One to mark your card for Saturday. An interview with Stoke forward Marko Arnautovic will be on Football Focus on BBC One.

Top of the Premier League, and now Leicester's players are getting more international recognition.

Danny Drinkwater is in the England squad, while N'Golo Kante is in the French squad for the first time.

"This is another step. Some players who haven’t been with their national teams now start to get called up," Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri tells a news conference.

"N’Golo Kante understood immediately the tempo and rhythm of the Premier League. He is a strong player.”   

Image source, Getty Images

The big story of the day concerns Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater getting picked for an England squad for the first time.

His club manager Claudio Ranieri has just been giving his opinion on the news.

"I’m pleased, all his team-mates are pleased," says Ranieri. "It’s good because it means we’re working well. He deserves it because all season he’s working well with good quality and is now scoring goals.

"He’s always available for his team-mates. He has the personality to command a game and has a very good partnership with Kante."

So why has Joe Marler dropped to bench for Saturday's final Six Nations game with France, even though he's eligible to play after receiving no punishment for his slur against Samson Lee?

Eddie Jones simply explained: "I’ve made the changes as it suits the way we want to play."

"Look, we’ve got a Grand Slam in front of us. A Grand Slam is much more interesting than anything that happened seven days ago."

Do you think he wants to change the subject?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

England head coach Eddie Jones has been discussing, among other things, the latest on the Joe Marler saga.

The prop received no punishment for his "Gypsy boy" comment to Wales counterpart Samson Lee.

Wales boss Warren Gatland called it 'banter' before apologising, and the WRU have released a statement saying they are 'surprised' by the decision.

What does Jones make of the whole scenario?

"We just let it run. We’re not interested in controlling social media, or saying what’s right or wrong. That’s why we have judicial committees."

Sport has a funny way of telling great stories. Half an hour ago Davey Russell was furious as he was unseated by Zabana right at the start of the JLT Novices Chase and the race carried on without him.

But now, he is punching the air in celebration as Mall Dini, a 14/1 shot, wins the second race of the day - the Pertemps Network Final.

1 Mall Dini (D N Russell) 14-1

2 Arpege D'alene (Sean Bowen) 14-1

3 If In Doubt (R Johnson) 10-1

4 Taglietelle (J W Kennedy) 14-1

24 ran

Also: 11-2 Fav Leave At Dawn

Everton's John Stones is reportedly the man on incoming Man City manager Pep Guardiola's 'want' list.

Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte is on the radar as a future partner in defence as part of an £80m raid, the Daily Express, external claims.

Read the rest of Thursday's Football Gossip here.

Image source, Reuters

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is looking for some home comforts as his side fight to stay in the Premier League.

"The results at home haven't been what I've wanted since I got here," says Pardew. "Our philosophy is to go toe-to-toe.

"I want us to be more consistent and be an established Premier League team. For half of last term and half of this one we were, but we must improve.

"I've got some great players here, I love managing them and I love it here. I'm looking forward to these next nine games."

The next race begins shortly - the Pertemps Network Final.

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth defender Adam Smith has been speaking to the media as the 13th-place Cherries prepare to travel to title contenders Tottenham.

White Hart Lane is a familiar place for the 24-year-old, as he came through the academy system at Spurs.

"All my family are Spurs fans. I was there from when I was seven years old. At the time I was frustrated, but that's football," he said.

"I know Danny Rose very well, it will be a good battle! We'll be giving each other some stick."

Rose, of course, has just been called up for the England squad. Does Smith think some of his team-mates should have made the cut?

"Some of our lads didn't get in the squad, but it's only our first season in the Premier League. Hopefully next year we can impress."

It was a bit of a farcical start to the first race of the day. Davy Russell was unseated by Zabana right at the start, but the race was not brought back.

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew admits he is jealous of the progress made by Premier League leaders Leicester.

"They've had hardly any injuries, no mistakes, the stars have aligned. The route is clear for them, they're favourites," says Pardew.

"It's envy, from us, for what they've done, but also admiration for Leicester. I take my hat off to them, they've been brilliant.

"In all the games they've won recently it's been really tight and I expect it to be the same against us. We'll be hoping for a result."

Image source, Getty Images

Ruby Walsh first won a race at the Cheltenham Festival in 1998 and has now collected his 50th win.

"It is amazing," says Walsh. "It is not something I ever thought I would be lucky enough to do.

"I've had the backing of great trainers, and this is a privileged position to be in."

Trainer Willie Mullins is celebrating again as Black Hercules takes the opening race of the day. In an interview with BBC Radio 5 live, Mullins says "At the second last I thought the chance had gone, once Ruby got him balanced and running he just got him up the straight."

Mullins also pays tribute to Ruby Walsh, who has just collected his 50th victory at the Cheltenham Festival.

"Ruby Walsh is the best jockey I've had riding for me," adds Mullins. "From the first time I saw him he was different gravy, and he still is. He just oozes class and is always in the right place."

What a milestone. Ruby Walsh collects his 50th victory at the Cheltenham Festival as Black Hercules wins the opening race of the third day - the JLT Novices' Chase.

Black Hercules was a 4/1 co-favourite.

1 Black Hercules (R Walsh) 4-1 Co Fav

2 Bristol De Mai (D A Jacob) 4-1 Co Fav

3 L'Ami Serge (Nico de Boinville) 8-1

9 ran

Also: 4-1 Co Fav Garde La Victoire, 8-1 Three Musketeers 4th

Crystal Palace have not won a league game this year and have dropped to 15th in the Premier League table, so is boss Alan Pardew worried? 

Not really. He says: "We've had fantastic results in the cup, so it's hard to judge at times. We talk about our league form and it's kind of strange.

"We're in decent form, but not enough of it in the league. We've got a chance to turn it around now.

"On 29 games we're on exactly the same number of points as last year, but we've done it in a very, very strange way."

The first race of the day - the JLT Novices Chase - starts in five minutes. You can listen to live commentary by clicking on the live coverage tab at the top of this page.

Meet Positive Futures - a project tackling anti-social behaviour in Gainsborough through football playing and coaching - who have been playing in the 2016 FA People's Cup.

We'll be providing a live text commentary to follow the finals day of the FA People's Cup on Sunday, 20 March.