Cheltenham
Last year’s Arkle winner Edwardstone is set to go off as favourite for the Champion Chase, the feature on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins is targeting back-to-back wins in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle, with his Impaire Et Passe heading the betting. He also has former Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard among the contenders in the Novices’ Chase And the Gordon Elliott-trained Delta Work aims to retain the Cross Country Chase this afternoon.
American Grand National winner Hewick will be declared this morning for Friday’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Due to arrive in Cheltenham in the next few hours, the horse’s participation has been in doubt since the rain softened the ground at Cheltenham in the past few days. But trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has confirmed having seen Tuesday’s results, he has every intention of running his stable star, unless the weather forecast proves horribly wrong.
What a day 😍
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 14, 2023
Let's do it all again tomorrow!#CheltenhamFestival | @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/Y1fvU7yi8o
Gaelic Games
Mullinavat are through to the final of this year’s JJ Kavanagh & Sons Kilkenny senior football league.
They beat Moocoin in Piltown last night, 1-14 to 1-09
Meanwhile, the new-look Carlow football leagues move into the first round of action this weekend with four games in Division 1 down for decision on St. Patrick’s Day. As if it was planned, St. Patrick’s will take on Fenagh, Éire Óg meet Palatine, Bagenalstown Gaels are away to Rathvilly and Old Leighlin host Tinryland. All games throw-in at 7.30 pm.
Changes to the league setup this year mean there are a minimum of seven games for teams in each division with the top four in each at the end of the round robin stages progressing to a league semi-final.
See also: Carlow football leagues move into first-round action this weekend
Seamus Callanan looks likely to miss at least two of Tipperary’s games in the Munster Hurling Championship.
He’s been ruled out for six-to-eight weeks after sustaining a medial knee ligament injury in their League win over Waterford at the weekend. Tipp face Clare in their opening championship game on April 23rd, before facing Cork a fortnight later.
There’s one game of note for local schools today with St. Mary’s Academy/Carlow CBS taking on Tullow Community School at midday in Netwatch Cullen Park to decide this year’s South Leinster senior hurling D1 final.
Champions League
Erling Haaland took his goal tally for the season to 39 last night, scoring five times in a 7-nil demolition of RB Leipzig.
That helped Manchester City book their Champions League quarter-final place with a 8-1 aggregate win.
Haaland joins Lionel Messi and Luis Adriano as the only players to bag five goals in a Champions league game.
🎥 – Watch and enjoy..
— 1OZZiil_11 (@Abu_Ahmad1413) March 14, 2023
Historical player Erling Haaland, the round of 16 of the Champions League!
– (5) goals in one match, date ⭐️ “Manchester City”
pic.twitter.com/BkmrzGB0Zw
Inter will join them in Friday’s draw, after a goalless draw away to Porto secured a 1-nil aggregate victory.
Jurgen Klopp says his Liverpool side are ‘complete outsiders’ at the Bernabeu tonight. They trail Real Madrid by 5-goals to 2 ahead of their last-16 second leg. Karim Benzema is set to return to the Real frontline having sat out their win over Espanyol at the weekend with an ankle complaint.
The quarter-final line-up will be completed tonight. Serie A leaders Napoli entertain Eintracht Frankfurt, holding a 2-nil first leg advantage.
Premier League
Southampton could move out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since October tonight IF they win at home to Brentford.
And Brighton can pull level on points with Liverpool with a win at home to Crystal Palace.
Six Nations
England lock Ollie Chessum has been ruled out of Saturday’s Grand Slam decider with Ireland at the Aviva.
He suffered an ankle injury in training.
Leicester’s George Martin has been added to the England squad as cover.
On this day 2014 Ireland edged France, 22-20 at Stade de France, Saint-Denis to beat England on points difference and win Six Nations Rugby Championship; final international match for Ireland centre Brian O’Driscoll with record 141 caps
