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Chris McGrath

Chris McGrath is Racing Correspondent for The Independent.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has high hopes for Silviniaco Conti (right) today
Racing

Nicholls hopes Aintree glory can seal title

Aintree's Grand National festival begins next week
Racing

Harder than ever to pick a winner as Aintree playing field levels

Yogi Berra (left) chats with Joe Garagiola at Yankee Stadium in 1947
US Sport

Yogi and Joe came across as two regular guys but were American icons

Bryan Cooper celebrates after riding Don Cossack to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Racing

Cue Card's collapse opens golden door for Cooper and Don Cossack

Victoria Pendleton on Minella Theatre clears a jump on the gallops at Aston Rowant in Oxfordshire
Racing

Pendleton divides the Festival but deserves a fair crack of the whip

Sprinter Sacre
Racing

Sprinter Sacre makes historic return to Queen Mother Champion Chase

Ruby Walsh celebrates riding Annie Power to victory in the Champion Hurdle
Racing

Annie Power banishes painful memories to win the Champion Hurdle

Are the talents of Antonio Conte overestimated by Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich?
News

Conte to Chelsea? He brings all the bad of Jose - and few of the good

Trainer Colin Tizzard with Thistlecrack
Racing

Cheltenham Gold Cup: Colin Tizzard nears peak at the top of the hill

John Barclay made a mess of a break against Wales last weekend
News & Comment

We must keep the faith and hope for Scotland the brave justice prevail

Massimo Allegri has revived Juventus’s season to restore them as title challengers in Italy
News

Juventus rebuild makes LVG look like the architect of a rubble heap

Christof Innerhofer of Italy competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Downhill Training in Val Gardena, Italy
Others

Downhill skiers mix mental abandon and physical precision

Zinedine Zidane (left), who is ‘not a nice guy’ according to former France coach Raymond Domenech, fells Italy’s Marco Materazzi with a headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final
European

Zidane’s rise embodies a Real grand illusion shared by millions

European

Zidane’s rise embodies a Real grand illusion shared by millions

Zinedine Zidane (left), who is ‘not a nice guy’ according to former France coach Raymond Domenech, fells Italy’s Marco Materazzi with a headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final
Jose Mourinho, right, and Pep Guardiola before El Clasico in 2011, during their times as Real Madrid and Barcelona coach respectively
News

Don’t fall for the myth Guardiola is Santa, while Mourinho is Satan

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has taken Burton to the top of League One in his 13 months there
Football League

An opportunity went for a Burton when Vale rejected Hasselbaink

Andy Murray and Co celebrate Davis Cup success – but their victory needs some context
Tennis

Murray’s splendour cannot disguise threadbare state of Davis Cup

Jürgen Klopp on the sofa with his nine-year-old interviewer and Scouse tutor Isaac
Premier League

Klopp’s Scouse lessons should open English eyes to joys of integration

Jürgen Klopp on the sofa with his nine-year-old interviewer and Scouse tutor Isaac
Premier League

Klopp’s Scouse lessons should open English eyes to joys of integration

Cricket

Exit Johnson, the panto villain we loved to hate then learned to love

The great Gary Stevens is set to appear in the Shergar Cup at Ascot
Racing

Stevens to strike in Shergar Cup

Mounted police try to restore order at Deepdale on Monday night
News

The Last Word: What have football and Dr Who got in common? Crass

From left: Cathy Gannon, Rosie Napravnik and Lisa Allpress
Racing

Napravnik 'Girls' tipped for Shergar Cup success

Trainer Gerard Butler still faces an inquiry over his admissions
Racing

Trainers avoid charges in Sungate steroid case

Racing

Australian Turf mourns jockey Montgomerie

Winsili, left, edges home to take the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood
Racing

Moonlight Cloud puts rivals in shade with dazzling win

Neymar said yes to Barcelona despite Premier League interest
News

The Last Word: Do the galacticos shun us because visiting Stoke just

Racing

Australian Turf mourns jockey Montgomerie

Winsili, left, edges home to take the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood
Racing

Moonlight Cloud puts rivals in shade with dazzling win

Neymar said yes to Barcelona despite Premier League interest
News

The Last Word: Do the galacticos shun us because visiting Stoke just

Montiridge (black cap) finishes in front at Goodwood yesterday
Racing

Glorious Goodwood: Hot Snap set to bring Sky down to earth

Racing

Glorious Goodwood: Hot Snap set to bring Sky down to earth

Montiridge (black cap) finishes in front at Goodwood yesterday
Owner Michael Owen (second left) and jockey Richard Kingscote with Brown Panther after his Goodwood Cup win yesterday
Racing

Glorious Goodwood: Brown Panther triumph leaves Michael Owen in the

Andreas Wöhler can add the Goodwood Cup to his King George success
Racing

Glorious Goodwood: Altano can prove Germany's staying power

Richard Hughes delivers Toronado (right) to land the Sussex Stakes
Racing

Glorious Goodwood: Toronado puts Dawn in shade as Richard Hughes

Ryan Moore (red) delivers Garswood late to land the Lennox Stakes
Racing

Glorious Goodwood: Garswood shows promise to branch out into Forêt

Ryan Moore (red) delivers Garswood late to land the Lennox Stakes
Racing

Glorious Goodwood: Garswood shows promise to branch out into Forêt

Dawn Approach (left) defeats Toronado to win the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month
Racing

Glorious Goodwood: Declaration Of War can spike big guns in Sussex

Mark Johnston: The trainer could augment his fine record at Goodwood with Oriental Fox
Racing

Garswood primed for glory at Goodwood

Novellist wins the King George VI in a record time at Ascot
Racing

Kate leaves no doubts with Deauville win

James Horwill addresses the Lions after their series victory
Tennis

Christ McGrath: James Horwill and Novak Djokovic remind us that sport

Elusive Kate (left) holds Sky Lantern in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket yesterday
Racing

Gale Force Ten to prove fresh force in sprint ranks

Paul Hanagan and Anjaal (left) look like a perfect partnership
Racing

Anjaal primed to go the extra furlong

William Haggas saddles Dare To Achieve in the Bahrain Trophy
Racing

Sir John Hawkins can turn up heat at July Festival

Racing

Borderlescott sets out on Nunthorpe comeback trail

Perhaps John McEnroe, left, was indulging Court One with some more knockabout veteran doubles
Reviews

Chris McGrath: ‘The waiting is over!’ - not a bad way for Castle

The French-trained Mandour (right), ridden by Christophe Lemaire, wins the Gala Stakes from Afsare (yellow) at Sandown yesterday
Racing

Tactical speed can win battle for War

Wayne Rooney’s stellar career has now reached a crossroads
News

The Last Word: Lean years may lie ahead unless Wayne Rooney learns to

News

The Last Word: Lean years may lie ahead unless Wayne Rooney learns to

Wayne Rooney’s stellar career has now reached a crossroads
Paul Hanagan wants to make up for his close shaves at Royal Ascot
Racing

Paul Hanagan determined to end Sheikh Hamdan's long wait

Aidan O'Brien at Curragh racecourse in June
Racing

Aidan O'Brien opens Eclipse second front with War

Choral Festival wins the fillies’ handicap at Windsor on Monday night, the final leg of a treble for her jockey, Richard Hughes, who reached his century for the season
Racing

Richard Hughes sets ton-up pace in defence of riders' title

Frankie Dettori, who rode for Godolphin until last autumn, has signed a retainer with Sheikh Joaan al-Thani
Racing

Dettori and Qataris form formidable foe for Dubai

Frankie Dettori, who rode for Godolphin until last autumn, has signed a retainer with Sheikh Joaan al-Thani
Racing

Dettori and Qataris form formidable foe for Dubai

Trainer Jim Bolger, right, poses with winning jockey Kevin Manning, left, after Trading Leather won the Irish Derby at the Curragh
Racing

Bolger regains rightful place as ruler of Turf

Ruler Of The World, in the winner’s enclosure at Epsom, seeks a Derby follow-up in the Curragh today
Racing

Ruler Of The World has power to crush Libertarian again

Racing

Wise Dan aims to scale fresh heights in weighting game

Winning Express scores in Listed company at Salisbury last autumn. She reverts to that grade today after finishing in the frame in two Group One contests
Racing

Ed McMahon lowers stakes to raise Winning chance

Andre Schurrle
News

Chris McGrath: What does André Schürrle’s desertion say of the

Racing

Godolphin plan to rush Irish pace for Libertarian

Johnny Murtagh’s mount Thomas Chippendale races to victory in the Hardwicke Stakes only to collapse and die shortly
Racing

Chippendale's sombre end for stirring week

William Haggas trains Rex Imperator
Racing

Dandy looks fine for Jubilee celebration

Sky Lantern (L) powers past the field to win the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot
Racing

Lantern shines for Hughes to dispel doubts and frustration

Andrea Pirlo, who won his 100th cap for Italy last week, is presented with a shirt signed by all his Azzurri team-mates
News

The Last Word: From film star to director, Pirlo is the legend with a

The Queen is handed the Gold Cup at Ascot yesterday after victory for her horse, Estimate
Racing

Glory for Queen – and King of Ascot

Racing

Glory for Queen – and King of Ascot

The Queen is handed the Gold Cup at Ascot yesterday after victory for her horse, Estimate
Frankie Dettori seeks a first Group One win since his return
Racing

Maureen can deliver Frankie Dettori redemption at Royal Ascot

James Doyle on Al Kazeem (right) collars Mukhadram, ridden by Paul Hanagan, to land the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot
Racing

James Doyle treble rallies home spirits at Royal Ascot

Indian Chief’s Dante form gives him strong claims
Racing

Altano the value alternative in Gold Cup

Declaration Of War stormed home to win Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes
Racing

Aidan O'Brien's Ascot double opens up new front for Coolmore turf war

Declaration Of War stormed home to win Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes
Racing

Aidan O'Brien's Ascot double opens up new front for Coolmore turf war

The John Gosden-trained The Fugue has a good record fresh
Racing

Fugue best played at rapid tempo for Royal Ascot

Dawn Approach (blue) digs deep to repel Toronado in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot yesterday
Racing

Royal Ascot: Dawn burns bright again after sun sets on Kingdom

Sir Henry Cecil's Royal Ascot entries will run as planned
Racing

Royal Ascot 2013: Spirit of Sir Henry Cecil alive in global carnival

Racing

Animal Kingdom can thrive outside natural habitat

War Singer will be suited by the trip in York’s amateur handicap
Racing

Injury may spell Magician’s absence from Ascot

Jockey James Doyle, left, and trainer Lady Cecil, right, with Frankel’s half-brother Morpheus after winning the ABG Law Classic Maiden Stakes at Nottingham yesterday, two days after the death of Sir Henry Cecil
Racing

Morpheus soothes grief of Sir Henry Cecil's yard with win at

Jockeys at Great Yarmouth yesterday hold a minute’s silence in memory of Sir Henry Ceci
Racing

Sir Henry Cecil's yard chases memorial win

Cecil’s jockey Tom Queally wears a black armband yesterday
Racing

Turf united in grief and affection after the death of legendary

Sir Henry Cecil with Frankel at Newmarket racecourse on September 29, 2012
Racing

Frankel became an incarnation of the spirit of Sir Henry Cecil

The Irish trainer Dermot Weld wants rain for his Ascot hopes
Racing

Animal double act set to raise curtain at Ascot

Arshavin celebrates the third of his four against Liverpool in 2009
News

The Last Word: Is the wasting of Andrei Arshavin’s talent at Arsenal

Kentucky Derby winner Orb is one of the favourites for today’s Belmont Stakes in New York
Racing

Sun Central has the pedigree to shine over longer trip

Frankie Dettori dismounts from Asian Trader in trademark style
Racing

Frankie Dettori relieved after his 'sweet' comeback victory

Racing

Air of glory brings cheer for Godolphin

Gary Stevens won the Preakness after coming out of retirement
Racing

Gary Stevens backs Oxbow to add Belmont to fairytale return

Frankie Dettori needs races under his belt to hone his talent
Racing

Frankie Dettori can prove doubters wrong, if he gets right rides

Racing

Air of glory brings cheer for Godolphin

Gary Stevens won the Preakness after coming out of retirement
Racing

Gary Stevens backs Oxbow to add Belmont to fairytale return

Frankie Dettori needs races under his belt to hone his talent
Racing

Frankie Dettori can prove doubters wrong, if he gets right rides

Racing

Stubbs in the frame for Royal Ascot

Ryan Moore on Ruler Of The World wins the Derby
Racing

Intello makes challenge for Ruler's crown

Italian Jockey Frankie Dettori, returning to racing after completing a six month ban for testing positive for cocaine, rides his mount in the paddock before the second race, The Investec Wealth and Investment stakes at Epsom
Racing

Epsom Derby: Dettori clears one last obstacle – and comes last

Gregorian wins the Diomed Stakes on the first day of the Derby meeting yesterday
Racing

Epsom Derby: Dawn’s class to vindicate the Bolger approach

Racing

Beckett lands Classic one-two as hidden Talent upstages rivals

Liber Nauticus won her trial at York but the contours of Epsom may not suit her so well
Racing

Frankie Dettori back centre stage today – but too late to gain part

Horses in Mahmood al-Zarooni’s care were given steroids
Racing

Mahmood al-Zarooni accepts fate and drops his appeal

Magician, backed for the Derby after his Irish Guineas win, was last night all but ruled out of Epsom
Racing

Derby vanishing trick for Magician

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