“Marcus hasn’t done himself any harm in his performance last week. I’m sure Gareth would have liked him to have featured more from a Man United perspective but we know what a talent the boy is and he will certainly be a key factor if England are going to be successful in this World Cup. He has the ingredients to cause defenders a lot of problems – he’s a bit unknown to the world in that respect, as much as he’s playing for United – and I feel when you’re young and have that ‘don’t care’ attitude that can only be a plus.”

The 20 year old is one of a number of attacking options for Gareth Southgate who have all blazed a goal-scoring trail across the Premier League this season. A problem however lies in the fact that one of them – Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling – hasn’t scored for his country since 2015. Does this concern Yorke? Should it concern us? 

“The one thing he’s improved under Pep is his goal targeting. Everyone has a phase when they have a low in terms of goals and so it’s important what else that you do for your team i.e. winning games and being creative for others. Raheem in my opinion should be in the England line-up. He’s a threat and he’s shown he’s not scared. I thought he was one of the outstanding players for City this season. In fact I don’t see any reason why Raheem and Marcus Rashford can’t play in the same team. Why not unleash your best players?” 

It is a gung-ho attitude typical of a forward who played in one of the most adventurously attacking Premier League sides in the modern era. Prior to his highly successful spell at Manchester United of course Yorke played for Aston Villa and lining up alongside him for several seasons was a player who now has the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. Will his ex-team-mate dare be so cavalier? 

“Only if it goes belly-up will he throw attackers on. If I was Gareth Southgate I’d say forget about what has happened these past few tournaments and all of the expectations and just do your thing. But knowing what Gareth is like after playing with him for four years he is Mr Reserved. He doesn’t take risks. He’s done a reasonable job and I’m pleased for him that he’s got the opportunity to manage the national team. He’s always had leadership qualities and that’s the one thing you’d associate him with. I hope he does well because he’s a personal friend of mine but at some stage he’ll come unstuck. He may have changed over the years, I don’t know, but….I like to see attacking football and Gareth Southgate as an individual is a little bit reserved. But he may get it right, you never know.” 

Doubts arise too over another instrumental figure in the England camp, namely the sometimes frustrating, other times brilliant Dele Alli. Yorke insists there is still some way to go before the Spurs midfielder can claim superstar status. 

“I’m not too sure the big four would touch Dele Alli right now. I think he still has some development to do. When he’s 24 we’ll know if he’s capable and he still has a year or two left at Tottenham. Of course he may have an outstanding World Cup and anyone who has an outstanding World Cup sees their value go up and all the big boys want you. So this is where he could step up and he’s got the perfect platform to do that. If not though there will be another two years before we see the best of him. He’s certainly done himself no harm but to get the big boys attracted to him – based on what he’s done so far – he needs to do a little bit more.”

As for England’s chances in Russia the popular former striker and present day pundit is hardly optimistic. 

“We were excited four years ago when we thought we were going to do well and look how that ended. This time they’ve got an easy start which is a plus. Imagine if we had Belgium in the opening game and what would have happened.”  

 

Mention of Harry Kane leads the conversation towards the possibility of the Three Lions skipper winning the tournament’s Golden Boot. Unfortunately, Yorke believes the armband might actually prove to be Kane’s undoing. 

 

 

Why then does the Tobagonian believe that he was bestowed with the honour? 

“Southgate had a dilemma because of the uncertainty about Jordan (Henderson) who I don’t see bossing midfields. He doesn’t give you that wow pass. It’s just simple graft, graft. That can only take you so far.”

Moving away from England matters to a domestic transfer window that has already blown wide open and it is fair to suggest that United fans will be watching Paul Pogba link up superbly with Antoine Griezmann at the World Cup and weep with frustration at the likelihood of the Atletico hotshot imminently moving to Barcelona. Yorke however suspects that the Reds’ long-term chase is not over just yet. 

“When you’re a big club you always have a chance and when you have friends of the player around the national team there is a way of selling the club. I’m sure it helps to have Pogba and Martial in there and that might be a turning point in making things happen and getting the deal done.”

“Hopefully that will be the case. Griezmann has been in Spain for a long time while United are looking to improve”.

As are so many of the big clubs this summer with the World Cup acting as a glittering shop window for the richest to pick and choose from. Yorke insists however that for Jose Mourinho the best buy lies on a beach somewhere presumably a long, long way from Russia.

 

Dwight Yorke’s quickfire questions

• Who will win the World Cup? Argentina
• Who will win the Golden Boot? Messi
• Leading England goalscorer? Dele Alli
• Who will win the Premier League in 2018/19? Manchester United. How could I say anyone else? 

 

The Queen Anne Stakes opens Royal Ascot, the first race of the meeting commemorating the monarch who established horse racing at Ascot more than 300 years ago.

As the curtain raiser to the festival, this Group 1, one mile race for four-year-olds and older horses that has always attracted class acts. Legendary jockey Sir Gordon Richards was 21 when he won his first Queen Anne and 48 when he claimed his last.

Richards record total of six victories has since been matched by Frankie Dettori, who won his first Queen Anne at 19 years of age and his last (to date) in 2007, at 36.

Fifteen runners go to post in Tuesday’s opener and here is a form guide to them all:

 

Accidental Agent

Rank outsider on the day, Accidental Agent outran his 66/1 odds to finish sixth to Rhododendron in the Lockinge Stakes for his trainer Eve Johnson Houghton.

No reason why he should turn the tables on the Aidan O’Brien favourite here but he could run well at big odds.

 

Beat The Bank

Beat the Bank was never a contender in the Lockinge and he finished a disappointing tenth.

It is very interesting to note that the Andrew Balding-trained gelding’s only blips, other than the Lockinge, have come when he has run at Ascot. That must be a big worry for punters.

 

Benbatl

Saeed Bin Suroor will hoping to keep the blue flag flying at Royal Ascot, and continue their good run of form, with Dubai Turf winner Benbatl.

The four-year-old is generally 6/1 second favourite for the race, a contest his trainer has won seven times previously.

Benbatl won the Hampton Court Stakes over ten furlongs at the corresponding meeting 12 months ago.

 

Century Dream

The progressive four-year-old has won seven of his thirteen races to date, including an impressive display in the Group Three Diomed Stakes at Epsom on his latest appearance.

Simon Crisford supplemented him for this race last Tuesday.

 

Deauville

Deauville set the pace for stablemate Rhododendron in the Lockinge before coming home in fifth place.

As a closing third in the 2017 Queen Anne, Deauville is eligible to do better on this occasion running on his own terms.

 

Lightning Spear

Lightning Spear, trained by David Simcock, has been placed in five Group 1 races without quite managing to win at the highest level.

The seven-year-old would be the oldest Queen Anne winner since Welsh Rake, who was eight when winning in it in 1963.

 

Limato

The Queen Anne is back on the cards again for Limato after connections blamed his Lockinge defeat on pollen.

Henry Candy's multiple Group 1 winner tries the mile once again, despite looking as if he didn't get home at Newbury.

 

Lord Glitters

Lord Glitters won the Balmoral Handicap at the track last October and finished second in the Lincoln on his only start this season.

This is a big step up in class for the exciting grey but David O’Meara believes he is up to it.

 

Oh This Is Us

The Richard Hannon-trained Oh This Is Us was beaten a neck last time out by the pretty talented Arod.

Winner of the Shaista Azizi Handicap at Meydan over the winter, the four-year-old has won seven of his 25 career starts, but this will be his biggest task to date.

 

Recoletus

The French usually have a strong hand in this contest and this year is no different with the Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained Recoletus being a live contender.

On his previous jaunt across the Channel to Ascot, he finished fourth in the Champion Stakes last year, mixing it up with the likes of Poet’s Word and Highland Reel.

He has won both his starts this season, starting with the Group 2 Prix du Muguet over a mile at Saint-Cloud and the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan over 1m1f at Longchamp last month.

 

So Beloved

David O'Meara's So Beloved was third to Absolutely So in last year's John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock then ran a blinder last time out, just going down a short-head at York.

Last October he was a 25/1 shot in the Qatar Prix de la Foret (Group 1) at Chantilly where he ran incredibly well to only go down by less than a length to Aclaim.

 

Suedois

Suedois is one of three entries in the race for David O’Meara.

The seven-year-old gave O'Meara the latest of his big-race victories in North America when winning the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes last October and comes here on the back of a mid-field run in the Lockinge.

He usually improves for an outing so he is no forlorn hope.

 

Yoshida

American challenger Yoshida is fit and raring to go according to his stable.

Bill Mott’s charge won the Grade One Turf Classic at Churchill Downs in early May, after which he was prepared for his trip across the UK.

Yoshida runs under the familiar ownership of the China Horse Club, WinStar Farm, and Head of Plains Partners – owners last seen in the winner’s circle with Justify – the latest US Triple Crown holder.

 

Zonderland

The Clive Cox-trained five-year-old is expected to come on for his seasonal return in last month's Lockinge at Newbury in this mile Group One event.

Zonderland was beaten a nose by Lightning Spear in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood last season but put in a no show in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on his subsequent start.

 

Rhododendron

Rhododendron is the only remaining filly in a strong field for which she receives a small weight allowance.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Rhododendron claimed her third top-level victory when beating the boys in last month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

The class that saw her finish runner-up in the Guineas and the Oaks last year was on show when she bounced back from a bleed in the summer to win the Prix de l’Opera just over three months later at Chantilly.

Rhododendron finished less than six lengths behind Cracksman on her first start of the season in the Prix Ganay. 

888sport suggests: Recoletus (e/w)

 

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

The 2018/19 Premier League fixtures are out and new Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been thrown straight into the deep end.

An opening weekend clash with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City is tasty for neutrals but hardly ideal for the Gunners. Facing the defending champions in Emery’s first home game at the Emirates Stadium could be… interesting.

I give it 45 minutes before Arsenal are two-nil down and fans are calling for Arsene Wenger to be reinstated as manager. In all seriousness, City may be slightly rusty at the beginning of the campaign and that could actually play into Arsenal’s hands.

888sport’s traders opened up with Emery’s side at 14/5 to pick up three points in their opening fixture; not a bad price considering Arsenal are the home side.

Looking away from that fixture, Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Newcastle United also carries plenty of appeal. Mauricio Pochettino’s men are as short as 4/5 to emerge victorious in that contest and Spurs striker Harry Kane will be looking to break his August goal scoring jinx.

He will lead England in this summer’s World Cup and could go into the 2018/19 campaign full of confidence after lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy. We can dream, right?

The Magpies were excellent in the second half of last season and Rafa Benitez’s side will be looking to challenge for a top half finish in the upcoming campaign.

The foundations for a successful campaign are there for Newcastle but owner Mike Ashley cannot afford to be stingy in the transfer window. Give Benitez money to spend and the Magpies will flourish; whether he will have that luxury or not is another question.

Championship winners Wolverhampton Wanderers will host Everton at Molineux in their first fixture back in England’s top flight since suffering relegation in 2012.

Now blessed with lots of financial support, Wolves will be looking to sign a couple of big names before the start of the campaign and punters may be tempted by the 7/5 available for a home win in that clash.

Cardiff City will open up with an away trip to AFC Bournemouth whilst Fulham host Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage. The Welsh outfit are as short at 7/10 to go straight back down to the Championship next season but Fulham are out at 7/4 for relegation.

An opening day win for the Cottagers will certainly help to bolster confidence ahead of what could be a tricky campaign.

Liverpool, currently 5/1 to win a maiden Premier League title, will host West Ham United on the opening weekend and Jurgen Klopp’s men could run riot.

The Reds have bagged 12 goals in their previous three fixtures against the Hammers and another four-goal haul could be on the cards. Mohamed Salah and co have opened up at 3/10 to pick up three points in front of an expectant Anfield crowd.

But the pick of the matches is of course that contest at the Emirates Stadium. City are priced at 13/20 to defend their Premier League crown – unsurprisingly short given their dominance in 2017/18.

Emery has two months to come up with the perfect plan to derail Pep’s side; the Gunners will be raring to go but are they gifted enough to stop this City juggernaut? Only time will tell…

 

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

The Prix de Diane is a Group One race run at Chantilly exclusively for fillies, often referred to in the UK as the “French Oaks”. It is the fourth flat leg of the EpiqE series, a championship made up of the 14 most important races in France.

Thirteen fillies go to post on Sunday afternoon, among them one British and one Irish challenger. Here is a runner-by-runner form guide to a race steeped in history.

 

Shahnaza

The Aga Khan’s Shahnaza is the general 3-1 favourite for this French Classic.

The filly, out of Azamour, was most impressive when winning the Listed De La Seine Stakes on the 6^th May at Longchamp and has been at the head of the market ever since.

As an owner, the Aga Khan has won the Prix de Diane a record seven times with his last victory coming in 2012.

Happily

Happily started favourite for both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas but could only manage third place on both occasions.

Stepping up now from a mile, the Aidan O’Brien filly probably boasts the strongest form line in the field having beaten two classic winning colts, Olmedo and the Derby winner, Masar, in last year’s Prix Jean Luc Lagadere.

Laurens

Prix Saint-Alary scorer Laurens is the sole flag-bearer for the UK but she arrives in Chantilly with a fighting chance of taking the top prize.

The high-class three-year-old won the Fillies’ Mile last season and made her seasonal reappearance in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, losing nothing in defeat to the shock 66/1 winner, Billesdon Brook.

She battled on well in the Alary, inflicting a first defeat upon Freddy Head’s With You.

Castellar

Castellar put herself right in the Prix de Diane picture when by winning the Prix Cléopâtre (Gr3) by a neck from Luminate.

Winner of her maiden at Fontainebleau in March, she stayed for second place in her next outing in the Prix du Louvre.

Her trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias indicated that had she won that race she would have run next in the Poule, which in hindsight would have been too short for her.

Luminate

Frankie Dettori receives the leg-up aboard Luminate at Chantilly on Sunday. She won both her starts as a two-year-old and made a winning start to this season, only to lose her unbeaten record in a dramatic Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud.

Sent off the 2/5 favourite that day, she was deemed to have interfered with a rival by the strict French stewards, on her way to grabbing second place, which was just a short neck behind Castellar.

Having reviewed the evidence Luminate was demoted into fifth place.

Assonance

The grey filly was beaten just over three lengths by Lady Athena at Chantilly last time out but really looks out of her depth here in this company.

Five career starts have heralded three placed efforts but she appears to be more of an All-weather type if anything.

Homerique

Homerique was the only filly to be supplemented on Wednesday meaning that connections quite fancy her chances on Sunday.

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Homerique was second to Luminate in the Prix Penelope last time out and will clash again with that Freddy Head-trained rival.

Homerique will be ridden by last year’s French champion jockey, P.C Boudot.

Amazing Lips

Bred out of Camelot, the Nicolas Clément- trained Amazing Lips is still a maiden after suffering from a bout of “seconditus” on all of her three runs.

Promoted to second after the demotion of Luminate in the Prix Cléopâtre, she could quite easily outrun her odds, but will more than likely find one of these too good for her again.

Lady Athena

The daughter of a Listed winner in Italy, Lady Athena was bought for 170.000 € at the Arqana August yearlings sale in 2016.

Lady Athena was the easy winner of the Prix de la Chapelle-en-Serval (Class 1) at Chantilly last time out, accounting for a good field which included Zarkamiya, a well fancied daughter of Frankel.

Her trainer, Yan Durepaire, is 2/2 in the last fortnight and she looks well over-priced in the betting.

Musis Amica

A winner on her only start at two at Saint-Cloud, she made a winning seasonal debut at Longchamp when landing the G3 Prix de la Grotte by over a length, despite showing signs of greenness.

Trained by Andre Fabre, the Godolphin homebred was by no means disgraced when finishing sixth in a bunched finish in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) last time out.

With You

Freddy Head is doubly represented in the race this year and he his bullish about the chances of both his charges.

With You was narrowly beaten by Laurens on her seasonal comeback in the Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp last month and she will be looking to avenge that defeat.

The combination of George Strawbridge, Freddy Head and Aurelien Lemaitre were on the score sheet just last weekend when their Dallas Affair won the Morocco Cup - La Coupe (Group 3).

Barkka

Barkaa was an easy winner of the Prix Vanteaux for three-year-old fillies, a trial for the Prix de Diane back in April, but she failed to get competitive in the French 1000 Guineas.

Barkaa, who previously raced in the colours of Gerard Augustin-Normand but has subsequently been purchased by American owners Peter Brant of White Birch Farm and Joseph Allen, has won three of her four starts.

Soustraction

Soustraction, trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias , won on her debut at Chantilly as a two-year-old but then failed to hit the frame in the seven runner Prix Marcel Boussac at the Arc meeting.

She was second on her reappearance to Barkka in the Prix Vanteaux Fillies Stakes but was probably inconvenienced by the going that day.

Her most recent run saw her in the mix, running just behind Laurens and With You in the Prix Saint-Alary.

888sport suggests: Homerique (e/w).

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

Player versus team markets are one of the highlights of the pre-World Cup betting. Comparing an individual with an entire nation is entertaining on a childish level, but equally intriguing ahead of a competition.

The odds are good, and it provokes debate. That’s exactly what we’re here to do with the World Cup beginning tomorrow (yes, it’s finally here!).

Harry Kane vs Germany

A lot of people have tipped Germany to win back-to-back World Cups. The experience of success in 2014 and another clutch of gifted youngsters including Timo Werner and Julian Brandt helps their cause. Group F has no real threat, but this is about who scores more goals.

Germany face Mexico, Sweden and South Korea. The chances they roll over one or more of these sides are remote and could easily finish the group stage with five or six goals total.

After that, it’s admittedly a bit of a lottery, but this team is far from invincible, and could exit the tournament prematurely.

Jogi Low’s side had their worst run in 30 years during tournament build-up. It probably means nothing, of course, but this isn’t the well-oiled winning machine of 2014.

Their opponent in this unorthodox duel, Harry Kane, plays for a less fancied team. England’s chances of winning the World Cup may be remote, but a run to the latter stages is far from impossible.

Having fewer matches doesn’t rule Kane out of this one. He also has the benefit of group stage matches with Panama and Tunisia, and a tendency to hit purple patches.

If Kane finds the sort of form that helped him snatch the golden boot at the end of the 2016/17 season, outscoring Germany for the tournament is definitely possible. Maybe the 18/1 price isn’t so bad…

 

Romelu Lukaku vs Sweden

Sweden don’t have Zlatan Ibrahimovic anymore. Okay, that’s hardly breaking news, but it’s certainly relevant in this one. Sweden are not expected to make it out of Group F, and if they do, it won’t be from a barrage of goal scoring.

Romelu Lukaku, meanwhile, has the same advantage as Kane; he faces Panama and Tunisia in his first two matches. There’s the small matter of Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne creating for Lukaku, too, which is a decent supporting cast.

via GIPHY

The Manchester United man netted 21 goals across the Premier League and Champions League last season, while carrying the burden of expectation in Jose Mourinho’s frontline.

Belgium are – partly down to reputation – still dark horses, despite the array of talent at Roberto Martinez’s disposal. A run to the last four or beyond would hardly be a surprise.

So, Lukaku will likely have more matches than Sweden to score goals and has more favourable group stage opponents.

The former Everton forward is the nailed on starting centre forward for the Belgians in Russia and could bag two or three in the first two matches alone. The 6/4 on Lukaku to outscore Sweden is great value.

 

Lionel Messi vs Colombia

Colombia are favourites to win Group H. Japan, Senegal and Poland make for a competitive quartet, but the starpower of James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao just nudges the South Americans ahead.

With that balance in the group, comes a lack of predictability. Judging how many Colombia will score is tricky.

Lionel Messi is easier to predict. He will be great and might just carry Argentina all the way to the World Cup. Messi has a challenging group, just like Colombia, but that doesn’t mean any of Nigeria, Croatia or Iceland will be able to stop him.

Arguably the greatest player ever is a good bet for the Golden Boot at 11/1. We know he is good enough to find the net three or four times against any opponent.

Whether it’s in the group phase or later in the tournament, a match like that combined with his inevitable scoring throughout the rest of the competition could easily see the Argentinian superstar score 10 or more.

Messi is at 2/1 to outscore Colombia for the tournament. That is a bargain, particularly given that Colombia will probably have to negotiate either Belgium or England in the last 16.

 

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