PartialLogo
News

What to watch on Saturday: the best of a very reduced sporting schedule

An Ebor hero, Arthur Daley and Belarusian football set to entertain

Rosehill's Group 1 action will again take place with a minimal raccourse audience
Rosehill's Group 1 action will again take place with a minimal raccourse audienceCredit: Jenny Evans

It would be wrong to say a vintage Saturday awaits racing and sports fans. There are, however, a few highlights to help pass away the time at home.

4.50am: Kia Tancred Stakes, Rosehill, Sky Sports Racing

We are without British and Irish racing but the headline contest on a fantastic Sydney card features plenty of former British and Irish stars.

The Tancred, worth £460,317.46 to the winner, includes Mustajeer, Mirage Dancer, Danceteria and Southern France, who last year won important races for Ger Lyons, Sir Michael Stoute, David Menuisier and Aidan O'Brien.

Ebor winner Mustajeer runs in the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill
Ebor winner Mustajeer runs in the Tancred Stakes at RosehillCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

They all now live in Australia, and for the moment so, too, does Southern France's rider Tom Marquand, who broke his Group 1 duck at the track last Saturday and now has mounts in all ten of the Rosehill races.

10am: Belarus Premier League football, various bookmaker websites

There is a Super Saturday of sorts for football fans starved of action, with four matches from the Belarus Premier League being played back-to-back, the action kicking off with champions Dinamo Brest travelling to FC Slutsk.

Belarus president Aleksandr Lukashenko has hitherto displayed an alarmingly relaxed attitude to the current global crisis and on Friday rubbished claims that due to panic buying the country could run out of buckwheat.

"There are no big problems," said Luckashenko. "If we run out of buckwheat, we will eat millet porridge instead. Keep in mind that we have potatoes, too."

2.30pm: Minder, ITV4

We don't get to enjoy the Lincoln this year, but in its place ITV4 is screening the first episode of Minder, entitled Gunfight at the OK Launderette.

As ever, lead character Arthur Daley is played by the late George Cole, who had no known connection to either Lincoln or Doncaster. He was, however, a fan of racing and owned Huso, twice a winner in 1991 when ridden by Lester Piggott and Frankie Dettori, but not at the same time.

George Cole in MinderITV
Arthur Daley, played by the late George Cole, will be occupying the slot normally taken by ITV Racing on Saturday

In his 2013 autobiography, Cole included a section on the sport, writing: "I get my pleasure these days from watching the races on television on Saturday afternoons." As such, had Cole not died five years ago, this would have been a particularly disappointing afternoon for the much-loved actor.

10.00pm: Nicaragua Clausura, available to watch for those at home in Nicaragua

Most football followers know all about Real Madrid but what about Real Madriz, who host Deportivo Ocotal? If that doesn't float your boat, there are also games in the Burundi Premier League.

Almost certainly a much safer bet will be Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright debating the merits of the Premier League's finest goalscorers in a Match of the Day special on BBC1 at 10.20pm.

10.36pm: Gulfstream Park, Florida Derby, Sky Sports Racing

Given most racing jurisdictions are without any action, it seems a tad greedy of Gulfstream to host 14 races.

The marathon fixture's highlight comes up last on the card, with Tiz The Law, bet365's 6-1 joint-favourite for the Kentucky Derby, seeking to boost his claims for America's most famous horserace, now due to be held on September 5, placing it in direct competition with Thirsk's Hambleton Cup.


Keep up to date on the must-have news, tips, photos and more by following the Racing Post across all social channels


Senior writer

Published on inNews

Last updated

iconCopy