Live coverage: Melbourne Cup 2011

RACE 10:
1. 2 Under The Eiffel
2. 11 Hood
3.  7 Nicastro
5.19pm: theage.com.au hope Baron has been exceeded in his efforts by a handful of lucky thoroughbreds which probably got the benefit of the better going in the last race.... Bad luck Dan.
5.17pm:
Paramedics are on standby for excited theage.com.au identity Daniel Sankey, part-owner of Baron, #18 in the last race at Flemington on Cup Day. Good luck Dan.

5.08pm: Adam Cooper reports that Michael Rodd, the jockey beaten by a nose in today's Melbourne Cup, said after the race that he was never confident of being named the winner in the photo finish, and he was devastated at getting so close and not winning.
"I would have preferred to have got beaten by half a length than to get beaten by that," he said.
Rodd had an agonising wait while onboard Red Cadeaux after his horse and Dunaden hit the line at the same time in what was one of the closest finishes in the great race's history. The race finished in heartache for Rodd when Dunaden was named the winner. Rodd experienced the ultimate excitement when he won the Cup on Efficient in 2007, but today found it painful to get so close and not win.
"I know he's a 50-1 pop, but it hurts," he said.
"We had a beautiful run through the race, he saved all the ground and I was able to come out when I wanted to.
"He felt fantastic. I was able to hold him up to the 400, then come into it at the 350, and he showed a turn of foot I wasn't expecting.
"Normally those European horses slog away a bit, but he's really tried and it's taken a good horse to beat him."
4.43pm: RESULTS
RACE 9 MSS SECURITY SPRINT 1200m
1. 5 Facile Tigre 10.60 3.50
2. 17 Top Drop 6.30
3. 11. Parables 2.00
4.35pm: Rain has begun falling at a grey Flemington, as the anti-climactic races following the thrilling Melbourne Cup are run. It is as if the heavens held off for the great race. At the presentation ceremony for the Melbourne Cup British connections of winner Dunaden thanked Melbourne for its hospitality being so amazing that the city organised "England weather".
4.01pm RESULT
Race 8
1. 4 Lamasery
2. 6 Extra Zero
3. 17 Right Fong

3.54pm: 2011 MELBOURNE CUP finishing order:
1st DUNADEN (13)
2nd RED CADEAUX (15)  
3rd LUCAS CRANACH (11)  
4th AMERICAIN (14)
5th MANIGHAR (20)
6th LOST IN THE MOMENT(3)
7th FOX HUNT (18)
8th NIWOT (9)
9th UNUSUAL SUSPECT (7)
10th AT FIRST SIGHT (10)
11th PRECEDENCE (2)
12th DRUNKEN SAILOR (8)
13th THE VERMINATOR (4) 
14th TULLAMORE (12)
15th MOYENNE CORNICHE (16)
16th SAPTAPADI (21)
17th OLDER THAN TIME (19) 
18th HAWK ISLAND (17) 
19th ILLO (1)
20th JUKEBOX JURY (6)
21st SHAMROCKER (23)
22nd GLASS HARMONIUM (22)
23rd MODUN (5)
The official margins were a nose by a length and a quarter by a nose. Less than three lengths covered the first six past the post.

3.46pm:
RACE 7 2011 MELBOURNE CUP
1. Dunaden
2. Red Cadeaux
3. Lucas Cranach
Last: Modun
Dunaden's trainer Mikel Delzangles said his original choice as jockey, Craig Williams, "did a great job for the preparation of the horse". Delzangles, who described Williams as a "gentleman", said he had no doubt the jockey would one day win the Melbourne Cup "because he’s a very talented jockey".
Winning jockey Christophe Lemaire also sympathised with Williams. "I know it's hard for him, but it's part of the jockey's life.
"This day will be one of the great moments of my career".
"I hope to come for the Melbourne Cup year after year," he said.
Runner-up by the narrowest of margins, Michael Rodd said he was surprised by the turn of foot his mount Red Cadeaux showed in the finish. "I know he's a 50-1 pop, but it hurts," he said of getting so close to winning Australia's biggest race.
Glenn Boss, said the run of the race was from Americain which finished fourth. He went so far as to compare the French champion to his former mount Makybe Diva, who won the race three times.
3.35pm: RESULT
RACE 7 MELBOURNE CUP 3200 metres group 1 handicap
1. Dunaden
2. Red Cadeaux
3. Lucas Cranach
Last: Modun

The Governor-General Quentin Bryce, in presenting the Melbourne Cup to the connections of Dunaden, has delivered an extraordinary speech full of emotional references to the bushranger heritage of Australian culture, spoke of racegoers as "mates, comrades and partners", and the "exciting, arousing, thrilling" race, which puts "so much wealth at risk".
3.24pm: CORRECT WEIGHT DECLARED
1. 3 Dunaden $8.20 $3.10
2. 12 Red Cadeaux 14.00
9. Lucas Cranach 4.50

3.12pm: DUNADEN HAS BEEN NAMED WINNER OF THE MELBOURNE CUP.
1. Dunaden
2. Red Cadeaux
3. Lucas Cranach
Last: Modun

Even when viewing the official photo finish, the two internationals were incredibly difficult to separate. It surely would have been a dead heat in past decades. The winners is being greeted with delirious cheers from the huge crowd. 
Jockey Christophe Lemaire was overcome with emotion straight after the result was posted, only able to say "This is unbelievable". Dunaden had been headed by Red Cadeaux in the last 100 metres before fighting back. Having regained his composure a few moments later, Lemaire paid credit to Craig Williams, who lost the ride when his appeals against a suspension for careless riding was dismissed. "I feel very sorry for him. he's a good friend of mine." Williams might have performed the unprecedented feat of winning the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in one spring if he had been successful with his appeal.

Gallant topweight Americain, fourth-last on the turn, ran on strongly to finish fourth. 
Modun, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor and  ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, finished at the back of the field.
The race did not pan out as planned, with a slow early pace encouraging Jim Cassidy on Illo to set up a seven lengths lead at the 1300 metre mark. Expected leader Glass harmonium once again blew the start and trailed the field for much fo the race. The pace was steady from then on, with Cummings stablemate Precendence pulling his way to second. The pacesetters were overtaken around 400 metres out, when Lucas Cranach looked the likely winner. But the last wave of attack from midfield brought Red Cadeaux and Dunaden. As has occurred all day, a remarkably close finish ensued, and the horse on the inside of the middle of the track prevailed.
International horses finished 1,2,4,5,6,7, with Lucas Cranach, third, considered a local only by a technicality. This was truly the International Cup, the second consecutive year a French horse has won, and one of the great Melbourne Cups, with as thrilling a finish as the great race has ever seen.
3.10pm PHOTO ALL PLACES
Incredibly close finish in the Melbourne Cup between Dunaden and Red Cadeaux. We're dependent on the camera, its too close to call with the naked eye. This is the longest delay for a result in the modern era.

3.06pm: They're off and racing in the 2011 Melbourne Cup! Good luck!
 3.03pm: Horses are entering the barriers. Red Cadeaux is unsettled. Lucas Cranach is keeping them waiting after wandering down the track.
3.02pm: Moyenne Corniche was a little fired up in the mounting Yard; favourite Americain looks sedated he is so calm.
2.59pm: The horses are behind the barriers. Seconds left to lose your money, or set up a collect...

Russian royalty, an international soccer star, Hollywood actors and a homegrown "socialite" with half her dress hacked off have failed to upstage the horses at Flemington.
The police are on the job: racegoers heading home from the Melbourne Cup along the Maribyrnong River are being warned not to drink and drive on the water as police patrol the area.

2.55pm: The frenzy is all in the betting ring as the field prepares step on to the course, with calm horses riddden quietly by impassive jockeys in single file, under a grey, still sky.

2.51pm: NINE MINUTES TO GO! The horses are parading impressively, with the new chute the VRC has instituted keeping them from the massive crowd until they reach the mounting yard. They are all beautifully presented and calm, even serial rogue Glass Harmonium. The traditional pre-race bugle has sounded, to a roar from the crowd stuffed in around the mounting yard.

2.48pm The Melbourne Cup starts at 3pm. Time to get your bet on...
The horses are parading, and the money has returned to the favourites. After drifting slightly earlier in the day, Dunaden and Americain are again the top two picks as the race looms.

2.35pm: The Ten Tenors have performed the national anthem in a stirring, melodramatic rendition suitable for nervous runners and connections, and perhaps some of the punters who have large sums riding on the result of the race. The largely frivolous, festive crowd, as keen on frocking up and flirting as punting, seemed to enjoy the semi-'classical' sounds.

2.30pm: The jockeys are introduced, one by one, for once the centre of attention before a race.

MELBOURNE CUP BETTING UPDATE
Americain 5.40 5.10 5.00
Dunaden 9.20 9.00 8.30
Niwot 9.70 9.60 9.50
Jukebox Jury 11.10 11.00 10.90
Illo 12.40 12.80 13.50
Lucas Cranach 13.20 13.20 13.30
At First Sight 13.20 13.10 13.10
Manighar 18.70 19.80 20.50
Tullamore 19.00 19.80 20.90
Precedence 21.10 21.60 21.90
Drunken Sailor 21.10 21.60 22.10
Unusual Suspect 28.50 28.70 29.00
Glass Harmonium 34.10 34.60 34.80
Fox Hunt 34.50 33.30 31.90
Modun 38.20 40.20 43.50
Lost In The Moment 41.20 43.00 44.30
Red Cadeaux 46.40 47.40 49.70
Moyenne Corniche 46.60 48.20 49.40
Shamrocker 50.70 52.20 53.80
Older Than Time 69.80 72.10 75.10
The Verminator 70.00 71.40
Hawk Island 84.80 87.80
Saptapadi 138.00 142.30
2.24pm: Sally Pearson, 100 metres world hurdles champion, and Cadel Evans, winner of the Tour De France, have brought the Melbourne Cup to the mounting yard. The Ten Tenors are now performing, an oddly calming sound after the clamour of raceday with such a large crowd. The skies are still a typically Melburnian grey, but the rain is holding off and the sun threatening a cameo appearance.Slow motion highlights of Cups past are showing as the music reaches a crescendo. The Tenors seem to be intoning "Here's to the heroes".
Just over half an hour to have a flutter - the Melbourne Cup is due to go at 3pm. Get on!

2.10pm: RESULT
RACE 6 LEXUS HYBRID PLATE 1400metres for 3yo fillies
1. 2 Combat Kitty 3.50 1.60
2. 7 Mabsam 5.20
3. 3 And Rock 6.60 
Combat Kitty burst from a big pack at the 200 metres and ran clear despite a strong challenge from Mabsam. Once again, the winner was in what appears the choice position in the middle of the track.

2.05pm: Aspiring fashion designer Sarah Schofield, 24, has taken out the Fashions On The Field competition. Ms Schofield, of Bannockburn, who wore a fawn-coloured vintage outfit with a pillbox hat, said she was surprised and thrilled to win. "It was a big surprise, it’s always a very tough competition on Melbourne Cup day because people get their best outfits out, so it was really great to win," she said.
2.00pm: There is hope if you have drawn despised outsider Saptapadi (currently $146.30) in your Cup sweep. "he's a very good horse... he's run some very big races in England with some big weights on his back... don't underestimate him," ebullient trainer Brian Ellison said this morning. Saptapadi ran 14th of 18 at his last start in the Caulfield Cup, beaten 8.3 lengths, but Ellison said he was unlucky in the run that day. he has won one of 14 starts.

1.51pm: Sydneysiders are queueing up to get their bets on the Melbourne Cup. Glenn Munsie from TAB Sportsbet says $175 million will be wagered on the Cup Australia-wide, $110 million in News South Wales and Victoria.

1.35pm: Asked about the sensational plunge on his seven-year-old stayer Niwot to win the Melbourne Cup , trainer Wayne Hawkes this morning said: "I hope the punters are right!" Niwot is the only runner apart from Americain to have won at the Cup distance of 3200 metres. Hawkes said Niwot took the "back door" into the race, by winning Saturday's Lexus Stakes, rather than risking a penalty in the Bendigo Cup. The result is that his charge carries only 51 kilos in today's race. Asked what shape his horse was in after his comfortable win over 2500 metres on Saturday, Hawkes said " He's great, he's well... he's pulled up better than most people on Derby Day!" Hawkes likened Niwot to an Australian stayer from 20 years ago, before weight for age stars and classy international laid claim to the Cup. "He's the old horse that used to run... we're good enough, I really think we are."



1.30pm: RECAP:Melbourne Cup: Mourayan scratched at 10am despite presenting well to stewards in a 6am inspection. Favourite Americain's trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre has expressed concerns that the ground may be too hard for the defending champion. Niwot has been all the rage in punting, coming in from $21 on Saturday to $9.60.
Weather: Overcast and cool, but fine, with little prospect of rain. 
Racing pattern early: Jockeys are taking their mounts to the middle of the track. The track looks fair, and without bias. Horses running on strongly in the last 400 metres have figured strongly. The best going looks to be on the inside of the middle of the track.

1.21pm: RESULT:
RACE 5 SCHWEPPES TONIC 1000 1000 metres
1. 5 African Pulse 5.40 1.50
2. 2 Karuta Queen 1.04
3. 4 The Counterfeiter 4.90 

The first race today with a clear margin, as the odds-on favourite Karuta Queen runs into a smart Mike Moroney sprinter, African Pulse holding his ground on the inside of the middle of the track to win by nearly two lengths. Winning jockey Lisa Cropp has the ride in the Melbourne Cup on Glass Harmonium.

1.12pm: AAP reports that Melbourne Cup favourite Americain has thrown a scare into the camp after casting a shoe at the Werribee quarantine station hours before the race.The horse was replated on arrival at Flemington and passed fit to race. But with the track rated a good three, trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre has expressed concerns to British television the ground may be too hard for the defending champion.
Glenn Boss, jockey of Makybe Diva, three-time Melbourne Cup winner, tipped Americain this morning in The Age, as did many of this year's Cup trainers yesterday.

1.00pm: The track has been upgraded to a Good 3.

12.33pm: RESULT
RACE FOUR: RACE 4 HERALD SUN STAKES 1400 metres mares group three
1. 15 Sophie's Spirit 27.40 7.40
2. 3 Little Surfer Girl 2.90
3. 2 Divorces 2.20
Remarkably, another close finish, with Sophie's Spirit on the inside holding off Little Surfer Girl, which raced wide after a big run from the rear. The biggest winning margin in four races today has been a head. A hint there that the inside, with the rail out three metres, might not be as bad a place to be as thought early today. it will be interesting to see if any runners in later races choose to stick to the inside.
12.21pm MELBOURNE CUP BETTING UPDATE
Americain 5.40 5.10
Dunaden 9.20 9.00
Niwot 9.70 9.60
Jukebox Jury 11.10 11.00
Illo 12.40 12.80
Lucas Cranach 13.20 13.20
At First Sight 13.20 13.10
Manighar 18.70 19.80
Tullamore 19.00 19.80
Precedence 21.10 21.60
Drunken Sailor 21.10 21.60
Unusual Suspect 28.50 28.70
Glass Harmonium 34.10 34.60
Fox Hunt 34.50 33.30
Modun 38.20 40.20
Lost In The Moment 41.20 43.00
Red Cadeaux 46.40 47.40
Moyenne Corniche 46.60 48.20
Shamrocker 50.70 52.20
Older Than Time 69.80 72.10
The Verminator 70.00 71.40
Hawk Island 84.80 87.80
Saptapadi 138.00 142.30
12.12pm: Understated French jockey Gerald Mosse, who rides favourite Americain, is worried about the extra four kilograms his champ has to carry this year after winning the Melbourne Cup in 2010. However, he is not daunted by the task ahead. "We're looking for a clear run... to be in good form on the day, we're already pretty lucky so far. I'm pretty happy."
12.07pm: Designer Leona Edmiston says she wants to see "more elegance" and she wants female patrons to "dress like a lady" today. In the cool conditions, hosiery is permitted. She is effusive, however, about the "amazing" colours on display, saying tangerine and melon colours are lighting up Cup day.



11.50am: RESULTS:
RACE 3 THE LAVAZZA LONG BLACK 2800 metres
1. 13 Norsqui 18.60 5.30
2. 12 Excluded 1.70
3. 7 Olympic Win 5.80

The result of the other distance race on todays programme apart from the Melbourne Cup may give some pointers to the big race, due at 3pm. The winner Norsqui, which held off the hot favourite Excluded, finished third in the Anrdew Ramsden Stakes over 3200 metres at Flemington in May. The resounding winner of that race was the plunge horse in today's classic, Niwot.

Again horses were able to run on from well back in race three, with Exlcuded third last at the turn before unleashing a long surge into contention. Winning rider Chris Symons, who replaced the suspended Craig Williams, will ride Saptapadi in the Cup, and showed off his talents with a well-timed run.


11.37am: Emily Dunn reports that Cups King Bart Cummings favours a Clare Valley drop when having a glass of vino. He likes his shiraz to be "about eight years old, a bit more mature," he says. "Like a horse, they get better with age. Some people do as well." Bart will permit himself a ''a little dab'' of champagne to celebrate. ''I very seldom drink at the races, I am very focused,'' he says. ''I don't drink the champagne generally but, as they say, 'a little dab will do you' and that is all I will drink on the day if I am lucky enough to win.''
11.20am: Adam Cooper reports that everything is running smoothly early on Cup Day at Flemington. Train services are running every four minutes Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations to the racecourse until 12.30pm, with 320 extra services to run today and 60,000 patrons expected to travel to the course by train throughout the day. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Richard Carlyon said dry and light conditions were expected throughout the day. "There’s a 10 per cent of a shower but it should stay dry and mostly cloudy," he said. Police said there had been no reports of trouble at the racecourse.

• Reminder: no tickets are available at the gate. Buy admission tickets at Flinders Street, Southern Cross stations, and online at melbournecup.com

11.10am: RECAP:
Melbourne Cup: Mourayan scratched at 10am despite presenting well to stewards in a 6am inspection.
Weather: Overcast and cool, but fine, with little prospect of rain.
Betting: American the favourite at good value, but Niwot the subject of the heaviest bets. $5,914,361 in the Victorian win pool for the Cup.
Racing pattern early: Jockeys are taking their mounts to the middle of the track. Horses running on strongly in the last 400 metres have won the first two races.

11.04am
RESULTS:
RACE 2: TAB SPORTSBET HANDICAP 1700m (mares)
1. 5 Foxstar 4.30 1.90
2. 3 Vintedge 2.60
3. 6. Influential Miss 2.20
Jockey Hugh Bowman, who had wasted to ride Mourayan in the Melbourne Cup, scratched this morning, gets a small consolation with a narrow win in on Foxstar. The Guy Walter-trained five-year-old was behind a stride before the line and stride after, but put her head out at the right time to claim the tightest win possible from Damien Oliver's mount Vintedge. Influential Miss, who won on this day last year, ran on stoutly for third.


11.00am MELBOURNE CUP BETTING UPDATE
Americain 5.40
Dunaden 9.20
Niwot 9.70
Jukebox Jury 11.10
Illo 12.40
Lucas Cranach 13.20
At First Sight 13.20
Manighar 18.70
Tullamore 19.00
Precedence 21.10
Drunken Sailor 21.10
Unusual Suspect 28.50
Glass Harmonium 34.10
Fox Hunt 34.50
Modun 38.20
Lost In The Moment 41.20
Red Cadeaux 46.40
Moyenne Corniche 46.60
Shamrocker 50.70
Older Than Time 69.80
The Verminator 70.00
Hawk Island 84.80
Saptapadi 138.00

10.50am: Leading trainer Mark Kavanagh, without a runner in this year's Cup, has tipped lightweight Niwot to win, saying he is an "excellent chance" who has "come good at the right time".
Former champion jockey Simon Marshall is selecting At First Sight, the remaining Lloyd Williams runner.
Richard Freedman is tipping Americain to win from Dunaden and Lucas Cranach.
10.42am: Channel Seven's Bruce McAvaney pays a line and length gentleman's compliment to roving reporter Johanna Griggs and she returns with interest, saying the dimmunitive host is looking "smokin' hot!" Traditionally, the fashion on Melbourne Cup day is more garish and bold than Derby Day. The commentary might also be a little less formal today by the sounds of that introduction. For mine, Seven balanced the sport, business, self-promotion and frivolity well on Saturday in its coverage, and having a stand-alone fashion/celebrity programme following the main coverage was smart.
10.29am: Those two-year-old fillies dashed down the straight in great style in race one, but true fans of speed will be hanging on for Saturday when superstar mare Black Caviar attempts to win her 16th (and 16th consecutive) race in the $1million, group one, Patinack Farm Classic over 1200 metres.

10.23am:
RESULTS:
RACE 1 EMIRATES AIRLINE PLATE  1000m (two-year-old fillies)
1. 2 Applegate 7.60 3.00
2. 14 Snitzerland 2.80
3. 1 Alezan Thunder 1.80
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy, Applegate's rider, says it is a "great way to start the day". He rides Modun for Saeed Bin Suroor in the Melbourne Cup.

10.10am: Andrew Eddy reports that owner Lloyd Williams has lost one of his two hopes for this afternoon's Melbourne Cup when his import Mourayan was withdrawn at 10am after industry vets ruled him lame.
Mourayan, who ran a gallant second in last Saturday's group 1 Mackinnon Stakes, pulled up sore in a hoof following the performance and the six-year-old stallion had a gear change to bar-shoes in an attempt to allieviate pressure on the hoof.
But the Racing Victoria Ltd veterinary team claimed, after a 10am inspection, the horse had soreness in his hoof due to the addition of corrective shoeing‏. His scratching has left the Williams team with just one Melbourne Cup runner - At First Sight - after paying up for as many as six horses at last week's second declaration stage.
The scratching of Mourayan has added further to the misery of imported galloper Bauer, who was stranded outside the Melbourne Cup field at 25th in order at final declarations. Bauer, the 2008 Melbourne Cup runner-up was scratched from the race on Cup morning last year.

Significant changes are expected to betting markets following the late scratching, with Mourayan rated as a $15 chance this morning. 
9.47: Matt Jenkins from TAB Sportsbet says the money is still coming for Sydney seven-year-old Niwot, who was $101 to win the Cup before prevailing in Saturday's Lexus Stakes. After his win, he was $21, but now, you can only get $9.  
9.40: Radio Sports National's Brisbane analyst Peter Bredhauer is another who has been spooked by the change of jockey on Dunaden following the failure of his jockey Craig Williams to overturn a suspension. Bredhauer has changed his tip in the race from Dunaden to Americain. Dunaden has drifted from $8 to $9 since the announcement that Christophe Lemaire, not Williams, would take the ride today.

9.34am: Sorry if you've drawn Illo in your Cup sweep - no horse has ever won the Melbourne Cup when starting from barrier one. He is trained by Bart Cummings though - if anyone can change the course of 151 years of history, it's Bart. The other Cummings roughie, Precedence has drawn barrier two.
The best barriers to draw are 5,8, 10, 11 and 14 - which have provided six winners. Barriers 6 and 19 ahve provided five Cup champions

8.50am: Andrew Eddy's tips for Flemington today:

• RACE 1: 14 Snitzerland, 8 Languish, 1 Alezan Thunder, 7 Kazanjian.
• RACE 2: 5 Foxstar, 6. Influential Miss, 8 Apennine, 11 Cold Steel Rein.
• RACE 3: 7 Olympic Win, 3 Above Average, 10 Western Symbol, 12 Excluded.
• RACE 4: 14 Neriani, 11 Zaira, 3 Little Surfer Girl, 8 Hinemoa.
• RACE 5: 2 Karuta Queen, 6 Shanghai Bound, 5 African Pulse, 7 Hollyweird.
• RACE 6: 1 Disputes, 2 Combat Kitty, 8 Secret Liaison, 7 Mabsam
• RACE 7 (MELBOURNE CUP): 17 At First Sight, 1 Americain, 7 Unusual Suspect, 3 Dunaden
• RACE 8: 6 Extra Zero, 8 God Has Spoken, 10 Pepperwood, 12 Lone Command
• RACE 9: 2 Conservatorium, 11 Parables,10 Eclair Mystic, 16 King Pulse
• RACE 10: 14 Too Deadly, 2 Under The Eiffel, 8 Studley Park, 16 Saint Angers

8.44am: Greg Miles, speaking on Radio Sport National, names Moyenne Corniche and Niwot as his third and fourth picks for the Melbourne Cup.
 8.34am: Racecaller Greg Miles tells Radio Sport National that he's tipping Americain to go back-to-back in the Melbourne Cup. He had Dunaden on top yesterday, but has switched back to Americain with Christophe Lemaire replacing Craig Williams as the jockey. He has also been scared off Mourayan, because the Lloyd Williams runner is racing in bar plates. That's a no-no from a punting point of view, according to Miles - it shows he's been having little issues with his feet.

8.30am: A reminder that the best way to get to Flemington today is to take the train - Metro has trains running every four minutes between 9am and 12.30pm today. Full details here.
8.28am: We'll be Tweeting live from the track @agefromthetrack ... the latest betting fluctuations and results. Coverage to start before race one. Follow us and keep up to date with all the action!

8.09am: A terrific account of what it's like to own a share of Melbourne Cup runner, by The Age's Michael Sharkie, features here. Sharkie, who owns a share in $11 chance in Lucas Cranach, admits he hasn't been getting much sleep this week. "Call me excitable, all me slightly unhinged, but I guess that is the effect the Melbourne Cup can have."
8.02am: Glass Harmonium's trainer, Mike Moroney, has no doubts about the horse to beat in today's Melbourne Cup. "I still think Americain comes here with good form, I think he's the one to beat," he said. Trainer Brian Ellison warned punters not to underestimate outsider Saptapadi. "He's run some very good races with big weights (in the UK) ... he's a very good horse." Professional punter Sean Bartholomew agrees, telling Radio Sport National he's the best outsider in the race. Lee Freedman believes Flemington will suit Caulfield Cup eyecatcher Lucas Cranach, an $11 Melbourne Cup chance. "He'd never seen Caulfield before and we probably overplayed our hand in putting him into the race before the corner. He broke 46 seconds for his last half-mile (in the Caulfield Cup). 
7.38am: We'll have a full field of 24 runners go around in this year's Melbourne Cup - no scratchings. Other scratchings so far are - Race 1: 17e Real Stolle, 18e Shoe's A Monet, 19e Samburu.  Race 2: 4 Royal Commands, 18e Cabasso, 19e Oriental Boy, 20e Kim Heaven. Race 3: 1 Back In Black, 2 I'm Jake, 9 Montahlia, 18 North Lodge, 21e Debecca. Race 4: 4 Banchee, 7 Ardeche, 16 Tariana, 20e Guieseppina. Race 8: 1 Linton, 2 Red Colossus, 11 Blackie, 13 Tiakinui, 20e Letchworth. Race 9: 4 Perturbo, 9 Royal Ida, 12 Stirling Grove, 24e Cascabel. Race 10: 15 Sussuro, 16 Saint Angers, 19e Goldstone, 20e Don't Wake Me.
7.10am: TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie tells Radio Sport National that it stands to lose nearly $3 million if Niwot can salute in today's Melbourne Cup. Believe it or not, he was a $101 chance in the Melbourne Cup before he won the Lexus Stakes on Saturday. He's now $9 fixed odds and is easily the worst result in the race for TAB Sportsbet. Dunaden has drifted since jockey Craig Williams lost his appeal to a careless riding suspension - he was $7.50 yesterday and is now out to $8.50. Munsie predicts about $175 million will be invested on the Cup today - of which, $110 million will be from punters in Victoria and New South Wales. That's a lot of betting tickets...
7.04am: Early betting update - Defending champ Americain is a $4.80 favourite with TAB Sportsbet, ahead of fellow French stayer Dunaden ($8.50) and Aussie hope Niwot ($9.00). There's been a flood of money for Niwot since his effortless victory in the Lexus Stakes on Saturday. Others given a chance are Lucas Cranach ($11.00), the Lloyd Williams pair At First Sight ($14.00) and Mourayan ($16.00) and Bart Cummings' Illo ($19.00).
6.41am: Dean Stewart from the Bureau of Meteorology said racegoers could expect a cloudy day, with a top temperature of 19 degrees. While there's a chance of some drizzle over the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, the odds are it's going to be a dry afternoon at Flemington. Looking ahead to Oaks Day - expect a top of 19 degrees, with a slight chance of a shower in the morning but a bit more sunshine in the afternoon. Emirates Stakes Day on Saturday is shaping as a ripper, however - fine weather, with a top of 30 degrees.
6.39am: Flemington track manager Mick Goodie has told Radio Sport National 927 that the track is currently a Dead 4, with the penetrator at 4.74 overall, 4.76 on the inside and 4.78 on the outside. The rail is out three metres and three millimetres of irrigation was put on the track overnight. Unlike Derby Day on Saturday, the wind won't play as big a factor on racing. "The wind is from a different direction today, it will be slightly behind (the runners) on the turn and across their faces," Goodie said. "I wouldn't think they (runners) would need protection ... they should race a lot more normal today." Goodie said there was a chance of the track being upgraded to a good 3 later today, "but in saying that, it won't be too firm".

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/live-coverage-melbourne-cup-2011-20111101-1msp4.html#ixzz1cMBp5lrn

Stoke City 1 Newcastle United 3: match report

Hat-trick or treat? Demba Ba enjoyed both on a visit to Stoke City, whose fans wrongly believed he rejected them last season. The Senegalese striker silenced the Britannia with a header, a close-range strike and a penalty, sending Newcastle United ahead of Chelsea into third and within a point of Manchester United.

Ba may have been wearing gloves but his fingerprints were all over this game; not only did he plunder three goals, he worked hard defensively. Such was his over-eagerness to help out in Newcastle’s box that he conceded a penalty, pushing Peter Crouch, and presenting Jonathan Walters with a chance from 12 yards that he took emphatically.

It was always going to take something different to breach Newcastle’s superb defence. If Ba took the Hallowe’en headlines, Fabricio Coloccini deserves huge credit for a near faultless performance at centre-half. In truth, all of Alan Pardew’s players fought hard for the cause.

Newcastle know they face a testing period: Everton visit St James’ Park on Saturday, followed by trips to Manchester City and Manchester United before Chelsea come calling. That run of games will provide a truer test of their ambition but this was impressive, resilient fare.

Newcastle’s ambitions of a Champions League place had been questioned by many, possibly even the Stoke DJ with his spinning of Foo Fighters’ thunderous The Pretender before kick-off. Newcastle certainly looked real contenders, their counter-attacking and Ba’s finishing proving the feature of the first half.

F1: Massa Frustrated By Qualifying Crash

Felipe Massa was fastest in FP2 in India on Friday, but today the Brazilian found himself down in sixth place after a suspension failure saw him crash out on his second run.

Massa had been running noticeably wide and on his hot lap caught his right front wheel behind a curb. The unusual forces involved – in effect the wheel was being pulled away from the car – broke the suspension.

“I am disappointed,” said Massa when asked by SPEED.com about his session. “We had a big chance to start both cars in the top four. It was not possible because of this crash. I’m sure I would have improved on this lap, and the position was supposed to be much better than it is now, and I lost one set of soft tires as well, when I crashed, so we need to see how it’s going to be tomorrow, the strategy.”

Massa felt that the curb he hit was too high, although the FIA looked at it later and decreed that it met the usual standards.

“It’s a high speed corner, you have a very low curb, and then you have this high ‘sausage’ curb. I think when you have a high speed like that, the car has a lot of downforce, a lot of power to the ground. When you hit some concrete, some sausage like that, you can have a failure in the suspension.

“It’s exactly what happened with me. I didn’t take the curb so strongly, I took a little bit of curb, and my suspension didn’t survive. It can be a problem for the race. I think in a high speed like that it’s better to do a real curb, a bit higher and normal curbs. That’s the only thing that I think should change for the future.”

Meanwhile Massa attracted a lot of attention over the weekend when his front wing ‘fluttered’ at the end of the straight and both sides touched the ground, sending up sparks.

Ferrari is known to be pushing the limits on flexibility while staying within the FIA load tests.

“For sure it’s quite aggressive, but we are on it, we are analyzing everything. If we decide to use it, it’s because it’s safe. There’s not much to say.”

Massa actually used a different wing in qualifying, and while it was outwardly identical, it did not appear to flutter as much. However he destroyed that in his crash, and now has to go back to the original – the only spare of the same design that Ferrari has at the track.


If he uses an older spec wing he would have to start from the pitlane as broken parts have to be replaced with ‘similar’ ones under the FIA rules.

The intriguing thing is that while the two wings he used today were outwardly identical, their apparently different behavior on track could suggest that they are different structurally – and if the FIA deemed that was in the case in theory the parts would not be similar, and he would have to start from the pitlane.

UFC 137 Fight Results |UFC 137 29/10/2011 Completed Fight- Full Video

BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione
Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Filipovic
George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki
Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran
Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone
Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski
Dustin Jacoby vs. Clifford Starks
Brandon Vera vs. Eliot Marshall
Danny Downes vs. Ramsey Nijem
Chris Camozzi vs. Francis Carmont

Chelsea Vs Arsenal 3-5- Premier League Highlights And Result

Premier League this year promises to be one of the most fought and fierce than even before with surprising and outstanding performances from clubs and players themselves. Following the demolishing of City against United with the scoreboard displaying 6-1.

Another rivalry of matches came along as Arsenal visited Chelsea’s home turf and took them down 5-3 with Robin Van Persie once again being the star player of ‘The Gunners’ as he scored a hat trick that propelled his team to a much needed victory.

The early stages of the match and Arsenal had missed a big number of chances on scoring and they felt the pain to those mistakes when Frank Lampard scored the 1rst goal of the day. It started off with the Spanish midfielder Juan Mata as he bursted past Andre Santos and later delivering a amazing cross over to Lampard and he scored through a header.

20 minutes later and the visitors leveled the game with a nice and neat team play as Aaron Ramsey slipped in a through pass over to Gervinho and the Ivorian forward saw Van Persie unmarked finally the Dutchman scored and equalized the match.

Arsenal found themselves behind in the scoreboard for the 2nd time as John Terry scored the 2nd goal for Chelsea as he took advantage of a corner and the hosts took the lead right before the first half finalized.

Restart of the encounter and it picked up just how it ended in the first half with Andre Santos leveling the playing field with a goal of his own. The goals just continued on coming and now this time it was Arsenal that took the lead for the very first time when Walcott was able to get past Chelsea’s defence and slamming the ball past the goalkeeper Petr Cech turning the score 3-2 in favor of the visiting side.

Now it was Chelsea’s turn to make a comeback and they did with Juan Mata in the 80th minute as the Spanish midfielder slammed the ball into the further side of Arsenal’s goalkeeper Szczesny and into the net.

The defence implanted by Andre Villas-Boas were having a fairly large trouble keeping hold of Van Persie and company which was noticed and capitalized by the opposition at the 85th minute when the Dutchman scored his 2nd after John Terry basically gave him the ball and he was literally alone as he took his shot past Petr Cech.

Extra time was added and Arsenal sealed their victory with their star player Van Persie completing his hat trick and turning the final score in 5-3.

Match Video Highlights can be watched Here

Maryse released by WWE

Usually a release from WWE is a time of sadness. Apparently not for now-ex WWE Diva Maryse Ouelett, who parted ways with the company on Friday.
 
"WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Raw Diva Maryse as of today, October 28, 2011. WWE wishes Maryse the best in all of her future endeavors," reads the note on the website.
However, in her posts on Twitter, @maryse0uellet, she was positively jubilant.
"Im Happy, im Smiling, and FREE, now its time to get Naughty ............BE SEXY" she wrote Friday evening.
Earlier in the day, in her first post-release post, she wrote, "I'M OUT and sexier than ever! Thanks to all my fans, colleagues and @WWE Universe. Time to party! "Release" party tonight at @trousdale LA"

Ouelett had been off the active roster for the last few months following abdominal/hernia surgery in the summer. She has been co-hosting NXT Season 5.
She was the only French Canadian on the WWE roster, which now only includes five Canadians: Christian, Natalya, Tyson Kidd, Jinder Mahal and Santino Marella.

Cristiano Ronaldo could reach Real Madrid century against Villarreal

The Portugal international has a chance of reaching 100 goals in all competitions for the Santiago Bernabeu outfit if he finds the net twice against Juan Carlos Garrido's menMarca.com reports that Ronaldo has scored 98 goals in all competitions since his arrival from Manchester United in 2009.

It has taken the Portuguese 102 games, or 8,634 minutes of football to reach the 98-goal mark and a brace against Villarreal will see him hit 100.

Ronaldo has scored 76 in La Liga - seven less than the great Brazilian forward Ronaldo who hit 83 during his time at the Spanish club.

The 26-year-old has netted 14 times in the Champions League, and there have been seven goals in the Copa del Rey and one in the Supercopa. His goals per game ratio is 0.96.

Ronaldo's feat is astonishing compared to his time at Manchester United. It took him 253 games to reach his century at Old Trafford.

Kick-off against Villarreal is at 21:00 GMT and do not forget you can follow the game with us on our LIVE commentary page to see if Ronaldo breaks another record.

New Music: Mary J Blige And Drake Team Up On “Mr. Wrong”

Sometimes all that’s wrong just feels so right, at least according to Mary J. Blige. The Queen of R&B is neither ashamed nor afraid to indulge in “Mr. Wrong”, her latest single featuring “October’s Very Own” golden boy, Drake.

Last time this hip-hop/R&B duo paired up, Drizzy was giving MJB her true props as “The One.” This time they’re teaming up again for a second go-round on the sultry, slow-grinding Rock-N-B track, produced by Rico Love and Jim Jonsin.

Drizzy opens up the song warning about those who “fall victim to [his] system”; how he’s there when it matters, but missing most of the other times—a terrible pattern when success becomes an addiction. “I’m always her regret, yeah I’m always her regret, and I always make it harder on whoever’s coming next,” he croons before MJB declares, “Bad boys ain’t no good. Good boys ain’t no fun.” What’s a girl to do?



Although she knows she should run off with the “right one”, she and “Mr. Wrong get along so good,” even though he breaks her heart so bad. No matter how hard she tries, she can’t give him up. She loves her “Mr. Wrong.”

“Mr. Wrong” is the second single from Mary J. Blige’s highly anticipated 10th studio album, My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act I), due out Nov. 21st. Check it out below and decide whether you’d prefer Mr. Right to Mr. Wrong.

Maurren Maggi salta 6,94 m e é tricampeã pan-americana brasil, guadalajara 2011, maurren maggi, ouro, pan, salto em distância, tricampeã

Foi o melhor salto do ano de Maurren Maggi, que levou o ouro no salto em distância em Guadalajara. É a terceira conquista consecutiva da atleta no Pan. A segunda colocada, a norte-americana Shameka Yuanice Marshall saltou 6,73 m, 21 cm a menos do que a brasileira.

Condenan a cadena perpetua al exmarino Astiz, en Argentina El excapitán de la marina de guerra de Argentina Alfredo Astiz (59 años), símbolo de la represión ilegal en la dictadura (1976-1983) fue condenado esta noche a prisión perpetua, por crímenes, torturas y secuestros, anunció el Tribunal.

Condenan a cadena perpetua al exmarino Astiz, en Argentina
El excapitán de la marina de guerra de Argentina Alfredo Astiz (59 años), símbolo de la represión ilegal en la dictadura (1976-1983) fue condenado esta noche a prisión perpetua, por crímenes, torturas y secuestros, anunció el Tribunal.

Buenos Aires. AFP.
"Condena a Alfredo Astiz a la pena de prisión perpetua por privación ilegítima de la libertad, tormentos y homicidio", según la lectura del fallo en el Tribunal, en un juicio contra 18 militares, en su mayoría exmarinos.
Astiz, de 59 años, conocido como "El ángel rubio de la muerte", había sido condenado a prisión perpetua en ausencia en Francia e Italia y está considerado agente emblemático de la represión bajo la dictadura.

Mario Maurer arrives in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Thai actor Mario Maurer arrived in Manila on Wednesday to shoot an ad campaign for a local clothing brand in the country.
Maurer is also set to headline the Philippine Fashion Week at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on October 29.
Last August, executives of ABS-CBN movie outfit Star Cinema met with Maurer for a possible movie project.
Maurer gained popularity in the Philippines after he starred in 2010 film "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."
He made his silver screen debut in 2007 with "The Love of Siam," where he played the role of Tong, who is romantically attracted to his boyhood friend.
The portrayal earned him Cinemanila's "Best Actor" award in 2008.
 

Police Raid Occupy Oakland

At nearly 4:00 a.m., it looked like a false alarm.

About an hour earlier, several residents of Occupy Oakland had noticed a caravan of about 20 Oakland Police Department patrol cars drive past the encampment, then disappear. Police radios pinned their location at 14th and Clay, so the protesters built barricades of wooden planks, dumpsters and even dirty couches.

Then they waited. And waited.

Forty minutes later, some 400 police officers from 16 different agencies swept into the encampment, evicting the protesters from the public plaza in front of City Hall, arresting 79 people, and dismantling the tent city set up two weeks ago as an extension of the national Occupy protest movement.

The operation was a massive coordinated effort that caught even the most prepared protesters, on edge after several city eviction notices, by surprise.

There were no injuries to police or protesters and "minimal property damage," Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan said. "I'm very pleased with the way things went."

At a press briefing later Tuesday morning, city administrator Deanna Santana said she had planned the raid and obtained assistance from other law enforcement agencies, but among protesters and police Mayor Jean Quan was largely viewed as the guiding force behind the city’s decision to permit the tent city.

Quan, who did not return a call for comment, was absent from the news conference Tuesday because she is in Washington, D.C., Santana said.

Still, protesters had anticipated a raid for days.

“She’s the new mayor, she’s got her progressive agenda,” protester Gabe Myers said about Quan Monday. “They don’t want to be seen as heavy-handed, but at the same time they want to see us go.”

Since Occupy Oakland's inception, protesters have tried to keep police out of the camp. But protesters had anticipated a raid for several days. At about 2:45 a.m., they finally took to twitter: “Cops are here please come help.”

But by 4:30 a.m., when protesters, some cradling cups of cocoa, gathered for a brief and chaotic meeting, police had still not arrived. And it appeared there was still little consensus about how to respond to the possibility of a raid, reflecting the shifting demographics of the protest encampment.

“I have not heard any public discussion of violence,” said Daniel Kaiya, a former computer technician on Wall Street, and now a yoga instructor. “But I’ve heard small groups of people talking about it.”

The protesters that remained were a diverse mix of parents, young activists, artists, musicians, homeless, and other Oakland residents. Jordan said a large portion of protesters came from outside of the city. Many obscured their faces with bandanas, and a few wore gas masks and carried sticks.

“OK, we’re all here for Occupy, right?” yelled a young woman at the start of the meeting, to a resounding affirmative reply.

“And we’re all here for nonviolence, right?” she yelled, prompting a mixture of yeses and nos.

Minutes later, as the tired protesters splintered off into smaller groups to discuss their next move, the sound of motorcycles filled the air. Protesters began running toward the entrance to the camp, where they were met by rows of police, who had approached on foot.

At about 4:40 a.m., more than 400 officers from Oakland, Hayward, Vacaville, the California Highway Patrol, and other agencies surrounded the encampment, easily outnumbering the nearly 200 protesters and overwhelming the makeshift barricades.

Protesters crowded into the corner of the encampment closest to Broadway and 14th, locked arms, and began chanting “You are the 99 percent!” as police moved slowly in.

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Police Dismantle Occupy Oakland
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“Attention, all persons of Frank Ogawa Plaza,” an officer announced. “This is the Oakland Police Department. It has been determined you are illegally blocking Frank Ogawa Plaza and are subject to arrest.”

The department advised protesters to gather their belongings, secure their dogs and exit toward Telegraph Avenue. After six announcements, and another five minute warning, officers declared the protest an unlawful assembly.

A few protesters began lighting firecrackers and throwing bottles. Police responded with bean bag guns and tear gas, which floated backwards towards officers and reporters standing behind them.

“I didn’t realize this is what we were up against,” said Alex Matkin, who had been camping in Snow Park when he heard about the arrests. “I thought there were gonna be 50-60 officers. They came out in full force.”

Within fifteen minutes, the tent city was flattened. Police had handcuffed most of the remaining protesters with zip-ties and walked them down 14th Street to Clay, where Alameda County Sheriff’s Office buses waited to take them to jail.

As the remaining protesters moved down the street, officers grew more relaxed. One group took a photo with a “Revolution” sign, left in the wreckage. Others reflected on the experience.

Few agreed with the city’s decision to allow the tent city, but they said they sympathized with the protesters.

“We are the 99 percent,” one officer said.

“I agree. I hate corporate greed. I hate Bush,” said one veteran officer. “But we’ve got to have law and order, or else it’s like a third world country. The guns will be in the hands of the bad guys.”

Late Tuesday morning, officers continued to barricade 14th at Broadway and Jefferson, while others tagged and bagged protesters' belongings for pickup. Sergeant Holly Joshi said clean-up would take only a few hours. The city advised employees to come back to work.

City Hall and two buildings adjacent to the plaza were closed to the public all day. The City Council cancelled its weekly meeting.


In a statement, Santana’s office said that the plaza “will remain closed until public health and safety conditions can be improved; this includes debris, human waste and hazardous materials removal.”

“Once the health and safety hazards on the Plaza are resolved, the City will re-open the Plaza as soon as practical to allow peaceful daytime assembly. No camping or overnight stays will be permitted,” the statement read.

Some protesters mourned the tent city’s loss.

“I was super amazed what such different people can do for each other,” said a protester who identified herself as Marie. “It was beautiful.”

Aldershot 0-3 Manchester United

Manchester United avoided further humiliation after their derby drubbing as they breezed through their Carling Cup clash at Aldershot.

An entirely different starting XI to the side thrashed 6-1 on Sunday by Manchester City made sure there was no hangover thanks to Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia's first goals of the season and another competition strike from Michael Owen.

Aldershot tried their best to bridge the gulf in class between npower League Two also-rans and the Barclays Premier League champions, but they failed until late on to seriously test a rearguard that had looked vulnerable in the extreme in recent weeks.

United arrived in Aldershot to witness a town buzzing for the club's biggest game since they reformed in 1992 following the demise of Aldershot FC, and one of the biggest since the latter hosted a star-studded United team in the same competition 41 years earlier.

Their 7,300-capacity ground was full to bursting and the home fans arrived hoping to see one of the biggest shocks in League Cup history against a side who had never lost to a club from the fourth tier of English football.

United had also not suffered as bad a derby defeat as City inflicted on them in 85 years, a result manager Alex Ferguson branded the worst of his entire career.

Dean Holdsworth's Shots were looking to compound his misery and there were a few minor scares early on as the visitors gave the ball away in midfield.

But United soon took charge and Tom Cleverley, back after six weeks out with a foot injury, curled over the bar from 20 yards.

Returning captain Nemanja Vidic was booked for felling Alex Rodman in the 10th minute but that was a false dawn for the home side as the visitors showcased their superior class five minutes later.

Park Ji-sung played a one-two with Cleverley on the edge of the box before finding Dimitar Berbatov, who passed the lay-off into the net.

The home fans responded with chants of "We're going to win 6-1", which looked optimistic when Fabio dragged wide and Luke Guttridge was forced to clear Berbatov's knock-down from in front of goal.

But Aldershot almost levelled through a superb solo effort from the dangerous Jermaine McGlashan, who ran at the heart of United's defence before unleashing a rising drive that just cleared the crossbar.

Berbatov and Mame Diouf both powered headers over under pressure before Michael Rankine failed to make the most of a free header from a corner and Danny Hylton sent a turn and shot straight at Ben Amos from a tight angle.

That was in the 41st minute and United immediately broke down the right with Berbatov squaring for Owen, whose shot straight down the middle managed to beat Ross Worner for his third goal in two League Cup ties this season.

Rodman failed to emerge for the second half after taking a knock to the shoulder towards the end of the first, with Bradley Bubb coming on.

The contest was over three minutes later as United scored with the first attack of the half, a 20-yard Antonio Valencia piledriver leaving Worner clutching air.

Aldershot looked determined to salvage some pride but that left them wide open on the counter and Berbatov dragged wide when he really should have made it 4-0.

Cleverley's comeback lasted just short of an hour as United brought on Paul Pogba, who was joined on the field by Ravel Morrison and Michael Keane 10 minutes later, Diouf and Ezekiel Fryers being replaced.

Aldershot introduced Jamie Collins for Peter Vincenti, while their fans continued to give as good as they got in the banter stakes with the small pocket of United supporters.

With 10 minutes remaining, Worner produced arguably the only world-class moment of Aldershot's night with a sensational save from Berbatov's 20-yard free-kick.

Adam Smith came on for Rankine and a late rally saw Guttridge drill inches wide and force a brilliant stop from Amos with a curling free-kick before Valencia blazed over when clean through on the break.

Arsenal 2-1 Bolton Carling Cup Highlights 25 October 2011 ( English Premiere League, Football, Highlights, Live Streaming Tags: Arsenal, Arsenal Bolton, Arsenal v Bolton, Arsenal vs Bolton, Arsenal vs Bolton Complete Highlights, Arsenal vs Bolton Full Highlights, Arsenal vs Bolton Goals, Arsenal vs Bolton Highlights, Arsenal vs Bolton Online, Arsenal vs Bolton Video Highlights, Bolton, Live Arsenal vs Bolton, Watch Arsenal vs Bolton)

In the 2011-2012 League Cup match on 25 October 2011, on tuesday night we will have Arsenal taking on Bolton Wanderers in what will be a very exciting match for sure and it will be interesting to see how this match goes about.

Arsenal Wenger side has been playing so well of late and their 3 wins in the last 3 matches is the proof that Arsenal are getting back to full form after a very humble start to the season. Arsenal wenger has been saying that he will take this cup seriously and to be fair this is the only competitions where they have a genuine chance of winning with this squad.

Arsenal lost last season's league cup in the hands of Birmingham City, and Wenger siad in the press conference that, that defeat will hurt forever although he has been suggesting that Arsenal will go all out for all the competitions they are playing in.

Arsenal are coming into this match on the back of winning against Stoke City in the league match at home, It was Captain Marvel Robin Van Persie who managed to grab a great win for them as he scored two late goals to win the match for them.

Match Predictions:
Arsenal’s youngsters may benefit from the pressure being focused on the first team’s current exploits, with the League Cup providing a distraction to both fans and staff alike, something which in turn should free the shackles for the Gunners on Wednesday

ARSENAL 2-0 BOLTON WANDERERS:

Arsenal Team: Szczesny, Yennaris, Squillaci, Vermaelen, Miquel, Frimpong, Coquelin, Benayoun, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Park.
Subs: Mannone, Meade, Boateng, Ozyakup, Aneke, Ryo, Watt.

Bolton Team: Bogdan, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Gardner, Muamba, Pratley, M Davies, Kakuta, Tuncay, Klasnic.
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Eagles, Reo-Coker, Blake, Ngog, Wheater, Riley.

TOWIE sisters Sam and Billie Faiers hurt in nightclub attack

This is the moment that TOWIE star Billie Faiers, 21, was the victim of an allegedly unprovoked attack outside a London nightclub.

Trouble started on Saturday evening during a night out with sister Sam, 20, at The Jet Black Club off Tottenham Court Road.


The group of girls targeted Billie, stealing her £1,500 Mulberry handbag containing her mobile phone and cash.Sam and Billie complained to bouncers, who then threw the culprits out.


However, it was when reality TV beauty Billie left the club that she was attacked by screaming girls waiting outside the venue.A passer-by caught the action on their camera phone, which shows Billie being thrown to the floor, being called a 'slag' and having her hair yanked.

The pavements were thronging with revellers who stopped to witness the action, yet no one appeared to be able to successfully break up the fight.

0:54 Kevin Nash RETURNS WWE VENGEANCE 2011

David Otunga is backstage talking with John Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis says he came up with the Vengeance pay-per-view name. The Miz and R-Truth walk up. Miz says he has their word that they will follow the rules. Truth asks why he re-instated them. Laurinaitis puts them over and believes they could be the world’s greatest tag team ever. Not really, he says, but he likes the way they suck up. Laurinaitis walks off. Truth says he sucks up better than Miz does but Miz disagrees. They start ripping on Triple H and CM Punk. Truth says the state of Texas also sucks. They do their own handshake before walking off.


We get a promo video showing events leading up to tonight’s big tag team match.

The Miz and R-Truth vs. CM Punk and Triple H

Out first comes the team of The Miz and R-Truth rapping about how everyone sucks. CM Punk is out next followed by Triple H, both to nice reactions from the crowd.

The bell rings as Miz and Punk start things out. They go to lock up and Miz backs in the corner. Punk backs Miz in the corner and Triple H slaps him in the head. Punk takes Miz down and kicks him. Punk tags in Triple H and Miz runs away, tagging in Truth. They lock up and Triple H applies a headlock. Triple H with a big shoulder, knocking Truth down. They lock up again and Triple H takes control. Miz ducks a shot and does a split but Triple H knocks him down with a right hand. HHH throws a crotch chop and rams Truth’s head into Punk’s boot. Punk is tagged in and continues the attack on Truth. 2 count for Punk. Miz comes in but Punk takes him down.

Punk works Miz over and tags HHH back in. They go back and forth. HHH goes for the Figure Four and locks it in. Punk pulls HHH’s arms for leverage as the referee isn’t looking. HHH keeps the hold locked and they double team when the ref isn’t looking again. Punk gets tagged in and they continue working on Miz’s legs. 2 count for Punk. Punk works on Miz’s arm now. Miz breaks free and Truth drops Punk while the ref is distracted. Truth comes in on a tag and they stomp away on Punk. Truth drops Punk with a right hand for a pin attempt and then a headlock.

Punk breaks free and slams Truth, looking for the pin. HHH comes in and takes Truth down with a knee to the face. He pulls Miz into the ring and hits a spinebuster on Truth. HHH with a knee to the face on Miz. He clotheslines them both over the top rope and to the floor. HHH pulls Truth back in the ring but Miz stops him from re-entering. Miz stomps on HHH on the floor now. Truth comes out and gets a tag. They continue to trade tags and work HHH over in the corner. More double teaming and a pin attempt by Truth. Truth with a headlock on HHH now. Truth ducks a clothesline and hits a corkscrew elbow for a 2 count. Miz comes in off a tag and they double team HHH in the corner. Miz with a high knee to the face and a 2 count. Miz with a headlock now.

HHH tries to fight back but Miz hits the backbreaker neckbreaker combo and continues the attack. Truth comes in on a tag and they both kick HHH in the head. Another 2 count. Truth with a head scissors now. HHH stands up with Truth on his shoulders and slams him back onto the mat. Miz comes in but HHH connects with a big clothesline. Truth is tagged in but misses the scissors kick. HHH nails a DDT on Truth and crawls for a tag. Punk comes in with a springboard clothesline on Miz and a dropkick for Truth. Punk with a neckbreaker on Miz and a knee to the jaw in the corner on Truth. Punk takes out both Truth and Miz at once with a bulldog/clothesline combo and covers Miz for 2. Punk slams Miz and goes to the top. Punk kicks off Truth on the apron. HHH comes over and goes at it with Truth, throwing him over the fan barrier. Punk goes back up top and hits the big elbow drop. Punk calls for GTS as we see HHH working over Truth on the floor. Kevin Nash appears in the crowd and knocks HHH back, distracting Punk. Miz tries to attack but Punk goes for GTS. Truth breaks it up and lays Punk out with his finisher. Miz covers Punk for the win.

Winners: The Miz and R-Truth

After the match, Nash comes over the barrier and brings Triple H. Nash beats him down and whips him into the steel steps. Nash brings HHH into the ring and nails him with knees to the gut in the corner. Nash with a big clothesline. Nash lays Triple H out with a Jackknife powerbomb and exits the ring as officials come over. Nash leaves through the crowd as they boo him. HHH is shown knocked out in the ring as referees tend to him and we go to replays.

It takes Triple H a while to start moving and they show several replays of how he landed on his neck from the powerbomb. The announcers wonder if he may have some kind of neck injury. Triple H is helped to the back by a referee

QPR 6 ( SIX !! ) vs Chelsea 0 - Best Bits

Sunday’s game marks yet another West London Derby between Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers. Previous to this season Chelsea and Fulham played out the West London Derby games but with the promotion of QPR to the premier league this season has introduced yet another enticing derby rivalry of all time. It will be our first league meeting with Queen’s Park Rangers for 15 years.

And Chelsea go into this second West London derby (first being against Fulham) on a very positive note having struck 13 goals in the last three games in all competitions. Chelsea’s 5-0 win over Genk was our biggest win in the UEFA Champions league history at Stamford Bridge. It was a brilliant performance by a side put out by AVB which had some major team changes keeping the game at Loftus Road in mind.

AVB made it clear by his selection policy that how much importance he gave to the Derby game against QPR resting Terry, Sturridge and many other first team squad. The win over Genk showed the class of the squad but in particular it was Raul Meireles and Fernando Torres along with the debutant Oriol Romeu who had a fantastic game.

It was good to see Torres in the same form as he was with Liverpool and both the goals scored by him were world class. I am really happy for this bloke as he has been very professional is his bad days at Chelsea and took a hell lot of criticism which according to me were all unwarranted. Its a pity though that we wont get to see another masterclass from Torres against QPR as he has to sit out for the last game for his red card incident.

QPR have made a decent start on their return to England’s top flight having amassed nine points from their opening eight fixtures. QPR side managed by Neil Warnock currently lie on 11th position in the EPL table, a position which Neil Warnock is pleased with. QPR were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackburn in their last Premier League game, it was a game which Neil Warnock’s side should have won given the awful form of Rovers but a point is not that bad for the newly promoted side.

Derby games are never easy especially the ones away from home but if Chelsea go in with the form they are in then another goal feast could be in the offering. Even though I am not a fan of past stats but Chelsea have had a good share of success against our Derby rivals. QPR do not have history on their side having won just one of their last 14 matches in all competitions against us.

Manchester United Vs. Manchester City, 2011 Premier League: City Building Momentum

Things have hardly died down in Manchester United vs. Manchester City at Old Trafford, where the visitors have overcome a terrible opening spell with a goal and are now all over their red-clad hosts. Former Arsenal fullback Gael Clicky is the latest to make a rampaging run forward, skipping through the heart of the defence before finally chickening out and laying the ball off to Sergio Aguero, who's rather too wide to do anything.

United's counterattacking appears to involve crossing the ball in the vague direction of the touchline beyond Joe Hart. A novel approach but it might possibly need some rethinking, although its obvious value is seen when Yaya Toure tries the exact same thing with a 'shot' towards David de Gea's frame that the Spanish goalkeeper mocks gently as it floats past.

Anderson's forced Hart into a same now. New strategy: Hit ball right at him and hope quantum phasing does the work for you.

Arsenal 2-1 Stoke City (23.10.2011) All Goals & Full Highlights

Arsenal host Stoke on Sunday at the Emirates as Arsene Wenger's men look to continue their climb up the table

Date: 23rd October 2011

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Referee: Lee Mason

Probable Line-ups

Arsenal: Szczesny, Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Santos, Arteta, Walcott, Song, Rosicky, Gervinho, Van Persie.

Stoke City: Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Upson, Wilson, Delap, Whelan, Etherington, Pennant, Walters, Jones.

Match Preview

The Gunners come into this game off the back of a hard-fought and gritty 0-1 win against Marseille in the Champions League midweek. Aaron Ramsey scored the only goal of the game in stoppage time as Arsenal went top of their group. However, in the league they are two places and two points below Stoke City and a win on Sunday could see the Gunners rise up to as high as seventh in the table. They defeated Sunderland 2-1 last week, thanks to a superb 83rd minute free-kick by skipper Robin van Persie. Van Persie is carrying the Gunners on his shoulders at this moment in time. He is bang in form and has scored 27 goals in his last 33 games for the club. On the injury front, Carl Jenkinson will miss the match due to a knee injury he picked up in the Champions League win over Marseille. Gibbs, Diaby and Vermaelen are all still out.


The Potters are riding high both domestically and in Europe. Their 3-0 thumping win over Maccabi Tel Aviv took them to the top spot of their table in the Europa League and they also defeated Fulham 2-0 last week in the league. Manager Tony Pulis has made Stoke very hard to break down and they are a very well organised defensive unit. Matthew Upson and Jonathan Woodgate have bedded in well and have helped Stoke continue their impressive performances this season. They have however not won at Arsenal since 1981 and will have a tough task of changing this stat. Former Gunner Jermaine Pennant will face a late fitness test as he is doubtful to start with a hamstring problem. Higginbotham amde his return from inury and could feature on Sunday.

Simoncelli killed in Moto GP crash ,Video moto gp crash . ,moto crash. ,moto gp crash death. ,moto gp rider killed. ,MotoGP's Simoncelli killed in crash video. ,

Italian motorcyclist Marco Simoncelli has been killed in a crash during today's Malaysian Moto GP, race organisers have confirmed.

The Gresini Honda rider lost control of his bike on the second lap of the circuit in Sepang and appeared to be hit by Colin Edwards and then Valentino Rossi as he slid across the track.

The 24-year-old's helmet came off in the collision and he was taken to the medical centre for treatment, but his injuries were too serious. A message on the MotoGP website read: "Marco Simoncelli succumbed to injuries sustained in Malaysia."

It was confirmed on www.motogp.com that he died at 4.56pm local time. The organisers cancelled the race when the extent of Simoncelli's injuries become apparent, having halted it immediately after the accident.

Newly-crowned champion Casey Stoner admitted immediately after the crash he had feared the worse.

"As soon as I saw the footage it just makes you sick inside," the Australian told BBC2.

"Whenever the helmet comes off that's not a good sign."

Tributes came in from his fellow riders.British MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow wrote on Twitter: "RIP Marco Simoncelli ! A great rider and all round nice guy. My thoughts are with all his family & friends. I will never forget."


Simoncelli, who won the 250cc world championship in 2008, clinching the crown in Sepang, stepped up to MotoGP in 2010. His death was the first fatality in MotoGP since Japan's Daijiro Katoh died from his injuries sustained at the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix.

And it comes exactly a week after British racing driver Dan Wheldon, a former IndyCar champion and two-time Indy 500 race winner, was killed in a 15-car pile-up at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Barcelona Vs. Sevilla Live, 2011 La Liga: Full Time

Barcelona were not on their best game, but they certainly did enough to win on most nights. However, Sevilla deserved their point, and they deserved it because their goalkeeper Javi Varas put in the performance of his life and perhaps the best performance you'll see by a goalkeeper anywhere in the world this season. His stoppage time save of a Lionel Messi penalty was just one of eight saves from the Rojiblancos keeper, and that doesn't even count his other claims of crosses or altered shots. It was a performance for the ages, and his team have walked away from Camp Nou with a 0-0 draw as a result of his brilliance.


The defense in front of him played well, but with an average keeper behind them, Barcelona probably would have score three or four. The Blaugranas had plenty of clear cut chances in the beginning 60 minutes of the game, but the draw looked highly likely until stoppage time. Then, things went a bit crazy.

Andres Iniesta went down in the box in the 91st minute, drawing a penalty. Federico Fazio was the man called for the foul and he did make contact, but Iniesta was on the way down before the contact was made. Before Lionel Messi had a chance to take the penalty kick, a fight broke out between Cesc Fabregas and Frederic Kanoute, in which the former said something particularly inflammatory and the latter threw a punch. Needless to say, Kanoute was sent off.

Varas brilliantly saved Messi's penalty, but that wasn't the end of the attacks. In the 96th minute, Julien Escuede took down Pedro just outside of the penalty area, resulting in a free kick. Escuede felt that Pedro dived and ran to the official to argue, along with Fernando Navarro. This, of course, constituted dissent. Both players were shown yellow cards, Navarro his second. Messi's ensuing free kick was blocked and the final whistle blew, giving Sevilla an improbable point.


For more on the Blaugranas, check out Barcelona blog Barca Blaugranes. We'll have live coverage all of the action from Spain in our La Liga Week 8 StoryStream. For more on the entire world of footy, head over to SB Nation Soccer.

Borussia Dortmund Vs. FC Köln, 2011 Bundesliga: Lewandowski Scores ...

Borussia Dortmund were determined to put their disastrous midweek performance behind them and made sure it happened immediately against FC Köln in the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund. didn't resemble the same side that had won three of their last four matches as they sat deep in their own half throughout the match and allowed Dortmund to boss the match.


The first goal went into the net in the 7th minute, and they never looked back. Mats Hummels played a ball out of the back over the top, and Kevin Großkreutz ran on to it. He pulled it back through three defenders to Shinji Kagawa, and his shot found the back of the net.

Marcel Schmelzer doubled the lead in the 25th minute with his first career goal in the Bundesliga. The goal was set on a platter by Sven Bender after Mario Götze dribbled into the six yard box from the right flank. Götze's pass was deflected, but Bender battled hard and was able to lay it off to Schmelzer for a beautiful curler from the top of the box.


Minutes before the halftime whistle, Łukasz Piszczek played a spectacular pass into the penalty area. Bender ran onto it and squared it across to Robert Lewandowski. All he had to do is stick his foot out and tap it in the net to make it 3-0. Lewandowski would make it 4-0 just after halftime. The goal is the Polish international's sixth in his last four league matches for Dortmund.

Club captain Sebastian Kehl put the final nail in Köln's coffin with a power header from a lobbed pass by Jakub Błaszczykowski.

The match was never in question. Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller only had to make one save all match long, and that didn't occur until the 86th minute.

The win was Dortmund's fourth in a row and now pulls them alone into second place. They're just three points behind league leaders Bayern Munich who travel to Hannover 96 on Sunday.

SNSD to perform “The Boys” & “Mr. Taxi” on ‘Music Bank’ tonight

SNSD will kicking off their comeback promotions for “The Boys” today.


The group’s first performance of “The Boys” is scheduled to be on today’s broadcast of KBS 2TV‘s ‘Music Bank‘. The girls will also be performing the Korean version of their hit Japanese single, “Mr. Taxi“, on the show as well.

SNSD released their 3rd album, “The Boys”, on October 19th, which rose to immediately to 1st place on online charts like Melon, Bugs, and Olleh Music. Both versions of their music video for “The Boys” have reached a total of almost 7.5 million views on YouTube.

Stay tuned to allkpop for coverage of their comeback performance later on tonigh

The Real Her Lyrics - Drake Ft Lil Wayne (take Care)

he real her, lyrics of the real her, the real her drake, the real her lil wayne, the real her drake ft lil wayne, drake, lil wayne, take, care, take care, take care drake album, take care album song the real her, Drake Ft. Lil Wayne - The Real Her LyricsDHH drops the Lil Wayne feature on Take Care. This one's a softy but doesn't mean isn't dope. Gonna guess this is produced by 40 but don't ...

Fall of the Gaddafis: Dead dictator's children have either been killed or fled Libya

Colonel Gaddafi’s favourite son Saif al-Islam was left fighting for life after being critically wounded during an RAF bombing raid, it was claimed last night.
His eldest son from his second wife, Saif, 39, was the dictator’s one-time heir apparent. Educated in London and Vienna, he was a notorious playboy.
Rebels had originally claimed to have captured him during the fall of Tripoli but he escaped the capital.


Yesterday, the NTC initially said Saif fled Sirte in a convoy heading for the desert, but then announced he was shot in the leg by revolutionary fighters and taken to hospital.
However, reports later claimed he was left seriously injured by an RAF Tornado bombing strike on the town – a Gaddafi family stronghold.
 

UFC 137: Cheick Kongo Pre-fight Interview

Cheick Kongo is on a quest for UFC® gold, and he doesn't plan to let anyone - including Matt Mitrione - get in his way.

Dale Farm eviction: 'Show of force designed to shock'

They had been told to expect "no surprises" from the council.

The police, the travellers were told, would only be there to maintain the peace and prevent criminality.

But when they struck, the eviction operation was sudden and unexpected. This was a police operation to break the siege of Dale Farm.

They came in at first light, across a farmer's field, outflanking protesters who had chained themselves to the main gate.

And within minutes, seven weeks of defensive preparations proved futile. Tasers had been deployed, and more than 100 riot police had breached the barricades.


It was an impressive show of force, designed to shock the travellers and supporters. First the perimeter fences, then plot by plot at a running pace, the police marched on to their goal - seizing control of the main gate.

'Bricks were flying'
Anyone who stood in their way was knocked aside with riot shields. I saw batons being used, and snatch squads pulling out the ring leaders.

This was not gratuitous violence. Just an imposition of control in a chaotic moment. Bottles, bricks and sticks were flying - thrown by protesters and travellers alike.

Past Camp Constant, the headquarters of the protesters, they ran.

A few plots were supposed to be off limits - travellers who lived there legally were safe from the bailiffs. But the police, from the Met, and even South Wales, broke through fences, kicked down protected walls, and entered the legal Dale Farm compound.

Some travellers did stand in their way. Nellie Sheridan was pulled from the ruck and dumped on the hard core. In tears, she complained of back pain and was later taken to hospital.

Hours later, she was re-admitted on a stretcher, with a suspected back injury.

Caravan alight
Another resident, Margaret Sheridan, showed me grazes on her face. She said she had been pushed over by the police.

Others vented their fury by setting light to a redundant caravan. It burned fiercely below a high voltage power line. Later a second trailer was pulled into the road and it too was torched.

And it all happened just feet away from where we had camped the night before. A night which had been spent around the camp fire with the travellers as they savoured their last few hours of calm.

They knew the end was coming. They had had 10 years of clinging to the cliff, fighting off legal challenges. Finally their luck ran out.

But there will still be travellers at Dale Farm camp. Half the site is legitimate and even within the illegal camp, five plots are safe.

Tonight travellers still sleep on camp. The cat and mouse game with the council will carry on. For some £20m, the residents of Basildon have seen planning anarchy prevented.

There is talk still of European law, of siting vans on vacant plots once the council bailiffs have gone.

The story of Dale Farm is not over yet.

Batman: Arkham City w piątek w polskich sklepach

Premiera Konsolowego Batman: Arkham City w Europie już w ten piątek. Posiadacze komputerów PC, poczekają jeszcze miesiąc.
Z jaskini Nietoperza - najwięksi wrogowie Batmana


Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City, the new maximum security home for all of Gotham City's thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds.
Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.