Ulster welcome Exeter Chiefs to the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday evening (5:30pm) with a place in the EPCR Challenge Cup final on the line—and the bookmakers have them slight favourites at -2.

It’s a tight spread for a knockout game, but the team news from Richie Murphy suggests Ulster are going all-in to get the job done on home soil.

Big Guns Return at the Right Time

There are 14 changes from last week’s URC outing, which tells you everything about where Ulster’s focus has been. This is close to full strength—and it shows.

Captain Iain Henderson returns to lead the side, partnering Cormac Izuchukwu in the second row. More importantly, the back row gets a serious lift with the return of Nick Timoney from injury, alongside David McCann and Juarno Augustus.

That trio gives Ulster real bite at the breakdown and ball-carrying power—something they’ve lacked at times this season.

Up front, Tom Stewart anchors the front row between Sam Crean and Tom O’Toole. It’s a solid unit, but it will need to stand up physically against a typically abrasive Exeter pack.

Midfield Power and Back Three Threat

Ulster’s strength arguably lies in their midfield. Stuart McCloskey is back pulling the strings at 12, bringing his usual mix of direct running and distribution. Alongside him, Jude Postlethwaite continues to grow into the role at 13.

Out wide, Jacob Stockdale returns on the left, with Zac Ward—Ulster’s leading try-scorer this season—on the right. Add in Michael Lowry at 15, and there’s plenty of attacking spark if Ulster can get quick ball.

The half-back pairing of Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy will be key. Doak’s control and kicking game, in particular, could decide whether Ulster play this in the right areas.

Bench Impact Could Be Decisive

Murphy has gone with a 5:3 split on the bench, signalling a clear intent to win the physical battle late on.

Eric O’Sullivan and Tom McAllister provide fresh legs in the front row, while Bryn Ward adds energy in the back row.

In the backs, Jake Flannery and Ethan McIlroy offer versatility and attacking threat if the game opens up.

In tight knockout matches, that depth often proves the difference—and Ulster look well covered.

The Betting Angle: Is -2 Too Low?

A -2 handicap is about as tight as it gets. It’s essentially asking one question: do Ulster win the match?

Given the return of key players, home advantage, and Exeter’s patchy away form, the line looks slightly on the conservative side.

That said, semi-finals are rarely straightforward. Exeter will bring physicality, set-piece pressure, and enough experience to keep this close if Ulster don’t start well.

The biggest risk for Ulster is discipline and game management. If they give Exeter territory or easy points, this turns into a dogfight quickly.

Verdict

Ulster have named a team capable of winning this—and more importantly, one built for knockout rugby.

With Henderson leading, Timoney back, and McCloskey carrying in midfield, they should have enough control and power to edge it.

It won’t be pretty, and it won’t be comfortable—but it doesn’t need to be.

Prediction: Ulster to cover -2
Suggested Score: Ulster 24–18 Exeter Chiefs

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Joshua is set for the biggest payday of his career for the fight with Fury but the latter’s promoter, Frank Warren, has said the bout fight will not happen if Joshua loses to Prenga.

“There is a lot of pressure going into this fight but there’s also a lot of questions to be answered,” said Hearn. “Physically, mentally, fighting again at all and that’s why it’s needed.

“We want the best Anthony Joshua against Tyson Fury. We don’t want a guy that, ‘maybe he should’ve had a warm up fight – he wasn’t quite ready’.

“We want to be 100% ready for that fight and, if he is, he’ll beat him and he’ll knock him out.”

Joshua’s was beaten by Daniel Dubois in his last fight before beating Paul and his last win against a recognised opponent came against Otto Wallin in December 2023.

“100%, I think there is no doubt about that,” said Hearn when asked if Joshua’s fight against Fury would be off he lost to Prenga. “There’s no doubt, and that’s the risk that we take.

“Even before the incident in Nigeria, we were always having this fight. Now he has been through that, we probably need this fight even more, if I’m honest.

“Now don’t get me wrong, the risk of that versus the pot of gold at the end, it is a risky game, especially when you are fighting a guy that not many people know about, has had 20 knockouts in 21 wins and has got absolutely nothing to lose.

“We know it’s dangerous, but if you can’t beat that guy then you don’t really deserve to be in a ring with Tyson Fury.

“I think with AJ that is a fair assessment and he understands that as well.

“It’s not about trying to protect money here – ‘Oh we don’t want to take that fight because if we get beat we won’t get paid the money’.

“We have to look good in that fight because we want to beat Tyson Fury. We’ve got no interest in just turning up and taking the money.”

Nico O’Reilly expects the title race to go to the wire as Manchester City chase Arsenal.

City, trailing the Premier League leaders by six points but with two games in hand, need to win at Everton on Monday to keep the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side.

Three successive wins — including a crucial victory over Arsenal — have given City a momentum they are determined to maintain.

O’Reilly, who has excelled in left-back and midfield roles this term, said: “We’re confident in ourselves. There are still a few games to go and it could go down to the last game.

“We’re going to try and win every game and score as much as we can. We’re going into every game trying to put a good performance in and win.”

City moved top of the table on goals scored by beating Burnley last time out but FA Cup involvement and the league schedule have since allowed Arsenal to move back in front.

The Gunners now have the advantage of points on the board, but O’Reilly insists that has not affected City’s approach.

The 21-year-old said: “I’m feeling good and positive and ready for the last few weeks. Everyone is feeling good and we’re excited for the last few weeks of the season.”

O’Reilly has been one of the stars of City’s campaign, first establishing himself as a member of the back four before being handed opportunities in his more natural midfield position.

He is among the leading contenders for young player of the year awards, but O’Reilly is focusing only on the immediate task.

“It would be a great achievement but there are still a few games to go and we’ll see what happens,” said O’Reilly, whose form also looks set to earn him an England World Cup spot.

“I just need to knuckle down and keep working hard.

“With all the games and how intense it is, I don’t think there’s much time to reflect yet. I think that’s when we have time off.”

With all of the playoff basketball going on, it seems like I’ve forgotten all about baseball. However, that’s not the case. I’ve still been monitoring it, and we’ve collected some cash on the few bets I’ve put out on the game lately. Today, I have a really strong look at the game between the Reds and Pirates that takes place in Pittsburgh.

The Reds are one of the best teams in baseball, which is not exactly something that I expected to write this season. They made the postseason last year, but considering the lack of moves in the offseason, I just didn’t expect them to be great.

What is probably the most surprising about the Reds is just how good they have been on the road this season. Last year, there wasn’t really any good road team. Those that were above .500, with the exception of the Astros, made the postseason.

A Cincinnati Reds cap with a special logo is seen during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 3, 2021. Cincinnati defeated Chicago 3-2. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

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Today, the Reds look to keep that success going with Rhett Lowder on the hill. For the year, Lowder is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He has made six starts for the year, with exactly half coming at home and on the road. He has an ERA a full run lower on the road than at home, allowing five earned over 17.1 innings. Four of those runs came in one game against the Marlins. The Pirates are hitting just 2-for-11 against Lowder in their careers.

The Pirates are better than they were last year, but not exactly a successful club at the moment. They are hovering around .500 for the season, which is about what they were doing last year. The team still needs to figure out hitting, but they are doing better than last year.

They lost five straight games before this series, losing one to the Brewers and four to the Cardinals. Maybe it was just a bad stretch, or maybe it is a sign of things to come. In those games, they allowed 35 runs and scored 18. That’s an average of seven allowed and 3.6 scored.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Rhett Lowder pitches against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 26, 2026. (Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)

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Trying to get the Pirates back on track is Carmen Mlodzinski. For the year, he is 1-2 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He has been substantially better at home, but most of his opportunities have come on the road. He is pitching to a 1.69 ERA and allowed just two earned runs over 10.2 innings. His lone home start saw him go six scoreless innings and allow two hits and two walks. In his history, he has allowed just three hits in 27 at-bats against the Reds.

We have two starters today who are in better situations for them. Mlodzinski has been better at home, and Lowder better on the road. These are still small sample sizes, but it is a bit encouraging. The way the Pirates have been bleeding runs makes me concerned that the under will be toast. The Reds have been a bit all over the place with scoring and runs allowed.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski throws a pitch during a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on April 21, 2026. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

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In this particular situation, I think it makes the most sense to back the under. Both teams have been playing higher-scoring games right now, but with these two hurlers, we should see fewer runs.

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 

Mumbai Indians script history (Image: IPL)

Mumbai Indians etched their name in cricket history on May 2, 2026, becoming the first team ever to surpass the 50,000-run mark in T20 cricket. The milestone was achieved during their IPL 2026 clash against Chennai Super Kings at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. Entering the match needing 114 runs to reach the landmark, MI crossed the historic threshold in the 15th over of their innings.Interestingly, the record came in a game where Mumbai posted a below-par total, but the significance of the achievement overshadowed the result. In their 308th T20 appearance, the franchise became the first to breach the 50,000-run barrier, underlining their longevity and dominance in the shortest format.Mumbai Indians’ tally includes runs accumulated across 286 IPL matches and 22 Champions League Twenty20 games. Their consistency over the years has made them one of the most successful and prolific teams in T20 history.Top ContributorsLeading the charge is former captain Rohit Sharma, who has been the backbone of MI’s batting with 6,286 runs. He is followed by Suryakumar Yadav (3,933 runs) and Kieron Pollard (3,915 runs), both of whom have played crucial roles in the franchise’s success.Global T20 Run Leaders (as of May 2, 2026)

Coming to the match, MI collapsed from a promising position to finish at 159/7, with Naman Dhir top-scoring with 57. The middle order once again faltered, unable to capitalise despite a solid platform. CSK’s bowling was led by Anshul Kamboj (3/32), while Noor Ahmad and Jamie Overton applied consistent pressure through the middle overs.In reply, CSK chased down the target comfortably, powered by an unbeaten 67 from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and a steady 54* from Kartik Sharma. The victory at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium not only completed a league double over their arch-rivals but also dealt a significant blow to Mumbai Indians’ playoff hopes, while keeping CSK firmly in contention.

MUMBAI : In a significant boost to her career, Delhi Capitals pacer Nandani Sharma has earned her maiden India call-up for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England, with the BCCI naming a 15-member squad on Saturday.

The 24-year-old has also been picked for the historic one-off Test at Lord’s from July 10, immediately after the tournament.

The uncapped Chandigarh seamer forced her way into contention with a standout debut WPL season, finishing as joint-highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps in 10 games for runners-up Delhi Capitals. Her campaign, highlighted by a hat-trick in just her second match, marked her out as one of the season’s breakout stars.

The squad also sees the return of wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, while Anushka Sharma and Uma Chetry miss out. Injuries ruled out promising allrounders Amanjot Kaur (back) and Kashvee Gautam (knee), opening the door for Radha’s recall and strengthening India’s spin depth alongside Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani.

Explaining the omissions, chief selector Amita Sharma said Kashvee would undergo surgery, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur confirmed Amanjot could be sidelined for up to five months.

Yastika, returning after an ACL surgery that ruled her out of the 2025 ODI World Cup, last played a T20I in April 2024. Her comeback adds experience to the lower-middle order and wicketkeeping group led by Richa Ghosh.

Radha, who has featured in 89 T20Is and taken 103 wickets, returns in time for her fifth T20 World Cup, bringing experience and control to India’s bowling attack.

India will open their campaign against Pakistan on June 14 in Birmingham and are placed in a challenging Group A alongside Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh and the Netherlands. The squad will assemble for a pre-tournament camp at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence from May 10 before heading to England for a three-match T20I series, which will serve as preparation.

Harmanpreet, set to feature in her 10th T20 World Cup and lead India for the fifth time, will be aiming to end India’s wait for a maiden T20 World Cup title after their 50over World Cup triumph.

T20 World Cup squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Shreyanka Patil, Bharti Fulmali, Yastika Bhatia, Nandni Sharma, Radha Yadav

Squad for one-off Test: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana.

Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby as Golden Tempo surged from last place to triumph by a neck at Churchill Downs.

Jockey Joe Ortiz urged the 23-1 shot past 4-1 favourite Renegade – ridden by his brother Irad Ortiz Jr – on the line in a breathtaking finish, while Ocelli was third in the 152nd edition of the race.

“Today’s my day and Golden Tempo’s day,” said Joe Ortiz, after winning American Flat racing’s most prestigious event at the 11th attempt.

“I want [brother Irad] to win the Derby, of course – I know it’s his dream as well – but it happened that way. I think he should be happy, his horse ran a very good race.”

Winning trainer DeVaux said she never imagined she would be victorious in the Kentucky Derby.

“I started my career here 22 years ago as a bright-eyed bushy tailed exercise rider and I would not believe that I would be sitting up here today,” she added.

Golden Tempo was at the back of the 18-strong field with half a mile of the one and quarter mile race to go.

Renegade was also off the pace, about 15 lengths back midway through the race as he tried to become the first horse to win from the inside gate in 40 years.

But after storming down the final stretch it looked like the favourite had secured victory, only for Golden Tempo to edge past him on the line, winning in a time of two minutes 2.27 seconds.

Joe Ortiz followed up his victory in the Kentucky Oaks aboard Always A Runner on Friday to become just the ninth jockey to win both races in the same year.

David Benavidez dismantled Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on Saturday, stopping the Mexican with a stunning combination to win the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.

At T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Benavidez dropped Ramirez in the fourth round and again in the sixth, with the latter knockdown proving decisive.

The first knockdown came courtesy of Benavidez’s trademark, rapid flurries – one against the ropes and one out in the open – with single, heavier shots mixed in.

It was a left hook that finally put down Ramirez on that occasion, badly damaging his eye as well, but the 34-year-old was saved by the bell before battling through the fifth round.

But late in the sixth frame, Benavidez fought his way off the ropes and dug a right hook to the body, before unleashing a rapid-fire eight-punch combination.

That froze Ramirez, who then ate a left hook, a right, and one more of each. The southpaw retreated, holding a glove in front of his damaged eye, and sank to a knee.

Benavidez refrained from adding any unnecessary blows, before Ramirez shook his head at referee Thomas Taylor when the count hit eight, sparking jubilation in Benavidez in the corner.

The result kept the 29-year-old unbeaten (32-0, 26 KOs) and saw him become a three-weight world champion, as he added to his title reigns at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight.

Meanwhile, Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs) tasted defeat for just the second time, following his 2022 points loss to Dmitry Bivol.

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Bivol was on Benavidez’s radar during the latter’s recent run at light-heavyweight, although the former undisputed champion is tied up with a fight against Michael Eifert on 30 May and then likely a trilogy bout with Artur Beterbiev.

Before targeting Bivol, Benavidez was eyeing a bout with Canelo Alvarez, but the Mexican-American’s frustrations at failing to secure that fight led him to move up in weight.