Horse racing: GIVEN LOOKS TO ASCOT FOR DAN THE MAN

Dandino will head to Royal Ascot in search of a four-timer after rattling off the hat-trick in impressive fashion at Epsom on Derby Day.

James Given kept it low-key with his colt in previous starts, sending him to Redcar and Doncaster, but took on some smart three-year-olds in the Investec Vincent O'Brien Handicap.

Owned by the Elite Racing Club, Dandino (17-2) showed a striking turn of foot under Paul Mulrennan to settle the race very quickly.

"It has been such a frustrating couple of weeks as we have had a 30% runners to place ratio, but they have been running well without winning and to come off the cold list in that way is very pleasing," said Given.

"Paul rode with lots of confidence and he has done it in a tremendous manner.

"We will step up to a mile and a half now for the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot 2010."

Godolphin look to have discovered a useful older filly with German recruit Antara making a winning debut for Sheikh Mohammed's operation in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

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Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "If she comes out of this OK she could possibly go to Royal Ascot 2010, where the Windsor Forest would be the obvious race."

Hardened Irish two-year-old High Award (7-1) took advantage of the slow early pace to dominate the Investec Woodcote Stakes under Johnny Murtagh.

"We worked him hard to win first time out, but I suppose we've been easy on him the last couple of times and those have put him right for today.

"He had plenty of experience and handled the track well," said Fozzy Stack, son and assistant to trainer Tommy.

Stuart Williams' bottom-weight Bertoliver was third at the course in April but went off at 33-1 as he blitzed down the stands rail in the Investec Entrepreneurial Class 'Dash'.

"We'll think about Ascot now, where we have the Coventry, Norfolk and Windsor Castle as options."

It was a fine moment for winning jockey Jack Mitchell, son of local trainer Philip.

"He has been a disappointing horse since he won so well at Lingfield last year," said the Newmarket baronet.

Sir Mark Prescott's continued his ridiculously hot form as Fortuni (9-1) turned the Investec Surefooted Challenge into a procession.

"I didn't think he ran very well at York last time so we decided to change the tactics, make the running, and it worked."

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Horse racing: Wesley Ward culls his team for this year's Royal Ascot meeting

US trainer Wesley Ward, who broke new ground when winning two juvenile races at Royal Ascot last year, has scrapped plans to be mob handed at next weeks renewal and may only have one representative or even none at all.

A team of four youngsters were originally penned into plunder further booty at next weeks Berkshire bash but Ward changed plans to send them to Newmarket last Thursday at the last minute.

Ward may now send the unbeaten Metropolitan Man for the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes on Thursday week but even these plans are subject to change and flight plans later this week.

Twelve months ago, Ward landed the Queen Mary and Windsor Castle Stakes with Jealous Again and Strike the Tiger respectively.

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Adrian Beaumont, of the International Racing Bureau, said: 'Wesley Ward pulled the plug on last weeks flight at the last minute and has no horses in Newmarket at present. One might still be coming,which may be Metropolitan Man, but I haven't had that confirmed yet.'

Meanwhile Toby Coles has recently become one of the youngest ever trainers to hold a licence in Newmarket and the 25-year-old is hoping that Silken Promise can give him his first success at Folkestone on Monday.

A former assistant to Sir Mark Prescott and Ed Dunlop, Cole filled a similar role with Christophe Clement in the US before extending his global knowledge in Australia and New Zealand.

Cole has recently returned to Newmarket where he currently rents a barn from Rae Guest at his Chestnut Tree Stables base on the Hamilton Road.

The rookie trainer said: 'I decided I had to have go myself at training as no one would employ me as an assistant anymore.I rent 14 boxes at Rae Guest's and have 8 in at the moment. We have had four runners to date and it would be nice to get one on the board on Monday.'

As well as his training duties, Coles has been helping connections of Australian sprinting star Gold Trail prepare their speedster for Royal Ascot next week.

The handler traded his tweed cap for a skull cap at the weekend when putting the six year old through his paces on the Al Bahathri Polytrack.

Coles has booked Frankie Dettori for the ride on Silken Promise who faces ten rivals in the twelve furlong Joy Is Discovering Your Favourite Brands Handicap (4.15).

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Horse racing: Prince Charles will miss Royal Ascot to recover from chest infection

The Prince of Wales will miss Royal Ascot 2010 next week on doctors' orders, so he can recover from an ongoing illness.

He is to take three days off next week, cancelling all planned engagements, so he can try to shake off a persistent chest infection.

But the heir to the throne decided against rest and recuperation this week because he had so many important events to attend.

A spokesman for Clarence House said: “On doctor’s advice, The Prince of Wales will be taking three days off at the beginning of next week.

The Prince’s commitments this week include taking part in The Queen’s Birthday Parade, hosting two military receptions, visiting the Royal Cornwall Show and giving a lecture on Islam and the environment to mark the 25th anniversary of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.

“The Prince has been suffering from a persistent chest infection for over a month and doctors have advised him to find a number of consecutive days in which to have a complete rest.”

Instead of cancelling them, he will take three days off at the start of next week. The Prince will travel to Birkhall, his private home on the Queen's Balmoral Estate in Scotland, with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.

He will miss Royal Ascot 2010, the week-long race meeting and highlight of the social calendar that dates back to 1711.

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The Prince will also miss the Garter Service and Procession, which always takes place at Windsor Castle on the Monday of Royal Ascot week and which is traditionally attended by all senior members of the Royal family.

In her throne room, the Queen will formally invest new Companions of the Order of the Garter – the senior British Order of Chivalry, founded in 1348 – with the insignia.

Following lunch, there is a procession of the Knights to St George’s Chapel followed by an installation ceremony.

The Prince's illness is not believed to be serious and he is scheduled to return to work on Thursday.

It is believed he has attended every Garter ceremony since 1989, and Ascot each year for most of the past decade.

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Horse racing: Richard Hannon Jr confident Paco Boy is ready for Ascot

The Queen Anne looks like being race of the week at Royal Ascot 2010 and Paco Boy's team are in confident mood.

Dual Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Goldikova and Sussex Stakes winner Rip Van Winkle are preparing to take on the apple of Richard Hannon's eye in what should be a thriller.

Hannon Jnr admits Paco Boy still has it to prove against opponents of that calibre, but believes if he is ever going to do so, then it will be this year.

He said:"Goldikova is very good and she'll be very hard to beat. She is a champion and Paco Boy is not at that status yet, but he does seem better this year than ever."

In the St James' Palace, Hill make another Hannon star, Canford Cliffs favourite to take revenge on French raider Makfi, who brushed him aside in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Last year's Coventry Stakes winner finally got it right when bolting up in the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Hannon Jnr said:"He came home so well at Newmarket I was a little bit disappointed he didn't win that day.

"He'd had a prep run and there was no issue with the trip so it was maybe the dip that beat him. We're taking on the winner again but we still fancy him."

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Ladbrokes slashed French Derby runner-up Planteur to 16-1 from 25s for the Arc and spokesman David Williams explained: "Lope De Vega seems unlikely to get the Arc trip so we've taken the runner-up Planteur out of the race and suspect he is capable of better later this year."

Michael Bell reckons Sariska is in for a lucrative campaign after her great run in the Coronation Cup. Last season's dual Oaks winner found only the brilliant Fame And Glory too good in a vintage renewal.

Bell said: "She ran a huge race, but just came up short against a very good horse on the day. We've got some big targets ahead but I have to have a proper chat with her owner."

Haljaferia is worth the wait in the last at Salisbury. The son of Halling bounced back to form at HQ recently in an amateur race and the booking of Fallon looks interesting.

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Horse racing: Kieren Fallon rides Al Zir in Derby

The colt, which finished ninth in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on his only outing so far this season, is a 33-1 chance with most bookmakers.

On a day of shocks in racing, it was revealed that Kieren Fallon has been booked to ride Al Zir for Godolphin in the Investec Derby at Epsom.

Fallon had been lamenting the possibility of missing out on the Classic. He was passed over for Ted Spread, and had been waiting for a call from Aidan O’Brien for one of the Ballydoyle team, but the call never came.

Godolphin will have Frankie Dettori riding stable elect Rewilding, now 8-1 from 12-1 with Ladbrokes, Ahmed Ajtebi aboard 66-1 chance Buzzword, and now Fallon on Al Zir.

Simon Crisford, racing manager for the 'royal blues,’ said; “Kieren Fallon’s record in the Derby is fantastic, and he was available.”

The unbeaten sprinter was under consideration for either the Golden Jubilee Stakes or the King’s Stand Stakes, but is not yet at peak fitness from a protracted spell on the sidelines.

Overdose, the legendary Hungarian horse dubbed the 'Budapest Bullet’, will not run at Royal Ascot.

Although pencilled in to return at Bratislava on June 6, after which a trip to Berkshire beckoned, those plans have now been scrapped.

Owner Zoltan Mikoczy said: “Having seen the horse train and evaluated this, it was decided not to take part at Bratislava or Ascot.

Overdose has been off the track since last April as he recovers from a foot injury.

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Overdose out of Ascot - but on comebacktrail

The Hungarian sprinter, nicknamed the 'Budapest Bullet', missed all last year with a foot problem, but owner Zoltan Mikoczy remains upbeat about the five-year-old.

He said: "Royal Ascot is definitely off as it would be wrong to go there without a run. Any other horse maybe, but Overdose needs two runs before a Group 1 race."

His owner continued: "We are now looking at a Listed race at Maisons-Laffitte on June 25 (Prix de Hampton) for his planned comeback."

OVERDOSE was on Tuesday ruled out of Royal Ascot, but the 'winner' of the voided Prix del'Abbaye two years ago is ready to make his comeback in France this month.

Overdose was a 10-1 shot generally for the King's Stand Stakes and 12-1 for the Golden Jubilee, but was taken out of the betting by a number of firms on Tuesday.

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Ryder Cup boosts Welsh golf – Corporate Hospitality group

A body known as Golf Development Wales was launched as a direct result of winning the 2010 bid and they are already proud of some of their achievements.

The Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor may be just three days in October, but for golf in Wales the effect of having the match for the first time will hopefully be long lasting.

Five new regional Centres of Excellence are now in existence and more than 40 new or improved beginner facilities have been built.

At a recent "golf awareness" week, thousands of people at more than 100 clubs were able to have free lessons and try the game.

There have been 1.5 million opportunities for juniors and beginners to try golf and 77,000 schoolchildren have participated in the sport.

There is a stand in the tented village at this week's Wales Open - also at Celtic Manor - and the current Welsh number one Rhys Davies was spending time there today to encourage youngsters to try to follow in his footsteps.

Tomorrow his focus will be on trying to become the first home winner of the event and after winning in Morocco in March and finishing second to Luke Donald in Madrid on Sunday, the 25-year-old's hopes are high.

Hundreds of them decided to take up membership and it is estimated that the result of that will bring more than £500,000 into golf.

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Golf: Welshman Davies aiming for Ryder Cup spot

European Tour rookie Rhys Davies is the player really making his mark. Since the start of March he has had a win, two runners-up finishes - in the latest of them he lost by a shot to Luke Donald in Madrid on Sunday - and a third place.

As excitement in Wales builds towards their first-ever Ryder Cup in October there is a growing feeling too that there might be a Welshman in it.

The last shot played by a Welsh golfer in the match was Phillip Price's dramatic winning putt against Phil Mickelson at The Belfry in 2002.

Price has no doubt that Davies has the qualities needed not only to make the team, but also to be a star of it.

"He will win many times," Donald said of Davies after they battled head-to-head for the last 36 holes. "This was my time, but he is a very tough competitor. He put a lot of pressure on me. He is very impressive - he has a great putting stroke and was very solid off the tee."

What also impresses Price is "his mind, his confidence, the way that he deals with pressure" and he adds: "I love what's doing, so I probably wouldn't advise him to do anything differently."

"I think people are probably beginning to realise he's the best putter in the world," he said.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie partners Spanish Open champion Alvaro Quiros and England's Oliver Wilson. Quiros is currently in the last automatic qualifying position and Wilson, a debutant two years ago, four places below him.

In the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday at the Welsh Open, Davies partners defending champion Jeppe Huldahl and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, another looking to continue his form after closing with a 65 for fourth place at the weekend.

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Ryder Cup: Wales hopes to end golf hoodoo

The descent has in many ways resembled Welsh golf fans' hopes of seeing the first home-grown winner at the Wales Open…they are there at the start - but then go downhill quickly.

To reach the 2010 course you have to drive down a road which resembles the Whistler ski jump from this year's Winter Olympics.

None more so than Rhys Davies. A second place finish in the Madrid Masters on Sunday topped a week in which he qualified for the US Open in Pebble Beach and gained entry to The Open at St Andrews.

But this year's Wales Open could be the turning point with a number of the Welsh lads arriving in Newport in fine form.

So far this season he has earned €763,465 Euros and lies ninth on the European Tour Race to Dubai rankings - little wonder people are touting him for a place in Colin Montgomery's Ryder Cup team this October.

In a Ryder Cup year, it would be rude not to mention the man many hope will be one of Montgomerie's vice-captains.

The 25-year-old has been Wales' form golfer this term. He marked his debut season on the European Tour with victory in the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco; came second in both Madrid and the Volvo China Open; third in Maybank Malaysian Open and sixth in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

Five top-10 finishes - his best being tied for fourth at the Volvo China Open - sees Donaldson ranked 36th on the European tour and he'll fancy his chances in a field which will be missing many of the leading players.

But Rhys is not alone. Jamie Donaldson arrives in the sort of form which might suggest he will challenge too.

Stephen Dodd - a World Cup winner for Wales - has had three top 10 finishes, while Bradley Dredge, second at the Celtic Manor in 2007, once again teased us with a glimpse of the type of golf he is capable of at the Qatar Masters at the start of the season.

Local boy and 2010 member Phillip Price had seemed to have fallen off the radar until his recent third round of 65 at the Italian Open reminded us of the player who so famously beat Phil Mickelson in the 2002 Ryder Cup at the Belfry.

Who knows if one of these 12 Welshmen will seal victory on home soil? Let us just hope that there will not be an exodus in need of the ski lift before the weekend.

Adding to the list of Welsh representation will be: Sion Bebb, Craig Smith, Stuart Manley, Kyron Sullivan, Garry Houston, Liam Bond and Jason Powell.

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A stirring in the valleys as Davies gets closer to Ryder place

Donald and Germany’s Martin Kaymer are the only two from the world’s leading 30 in the field and Davies knows it is a golden opportunity.

If the former British boys’ champion, 25 last Friday, lifts this week’s Wales Open at Celtic Manor, he could well leap to seventh in the Ryder Cup point’s race.

“He is very impressive. He has a great putting stroke and was very solid off the tee.”

“I think people are probably beginning to realise he’s the best putter in the world,” he said.

“I love what he’s doing, so I probably wouldn’t advise him to do anything differently.”

“I am impressed by his mind, his confidence and the way that he deals with pressure.

As excitement in Wales builds towards the country’s first Ryder Cup in October, there is a growing feeling that there might be a Welshman in the team

European Tour rookie Rhys Davies is the player really making his mark.

Since the start of March he has had a win, two runners-up finishes and a third. He lost by a shot to Luke Donald in Madrid on Sunday.

“He will win many times,” Donald said of Davies after they played head-to-head for the last 36 holes.

Price has no doubt that Davies has the qualities needed not only to make the team but also to be a star of it.

In the first two rounds tomorrow and Friday, Davies partners defending champion Jeppe Huldahl and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, another looking to continue his form after closing with a 65 for fourth place in Madrid at the weekend.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie partners Spanish Open champion Alvaro Quiros and England’s Oliver Wilson. Quiros is in the last automatic qualifying position and Wilson is four places below him.

George Findlay recorded the lowest scratch score of 96 in Royal Montrose Golf Club’s 25-hole open.

The Fortrose-based club will host this month’s Scottish senior women’s championship and the Scottish club championship final in September.

The last shot played by a Welsh golfer in the Ryder Cup was Phillip Price’s dramatic winning putt against Phil Mickelson at The Belfry in 2002.

Stuart Benson, the great-great grandson of William Doleman, took part in this year’s event and Stuart’s daughter, Nicole, also played.

The Scottish senior women’s championship will run from Tuesday, June 29, to Friday, July 2, and the Scottish club championship is on Sunday, September 26.

Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club will this year hold two national events – for the first time.

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Wimbledon 2010: Andy Murray fancies his grand slam chances on Wimbledon's grass

When the French Open began, there was a line on Murray’s profile page on the website for the men’s tour which suggested that his favourite surface was clay. That has since been changed to hard courts, and after his fourth-round defeat to Tomas Berdych at Roland Garros he will now begin his preparations for the grass, and many consider that it is on the lawns of London that he has his best chance of winning a first grand slam.

Only in the kitchen showrooms of Surrey, around Andy Murray’s home in Oxshott, would you hear a more animated debate about surfaces.

You know that summer is coming when Vogue are carrying an interview with a teenage British player it is in the July issue that Laura Robson makes the unfortunate suggestion that some of the other female players are “sluts” and when Murray is reacquainting himself with the low, shooting bounce of grass on a practice court ahead of the pre-Wimbledon tournament at Queen’s Club.

“I don’t feel terrible just now. I’ve got to get over it quickly because obviously it’s an important few weeks for me, with Queen’s and Wimbledon coming up, and I need to have all my energy focused on the tennis there.

Back in England, Murray needs to shake the clay dust from his racket bag and any negativity from his mind.

“I’ll start practising almost as soon as I get back, and I’ll get in the gym. I’ve got my hunger back, my appetite back for that, and after Wimbledon I’ll have a break but these next few weeks are very important for my year.

"My season so far has been very patchy, and the next few weeks will determine how the year is going to go.”

"It’s a pretty stressful period in terms of the stuff you’ve got to go through, so I had better get over it quickly or I’m not going to do well,” Murray said.

On the grass last season, he went through the draw at Queen’s without dropping a set, so becoming the first British champion in Kensington since Bunny Austin in 1938, and he went on to reach his first Wimbledon semi-final, where he lost to Andy Roddick.

In Paris, Murray was considered to be only an outsider for the title, but during the coming grass-court swing he will rightly be regarded as much more of a force.

"I lost last year to a guy who was playing arguably the best tennis of his life in the semis of Wimbledon and I still feel like I can improve, so I’ll try to work on my game in the next week or so before Queen’s. I do look forward to the grass. I think I have a chance of winning Wimbledon.”

While Murray’s game is best suited to hard courts, and his first grand slam final came at the 2008 US Open and his second at this year’s Australian Open, there are many players who would say that they produce their best tennis on that surface, and there is a smaller group who are comfortable on grass.

“The grass last year was very good,” Murray said. “I didn’t lose a set at Queen’s and was doing everything well. I feel like I’m hitting the ball well, I feel like I have got confidence in my game again, I just need to make sure I take that to the grass and do a few things a little bit better.

Last season, Murray won six titles, with tournament victories in Doha, Rotterdam, Miami, Queen’s, Montreal and Valencia. He has not retained the first three of those six, as he did not play in Doha and Rotterdam and he lost his opening match in Miami.

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Tennis: WTA to launch probe into Laura Robson's controversial 'slut' comments

The WTA Tour issued a statement yesterday which suggested they will investigate what the former Wimbledon junior champion said during a fashion shoot.

Women’s tennis authorities have requested a transcript of the interview given by Laura Robson to Vogue magazine in which she was reported to have described some fellow players as ‘sluts’.

‘We understand that an actual transcript of her remarks exists and we will review it carefully as soon as we receive it.’

‘We are aware of Laura Robson’s reported comments to Vogue UK along with her statement that the comments were taken out of context,’ said WTA Tour spokesman Andrew Walker. 

The fuss could hardly have come at a worse time as Robson prepares for the grass-court season that leads into Wimbledon, where she is expected to play in both the main draw and the juniors.

According to WTA sources, there is virtually no prospect of the 16-year-old player being punished over the incident.

Among other comments, Robson is quoted as saying that some other players ‘go with every guy and make such a bad name for themselves’.

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Rugby: Summer tours are back on the right track at last

Ignore the logistics for a minute and imagine if the Lions toured the southern hemisphere every year, playing one Test annually against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Now traditional tours by individual countries are thankfully back on the global agenda. From 2012, the leading countries in Europe will play proper three-Test series against the SANZAR giants, plus Argentina, while also returning to the Pacific Islands and even Japan.

In the case of sporting conflict, familiarity so often breeds tedium, which is exactly why pleas for Lions tours to become more frequent have been rightly ignored. Scarcity is part of the appeal.

England will get the ball rolling with a series in South Africa and it will have the feel of a Lions expedition.

A series also gives time for sub-plots and dramas and conflicts to emerge and evolve.

Reviving proper tours in June may be a nod to nostalgia, but the move is founded on commercial imperatives, too, as crowds and revenues are down for these June matches, which are too often one-sided.

With midweek games thrown in it allows fringe players to stay involved and the whole exercise will hold a greater sense of resonance and purpose.

In Europe, attendances and bank balances are well catered for during the November Test window, but proper series would be an improvement then, too.

On the flip-side, when a true contest materialises, as was the case last summer when France won a Test in Dunedin and New Zealand hit back in Wellington, 1-1 is not a satisfactory conclusion. It was crying out for a decider.

This is where the familiarity argument kicks in. Back in the day, a visit by the All Blacks was a major event, but now that mystique and air of expectation has been somewhat eroded by regularity. They have come to Twickenham during the last four years of autumn internationals.

A real series would carry more weight than the endless round of one-off Tests. England could play the likes of Fiji or Samoa at the start of November, followed by a three-Test series against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa or Argentina.

In the interests of expansion, the RFU could take one match each year to the provinces - to Old Trafford, Villa Park or St James’ Park.

The public don’t moan about repetition during an Ashes series, which comes to these shores once every four years.

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Rugby: Olly Barkley tells England team mates: 'We must behave'

Olly Barkley last night backed Martin Johnson's demand that the England rugby squad behave themselves on tour next month.

Johnson wasted no time yesterday in issuing a stark warning of the "pitfalls" which potentially lie await for them off the field on a five-match mission to Australia and New Zealand.

It will be England's first trip Down Under since the 2008 tour to New Zealand when allegations of serious sexual assault were made against four of the squad.

"In the world we live in there are pitfalls, some can be put there deliberately, some are just the pitfalls that young guys face when they're out and about in big cities

"We'll be together for three and a half weeks in hostile territory, staying in different hotels and city centre locations," he said. "There will be distractions and potential areas to get embroiled in so we'll need to be smart and look after each other.

No formal complaint was made in 2008 against the so-called Auckland Four of Danny Care, David Strettle, Topsy Ojo and Mike Brown, whom NZ police sought to interview over claims made by an 18-year-old woman.

"I don't think they will be targets but this is the world we live in. People have cameras on their phones these days."

But Barkley acknowledges that the whole episode was a wake-up call and that it is vital no-one invites embarrassment onto the tour this time.

Indeed, an RFU inquiry found no evidence of any such incident having taken place - though it did adjudge Ojo and Brown guilty of misconduct for staying out all night.

"The management and the players are confident we will all adhere to that.

"We've put the 2008 issue behind us and there's now a code of conduct in place," said a player who has had his own off-field problems in the past.

The difference between this one and the last is that Johnson will be with it every step of the way. In 2008 he stayed home to await the birth of his second child and in his absence chaos ensued.

"The big thing is if you don't you compromise not only the squad but the individuals involved as well. That's the last thing anyone wants to do to a tour that we're all so positive about."

At Twickenham yesterday he left nobody in any doubt that he will be on top of matters in Perth and in Sydney and across the Tasman Sea in Napier.

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Rugby: England tour payments agreed

The Rugby Football Union and Team England Rugby have settled a players' payment dispute ahead of the upcoming tour to Australia and New Zealand.

An independent third party was called in to settle the dispute and the RFU and TER have accepted their recommendations ahead of the opening clash against the Barbarians in Perth on June 8.

Martin Johnson's men face two friendlies with Australia Barbarians and two Tests against Australia before making a trip to take on New Zealand Maori in Napier in June, but the tour looked in doubt after the two groups failed to find some common ground over payments for the 44-man squad.

However, the finer details of the players' payments will not be made known to the public.

A basic tour fee of £7,800 was thought to have been offered with an extra £5,000 on offer for every man that made Johnson's squad of 22 for the two Tests against Australia with the other half of his squad receiving no extra incentives.

"Both sides met today with the independent third party appointed to review the situation, and accepted their recommendations.

A joint statement made by the RFU and TER read: "The Rugby Football Union and Team England Rugby are pleased to announce that they have resolved all the outstanding issues over tour payments for the elite player squad for the tour to Australia and New Zealand.

"The details of the final resolution remain confidential and will not be disclosed by either party."

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Rugby: Brian Moore: calm down England it's only the phoney war - real hysteria is coming

It is England's football fans who need to keep their nerve not Fabio Capello and his players. From now until England either win or get knocked out of the World Cup there will be little else in the media.

You may have forgotten, or at least tried to, that the coverage will be all-encompassing and that it has a marked effect on the English psyche.

The mass hysteria that is on the way is not one in which people lose all semblance of will; it is more unusual than that. What is created is a compulsion to comment and most of the multitude of comment will be notable only because of its stupidity. Armchair professionals and would-be/could-have-been international sportsmen will opine sagely on any and all facets of English football.

There will be a divided nation; all wanting England to win and approaching each minute piece of news with solemn consideration yet reacting in different ways.

On the one hand you will have the know-all-know-nothings. Pessimists at heart they will become most expert on the topic on which they are least qualified to comment. Indolent lard-arses will criticise players' fitness levels; some with the tactical nous of a radish will berate Capello for his use of one system over another; with the miracle of hindsight many more will tell you they knew it all along.

On the other side of the national divide will be those who approach their support as a faith. As is the way with zealots they will be less entertaining but messianic in their proclamations for "Ingerland". As a mantra they will urge, if not demand that we "get behind the lads" whatever the results or level of performance. They will laud quite ordinary players as "world-clarse" and display wilful ignorance concerning anything that might suggest England are not the best team in the world – oh, and by the way, anyone not in agreement is a traitor.

For players it is impossible to shake out the knowledge that this is not the real deal and though they may say that 100 per cent attention is given, they will have reserved some part of their thoughts for South Africa. There is nothing wrong with this and nothing Capello can do anyway. The only thing you can hope for is that none of the players gets injured.

So for the media and public let's stamp down the surges of passion and keep it for when it really counts because as certain as all the above is, there will be incidents that rightly provoke our indignation.

It is when this clamour is reaching its height that Capello and his squad need to excuse themselves, at least mentally, from the scene. It is very difficult to enforce a ban on accessing the news, given the number of platforms on which it is available and unless a player is very strong-willed widespread criticism will affect him, even if he believes this not to be the case. Praise is not without its possible pitfalls; self-belief is welcome, indeed necessary, but self-importance is too often the reaction to preternatural adulation.

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Autumn Internationals 2010: Wayne Rooney's energy gives England edge, says Francois Pienaar

Francois Pienaar skippered South Africa’s rugby union side to global glory and he reckons the “infectious enthusiasm” of Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi could give their countries the edge when football’s World Cup takes place in his homeland.

“I think you have to look at the usual suspects and see what effects the likes of Messi or Wayne Rooney can have,” Pienaar said.

For players it is impossible to shake out the knowledge that this is not the real deal and though they may say that 100 per cent attention is given, they will have reserved some part of their thoughts for South Africa. There is nothing wrong with this and nothing Capello can do anyway. The only thing you can hope for is that none of the players gets injured.

“A successful team needs to have players on the pitch who can sense the moment and feed off one another.

“Individuals like Messi and Rooney just sort of inject enthusiasm. They have that can-do mentality and winning spirit and when you have that in your team it is infectious.

“I think that Brazil are looking very good and playing some very sexy football. But who knows? When France won it no one gave them a chance.

“I think that England will be really strong, the Germans are always there. Then there is Spain, Italy, Argentina – if the rest of the team can back up Lionel Messi.”

Pienaar inspired South Africa to World Cup success as they overcame the odds and that is something his compatriots in the Bafana Bafana team will have to repeat just to maintain their interest in the tournament beyond the group stage.

“We were a very good team, not favourites certainly, but it was a very special team and had the knock-out punch which we delivered when it mattered,” Pienaar added.

“Bafana Bafana have not had the build-up to their tournament that we had but if the team gels, trains hard and has resolve and the obsession to detail that I always say you need then they have a shot.

“If Bafana Bafana reaches the knock-out stage, as we all hope they do it will be just like 1995 or 1996 when I went with the whole team to the stadium in Soweto to see South Africa win the Africa Cup of Nations.”

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Rugby: Scotland scrap southern hemisphere tours

The SRU have confirmed Scotland will no longer hold three-day tests against South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, at least for the next eight years.

Scotland's absence from New Zealand's tour schedule for the next eight years has been explained as a decision taken by the SRU, contrary to reports. It had been suggested the Scots had been snubbed by the All Blacks, when they unveiled their future plans earlier this week.

National coach Andy Robinson and performance director Graham Lowe no longer favour prolonged tours of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Instead, Scotland will travel for one-off matches against the three for the foreseeable future, while also hosting the trio nine times in six years between 2012 and 2018.

France, England, Ireland and Wales are all booked up to play the three, who are collectively known as SANZAR, on tours scheduled until 2018.

“I am very pleased with the tours schedule,” Robinson told the SRU website. “We have a first-rate programme of autumn Tests incoming to Murrayfield, which are important for our rugby development.

“As far as our overseas tours are concerned I do not believe it would be beneficial for us to play a series of three Tests against the individual SANZAR countries at the end of our season.

“What I believe works for us, from a performance perspective, is a mix between SANZAR and Tier 2 unions as that gives us the opportunity to develop players which is part and parcel of touring."

"More than anything I'm just relieved to be playing again, the Wallabies was just more of a bonus if I made it."Lowe, who left the New Zealand Rugby Union to take up his post with the SRU last October, added: “Like Andy, I firmly believe that the schedule, as outlined, will assist with our rugby development and importantly develops solid relationships with some of world rugby's emerging nations.”

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Rugby: Force back row to provide Wallaby backbone

The Western Force back row will feature prominently in the upcoming test arena with Matt Hodgson, David Pocock and Richard Brown all selected in the Wallabies squad announced today.

The trio was a force to be reckoned with in the later part of the Super 14 season following the return of Pocock and Brown from injury, and could carry the responsibility for Australia against the likes of England, New Zealand and South Africa.

The selection of Hodgson is great reward for his stellar 2010 campaign. The versatile forward was a man mountain in the back row and the only player at the club to start and finish every game.

"It's one of your biggest highs playing for Australia and then getting injured and missing out was hard, it sort of drove me this year to put my hand up again and make selection and get that test cap that I want," Hodgson said.

"Robbie gave me a call yesterday morning, so it was good to pick up that unknown number. It is good to get that call early.

"He just sort of congratulated me on such a good performance in the Super 14 at the start of the year, and said just to continue working and keep aiming for that jersey that I want to get."

For Brown and Pocock the recent Super 14 presented challenges in other forms as injuries to both players in round one forced them to watch from the sidelines for half a season.

But true to form the pair returned ready for action and made a telling contribution to a positive second half of the year for the Western Force and are keen to add to their test caps.

"I'm a little relieved to make the squad after only playing half a season so I'm pretty excited," said Brown.

"I was always hopeful but I was just happy to come back in the second half of the season regardless of whether I made the Wallabies.

Other Western Force players selected for Wallabies duties include prop Pek Cowan, lock Nathan Sharpe, the most experienced player selected in the 30-man Australian squad, and full-back James O'Connor, the youngest member of the 2010 class.

With 79 tests to his name already Sharpe will provide the leadership and experience to a young squad, something he has done with distinction throughout his career and again this season at the Force.

"Sharpie doesn't talk a lot about how his performance is but that probably sums the guy up, he's had probably one of his best seasons in his time in Super Rugby and the way he's led us through the year has been instrumental for a lot of blokes," said Hodgson.

"I know it made me keep going at the start of the year when we were up against a brick wall. He's a good bloke and his form has been great this year.

"He is probably the best Captain I've ever had. The way he leads us on the field is the same as off the field. He's got that good combination with all the blokes from the older guys to the younger guys, everyone respects him."

Tough forward Ben McCalman has been acknowledged for his excellent debut Super Rugby season with inclusion in the 10-man Australian Barbarians squad that will train alongside the Wallabies and play two midweek matches against England next month.

Winger Nick Cummins is also part of that squad and will be hoping to impress after picking-up an injury on the opening day of last year's Wallabies training camp.

"I'm really happy for Ben to get his chance I think it's well deserved, especially in his first year, it's just a huge effort," Brown said.

"For Nick, people know he's a talent and he is a colourful character too, so it should be good to have him along. He has done well to come back from his injuries and I think we all know what it takes to come back after a few setbacks."

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Donald falls short but presses Ryder Cup claims

Luke Donald has attracted an unwanted and probably harsh reputation for being a golfer who has picked up decent cheques without dirtying his hands.

The Englishman's career has been littered with many a lucrative finish without properly challenging for the title. But Donald's second place at the PGA Championship does not fall into that category.

On this occasion he was in the thick of it throughout the tournament and it would take a hard heart not to be impressed with his tenacity throughout his final round on the toughened West Course.

As he stood on the 17th tee Donald knew a birdie at one of the two closing par 5s would be enough for to deny Simon Khan his heart-warming win and it proved a terrible moment to hit his worst drive of the day.

"I just didn't execute when I needed to, and that was disappointing," was Donald's frank assessment after the blocked tee shot that flew wide of the trees to the right of the 17th fairway and settled amid a holly bush.

He has always been a master of understatement and this loss will hurt because he had fought hard for the opportunity to end a four-year winless streak.

There are some courses that are just too long for this relatively short hitter to be a factor, but the West Course does not fall into that category. With the emphasis even more on precision following Ernie Els' latest changes this was a golden opportunity and Donald knew it.

But he must draw strength from the way that he battled with a series of courageous par saves and trademark bunker escapes throughout his final round.

The 37-year-old seized the moment and there seemed to be some help from upstairs when his ball seemed ready to defy the clutches of the 18th hole before finally disappearing at the end of his tournament-winning 66.

The 18th green needs to be lowered, the proximity of the putting surface to the water at the eighth and the difficulty of the now par four 12th are the other main areas of concern. The ditch on the 15th isn't great either.

But the deepened bunkers provide and excellent defence, especially in the fast firm conditions of this week. The greens will become quicker and the overall conditioning was remarkably good considering how recently made the changes have been.

Wentworth owner Richard Caring has promised a post tournament review. Already he can conclude that one important objective has been achieved in the toughening of the course.

Those who played the PGA were subjected to an exacting test that will prepare them well for events like the US Open where there is such a premium on hitting fairways and the correct parts of greens. This is just what Els wanted.

And such demands are now what have to be satisfied to conquer the West Course, just as Donald found to his cost.

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Woods not automatic Ryder Cup pick: U.S. captain Pavin

Tiger Woods is not guaranteed a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team and will have to play his way on like every other player, skipper Corey Pavin said on Sunday.

Woods, who took five months out of the game after his private life unraveled at the end of 2009 and has suffered neck problems since his return, is currently 11th in the U.S. Ryder Cup point’s race.

Only eight players will automatically qualify for the American team's showdown with Europe in October in Wales, while Pavin will have four other picks.

Certainly Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie would have been rooting for him to win and take a giant step towards automatic qualification for Celtic Manor.

That's no offence to the eventual winner Khan, it's just that Donald has a game that makes him the ideal partner in foursomes and fourball play because he is rarely out of a hole. Monty wants an inform Donald in his side.

"I'm not going to treat Tiger any different than any other player," Pavin told Reuters after the final round of the Byron Nelson Championship. "He's certainly not going to be an automatic pick.

"He's just going to be treated like everyone else. I'd love to have him on the team but I want him to be playing well," added Pavin, who said he had not spoken to Woods this year.

Woods has played only three tournaments since returning to golf from his self-imposed exile and just two weeks ago pulled out of the Players Championship during the final round, citing a neck injury.

Pavin does not know when he will speak with the 14-times major winner but indicated there was plenty of time to qualify with the Ryder Cup still more than four months away.

Woods has a relatively poor Ryder record of 10 wins, 13 losses and two halves from five events. He has been on the winning team only once, in 1999, and was absent recovering from knee surgery when the Americans ended a nine-year drought by winning the event in 2008.

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Ryder Cup: ELS SLAMS 'SPOILT' GOLFERS

Ernie Els last night accused "spoilt" golfers of "sticking the knife in" over his controversial re-design of Wentworth's West Course.

The South African is furious his fellow pros have queued to criticise the £6.5million revamp, especially the raised 18th green.

Course owner Richard Caring has admitted the last hole needs tweaking to encourage players to try to reach the green in two.

But Els claimed Caring had been kicked in the teeth by the pros because of their negativity.

The world No.7 said: "If they had criticisms they could have handled it differently.

"That's the sad part of the whole week, a lot of the guys I have known for a very long time came out and basically put the knife in and I don't really appreciate that.

"There is going to be criticism with any new design but I really wasn't expecting the backlash I got.

"I don't think anybody deserved it.

"For all this money we are playing for (a £3.8million prize fund) we could not come in here like a bunch of spoilt golfers."

But Ryder Cup hopeful Rory McIlroy said he will be relieved to return to the United States to play The Memorial and St Jude Classic before the US Open next month.

"I felt handcuffed out there this week," he said after a closing 73 left him on five-over par.

"I will be glad to get back playing on a decent golf course," said the 21-year-old Ulsterman, the world No.9.

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Justin Rose calm on Ryder Cup place ahead of Wentworth

England's Justin Rose says is not going to alter his playing schedule to try to qualify for Europe's Ryder Cup team, despite being a long way off the pace.

The 29-year-old, who plays his first European Tour event of the year in the PGA Championship at Wentworth this week, is 67th in the world rankings.

Rose is far from certain of a place for the clash at Celtic Manor in September.

"I am not going to go chasing around the world to get into the team - I have to back myself to play well," he said.

Rose played in the defeat to the United States at Valhalla two years ago and was one of the better performers, winning three points out of a possible four.

But he failed to qualify for April's Masters and is also in danger of not making next month's US Open or the Open at St Andrews in July, absences which would further hamper his chances of making the European team for the clash in Wales later this year.

"I chased a place in the last team because I was close and it was about giving myself the very best opportunity," he added.

"If I play well enough in America in the summer then it takes a lot of the pressure off me to come back here and catch up."

As things stand, five of the nine players in automatic qualifying positions for Colin Montgomerie's European side are uncapped.

Rory McIlroy, Ross McGowan, Martin Kaymer, Alvaro Quiros and Simon Dyson are all in prime position for a place in the Ryder Cup, and all five are at Wentworth this week for the European Tour's flagship event.

In only his second full season on the circuit, 28-year-old McGowan carded a round of 60 in his Madrid Masters win last October and finished second at the Dubai World Championship.

The Surrey golfer has made a quiet start to 2010, but he did defeat then world number two Steve Stricker at the Accenture Match Play in February.

Kaymer and the big-hitting Quiros have already registered wins this season, the 25-year-old German in Abu Dhabi and Quiros in his home Spanish Open.

Dyson burst into contention for a Ryder Cup place with victory in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews seven months ago, but has not had a top 10 finish yet this season.

Ian Poulter will be in action at Wentworth if a neck strain allows but has ruled out competing at the Wales Open at Celtic Manor in two weeks - despite Montgomerie urging as many of his potential team to play as possible.

"I would like to be there, but it just doesn't fit into my schedule," Poulter said.

"It's not a course I don't know. Twelve of the holes for the Ryder Cup we played when I won the (2003) Wales Open.

"I've got to learn six holes. For my first two Ryder Cups I'd not seen either course until the week of the match."

Meanwhile, Paul Casey - another man likely to figure for Europe against the US - will return to the famous Surrey course to defend the title when the event gets under way on Thursday.

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Ryder Cup could be hosted in Middle East

Leading business figures in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have told The Sunday Telegraph of their interest in making an offer to host the biggest event in golf.

Qatar is also thought to be considering a bid having made moves to stage both the 2016 Olympics and 2018 Football World Cup.

The region has revolutionised European golf through the multi-million dollar Race to Dubai, a joint venture between the European Tour and Leisurecorp, a company owned by the Dubai government.

Sir Michael Bonallack, the former R&A secretary, sounded a note of caution about the plans: "The Gulf is a major part of the European tour now and I'm sure they'd host it well," he said.

"My concern would be whether they would get the crowds that we see in Europe. It would be great for the fans to experience it as long as it's not too expensive." Leisurecorp's interest is likely to appeal to O'Grady though.

The company and the European Tour already have a joint interest in a global property company to develop golf courses and O'Grady has said: "In future we'll either build courses or own them ourselves." In 2018 we'll own at least part of the venue. Every penny we make goes back into the game, but we have to make as much as we can from the home match."

Leisurecorp are not the only player in the region to express interest. Mubarak Al Muhairi, the director general of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, met with O'Grady in January.

He told The Sunday Telegraph: "The Ryder Cup is something we are interested in. We are open as far as the strategy and direction of golf is concerned and that could embrace any opportunity."

Abu Dhabi has a course designed by Robert Trent Jones, the man responsible for Celtic Manor's Ryder Cup course, in development. Another Trent Jones course will be completed in Oman next year, while the Tiger Woods Dubai venue is under construction.

Madrid, Germany and Sweden, favourites because of their representation on the European team, are in the running to host the 2018 edition.But with four leading Swedish golfers resident in the Gulf, including Tournament Committee member Henrik Stenson, all signs point to the desert.


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Kingsgate Native is in line for Royal Ascot following Temple Stakes victory at Haydock

Royal Ascot Horse racing Festival beckons for Kingsgate Native following his excellent return to action with victory in Saturday’s Group Two betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained five-year-old was only back in training after failing as a stallion. But he showed he retains all his old ability on the track when landing Saturday’s high-class Group One contest by a half-a-length from the front-running Equiano. Under champion jockey Ryan Moore, the 3-1 joint-favourite travelled well and quickened superbly to land the spoils.

He is now a best-priced 7-1 second favourite with William Hill and Coral for the King’s Stand Stakes at the Royal meeting, and 12-1 with the former for the Golden Jubilee Stakes – a race Kingsgate Native won in 2008 when trained by John Best.

Owned by Cheveley Park Stud, Kingsgate Native is entered in both races, but may only run in one. The five-furlong King’s Stand, over the same distance as Saturday’s race, is the most likely.

Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson said: “That was fantastic, we were deflated after his efforts at stud last year. He was still at stud in February/March time and Royal Ascot came too soon, although he finished the season well.”

He added: “I think the difference with him has been Sir Michael Stoute has been able to give him a proper preparation and he has had a winter to do it. He is a talented horse, he always has been, and he has come back and shown what class he has – it was a Group One race in all but name.

“I think he will be off to Royal Ascot now, we will discuss it with Mr and Mrs Thompson and Sir Michael, he is in both races but I don’t suppose he would run twice.”

Another Haydock winner who is set for Royal Ascot is the Andrew Balding-trained Balducci, who landed Saturday’s Betfred Silver Bowl.

Under talented young rider David Probert the three-year-old was sent off the well-backed 4-1 joint favourite. He collared the long-time leader Al Farahidi to score by three-quarters-of-a-length.

He is likely to run in the Brittania Stakes at the Royal meeting, where the progressive Dansili colt is likely to again be popular with punters.

“All being well he’ll go to Royal Ascot for the Brittania Stakes. He’ll go up for this win, which means he should get in to the race.”

Awsaal, winner of the opening Betfred ‘Both Teams Score... Goals Galore!’ Handicap and Novellen Lad, who landed the Betfred ‘Best Bet for the World Cup’ Handicap, are two others who likely to hold big chances at the Royal meeting next month.

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Richard Hughes plotting Palace revenge mission for Canford Cliffs at Royal Ascot

Richard Hughes has backed Canford Cliffs to gain revenge on Makfi in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

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The son of Tagula ended a 20-year Classic drought for trainer Richard Hannon with his facile three-length defeat of Free Judgement in Saturday’s Irish 2000.

Hughes said: ‘The first morning I rode him last year, I said to the boss this is the best horse you have ever had. I’ve no doubt Makfi is a good horse but we have found the key to our fellow.’

The Hannon-trained pair Dick Turpin subsequently runner-up in the French 2000 and Canford Cliffs were second and third to Makfi in the English Guineas but Canford Cliffs settled better and looked transformed on The Curragh.

Hannon could have a mighty first day of Royal Ascot on June 15.

As well as Canford Cliffs and Dick Turpin, who will clash in the St James’s Palace Stakes according to his son and assistant Richard jnr, the stable has Paco Boy and Strong Suit, the juvenile described as this year’s Canford Cliffs by his trainer, in the Coventry Stakes.

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Royal Ascot Next For Supreme Canford Cliffs

Sometimes a trainer/jockey can end up with egg on their face when going overboard about a horse’s ability, but that was not the case with trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes.

Ever since the Tagula colt won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot as a two year old connections have always claimed that they have an exceptional animal on their hands.

Since then three defeats at the highest level have failed to dampen their judgement and today that judgement was more than vindicated when the colt slaughtered a top class field in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Hughes was able to settle Canford Cliffs much better than was the case at Newmarket, and once he asked the 9/4 favourite to quicken the response was electric.

Free Judgement ran a big race in second and Viscount Nelson faired best of the Aidan O'Brien team to finish third.

While the Hannon camp thinks the world of Canford Cliffs, O'Brien has always held his colt Steinbeck in high regard.Johnny Murtagh's mount, who was having his first run of the season, delighted his trainer in finishing fourth and a rematch with the winner looks very much on the cards , in Royal Ascot's St James's Palace Stakes.

With the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas winner Makfi also likely to head for Ascot, the one mile contest has the hallmark of one of the highlights of the season.

The last word has to rest with Richard Hannon jnr who stated after today's race: "The horse we always thought he was."

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Horse Racing: CANFORD SIZZLES IN CURRAGH CLASSIC

Canford Cliffs showed what all the fuss was about with a jaw-dropping success in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.

The classy colt has been one of the biggest talking horses for the last few years, and emphatically lived up to his billing on Saturday.

Providing Richard Hannon with a third win in the Classic, he is now poised for a rematch with Makfi and stablemate Dick Turpin after the pair beat him in the English equivalent.

All three colts are likely contenders for the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot - a race which may also include Curragh second Free Judgement and fourth Steinbeck.

After failing to conclusively prove he stayed a mile at Newmarket, the 9-4 favourite left his critics gasping for breath as he slayed the Guineas field by three lengths under Richard Hughes.

The winning trainer's son and assistant, Richard Hannon jnr, said: "He did a piece of work last week that was his best since he won the Coventry and Hughesie was able to sit on him like he was a Jet-ski.

Hannon and Hughes were also on the mark with Shamwari Lodge, who will head for the Windsor Forest Stakes at Ascot after obliging as the 8-15 favourite in the Tri Equestrian Stakes.

Also Ascot-bound is Kingsgate Native, who made the perfect start to his campaign in the Group Two betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock.

Ryan Moore rode the 3-1 joint-favourite with a measure of confidence and the five-year-old showed a fine turn of foot to collar the long-time leader Equiano with 100 yards to run and go on to score by half a length.

Failed stallion Kingsgate Native carries the colours of Cheveley Park Stud, whose managing director Chris Richardson said: "That was fantastic we were deflated after his efforts at stud last year.

"I think he will be off to Royal Ascot now, we will discuss it with Mr and Mrs Thompson and Sir Michael Stoute, he is in both races but I don't suppose he would run twice."

Bethrah might not have been as visually impressive as Canford Cliffs, but she confirmed herself very much a filly on the up with victory in the Etihad Airways-sponsored fillies' equivalent on Sunday.

Owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, the daughter of Marju hit overdrive inside the final furlong for Pat Smullen and sneaked up a tiny gap on the rail.

Godolphin's Anna Salai looked to be going best with two furlongs to run but was narrowly denied by a head in second, with Mick Channon's Music Show, the 3-1 favourite, in third.

Weld said: "You can never be confident but I knew she would represent us very well. She's a very progressive filly and has battled her way forward."

Fame and Glory showed his true colours with a masterclass of a display to provide Aidan O'Brien with a fourth Tattersalls Gold Cup.

And last year's Irish Derby winner is set for a quick reappearance in the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday week, with Paddy Power trimming him to 2-1 favouritism from 11-4 for the June 4 event.

Disappointment of the race was Godolphin's French Group One-winning French import, Cutlass Bay, who lost his unbeaten tag when nearly 21 lengths adrift in fifth.

No doubting the star of the show in France as Freddie Head labelled Goldikova a "freak" after the wonder mare notched up her eighth Group One success in the Prix D'Ispahan at Longchamp.

Head used the nine-furlong race as a starting point last year but was left downcast on that occasion when she could only trail home in seventh on soft ground.

However, the five-year-old firmly put memories of that performance to rest with an imperious display that saw her record the fastest winning time the race has ever seen.

Head says all roads now lead to the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and a mouthwatering clash with Paco Boy.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to Ascot now. The Queen Anne comes at exactly the right time, it is the right distance and I think she will love the straight mile there."

Godolphin's Kite Wood got his four-year-old campaign off to the best possible start with an all-the-way win in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, and a crack at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot could now be high on the agenda for last year's St Leger runner-up.

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HORSE POWER: Michael Hills on the fast track to Temple Stakes glory

Successful in the Abernant Stakes before following up in Palace House Stakes at Newmarket this spring, Equiano has rediscovered the fizz that propelled him to victory in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2008 and is starting to fulfil his potential.

Little wonder, then, that Michael Hills – the man who will be entrusted with steering Equiano in the right direction – is rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of climbing back on board the five-year-old.

“He is really thriving at the moment,” said Hills of the entire, who is trained by his father, Barry.

“He’s at the top of his game, will love this fast ground, the five furlong trip is ideal and he is drawn well in stall six. He will be hard to beat.

“He has taken all his main rivals on before and we know all the form lines. They will come on for their runs but our fellow is still improving.”

Kingsgate Native, Borderlescott and Blue Jack – to name but three – will all fancy their chances but Hills’ demeanour suggests he is expecting something special from Equiano.

As someone who has been associated with plenty of quick sprinters during a distinguished career that has yielded more than 1,800 winners – including the 1996 Derby on Shaamit – Hills knows what makes speedsters tick and he feels Equiano is back in the zone.

“He’s rediscovered his confidence,” said Hills, who won the Temple Stakes when it was staged at Sandown Park in 1988 on his father’s Handsome Sailor. “He ran some nice races last year – he never ran what you describe as badly – but, for some reason, he has found a couple of lengths this year.

“They have got to put it together. Sprinters need to have everything going for them but when they get their confidence, they tend to relax more.

“We haven’t done anything different at home. But when he started him off again in the spring, we immediately noticed that his work was much better.

“He has been doing pieces of work that he wouldn’t have got near to doing last year. He is moving so well now.”

Hills was among the winners at Haydock on Thursday – Acquainted took the concluding maiden with ease – and, aside from Equiano, he has two other live chances of success today.

“A shower would have been in Gunner Lindley’s favour but he will still run a big race (2.30),” said Hills.

“I’ve also got Redden in the last (5.15). William Haggas’ horses are running well and I had a winner for him the other day. Hopefully it will make for a good day.

“I always enjoy my visits to Haydock and it has been very lucky for me down the years. It’s a proper racecourse and I enjoy riding here.”

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Kingsgate Native can prove pace ace in the Temple Stakes

Kingsgate Native can make a winning return in the betfred.com Temple Stakes (3.00) at Haydock Park today, a race which features in a Totescoop6 pool that could reach £2 million.

He looked better than ever when storming clear of Total Gallery at Goodwood last July, with Borderlescott back in fourth, and should be forgiven a below-par display when sixth to the last-named in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York as he returned sore with a swollen joint, which forced him to miss the rest of the season.

Kingsgate Native has disappointed on his seasonal reappearance for the past two years, but there have been mitigating circumstances on each occasion. He raced too keenly in the King's Stand Stakes two years ago - he won the Golden Jubilee just four days later - and understandably needed the run to put his mind back onto racing after an unsuccessful spell at stud last term.

The presence of Equiano, Benbaun and Borderlescott, who like to race prominently, should ensure that Kingsgate Native gets the strong pace that suits him and, with the fast ground also in his favour, he looks sure to go close.

Those drawn low dominated in the Betfred Silver Bowl (2.30) 12 months ago and it could be a similar story this time around with No Hubris fancied to defy top weight. He had just two starts as a juvenile, winning a hot maiden at York, where Beethoven, the subsequent Dewhurst winner, was back in third, before fading into sixth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, having tried to match strides with Canford Cliffs.

Given plenty of time off after that, he made a pleasing return when just getting the better of Godolphin's Sowaylm at Sandown Park last month. That should have put him spot on and, with Paul Cole, his trainer, having nominated the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot as a possible target for him, he could prove a cut above these rivals.

Hamish McGonagall can take the day's other big betting race, the sportingbet.com Sprint (3.40) at York. He slipped in the weights at the end of last season and was unlucky not to take advantage at Chester last time as he was forced widest of all around the home turn. He has a good record here and can gain a deserved success.

At Goodwood, Parisian Pyramid rates a fair bet to take the totescoop6 Stakes (2.15). He had no chance from a wide draw over the minimum trip at Chester, but had previously run a cracker when fifth to Hawkeyethenoo in a far more competitive sprint over this distance at Newmarket.

The best bet of the day is Dazzling Light in the Crabbies “Wizard” Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap (4.35) at Chester. He made good progress last season and has shaped well on all three starts this term, most recently finishing fifth of 15 in stronger company at York. He coped well with this tight track when second over course and distance last September and should be hard to stop in a weak contest.

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Tennis 2010: Murray faces French exam

Andy Murray has been handed a testing first-round match at the French Open after drawing local favourite Richard Gasquet.

The world number four - also the fourth seed at Roland Garros - faces the former world number seven in what looks one of the toughest possible openers.

Gasquet has plummeted down the rankings to 68th but will provide a stern test on the Scot's less-favoured clay.

Gasquet and Murray were involved in an epic five-setter at Wimbledon two years ago, which the Scot won from two sets down.

Should Murray progress, he faces a tough potential second-round clash with Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela.

Also in Murray's half of the draw is defending men's champion and world number one Roger Federer.

The Swiss ace begins the defence of his title against Australian Peter Luczak.

Four-time winner Rafael Nadal will play French wildcard Gianni Mina.

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