ITV’S new six pack

ITV are to broadcast six races on each of the four days of the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Rights manager Racecourse Media Group has given the TV company permission to extend its usual output of five daily races because the meeting is likely to be staged behind closed doors.

The gap between races is to be reduced to 35 minutes from 40 minutes.

DELTA WORK has been ruled out of the Gold Cup after suffering a fracture at Leopardstown last week.

deputised for the injured Sexton in Sunday’s 13-15 defeat to France – had to be consoled as Wales held on for a 21-16 win.

Asked for his reaction to the online abuse aimed at Burns after the Wales game, Ulster head coach Mcfarland said: “Some of the stuff that was written, you don’t treat people like that.

“It’s very easy to sit at home at three o’clock in the morning in front of your computer screen and vilify people who are in the arena.

“It doesn’t take much guts to do that and some of it is totally unnecessary.

“Billy is a human being like the rest of us and he’s a very resilient human being, He’s a very gutsy human being and luckily enough, he’s smart enough to ignore people like that.

“Billy made a mistake and he obviously didn’t want to do that, but the top players in the world make that mistake. He’ll learn from that.”

SOUTH AFRICA will embark on a white-ball tour of Ireland this summer.

The Proteas will play Ireland in three one-day internationals, which will form part of the ICC World Cup Super League, and three T20 internationals between July 11 and 25.

Malahide will be the venue for the three ODIS and opening T20 on July 11, 13, 16 and 20, with the two further

T20 games to be staged on July 22 and 25 in Stormont.

Captain Andy Balbirnie (left) and his side will then host similar ODI and T20 series against Zimbabwe in August.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom said in a statement: “The year 2021 is certainly full of optimism, but of course we can’t ignore the great uncertainties still in the world, and our planning is trying to factor that in as much as possible.

“We need to plan for matches to proceed but with the background knowledge that circumstances might see further postponements.”

The three ODIS against Zimbabwe, also part of the ICC World Cup Super League, are scheduled to take place on August 6, 8 and 11 at Stormont, with the T20 games on August 15, 17 and 20 at Bready.

BUKAYO SAKA hopes Pierreemerick Aubameyang’s first Premier League hat-trick will be a turning point in Arsenal’s maze of a season.

The striker’s treble in the 4-2 win against Leeds on Sunday gave the Gunners the perfect start to a defining week. Thursday’s Europa League date with Benfica is followed by an acid Premier League test against Manchester City.

Saka (with Aubameyang, left), who was also outstanding against Leeds, said: “Auba is amazing. I can’t speak highly enough of him. He showed everyone how much quality he has. When he gets a chance, he is going to put it away.

“He can do everything, so we are so happy to have him, and it’s good that he got a hat-trick for his confidence.

“We have a big week ahead and hope he can score some more goals for us.

“Does this feel like a turning point? I hope so. The last two games (before Leeds) we lost, but we were quite unlucky.

“To get the win gives us a lot of confidence going into the games and a tough week.”