The anticipated farewell for champion jumper Stern Idol did not go according to script, as the horse finished outside the top three in its final race.

Stern Idol, the commanding $1.90 favourite, finished fourth under jockey Will Gordon, trailing the winner by 12 lengths in the Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) at Sandown on Sunday.

Attempting to secure a fourth consecutive win in the race named after a prominent Australian steeplechaser, Stern Idol was not at its previous best on Sunday and made several jumping errors.

Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, described it as a disappointing end to a remarkable career but stressed that Stern Idol completed the race safely.

“Will said he didn’t feel like he was at his best and clearly, he wasn’t,” Turnbull said.

“He didn’t travel as strong and as bold as he normally does and made a few errors down the back.

“There were a few nervous moments late, but thankfully he came back to the yard standing and he pulled up pretty well.

“It’s sad to see him go, but he made it around safe, which is what counts.”

Racegoers present gave Stern Idol a round of applause as the field passed the finishing line for the first time, with another cheer when the horse returned to the mounting yard.

“There were 20 Ballarat staff that came down, there was Cranbourne staff, Fingal staff, they have all made the effort to come out here which is great,” Turnbull remarked.

“It’s more than the sport, it’s more about the horse.

“It’s hard to draw comparisons with a flat horse, but he is the best jumper, so to see him finish, and know he’s finishing up, that’s the strangest part.”

The Patrick Payne-trained Sing For Peace ($3.20) took out the race, winning by a nose from Mr Lincoln ($18), with Hit The Road Jack ($5) finishing third, two lengths adrift.

Neil Greaves, representing the Payne stable, suggested that jumps racing itself was the ultimate winner.

“It’s a perfect time to salute the great Stern Idol,” Greaves commented.

“He didn’t win today, but he’s been a great jumper over the last four years.

“The scene is changing and we’re lucky enough to have some of the better ones at the moment.”

The Payne stable also had success earlier in the day, winning the opening race with Split.

However, jockey Tom Ryan was the star of the day across the three jumps races at Sandown, clinching a feature race double after winning the Grand National Hurdle on Andy Win.

Ryan guided Sing For Peace to victory in the Australian Steeplechase and admitted he thought the gelding had thrown the race away with a poor jump around 1200 metres from the finish.

“He made a really bad mistake, and I don’t know how he stood up, to be honest,” Ryan said.

“But he made a really good jump at the last and it was do or die and he battled on all the way to the line.

“I didn’t think I had held on, but luckily, we did.”

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Cape Verde’s highly-regarded manager Bubista, who led the island nation to a remarkable World Cup debut last month, has been appointed manager of Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane, the club announced on Tuesday.

No details of his contract were immediately available, but the appointment follows protracted negotiations that reportedly considered Bubista juggling both the national team and club roles.

However, media reports indicate the 56-year-old is expected to resign from his Cape Verde position within days.

Renaissance Berkane, a formidable force in Moroccan football, secured the league title in 2025 and finished as runners-up this year. They also reached the semi-finals of the African Champions League last season and are set to compete in the continent’s premier club competition once more.

Bubista, whose real name is Pedro Leitao Brito, was named African Coach of the Year in 2025 after securing Cape Verde’s historic World Cup qualification.

At the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, his team achieved shock draws against Spain and Uruguay, before suffering a narrow extra-time defeat by eventual finalists Argentina in the round of 32.

Bubista is not the only star from the Cape Verde setup to get a big move following the team’s fairytale World Cup run.

Goalkeeper Vozinha, whose Instagram following skyrocketed during the tournament after his heroics against Spain in the group stage, has been signed by Chilean club Colo-Colo.

The 40-year-old is now fighting for permission to use his footballing nickname on his shirt when he makes his debut for the club, with current league rules in Chile not allowing players to have their nicknames on theirjerseys.

For the personal identification of players, the paternal and/or maternal surname must be printed on the upper back of the jersey, between 5 and 5.5 cm high, and the initial of the first name may be added, according to the league’s regulations. They ⁠also expressly prohibit the use of ‌nicknames.

“Nicknames, appellations, or sobriquets will not be permitted. If there are players with the same surname at a club, the initial of the first name or ‌the second surname, in that order of precedence, must ‌be added to distinguish them,” the rules continue.

But there have been previous exceptions allowed by the Chilean football association (ANFP) and Colo-Colo are hoping they will allow the veteran goalkeeper, whose real name is Josimar José Évora Dias, to use Vozinha, as he did during the World Cup.

Former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton has revealed who he favours between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

The two heavyweights are expected to collide later this year, just so long as both sides can agree on a specific date and location.

At the same time, though, there appears to be waning interest in their long-awaited showdown after both Brits failed to impress last weekend.

First to the stage was Fury, who left a lot to be desired as he trudged through seven rounds of uninspiring action against the 46-year-old Mariusz Wach.

But still, the 37-year-old never seemed in any danger of losing, whereas Joshua was almost knocked out within the first 20 seconds of his contest against Kristian Prenga.

‘AJ’ then suffered a second knockdown in the opening round, before climbing off the canvas and ultimately stopping his opponent in the following three minutes.

Prior to these two performances, Frampton struggled to select a winner but is now somewhat confident that Fury has the beating of his domestic rival.

Speaking to Boxing Now, the Irishman explained that Joshua – because of his power – could knock Fury out; however the more likely outcome, he suspects, is a ‘Gypsy King’ triumph.

“[Joshua] still has a chance – and Fury didn’t look great in his fight [with Wach]. [But] I’d say a lot of people have Fury as the favourite. I [too] have him as a favourite now.

“[I have it] 60/40, maybe. [But] it wouldn’t surprise me if AJ lands and takes him out.”

Frampton went on to praise the bravery shown by AJ to climb off the canvas to get the victory.

“Very brave performance. The first round was a disaster, it’s a criticism you can throw at AJ a lot, that he starts very slow and you can’t really afford to do that as a heavyweight. Strange performance, legs looked a little bit stiff, looked to be an issue with the legs, but you can’t question his bravery from coming back and doing what he did.”

Joshua vs Fury is expected to take place in November and will be streamed live on Netflix.

The Vikings’ in-house talent at edge rusher isn’t inspiring a ton of optimism. As a result, some are expressing concern, especially with Jadeveon Clowney getting taken out of free agency?

What of Chaz Chambliss?

The Georgia alumnus got added last offseason from within undrafted free agency. He was among the many UDFA players to crack the 53-man roster for 2025. Most of his contributions came as a special teams asset but he played on defense, albeit in a modest manner. Any chance the unheralded sophomore gets more run than people anticipate?

The Vikings’ In-House Pass Rusher Option

Standing at 6’1″ and weighing roughly 245 pounds, Chambliss is a touch small for the position. An ideal world would involve being longer; think a frame that’s closer to Danielle Hunter as being the ideal.

But then there’s another interesting detail: Eric Wilson, himself a UDFA talent once upon a time, doesn’t boast the best build and has still found a way to shine. Could Chambliss see what the veteran did and then go do likewise? It’s a lofty goal that’s unlikely to be attained, but Wilson is someone to emulate.

During the 2025 season, Chambliss played in a dozen games. His total workload finished off at 25 snaps on defense alongside 183 snaps on special teams. In all likelihood, he’s looking at a similar dynamic going into the current season — a workload heavily tilting toward special teams — but he’s trying to change that modest outlook. He can do so if he proves capable of walloping the quarterback with some regularity.

As for statistics, Chaz Chambliss didn’t get totally shutout as a rookie. He had 8 tackles and 1 sack as a rookie.

The defender played his college ball for Georgia, overlapping with players such as Lewis Cine and Ty Ingram-Dawkins. His final season involved 40 tackles alongside 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. Not earth shattering, but some production from within one of college football’s foremost programs.

Given his build, Chambliss may need to dabble with being an off-ball linebacker. Doing so would enhance his appeal for Brian Flores, a coordinator who enjoys working with smart, versatile players. Offering up some of that coveted versatility allows the DC to increase the pre- and post-snap chaos, creating confusion along the way.

And, to be sure, there’s something to be said for just pinning one’s ears back. After Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, the Vikings’ in-house edge rusher options don’t inspire huge optimism. Think Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and a couple others. Nice depth but nobody who can be identified as fully settling the EDGE3 debate.

What’s odd is that Minnesota doesn’t appear too worried, suggesting there are players in town who can do well when called upon. Is there untapped potential in Chambliss?

Getting him to the Twin Cities meant sending over $220,000 in guaranteed money, per Over the Cap. The implication is that several teams were competing for his services after the draft. Former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did well at bringing undrafted talent to town; Chambliss is merely one example of that approach paying off.

Choosing the Vikings worked reasonably well for both sides. Things will look ever better if the sophomore blossoms into a mainstay of the pass rushing rotation in 2026.

Chaz Chambliss is still only 23.

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

MMA fighter Allan Nascimento has died at the age of 34, the UFC has announced.

The Brazilian flyweight was found dead on Monday morning after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep.

A statement from UFC read: “This morning, Monday, August 3rd, our beloved fighter and exemplary flyweight, Allan Nascimento, was found unresponsive after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep.

“Despite the efforts of the responding medical team, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Allan’s family, friends, teammates, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

Nascimento had been in the UFC since 2021 and his last fight was a loss to Mitch Raposo in June.

He trained at Chute Boxe in Brazil.

Chute Boxer paid tribute on social media, saying that their team had lost a “warrior, friend, dedicated competitor and extraordinary human being”.

“He earned the respect and admiration of all who had the privilege of knowing him.

“Allan inspired on and off the mats with his determination, humility, respect and fighting spirit.

“Your presence will be missed immeasurable, rest in peace Allan, your name, your story and your legacy will live forever through our star.”

A tribute to Nascimento on The UFC site added: “A member of the famed Chute Boxe Diego Lima team, Nascimento made six trips into the Octagon, amassing a 4-2 record while building a reputation as a skilled competitor and consummate professional.

“For his career, ‘Puro Osso’ compiled a 22-7 record with 16 of his wins coming by way of submission.

“A fixture on the doorstep of the Top 15, Nascimento was a constant presence alongside his teammates whenever they made the walk, sharing an especially close bond with former lightweight champion and current BMF titleholder Charles Oliveira.

“Our condolences go out to Nascimento’s family and friends, the Chute Boxe Diego Lima team, and all those impacted by this sudden, heartbreaking loss.”

Oliveira posted a tribute on social media: “Today I lost a brother that the fight game gave me.”

“Thank you for always being by my side, for sharing the mats and the corner.

“I have nothing but gratitude for having you with me in training, in the corner, and just hanging out. I love you, man; you’re a legend.”

The stakes have been raised in the Moses Itauma vs. Filip Hrgovic fight after a world heavyweight title was added to the contest.

Itauma and Hrgovic will meet at The O2 Arena in London on August 29, in a bout that was already set to have big implications for the division.

After Oleksandr Usyk vacated his unified titles earlier this summer, there has been plenty of movement, with Agit Kabayel upgraded to WBC champion, Murat Gassiev now the WBA champion, while Daniel Dubois remains WBO champion.

The one remaining vacant title was the IBF strap, but that won’t be the case any longer after it was revealed that the belt will now be on the line between Itauma and Hrgovic, and Warren has told BBC Sport about how big an opportunity this is in Itauma’s career.

“A lot of people have high expectations of him as I have, by the way. We signed him when he was 16. He was an amateur. We sponsored him and he turned professional with us. And he’s been amazing and sort of taken the world by storm.

“This is a big moment for him. But I’m confident he can do it.”

Itauma had originally been ordered to have a final eliminator with Frank Sanchez for the vacant belt, and Warren also revealed that they have paid the Cuban some step-aside money in order to allow this month’s bout to be contested for the title instead.

“We paid [Sanchez] some money. We said whoever wins the fight, you’re not losing out and you’ll get the opportunity to fight for the title against the winner.”

At just 21-years-old, Itauma would become the second youngest world heavyweight champion in history if he is successful against Hrgovic later this month.

The Commonwealth Games 2026 concluded on Sunday, August 2, with India enjoying a successful campaign despite the Games being restricted to just 10 sporting disciplines.

India finished fourth on the medal table with 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze.

While athletics (16 medals) and boxing (10 medals) spearheaded India’s medal surge in the latter half of the Games, weightlifting laid the foundation for the campaign in the opening days. The sport also delivered India’s first gold medal through seasoned campaigner Mirabai Chanu.

An eight-medal haul would ordinarily be considered an excellent return. However, a closer look reveals a far less encouraging picture. India not only registered their lowest weightlifting medal tally since the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games but also recorded their fewest gold medals in the discipline across the past five editions.

The number of gold medals keeps dropping

India’s weightlifting programme had steadily progressed after the 2010 Commonwealth Games, winning two gold medals in Delhi before improving to three at Glasgow 2014 and peaking with five gold medals at Gold Coast 2018.

The tally dipped to three gold medals at Birmingham 2022, but the overall campaign still reflected India’s dominance in the sport.

That trend has now worsened. At the Commonwealth Games 2026, only Mirabai Chanu managed to stand atop the podium, reducing India’s gold-medal tally to just one.

More significantly, this is the first time since 2010 that India’s gold-medal count in weightlifting has declined at two successive Commonwealth Games, suggesting that the Birmingham drop was not an isolated setback but part of a broader trend.

India’s medals in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games since 2010

Why is the drop in gold medals at the Commonwealth Games worrisome for India?

Looking only at the overall medal count, India’s campaign may not appear disappointing. Eight medals are still among the better returns by any nation in Glasgow.

The concern emerges when the performance is viewed in the context of India’s global ambitions. The Commonwealth Games have traditionally been India’s strongest international event in weightlifting. Since 2010, the country has won 46 medals in the competition.

The contrast with bigger competitions is stark. India have won just 14 weightlifting medals in the history of the Asian Games and only two Olympic medals.

In other words, even when the level of competition is comparatively lower at the Commonwealth Games, India have historically found it easier to dominate. If that dominance is beginning to fade, expectations of significantly improved performances at the Asian Games and the Olympics become increasingly difficult to justify.

Why India’s gold-medal numbers are dropping

The decline in India’s gold-medal tally is not merely a statistical anomaly but a reflection of a shrinking pool of athletes capable of dominating international competition.

India still produced eight medals in Glasgow, but six of them were silver. That indicates that the country continues to produce finalists, yet struggles to convert podium finishes into titles. At elite competitions, that final step often separates a good programme from a great one.

Nigeria and Australia have also remained consistent contenders. Winning medals is still well within India’s reach, but standing atop the podium has become significantly harder.

The bigger concern, however, lies beyond the Commonwealth Games. India have traditionally used the event as a benchmark because the level of competition is generally lower than at the Asian Games or the Olympics. 

If Indian lifters are now finding it difficult to dominate even at the Commonwealth level, expectations of significantly better performances against powerhouses such as China, North Korea, South Korea, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan become increasingly difficult to justify.

The silver-heavy campaign in Glasgow should, therefore, be viewed as a warning rather than a consolation. 

Yet Mirabai’s brilliance also exposes India’s biggest weakness.

One of the clearest indicators of India’s changing fortunes in Commonwealth weightlifting is the absence of a new generation of serial champions. India’s previous generation consistently returned to the Commonwealth Games and upgraded their performances. Sukhen Dey and Ravi Kumar followed their medals in Delhi 2010 with another podium finish in Glasgow 2014. Sanjita Chanu and Sathish Sivalingam defended their Commonwealth titles in 2018, while Punam Yadav progressed from bronze in 2014 to gold four years later. Mirabai herself set the benchmark by transforming a silver medal into three successive Commonwealth titles.

The current generation has also produced repeat medallists, but the progression has stalled. Harjinder Kaur, Bindyarani Devi and Lovepreet Singh have all returned to the podium, yet none has converted those performances into a Commonwealth title. In Glasgow, despite India winning eight weightlifting medals, not a single lifter apart from Mirabai managed to stand atop the podium. Six settled for silver, suggesting India continue to produce international-standard medallists but far fewer athletes capable of consistently becoming champions.

As Mirabai enters the twilight of an extraordinary career at 31, India face an uncomfortable question: who replaces her? For nearly a decade, every Commonwealth Games campaign has begun and ended with Mirabai delivering exactly what was expected. Expecting her to remain India’s only guaranteed champion through Los Angeles 2028 and beyond could be a little far fetched wish for the nation. 

India’s high-risk approach needs refinement

Every cloud has a silver lining

While the drop in the number of medals, especially gold medals, can be a cause for concern for the future, one cannot deny that weightlifting still stood out as one of India’s strongest pillars at the Commonwealth Games in the absence of sports they have largely dominated, such as wrestling, badminton and hockey.

Improving the conversion of medals into gold will be a major task at hand, but the success of eight early medals definitely boosted India’s morale as they went on to better their overall tally as the tournament drew to a close.

India’s full list of medal winners in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games 2026:

Angel Capital is poised for an early return, set to compete in the opening stakes race of the Sydney season as he embarks on what could be a career-defining campaign.

Trainer Chris Waller confirmed that the five-year-old gelding is scheduled to be nominated for the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick next Saturday, and the current intention is for him to race.

“Angel Capital will run next week in the Missile, then he can go second up into a Group One. The Memsie or the Winx Stakes,” Waller remarked. “He’s well suited at the set weights and penalties, where the others probably aren’t, and he’s got a bit more speed. (A horse like) Autumn Glow gets too much weight. He’s come back well. Mentally he’s great. There’s no reason why he can’t keep going for another year.”

A three-time placegetter at the highest level, including a runner-up finish to Jigsaw in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in March, Angel Capital is being prepared with the aim of capturing an elusive Group 1 win this spring.

The valuable stallion prospect, owned by Yulong, has the potential to cement his future at stud by achieving this significant goal.

By taking advantage of an early run in the Missile Stakes, Waller is signalling his intent to give Angel Capital a genuine opportunity at Group 1 success in his second start.

“He’s a horse that needs to be rock-hard fit second-up at 1400 and he could win a Group One,” he said.

Angel Capital is expected to be Waller’s sole participant in the Missile Stakes. Additionally, Napoleonic, who placed in the Doomben 10,000, from the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton stable, is also anticipated to make his seasonal debut in the same race and is set to be a worthy adversary following two strong barrier trial performances.

Compare online bookmakers for the best racing odds on the Missile Stakes.