Europa League qualifying is a continent-wide event. Teams are spread across thousands of miles, all with the dream of making the group stage of the competition.

The qualification round continues this Thursday. Matches start as early as 3pm BST with the last match – hosted by Sevilla – kicking off just before 9pm. It’s an epic day of football for those still nursing some World Cup blues.

Below are a few thoughts and tips on some of the top fixtures…

ABERDEEN vs BURNLEY

These two teams entered the Europa League draw hoping for an exciting away day. Unfortunately, one of them won’t even leave the United Kingdom before they exit the competition.

Aberdeen finished third in Scotland to earn this spot, but are underdogs to progress against Sean Dyche’s regimented Burnley.

Despite a potentially crowded fixture list, Burnley are yet to make an addition to their squad this summer, though that shouldn’t matter too much in this one.

Dyche’s side are perfectly designed for two-leg knockout football, even if it impacts their domestic form significantly.

This is the chance of a lifetime for many of the fans and players. Their trip north of the border is the Clarets’ first taste of continental football since the 1966-67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Everything points to a Burnley win, but it might not be a classic.

TIP: Burnley to win @ 4/5

CORRECT SCORE: Aberdeen 0-1 Burnley (Priced at 13/2 with 888sport)

 

VENTSPILS vs BORDEAUX

Bordeaux finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season. They are a weaker team this year, however, having lost starlet Malcom to Roma earlier this week.

Having fallen to Hungarian side Videoton in the qualifiers last season, the French club will be especially wary of another upset here as they look to return to the Europa League group stage.

Latvian club Ventspils smashed Albanian side Luftetari 8-3 in the last round. Despite being involved in qualifying in every season since, they have not made qualified for the groups since 2010.

The capacity of Ventspils’ stadium is a mere 3,200, this is the sort of contrast in footballing background that the Europa League brings. Bordeaux may come in a little cold, but their quality should see it through.

TIP: Bordeaux to win @ 21/50

CORRECT SCORE: Ventspils 0-2 Bordeaux (Priced at 7/1 with 888sport)

 

ATALANTA vs FK SARAJEVO

Atalanta are one of the best teams in the draw. A seventh-place finish in Serie A last term has put them straight back into the Europa League after a last 32 exit to Borussia Dortmund in 2017/18.

Led by the immensely gifted Alejandro Gomez, the Italian club are a good side to watch and expected to progress easily.

Vincent Tan owned FK Sarajevo finished third in the Bosnian top flight last season. They will need the performance of their lives and a bit of good fortune to stand any chance here. The chasm in quality will probably be too much to overcome.

Like many of the big clubs in this phase, Atalanta will look to tie this up in the first leg, which will allow them to rest players when they head to Bosnia.

TIP: Over 2.5 Atalanta goals @ 41/50

CORRECT SCORE: Atalanta 5-0 FK Sarajevo (Priced at 14/1 with 888sport)

 

SEVILLA vs UJPEST

The Europa League has been Sevilla’s competition. The Spanish club have won the competition on five separate occasions, including three times in a row in this decade.

A jaunt into the Champions League saw them reach the quarter-finals last season, but they return to their old friend as one of the favourites to go all the way yet again.

Ujpest are a Budapest-based club who finished third domestically last season. They’ve had a nightmare with this draw.

You have to go back to 2004 to find the last time they made it through qualification in continental football, that drought is unlikely to end this year.

Sevilla will be looking to wrap this up before they have to fly east. This could get ugly for the visitors.

TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 13/25

CORRECT SCORE: Sevilla 4-0 Ujpest (Priced at 7/1 with 888sport)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Environmental conditions on our planet are diverse and have an impact on how humans perform at a sporting level.

Even if you train in the same place on a regular basis, your performance level can be affected by environmental factors such as heat, cold and humidity. As a result, it can be hard to achieve the same results from every workout or training session.

In some cases, reduced performance can be a result of a change in mental or physical condition but it can also be caused by environmental factors. This can make it difficult to assess the true level of each individual session.

Training in a different country can prove even more challenging as the body tries to adapt to new conditions such as extreme temperature changes or altitude.

High-Temperature Environments

When an athlete switches to training in extremely high temperatures, the body is put under extra stress. It reacts by transferring the heat back into the environment through perspiration and by moving the blood close to the skin's surface.

This heat dissipation happens naturally but, if your body is not used to the conditions, it reaches the point where it cannot compensate for the change in heat. Then, the body temperature rises and performance is lost.

If an athlete trains in these conditions over a long period of time, the body can adjust and performance can improve as temperature and heart rate are reduced.

 

High-Altitude Environments

Training at altitude can help athletes to improve their performance. In high-altitude environments (2000 metres above sea level and higher), the body takes in less oxygen, delivering less to the muscles with each breath.

Breathing this thinner air can enhance performance when the athlete competes at a lower altitude.

Athletes that live in a high-altitude environment may enjoy this advantage from a young age. It is thought that high-altitude training is one of the factors that has helped East African countries to produce so many world-class long-distance runners.

Many of these runners were born and raised at heights of 2000 metres or more at moderate temperatures. This also allows them to train at high-intensity in such conditions.

When this biomechanical efficiency is combined with high motivation and a highly-tuned training regime, they are able to excel in their sport.

It is no secret that elite athletes from low-altitude countries move to high altitude environments in an attempt to improve their low altitude performance. Some live and sleep at high altitude and then train at a lower height.

It is thought that this live high, train low philosophy is more effective than simply living and training at high altitude. This method has been used to great success by top athletes such a Mo Farah.

 

Extreme-Cold Environments

Training in extreme cold can also put a sportsperson’s body under stress. The body works hard to retain as much heat as possible by constricting blood vessels near the surface to redirect blood to the core in a process known as "vasoconstriction."

Oxygen levels are reduced and heart rate is increased to circulate the blood. This puts extra stress on the heart and can even raise blood pressure. Interaction between the brain and muscles may also slow down, affecting performance.

Athletes who are born and raised in cold climates can adapt to the conditions and reach a higher level of performance. Therefore, it is no surprise to find that athletes from colder nations dominate Winter Olympic sports.

The combination of culture, where these sports are encouraged from a young age, and environment, where training is carried out in extreme conditions, gives them an advantage.

But even these athletes are not immune from the effects of extreme cold. In fact, many elite cold-weather athletes in Scandinavia develop asthma or bronchial hyperresponsiveness as a result of long-term training and performing in sub-zero temperatures.

In the Netherlands, 96% of all their Olympic medals have come in speed skating events. The country is low and flat and there is a lot of water that freezes during the winter. They embraced skating early on and it has become a cultural phenomenon.

Today, the sport receives heavy investment and the athletes have responded by dominating the sport. All this, combined with the fact the Dutch are the tallest people on earth, gives them the edge.

 

Cultural Impact

In some regions, it is cultural factors rather than climatic ones which drive sporting performance. For example, Egypt has produced many top-level squash players over the last 90 years.

In the early days of competitive squash, the biggest name was Amr Bey, an Egyptian diplomat who began playing the game in England in the 1930s. He inspired many others to take up the sport and the country has not looked back since.

The sport has been well backed by the government and promising young players are given the time and resources to develop their game at the many academies that have been established across the country.

It is clear that once a nation embraces a sport and invests in infrastructure, a culture of excellence can be developed.

In Iran, wrestling has been practised for thousands of years and is still one of the country’s most popular sports. Historically, the wrestlers, known as pahlavan were seen as heroes or protectors in remote areas where there was little official authority.

The Olympic success of wrestler Gholamreza Takhti during the 1950s and 60s inspired thousands of young Iranians to take up the sport. With little cost involved, the sport is seen as being accessible to all people, whatever their income or background.

And economic factors do play a big part in the sport that a country excels at. Traditional ‘Western’ countries fare better in team sports that require higher financial commitment and greater infrastructure, while countries where there is minimal state or external support tend to fare better at individual sports, where they can train alone with little cost.

 

Conclusion

It is clear that climate and environment can play a part in boosting sports performance. But the bigger picture should also be taken into account.

The environment also drives the sporting culture, so athletes from certain areas are always more likely to take up certain sports. And with more athletes taking part, the chances of producing more champions is higher.

So, Austria is more likely to produce top skiers because residents are more likely to take up that sport. And those that do may have an advantage because of the climate they are accustomed to.

Some sports, such as football, begin in one area but are easily adopted in other countries regardless of the climate or environment. South American countries have enjoyed global success in a game that was inherited from Europe, while European countries also continued to excel.

The success of Egypt’s squash players is another example of this. There, it is less about climate and more about the way the cultural significance of the sport had prompted investment and infrastructure to produce a winning environment.

This gives players a psychological advantage. Egyptian squash players have a mental edge in the same way that Kenyan runners or Austrian skiers may have.

The sport is part of that country’s identity and they are highly motivated to maintain national dominance.

So, while climate and environment are important, they are a driver rather than a single defining factor. Genetic, cultural and psychological factors also pay a part in helping a nation reach the pinnacle of a sport.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

There are lots of big flat races coming up in the next few weeks. Here we take a look at the latest prices along with some snippets of information on each of the races.

 

Saturday 28th July - 15:00 Ascot: Gigaset International Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

The International Stakes is a seven furlong sprint for horses aged three years old and above, with all of the top stables likely to be represented.

Respected sprint trainers like Mark Johnston and Richard Hannon have to be feared.

Horses to watch: Flaming Spear (9/1), Gilgamesh (12/1), George of Hearts (12/1), II Primo Sole (12/1), Arbalet (14/1), Aces (16/1)

 

Saturday 28th July - 15:40 Ascot: King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored By Qipco) (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Cracksman is likely to bypass this weekend's Ascot showpiece, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, unless there is significant rain said his trainer John Gosden.

Horses to watch: Crystal Ocean (7/4), Poet's Word (5/2), Kew Gardens (6/1), Waldgeist (9/1), Cracksman (9/1), Coronet (10/1)

 

Tuesday 31st July - 15:00 Goodwood: Qatar Lennox Stakes (Group 2)

Connections of Expert Eye have not ruled out the possibility of stepping him back up to a mile and supplementing him for the Qatar Sussex Stakes instead.

Expert Eye is already entered for the Group Two Lennox Stakes over seven furlongs but would have supplemented for the Group One Sussex over a mile at a cost of £70,000.

Horses to watch: Expert Eye (9/4), Tip Two Win (7/1), Sir Dancealot (9/1), Breton Rock (11/1), Yafta (12/1), Emmaus (12/1)

 

Tuesday 31st July - 15:35 Goodwood: Qatar Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Stradivarius, successful in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, heads the entries. Owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen, the four-year-old won the Qatar Goodwood Cup in 2017 and this year is chasing the Stayers' Million which carries a bonus of £1 million.

Horses to watch: Stradivarius (4/7), Order Of St George (7/2), Torcedor (5/1), Kew Gardens (6/1), Idaho (9/1), Withhold (10/1)

 

Wednesday 1st August - 15:35 Goodwood: Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Andrew Balding believes Beat The Bank is peaking just at the right time as he heads to the Glorious Goodwood meeting.

Balding was convinced the four-year-old gelding had been unlucky when sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and was happy to see him back in the winner’s circle when he took the Summer Mile back at the Berkshire track last time out.

Horses to watch: Without Parole (11/8), Saxon Warrior (5/1), Gustav Klimt (7/1), Beat The Bank (7/1), Lancaster Bomber (8/1)

 

Thursday 2nd August - 15:35 Goodwood: Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Urban Fox will attempt to complete a Group One double over a mile and a quarter when she lines up for the Nassau Stakes.

The four-year-old filly improved for the step up from a mile when she took the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

Horses to watch: Sea of Class (7/2), Happily (5/1), Urban Fox (5/1), Rhododendron (6/1), Veracious (6/1), Wild Illusion (7/1)

 

Friday 3rd August - 15:00 Goodwood: Golden Mile Handicap

Newmarket handler William Haggas looks to hold a strong hand in the £150,000 Golden Mile Handicap with his five entries including Society Power (9st 1lb), the ante-post market leader with most bookmakers.

Horses to watch: Society Power (8/1), Tigre du Terre (10/1), Curiosity (12/1), Humbert (12/1), Mubtasim (12/1)

 

Friday 3rd August - 15:35 Goodwood: King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2)

Battaash heads back to the Goodwood Festival this month in defence of his King George Stakes crown.

The Charlie Hills-trained four-year-old won the Group Two contest last season, before finishing fourth in the Nunthorpe at York and then winning the Prix de l'Abbaye.

Horses to watch: Battaash (11/8), Kachy (7/1), Sioux Nation (10/1), Fleet Review (12/1), Dreamfield (14/1), Washington Dc (14/1)

 

Saturday 4th August - 15:40 Goodwood: Stewards' Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

The ante-post favourite for this historic handicap is Dreamfield trained by John Gosden.

The Godolphin-owned four-year-old lost his unbeaten record when going down by a neck Bacchus in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Horses to watch: Dreamfield (8/1), Bacchus (12/1), Spring Loaded (12/1), Tis Marvellous (14/1), Foxtrot Lady (14/1), Emblazoned (16/1)

 

Wednesday 22nd August - 15:35 York: Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)

John Gosden has raised the possibility of Roaring Lion and Enable meeting in the Juddmonte International at York.

If both horses are fit and ready to go, Gosden would be happy for them to clash - as long as the owners of both horses were happy the decision.

Horses to watch: Roaring Lion (10/3), Enable (7/2), Poet's Word (5/1), Masar (8/1), Saxon Warrior (8/1), Cracksman (8/1), Without Parole (12/1)

 

Friday 24th August - 15:35 York: Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Blue Point has emerged as a major contender for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Sent off the 5-2 favourite for the Darley July Cup having won the King's Stand Stakes, he could only finish seventh behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained US Navy Flag.

Horses to watch: Battassh (7/4), Blue Point (5/1), U S Navy Flag (8/1), Finsbury Square (10/1), Sioux Nation (10/1)

 

Saturday 25th August - 15:40 York: The Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

The Ebor Handicap at the end of the month is a possible target for the Willie Mullins-trained Stratum after the five-year-old won the inaugural running of the JLT Cup at Newbury.

Horses to watch: Stratum (6/1), Withhold (10/1), Chelkar (12/1), Hamada (12/1), Dash Of Spice (16/1), Limini (16/1)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The World Cup has barely finished, but we are already onto the second legs of some Champions League qualifiers. Minnows meet giants in this early phase, often leaving us with extravagant scorelines.

Here are a few thoughts and tips on four of the upcoming qualifiers…

CELTIC vs ALASHKERT FC

Alashkert, the reigning Armenian champions, could not live with Celtic in the first leg, falling to a 3-0 defeat. The club was only re-founded as recently as 2011 but have been involved in European qualification in the last four seasons, though they have never made it to the group phases.

Brendan Rodgers has worked wonders since moving north of the border. Celtic are a good side to watch – as anyone would expect with Rodgers – and have cruised their way to domestic glory. Cracking their European woe is the next step, however, and this is the first station on that path.

Expect goals from the hosts here. This one could get out of hand...

TIP: Over 2.5 home goals

CORRECT SCORE: Celtic 4-1 Alashkert FC

 

RED STAR BELGRADE vs FK SPARTAKS

FK Spartaks have never made it past the second round of European qualifying. Holding the mighty Red Star to a first leg draw could be argued as one of their greatest achievements. It will be a markedly different challenge at the hostile Marakana, however.

The Belgradian giants were a good watch when they faced Arsenal in the Europa League last season but are short on quality. Despite that, they won yet another Serbian title last term and are the massive favourites to make it through here. Once a European superpower, Red Star will always attract attention, even when their football is subpar.

It was goalless in Latvia. Few will bet on a similar result back in the Serbian capital, where the hosts should win fairly comfortably.

TIP: Over 2.5 home goals

CORRECT SCORE: Red Star Belgrade 3-0 FK Spartaks

 

LEGIA WARSAW vs CORK CITY

Remarkably, Cork City held Legia Warsaw to a 1-0 deficit in the first leg in Ireland. Heading back to Poland, things look bleak for Cork, who need a miracle to turn this around. Legia have appeared in the Champions League group stages as recently as 2016.

Cork have already had success in Europe this season. Not on the pitch, but financially. The club are guaranteed close to one million euros just for competing in Champions League qualifying, a simply enormous sum for a club of their stature.

Unfortunately, this could get ugly. The gap in quality should be clearer for the Polish club on home soil.

TIP: Legia Warsaw to win @ 1/5

CORRECT SCORE: Legia Warsaw 4-0 Cork City

 

ROSENBORG vs VALUR REYKJAVIK

Rosenborg have a proud history in Norwegian football. The last time they finished outside the top three domestically was back in 2008, winning five titles over that span. They are a regular in European football and progressed from their Europa League group last season.

Valur are an Icelandic side who – against the odds – snatched a victory in the first leg thanks to a late goal from Eidur Sigurbjornsson. They are the underdogs once again here but showed resilience on home soil to take an advantage to Norway.

Rosenborg should just have enough to get this done. It could be tight, though, particularly after they struggled to create chances in the first leg.

TIP: Rosenborg to win @ 1/6

CORRECT SCORE: Rosenborg 3-1 Valur Reykjavik

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were a class above their rivals in 2017/18. Finishing the campaign with a record points tally, most goals scored and largest gap to second place, City broke various top flight records last season.

Expecting more of the same this season would be foolish though; England’s elite clubs will be looking to pip the defending champions to the title.

With the World Cup now over, preparation for the domestic campaign is well and truly underway. We are now less than a month away from the opening weekend and those players involved in the latter stages of the World Cup will be given an extended break.

August could be an interesting month if the major contenders struggle to hit the ground running. We look at the six primary candidates for Premier League glory in 2018/19...

Manchester City

Are the Blues destined to defend the Premier League crown? It is hard to back against them after their dominance in 2017/18. City have been quiet in the transfer window so far but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Guardiola act before the start of the campaign.

Riyad Mahrez has finally completed his move to the Etihad Stadium – two years after he was first linked with the Blues. The former Leicester City star will give City an added dimension in the final third and he may help Pep’s side as they look to retain the English title.

Odds: 13/20

 

Liverpool

The Anfield faithful will be expecting big things after a heavy summer of spending and there will be plenty of punters siding with Jurgen Klopp’s men. As mentioned in an article back in May, the Reds are well placed to push on and claim a first Premier League crown.

With Naby Keita and Fabinho under contract and AS Roma goalkeeper Allison likely to join in the coming weeks, Liverpool need to challenge for major honours this season. Silverware is an absolute must after their expensive transfer activity in recent months.

Odds: 5/1

 

Manchester United

Jose Mourinho’s side pipped Liverpool to second spot last season but most fans are expecting the Merseyside outfit (3/4) to finish above their rivals. Mourinho came under scrutiny for his approach in 2017/18 and a more attacking approach is expected this campaign.

The Red Devils move quickly to sign Brazil international Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk and his arrival could allow Paul Pogba to take on a more advanced role. The 2018 World Cup winner will return to Old Trafford full of confidence and he can be United’s difference maker.

Odds: 6/1

 

Chelsea

Antonio Conte is out and Maurizio Sarri is in. The Blues will be expecting to bounce back in 2018/19 after missing out on Champions League football last season and their new manager can endear himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful with a positive run of results in the early stages of the campaign.

With Cristiano Ronaldo now plying his trade with Juventus, Real Madrid will be looking for a marquee signing and Eden Hazard fits the bill. Their hopes of a top four finish hinge on whether the Belgium winger stays at Stamford Bridge or leaves for Santiago Bernabeu.

Odds: 11/1

 

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham’s main business this summer has been in-house but it would be foolish to ignore the importance of tying Harry Kane and Mauricio Pochettino down to long-term deals. Spurs will head into the campaign confident of another top four finish at the very least…

The new White Hart Lane is starting to take shape and it will almost certainly rank as one of the best stadiums in the Premier League. Tottenham fans will be hoping that their off-field success pays dividends; 14/1 isn’t a bad price based on Spurs’ recent exploits.

Odds: 14/1

 

Arsenal

It is going to be a strange campaign for Arsenal fans. Unai Emery has been busy this summer but have the Gunners done enough to challenge for Premier League glory? If truth be told, probably not – Arsenal are some way short of lifting the top flight title.

Finishing in the top four will almost certainly be Emery’s top target next season; anything else is a bonus. The Gunners must improve away from home to stand any chance of a positive campaign though and Arsenal still need to bolster their squad in a number of key positions.

Odds: 25/1

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The Super Sprint Trophy is a flat horse race held at Newbury for two-year-old thoroughbreds and was first run in 1991.

The race is currently restricted to horses sold as yearlings at Weatherbys sales for 37,000 guineas or less before July 1st, or 40,000 guineas or less after June 30th. The weights carried are determined by the sale price of the horses, with one pound deducted for each 2,500 guineas below 40,000.

The Weatherbys Super Sprint quite often produces a fairytale story and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top at Newbury on Saturday. In 2016, Mrs Danvers attracted not one sales bid at a reserve of £1,000 as an unraced juvenile but went on to amass upwards of £120,000 in prize money that season.

She went on to win twice more for the Jonathan Portman stable, including at Group Three level, so it’s a “never-say-never” race for many of the contenders this weekend.

Fillies have an excellent record in the Weatherbys Super Sprint, taking 15 of the 26 renewals, with this year’s race featuring 13 of them.

A maximum field of 25 juveniles go to post on Saturday afternoon and here is a look at some of the leading contenders:

 

Little Kim

Top-weight Little Kim heads the 25 two-year-olds going for glory in the £250,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint.

The Karl Burke-trained Little Kim made a winning debut in a novice event at Carlisle in June and last time out pipped Chelsea Cloisters to win the G3 Prix du Bois at Deauville, France. Both races were over over five furlongs, which is the distance of the Weatherbys Super Sprint.

In between, Little Kim finished eighth, beaten two lengths, behind Signora Cabello in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes over the same distance at Royal Ascot.

With Signora Cabello’s connections opting for a French engagement themselves, the way looks open for Little Kim to cash in.

Karl Burke said: "Little Kim is in great form. She goes there with a Group race win in the bag and, although she has an 8lb penalty for that, she has a good draw and will hopefully run well.

"We had her in the Prix Robert Papin on Sunday as well. It was a 50/50 call, but I have another horse declared for that race and it was always his target.

"As well as that, Nick Bradley (part-owner of Little Kim) is happy to go for the money at Newbury as he did not want to take on the Queen Mary winner again."

 

Red Balloons

Red Balloons picked up the first win of her career last time after finishing placed on two of her three starts. She came out of Royal Ascot well and was sent off the short priced favourite at Nottingham.

Her trainer, Richard Fahey, is a dab hand at these kind of sprints having won this race three times in the last five years, and she should not be underestimated at around the 10/1 mark.

 

Snazzy

The Highclere Thoroughbred-owned filly Snazzy pushed Signora Cabello close in a Listed race at York in May, but was then well beaten by her in the Queen Mary.

Her trainer, Charlie Fellowes, believes she can put that disappointing Royal Ascot display behind her:

“Snazzy was heavily in season at Ascot – Stevie (Donohoe) said she felt as flat as a pancake and was not the horse that he knows,” said Fellowes.

“On a very strict form line, we should have been bang there because we were only beaten a length and a half by the winner at York. We just didn’t turn up at Ascot, but she ovulated the following day and that has to be a very fair excuse.

“She is in good form now and this has been the plan since. She has had a clear run through and we are hopeful of big run.”

 

Tin Hat

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Tin Hat ran on to take fifth in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot which certainly gives the chestnut colt a squeak here.

 

Kinks

The Mick Channon-trained Kinks finished sixth in the G2 Norfolk Stakes after being denied a clear run and any Royal Ascot runner that comes here to contest this sprint is always of interest.

 

Society Queen

The twice-raced Ayr winner Society Queen is the mount of last year's winning jockey Paddy Mathers and is also trained by the Weatherbys Sprint maestro, Richard Fahey.

 

Its The Only Way and Ginger Nut

The Hannon stable has an impressive record in Weatherbys Super Sprint, with eight victories in total. Richard Hannon, who was successful with Tiggy Wiggy in 2014, saddles dual winner Its The Only Way (Tom Marquand) and Ginger Nut (Harry Bentley).

 

Signora Cabello

Trainer John Quinn has decided to bypass Saturday's Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury with Signora Cabello and heads across the Channel instead.

The Queen Mary Stakes winner takes up an entry in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte on Sunday.

"We have declared her for the Prix Robert Papin on Sunday at Maisons-Laffitte," Quinn told At The Races.

"The main reason is down the line after racing, she's going to be bred from and she's got a very nice pedigree.

"She's already a Queen Mary winner and we just decided that this was the route - the Group route - that we'd follow with her, so that's where we are."

Signora Cabello is set to be joined in France by the Karl Burke-trained True Mason.

888sport suggests: Red Balloons @ Newbury (e/w)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Weeks of speculation over Cristiano Ronaldo’s future came to an end on Tuesday. The Portuguese superstar completed his transfer to Juventus for a fee in the region of £88 million.

A move away from the Santiago Bernabeu had been in the offing since Real Madrid won yet another Champions League, but it was still hard to really believe the rumours until an official announcement was made.

It’s almost surreal. Rumours of a transfer have previously been a crude decoy for a pay rise. This time it was obviously different, but Juventus were always way down the list of potential suitors.

The timing was strange for a transfer of this magnitude, too. They could have waited for the World Cup to end for maximum attention, and neither party made any flashy announcement.

The Old Lady got their man. A 33-year-old, five-time Ballon d’Or winner fresh off another remarkable season. Sure, there will be shouty criticisms in corners of the internet, but it’s hard to argue with the deal from Juventus’ perspective.

Expect A Busy Summer In Turin

This could be the first of many dominos to fall this transfer window. It’s been slow going for the rumour mill thanks to the World Cup, but sales from Juventus are inevitable now with Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala both linked with moves away. We could be seeing one or two Juve stars move to the Premier League before the window shuts.

Max Allegri’s squad may look quite different by the opening day of the Serie A season. The Turin-based club are massive favourites for yet another title, however, at 4/9.

Across multiple managers and teams, Juventus have won seven straight. Adding Ronaldo to the mix surely only enhances their chances of further success, even if it causes a minor rebuild of the team.
The loss of iconic goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon further emphasises the changing of the guard. Buffon was synonymous with Juventus, and his struggle to match his domestic success with a Champions League triumph had become one of the great footballing stories.

This era of Juventus dominance was built on shrewd deals and an Italian defensive core. Ronaldo is a move away from that, and maybe, just maybe, a significant moment for the whole of Italian football. It’s been a while since Serie A attracted the sport’s biggest names.

Napoli, Juventus’ closest competitors, are out at 6/1 to win the Scudetto. The price speaks volumes. Napoli could have a markedly different (weaker) squad themselves and are under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti instead of Maurizio Sarri, who masterminded their breath-taking football last season.

It’s possible, of course, that things go drastically wrong for Juventus and Ronaldo’s arrival upsets a club cruising domestically. That seems no more than a remote possibility, though, making Napoli’s 6/1 price still too short.

 

Dreaming of Europe

Juventus’ real desire is European glory. They’ve conquered Italy and reigned supreme for the best part of a decade, now it’s time to do what Buffon never could.  

No club has lost as many European Cup/Champions League finals as Juve (7). Two of those came since 2015, and five since they last won the competition in 1996. Ronaldo, in stark contrast, has won five Champions League finals in his career, including four of the last five.

One player is not going to take Juventus from nearly men to victors, that’s just now how football works, but it certainly increases their chances. Every fan, every manager in the world would rather that match defining chance was falling to Ronaldo rather than Higuain.

Ronaldo is a ruthless competitor and leader. It would be foolish to right that off as an irrelevance when evaluating Juventus’ chances in Europe’s premier competition.

What has made Real Madrid’s spell of Champions League dominance so remarkable, though, is the luck required to win knockout competitions. Good fortune, freak performances and an array of other factors influence a team’s chances of lifting the Champions League. The winners are not necessarily the best team, the same as with any knockout tournament.

Picking an outright winner is hard as a result. Juventus’ chances are obviously enhanced, but even choosing a favourite is challenging until we’ve seen where players move. Real Madrid will still be fancied by many, particularly if they were to add a couple more attacking superstars like Neymar and Eden Hazard.

 

Champions League or Bust

Ronaldo has adapted well as he’s aged. His influence on the match has lessened, but his impact in the final third is as great as ever. Decline physically has been held off – and maybe it will be indefinitely – but this is not a decade long project for Juventus.

It is probably a two or three year job for Ronaldo, giving a relatively small window for Juve to end their quest for that elusive third Champions League.

The impact this deal has on European football as a whole, and more specifically Italian football, is enormous. Without continental glory, though, Ronaldo’s time in Turin will be a relative disappointment, such is the expectation on one of the greatest footballers the sport has ever seen.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

There’s just two weeks to go to now until “Glorious Goodwood” but in the meantime there are still plenty of high profile flat races to be run in both the UK and Ireland.

Let’s take a look at some of the ante-post markets you can get stuck into in the next couple of weeks:

Saturday 21^st July: Darley Irish Oaks (Curragh)

William Haggas will step Sea Of Class up in trip for the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

Following discussions with the owners, the Newmarket based trainer has been preparing the dual Newbury Listed winner for a first try over 12 furlongs in the Group One prize.

The daughter of Sea The Stars continued her build up for the forthcoming Irish raid with a racecourse gallop over a mile at Newmarket’s July Course last Thursday morning.

Sea Of Class is a 7/2 chance with us here at 888sport.

The Aidan O’Brien trained September (12/1) could make a belated reappearance in the Irish Oaks after recovering from the muscle problem that kept her out of the British version.

O'Brien's team for the Irish Oaks, a race he has won five times, includes Forever Together (6/1) – the winner of  the Oaks at Epsom and Magic Wand (5/2), the four-length winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

 

Sunday 22^nd July: Kilboy Estate Stakes (Curragh)

Jessica Harrington’s ever growing impact on flat racing’s top fixtures was in evidence again when I’m So Fancy successfully dropped back to a mile and landed the Listed Celebration Stakes at the Curragh.

After the race, Harrington said: “She’s in the Group Two Kilboy Estate Stakes here over a mile and a quarter so we’ll see how she comes out of this.”

 

Sunday 22^nd July: Sapphire Stakes (Curragh)

The Elite Racing Club owned Judicial could head to the Curragh as he goes in pursuit of a first Group-race victory.

The six-year-old gelding finished runner-up in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket in early May. Then at Beverley he won a strong conditions stakes by two and a quarter lengths.

The Coral Charge at Sandown is another option for Judicial - a half-brother to the top sprinter Marsha - but he could also end up running in the Sapphire Stakes.

Julie Camacho's assistant and husband, said: "He's more relaxed this year and he's clearly improving.

"He's easier to ride this year and we now know a lot more about him.

"We'll look at the Coral sprint at Sandown and he's also entered in the Sapphire Stakes in Ireland.

 

Saturday 28^th July: King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Ascot)

The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO) was first run in 1951. The mile and a half contest quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious middle distance events in the world and regularly attracts the best horses from far and wide. It is the second richest race on the British racing calendar, with a prize fund of £1,250,000.

Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud victor Waldgeist (9/1) could well be sent across the Channel to contest this feature race by the French training maestro, Andre Fabre.

The colt claimed his third win of the season and provided his trainer with an eighth Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud success when edging out John Gosden’s filly Coronet by a nose.

Sir Michael Stoute is preparing both Crystal Ocean and Poet's Word for the Ascot prize.

Crystal Ocean carded his third victory of the season with a dominant display in the Hardwicke Stakes at last month's Royal meeting, while Poet's Word took the scalp of Cracksman when recording a Group One success in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Stoute shares a joint-record of five previous winners of the King George in Shergar (1981), Opera House (1993), Golan (2002), Conduit (2009) and Harbinger (2010) and looks intent on taking that record outright in 2018.

Speaking of his two challengers, Stoute said: "They are both fine at the moment. They are being trained for the King George and the plan is to go to Ascot with both horses," said the Newmarket-based trainer.

Crystal Ocean is 888sport’s 2/1 favourite for the Ascot showpiece with Poet's Word marginally behind him at 5/2.

The consistent four-year-old Salouen (20/1) who ran Cracksman to a head in the Coronation Cup at Epsom and followed that up with a close third place behind Waldgeist in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, also heads to Ascot.

His trainer Sylvester Kirk has no qualms about taking on the best opposition once again, saying:

“He’s very good. It’s the King George next,” said the Lambourn handler.

“The thing I worry about is not letting the horse get his head in front.

“There’s no guarantee he’s going to go and win a Group Three yet.

“We’ll go off and go to Ascot. He’s in great form. As for his stallion potential, it’s not that he’s risking anything by running in the top grade all the time.”

Kew Gardens’ Grand Prix de Paris victory on Saturday gave him the likely option of running in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot according to Aidan O’Brien. Kew Gardens is prominent in the market at 6/1.

 

Saturday 28^th July: Gigaset International Stakes (Ascot)

Royal Hunt Cup fifth Flaming Spear (12/1) is on target for Ascot’s International Stakes which takes place on the same afternoon as the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Formerly trained by Kevin Ryan, the six-year-old is no stranger to winning big race handicaps as his win at York in August last showed testament to that.

The John Gosden-trained II Primo Sole (12/1) was a decent fifth in the Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) at Royal Ascot and is another runner who should be on the premises again in this Heritage race.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The mania that swept the country after England beat Sweden might have just about calmed down by the time their semi-final kicks off on Wednesday evening. This is the first time England have reached the last four at a World Cup since 1990, and only the third time in the history of the tournament.

A combination of fortune and overperformance has guided England this far. The dream of a first World Cup final since 1966 is just 90 minutes of football away, and against an opponent that England are favourites to beat.

Croatia are the best side England have had to face yet on paper. Their performances since they thumped an Argentina side in disarray have not lived up to expectation.

They’ve required penalties to get past Denmark and Russia, and not exactly set the world alight in the process. This is a huge opportunity for the Croatians too, however. This is likely the last major tournament with many of their star players at their prime.

It’s a first trip to the World Cup semi-finals since the famous group of 1994, and England are less challenging opponents than many would have expected to face in the last four pre-tournament.

Croatia’s midfield is the obvious focus. Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Marcelo Brozovic (who will likely return to the team) form one of the best triumvirates in world football.

All three are versatile, and capable of changing the game with a defensive splitting pass or line-breaking run.

England’s trio of Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard will have opportunity to get space behind the Croatia midfield, though. The trio have been solid defensively, pressing well so far this tournament.

Croatia’s midfielders are capable of playing through that press, however, which could expose England. Henderson to pick up a booking at 4/1 is a good price.

The flip side is Croatia do not play a natural sitting midfielder. Alli, Lingard and Harry Kane will look to exploit that gap between the lines.

The darting runs of Alli and Lingard off the ball have been crucial for England to create space, they will be even more important in this one, particularly if England can play in transition. Alli at 7/2 to give an assist looks a great price.

While Croatia’s play in the final third has been lacking for much of the tournament, Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic are still going to test England unlike Sweden did.

Having Kyle Walker and Kieran Tripper on the right of defence should help to nullify Perisic, but Mandzukic – who often drops into midfield – could be difficult to pick up.

The Juventus forward is a threat aerially, when he actually makes it into the box. Fortunately, England have their latest hero, Harry Maguire, to deal with any crosses.

Maguire has won more aerial duels than any other player left in the tournament but could be vulnerable if Croatia manage to drag him to defend in wide areas.

Ashley Young has been part of the reason Maguire has been such a colossus. Young has a key role to play at both ends of the pitch; he must protect Maguire and provide width for England.

The Manchester United man showed a greater willingness to use his left foot against Sweden, something England need more of if they are to stretch the pitch sufficiently.

Both teams will see this matchup as a positive after the more defensive-minded teams they have faced so far.

England took advantage when Sweden left any space in behind, and the exceptional runs of Raheem Sterling will be key again in this one.

Sterling has done so much right so far in the World Cup, it’s a matter of time until he gets that decisive breakthrough to quieten many of the critics. He’s a great price at 8/1 to open the scoring.

Croatia have underwhelmed so far but have the individual quality that could swing a match like this. Going by the form book, though, England are the pick to win this one.

Gareth Southgate’s team have been the better side in this tournament and should make another step to ending their 52 years of hurt.

TIP: Raheem Sterling to score and England to win @ 6/1

CORRECT SCORE: Croatia 1-2 England (Priced at 19/2 with 888sport)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

England’s World Cup dreams were shattered on Wednesday night – Croatia were the better side and deserved their spot in Sunday’s final.

Zlatko Dalic’s men will go up against France in Moscow and neutrals will be hoping for a close contest. Unfortunately for the Croatians, it might not pan out that way.

France, currently 4/9 to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy at the Luzhniki Stadium, were criticised by some for their defensive-minded performance against Belgium but Les Bleus will take no notice of the haters.

Didier Deschamps’ men will be quietly confident of emerging victorious on Sunday afternoon; they would be worthy winners.

The Euro 2016 runners up stuck to their game plan and it worked perfectly. Frustrating the likes of Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne was France’s primary objective and Hugo Lloris was a man mountain between the posts.

Expect N’Golo Kante to keep a close eye on Luka Modric throughout Sunday’s encounter.

In attack, France are blessed with quality – with the exception of Olivier Giroud. The Chelsea man has yet to register a shot on target this summer but Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe can fire Les Bleus to victory.

The latter is currently 17/20 to be awarded the Golden Ball for his efforts in the tournament and he could play a key role in the final.

Griezmann hasn’t had the best of tournaments but the Atletico Madrid man could step up to the plate on Sunday.

Valued at 7/4 to get his name on the scoresheet, punters will be expecting a big effort from Griezmann here. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the France star lead his side to glory on the biggest stage of all this weekend.

Croatia are no slouches though and they deserve their spot in the final. The better team in Wednesday’s semi-final for 70 minutes, Croatia will now look to come up with a game plan to stop this French outfit.

Luka Modric, the best central midfielder in world football, is key to their aspirations and he is a 2/1 chance to win the Golden Ball – a Croatia success may give him the edge over his rivals.

Ivan Perisic has been simply sublime this summer; sparking more rumours of a big money move to Manchester United.

First and foremost, he will be looking to help his side win the World Cup for the first time though and Perisic is 13/2 to get his name on the scoresheet. For what it is worth, his 4/1 price to receive a yellow card is also worth a look.

Sensational against Argentina, Croatia can be devastating and France will be wary of a shock onslaught. Dalic’s side are not as assured defensively but Les Bleus cannot afford to leave themselves exposed at the back.

It probably won’t be remembered as one of the most entertaining World Cup finals of all-time but it should still be fascinating.

With an extra day of rest, France may be slightly fresher and Deschamps’ guys will not panic if this one goes the distance.

Les Bleus have not gone beyond 90 minutes this summer whilst Croatia have played 120 minutes on three separate occasions. Punters fancying a tight clash can back the draw at 9/4.

For me though, I think France will be too strong. Les Bleus look destined to avenge that Euro 2016 defeat to Portugal in the best possible way this summer and it would take a brave man to back against them.

Defeat on Sunday should signal the end of Deschamps’ reign in charge but France are primed to step up and prove themselves on the biggest stage.

The 13/8 for France to win to nil should be snapped up. With four clean sheets in their last five matches, Les Bleus have been very strong defensively and Croatia may struggle to break them down.

Correct score-wise, France have enough quality to bag a couple of goals and the 2-0 is worth a strong look at 7/1.

TIP: France to win to nil @ 13/8

CORRECT SCORE: France 2-0 Croatia (Priced at 7/1 with 888sport)

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*