Christmas Day Derby: Odds Shift at Epsom Downs

The Tattenham Corner Stakes at Epsom Downs features Never So Brave as the favorite at 15/8 odds, with Alcantor at 4/1 and Ten Bob Tony at 6/1. The betting landscape has shifted dramatically with Strike Down dramatically shortening from 22/1 to 6/1 for the 5.55pm race.

Pina Sonata has also seen odds movement, drifting from 7/1 to 9/2 for the 2.05pm contest, while Benvenuto Cellini shortened from 9/4 to 7/4 for the 4pm race. Christmas Day racing continues with multiple betting opportunities at Epsom Downs. mchezo.co.za

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers are on a contractual collision course

On Friday, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield made it clear that talks on a new contract are not going well. It remains to be seen whether that will change.

For now, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Mayfield's representatives have not responded to the team's opening offer.

Coupled with Mayfield's comments, this means that Mayfield and company view the starting point as reflecting a bottom line that won't be acceptable. So why bother to respond?

Here's the problem. If Mayfield has a number in mind (and he clearly does), the initial position in response to the first offer will need to be sufficiently higher than the opener in order to get to the preferred ending spot via negotiation. So if Mayfield comes in with a number aimed at doing that and it leaks, Mayfield loses the P.R. war.

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Mayfield's current deal averages $33.3 million per year. He's due $27 million in cash in 2026, with $1 million in available incentives.

The market currently tops out at $60 million per year for Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (if we ignore the new-money average as to Bills quarterback Josh Allen's latest contract). Where should Mayfield land between $33.3 million and $60 million?

On one hand, too many teams pay too much for quarterbacks. On the other hand, the market is the market.

It's not Mayfield's fault that Packers quarterback Jordan Love makes $55 million per year, or that Lions quarterback Jared Goff makes $53 million. (Or, for that matter, that the Dolphins paid quarterback Tua Tagovailoa $53.1 million per year.)

Where should Mayfield land? Apparently, the team's opening offer points to a final offer that won't be good enough.

The question becomes whether the Buccaneers would use the franchise tag on Mayfield in 2027. After he finished a one-year deal in 2023, the Bucs didn't tag Mayfield. Other teams that were looking for a quarterback didn't make a move. (Some should have.)

Mayfield is surely willing to bet on himself. And, for as much as the Buccaneers claim to love Mayfield, they need to back that up with something that better reflects his value. Or they'd better have a good plan for life without Baker in 2027.

Antonelli edges out Verstappen to snatch pole at Monaco Grand Prix

Mercedes driver goes 0.043 quicker than Red Bull rival
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton third, George Russell sixth

The margins were as tiny as ever beneath the looming walls of Monte Carlo but, with the verve and fearlessness of youth, Kimi Antonelli had the edge to claim pole for the Monaco Grand Prix. That in so doing the 19-year-old saw off concerted efforts by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, with 11 titles between them, on the toughest single-lap challenge of the year only served to emphasise the talent of the tousled-haired teen.

In a gripping qualifying session, Antonelli had to be flawless to edge out the Red Bull of Verstappen into second and Hamilton’s Ferrari into third. With overtaking, as ever, all but impossible on the streets of the principality, Saturday is the key part of the weekend in Monaco and qualifying was pleasingly dramatic and intense.

Rafa Yuste y Joan Laporta, en los actos del Papa León XIV en Catalunya

Como no podía ser de otra forma, el FC Barcelona tendrá representación en la Misa solemne que el Papa León XIV oficiará el próximo miércoles en la basílica de la Sagrada Familia. Rafa Yuste, presidente del club azulgrana, asistirá a la ceremonia de las 19.30 horas, donde se rendirá homenaje a Antoni Gaudí, arquitecto del templo, en el día de los actos del centenario de su fallecimiento. El acto contará con la presencia de autoridades institucionales y religiosas de Catalunya.

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Marquez Poles at Hungarian GP

Ducati's Marc Marquez claimed pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix for the second consecutive year, shrugging off fitness concerns to top qualifying on Saturday.

The reigning world champion will be joined on the front row by KTM rider Pedro Acosta, who had set the pace during Friday practice.

In brief

George Russell bemused by pace deficit to F1 title rival Kimi Antonelli George Russell was left bewildered by his pace deficit to Formula 1 title rival and team-mate Kimi Antonelli who took pole for the Monaco Grand Prix.The 19-year-old set a 1m12.051s to beat runner-up Max Verstappen by just 0.043s to the top spot, while Russell struggled down in sixth, three tenths

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Christmas Day Derby: Odds Shift at Epsom Downs