Dave1962

These two teams met in La Liga over the weekend at Atlético Madrid's ground, and Barcelona came away with all three points. That was the third defeat inflicted on Atlético Madrid in three games. Prior to the loss at home to Barcelona, they lost away at Real Madrid and then in a Champions League game they suffered defeat at Tottenham. Barcelona come into this game having won their last nineteen home games in all competitions. The last couple of times Barcelona have welcomed Atlético Madrid, the home team has won.

In his short career, Saint Of The Sea has had three runs and appears to have improved with each run. His first race was on the turf at Newbury last July, where he finished nearer last than first. He was then put away for the winter and reappeared in February on the all-weather at Southwell, where he finished second. His next race was again on the all-weather at Southwell, where he took a step up in grade and finished a credible third. He is now back on turf and running in a lower class of race. Harry Davies gets his first ride on Saint Of The Sea, and his opening handicap mark of sixty-eight could prove lenient. With plenty of improvement still to come and a return to turf, hopefully Saint Of The Sea will run well.

Elegant Erin is the oldest horse in the race. She has winning form on both the all-weather and turf. When racing on turf, the majority of her wins have come on soft ground, although she has won on good and good-to-firm ground. Towards the back end of last season she won twice at Beverley and, as a consequence, her opening mark for the new season was a career high. That race was on the all-weather at Newcastle, where she found little and finished well down the field. She returns to turf today and is dropped two pounds. In the hope that she will come on for the run, Elegant Erin could run well at a decent price.

Providing Gambet does not give too much ground away at the start. He could well have enough speed to pass his rivals based on last month's winning time.

Swansea lost their last home game to Coventry. Now they welcome Middlesbrough, who have slipped to third in the table. Middlesbrough have taken seven points from their last three away games and have won two of their last three visits to Swansea.

In the last four runnings of this race, two seven-year-olds have been successful. Two of the last seven runnings of this race have been won by a horse trained by Willie Mullins. My selection, Cest Ta Chance, is a seven-year-old horse trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Danny Mullins. Providing Cest Ta Chance stays this distance, then, having won his last two races, he should go well. He has raced four times over the larger obstacles and has appeared to improve with each outing. He won a beginning chase at Gowran and then followed that up with a win in a Novice Chase from an eight-pound higher mark. Both those races were considerably shorter than the distance he races over today. He races off a two-pound higher mark. Over the years we have seen a number of times when Willie Mullins has a number of runners in the race that Danny Mullins has been successful. Hopefully today will be another one of those days.

The last four races run by Granns Boy have been two on the flat and two over hurdles. In each code he has registered one win and a second. He has winning form at Fairyhouse over a slightly shorter trip. His last hurdle race was in October last year, where he finished second, beaten by a length. His only race since then was on the flat at Navan a week ago, where he finished second. Hopefully that race will have brought him on, and from a two-pound higher mark than his last hurdle race, he should once again be very competitive.

Following their win over Middlesbrough, Millwall have moved into second place in the Championship. Norwich have lost on their last two visits to Millwall. Millwall have won two of their last three home games. Millwall will probably be the more motivated, as they will want to remain in an automatic play-off spot, while Norwich are probably too far off getting into a play-off spot.

Celtic are having their problems and lost their last game away at Dundee United. Today they travel to Dundee FC, who have taken four points from their last two home games, courtesy of a win against Motherwell followed by a draw against Dundee United. The last time Celtic travelled to Dundee FC was in October, and they left with nil points.

Hearts have lost their last three away games and will be motivated to beat bottom-of-the-table Livingston in order to return to the top of the Scottish Premiership. Hearts have won on their last two visits to Livingston.

Today's final of the Tour Championship is between the current world champion Zhao Xintong and former world champion Judd Trump. Trump is currently ranked four places higher than Xintong. These two players have met five times before, with Trump winning three of those matches. Trump has been playing well, and on the eve of the World Championships he would no doubt like to put down a marker and signal his current form by winning this match. If Trump can play to his best and put Xintong under pressure, then there is every chance the Ace in the Pack will come out on top.

In their respective tables, Inter Miami are third whilst Austin FC are eleventh. The last five home games played by Inter Miami have produced four wins and a draw. Austin FC have lost their last eight away games.

In his last four races, the Skelton horse Blue Carpet has won twice and finished second twice. His last race saw him win by just over three lengths at Wetherby in a three-mile race. He traveled well throughout the race and appeared not to be extended in winning that race. He is up seven pounds today and takes a step up in class. However, with that smooth success behind him, he could once again be entering the winner's enclosure.

In 2026 the Richard Hannon-trained Talis Evolvere has raced four times. He started off with a win and followed that up with two seconds and a fourth. He ran well last time out over a shorter distance, losing by a short head, for which the handicapper has raised him one pound. He is only four pounds higher than his last winning mark of eighty-five in early January this year. Every chance the step up in trip will play to his benefit, and he can give a good account of himself.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained SAN Andreas has done the vast majority of his racing in Ireland. His previous few visits to these shores have not set the racing fraternity alight. However, dropping back in distance, with another seven-pound claimer on board and racing off a six-pound lower mark than his last race at Dundalk, Joseph O'Brien and his team may have found just the right place for him. San Andreas is now a ten-year-old and has proven in the past he can run well when returning from a break. Hopefully he can roll back the years and run very well.

In recent matches, Lincoln City have been scoring very well in their home games. Their last four home games all finished with at least three goals being scored. In two of those games Lincoln scored three times, and in each of the other two matches they scored four goals.

Middlesbrough are second in the table, two places and two points above Millwall. Their last four home games have finished with three draws and one defeat. Hopefully, following the international break, Middlesbrough can rediscover the form that saw them move to the top of the table before moving back into second following their defeat at Coventry. They won this fixture last season and look to do so again.