Frank Keogh at Cheltenham
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

"My clear understanding is retiring 19-time champion jockey AP McCoy intends to ride in the Grand National at Aintree on 11 April, regardless of whether he wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Carlingford Lough.

"If the 40-year-old Northern Irishman was to somehow win the National again - he triumphed on Don't Push It in 2010 - McCoy may well consider that is the best stage to end his career.

"Should he not win (he has been linked with the ride on Shutthefrontdoor at Aintree) then the most likely farewell date is 25 April at Sandown, on the final day of the British jump racing season.

"However, there remains an outside chance he might have one last fleeting appearance at Ireland's jump racing showpiece, the five-day Punchestown Festival, which starts on 28 April."

West Brom's Chris Brunt has requested a personal hearing after being charged by the Football Association for allegedly verbally abusing a match official.

The midfielder is alleged to have used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour in the tunnel after Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup quarter final defeat to Aston Villa.

A club statement, external said Brunt remains available for selection for tomorrow's Premier League match against Stoke.

Image source, Getty Images

Who will join Man City and Chelsea in the top four?

Donna: I so hope Mr Savage is proved wrong and has to eat his words! United to finish in top four for sure.

Kofi Quansah: United will finish third, Arsenal a close fourth, edging Liverpool out on goal difference.

Jon Evans: When will we get the end of season table calculator? Always a bit of fun when you accidentally relegate your own team.

Patience Jon, patience.

More please to #bbcsportsday

"We need to pick up some points soon. We are focusing on getting three points and dragging teams closer to us," he said.

"You know results keep you in a job. I'd accept now keeping QPR up and not keeping my job though."

On opponents Palace he added: "You'd take a point because an away point is always good but we are going there looking for a win."

"They have flair players with pace and power. Alan Pardew will have them organised. He got some quick reactions from his players. I'm not surprised at the job he has done."

Oscar Pistorius's lawyers have failed to block an appeal by prosecutors against the South African Paralympian's acquittal on murder charges.

He was cleared of murder last year but was sentenced to five years in jail for the lesser charge of culpable homicide.

Prosecutors are seeking a murder conviction after he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

Read the full story here.

QPR boss Chris Ramsey has been speaking ahead of his side's huge game at Crystal Palace tomorrow lunchtime. The west London club are three points from safety with 10 games remaining.

"I think we are playing well enough to get the points we need," Ramsey said. "We've been in the last two games.

"All the games are must-win for us. Everyone is fighting. We know we have to win games soon or we will get detached."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Hull and Blackpool striker Ben Burgess swapped football to become a teacher - as you can read in this feature.

He's just tweeted , externalthis pic, with the words: Another day as a teacher - Red Nose Day.

Image source, Twitter

Nice blusher.

Southport have signed former Blackburn goalkeeper Seb Usai and released fellow keeper Daniel Lloyd-Weston.

Usai, 24, has joined the Conference strugglers as a free agent until the end of the season.

Stuart McCall says it's "an honour and privilege" to be named as Rangers manager after agreeing to take over at Ibrox until the end of the season.

McCall replaces caretaker manager Kenny McDowall who left the club on Thursday.

Image source, SNS

"Obviously it's a big, big challenge, there's no doubt about that," said the former Motherwell boss.

"Anybody who has seen the side of late, the last three or four months, will know it's a big challenge, but ultimately it's a massive opportunity."

McCall has a job on his hands if he is to get Rangers promoted - they are third in the table, five points behind second-place Hibernian and 22 behind league leaders Hearts.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been named the Premier League player of the month for the second month in succession.

The 21-year-old scored four goals in February, including both in a 2-1 win over Arsenal. He beat the shortlisted Dame N'Doye, Jonjo Shelvey, Philippe Coutinho, Ben Foster and Mesut Ozil to the award.

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom head coach Tony Pulis was named manager of the month.

Pulis guided the Baggies to a 2-2 draw at Burnley, a 2-0 win over Swansea City, a goalless draw at Sunderland and a 1-0 home win over Southampton in February.

Couple of Everton related stats for you from our friends at Opta, external.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

Just realised we haven't yet mentioned Everton, which is unfair given they provided a rare ray of sunshine amongst the gloom of British clubs in Europe.

The Toffees beat Dynamo Kiev at Goodison last night in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

Image source, PA

Romelu Lukaku's late penalty sealed a 2-1 win for Everton, who fell behind early on when Oleg Gusev swept the Ukrainian side ahead. Steven Naismith equalised.

If the Blues can hold their advantage in Ukraine on 19 March, they will set up their first European quarter-final in 30 years ... not a bad achievement given their woeful Premier League campaign.

Full match report here.

Fernando Torres on Twitter:, external

Image source, Twitter

Frank Keogh at Cheltenham
BBC Sport

"On-course bookmaker John Hughes has good reason to want his fellow Northern Irishman AP McCoy and Carlingford Lough to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Image source, Twitter

"Hughes told me: 'My back garden overlooks Carlingford Lough and I have a picture of it on my phone and I was at Thurles the day McCoy had his first ever winner.'

"I asked him that day 'Which McCoy are you?' as there are a few McCoys in that part of the world. I guess there's only one McCoy at the moment."

Hughes lives in the Warren Point area of County Down, Northern Ireland, and has a picture on his phone of Carlingford Lough - a picturesque inlet which splits Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Stop what you're doing, Sit down. Have a sip of coffee. Take a deep breath.

Are you ready?

England have won a game at the World Cup!

Image source, Getty Images

Set 101 to win in a rain-hit game, Eoin Morgan's men have beaten Afghanistan with ease - losing only Alex Hales en route to a nine-wicket victory - Ian Bell unbeaten on 52.

Now they can get straight back to their hotel and pack their suitcases for the flight home. Thy are out of the competition of course - their only other win over Scotland.

Not sure what they're doing in training at West Ham today but Carlton Cole has just tweeted this, external.

Image source, Twitter

A new surprise tactic for the Arsenal match perhaps?

Gloucester have announced Tom Lindsay will join the club from Wasps at the end of the season.

The 27-year-old hooker has spent the whole of his career at Wasps since joining 11 years ago, making over 100 appearances and going on to achieve international recognition with the England Saxons.

Quick update from the cricket and England are racing towards the rather paltry target set by Afghanistan at the cricket World Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

Requiring 112 to win a rain-disrupted game, England are 77-0 off 12.3 overs. Ian Bell is on 40, Alex Hales 35.

Live text commentary here.

Who will join Chelsea and Manchester City in the top four?

Geoff Naylor: English fans don't want to watch possession football. They want action and passion! Arsenal 3rd, Liverpool 4th. Louis van Gaal sacked.

Image source, Getty Images

Alassane Ouattara: With United, considering their form, still to face Everton, Liverpool, Chelsea, City and Arsenal, I doubt they will make the top four.

Aaron Wright: Who really cares they'll all be beaten anyway by the likes of Real, Bayern and Barca.

Nice cheery note to finish on Aaron...

Keep 'em coming to #bbcsportsday

Manor Marussia sporting director Graeme Lowdon is unsure if the team will be able to compete in Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Despite making it Melbourne just three weeks after exiting administration, the team failed to get Will Stevens or Roberto Merhi on track for the two practice sessions at Albert Park on Friday because of a computer software problem.

Image source, Getty Images

"There are a lot of issues, none of which are a big surprise when you consider the amount of work required to get the team here in a very short space of time," Lowdon said.

"We've put our best effort in and we will deal with each problem sequentially and try to get through them as quickly as we can, and try and get running as quickly as we can."