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FOREVER YOUNG denied Romantic Warrior in a battle for the ages in the world’s richest horse race, the Saudi Cup.

It was a two-horse race on paper and the £16 million duel in the desert went all the way to the line.

The race was won, or lost, on the final bend, where James McDonald made a sweeping five-wide move to take the lead into the straight.

Ryusei Sakai and Forever Young were left trailing, and it looked as though 10-time Group 1 superstar Romantic Warrior would prove the naysayers wrong on his first dirt start.

But Sakai never panicked and galvanised Forever Young to motor down the outside of Romantic Warrior, getting up in the final strides.

It was heartbreak for Hong Kong’s hero but for Japan’s leading light, he got his deserved day in the sun after sickening places in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Kentucky Derby.

Forever Young’s trainer Yoshito Yahagi said: “This is my second win in The Saudi Cup, but no matter how many wins you have in The Saudi Cup, it is still a great feeling.

“I didn’t have confidence; I believed in him.”

Jockey Sakai added: “He jumped very well from the wide gate in 14 and got into a nice position without a problem. It was my tactics to be in that situation.

“I believe in Forever Young, I never thought I’d lose the race. This is the best moment in my life.”

For Romantic Warrior, it’ll be back on the turf for the Dubai Turf at Meydan, though this run proved a World Cup run wouldn’t be misplaced.

McDonald said: “”He ran incredibly well. I was very proud of him. He flowed into the race well and used his momentum nicely, so it was a terrific effort.

“He was gallant in defeat, the race worked out perfectly for us, he got a little bit of kickback, sidled round just beautifully.

“I can safely say I wasn’t stopping, I didn’t alter my stride pace at all. It just shows what great horse Forever Young is and what a race was.”

It was a remarkable day for Japan, who won all four big races.

Shin Emperor won the Neom Turf Cup, beating Sir Alex Ferguson’s Spirit Dancer into sixth, before Ascoli Piceno beat countryman Win Marvel in the 1351 Turf Sprint.

Byzantine Dream, ridden by Oisin Murphy, got the third leg up easily, beating David O’Meara’s Epic Poet in the process.

SUN Racing’s tips for Sunday are below.

Back a horse by clicking their odds.

LONGSHOT

CAP DU NORD (3.40 Hereford) 

He has tumbled to a low mark and all of his career wins have come at this time of the year. Trainer Christian Williams is in decent form too.

THIEF

SIR ROCK (2.30 Fontwell) 

He likes it around here and is 4lb below his last winning mark so could be dangerous. 

AMI BONDHU (4.00 Fontwell) 

He ran a good race at Market Rasen last time and should be in the mix again.

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CALLUM SMITH handed Josh Buatsi the first defeat of his career with an age-defying performance of brilliant brutality and courage.

The Liverpool light-heavyweight hero looked close to retirement after punishing losses to Canelo Alvarez and Artur Beterbiev left him beaten and adrift.

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Callum Smith slugged his way to a stunning win over Joshua Buatsi[/caption]

Reuters

The unbeaten Buatsi had been favourite heading into fight night[/caption]

Reuters

But Smith put on a show to seal the WBO interim light-heavyweight title[/caption]

But he stood up to the tough Ghana-born favourite, sucked up all of his best shots and won a unanimous decision.

The three ringside judges had the horrible job of splitting the two marvellous men – with Steve Gray going far too wide –  and decided: 119-110, 115-113 and 116-112.

Follow ALL the action from Riyadh with our boxing live blog

Despite both light-heavy beanpoles being tall and technical range-fighters, the best action of the opener was up close and personal.

The pair clinches and swapped hooks like little Mexicans.

Buatsi, 31, scored with a hook double to head and body but then Mundo landed a left hook to the ribs that echoed around the Riyadh arena.

Smith was bundled down once but it was rightly called a split that didn’t need a count.

Smith, 34, made a bright start to the second and made his ringside family roar with clever uppercuts.

But a Buatis left hook clipped his cheekbone and silenced the travelling Scousers and another even round followed.

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By the third round, former super-middle world champ Smith was using his superior experience and reach to score from a safe distance.

But then Buatsi peppered him with body blows toward the end of the session and for a second it seemed like Smith was folding to the canvas.

Watch the full episode of Contender on Sun Sport’s YouTube channel NOW as we exclusively go behind the scenes with Lewis Williams

Typically he dug deep and held on, even landing a long right hand before the bell.

In the fourth round, the two brilliant Englishmen glued their foreheads together and went to war.

Hooks slashed in from both sides as their torsos took a leather but it was Smith who walked back to his corner with a cut and welt around his right eye.

Smith enjoyed his best round in the fifth after Buatsi made a horrible start. The Croydon ace spent the first two minutes tucked up in his shell, absorbing blows on his tight guard.

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Smith battled on despite a bad cut above his right eye[/caption]

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His combination work earned Mundo a unanimous decision win[/caption]

His only respite came when a blow blew the mouthguard out of his mouth.

Smith totally dominated the session and Buatsi needed a drastic change of pace.

But it was Smith who raced up the gears, battering Buatsi throughout the sixth, with referee Howard Foster looking on the cusp of a stoppage.

Suddenly, with ten seconds left of the one-sided beating, Buatsi landed a huge left hook and it was Smith who was buzzed and struggling and glad to hear the bell.

Both warriors needed a breather in the seventh and took a break from the brutal hooks and right hands they had swapped.

They exchanged long and safe jabs and recuperated, it was a well-earned rest in a superb fight that was almost impossible to split.

Buatsi ate three scything right hands in the eighth that forced him backwards but, just before the bell, it was Smith who had to stagger backwards, onto the ropes, when he was tagged back with a reverse one-two.

In round nine, Buatsi completely gave up defending against Smith’s right hand and was peppered with the same predictable blow to make it a clear round for the 30-2 veteran.

Reuters

The win extends Smith’s pro record to 31–2[/caption]

In serious danger of drowning in the desert, Buatsi turned the tide in the tenth and ran away with the round with clinical combinations, thrown from angles.

But when he got greedy Smith shot back with that right and bought himself another round.

Smith’s daddy-long legs started to betray him in the eleventh, when Buatsi’s fresher engine started to make him look the most likely winner.

But both heroes kept punching and ducking and digging deeper and deeper.

They hugged before the start of the 12th, it was boxing perfection, the best of Britain.

Smith was forced into the backfoot but it was from there that he landed a right hand and left hook that wobbled Buatsi.

It was Smith’s turn to lose his gum shield with 50 seconds to go but there was enough time for both magnificent men to finish with a gunfight.

Smith’s team, led by brother Paul, raced into the ring to celebrate and Callum climbed the corner turnbuckles to wave victoriously to the crowd.

The pair embraced and waited for the judges to decide that Smith was back among the light-heavyweight world title race.

EASTENDERS fans are still reeling after the 40th anniversary episodes that aired last week.

The iconic BBC soap opera turned 40 last week, and to commemorate the milestone, a live episode aired.

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Stacey Slater was devastated when Martin Fowler died in the live episode[/caption]

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The 40th anniversary was marked by a massive explosion[/caption]

BBC

The soap is celebrating its 40th anniversary[/caption]

In the live episode, Martin Fowler was tragically killed after a beam fell on his legs after the Queen Victoria pub suffered an explosion.

The devastating scenes came soon after Martin confessed his undying love for ex-wife Stacey Slater.

But ahead of the live episode and the other 40th anniversary episodes airing, fans were making an urgent plea for an iconic character to return to Walford.

Fans were desperate for one Slater family member to return to the soap to mark the show’s anniversary.

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Michelle Ryan played the role of Zoe Slater in the hit soap[/caption]

BBC

Zoe was a character in the soap from 2000 until 2005[/caption]

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Michelle, who played Zoe, has refused to return to the soap on several occasions[/caption]

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Michelle has been approached by the show but isn’t keen on making a comeback[/caption]

“With Lacey Turner going on maternity leave and presumably a Stacey exit – it’s perfect timing for Zoe’s return..” one person penned amid the anniversary episodes.

“Kathy’s comeback for the 30th was such a OMG moment. Will the 40th offer a similar surprise? I predict a Zoe Slater return,” speculated another.

A third tried to manifest Zoe Slater’s return, writing: “ZOE SLATER WILL RETURN TONIGHT LIVE ON #EASTENDERS.”

“If this big return in #Eastenders isn’t Zoe Slater, then quite frankly, I couldn’t give a f**k who it is,” said a fourth.

And now it has been revealed that Michelle Ryan, who played the role of Zoe Slater on the hit soap, has TURNED DOWN multiple offers to return.

“Bosses reached out to Michelle several times over the years, they would love to have her back.

“For example, as the soap was approaching its big 30th anniversary, it was a gentle approach asking if she would consider a return in the lead up to it all,” a source told MailOnline.

The source went on: “This was at the very early stages of their plans but Michelle refused and there was a lot of disappointment amongst bosses.”

They added how it’s “quite baffling” why she wouldn’t want to reprise her character.

“It’s been 20 years since she left Albert Square but still people are talking about her character,” they went on.

Michelle previously admitted that she “got quite bored in the end” of playing Zoe.

Speaking to the Bristol Evening Post at the time of her show departure, she said: “Doing the same thing day in, day out. It’s just so boring. I like to jump from different things.

“I always saw EastEnders as an apprenticeship. I always wanted to go on and do different things. I have some really good friends from that show but the door is closed.”

Michelle, 40, played the iconic role of Zoe Slater in the hit soap, with her stepping into the role at just 15.

Making her first appearance in the soap back in 2000, alongside the rest of the Slater clan, Zoe was a fan-favourite.

Her character’s key storylines in the soap included discovering Kat Slater was her mother and not her sister, as well as being involved in the cover up of the murder of Den Watts.

Zoe was only in the soap for five years, yet made a huge impact.

Michelle departed the soap in June 2005 and has never reprised her role since.

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Michelle said she got bored of playing Zoe at the time of her show departure[/caption]

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Michelle is now 40 years of age[/caption]

FORMER RANGERS midfielder Ian McCall reckons Philippe Clement may have come to a full stop against St Mirren.

After the San Francisco 49ers frenzy and talk of a takeover this week, Ibrox enthusiasm evaporated as Stephen Robinson‘s Buddies won in Govan for the first time in 33 years.

Willie Vass

Philippe Clement APOLOGISED to Rangers supporters after defeat to St Mirren[/caption]

Willie Vass

Toyosi Olusanya scored the Buddies’ second[/caption]

Willie Vass

Fans left Ibrox long before the final whistle[/caption]

Second half strikes from Mikael Mandron and Toyosi Olusanya stunned Rangers – and forced the boss to APOLOGISE to supporters for the display.

He said it was “by far the worst I’ve seen in all my time here”.

Boos rang out to meet the full-time whistle – again.

The Gers were back at home for the first time since their shock 1-0 defeat to Queen‘s Park in the Scottish Cup.

And they fired a blank again against the Buddies.

Clement fronted up after the match – but sighed as he was quizzed on Gers’ NINTH defeat of the season – then APOLOGISED to supporters who streamed out of the stadium long before the final whistle.

Speaking on BBC Sportsound the Belgian boss said: “I can say only sorry, and apologise for me and the team because this is not what Rangers teams need to show on the pitch.

“We all know this was by far below the standards that we all expect.

“I’m always fighting until the end. I wanted to be on the field to fight, I cannot do that, so my task is to do it from the sidelines, and to get the team in the right mindset.

“That was not the case today, so I need to find the solution for that.”

But the manager’s demeanour hinted at something deeper according to pundit Ian McCall.

The former Rangers player – and Partick Thistle manager – said: “He’s obviously a thoroughly decent man, but he sounds beaten.

“There was a slower presentation of his words.

“If there is going to be a takeover, then I don’t think the current board can do anything. But today to me seems like a full stop.

“You see some managers losing their jobs and you think it’s wrong, with others you can see the reason.

“He sounds beaten. The players didn’t show any fight for him whatsoever.

“I don’t know where they go from here, but if I was Clement, I’d be very worried.”

The boss was also quizzed on his future and rebuffed the question insisting “I don’t talk about hypothetical questions.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

A BUNCH of £1 daffodils is the perfect cheap and cheer­ful treat at this time of year.

The bright yellow petals will brighten up any home amid the February gloom.

Photographers Choice - Getty

Four savvy ways to enjoy your daffodils for longer this spring[/caption]

But, like with any flower, there are tricks to get the most out of daffs.

Enjoy them for longer with this bunch of clever ideas.

BUD NOT BLOOM: A gorgeous bunch of daffodils gladdens the heart, but it’s always best to buy them when the buds are still closed.

This is because they will come into bloom quite quickly, so you can enjoy them for longer if you buy them in bud.

THE DAFF DARK SIDE: Did you know daffs give off a toxic sap? This means they’re not great to mix with other flowers in an arrangement. That’s especially true when it comes to the other bright February bloom, tulips. But you can mix them with other kinds of daffodils.

If you really want to use them in an arrangement with other flowers, soak the cut stems overnight in cold water first to release the harmful substance, which can also irritate skin.

DAZZLING DISPLAY: Daffodils can look amazing in whatever vase you use. Even a simple jam jar will work with the happy flowers. But experiment with different-shaped vessels to get a look you love.

A narrow-top vase will bring all the trumpet-shaped heads together for an intense burst of colour. A wider opening will give a more relaxed and rustic look.

SNIP TIPS: Whichever vase you choose, cut around 3cm off the stem before placing in a fairly shallow amount of cold water. Change the water every two to three days to keep the flowers fresh for longer.

They are thirsty flowers so make sure they always have enough to drink.

Avoid displaying them near direct sunlight or heat, such as on a sunny windowsill or near a radiator. Also, keep them away from a fruit bowl and other food.

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OLEKSANDR Usyk was spotted asking for Anthony Joshua just seconds after arriving for Beterbiev vs Bivol 2.

Fans claimed that the heavyweight champion’s “aura is crazy” after watching his slick building entrance in Saudi Arabia.

DAZN

Oleksandr Usyk was spotted asking for Anthony Joshua just seconds after arriving for Beterbiev vs Bivol 2[/caption]

DAZN

Fans claimed that the heavyweight champion’s ‘aura is crazy’[/caption]

Usyk donned flash sunglasses and a Ukrainian inspired outfit as he arrived for the blockbuster ‘Fight Card of the Century’.

The 38-year-old could be seen walking in with his entourage, with many of his pals matching his yellow and blue Stone Island attire.

Usyk was videoed immediately shaking hands with Liam Smith, whose brother Callum handed Joshua Buatsi the first defeat of his career in the first fight of the night.

But it was Usyk’s interaction with AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn that had everybody talking early on.

The unified WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight champ could be hearded quietly chanting: “Eddie, Eddie, Eddie” before he shook hands with Hearn.

Usyk then quizzed the Matchroom owner: “Is Anthony Joshua here?”

To which Hearn simply responded: “Yes”.

And fans believe it could be a sign of things to come later as there’s been talks of a possible third fight between AJ and Usyk.

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One wrote: “Usyk is the man. What a gangster!”

Another wrote: “Bros aura is crazy .”

A third said: “AJ will probably try to call him out later. But there’s no point.”

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Anthony Joshua is also in attendance for Beterbiev vs Bivol 2[/caption]

The Watford boxer was easily beaten in their first two bouts – before Usyk then did the double over Tyson Fury, who retired last month.

Hearn also stated that his fighter would like “another crack at Daniel Dubois” – who holds the IBF belt.

Dubois was looking to defend his IBF title on Saturday after coming off a brutal knockout win over Joshua in September.

Dubois pulled out of Saturday’s co-feature heavyweight title match against Joseph Parker with illness.

With Usyk and AJ both in the building, they’ll watch Congolese boxer Martin Bakole step in to fight Parker on two days notice.

But everybody has truly travelled to Riyadh to watch two of the very best fighters in the world rematch as the headliner.

Artur Beterbiev will rematch Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light-heavyweight world championship on Saturday.

It’s been a long time coming for the Seattle Kraken, but for the first time in ages, they’ll be getting their on-ice veteran leader back into the lineup. Captain Jordan Eberle, who hasn’t played since getting hurt against the Chicago Blackhawks on November 14, will be back int the lineup when the Kraken face the […]

The post Kraken make big Jordan Eberle injury announcement before Panthers clash appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On their way to a Super Bowl 59 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Philadelphia Eagles proved a long-held team building philosophy true… build your team from the inside out and reliably dominate the trenches on both sides of the ball, and success is probably coming your way. On Super Bowl Sunday it was […]

The post Jason Kelce reveals why Eagles’ tush push ‘sucks’ appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As Black History Month continues, we remember the remarkable achievements made by Black individuals across various fields, including sports. However, what often remains untold is the power of Black love and its transformative impact. Relationships built on love and support have helped fuel the success of countless Black athletes, showing us that greatness is not […]

The post Jalen Hurts and Bry Burrows, plus 4 other black love stories in sports appeared first on ClutchPoints.