after the international break when Betis hosts Real Madrid and So

Sky Sports News HQ racing expert Alex Hammond answers the big racing questions and offers her thoughts on this weekends action at Haydock and the Curragh. What did you make of Wings Of Desires victory in the Dante Stakes and do you think he has what it takes to win the Derby?Well, it was hard not to be impressed with the horse and the enthusiasm of his connections. Hes a fast-improving colt and in the hands of John Gosden anything is possible. What a shocker though that he was taken out of the Derby and will have to be supplemented back in to the race at a cost of £75,000. Mind you he won £90,736 at York so lets not feel too sorry for the owners just yet!We will know a little more next week when the colt gets a feel of the Epsom cambers at the traditional Breakfast With The Stars morning, although generally classic hopefuls arent asked a really serious test there. It will give Frankie Dettori a good indication of his ability to handle the unusual configuration of the course though.As you know, I fancied Midterm for the Dante and he ran a disappointing race. It has transpired that he has tweaked a hamstring and Sir Michael Stoute is in a race to get him ready for Epsom now. I backed him before the Dante for Epsom, so hope he gets there in rude health.At this stage you cant rule many out in an open year for the Derby and whilst the Coolmore crew have a strong hand numbers wise, they dont really have a standout performer. Their impressive French 2000 Guineas winner The Gurkha is now Sky Bets clear 7/2 favourite, but of their possible runners I like Port Douglas each-way at 14s after his excellent placed effort in the Chester Vase.Cloth Of Stars is another that comes into the mix for Andre Fabre and Godolphin. This colt has taken the same route as Fabres former Derby winner Pour Moi and isnt without his supporters. Hes now a 10/1 shot.Belardo has masses of talent according to Roger Varian but do you think he can back up his Newbury win in the top mile races this season and did we learn anything else from the Lockinge?His Lockinge performance looked smart, but it was an open race and it didnt look like a vintage year. Having said that with Solow out of action the mile division is wide open and given the right underfoot conditions he should play a hand in the top mile races this season.I wouldnt be rushing to back him for the Queen Anne just yet though as he is very ground dependant and the good ground (dried out from very soft) was as quick as he wants it. If the ground came up quick at Royal Ascot, Limato would still be of interest after his fourth place even though it was inconclusive regarding his ability to stay the mile at the highest level.Unlike Belardo, he was having his first run of the season and that should have helped him for future races. He was over racing in the early part of the Newbury contest and you would like to see him settle better next time. It will be interesting to see what route Henry Candy takes with him. It could be likely that seven furlongs is his optimum trip.There are plenty of Royal Ascot quotes flying about at the moment, has any one performance caught your eye with that meeting in mind?The Gurkhas performance at Deauville stands out and he looks capable of mixing it at the highest level over trips from a mile to a mile and a half and he would go to Royal Ascot with a great chance in the St Jamess Palace Stakes for which he is now 5/2 second favourite with Sky Bet.He may step up to 12 furlongs before then though for the Derby, he is bred to stay middle distances and what happens at Epsom will determine what Aidan OBrien does with him for the rest of the season.Another eyecatcher was Choreographer who had shocking luck in the Dante at York and could run a big race in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting.Roger Varians colt is 14/1, so represents each-way value, and as that was only his second ever career start last week, there should be more to come as he gains experience.I have one more for you, but its not with Royal Ascot in mind. I flagged up Koora before her run in Yorks Middleton Stakes and I wasnt disappointed with her second place behind Beautiful Romance. The 10 and a half furlongs at York looked a bare minimum for Luca Cumanis filly and I cant wait to see her next time out. The Lancashire Oaks was mooted as a target after the run and she should be effective up to 1m 6f.Its a big weekend in store at the Curragh - what are you fancies for both Irish 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup?Irish 2,000 Guineas: Well, Air Force Blue has a reputation to restore and you can easily envisage a scenario where he consigns his Newmarket Guineas flop to the history books. He was the leading European two-year-old and I think you have to put the Guineas run to the back of your mind as Aidan OBrien is very adept at turning that sort of form around. Whilst we havent been given a reason for the flop, it doesnt mean there isnt one and I couldnt confidently rule him out.However, on all known form its hard to desert the winner, Galileo Gold. Hugo Palmer has been pleased with the colt since Newmarket and whilst he says hes a horse that needs careful management as he can be temperamental, all has apparently gone well. He won the Guineas in a good time and hopefully there will be some rain at the Curragh before Saturdays race as there are firm patches in the ground at the time of writing.Irish 1000 Guineas: On Sunday its the turn of the fillies. Im a big fan of Ballydoyle and fancied her to beat Minding at Newmarket. Obviously that didnt happen, but she ran a cracker and without her top class stablemate in the line up this looks a great opportunity to get a classic win of her own under her belt.If the short price doesnt float your boat, then Im wary of the challenge of Now Or Never. Trainer Michael OCallaghan has teamed up with Kieren Fallon this season and its a move that is paying off at the moment as the pair teamed up to win the 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown very easily. A word of caution though, she definitely needs the rain to fall and Id only fancy her if the ground is good or softer. Fallon keeps the ride on the filly despite Qatar Racing snapping her up after her win in the trial.It has to be Ballydoyle for me, I cant desert her now having been so sweet on her at Newmarket.Tattersalls Gold Cup: This is a race I always look forward to and Found is going to be another hotpot on Irish Guineas weekend for Aidan OBrien. Whilst low on numbers (a maximum of eight remain in the race), it is high on quality and looks like the classiest contest for older horses so far this season.It will be interesting to see if Fascinating Rock can get closer to Found after their match up in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month. Dermot Welds Champion Stakes winner should close the gap with the benefit of that run as it was his first of the season, but I think hell have to settle for minor honours again, despite getting the better of the filly at Ascot last October.Found looks better than ever this season but at around 4/5, her odds doesnt really excite.The Grey Gatsby was fourth in this last year and is an Irish Champion Stakes winner. He needs good ground or easier to start his final campaign in this race, before the breeding shed beckons after this season.Time Test is one to watch with the rest of the season in mind. Roger Charltons four-year-old has only finished out of the first two twice, the first time in the Juddmonte International when he didnt handle the easy ground conditions and the other on his last start in the Breeders Cup Mile where his trainer blamed a track in poor condition and the widest draw.If the ground remains on the quicker side of good he is one Ill be backing to be placed on Sunday; hes currently 11/2 with Sky Bet. If all goes to plan this weekend he is almost certain to shorten in the market for the Prince Of Waless Stakes for which he is currently 10/1 and he could have a successful season with another winter on his back.At Haydock, the sprinters take centre stage with the Temple Stakes; where would your ante-post money be heading?There are showers forecast all week in the Haydock area which could have an impact on the ground. There doesnt look to be enough to make a significant difference, but if the forecast is slightly wrong that could change. The race has attracted a good-sized entry and there are some smart performers amongst them.It looks like last years winner Pearl Secret will defend his title and hes 14/1 to win this five-furlong Group 2 for the second successive year. He definitely needs the showers to ease conditions to aid his chance.Another that falls into that category is Meccas Angel who is one of the classiest in the line up for Michael Dods. The Nunthorpe winner goes well fresh and if the rain comes in any great quantity that will aid her chance. Her Group 1 win at York came before the cut off date for runners in this race to carry a Group 1 penalty: Bonus! Im not sure Im keen on backing a sprinter in a race as competitive as this at 2/1 though.Abbaye winner Goldream doesnt escape a penalty as his win at Longchamp came in October and that makes life tough for Robert Cowells sprinter. You can make a legitimate claim for several of the runners, but the one I want to keep on the right side of is Clive Coxs four-year-old Profitable.He won the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket at big odds at the end of last month on his reappearance and his trainer thinks hes capable of mixing it with the best in the top sprints this season. He has improved physically over the winter and I wouldnt be too disappointed with him last season (just one win) as the three year old campaign is always tricky for a talented sprinter.Now he has strengthened up he should be a different proposition and Id expect him to acquit himself well providing the ground isnt too quick on Saturday. Hes a 7/1 shot with Sky Bet. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports Nolan Cromwell Youth Jersey . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. 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He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain -- Carlos Velas second-half goal gave Real Sociedad a 1-0 victory over an overmatched Real Betis in the Spanish league on Friday.Both sides stayed in the middle of the standings. They face difficult matches after the international break when Betis hosts Real Madrid and Sociedad visits Basque Country rival Athletic Bilbao.Vela slid and used his left boot to tap in a cross sent to the far post by Mikel Oyarzabal in the 63rd minute at Anoeta Stadium.It was Velas second goal in as many home matches for Sociedad.Attacking repeatedly down the flanks, Sociedad dominated throughout.We wanted to show that we are strong at home, and the three points are staying here, said Sociedad left bback Hector Hernandez, who caused Betis serious problems with his incursions.dddddddddddd.Betis spent most of the game chasing the ball.Oyarzabal went close to adding a late goal to his assist when goalkeeper Antonio Adan blocked his try in the final minute.We didnt play well, Adan said. We tried to keep the ball in the first half. Seeing we couldnt, we then tried to be more direct, but it was more with our hearts than our head.The league leaders play on Sunday. Madrid hosts Eibar, second-place Barcelona visits Celta Vigo, and third-place Atletico Madrid visits Valencia. ' ' '