Phil Shaw reports.
England must finish above Bulgaria, Sweden and Poland in what Glenn Hoddle described as “one of the toughest groups” if they are to reach the European Championship finals in 2000 without recourse to a play-off.Hoddle was certainly less enamoured of the hand dealt to him by yesterday’s qualifying draw in the Belgian city of Ghent than his Scottish equivalent, Craig Brown. With the mighty Alan Shearer back up front, talented providers Robert Lee and John Barnes finally have someone to aim at.Cheltenham almost pulled off a shock at home last week but, despite their 1-0 Vauxhall Conference victory over Hednesford on Saturday it looks like curtains for them when they visit Reading for their FA Cup Third Round replay. Anfield is not the fortress of old and Liverpool failed to impress when held 0-0 by out-of-form Leicester City at Filbert Street on Saturday.Newcastle, on the other hand, put in a plucky effort to end their bad run with a 2-1 victory over Bolton at St James’s Park. Deservedly 1-4 favourites to retain their Premiership title, United were hardly out of first gear when cruising to a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford last Saturday.
Southampton were not disgraced in emerging with a point after their goalless draw with Bolton at the Reebok stadium, but the Saints will find the likes of Giggs, Beckham and Scholes an infinitely more daunting proposition tonight.Newcastle might get three but it’s hard to see Liverpool coming up with four for the third season running in their Premiership showdown with at Anfield tomorrow night.

Manchester United, who – with the obvious exception of the out- for-the-season Roy Keane – are likely to field a full-strength side, look nailed on at 4-6 with William Hill and the Tote to beat Southampton in their Premiership clash at The Dell this evening. Southampton pulled off a shock victory in this fixture last season but rampant United have evolved into a team which, if not out of this world, is certainly out of this league this season. Eddery earned wide praise for one of the rides of the season after he brought Celeric from behind to land the Gold Cup in June.Dunlop, currently on holiday in Australia, has a good record with stayers. He won the Gold Cup with Ragstone in 1974 and trains likely contenders for 1998 in Silver Patriarch, Orchestra Stall and Samraan.. Celeric, the Ascot Gold Cup winner, is to be moved to John Dunlop’s stable.

His co-owners Christopher Spence and Jonathan Morley have chosen to send their gelding to the former champion trainer following the death of David Morley, whose widow, Melanie, has elected not to take over the training licence. Fergus Wilson will collect over pounds 1m if Maidstone Monarch manages to win at Aintree. He recently staked pounds 4,000 at odds of 250-1 with the Tote after staking pounds 200 at the same price before Christmas.
l Tomorrow’s meeting at Carlisle has been abandoned because of waterlogging.l Simon Dow’s Flight became the first British-trained winner in France this year when landing the Prix des Camelias at Cagnes-sur-Mer yesterday.. Spence said: “It’s fair to say that John is who David would have wanted to train Celeric as they were great friends.”
The move will not affect riding arrangements as Celeric’s regular partner, Pat Eddery, rides frequently for Dunlop.

“He hasn’t broken down but he just keeps getting heat in an off tendon. He will be back next November, and perhaps the handicapper will drop him a stone.”. A runner making his debut in a modest bumper at Fontwell today has been backed by his owner to win any Grand National from the year 2000 onwards. The grey had been on the verge of a return from injury last month only to suffer another setback. “Morceli has been fired and will not run this season,” the trainer said.

“We are delighted with this performance and he will have one more run before we go to Cheltenham.”The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner of 1995, Master Oats has run his last race. The trainer made the decision after Master Oats suffered an accident while out hunting.”He caught his hind-quarters on a sharp flint when backing into a wall and, although the injury is not life-threatening, there is no way he could follow his intended career as a hunter chaser this season,” Bailey said.Also out of action, but only temporarily, is Howard Johnson’s smart chaser Morceli who will miss the whole season. Kim Bailey announced he has been forced to scrap plans to campaign his 12-year-old in hunter chases. He is a horse to look forward to for the future,” Dunwoody said as he unsaddled the 4-5 favourite. The gelding’s trainer, Liam Browne, identified the Royal SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham as the target for Sarsfield The Man “He will get three miles,” Browne said.