Ahead of this weekend’s momentous derby, Manchester United and England legend Andy Cole has insisted that Wayne Rooney is the main man at Old Trafford who has earned the right to play where he wants.

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“He is going to play a massive role because it’s Wayne Rooney. People have questioned his position for England but that’s England, man. He has earned the reputation where, if no one is better in a certain position, he can play in that position. Of course he’s going to play a big part but there is competition for places now, which is always a key thing for Manchester United”

Some of that competition comes in the form of a formidable midfield presence who cost United twelve times the £7m fee that made Cole the most expensive player in Britain when he signed from Newcastle back in 1995. The weight of the world and 89 million pound coins rests on Paul Pogba’s shoulders, yet a series of assured performances is already lessening the impact of the astronomical sum needed to wrestle him back from Juventus. Cole is evidently a fan.

“I can’t see why he can’t be the complete midfielder. For such a young man to go to Italy and do what he did then of course he can. He can be a special player at Old Trafford and that’s why they paid all that money to bring him back.”

“To cope with the price as he has done, it’s just water off a duck’s back. So fair play to him to come back to Old Trafford for unfinished business.”

It is business expected to include plenty of silverware but having played ahead of arguably the greatest midfield duo the club has ever boasted, Cole knows all-too-well the exceptional standards that are required and demanded to drive the global giants to glory. Any comparison therefore between Pogba and either Keane or Scholes is – at this stage at least – chuckled away.

“Roy and Scholesy, well I’m very biased because I played with the pair of them. Pogba has the ability to become a fantastic player. But will he surpass them two? I’ll tell you what; if he does then he’ll turn out to be some player. Those two were absolutely phenomenal”

“I’m very biased. The ’99 team was a very good team and what we achieved means a lot of people love that team and want to see Manchester United play like that team.”

And there is the rub. For as great as that era was – for club and supporters alike – it set an almost impossible benchmark for all subsequent teams to follow. It is fair to state that under the brief tenure of David Moyes and drawn-out gloom of Louis Van Gaal, the thirteen times Premier League champions fell far below that level. With the self-appointed Special One now scowling on the touchline, might an overdue resurgence be on the cards?

“I’m hoping the good times are returning and you can certainly see a swagger. All the players are talking about what he (Mourinho) wants to win. The few games we’ve had so far you can see the fear factor returning and that’s what Manchester United is all about. These past few years teams have gone to Old Trafford believing they can win. When you played under Sir Alex Ferguson teams would just hope they wouldn’t get beat by five. Mourinho is bringing that back now and they’re starting to look like the old United.”

Pogba may still have much to prove it seems but here a lofty comparison is more deserving.

“Jose has the same great aura about him as Sir Alex. Look at what he’s done in the game – going to Italy and Spain and doing it out there - and now he’s trying to emulate his phenomenal record in England.”

Whether he does only time will tell, but an immediate challenge for Jose – in addition to a forthcoming Manchester derby for the ages – is to revive a player in Anthony Martial who has clearly lost his mojo in recent weeks. Does he have the man-management chops to put the va-va-voom back into the French forward?

“I see it as an extension of the Euros. He played a game then got left out and didn’t feature after that and of course that’s going to dent your confidence. He’s a young man and had a fantastic season last season with Manchester United but confidence is everything. He is too good a player not to turn that around and Mourinho will help Anthony get his confidence back. He has worked with players his age before.”

“I’ll think he will be okay because all it takes is a goal and I’m not sitting here worried about him because he is far too good not to get out of the slump he’s in.”

Illustrating just how difficult a task modern coaching is at the other end of the scale, Mourinho must also accommodate a raw striker who has no such crisis of self-belief: indeed he scores for fun, including a sensational hat-trick this week on his England Under 21s debut.  Just how good is Marcus Rashford and, perhaps more pertinently, will he be granted sufficient opportunity to fulfil his immense promise for the Reds?

“He’s had a great start to his career: he’s been brilliant and I’m hoping he has enough games this season to show everyone how good he is. He has all the qualities for the big time and, like myself, he nicks a goal. Will he become a Manchester United great? We’re all hoping that he can be.”

With the grandmaster Guardiola at City and Mourinho controlling the reins at old Trafford the seasons to come will be box office in Manchester starting with this weekend’s tumultuous encounter. Cole – who played for both sides in his goal-laden career – believes picking an ultimate winner is too close to call

“If I knew who would do best in the next three years, then I’d head straight to the bookmakers!”

Andy Cole quickfire questions

Who will win the Manchester derby?

Manchester United

Who will win the Golden Boot?

If he stays fit then Sergio Aguero

Who will win the Premier League?

It’s a toss-up between United or City

Who will win the Champions League?

Barcelona, but I say that every year

Run at Newmarket on the Rowley Mile course, the race was first inaugurated in 1966, initially for three-year-olds only over a distance of one mile and two furlongs. In 1974, the race was opened to fillies and mares over the age of three and amended further in 2000 when the race became a one-mile event.

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The most successful horse in the race is Sahpresa, who won the contest on three consecutive occasions from 2009 until 2011 for French trainer Rod Collet.

Here is a runner-by-runner guide to the 2017 renewal on Saturday 7^th October.

Aljazzi

Aljazzi was a three-length winner of Sandown’s Group Three Atalanta Stakes last month and had previously finished three-quarters of a length behind Qemah in Royal Ascot’s Group Two Duke Of Cambridge Stakes and comes into the race a relatively fresh horse. She has been the standout market mover all this week.

Dawn Of Hope

Finished halfway down the field behind Qemah in the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, then marginally went down to Lincoln Rocks in the Pipalong Stakes. She looks to be a little way short of what is required to win a race of this stature.

Muffri’Ha

The William Haggas-trained Muffri'Ha opened her account for the campaign with success in the Muhaarar British EBF Rosemary Stakes last weekend. Third in her only previous attempt at a Group One, Muffri'Ha is poised to have a crack at the top level again.

Nathra

Nathra was fifth in last year's Guineas after winning the Nell Gwyn but has been unable to add to her her tally despite running several excellent races in defeat in Group Two and Group Three company. Nathra’s three-quarters of a length second to Aclaim reads extremely well given that horse took last Sunday’s Prix De La Foret at Chantilly.

Persuasive

Persuasive was last seen finishing third in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown and represents Arc winners John Gosden and Frankie Dettori in this weekend's Group One feature. She was fifth to Roly Poly in the Prix Rothschild on her belated summer return but she looks open to further improvement.

Qemah

The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Qemah will be aiming to stamp her authority over her comtempories just like she did at Royal Ascot. She was a close up fourth when denied a clear run behind Roly Poly at Deauville and looks like being very much in the mix on all known form.

Siyoushake

The Freddy Head-trained five-year-old ran a respectable fourth in this Group One last year which was won by Alice Springs, after which she went on to land the Group Three Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud. Siyoushake has run extremely well at the top level, being placed in the Prix Rothschild and the Prix Jean-Romanet on her last two starts. The French are no strangers to winning this race.

Spangled

Spangled has been lightly raced this year after suffering a setback in the spring. The Roger Varian-trained chestnut appears to have needed the run when down the pack in the Group Three City of York Stakes last time but has won only over seven furlongs. Varian’s table has been in decent form this week so she is no forlorn hope in this.

Usherette

Andre Fabre's Usherette is yet another contender that forms part of a formidable French challenge on this Group race. The five-year-old won the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and was a close-up third when defending her title this June. Last month she claimed a Listed prize at Maisons-Laffitte and should be written off at your peril.

Alluringly

She won a Listed race over the extended one mile and one furlong at Gowran over the summer but in the main has looked out of her depth in races of this magnitude this season. She does however hail from the all-conquering Aidan O’Brien stable so you cannot put a line through her completely.

Arabian Hope

Arabian Hope is trained by Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Suroor and comes into the race in good form having captured the Group Three Istanbul Trophy over a mile in Turkey, on September 2^nd. Prior to that victory she was an eye-catching third behind Roly Poly in the Group One Falmouth Stakes. Plenty of Godolphin runners have been running and winning at big odds recently and she could be another one that has been underestimated.

Roly Poly

Three-year-old Roly Poly will be hoping to emulate the achievements of her same age stablemates Rhododendron and Hydrangea by taking this valuable prize for the Ballydoyle team. She scored back-to-back wins in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and the Prix Rothschild at Deauville, both at the one-mile distance of the Sun Chariot. Her last run in the Matron has to be excused though if she is to have any chance on Saturday afternoon.

Tomyris

Set off in fine style with two wins at the start of the season before a far from disgraced run in the Coronation Stakes. She returned from a short break to record a solid third over seven furlongs in a Doncaster Group Three last month. There are certainly a lot worse 40/1 shots that you can follow.

Summary

Aidan O’Brien is only three short of breaking Bobby Frankel’s record of 25 Group/Grade One victories in a calendar year after scoring doubles at both Newmarket and Chantilly last weekend and there is every chance that Roly Poly can put him just two shy of the landmark this Saturday afternoon.

Roly Poly has twice already contributed to that tally this season and her form suggests she can give the champion Irish trainer another notch on the board.

888sport suggests: Roly Poly (win)

The Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs and takes places at its temporary home at Chantilly on Sunday.

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The race is certainly the highest quality Group 1 middle distance event on the European racing calendar and is arguably the best race of this type in the world.

Some true greats have the race over the past twenty years including Montjeu, Sinndar, Dalakhani, Zarkava , Sea The Stars and the renowned Treve.

This year Enable is a touch of odds-on to record another Arc victory for her trainer John Gosden but can she really be backed at theprice with confidence?

According to the official statistics no winner of the Oaks, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks or filly winner of King George has ever won the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe. She’s going to have to do something really special on Sunday afternoon to unshackle herself from that statistical millstone.

Runner-by-runner guide

Enable

Victory aboard the John Gosden trained Enable would give her jockey Frankie Dettori a fifth Arc elevating him above Jacques Doyasbere, Freddy Head, Yves Saint-Martin, Pat Eddery, Olivier Peslier and Thierry Jarnet, who are all on four wins each.

Enable was supplemented on Wednesday morning at a cost of 120,000 euros as she was not entered at the first entry stage.

That fee will pale into insignificance if she manages to land the 2.85m euro first prize pot.

Ulysses

Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old finished second to Enable in the King George before winning the Juddmonte International at York on his latest start.

Stoute's Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International hero will have his work cut out to reverse the form with Enable but Frankie Dettori does rate him as one of his main dangers.

Order Of St George

Donnacha O’Brien had to wait and see which of his father’s remaining entries he was going to be jocked up on and his father has decided it will be Order Of St George for his son based on the probable going come Sunday.

It is very possible AOB has out his son aboard his best chance in the race. Ryan Moore has already won an Arc and Donnacha is one of his offspring after all.

The five year old was third a year ago after a shock Irish Leger defeat but won that race with ease at the Curragh earlier this month.

Brametot

French Guineas and Derby hero Brametot is reported to have been doing all the right things on the gallops and his trainer is enthusiastic about his chances.

After clocking up a hat-trick of wins at the start of the season a question mark had been hanging over him after the first disappointing run of his career when behind Eminent in last month's Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville.

Connections put that down to a ricked back and he is now firing again on all cylinders.

Dschingis Secret

Trained in Cologne by Markus Klug, Prix Foy winner Dschingis Secret has been the subject of sustained support in the betting this week based on the predicted going.

Adrie de Vries, who landed the Group 1 Preis von Europa in Cologne at the weekend for Klug, is relishing his first Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe ride on Dschingis Secret.

Winter

Winter's winning streak came to an end in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, but Aidan O'Brien believes enough in her to have a crack at the Arc with his dual Guineas heroine.

There is a slight doubt over her stamina lasting out over this 1m 4f however.

Capri

Another piece of the Ballydoyle jigsaw and a decent winner to boot in the recent St Leger at Doncaster.

It does make you wonder though if this was an afterthought but Capri cannot be dismissed lightly.

Zarak

The four-year-old has had a break since winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the beginning of July but put in a nice gallop on Tuesday morning.

Zarak is a 14/1 chance with 888sport to give owner Aga Khan a fifth success in the Arc and Royer-Dupre a third.

Satono Diamond

Satono Diamond lines up in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in an attempt to end years of Japanese heartbreak in the race.

His modest fourth of six in the Prix Foy hardly enhanced his standing as a serious Arc candidate and it is a struggle to make a real case for him.

Cloth Of Stars

Andre Fabre saddles Cloth Of Stars for Team Godolphin, who are looking for a third success in the Arc after a gap of 15 years.

Cloth of Stars beat Zarak to win the Group 1 Prix Ganay in Saint Cloud earlier in the season and appears to have been overlooked somewhat in the betting.

Idaho

At Ascot Enable had Ulysses, Idaho and Highland Reel all in behind. It’s a fair call to say Idaho will be trailing her home again in this contest.

Seventh Heaven

Two-time Group 1-winning filly Seventh Heaven, had not been seen since a devastating display at Newmarket in May before trailing home last in the Blandford Stakes last time.

If she can bounce back from that she may be a lively outsider.

Silverware

Winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the Prix Foy last season and set off this term in good form.

Underperformed last time out but does have the back-class to bounce back.

Doha Dream

Won the Prix Chaudenay here last year and showed he has the stamina required to win this. He seems rather big at 50/1 for an Andre Fabre trained runner.

Iquitos

Dual Group 1 winner Iquitos is a second runner in the race for Germany and will hoping to emulate the last German winner, Danedream in 2011.

One Foot In Heaven

Alain de Royer-Dupre runs the five-year-old One Foot In Heaven in this race rather than waiting for the Prix du Conseil de Paris at Chantilly on October 15^th which indicates that he must be feeling confident about this one.

Then again the owners may simply want an Arc runner this year?

Plumatic

Andre Fabre’s Plumatic just lost a photo in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange when last seen out and will have to take a massive step up to trouble any of the main protagonists.

Satono Noblesse

Quite simply the travelling companion and pacemaker for his stablemate Satono Diamond.

Summary

To put it bluntly, on all known form Enable is going to have to seriously underperform or fail to act on the track or the going to not win on Sunday.

However, many strong favourites have come a cropper in this race because it does come at the end of a long and arduous season for many and even the best can flounder whilst at the top.

The predicted rain may just make the wonder filly vulnerable and the each-way thieves will be out in force trying to find something that can at best beat her and at worst, place behind her.

Two such horses to take Enable on with are Order Of St George and Dschingis Secret. Both will enjoy any cut in the ground and their stamina will come into play at the business end of the race.

SELECTIONS: Dschingis Secret and Order Of St George each-way.

We all get excited about a big money signing in the Premier League although there have been some transfer captures that have turned out to be unbelievable value.

Without further ado, let’s look at some of the best ever Premier League signings, starting with a prolific striker who now works for the BBC…

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1)  Alan Shearer, 3.6million, Southampton to Blackburn Rovers

Shearer is the all-time top Premier League scorer, managing 260 goals for Blackburn and Newcastle, although it was with the former he proved to be the most dangerous.

Rovers smashed the British transfer record to land the striker, although they were rewarded with 112 goals in 138 league appearances, with Shearer capable of scoring all manner of goals.

His aerial ability was well documented, although the Geordie could also hit a mean free kick, while he was a sharp shooter inside the box. His goals ultimately helped Blackburn claim the Premier League title in 1995.

2) Eric Cantona, £1.2 million, Leeds to Manchester United

There will never be another player like Cantona, even if Zlatan Ibrahimovic draws obvious comparisons. Sir Alex Ferguson identified the Frenchman as a missing piece of the jigsaw following failed bids for Matt Le Tissier, David Hirst and Brian Deane.

Cantona arrived in November 1992, with the enigmatic forward taking little time to endear himself to the Old Trafford faithful. Teaming up with Mark Hughes in attack, he helped Manchester United win their first league title since 1967.

“The King” helped the Red Devils win a further three Premier League titles and two FA Cups, with Cantona having achieved legendary status by the time he hung up his boots to pursue an acting career.

3) Thierry Henry, £11 million, Juventus to Arsenal 

Henry was unsettled at Juventus during a disappointing six-month spell with the Turin club, although it didn’t stop Arsene Wenger splashing the cash on his compatriot ahead of the 1999/2000 season. The initial signs weren’t too encouraging, with the player’s pace not matched by his final ball or finishing ability.

However, that didn’t last long and Henry was to become arguably the greatest player in the history of Arsenal FC. During eight seasons at the club, he managed an incredible 174 goals in 254 games and formed an integral part of a highly successful Gunners team that swept all before them.

Henry’s speed regularly had defences on the back foot, with the striker part of the “Invincibles” that went unbeaten during the 2003-4 season, while he enjoyed a first league title in 2001-2 and lifted the FA Cup on three occasions.

4) Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, £1.5 million, Molde to Manchester United

While Shearer, Cantona and Henry arrived to something of a fanfare, the same couldn’t be said of the little-known Solskjaer. However, the Norwegian was worth his weight in gold to Sir Alex Ferguson and is probably the Premier League’s best ever “substitute”.

Indeed, the striker often had to wait patiently for his chance to shine, especially when part of a United squad that featured Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham. However, Solskjaer was a goal poacher and his stats were extremely impressive.

He was part of the furniture at Manchester United for ten years and his crowning moment was undoubtedly scoring the dramatic winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

5)  Gianfranco Zola, £4.5 million, Parma to Chelsea

In 2003, Zola was voted Chelsea’s greatest ever player, with the Italian bringing joy to the Stamford Bridge faithful before Roman Abramovich arrived to completely change the landscape at the London club.

Seven years previously, Ruud Gullit decided to snap up several players from the continent that included Gianfranco (in addition to compatriot Gianluca Vialli), with this new-look Chelsea side providing lots of entertainment even if they were unable to challenge Arsenal and Manchester United for title honours.

Zola was a magician with the ball. He had immense skill that could take him past players and he had the sort of deft touch that saw him score a series of remarkable goals. One such goal came in 2002 where the Italian produced a back-heel volley from a corner against Norwich. 

In total, Zola won six pieces of silverware at Chelsea, including two FA Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup. 

6)  Patrick Vieira, £3.5 million, AC Milan to Arsenal

“He comes from Senegal, he plays for Arsenal”. So went the chant about this formidable midfielder who was the driving force behind the Gunners for nearly ten years.

Patrick Vieira was everything you could want from a central midfielder. He had a phenomenal engine which saw him play box-to-box, while he had a tremendous ability to win the ball back for his team and feed the more skilful players such as Robert Pires, Fredrik Ljungberg and of course Thierry Henry.

Incredibly, AC Milan gave the Frenchman just two starts before allowing him to leave for Arsenal, although it was Ajax who originally wanted to sign him before the London club were able to swoop.

Vieira famously struck up a winning midfield partnership with Emmanuel Petit and the pair helped land the 1997/8 Premier League title before further successes were enjoyed in 2002 and 2004.

7)  N’Golo Kante, £5.6 million, Caen to Leicester City

A modern day signing took place during the summer of 2015, with the little-known Kante arriving at the King Power Stadium for a relatively modest fee. Twelve months later, Leicester would be selling the Frenchman to Chelsea for a reported fee of £32 million.

However, while a £26 million profit on the 25-year-old is clearly very welcome, Kante’s achievements during the 2015/16 season will always be remembered by virtue of the fact that he helped Leicester to the most unlikely Premier League title triumph.

The Foxes were available at odds of 5000/1 to win the league before a ball was kicked, although Kante’s formidable performances helped the Foxes achieve the impossible, with the diminutive midfielder reading the game brilliantly and winning the ball back on a consistent basis.

8)  Cristiano Ronaldo, £12 million, Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United

The most expensive teenager in English football arrived in the summer of 2003, with few aware of the Madeira-born winger who initially appeared to be a one-trick pony. Making his debut against Bolton, Ronaldo seemed overly keen on step-overs although the best was yet to come.

Indeed, his six seasons at Old Trafford saw him progress from exciting teenager to one of the best players in the world, something which saw Real Madrid part with £80 million in the summer of 2009, with Sir Alex Ferguson having persuaded Ronaldo to stay twelve months earlier.

During his final three seasons with United, the Portuguese started finding the net on a regular basis. 17 goals in 34 games were followed by 31 in 34 during the 2007/8 season and there were three Premier League titles enjoyed. 

Ronaldo scored the opening goal of the 2008 Champions League final against Chelsea, with United winning on penalties even if Cristiano missed a spot kick for his team in the shootout.

9)  Frank Lampard, £11 million, West Ham to Chelsea

Lampard has recently been voted the worst MLS signing of all time, although Frank was worth his weight in gold at Stamford Bridge. The hard-working midfielder arrived in 2001 and played thirteen seasons for Chelsea, amassing an incredible 429 Premier League appearances in the process.

It took the England international a little while to find his feet at the Bridge, although he slowly developed into a vital member of a squad that was to claim a whole series of honours, with Lampard’s pinnacle season being the 2009/10 campaign where he managed 22 goals in 36 games.

He left Chelsea as one of the most decorated Premier League players of all time. Three titles, four FA Cup triumphs and two League Cups were enjoyed domestically, while there was also the small matter of a Champions League winners’ medal and the same for the Europa League final.

10)  Lucas Radebe, £250,000, Kaizer Chiefs to Leeds United

Radebe was completely unknown when arriving at Elland Road in 1994, with the central defender signed to accompany the arriving Phil Masinga, although it was Lucas who would prove to be a far more valuable asset for Leeds United.

After a shaky start with manager Howard Wilkinson, Radebe thrived under the tutelage of George Graham and got even better when David O’Leary was manager, with the Irishman partnering Radebe with Jonathan Woodgate to excellent effect.

Radebe had a wonderful positional sense that helped Leeds qualify for the Champions League in 2000, with United then reaching the semi-final stage of this competition in 2001. It’s little wonder that Manchester United wanted to sign this no-nonsense defender, with Sir Alex Ferguson admiring the player on several occasions.

Former Manchester United and England defender Paul Parker has offered up some tough love to Wayne Rooney as the forward seeks to re-establish himself as the main man at Old Trafford. 

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“This is a defining season for Rooney. It’s no longer about him breaking records but finishing his career at Manchester United. He needs to show his worth and that he deserves to be in the team and not just because of marketing.”

“As much as people appreciate what he’s done over the years and how many goals he’s scored football is about now and being judged on now. If someone had only heard of Wayne Rooney but seen him now they’d think ‘Who is this fella? He’s overweight and slow. That shot was terrible, and it looks like he can’t move or shift his body quick enough.’”

The two-time Premier League winner turned successful pundit has similar strong views on United’s recent record signing Paul Pogba and while the rest of the world remains in shock and awe at the astonishing fee Parker goes significantly further, airing doubts on even his suitability for the Reds.

 

“With Pogba you do wonder when you look at his style of play for Juventus can he play that way for Manchester United? If he plays behind Ibrahimovic that puts Wayne Rooney in doubt and Rooney has to play – not that he deserves a place, but they have to play him. So it’s a difficult situation.”

“Can he be as good as Roy Keane or Bryan Robson? I wonder about him playing that midfield role. I worry about him making tackles and getting across to close players down because he is rangy. He doesn’t have quick feet, and his game is about going to ground. That’s going to be a problem. In a holding position, it would be a waste because he’s not a Makelele or even a John Obi Mikel.”

“Pogba can get forward, and score goals, and pass the ball but in a high-tempo game, he won’t be very good in a deep role. We saw that in the Euros where he looked lost for long periods of games when France didn’t have the ball. So when United don’t have the ball what’s he going to be like?”

With the expensive addition of Pogba and the legend that is Zlatan leading the line this is unquestionably a new and potentially exciting era for United and the four major signings, this summer has been met with widespread enthusiasm among supporters. Parker, however, believes it would be catastrophic to put away the chequebook at this point.

“They still need a forward and a centre-half and another midfield player. Manchester United aren’t finished yet; they can’t be because that present squad just isn’t going to win the league and Mourinho is all about winning the league.”

“Would you say United can even finish top four after what we saw in the Bournemouth game? I’d have to say not really. Liverpool look good and Arsenal will improve. Tottenham and Chelsea are hard to break down and will be in there. So United have some work to do between now and the end of August to bring in at least three players to guarantee a Champions League spot and maybe win the league.”

Mention of Mourinho inevitably leads to a discussion on the new scowling presence set to patrol the Old Trafford technical area; an appointment Parker has been critical of since it was announced last May.

“It comes down to how he handles situations with individual players because he’s all about people who love Mourinho and if you don’t show him what he wants that is you gone. All he wants from his players is that they love him.”

“If you work with someone you may not like him but if he’s doing a good job for you then you stick with him. With Mourinho, it doesn’t work that way and therein lies the problem. That’s why Schweinsteiger has been pushed away. With Mata there seems to be a reprieve, but I’m sure Mata hasn’t been fooled by that after starting against Bournemouth.”

“For Mourinho to be at the sharp end of Manchester United that’s a concern for me because he is saying that he has changed, but he said that at the start of his second spell at Chelsea. We saw what happened twelve months later.”

It should be noted that even fans of the self-proclaimed Special One have been critical of his alienation of Bastian Schweinsteiger since taking charge at the club, a snubbing that seems all the more brutal when dished out to a World Cup winner. Parker is clearly disgusted by it and after serving five years under arguably the most no-nonsense gaffer of them all has a pertinent comparison to draw upon.

“There is no way Sir Alex would have handled the Schweinsteiger affair like Mourinho has done. He would be told he can leave but would have treated him with respect and still involved him in first team training as long as he had the right professional attitude. Mourinho never gave Schweinsteiger the opportunity to be professional about the situation.”

It is perhaps not unexpected that Jose has chosen to make his mark on a new club by taking down one of its big names – this is, after all, a man who lives and dies by the laws of the jungle – but unseemly player disputes aside, how does Parker feel about Mourinho’s ability to turn around a club and squad that appears to have lost its identity in recent times?

“Every team has an identity and a certain style of playing. Even Liverpool under Klopp still have some of that football they had in the 1980s. United lost that under Van Gaal and I don’t think they can retain it under Mourinho. It’s sluggish and slow with no pace in the team that shows when they’re attacking. The ball isn’t shifted around quick enough. Mata isn’t being used as a focal point and instead it comes to Rooney who controls, looks and passes.”

The St Leger Stakes is the final Classic of the season and takes place at Doncaster on Saturday 16th September.

Check out our 2023 St Leger tips and betting preview here!

The race is confined to three-year-olds. In recent years the two races that have supplied the bulk of the winners have been the Great Voltigeur and the Gordon Stakes with 11 out of 16 winners since 2000 running in one or the other on their previous start. The Epsom Derby can also provide some interesting clues.

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Here is a runner-by-runner guide to this year’s renewal on Town Moor.

Capri (A.O’Brien/R.Moore)

Capri is one of four horses that are trained by Aidan O'Brien in the race.

A son of Galileo, Capri took the scalp of Cracksman in the Irish Derby but missed his intended prep race in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month after suffering a small setback.

O’Brien arrives at Doncaster in search of a fifth success in the world's oldest Classic.

Count Octave (A.Balding/O.Murphy)

Count Octave may be one of the outsiders but he appears to be in great form and was far from disgraced on his latest start at Goodwood.

He needs to make a big leap forward but he has stamina in abundance.

Crystal Ocean (Sir M.Stoute/J.Crowley)

Sir Michael Stoute’s colt emerged as a leading contender for the season’s final Classic when landing the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last month.

After finishing third to the ill-fated Permian in both the Dante Stakes at York and the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, Crystal Ocean well and truly stepped up to the plate at Goodwood.

Crowley has notably teamed up with Stoute this season to win both the Eclipse at Sandown and the Juddmonte International at York. Can they make it a hat-trick together at Doncaster?

Defoe (R.Varian/A.Atzeni)

Defoe, carrying the silks of Sheikh Obaid Al Maktoum, has emerged as a very likely challenger for this end of season Classic.

The grey colt comes into the race having won all his four starts this season.

He won a handicap at Newbury in May went on to complete a four-timer by taking the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer last time out.

His first and last success were both on soft going which he is likely to experience on Saturday.

Douglas Macarthur (A.O’Brien/E.McNamara)

Ran well in the Epsom Derby but could not live with Cracksman last time out in the Great Voltigeur at York.

Capri is more convincing but it is always difficult to rule any horse out from this yard.

Raheen House (B.Meehan/A.Kirby)

Raheen House enhanced his St Leger credentials with victory in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket's July Festival.

The son of Sea The Stars has had a 65-day break and will enjoy the underfoot conditions.

Rekindling (J.O’Brien/D.O’Brien)

Joseph O'Brien's colt was disappointing in the Epsom Derby in early June, but bounced back to beat last year's Irish Leger hero Wicklow Brave in the Curragh Cup in July.

The son of High Chaparral was last seen chasing home Arc contender Order Of St George in the Irish Leger Trial at the Curragh.

This horse could give the O’Brien sons a fairytale win together.

Stradivarius (J.Gosden/J.Doyle)

Among those hoping for a drier forecast will be connections of Stradivarius, who was eased slightly in the betting this week based on the weather and the jockey bookings.

John Gosden is looking to win the St Leger for a fifth time with Stradivarius, who lowered the colours of Ascot Gold Cup hero Big Orange at Goodwood.

The going was very different that day however and it remains to be seen how the conditions pan out at Doncaster come the off on Saturday afternoon.

The Anvil (A.O’Brien/M.Hussey)

The Anvil has already been employed for pacemaking duties at Epsom and the Curragh so far this season so I think we already know what the outcome is for this one.

Venice Beach (A.O’Brien/J.Heffernan)

Venice Beach led home a 1-2-3 for trainer Aidan O'Brien at Chester back in the summer and could be one to include in any forecast and tricast permutations on this occasion too.

Second, albeit at a distance, behind Cracksman, in the Great Voltigeur at York and looks the stable second string behind Capri but is certainly worth an each-way interest.

Coronet (J.Gosden/L.Dettori)

Frankie Dettori has chosen to ride Coronet over better-fancied stablemate Stradivarius and that immediately had an impact on the betting on Thursday.

The grey daughter of Dubawi was seen last time finishing second to the yard's brilliant Enable in the Yorkshire Oaks and a big run is expected at Doncaster.

Winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, the St Leger has been on the Gosden radar for some time with this filly.

Verdict

A quality field of eleven stake their claim this year but in reality only a handful of them have all the necessary credentials to lift the esteemed trophy.

Defoe has gone from strength-to-strength this season and may have not stopped improving yet. His jockey Andrea Atzeni appears to have an affinity for the racecourse and his results at the track speak for themself.

Roger Varian boasts a 28% win strike rate at Doncaster in 2017 and already boasts a winner at this Festival meeting.

Selection: Defoe

There’s a growing band of football supporters who are “against modern football”, and it’s easy to see why people are becoming alienated from our beautiful game.

• Bet now on Football

While football continues to be gripping at the very highest level, there are several ugly elements when it comes to the Premier League and other top divisions across Europe. It’s particularly the case with players who are simply happy to pick up the money wherever they go.

Most modern-day players have agents, with the latter often in charge of their client’s destination, and it largely comes down to how big a contract can be commanded.

There are still notable examples of players, such as Mark Noble, Steven Gerrard and Matt Le Tissier, who remain with one club throughout their career despite the potential to earn more elsewhere, while even legendary Premier League football players such as Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry and Gianfranco Zola had a deep love of the club they represented.

However, it’s increasingly the case that players are commanding large sums of cash and a burgeoning car collection simply by occasionally gracing the pitch with their presence.

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS

Take SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS, for example. Between 2004 and 2010, the diminutive winger turned out 36 times for the England team and scored six goals.

However, the 34-year-old never really lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he left Manchester City in 2005 with the world seemingly at his feet.

Between 2005 and 2008, the adopted son of Ian Wright made just 81 appearances for Chelsea, and the London club cannot have considered this a justified spend of £21 million when you consider the wages that must also have been involved.

A return to Manchester City didn’t see SWP’s game-time increase, and he managed just 65 appearances over the next four seasons. There were a similar number of outings for QPR, and Wright-Phillips came to represent all that was bad about over-spending at Loftus Road. He’s now earning more mega bucks at New York Red Bulls.

ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO

Not that Chelsea have enjoyed a particularly successful transfer record since Roman Abramovich took charge of the club. The Russian is clearly immune to sensible spending, and that was certainly the case when drafting his chum ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO into the squad.

In 2006, Abramovich spent a staggering £30.8 million on Shevchenko, hoping that the AC Milan striker would light up Stamford Bridge and demonstrate that he was still one of the hottest strikers in Europe.

To say that Milan were laughing all the way to the bank is an understatement. The 2004 Ballon d’Or winner had seemingly been bought against the wishes of manager José Mourinho, and the Portuguese regularly deemed him surplus to requirements compared to the other strikers at his disposal.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, though it is clear now that Shevchenko was past his sell-by date when he arrived at Stamford Bridge, and the Ukrainian was happy to pick up some rather large pay cheques while enjoying life in west London.

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR

Another striker enjoying massive wages for part-time work is EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR, a player for whom loyalty is a taboo word.

It is worth bearing in mind that the Togolese striker is still only 32, yet he has generated enough sign-on bonuses to last him several lifetimes. After spells with Metz and Monaco, Arsène Wenger took a punt on the forward for the modest sum of £3 million.

Adebayor was a big hit for the Gunners and looked set to take on the mantle of Thierry Henry at the Emirates Stadium, though this was before a newly wealthy Manchester City came calling. 

In 2009, City had recently been bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group, and their transfer policy was largely “buy on sight” like a greedy striker trying to score as many goals as possible.

With Adebayor angling for a move to City, Arsenal were powerless to prevent the rangy forward leaving, though £25 million in the bank was a coup considering that the striker’s career effectively took a nosedive since leaving the north London club.

Incredibly, Adebayor made just 34 appearances for his £25 million, and his astronomical wages meant that City didn’t want him sitting in the stands and checking his ever-expanding bank balance.

There was a brief loan spell at Real Madrid and then something more meaningful at White Hart Lane to the extent that Tottenham were happy to sign him permanently for a fee of £5 million.

However, Adebayor simply “tries when he wants”, and it was only manager Tim Sherwood who had any joy from a player who should be applauded for continuing to earn big bucks whether he’s been seen on the pitch or merely posting on social media with his latest dance moves.

FRANCIS JEFFERS

Another former Arsenal striker would have loved to have been a success at the north London club, though FRANCIS JEFFERS didn’t turn out to be the “fox in the box” described by Wenger after the London club stumped up £8 million to take the striker from Everton.

In fairness to Jeffers, it wasn’t as though he was content to collect his wages sitting on the bench, though the Scouser managed just 22 appearances for the Gunners between 2001 and 2004, scoring just the four goals.

He still made a fair packet despite being a complete flop at Arsenal, with the forward heading back to Everton on loan before a series of different clubs, though the striker never realised anything like the potential that seemed to be in evidence at Goodison Park.

At least Jeffers tried to make things work at Arsenal, and it was just a lack of ability that ultimately found him out.

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WINSTON BOGARD

One of the biggest Premier League mercenaries of all time has to be WINSTON BOGARDE, who will look back fondly on his time at Chelsea for all the wrong reasons.

The Dutchman signed for the Blues in 2000, arriving against the wishes of then-manager Gianluca Vialli, while his replacement, Claudio Ranieri, wasn’t a big fan of the defender who had previously represented Ajax, Milan (very briefly) and Barcelona.

Incredibly, Bogarde spent four years as a Chelsea player but only made a sum total of 11 appearances. He was reportedly earning £40,000 per week during his time at Stamford Bridge, and he wasn’t shy in admitting that he was happy to collect his cash every month despite doing the square root of nothing in the process.

Of his contract, he said: "Why should I throw 15 million euro away when it is already mine? At the moment I signed it was in fact my money, my contract."

That statement is all you need to know about the way in which football players can command a ransom without having to work for their money. When Bogarde was asked why he didn’t agitate for a move away from Chelsea, the player simply responded: “This world is about money, so when you are offered those millions you take them. Few people will ever earn so many. I am one of the few fortunates who do. I may be one of the worst buys in the history of the Premiership but I don't care.”

JOSE BOSINGWA

Another ex-Chelsea player with a licence to print money was JOSE BOSINGWA, although the Portuguese full-back’s victim was actually QPR down the road. After a relatively successful stint at Stamford Bridge, Bosingwa signed a three-year deal with Rangers which saw him paid £80,000 per week for his services.

However, this acquisition was nothing short of a disaster, with Bosingwa actually refusing to sit on the bench for a league game against Fulham in December. Despite being fined two weeks’ wages, the defender was unrepentant and his attitude continued to stink as QPR sank towards the Championship. 

MARIO BALOTELLI

MARIO BALOTELLI also falls into this category, with the Italian forward still on the books at Liverpool after Brendan Rodgers foolishly decided to take a punt on a player who had previously been a rotten apple at Internazionale and Manchester City.

There is no denying that the Italian is hugely talented, as he demonstrated when scoring 20 goals in 59 appearances for Inter, while his time at City was not without success. His goal in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford and the “Why Always Me?” T-shirt will go down as one of the Premier League’s most iconic moments.

Liverpool spent £16 million on acquiring his services and, to date, the forward has made 16 appearances and scored just one goal for the Merseyside club. Last season was spent back on loan at Milan, where Balotelli’s goal rate dropped massively, and it’s hard to see how the 25-year-old is going to return to the sort of form that has seen him represent Italy on 33 occasions and play a key role in the Azzurri’s Euro 2012 run to the final.

When at Inter, José Mourinho described the player as “unmanageable”, though it hasn’t stopped other managers from trying to tame this precocious talent. In January 2013, Balotelli’s net worth was reported to be $40 million, and that has probably doubled over the past three years.

CHARLES N’ZOGBIA

An honourable mention should go to CHARLES N’ZOGBIA, with the Frenchman having actually represented his country on two occasions, though he’s a million miles away from being in Les Bleus squad for Euro 2016.

The 30-year-old was bought by Aston Villa in 2011 for a reported sum of £9.5 million, with supporters optimistic that the winger would help the Midlands club achieve new heights.

Instead, N’Zogbia will be regarded as potentially the worst buy the club has ever made, with the player rejecting a loan move to AEK Athens in January 2016 to ensure that he earned an additional £1.2 million for doing diddly squat.

Despite players such as N’Zogbia and Bogarde being made to train with the Under-21s, it sometimes doesn’t have the desired effect of getting them off the books, and the former has been collecting £63,000 per week since putting pen to paper.

JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager in Premier League history, though the Scot wasn’t immune to making bad signings, and JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON was quite simply a massive waste of money.

ANGEL DI MARIA

Another of his compatriots far from keen on England appears to be ANGEL DI MARIA, who endured an ill-fated one-year spell at Manchester United during the 2014-15 season.

Di María arrived to a pretty big fanfare, considering he has been a first-team regular in the Argentina team and he was also a key player for Real Madrid before the arrival of James Rodríguez edged him out of the club.

The British transfer record was smashed by the Red Devils in the summer of 2014 as they stumped up £59.7 million to lure the winger to Old Trafford, with this being the fifth most expensive football signing of all time.

Things started well for Di María, and he was voted Player of the Month for September, though things took a turn for the worse during the autumn months, and it wasn’t helped by a hamstring injury.

Nevertheless, Di María clashed with Louis van Gaal in the New Year when he was deployed as a forward, with the player angling for a move away from Old Trafford for the remainder of the season, and he effectively called time on his United career when failing to board a plane for the US that summer. A move to PSG followed shortly afterwards.

With Euro 2016 this summer, there will be plenty of players putting themselves in the shop window for a potential purchase, with clubs likely to be parting with eye-watering sums of cash. However, we all know that for every top signing, there will be players who are set to flop in the Premier League and elsewhere this season.

The Harvest Festival at Listowel remains one of the most important weeks in the Irish racing calendar. The seven-day meeting takes place each September and like all major Irish racing festivals, it draws huge crowds from far and wide. The Kerry National Handicap Chase is the biggest race of the week and is run on Wednesday afternoon.

• Bet on Kerry National

Traditionally it was the meeting where the farmers of Ireland came to spend and gamble the money they made from the harvest but it has since grown into something much larger and more wide-ranging than that.

Let’s take a look at where the locals might be placing their money this week in the Kerry National.

Coneygree, who had been expected to start his season at Listowel on Wednesday, will not run in the €175,000 handicap because connections are worried the ground will be too testing. With Coneygree’s defection from the race the most likely favourite now will be Shaneshill.

Shaneshill is one of eleven horses that ran in the TheTote.com Galway Plate earlier in the summer and are engaged in the Kerry National. Shaneshill is set to carry 11st 4lbs and is one of five horses entered by Willie Mullins as he bids for a third win in the race and his first since Bothar Na won in 2006. Mullins could also run Arbre De Vie on 10st 10lbs. He finished sixth in the Galway Plate and then beat Shaneshill to win the At The Races Chase on the final day of the Galway Festival. 

Speaking last week Mullins said: "It will be an interesting race. I'd give Shaneshill and Arbre De Vie realistic chances on what they have done and hopefully The Crafty Butcher might get in too."

Gigginstown’s A Toi Phil is in with a realistic each-way chance in a typically competitive renewal of the race. Fourth in the Galway Plate, has been handed 10st 11lbs.

A novice last season, he won two Grade 2’s - at Punchestown and Navan - and he has valuable handicap experience after getting up late for Jack Kennedy to win the Leopardstown Chase back in January.

A Toi Phil jumps well and has experience of the hustle and bustle of handicaps. The trip is a slight question mark however but he has been on the premises in his previous three mile races.

The JP McManus-owned and Joseph O'Brien-trained mare Slowmotion is inevitably going to have plenty of supporters in the betting due to her connections.

Slowmotion's record over fences thus far is three wins, two places and a third from seven starts and she runs off an attractive weight of 10st 5lbs.

She looks to be a runner to keep onside with in this feature race.

Kylecrue won the Kerry Group Handicap Chase for the third year in-a-row at Listowel on Sunday, making all under David Mullins for trainer John Ryan.

"He'll take some beating on Wednesday (Kerry National) if he gets in! He has run 4 times over fences here and has never been beaten" said a jubilant John Ryan.

Gordon Elliot has highlighted Potters Point as being his best chance of landing the Kerry National on Wednesday.

Elliott said: “Potters Point looks the one for me and if he jumps and stays I think he could run a very big race.

"I know it wasn't much of race he won last time at Tramore, but he did it nicely and, for a horse who's had his fair share of problems, he looks to be in a good place right now.

“He's had a wind operation and he seems to have turned a corner since then. He looks really well and I would say he’s probably our main hope at this stage.”

Of his other entries Elliot said: “A Toi Phil looks like he could be the classier horse for us in the race and obviously Lord Scoundrel would have a chance, but as Coneygree isn't running now they look like they're at the wrong end of the handicap.

“Mountain King is also in the race and I'll definitely run at least three if I can. I'm not sure if I've a Wrath Of Titans this year but hopefully one of ours can go close.”

Henry de Bromhead has also made several entries including Riviera Sun which beat the Tony Martin-trained Phil’s Magic, winner of the Midlands National at Kilbeggan in July, to win the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase last month.

The pair have been allotted 9st 1lb and 9st 2lbs respectively. De Bromhead also has Stellar Notion on 10st 2lbs, Heron Heights on 9st 11lbs and On Fiddlers Green with 9st 10lbs.

Gold Cup winning trainer Jessica Harrington could run Sandymount Duke (11st 3lbs), fifth in the Galway Plate, while Charles Byrnes, a winner with Alfa Beat in 2010, has both his Galway Plate seventh Shanpallas (10st) and the novice Sea Light (9st 2lbs) entered at this stage.

Andrew Shaw, Irish National Hunt Handicapper, said: “Last year’s Guinness Kerry National was very strong and this year’s renewal looks better again. The race is going up in stature.  The quality of this year’s race is emphasised by the fact that the last five winners were rated 133 or less and it looks like a rating of 133 will not be sufficient to get a run this time.”

Early ante-post thoughts

Most of the top Irish National Hunt races these days tend to be won by dominant trainers such as Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliot.

On this occasion the coin flip has landed on the Elliot side and the fancy is Potters Point.

Saturday sees the 51st running of the Sprint Cup being run at Haydock Park, a race that features some of the fastest horses in Europe.

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Be Friendly won the initial running of the race in 1966 and there is a statue in his memory right next to the paddock at the Merseyside track.

The Sprint Cup is steeped in history with Champions including classic sprinters such as the late Sir Peter O’Sullevan’s Be Friendly, Danehill and G-Force, and three times winning jockeys Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery and Willie Carson.

Here we take a look at the trends and statistics of the race, not over the past fifty-one years, but over a much more manageable ten year period.

Age (Winners-Placed-Runners)

3-y-o: 5-4-36

4-y-o: 1-10-42

5-y-o: 3-2-21

6-y-o+: 1-4-33

Only two horses aged over five have been victorious in the past 30 years. That is quite an ominous sign for Cougar Mountain and Kimberella.

Gender

Fillies and mares are not to be dismissed lightly in this race. Since 2004 they have won three times and placed three times.

Form lines

7/10 winners had finished in the first three places in a Group One race in their past two runs.

8/10 winners had won at least one sprint race that season prior to running in this race.

9/10 winners had won over 6f or 7f in their careers.

5/10 winners had at least one previous run at Haydock.

Trainer form

Henry Candy (2-1-6) had the race favourite in Limato last year but there is every possibility conditions will conspire against him this time. Candy sent out the winner in both 2010 and 2015.

It would be rather apt if James Fanshawe (1-0-2), also known as “the thin man” could land the race with The Tin Man.

Charlie Hills (0-2-2) was knocking on the door in 2015 when he saddled both the second and third places. This year he has a live contender with Magical Memory.

Draw

Seven out of the last ten winners came from a double-figure stall number.

The weather also appears to have a slight bearing on the draw. The two most recent high drawn winners won on ground the easy side of good, whilst the low drawn winners won when the going was firm.

Given that the going on Saturday is predicted to be softening up due to rain being forecast in the area then it may pay to side with a higher drawn horse.

Odds

Six of the last ten winners have been priced between 9/1 and 14/1.

Favourites have won three times in the last ten years.

Horses to consider

Connections of Harry Angel are confident he has what it takes to follow up his Darley July Cup success with a win in the Sprint Cup despite the forecast rain meaning the showpiece will be run on a softish surface.

The Clive Cox-trained three-year-old will be seeking to give Godolphin their first success in the race since Diktat triumphed in 1999. Given the amazing week of winners around the globe for the “boys in blue” who would bet against it?

Brando has a length and three-quarters to make up on Harry Angel from the July Cup but his trainer Kevin Ryan is buoyant about his chances.

Ryan's charge has progressed from winning the Ayr Gold Cup last season to collecting the first Group One victory of his career in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last time out.

He shouldn’t mind the ground and always seems to run a big race when fresh which he will be when returning on Saturday.

Another horse likely to enjoy the predicted underfoot conditions is Tasleet.

He was the winner of the Duke Of York at the Dante Meeting before finishing second in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot. Those two races however appeared to take their toll and he never figured in the July Cup.

Willy Haggas is sure to have him in tip-top condition after a 56-day break and he has been well supported in the betting.

The Tin Man is on course for another tilt in this race. He worked nicely under Tom Queally this week on The Limekilns, quickening nicely past his lead horse which made for very impressive viewing for the James Fanshawe team.

The five-year-old was an impressive winner in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June but was unable to replicate that form in the July Cup at Newmarket, finishing back down the field in eighth place.

Fanshawe is no stranger to Sprint Cup success sending out Society Rock to glory in the race five years ago.

Another Godolphin-owned runner in the race is the Shamardal colt Blue Point and great things are expected of him too on Saturday afternoon.

Charlie Appleby has given him a well earned break since finishing third behind Caravaggio and Harry Angel in the Commonwealth Cup in June and he looks like he will return to the Merseyside track with all guns blazing.

A drop down in trip and a return to Haydock is expected to bring out the best in Magical Memory according to his team.

Magical Memory was close to winning the Group One Sprint Cup before, failing by just under a length in 2015 when going down to Twilight Son and Strath Burn.

Conclusion

Given the rich vein of form the Godolphin-owned horses are having all over the place at the moment it would come as no surprise to see their two runners fill the first two positions in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

It is very hard to predict which way around they will finish however but the marginal hunch is for Charlie Appleby’s Blue Point.

888sport suggests: Blue Point & Harry Angel (r/fc and singles). 

Former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown is convinced the Gunners’ main summer transfer target Jamie Vardy will prove to be a huge hit at the Emirates.

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“If you look at Vardy and you look at what Arsenal don’t have down the middle with their strikers – someone who likes to run behind a defence – then if you feed him he’s a real handful and as good as anyone. He’d be a player who would strengthen Arsenal and give them more variation to their play which they lack down that central area.”

In an exclusive interview with 888sport the respected pundit is quick to point out that it’s not only new blood that is needed if last year’s runners-up are to go one better in 2016/17. Securing Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to new deals is of the utmost importance too. He then turns his attention to the 66 year old man in the technical area, a coach credited with transforming Keown from a very good defender into a great one while winning three league titles under him in the process.

As Mourinho positions himself as the new king of Old Trafford while Pep and Conte prepare to breathe fresh life into Manchester City and Chelsea, might Arsene Wenger look a touch long in the tooth in comparison?

“He manages himself very well and has a good support team around him which is key. He will be particularly hurt that Arsenal didn’t win the league last year and it will just make him stronger and more determined to win the following season regardless of who his opponents are. There are two managers there in Guardiola and Mourinho who will be dealing with new situations and he needs to steal a march on them”

Another prominent figure in north London who will be hoping to capitalise on the distractions of his peers is Theo Walcott who finds himself kicking his heels this summer after being overlooked for Roy Hodgson’s Euro squad. Keown – a player known throughout his distinguished career for his self-improvement and whole-hearted commitment – would be greatly disappointed if the winger is not using that time wisely.

“I should imagine he’ll have a lot to ponder this summer but Theo is the type to come back stronger and when they do those sprint tests in pre-season he’ll be quickest because he’ll be out there now. If he isn’t then he’s making a mistake because he needs to catch up in this time to make sure he’s ahead of the game in a month or so’s time.”

“Walcott needs to be playing more regularly and prove to Arsene Wenger that he should be a starter in that team. He hasn’t done that in over ten years though there has been spells of fantastic performances.”

Staying with the club where Keown scared forwards witless for nearly a decade but incorporating England’s Euro campaign into the equation, talk inevitably settles on Jack Wilshere’s controversial inclusion in the final 23. After playing just 141 minutes of Premier League football last season was it right that the injury-plagued midfielder was chosen ahead of Leicester’s Danny Drinkwater?

“You leave that door open for such a special talent. Last year against Slovenia he was absolutely outstanding and scored two goals. That loomed very large in the mind of Roy Hodgson to give him every opportunity to get ready for this tournament. There is no way that he’s one hundred per cent fit and it’s up to Roy to get him fit through the tournament. He’s a big player we need.”

Keown’s no-nonsense partnership with Tony Adams has rightfully gone down in legend helping his club win numerous trophies and securing the tag of Invincibles along the way. His 43 caps for England meanwhile is a testament to his defensive attributes that – on the surface at least – contrast with the ball-playing midfielder-at-the-back style favoured by his modern successor John Stones. Is Keown among the critics of the young Everton centre-back who many believe needs to cut out the risky stuff and concentrate on the basics?

“His best performance was against Australia where he looked a lot more assured. Though I enjoy seeing pretty football as a defender I expect to see that part of the game ironed out so he makes it to the top of the tree. I think Rio Ferdinand came in as a ball-playing centre-half and he had to work quite hard not to turn his back on the ball and make sure he was right for crosses. He went through this period and came out the other side and I think Stones can do the same.”

Stones’ display against Australia aside, there was all-too-few positives to take from England’s recent batch of friendlies as they prepare themselves for a summer competing against Europe’s elite. As Roy tried out various systems and personnel, it was tempting to think that England’s preparations have only thrown up more questions than answers. Keown veers towards optimism and is of a similar opinion.

“They kept winning and that’s a nice habit to have. They looked compact but over the course of the three friendlies I don’t feel we’ve found the balance yet between being hard to beat and offering a threat on the break. We didn’t necessarily use the players in the right way and in the last match against Portugal it was slow and robotic though the full backs were outstanding. It didn’t work with Vardy and Kane was hardly in the game. I don’t feel Rooney is the one who should be playing off the front. So there’s a lot of food for thought. The key thing for Roy is to select the best eleven in their best positions. If we get that right we could be quite successful at the Euros.”