With Chelsea on the verge of securing the premier league title, and Middlesbrough all but certain to be leaving the league, this is certainly a game of contrasts. There will still be fire in the belly of the Chelsea players as they look to end the season in good form (with ten wins in their last 12 premier league and cup matches) and a few points ahead of…

Ennaadd made rapid progress through the ranks last season, culminating in a facile win in the Hyde Stakes, over a mile, at Kempton in November and sets the standard in the All-Weather Mile Championship Stakes at Lingfield on Friday. The King’s Best colt won his maiden over course and distance by 6 lengths on his final start as a juvenile and won on his reappearance last season, so…

Notwithstanding injuries to Harry Kane , Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney, it speaks volumes for the state of the respective national sides that, on a night when 31-year-old German striker Lucas Podolski bids farewell to international football, Gareth Southgate has been forced to recall 34-year-old Jermain Defoe to the England squad. Despite a spate of international retirements, German coach Joachim Low can still call on many experienced players…

At the time of writing, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is just over a week away but, with most bookmakers offering ‘non runner no bet’ on the Blue Riband event of the National Hunt season, now could be the time to get stuck into Colin Tizzard’s progressive young chaser Native River. The 7-year-old has gone from strength to strength this season, winning the Hennessy Gold Cup, over 3 miles…

Belami Des Pictons recorded a career best over 3 miles on heavy going at Warwick 17 days ago and, despite a 10lb rise in the weights, looks to have been found another decent opportunity in the Weatherbys Novices’ Chase (2.40) at Leicester on Tuesday. The French import made a mockery of his previous handicap mark, effortlessly drawing clear to beat Arctic Gold by 22 lengths, and can make…