Sports digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Blackstairmountain gearing up for Galway Plate

RACING:Bellewstown plays host to the Grade One-winning chaser Blackstairmountain today as Willie Mullins' charge sets himself up for a crack at the Galway Plate in the Meath Farm Machinery (Q.R.) Race.

The seven-year-old mixed it with the best last season and while he is at his best on decent ground, connections believe there is a big difference between summer soft ground and that in the winter.

He will be ridden by Patrick Mullins, who said: “It looks a nice opportunity for him and we’re trying to get him ready for the Galway Plate.

On ratings he has every right to be winning but his win on the Flat came in a Galway amateurs’ race so I’m not sure he should be rated that high.

“They are calling it soft ground and while he prefers top of the ground, it won’t be anything like what he was running on in the winter. He is better on quicker ground, though.

“He’s unexposed on the Flat, I suppose, but he’s a dual Grade One-winner [over fences and hurdles] so we know he’s got plenty of class.”

Hyland doubles up in Antwerp

SWIMMING:Tallaght's Brendan Hyland had a great day in the pool on the second day of competition at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

In the morning heats, Hyland set a new Irish Junior and Senior record, of 2:01.75, Hyland had already held both records which he set in April of this year. The 17-year-old then went on to set another record in the semi-final clocking 2:00.67 and finishing in 5th place to make tomorrow evening’s final.

Cian Duffy (2:04.05) and David O’Sullivan (2:04.16) were also in action in the 200m Butterfly heats. Both Duffy and O’Sullivan made the top 16 with personal best times but didn’t make the final.

Roscommon’s Sarah Kelly was also in action. Kelly finished eighth overall in the women’s 200m Butterfly final, a fantastic achievement for the 14-year-old.

In other results Curtis Coulter (51.27), Brian O’Sullivan (51:92) and David Prendergast (52.53) all set PBs in the 100m Freestyle, while Brendan Gibbons knocked a massive 10 seconds off his PB in the 1500m Freestyle, finishing in 16:01.29.

Bute gets chance to reclaim title

BOXING:Carl Froch will defend his IBF super-middleweight title against an as yet unknown opponent in Britain in November before taking a rematch with Lucian Bute next March in Montreal.

Froch bounced back from his defeat to American Andre Ward in the Super Six tournament final by stopping Bute in the fifth round of their contest at the Nottingham Arena in May. But the Canada-based 32-year-old, who fell to his first loss as a professional, has taken up the option of using the rematch clause guaranteeing him a chance to reclaim his belts in Canada.

“Froch v Bute has already gone down as one of the greatest nights in British boxing history,” said Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “It generated record television audiences and a sold-out arena where fans were treated to what many respected pundits and fighters have described as one of the best atmospheres ever felt in a British fight. Of course, like any fighter Lucian is keen to avenge this defeat and as per our agreement.”

Surrey's Ramprakash decides to call it a day

CRICKET:Mark Ramprakash yesterday refused to mourn an unfulfilled England career as he ended a cricketing odyssey spanning quarter of a century.

The 42-year-old has retired from the game with immediate effect after being told by Surrey he no longer figured in their selection plans.

One of the most prolific and stylish batsmen in county cricket, he amassed 114 first-class centuries and 35,659 runs at an average of 53.14.

That average dropped to 27.32 during his 52 games for England, leading to the mystery of why such a gifted and technically brilliant player had struggled in the Test arena.

But Ramprakash enters retirement, announced at a press conference at The Oval yesterday, satisfied he had given international cricket everything.

“I’ve been asked many time in recent years about regrets over my England career,” he said.

“You do the best you can at that time. I know I couldn’t have trained any harder, I listened to other people and I did the best I could at that time. If you’ve done that, then you don’t look back with any regrets.”

Rooney and O'Shea have a winner at Haydock 

RACING:Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney enjoyed his first taste of victory as a racehorse owner as Yourartisonfire scored at Haydock yesterday.

Rooney owns the Elaine Burke-trained two-year-old in partnership with former team-mate, Sunderland and Republic of Ireland defender John O’Shea, among others.

Sent off the 6 to 4 favourite in the Distinction Doors EBF Maiden Stakes, the Dutch Art colt built on his debut fourth at Nottingham, staying on strongly throughout the final furlong to win going away by two and a quarter lengths from Mayaasem.

Winning jockey Michael Metcalfe said: “They went quite steady – you can sit and wait but I thought I would get him rolling and I always thought he would pick them up in the end.”