Summary

  • AP McCoy finishes fourth in final Cheltenham Festival outing

  • Novice Coneygree wins Gold Cup

  • Chelsea will win Premier League, says Jose Mourinho

  • Harry Kane secures back-to-back player of the month awards

  • GET INVOLVED: Who will finish top four? #bbcsportsday

  1. Get involved - top fourpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Who will finish top four along with Chelsea and Man City?

    Rizpey: Southampton and Spurs have a easy run in. Arsenal third, Spurs fourth, Liverpool fifth, Saints sixth, Man United seventh. Yes big call I know.

    Porphyro: Arsenal, Liverpool. Will be disappointing if the dreadful Man United make it.

    Tom Croft: Liverpool and Arsenal for top four. United aren't good enough, Spurs and Saints just short but improving massively.

    The debate continues at #'bbcsportsday

  2. 'Is this one of Delia's?'published at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Here's a tale sure to catch the attention of Norwich's joint majority shareholder and culinary queen Delia Smith.

    A Canaries fan was left steaming when his mother accidentally cooked 16 tickets he had bought for an upcoming match at Brighton.

    Mikey Knight's mother put a roast-in-the-bag chicken on top of the envelope containing the tickets, where it stayed until she took the bird from the oven to check its progress 40 minutes later.

    The charred remains, worth £500, were dished up by his red-faced mum when he arrived for supper. Brighton and Hove Albion has agreed to provide him with replacements.

    Delia Smith
    Image caption,

    "...then simply peel away the tickets from the underside of the bird after about 90 minutes..."

  3. Coneygree strikes goldpublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Coneygree has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the first novice to win the race since the 1970s.

    gettyImage source, Getty Images

    The 7-1 shot, ridden by Nico de Boinville, held off Ruby Walsh on Djakadamin in a thrilling finish, with Road To Riches third.

    Tony McCoy, making his final Gold Cup appearance, finished down the field on Carlingford Lough.

  4. Top dogpublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Harry Kane on Twitter, external, after being named Premier League player of the month for February - the second successive month he's won the award.

    KaneImage source, Twitter
  5. Gold Cup klaxonpublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Just to say the Gold Cup is off imminently.

    Toddle over to this page for more.

  6. Serena back at Indian Wells after 14 yearspublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    While we're on the tennis, there is an interesting Serena Williams story on the BBC website, the world number one talking about how she never believed she would return to Indian Wells after suffering crowd abuse at the tournament as a teenager.

    The 33-year-old this week ends her 14-year boycott of the BNP Paribas Open in California.

    Serena Williams is congratulated by father Richard and sister Venus (left) after winning the 2001 final at Indian WellsImage source, Getty Images

    Her father accused fans of racial abuse after the then-19-year-old was booed and heckled in the 2001 final (pictured here congratulating Serena after she won that final).

    "I just felt like it was the right time for me to come back here and try to be the best that I can be," Williams said in an interview with Time magazine.

  7. Watson in action later todaypublished at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Heather WatsonImage source, Getty Images

    Heather Watson plays her second-round match against the Italian Camila Giorgi in Indian Wells this evening (18:00 GMT).

    The British number one is aiming to reach the third round of the event for the first time in her career.

    She beat German Julia Goerges 6-4 5-7 6-3 in her opening match at the tournament.

  8. 'Extra RFU funding is not enough'published at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    The Rugby Football Union's funding boost for Championship clubs is "nowhere near enough", says Plymouth chief operating officer James Coulton.

    The RFU has increased its financial support, understood to rise to more than £500,000, from next season.

    Plymouth Albion, who almost went into administration earlier this year, argue second-tier clubs still need more money if they are to survive.

    "It goes some way to bridging the gap, but nowhere near enough," Coulton said.

  9. No regrets, says Eoin Morganpublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Captain Eoin Morgan insisted he would leave the World Cup with "no regrets" despite England's failure to qualify out of their group.

    England won just two of their six games at the tournament and only avoided their worst-ever World Cup with a rain-affected nine-wicket success over Afghanistan in Sydney on Friday.

    "There are no regrets," Morgan said. "Absolutely not. We've given it everything and certainly I have.

    "The personnel we have are the right personnel. We haven't clicked. We haven't had guys in form."

    Eoin MorganImage source, Getty Images
  10. Victory for Martello Towerpublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Martello Tower wins the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, just edging ahead of Milsean, who led for most of the race.

    No More Heroes also came up strong to finish in third.

    Don't forget the Gold Cup, featuring AP McCoy on Carlingford Lough, gets under way at 15:20 GMT.

    You can keep across that race by clicking through to our dedicated live text page.

  11. Mauricio Pochettino news conferencepublished at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Pochettino is targeting a third successive win for Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday.

    "We believe we can win," he said. "You never think before a game that it is possible to lose. You are always focusing on getting the three points and are never thinking about losing.

    "Our pressure is inside us, in the group. We want to win every game. Maybe Manchester United has history, but our mentality is to compete and try to win the game. Man United is not my problem."

  12. Roberto Martinez news conferencepublished at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    The Everton fans were a frustrated bunch during the first half-hour of last night's win over Dynamo as their team laboured to get into the game, but Martinez's men improved as the contest wore on.

    "On Sunday, we want the high tempo and bravery from the final 60 minutes last night," Martinez said.

    "We know when we have our crowd going we get the benefit from it."

    Naismith scoresImage source, Getty Images
  13. Ronald Koeman news conferencepublished at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Southampton manager Ronald Koeman hopes Chelsea will not take their Champions League frustrations out on the Saints when the teams meet on Sunday.

    Koeman's side are four points adrift of the top four in the Premier League and the Dutchman is not sure it's an ideal time to meet the Blues after their PSG defeat.

    Jose Mourinho and Ronald KoemanImage source, Getty Images

    "I don't know when it is a good time to face them - it's always a difficult time. They're very disappointed after Wednesday," Koeman said. "Maybe now there's a bit of pressure as they fight for the title.

    "I know Jose very well - he's a good friend, a great coach and a very successful manager."

  14. Roberto Martinez news conferencepublished at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Roberto MartinezImage source, Everton FC

    Everton boss Roberto Martinez reported a clean bill of health following last night's 2-1 victory over Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League.

    "We didn't pick up any knocks or bruises last night. John Stones should be available after a stomach bug," said Martinez, whose side hosts Newcastle on Sunday.

    "Bryan Oviedo is probably three weeks away from being fully fit. Leighton Baines will have a late fitness test."

  15. McCririck wants five-day festivalpublished at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Frank Keogh at Cheltenham
    BBC Sport

    "Racing broadcaster John McCririck told me earlier he would like to see the Cheltenham Festival extended from four to five days.

    "The meeting expanded from three days (Tuesday to Thursday) to four in 2005 and has been enjoying record crowds this week.

    "'I'm advocating five from Wednesday with a Sunday finale,' said the 75-year-old former bookmaker.

    "'People say the quality would be diluted, but the place would be packed. The 1,000 Guineas is about the only big Sunday race we have in the UK.'"

  16. New deal for World Cup winner Lowpublished at 14:21 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Joachim LowImage source, Getty Images

    Joachim Low has extended his contract as coach of world champions Germany until the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

    The 55-year-old's previous contract took him through to Euro 2016, but he said the chance to extend the deal could not be turned down.

    "I said yes with my heart and my head," Loew said. "We feel incredibly good working together and we have shared goals. We were crowned world champions and we want to experience that feeling again."

  17. Double your moneypublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    SaintsImage source, Getty Images

    Daily Express, external: Southampton have offered midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 25, and defender Nathaniel Clyne, 23, new contracts that would double their pay.

  18. Celtic: No comment over Brown picturespublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Celtic are making no comment over a newspaper report that appears to show captain Scott Brown apparently drunk in Edinburgh days before a cup final.

    The Sun published pictures of the Scotland captain slumped on the pavement on Wednesday night.

    Celtic captain Scott BrownImage source, SNS

    Brown, 29, had the day off on Thursday and was back training on Friday morning.

    Celtic play Dundee United in Sunday's Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park.

  19. Mauricio Pochettino news conferencepublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Mauricio Pochettino next and the Spurs boss is asked why British teams have struggled so badly in Europe this season.

    gettyImage source, Getty Images

    "The more difficult time for us is Christmas when the other European leagues have a break and when we arrive in February/March it's very difficult for the English team," he said.

    "The number of games we play is more than the European teams - I think this is the key, the teams in the other leagues arrive more fresh than the English teams... our competition is more tough... the Premier League is the most competitive league."

  20. Gus Poyet news conferencepublished at 13:59 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2015

    Poyet says his players need to perform with composure tomorrow.

    "We need to be a little more calm and believe in the team, and we need to start well and get the Stadium of Light on its feet," he said.

    The boss adds: "We have the same squad as last week other than Lee Cattermole. Billy Jones is back but he was there last week."

    AlverezImage source, Getty Images

    He also pinpoints attacking midfielder Ricardo Alvarez as a key man for his team.

    "He is very important," said Poyet. "He knows that and he's very happy about it, so let's see what he can do tomorrow."