The Ciaron Maher stable has a proven track record of maximising the potential of mares as they age.

Examples like Bella Nipotina and Pride Of Jenni demonstrate horses who maintained their class into their later racing years.

Tennessee Bound, while not quite at that elite level, possesses a unique aspect to her racing record that those two outstanding mares do not share.

Across six career starts, Tennessee Bound has yet to be defeated, and she will be aiming to prolong this perfect record in the Dr Sheahan Plate (1300m) at Sandown this Saturday.

The start of Tennessee Bound’s career was delayed until October of last year due to issues with immature knees, and the Maher team has handled her progression with expert care.

Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, spoke about the stable’s careful selection of races for the mare.

“We’d have her in, give her a break, and thankfully (owner) Gerry (Ryan) just said do what you have to do,” Turnbull said.

“She’s a mare that has taken time and hopefully the time given repays us, but we can’t hide her now as we’ve placed her as best as we can.

“She’s in a 1300-metre benchmark 88 and we feel as though that’s that next bracket, but it’s tougher again than what she has been meeting.”

Turnbull noted that the team is uncertain about the upper limits of Tennessee Bound’s racing ability.

If Tennessee Bound manages to continue her winning form on Saturday, a possibility exists for her to contest the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m), a feature mares’ race at Flemington on September 12.

To date, Tennessee Bound has not raced beyond 1200m, making Saturday’s event a new challenge for the mare.

“If she was successful, a race that comes to mind is the Let’s Elope, potentially stepping up to 1400 (metres),” Turnbull explained.

“She’s a speed horse, so we don’t have to stretch her if we don’t want to.

“We would only be thinking of Black Type if she was winning again.

“It’s hard to determine how good she might be because she is still only lightly raced, but she will come back and be better again, I’m sure.

“What she is racing against and her ratings, she is that Listed, Group 3 level now, at the right time, but to say she’s a Group 1 horse is a bit audacious given her trajectory has been monitored.”

Throughout her winning streak, Tennessee Bound has consistently been positioned in the top three, including leading from start to finish in her last two assignments.

“If there is genuine pace in the race (on Saturday), we would love to be third, fourth, fifth, in that sweet spot,” Turnbull stated.

“She is unbeaten, she seems to raise the bar every time it is asked and hopefully, she can do it again on Saturday.”

Following a potential win in the Dr Sheahan Plate, the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes could be on the radar for Tennessee Bound; consider the latest sports betting options available.

Trainer Cliff Brown has encountered a series of unfortunate barrier draws for Almairac in recent weeks and has decided to take a punt by heading to Adelaide.

Almairac drew a wide gate in Sydney last Saturday, again from an outside alley at Sandown on Wednesday, and now faces barrier 12 of 13 acceptors in The Footbase Group Handicap (1994m) at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.

Brown confirmed that Almairac would make the journey to Adelaide from his Mornington stables, as it has been over five weeks since the gelding last competed.

That last start was in a Benchmark 70 race over 1800m, where Almairac finished fourth on a Heavy 9-rated track.

Brown suggested that the likelihood of a slightly firmer surface, rated a Soft 7 on Thursday, would be in the gelding’s favour.

Almairac also sees a weight advantage, dropping from 57.5kg at Sandown to 55kg on Saturday in Benchmark 78 grade, with Will Price booked to ride.

“He’s kept drawing wide and he’s done the same on Saturday, but I’m just going to chance my arm,” Brown said.

“That would be three times in a week that he would have missed a start because of poor barriers.”

“It’s come about because he drew 10 of 12 at Randwick, drew 11 at Sandown, and the start at Randwick can be a bit tricky, and we’ve got 12 on Saturday.”

“The heavy track probably got him last time, but he had had a bit of a gap between runs, and for the pattern of the day, he ran pretty well.”

“There has been rain in Adelaide, but it’s clearing up, and I’ve got to race him somewhere, and that seems the most logical one.”

“He’s worked very well. I’m happy with how he is, but I’d love to draw a gate.”

Explore the available betting markets for the race at your preferred Australian betting sites.

The second phase of the 2026 Hockey World Cup is now underway, with the top eight teams from the first phase battling for the four semifinal spots.

Harmanpreet Singh-led India’s men’s team will begin their Phase 2 campaign on Saturday with a crucial clash against the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Salima Tete’s India women’s team will face Australia in their final Phase 2 game on Sunday after suffering a 0-2 defeat to defending champions the Netherlands in their opening match.

India men’s team semifinal qualification scenario

India are part of Pool E in the second phase, alongside England, the Netherlands and Argentina.

Under the new World Cup format, teams carry over points earned against other teams that progressed from their respective first-phase pools. England and the Netherlands begin Phase 2 with three points each, while India and Argentina start without any carryover points.

All four teams will play two matches each in Pool E. Here are the possible scenarios for India.

Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026: Pool E full schedule

Win vs Netherlands and Argentina

India’s best route to the semifinals is to win both their matches against the Netherlands and Argentina. Even then, however, their qualification will depend on the results of the other matches.

If India win both games, they will finish with six points. They will qualify if England either win both their matches or lose both their matches.

If England win both games, they will finish above India and the Netherlands, while India will be in contention for the second semifinal spot. If England lose both, India and Argentina will compete with the Netherlands for the remaining spot, with goal difference potentially becoming decisive.

Win vs Netherlands, loss vs Argentina

If India beat the Netherlands but lose to Argentina, they will finish with three points.

In this scenario, India will need England to beat both Argentina and the Netherlands. That result would leave England, the Netherlands and Argentina in contention for the second semifinal spot, with goal difference deciding which team joins England in the last four.

Loss vs Netherlands, win vs Argentina

If India lose to the Netherlands but beat Argentina, they will also finish with three points.

However, this is a particularly tricky scenario. If England beat Argentina, India would be eliminated from semifinal contention even before their match against Argentina.

For India to remain in the race, England would need to lose both their matches. India would then have to hope their goal difference is better than Argentina’s to join the Netherlands in the semifinals.

Draw vs Netherlands, win vs Argentina

A draw against the Netherlands followed by a win over Argentina would give India four points.

There would be several possible routes to qualification from there.

If England lose both their matches, India would qualify alongside the Netherlands. If England win both games, India would be level on four points with the Netherlands, meaning goal difference would decide which team advances.

However, if England beat Argentina and either draw or lose to the Netherlands, India would be eliminated because England would finish on six or seven points, while the Netherlands would have at least five.

If England lose to Argentina but beat the Netherlands, India would again be tied with the Netherlands on four points, leaving the qualification spot to the relevant tiebreaker.

Win vs Netherlands, draw vs Argentina

If India beat the Netherlands and draw against Argentina, they would finish with four points.

In this case, India would ideally need England to win both their matches to qualify directly.

If England lose both games, the Netherlands would qualify, while India and Argentina would be tied on four points. Goal difference would then determine which of the two teams joins the Netherlands in the semifinals.

If England draw both their matches, they would qualify, while India would finish level with the Netherlands on four points. India would have the advantage on goal difference in this scenario and would therefore progress.

Draw vs Netherlands and Argentina

If India draw both their matches, they would finish with just two points.

With the Netherlands and England already carrying three points into Phase 2, India would be unable to finish in the top two and would be eliminated from semifinal contention.

Loss vs Netherlands and Argentina

If India lose both their matches, they would finish at the bottom of Pool E and be eliminated from the race for the semifinals.

India women’s team semifinal qualification scenario

India’s women’s team are also in Pool E, alongside China, the Netherlands and Australia.

The Netherlands began Phase 2 with three carryover points after beating fellow Pool A qualifiers Australia in the first phase. India and China, meanwhile, carried one point each into the second phase after drawing their first-phase meeting.

In the opening set of Phase 2 matches, India lost 0-2 to the Netherlands, while Australia drew with China.

The result means the Netherlands have already secured their place in the semifinals, while India, China and Australia are fighting for the remaining semifinal spot from Pool E.

India will face Australia in their final Phase 2 game on Sunday. Here are the qualification scenarios.

Win vs Australia

If India beat Australia, they will finish Phase 2 with four points. In that case, India will need the Netherlands to beat China in their final match. A Netherlands win would leave China on two points, while Australia would remain on one point, allowing India to claim the second semifinal spot.

However, if the Netherlands lose to China, India will be eliminated because China would move to five points.

Draw or loss vs Australia

If India draw against Australia, both teams will finish Phase 2 with two points.

Since India have already lost to the Netherlands, their goal difference would be inferior to Australia’s in this scenario. Therefore, regardless of the result between the Netherlands and China, India would be eliminated.

A defeat to Australia would end India’s campaign as well. They would finish Phase 2 with just one point, leaving all three other teams above them in the standings.

India’s women therefore have only one clear route to the semifinals: beat Australia and hope the Netherlands defeat China.

The Philippine women’s baseball team in training ahead of the Women’s Baseball World Cup. –PABA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine women’s baseball team opens its campaign in the Women’s Baseball World Cup on Sunday in Tainan, Taiwan where it will seek a spot in the Finals as one of the top three finishers.

A tough opening assignment awaits the Filipina batters as they take on defending champion Japan in Group B at Aspac Secondary Stadium with the first pitch set at 2:30 p.m.

Also in the group are host Chinese-Taipei, Venezuela, Cuba and Great Britain.

Veteran coach Saki Bacarisas is calling the shots for the 20-player Team Philippines, which qualified for the World Cup as a wildcard entry.

The top three teams after the group stage will advance to the Finals next year in Rockford, Illinois, along with the United States, Australia and Canada.

The Americans, the Australians and the Canadians secured their spots after Group A was played last month in Rockford. Also in the group were South Korea, Mexico and Hong Kong.

Players who will don the national colors are Maria Christine Bautista, Angel Kaye Bedano, Helea Campos, Ivymhel Capistrano, Shyla Mae Celis, Delyrose Covarrubias, Mharnie dela Cruz, Madelene Domaug and Erika Fernandez.

Also on the team are Martine Dominique Francisco, Cassandra Inot, Chastene Jover, Mae Langga, Jojielyn Lim, Mary Joy Maguad, Mary Nichole Padasas, Mery Ann Ramos, Jam’mn Joyce Rasco, Richelle Toledo and Veronica Velasco.

Their other games are against Cuba on Monday, Chinese-Taipei on Tuesday, Great Britain on Wednesday and Venezuela on Thursday.

It took just one round of the Premier League to puncture the preseason positivity surrounding Manchester United and Tottenham. Saturday in England’s top division began with United, the 20-time champion with a new permanent manager and a freshly renovated midfield, getting rolled over by promoted Hull in an embarrassing 2-0 loss. It ended with Tottenham, one of the biggest spenders in Europe this summer with $300 million – and counting – of new players in its squad, getting overwhelmed in a 3-0 defeat at Brentford. In the middle was a win for Everton in front of Britain’s recently installed prime minister and a victory for another promoted club, Ipswich.

Hull made a dream return to the top flight after a nine-year absence but much of the post-match chatter was about Man United’s shortcomings.

First-half goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy at set-pieces consigned United to a tepid loss away to a team that was promoted via the second-tier Championship playoffs and is widely expected to be among the relegation candidates.

“It was never going to be perfect,” said Michael Carrick, who was rewarded for leading United to a third-place finish last season and a return to the Champions League with a permanent contract over the summer.

Carrick also was given a new central-midfield duo in Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos – Brighton’s Carlos Baleba might be next – while Marcus Rashford returned from a loan spell at Barcelona and entered as a halftime substitute against Hull.

They struggled to impress along with many other players in a lackluster team display that showed United – last a Premier League champion in 2013 under Alex Ferguson – still has far to go to recapture its former glories and is unlikely to challenge for the title, at least on this evidence anyway.

“One game doesn’t change the direction of everything,” Carrick said. “It doesn’t change the direction of the football club.”

Across Europe, only Chelsea has spent more on new players than Tottenham this summer but it didn’t show at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium.

Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali, who joined for a club-record $133 million from Newcastle, was among the new signings in a Spurs team that was completely outplayed by a settled Brentford lineup, which was two goals ahead by the 33rd thanks to close-range strikes by Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt.

Michael Kayode slid in to add a third just after the break and Igor Thiago, Brentford’s top scorer last season, missed a chance to pad the scoreline by hitting the post with a penalty.

Everton had a famous fan in its stadium watching a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Andy Burnham took in his first Everton match since becoming Britain’s prime minister last month and saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry score goals for the hosts.

Everton manager David Moyes said he spoke to Burnham, a season ticket-holder at the club, on the phone after the match.

Ismaila Sarr, linked with a move away from Palace, wasn’t in the matchday squad for Pierre Sage’s first game in charge of the team, though the manager said the Senegal forward’s absence was injury-related. Palace lost Morocco defender Chadi Riad to what appeared to be a serious knee injury that forced him to be carried off on a stretcher in the second half.

Ipswich was another promoted team to win in the opening round of games, scoring in the 90th minute through Jack Clarke to beat his former club Sunderland 2-1.

Leeds also scored a late winner, with Anton Stach’s 88th-minute free kick enough to dispatch Nottingham Forest 1-0.

Arsenal began its title defense by beating Coventry, the second-tier champion last season, 3-0 on Friday.

On Sunday, Manchester City – demolished 3-0 by Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend – looks to bounce back against Bournemouth and Liverpool travels to Newcastle.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Farm Fresh Foxies during a game vs Capital1 Solar Spikers in the 2026 PVL on Tour in Victorias City. –PVL PHOTO

VICTORIAS, Negros Occidental — Farm Fresh capped its PVL On Tour stint on a high note, eking out a come-from-behind 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-12, 15-10 win over Capital1 on Saturday at Victorias City Coliseum here.

Reigning Season MVP Trisha Tubu did most of the damage with 24 points, but it was veterans Ces Molina and Ara Galang who spelled the difference for the Foxies to finish their preseason with two wins in three matches.

From a precarious 8-6 lead in the fifth after Khy Cepada’s massive spike went straight to the face of Galang, Molina scored five crucial kills in Farm Fresh’s six points to reach match point, 14-9. Ysa Jimenez saved a point, but Tubu drilled the finishing cross-court kill.

Molina had 16 points, 17 excellent receptions, and 11 digs, while Galang came out off the bench to lead a strong fourth set and finish with 14 points from eight spikes, three blocks, and three aces and also tallied eight digs.

“I think that’s really our role as veterans on this team—leadership. Even though I’m not the captain, I can still contribute whatever skills the team needs. I’m just happy that we were able to finish the conference on a good note,” said Molina.

Farm Fresh Foxies’ Trisha Tubu during a game vs Capital1 Solar Spikers in the 2026 PVL on Tour in Victorias City. –PVL PHOTO

Louie Romero tossed 23 excellent sets, while Mylene Paat-Rezanova contributed nine.

“Today’s game was a fantastic game. It was a seesaw battle. We need more practice because we have the Invitational Conference come next week,” said Farm Fresh coach Koji Tsuzurabara.

Farm Fresh braces for the Invitationals starting on August 31, facing defending champion PLDT, the Jaja Santiago-led Creamline, Nxled, Thailand’s EST Cola, and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.

Capital1 lost both of its two preseason games without the Alas Pilipinas trio Bella Belen, Erika Santos, and Vanie Gandler.

Shaya Adorador led Capital1 with 14 points and nine excellent receptions. Jimenze had 13, Cherry Nunag chipped in 11 points, while Cepada added nine. Rookie Detdet Pepito had 16 digs and 14 excellent receptions.

Clemson football has suspended defensive tackle Vic Burley after his arrest, coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement Aug. 22.

Swinney said Burley was arrested by the Clemson University Police Department on a disorderly conduct charge.

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“Earlier today, I was made aware of defensive tackle Vic Burley’s arrest by the Clemson University Police Department for disorderly conduct early Saturday morning,” Swinney said in a statement. “I have made the decision to suspend Vic from our football team indefinitely. We are extremely disappointed by his actions and decisions.”

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football DT Vic Burley suspended after arrest

Two of boxing’s biggest — and most unpredictable — personalities will meet in the ring on Saturday when Rolando “Rolly” Romero defends his WBA welterweight championship against Teofimo Lopez Jr.

Romero is something of an unexpected world champion, though he’s accomplished the feat twice over in his career. Always a popular fighter based on his big personality and strong social media presence, Romero has never displayed elite boxing skills, instead relying on an offense-first style and solid power.

In 2022, Romero received his first opportunity to break through to the top of the sport, but he was brutally stopped in the sixth round by Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

In his next fight after losing to Davis, Romero won his first world championship, picking up a ninth-round TKO win over Ismael Barroso to capture the vacant WBA junior welterweight championship. That win was heavily tainted by the fact that Romero was getting thoroughly outclassed by Barroso, a late replacement in the fight, when the referee jumped in for a clear early stoppage nearly the second Romero had gathered any momentum.

Romero dropped the title in his next outing, getting stopped by Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. Two fights later, Romero again found himself playing the “b-side” to a bigger name fighter when he took on Ryan Garcia in New York’s Times Square.

Teofimo Lopez Jr. looks to bounce back from disastrous loss when he faces Rolly Romero for welterweight title

Brian Campbell

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Garcia fought the worst fight of his life, turning in a lifeless performance that allowed Romero to win the “regular” WBA welterweight title, and was subsequently elevated to full champion when Jaron Ennis vacated his belt to move up in weight.

Now, Romero faces Lopez, a fighter who has always been viewed as a man with elite talent but a lacking mental game, almost the inverse of Romero.

Lopez won the first 16 fights of his career, a run that culminated in a win over Richard Commey to claim the IBF lightweight championship and Vasiliy Lomachenko to add the WBA and WBO titles.

Just as it seemed Lopez was poised to take over the sport, he suffered a devastating setback when he dropped a split decision to massive underdog George Kambosos Jr. Lopez was knocked down by Kambosos and clearly lost the fight, making the one card scored his way an oddity that seemed to convince Lopez boxing’s elites had conspired against the bigger name fighter with the bigger fanbase and the bigger promoter in favor of a fighter largely unknown in the sport.

As Lopez performed a backflip after the Kambosos loss, it confirmed to many that mental issues Lopez had displayed throughout his career — along with a seemingly unhealthy attachment to his father serving as his trainer — may hold him back from his true potential.

Lopez rebounded with six wins of varying quality, including struggles against Sandor Martín and Jamaine Ortiz, and a few impressive wins, including over Josh Taylor to capture the WBO junior welterweight title.

That run brought Lopez to his most recent fight, where he was badly outclassed by Shakur Stevenson over 12 rounds. Lopez was nearly shut out that night, losing 119-109 on all three official scorecards.

Against Stevenson, Teofimo Lopez Sr. offered little constructive advice in the corner, something that Lopez Jr. has taken issue with in the months since the loss, continuing their tumultuous relationship.

“I’m fighting a big puncher at 147 and going up to that weight for the first time,” Lopez said at a recent media workout. “We’re taking a risk, because it’s no risk, no reward. I’m just focusing on my objectives so I can come out victorious.

“Every fight at 147 will be my biggest fight. I won’t say they’ll all be the most challenging. The best man will end up on top. Right now I’m only focused on Rolly Romero.”

Elsewhere on the card, rising middleweight prospect Yoenli Hernandez is back to take on Francisco Daniel Veron. The 29-year-old from Cuba has looked like the real deal since making his pro debut in 2022. He’s amassed a 10-0 record with nine knockouts to his name. He picked up his biggest win to date against Terrell Gausha in a fourth-round knockout.

“I’m the best middleweight in the world right now,” Hernandez said at a recent media workout. “My hunger for glory, my desire to be champion and win every title — that’s something I don’t see in the rest of the division. Everyone seems to arrive, get the title, and settle. Not me. I’m coming to get the title, keep it, and fight the best. Lately, nobody in my weight class wants to face the best.”

Also on Saturday, Gary Antonio Russell makes his return to the ring when he takes on Victor Santillan at junior featherweight. Russell, one of the five fighting brothers, holds a 21-1 record as a pro. However, he has just two fights since 2024 as he looks to build toward a title shot.

Let’s take a closer look at the rest of the undercard for Saturday night in Las Vegas with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.

Romero vs. Lopez fight card, odds

• Teofimo Lopez Jr. -300 vs. Rolando Romero (c) +230, WBA welterweight title
• Yoenli Hernandez -1400 vs. Francisco Daniel Veron +750, middleweights
• Gary Antonio Russell -180 vs. Victor Santillan +140, junior featherweights
• Carlos Utria -1600 vs. Israel Mercado +750, junior welterweights
• Marco Romero -5000 vs. Kahlil Mitchell +1300, middleweights
• Benjamin Johnson vs. Jose Gabriel Rodriguez, welterweights
• Joseph Brown -5000 vs. Alton Wiggins +1300, junior middleweights
• Aldo Blancas -5000 vs. Ricky Mamone +1300, junior welterweights

Where to watch Romero vs. Lopez 

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 22 | Start time: 8 p.m. ET (Main card) (Main event ring walks expected around 11 p.m. ET)
• Location: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas
• TV Channel/Stream: DAZN PPV | Price: $79.99

Prediction

Lopez is the better fighter. He’s the man with more natural gifts. He’s the fighter with more technical skills. However, Lopez is also a fighter with some obvious flaws. He’s shown mental weakness and a tendency to get flustered the second things aren’t coming easily in the ring. Lopez has also had extreme trouble with fighters who use movement and don’t choose to engage. Sandor Martín took that approach in a fight where he likely deserved the decision, and that left Lopez asking “Do I still got it?” after the final bell.

The problem for Romero is that he is very unlikely to be a fighter who is going to take a Martin-esque approach to fighting Lopez. Romero has a strong mental game, and that’s a good tool against someone like Lopez, but he doesn’t have the style to further fluster and beat Lopez unless he turns in a career-best performance.

Romero beat Garcia because Garcia simply didn’t show up that night in New York City. Garcia didn’t engage and he didn’t throw punches, making for an easy night for Romero. Lopez isn’t likely to turn in a dud on that level, and all things being equal, it should be a fairly easy win for Lopez. Whether or not Lopez can score his first stoppage win since 2022 is a more intriguing question. Pick: Teofimo Lopez via UD

Who wins Romero vs. Lopez, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $2,500 on his combat sports picks last year, and find out.