consistent in what you’re bringing to the game.

“Is it something with individuals, and are we lacking quality with individuals, or is it something we can do better as a team? I think it’s the second one because I think we could do better with our defensive work and getting back behind the ball quicker, defending as a unit and not giving away these opportunities. It happens too often that United give away these goals.”

Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez were Carrick’s first-choice centre-back pairing last season and although Leny Yoro came in for the former against Sabah, it would be a surprise if it wasn’t Maguire and Martinez against City.

But there is another option that Carrick hasn’t yet had the opportunity to use, in Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt. The former Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich centre-back hasn’t played for eight-and-a-half months after a back injury, but he is nearing a return to action.

He was in the best form of his Old Trafford career until his injury setback and Stam believes the 27-year-old’s ability to organise could make him a serious option to shore up the defence.

“I wouldn’t say that Matthijs solely has got the mentality that you need because I think all the other players are trying to do their best and a lot of them have the experience where you expect them all to step up and lead the team together, especially in communication with each other, which is incredibly important,” said Stam.

“Matthijs, as I know him, and how he can play, he’s got the physique, he can play out from the back and he’s a tough defender that’s hard to get past. He’s always trying to organise, so that can really help a team.”

Carrick is aware that conceding fewer goals is essential if United are to make a mark in the Premier League or Champions League this season, but next summer will bring an overhaul of the defence.

A left-back will remain the priority signing, with Lewis Hall still at the top of United’s wishlist despite a new five-year deal with Newcastle, but Stam believes right-back should also be looked at in 2027.

“Everybody always wants to see the best players in their team, but I think it’s about finding the right quality of course within the squad that you need, and they need to address certain positions that they can be stronger in,” he said.

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami’s chances of returning to international cricket for India appear uncertain, with the pacer having not played for the national team for one-and-a-half years. Now 36, Shami has dealt with recurring injuries in recent years, and the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee appears to have moved towards a younger group of fast bowlers.This has led to questions over whether Shami is being overlooked because of his age, especially as he has continued to perform in domestic cricket. There have been arguments that the BCCI should not rule him out because of his age, pointing to experienced fast bowlers such as Mitchell Starc, who continue to play for Australia.However, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra said age is not the only reason Shami is out of the Indian team.“There is a stark difference between Mohammed Shami and Mitchell Starc. Starc has remained fit and played continuously, and whenever he has returned to action, he has spearheaded the (Australian) attack. No question can be raised over his form, fitness and sharpness,” Chopra said, in a video posted by CREX.“Mohammed Shami, on the other hand, has had injuries. He had a surgery and then spent time out of action. When he returned to domestic cricket, there were question marks over his pace and whether he was in full swing. He did take wickets, but that intensity appeared to be lacking,” he said.Chopra also rejected the idea that Shami’s age is the reason he has been left out, pointing to the continued selection of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are older than Shami.“Is Shami’s age going against him? I think that would be preposterous. It makes no sense whatsoever to drop someone because of his age, because you are still selecting veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.”“I don’t think age is the factor. At some point, the selectors will spell out the reason, but I don’t think it is age,” Chopra concluded.Shami recently completed 100 first-class matches after playing for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final.

After an opening weekend that saw most top teams take care of business, multiple teams ranked in the AP Top 25 poll took losses in Week 2, and that should produce some notable changes in the college football rankings. 

Clearly, the most notable change will be at the top, where Texas stormed back with 21 fourth-quarter points to take down No. 1 Ohio State. The dramatic conclusion to this top-five tilt made the showdown an instant classic on a day full of twists and turns, but it also reopens the debate for the top team in the country. We are projecting Texas takes over that No. 1 spot on the back of the win, just like a boxer who has claimed the belt by beating the champ. The fall for Ohio State won’t likely be too dramatic, but the same cannot be said for the likes of Oregon, Oklahoma and more who suffered setbacks in Week 2. 

In fact, this post-Week 2 might be one of the hardest weeks for voters as they try to figure out what to value with teams who have delivered inconsistent results through the opening weeks of the season. 

How, for example, does an AP voter consider the case of Michigan? The Wolverines looked dreadful in the opener and got dropped from the top 25 entirely, only to roar back and take out an Oklahoma team ranked 11th in the country. Voters thought Kyle Whittingham’s group was a top-20 team in the preseason, bailed on that notion entirely after Week 1, and now have to figure out what the Wolverines’ 17-10 win means for both teams.    

And what will the voters do with Oregon? More than a dozen voters entered the season considering the Ducks as the No. 1 team in the country, ahead of all of the other worthy contenders. Now Oregon is 1-1 after getting stunned by Oklahoma State in Stillwater, and those same voters are going to be the ones asking if the Ducks are worthy of another mulligan. Oregon has been inside the top eight of the AP poll since Oct. 2023, and while that streak will break after the loss, it speaks to the consistency of voters’ support for the Ducks over the last couple of years. 

Whether it’s inconsistencies in the performance between the first two games or ways the teams have or have not lined up with voters’ preseason expectations, there’s a lot for voters to consider with these early season rankings. Voters are tasked with rewarding performance over reputation on their ballots, but typically there is a little bit more forgiveness for top teams to shake off an early season speed bump. It usually only lasts a week, though, and is immediately challenged in their next game against a quality opponent. 

So how will voters balance what they have seen, and what might be excused as normal early season missteps?  

Here’s how we think the new AP Top 25 poll will look after the scores and results of Week 2 in college football: 

1. Texas (Last week — 4): It’s the stuff of legends for Texas to come storming back against this Ohio State program that has bounced them in the College Football Playoff semifinals two years ago and downed them 14-7 in Columbus a year ago. Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning both experiencing a breakthrough with that kind of drama is great for storytelling, and the AP voters love a good story. 

2. Georgia (2): The Bulldogs absolutely obliterated Western Kentucky, scoring 70 points one week after putting up 63 in the season opener. It’s likely voters are going to wait for a power conference opponent before really pushing Georgia into the No. 1 discussion, but the combined 133-23 margin of its first two wins gives it more of a “looks the part” advantage than a lot of ranked teams through two weeks. 

3. Notre Dame (3): If the Fighting Irish continue to stack up lopsided wins, the push for Marcus Freeman’s team as the No. 1 team in the country will grow stronger. Throttling Rice doesn’t change the No. 1 conversation in the wake of the result in Austin, but this team had six touchdowns and just one punt on its first seven drives. The strength of the argument for Texas will be hard to beat for a few weeks, or until they lose, but the Fighting Irish have put voters on notice in these first two weeks. 

4. Indiana (5): Another week, another absolute dismantling by Indiana’s offense. The Hoosiers scored touchdowns on five of their six first-half possessions and cruised to a 55-point win. Like Georgia, it’s not going to be the result that greatly alters their standing but certainly one that satisfies the expectations of a top-five team.  

5. Miami (7): We are projecting a slight move up for the Hurricanes in the wake of Oregon’s struggles and one of the most dominant statistical performances in school history. Miami had the most first downs (42) in a game in ACC history and the most total yards of offense (856) in school history, while Darian Mensah added to his Heisman Trophy stat profile with 252 yards and three touchdowns on 14-of-15 passing. 

6. LSU (8): The Tigers didn’t look great early, but Lane Kiffin’s crew shook off the rust and eventually cruised to a 45-14 win against Louisiana Tech. 

7. Ohio State (1): In last week’s voting, the difference between No. 4 Texas and No. 8 LSU in voting points (147) was smaller than the gap between the Tigers and the team right after them, Ole Miss at No. 9. That’s why we’ve targeted this as the landing spot for Ohio State, a team that will be penalized the least for its first loss of the season given the opponent and the setting.  

8. Ole Miss (9): In a sandwich spot on short rest between the Sunday opener against Louisville and next week’s reunion with Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss handled its business against Charlotte. Kewan Lacy was running hard early, and the Rebels built enough of a first-half lead to cruise to an easy win. 

9. Texas A&M (10): Things weren’t perfect for the Aggies, but a +3 advantage in the turnover margin and two pick-sixes helped power a 48-20 win against Arizona State at home. This is a situation where voters could excuse the aesthetics as early season hiccups, and simply check the box for a top-10 team holding serve in a non-conference spot against a Big 12 foe.   

10. Alabama (12): What looked like it was going to be an upset scare turned into a second-half rout as Alabama outscored Kentucky 32-0 after halftime in a 45-17 road win to kick off SEC play. Keelon Russell‘s playmaking and a stout Crimson Tide defense headlined the day for a performance that might have showcased how quickly Alabama can take hold of a game with its high-end talent. 

11. USC (14): The Trojans rolled up another impressive offensive performance as Lincoln Riley’s group improved to 3-0 with a win against Louisiana. 

12. Texas Tech (13): A good run from Oregon State made Texas Tech sweat a little bit on Saturday night in Corvallis, but the Red Raiders avoided an upset to hold on to their spot in the top 15.  

13. BYU (15): There is an argument that BYU had one of the best wins of the weekend with how it held off a strong charge from a good Arizona team to kick off its Big 12 conference schedule. The Cougars are in a fight to make it to Dallas and contend for the conference title again, and this might be one of the tougher games on the conference schedule. Now it’s in the books as a win, and voters have a chance to reward BYU for the quality victory in the updated rankings.  

14. Penn State (16): The Nittany Lions shook off a slow start to pull away from Temple in a 27-9 win that might reverse some of the upward momentum Matt Campbell‘s crew picked up in the opener. Shutting out Marshall 45-0 saw Penn State move up two spots, so now we’re projecting something closer to the status quo in the wake of this Week 2 win against the Owls.  

15. SMU (17): There’s no reason to think SMU makes any big moves after a 56-10 win against UC Davis. The Mustangs were solidly in a pack below Penn State but above Utah in last week’s rankings and should remain in that range again. 

16. Tennessee (18): Faizon Brandon‘s first road start was bumpy at times, completing less than 50 percent of his passes and totaling just 148 passing yards, but DeSean Bishop‘s explosiveness on the ground led the way as he racked up 190 rushing yards and two scores in the 21-point road win at Georgia Tech.  

17. Michigan (NR): We project that Michigan will return somewhat close to its preseason ranking in a strong return to the poll after beating Oklahoma. The Wolverines’ result against Western Michigan may be contested in this kind of subjective process, but not Saturday’s win against No. 11 Oklahoma. In a high-stakes game with College Football Playoff implications, it was Michigan that delivered the game-winning plays down the stretch to seal the win. That should and will be rewarded in the rankings, setting up a smooth return to the top 25.  

18. Utah (20): The Utes absolutely smashed Arkansas late on Saturday night in Salt Lake City, providing an encouraging result for Utah’s stock as a top 25 team and a contender in the Big 12. 

19. Missouri (23): As things shuffle around near the bottom of the top 25, voters will find it comfortable moving up Missouri thanks to an emphatic 38-21 win in the Border War rivalry against Kansas on Friday night. After both sides exchanged haymakers, the Tigers hit an extra gear and ran away with the win in an impressive showing for Missouri as a whole, but especially quarterback Austin Simmons. 

20. Iowa (21): The Hawkeyes survived a scary test from rival Iowa State, presenting voters with another troubling result that challenges their preseason expectations. The Hawkeyes hadn’t beaten Iowa State at home since 2018, so the fans relished a win all the same, but voters might have been looking for a bit more before making a big move up their ballots. 

21. Oregon (6): Any list of the “best” college football teams should probably include Oregon, which is undeniably one of the most talented in the country and takes the field most Saturdays with more players who will be playing on Sundays. But its argument as a contender is falling apart here in the first month of the 2026 season. With its loss at Oklahoma State, the Ducks are left as a 1-1 team with a seven-point home win over an unranked team. Some voters could end up dropping the Ducks entirely, but we’re projecting enough will keep them in the 20s to remain inside the top 25.   

22. Houston (22): We’re projecting not much movement for Houston, who put 70 points on the scoreboard against Southern before the end of the third quarter. The stats and notable performances are many for the Coogs, but voters will wait for next week’s battle with Texas Tech before making big adjustments.  

23. Louisville (24): Lincoln Kienholz starred on Saturday night in Cardinals stadium, leading Louisville with 332 passing yards and four total touchdowns in the win against Villanova. An FCS win, even an impressive one, isn’t going to help the Cardinals win tiebreakers as voters sort out the final spots on their ballot, but it was the kind of win that satisfied the expectations that Louisville is one of the 25 best teams in the country. 

24. Virginia (25): Things are going to get very dicey around the edge of the top 25, but Virginia’s opening statement with two dominant wins (NC State and Norfolk State) could help the Wahoos hang on. After spending much of 2025 ranked, voters are getting more used to seeing Virginia as a familiar pick on their ballots. 

25. Boise State (NR): Saturday’s showdown between Boise State and Memphis could prove to be very significant for the College Football Playoff race, but in the immediate future it could be the result that propels the Broncos into the top 25. Boise State was 26th in voting points after the loss at Oregon in Week 1, and just bowled over Memphis in the second half of a 38-20 win.  

Projected to drop out: No. 11 Oklahoma, No. 19 Washington

Devin Haney has shared his thoughts on his former foe Ryan Garcia retaining his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn.

‘King Ry’ was going up against Benn at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, making the first defence of the WBC belt that he won back in February with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Mario Barrios.

It was a much quicker win this time around, as Garcia initially dropped Benn with a right hand in the second round, before earning the finish after a further flurry on the ropes after Benn had got back to his feet.

WBO welterweight champion Haney was in attendance for the fight, over two years on from when he suffered a majority decision defeat to Garcia, only for the fight to be overturned to a no contest after ‘King Ry’ failed a post-fight drugs test.

Speaking to FightHype, Haney revealed that the fight unfolded as he expected it to, claiming that Benn’s game plan was wrong against Garcia.

“I wasn’t surprised. Ryan is explosive. Conor didn’t have that much. I think Conor was trying to be too aggressive and wasn’t defensively sound enough.”

Haney then revealed when a second clash with Garcia could possibly take place, stating that the fight will be when they are able to meet for all four world title belts.

“We’re going to do it for undisputed.”

That means that Garcia would likely take on WBA champion Teofimo Lopez next, while Haney could be set for a battle with IBF champion Liam Paro, with victories for both men there potentially paving the way for their highly-anticipated rematch.

Tony Bellew has shared his view after Conor Benn came up short in his world title bid against Ryan Garcia on Saturday.

Benn returned to 147lbs for the first time in over four years as he challenged Garcia for his WBC welterweight title at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Garcia was seen as the favourite ahead of the contest, and that view was evident early on as ‘King Ry’ knocked down his rival with a big right hand in the second round of the bout.

Benn managed to get back to his feet, but a further flurry from Garcia on the ropes forced the referee to jump in and stop the contest, as ‘The Destroyer’ suffered the second defeat of his professional career.

One man that had talked up Benn’s chances ahead of the bout was former WBC cruiserweight champion Bellew, but speaking on the DAZN broadcast after the bout, he admitted that the levels were evident.

“You cannot jump up through the levels, you’ve got to go through the bit by bit. He’s just jumped too many levels too quickly in my opinion tonight. He took a coupe of clean left hooks and kept going forward, but when you get hit on the button like that, I mean it was a heavy right hand.”

Bellew then revealed what he would like to see Benn do next.

“It’s really hard that because at 168 could you imagine trying to put Conor Benn against Hamzah Sheeraz, it’s just not viable, it’s just not realistic. Super middleweights are big monsters and they come down to make weight.

“If 147 is not for you then do 154 tops, tops. It’s madness [for him to fight at 160 or 168]. What 160 fighter can he beat? If I’m Conor Benn I’m heading towards the Eubank Jr trilogy. If I’m being honest that’s the one that makes the most sense.”

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As for Garcia’s future, he could now be set for a unification battle with WBA welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez.

The two-day Irish Champions Festival begins at Leopardstown on Saturday, with action the following day at The Curragh.

Saturday’s bumper 9-race card at the South County Dublin venue includes three Group 1 races, with the highlight, the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, the weekend’s feature, going to post at 5.00pm. The three Group 1s are backed up by a Group 2, a Group 3 and a Listed race, while there are also three Premier Handicaps down for decision.

The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes is usually one of the season’s highlights. The 1m 2 furlong contest for three-year-olds and upwards has seen Aidan O’Brien win six of the last seven editions of the race, with Delacroix (2025), Auguste Rodin (2023), Luxembourg (2022), St Mark’s Basilica (2021), Magical (2019 & 2020).

First three in Juddmonte International re-oppose

On Saturday, the Ballydoyle handler’s main hope will be the Coral-Eclipse winner at Sandown, Constitution River – beaten on his last outing in the Juddmonte International at York last month.

Item, the winner of the Juddmonte International, and Almaqam, the runner-up, will represent Andrew Balding and Ed Walker respectively. There was only a head between the two English-trained runners at York last time, with three lengths back to Constitution River – though Aidan O’Brien did later blame poor race tactics for the defeat of the son of Wootton Bassett.

The 2025 Betfred Derby and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner, Lambourn, has also been declared by the Coolmore partners, as has Hawk Mountain, with both likely to set the pace at different stages of the race.

Jessica Harrington’s recent German Group 1 winner Hotazhell is also among the field, as is A Boy Names Susie, who finished behind Constitution River in both the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, and the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Interestingly, English handler George Scott supplemented his Deauville Group 3 winner Wimbledon Hawkeye at a cost of €75,000, and will be hoping to get some return for the outlay.

Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes

The Group 1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes at 3.55pm is for fillies and mares over a mile. Eight different trainers have won this prize since 2018, and twice it has gone for export – to Karl Burke – with Fallen Angel last season, and Laurens in 2018. Both Donnacha O’Brien (2024, Porta Fortuna) and his brother Joseph (2019, Iridessa) have claimed this contest in recent years, though their father, Aidan, hasn’t won since Hydrangea in 2017.

The race has been good for favourites in recent times, with the past three winning, namely Fallen Angel (9/4), Porta Fortuna (5/4) and Tahiyra (5/6).

English trainers hold strong hand in Matron Stakes

English trainers, Andrew Balding and Karl Burke, hold a strong hand in this year’s renewal. Balding’s Blue Bolt goes in search of a third Group 1, and has had the upper hand this season on four-time Group 1 winner Precise, who re-opposes on Saturday.

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