Friday
Champions Cup Pool Three, Glasgow v Montpellier (Sky Sports Action, 7.45pm ko)
It’s the calm before the storm on Friday, with a quiet night ahead of a blockbuster weekend. The Champions Cup does get back underway as Glasgow welcome Montpellier to Scotstoun, and with both sides winless heading into round three it’s a case of win or bust. Pool Three leaders Leinster will be interested observers ahead of their clash with Exeter on Saturday.
QBE Shootout (Sky Sports Golf, 6.30pm-9.30pm)
With the serious business put to bed until January’s Tournament of Champions, the PGA’s calendar year rounds off with a team competition in Naples, Florida, which sees 12 two-person teams compete over three rounds. Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry are pairing up (first round tee-off 3.45pm Irish time), while one of the stars of woman’s golf, Lexi Thompson, will play with Tony Finau. The format takes in Scramble (Friday), Modified Alternate Shot (Saturday) and Better Ball (Sunday).
Saturday
West Ham United v Chelsea (Sky Sports Main Event, 12.30pm)
Poor old David Moyes. His first three games in charge of West Ham have ended in three defeats - next up comes the visit of champions Chelsea. Best of luck.
Racing from Sandown (ITV 4, TV3, 1.30pm-4.0pm)
We are now well and truly in the loving, warm embrace of the jumps season, and Saturday’s card at Sandown includes two Grade Ones. While there is no Irish interest the Henry VIII Novice Chase (1.45) is an intriguing race, which sees favourite Brain Power tackled by North Hill Harvey - impressive during recent victory at Cheltenham - and Colin Tizzard’s potential superstar Finian’s Oscar.
Later in the day the renewal of the Tingle Creek (2.55) has been significantly weakened by the withdrawal of the mighty Douvan, making Fox Norton an odds-on favourite to hold off, amongst others, Politilogue, Ar Mad and Charbel.
Any tips?
Finian’s Oscar and Fox Norton to land Colin Tizzard a Grade One double pays a shade under 7/1 (Oddschecker).
Any other racing?
There are cards at Aintree, Chepstow, Wetherby, Wolverhampton (AW) and, closer to home, Navan.
Blaklion is market leader for the Grade Three Becher Chase at Aintree (1.30), while later on that card Mouse Morris’s Alpha Des Obeaux (9-1) is bidding a raid in a very competitive Many Clouds Chase (2.35).
Champions Cup, Munster v Leicester, Thomond Park (BT Sport 2, 7.45pm ko)
The mighty Munster against the Leicester Tigers under the Thomond floodlights - there can hardly be a more evocative fixture in European rugby. There is plenty of history between these two sides, who have both dined at the continent’s top table since the Champions Cup’s inception. The two teams share top spot in Pool Four, ahead of French duo Racing and Castres. Munster will feel they need to make a big statement in the first leg of a double-header, ahead of a trip to Welford Road next week.
Sunday
WBO world super-featherweight title, Vasyl Lomachenko v Guillermo Rigondeaux (BoxNation, 2.0am Irish time, Madison Square Garden)
In early hours of Sunday morning Vasyl Lomachenko will defend his WBO world super-featherweight title against Guillermo Rigondeaux, current holder of the WBO super-bantamweight crown. The fight brings together - according to Ring Magazine - the current third (Lomachenko) and fourth (Rigondeaux) best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
It is an intriguing superfight between two double-Olympic gold medallists, but such is Sky’s stranglehold on boxing it will largely pass by unnoticed. But it is one worth staying up for - especially with Michael Conlan taking on Argentina’s Luis Fernando Molina on the undercard.
Champions Cup, Harlequins v Ulster, The Stoop (BT Sport 3, 1.0pm)
The second in this weekend’s Ireland-England trilogy in Europe sees Les Kiss’s side travel to play Harlequins. Ulster’s Champions Cup campaign started brightly with victory at home to Wasps before they were roundly thumped by La Rochelle. The French side look destined to steamroll all before them to win Pool One, so for the rest it is a case of picking up points wherever else they can - for Ulster, victory in London is key.
Champions Cup, Exeter v Leinster, Sandy Park (Bt Sport 2, 5.30pm)
Leinster travel to Sandy Park on Saturday evening for the sternest test of their Champions Cup credentials thus far. The Chiefs won the English Premiership in 2016/17 and have picked up where they left off this term, and they sit top of the table with eight wins from 10. Leinster have been impressive on the continent with two bonus point wins over Glasgow and Montpellier - a third straight win at Sandy Park would put them in a commanding position in Pool Three. Their cause will be helped by the likely return of Jonathan Sexton, along with the rest of the province’s Irish contingent.
Racing from Cork
There are two brilliant cards on offer in Ireland on Sunday, with the action at Punchestown and Cork arguably eclipsing Saturday’s offering.
The highlight of the day is the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown (Grade One, 2.05), and it is shaping up to be a heavyweight renewal. Willie Mullins's Djakadam is a 2-1 antepost favourite to complete a hat-trick in the race - but Gold Cup hero Sizing John is the obvious threat should Jessica Harrington choose to leave him in. Meanwhile Noel Mead's exciting Disko heads a typically strong Gigginstown challenge - a thriller awaits.
In Cork the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase (2.20) is the feature, and could potentially see the seasonal bow of Un De Sceaux, an imperious winner of the Ryanair at Cheltenham earlier this year.
Leinster SFC club final, St Loman’s, Mullingar v Moorefield (TG4, 2.0)
There is no Dublin club in this year’s Leinster final - St Vincent’s were shocked by Rathnew in the quarter-finals - and Moorefield (Kildare) are favourites to win the provincial title in their absence, against St Loman’s of Westmeath. The final will be held in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
Liverpool v Everton (Sky Sports Main Event, 2.15ko)
Sam Allardyce faces the first big test of his Everton tenure as the Toffees travel to play free-scoring rivals Liverpool at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side put seven past Spartak Moscow midweek and have a formidable derby record - while Everton’s defence has been abysmal all season. All indicators suggests this should be a straightforward assignment for Liverpool - but Big Sam will be chomping at the bit to make a statement in his first Merseyside derby.
Manchester United v Manchester City (Sky Sports Main Event, 4.30ko)
Since Sheikh Mansour bought Manchester City in 2008 the Manchester Derby has continued to take on greater and great significance outside of the city itself. Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Old Trafford on Sunday eight-points clear at the top of the table, knowing victory would give them an imposing 11-point lead as they bid to secure the club’s fifth league title.
Meanwhile Manchester United have enjoyed a good start to the season - 11 wins, two draws and two losses from 15 games is normally championship-winning form - but still find themselves just about hanging on to their neighbour’s coattails. United head into the derby without their best player - Paul Pogba is serving a three-match suspension - but Jose Mourinho knows it is imperative his side win on Sunday night.
It’s the irresistable force against the immoveable object, and it’s fascinatingly poised.
