OISIN MURPHY has been lined up for a £330,000 winner – the day after his court appearance on a drink-drive charge.

The reigning champion jockey will appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after he was involved in a car crash that left a young woman in hospital with ‘serious injuries’.

Alamy

Oisin Murphy is set to ride in the US the day after his appearance in court on a drink-drive charge… before flying back in time for several rides at Sandown on Saturday[/caption]

Murphy, 29, was also charged with failing to provide a sample at the roadside on April 27.

The four-time champion jockey is booked for four rides at Thirsk on Wednesday, with the last of those at 5.48pm.

He will then make the 238-mile, five-hour journey from the North Yorkshire track to Reading for his court appearance.

But that trek is minuscule compared to what he has in store over the next few days.

Murphy is set to be at New York racecourse Saratoga, US, on Friday for a money-spinning ride on the Qatar Racing-owned New Century in the Group 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at 10.45pm British time.

Victory on the Brendan Walsh-trained three-year-old colt is worth £330,000 in all.

From there Murphy will make the seven-hour transatlantic flight back to Britain in time for 1.50pm at Sandown on Saturday, Coral-Eclipse day at the Surrey track.

He is booked for 10-1 change Shagraan there ahead of the eagerly anticipated ride on 12-1 Almaqam in the £1million Eclipse itself at 3.35pm.

More to follow.

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IT’S hotting up at this year’s Wimbledon with record-high temperatures of 32.3°C – but it’s not just on the court where players feel the heat.

Unlike their pristine whiter-than-white outfits, scores of past and present tennis stars have found themselves embroiled in shocking scandals.

Shutterstock Editorial

Brit No2 Dan Evans. seen practicing at Wimbledon last month, previously served a 12 month ban[/caption]

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John McEnroe admitted taking drugs and cheating on his actress wife Tatum O’Neal[/caption]

Match fixing, sordid affairs and drug abuse are but a few ‘faults’ of the players who have graced the London Mecca for tennis fans.

Just last week Japanese tennis ace and Former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori, 35, withdrew from Wimbledon shortly after issuing a public apology to his wife, who he’d been caught cheating on.

Snaps emerged of the former World No 4 leaving his apartment with his mistress, model Azuki Oguchi, who he had a years-long affair with.

Kei made a “deep” apology to his wife Mai Yamaguchi and their children – aged four and one – but not before saying sorry to sponsors, fans and tennis chiefs.

According to Shukan Bunshun, he said: “I deeply apologise for causing discomfort to everyone who supports me: tennis fans, associations, sponsors, and other related parties, and for their concern and inconvenience due to my dishonest behaviour.

“Additionally, I deeply regret making my wife and children feel hurt.”

Last year Kei was beaten in the first round at Wimbledon by France’s Arthur Rinderknech.

He is far from alone in straying over the line due to temptation and the pressures of the tour circuit. Here we reveal some of the tennis world’s darkest secrets.

Cocaine shame

British No2 Dan Evans will battle it out in the singles against Jay Clarke today, one year on from being knocked out in the first round last year.

The Brummie, now 35, was famed for being such a hell-raiser during his younger years that his funding was cut three times for his poor attitude.

PA:Press Association

Dan Evans playing at Wimbledon back in 2008[/caption]

The first time was in 2008, for clubbing until 3am before a junior match at Wimbledon, and again four years later for poor performance.

“I’ve calmed down a bit and matured… I wouldn’t make those mistakes again,” Dan said at the time.

Then eight years ago he was slapped with a one year ban after admitting taking cocaine.

At the time drug testers found traces of the white powder in his washbag in Barcelona, he was ranked 43 in the world and was in the best form of his life.

Evans said at the time: “It’s really important that you know this was taken out of competition and in a context completely unrelated to tennis.”

In 2018 he told The Guardian: “It’s a shocking drug – and not just in sport; it’s terrible in life, it’s a life-ruiner… I took it.

“I knew beforehand I shouldn’t have. It’s illegal for one, never mind being a sportsman. If you’re taking drugs you’re not in the clearest mindset.”

Abortion row

Getty - Contributor

Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors were a couple when they both won Wimbledon[/caption]

When Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert announced they were getting married, the number one players appeared to be the sport’s golden couple.

But in 1974 the wedding was called off abruptly at short notice without explanation.

Evert, 70, was understandably outraged when Connors, 72, gave his version of events in his memoir, The Outsider, a decade ago.

He hinted that Evert, then 19, had fallen pregnant and had an abortion weeks before their planned nuptials – against his wishes.

“An issue had arisen as a result of youthful passion and a decision had to be made as a couple,” he wrote.

“Chrissie called to say she was coming out to LA to take care of that ‘issue’… I was perfectly happy to let nature take its course and accept responsibility for what was to come.”

Evert hit back, accusing Connors of using the book to “misrepresent a private matter”.

Love cheat

Getty

Film star Tatum O’Neal and John McEnroe in 1999[/caption]

Three time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe lived up to his ‘Superbrat’ reputation off the court.

His six-year marriage to Oscar winning actress Tatum O’Neal was partly undone by their drug taking and his inability to remain faithful.

O’Neal lost custody of her children after their divorce and spiralled into a heroin addiction – but later got clean.

In a documentary McEnroe, now 66, admitted that using cocaine “didn’t help” their marriage and “I have myself to blame for that”.

He also confessed: “I don’t think infidelity helps. I believe that’s both of us. I believe that’s the end of the end.”

McEnroe added of his drug-taking: “These days they take performance enhancing drugs. We were taking performance detracting drugs. Putting smoke in your mouth isn’t the best thing.”

Over the years, he would later joke that 37 therapists were unable to solve his anger issues.

Rogue dad

AP:Associated Press

Peter Graf was credited with shaping the career of German tennis legend Steffi Graf – and then tarnishing it with one scandal after another.

The problems began in 1990 when a magazine claimed Peter had enjoyed passionate clinches with a naked model 30 years his junior.

He admitted at the time: “If it had not been for this affair Steffi would still be number one in the world.”

A year later Peter reportedly hit a tennis fan on the arm while watching his daughter play in the French Open.

Then in 1997, he was sentenced to two years in jail for evading £5million in tax on her earnings.

After winning 22 Majors, Steffi retired from tennis in 1999 aged 30, while ranked as the world No3.

Peter died from pancreatic cancer in 2013 aged 75.

Mental breakdown

American Jennifer Capriati was the youngest ever seeded player at Wimbledon when she starred at the Grand Slam event in 1990, aged just 14.

But the pressure of playing at the top level so young proved to be too much.

At the age of 18 she was arrested for shoplifting and possessing cannabis.

She said “Mentally, I just lost it. I really was not happy with myself, my tennis, my life, my parents, my coaches, my friend. 

“When I looked in the mirror, I actually saw a distorted image: I was so ugly and fat, I just wanted to kill myself, really.”

She retired from the game in 1999, having won three Grand Slam titles.

Covidiots

Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was one of several top tennis stars who were slammed for partying during the pandemic.

While the official tennis tours were on pause to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, Djokovic – who was staunchly “opposed to vaccination” from Covid-19 – arranged a series of exhibition matches in 2020.

Alex Zverev, Dominic Thiem and Grigor Dimitrov were filmed clubbing with Djokovic at a cabaret club in the Serbian capital Belgrade during the tour.

When a video surfaced of him dancing in the nightclub, Djokovic faced backlash from fans and fellow players.

Shortly afterwards Dimitrov tested positive for coronavirus. 

US player Andy Roddick tweeted: “Apparently there’s a pandemic…” in response to photos of the exhibition event.

Doping scandal

A dark shadow was cast over Maria Sharapova’s glittering career when she confessed to taking meldonium for a decade.

The Russian-born tennis star, whose five Grand Slam titles include one at Wimbledon, tested positive for the performance enhancing substance while playing in the Australian Open in January 2016.

But that was only three weeks after meldonium, which aids blood flow, had been outlawed in sport.

Sharapova was banned for 15 months and returned to competitive tennis in 2017 before retiring three years later.

Now 38, she retired in 2020 after losing in the first round of the Australian Open.

Match fixing

Daniel Koellerer, who turned professional in 2002, became the first tennis player to be banned for life in 2011 for attempted match fixing.

The Austrian, now 41, was found to have invited other players to fix games on five occasions between October 2009 and July 2010.

He was fined £63,041 – though this was lifted on appeal.

Koellerer reached a career-high ranking of 55 in October 2009.

THE NUMBERS of women taking part in team sports drops sharply once they reach their 30s, according to a major new survey.

Just seven per cent of women play team sports – with the average person quitting by the time they reach 21.

And the majority – seven out of 10 – believe it’s easier for their male counterparts to continue playing as they get older.

And while 47 per cent played team sports regularly up to the age of 25, the number participating falls dramatically into single figures with women in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

Pregnancy (44 per cent), issues relating to menstruation and menopause (44 per cent) and men having more groups to join (39 per cent) are cited as the reasons why.

Polling of 3,000 women who have played sports, one of the largest recent UK studies examining female participation in sport, found the biggest barrier to participating in team sports was busy schedules (36 per cent).

Work commitments (31 per cent) and family responsibilities (30 per cent) were other key reasons cited.

A quarter (25 per cent) blamed childcare needs, while almost one in five (19 per cent) said social anxiety held them back.

More than three-quarters of women (77 per cent) admitted there are weeks in which they struggle to fit in any exercise at all.

The research was commissioned by AXA UK as part of its ‘Keep on Kicking’ campaign, which highlights the challenges women face to pursue team sports at different life stages.

The campaign celebrates AXA’s sponsorship of this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland, and the insurer is also supporting women to get involved in team sports at grass roots level with sponsorship of Women’s Walking Football across the UK.

The report highlights the reasons why women step away from team sports at different life stages and the challenges they face to re-engaging.

It also contains personal stories from former Liverpool FC and England player Tash Dowie, England Paralympic basketball player Amy Conroy and Antarctic explorer Cat Burford.

Steph Leese, who joined a Women’s Walking Football team in Liverpool sponsored by AXA UK last year, also featured, describing how the sport has transformed her physical and mental health.

Tara Foley, CEO of AXA UK & Ireland, said: “It is concerning that so few women over 18 are currently taking part in team sports and that many feel obstacles such as childcare, health concerns and social anxiety are holding them back. 

“Being part of a team, whether in business or on the sports field, helps to develop so many valuable skills, as well as building resilience and forging trusted relationships.

“We hope AXA’s sponsorship of this summer’s Women’s EURO and support for Women’s Walking Football will shine a light on the benefit of getting involved in a team sport, at whatever stage of life you are at, can bring.”

Tash Dowie, who retired from the professional game in 2023, said it was disappointing so few women in the UK were involved in team sport.

“Team sport has played such a huge role in my life and the benefits for mental and physical health can’t be under-estimated. It’s sad to see from this research that so few women feel able to play past their teens because other commitments or physical concerns get in the way.

“Providing opportunities for women to re-engage with team sports at whatever age, such as Women’s Walking Football, is a really positive step towards helping them stay healthy and enjoy the camaraderie that being part of a team brings.”

The research found women who exercise do so three times a week, including twice with others.

And of those who play team sport, 84 per cent wish they could find the time to play more frequently.

On average, just under 90 minutes is spent taking part in team sports per week – with football (61 per cent), basketball (35 per cent) and netball (32 per cent) the most popular team games.

The women polled said traditional gender roles meant team sport was aimed more at men than women (38 per cent) and issues such as childcare concerns (38 per cent) impacted women disproportionately.

There is a strong desire for women to stay fit, as 95 per cent said it was important for them to exercise in later life, the OnePoll research found.

And of those women polled who have children, 94 per cent said it was important to set a positive example to their children with regards to exercise.

Liverpool FC ambassador Tash Dowie said: “I did an event the other day at Anfield where there were lot of women who were probably 50 or 60 plus, playing walking football.

“Some had experienced cancer or strokes and this was almost like their second life.

“That was really nice to see because I was lucky that I was from a generation where I got the opportunity to be a professional football player.

“I think it’s really powerful and important that the older generation get that opportunity to have a go now and to still play the game.

“They tell me how important it is for them mentally as well, it’s saved a lot of people’s lives being able to play the game, socially in that environment of being around people.”  

AXA’s Tara Foley added: “In our own business, we provide support for colleagues at challenging times of their life such as when they’re going through the menopause or facing mental health issues.

“Being part of a supportive team can make a real difference to people’s lives and help them grow.

“As a health insurance provider, we know the long-term benefits of staying fit and healthy – both mentally and physically.

“Making time to take part in team sports can be a real game-changer, as many of those who’ve taken up Women’s Walking Football have discovered.”

Kaizer Chiefs are on a streak of announcing new signings, with Portuguese striker Flávio Silva the latest recruit announced.

A MAJOR boost for aspiring Irish homeowners is on the way as an affordable housing scheme portal is set to open in just weeks.

The online application portal for Affordable Purchase Apartments in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown will open at 12:00pm on Wednesday, July 23.

DLRCOCO

An affordable housing Scheme portal is set to open in just weeks[/caption]

DLRCOCO

Aspiring homeowners can get a newly built home in Dublin for a reduced price[/caption]

The scheme applies to Phase Two homes at Shanganagh Castle Estate, Co Dublin and it will close at 5pm on Wednesday, August 13.

Allowing people to buy newly built homes at a reduced price, it is aimed at buyers who need help bridging the gap between their mortgage and deposit to meet the full price of the home.

Purchasers will enter an Affordable Dwelling Purchase Agreement with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

They will receive funding in return for the Council taking an equity share – a percentage ownership of the property.

Buyers can choose to redeem this equity share at any time and there is no obligation to redeem it while they live in the home.

The price of the homes will be set by the council and it will be based on each applicant’s purchasing power.

Purchasing power is the total of maximum mortgage capacity which is four times their gross household income, a minimum deposit of 10 percent of the affordable price and any relevant savings.

And if purchasing power goes above 80 percent of the market value, the applicant is not eligible.

CRITERIA TO BE ELIGIBLE

To qualify, applicants must meet several criteria.

To start, they must be a first-time buyer, qualify under the Fresh Start Principle or own a home that is too small for their needs.

They must also have the legal right to reside in Ireland along with intending to live in the affordable home as their main residence.

Their purchasing power must not exceed 95 percent of the market value but there is an exception if these applicants cannot get a mortgage for that amount.

If applying with a partner, you must submit a joint application and those applying alone must show any other household members are financially dependent on you.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must register first online at www.dlrcoco.ie before completing the application and uploading the required documents.

These applications will be processed on a first come first served basis and can be accepted only through the online portal.

Photo ID is needed and can include a passport, EU/EEA driving licence or an ID form stamped by the Gardaí.

Non-EU applicants must provide a valid Irish Residence Permit showing their permission type.

PAYE employees need a salary certificate and Employment Detail Summary while self-employed applicants must submit audited or certified accounts, tax balancing statements and payment receipts.

Unemployed applicants must provide a statement from the Department of Social Protection for the last 12 months.

Applicants must show they have maximised their mortgage capacity if their approval is less than four times their income and proof of savings is needed with three months of statements for all accounts.

First-time buyers must provide Help to Buy approval or a solicitor’s affidavit confirming they have never owned a property.

Those qualifying under the Fresh Start Principle must also show proof of separation, divorce, bankruptcy or insolvency.

Once all applications are assessed, the Council will contact applicants to confirm eligibility and whether they will receive an offer.

THOUSANDS more Irish people will qualify for a weekly social welfare payment worth up to €447 following a change to the eligibility rules.

And the major expansion of the weekly income disregard for the cash also means that 5,280 people across the country will receive an increase in their payment.

Getty Images - Getty

The weekly income disregard for the Carer’s Allowance payment will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.

This means the first €625 of a single person’s weekly income and €900 of a couple’s weekly income will not be taken into account when applying for the means-tested payment.

The reform to the income disregard is expected to take effect from Thursday.

Cash income, capital and maintenance payments are all assessed by the Department of Social Protection as part of the means test.

However, the changes to the means test, which will take effect this week, means a person will still be able to qualify for the payment even if they are earning over €450 from other income each week.

And the move means that a whopping 99 per cent of people receiving Carer’s Allowance will now receive the maximum rate of payment.

Carer’s Allowance maximum weekly payment is €260 for a carer aged under 66 that is caring for one person, and €390 for a person aged under 66 that is caring for two or more people.

Carer’s aged 66 or over who are caring for one person can receive a maximum payment of €298 each week while those who are caring for two people or more and are aged under 66 can claim €447.

Fine Gael’s John Paul O’Shea, Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, confirmed this morning that 5,280 carers will receive an increase in their payment following the changes.

In addition to this, it is expected that many more carers will now qualify for the payment for the first time under the higher income limits.

Deputy O’Shea described the move announced in Budget 2025, as a “positive change”, but said the government “needs to go further”.

He said: “There have been significant changes to the Carers Allowance means test in recent years with the income disregard increased by €292.50 for a single person and €585 for a couple since 2022.

“It has been confirmed to me that the further increase in the income limits this week will mean that 99 per cent of people receiving Carer’s Allowance will now receive the maximum rate of payment.

“In addition, these changes will mean that many more carers who were previously outside the income limits will now qualify for a payment.

“Our carers play a vital role in our society and we need to support them. This is a welcome step, but we need to go further.

“The Programme for Government commits to phasing out the means test entirely during the lifetime of this Government.”

O’Shea called on Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary to build on the “strong work” in this area in recent years and outline a road map for phasing out the means test altogether.

Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan told how it is only right to recognise the “invaluable work” of carer’s across Ireland.

She said: “This is not the final step, but real progress towards Fianna Fáil’s commitment to abolish the means test for Carer’s Allowance.

“I look forward to working closely with the Minister to continue strengthening support for our careers in the future.”

Minister Calleary said: “The Programme for Government is ambitious for carers. Importantly, we will continue to significantly increase the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the government.”

IRISH star Diane Cannon has opened up about getting a horrific diagnosis that most people “don’t survive”.

The country singer was preoccupied juggling her work schedule last year and ignored the stomach pain she was experiencing due to this.

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Diane is a country singer from Donegal[/caption]

Instagram

Instagram

The Donegal native told RSVP Country. “I was traveling so much and I had to put too much pressure on myself.

“I was exhausted and I was getting gallbladder pain but I ignored it because I was busy at work.”

When Diane did manage to get her scheduled surgery done, she thought that she would “bounce back” immediately and attempted to get “back on the road” right away.

Sadly, this wasn’t the case for Diane as she explained: “I got rushed back in, and I’d already left it too late.

“The sepsis had already spread to my liver and kidneys and through my whole body. I was very lucky. Many people who get sepsis don’t survive.”

Diane’s career and busy life was then put on hold for the first time in years as a result.

She said: “It’s taken me months to recover. It’s frustrating because my brain still works the way it always did. I want to go at full tilt. But physically, I’m still recovering. I can’t do things at the same pace anymore.”

Diane is still waiting on her gallbladder to be removed and she hopes to be back on her feet by the end of the year.

She added: “You don’t really realise the severity of it at the time but when you look back – yes it is frustrating, but look I’m still here and I’m very lucky.”

Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of an infection that can hide behind any infection at any age, making it difficult to detect the illness and can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

Earlier this year Carl Mullan shared his story-time on his “run-in” with sepsis to spread awareness for the signs and symptoms.

A few years ago Carl got a “very simple” sore throat that progressively got “worse and worse” as the days went on.

He explained: “After a few days of it not going away, I went to the doctor and found out it was actually glandular fever. Glandular fever itself, it’s fairly common and there’s no actual cure for it, so you kind of just have to ride it out and take whatever the doctor prescribes for it.

‘AWFUL’

“After about three more days, and just to warn you, this is where this story gets a little bit disgusting. I was so run down, I was in so much pain, I was taking anti-inflammatory stuff, it was doing nothing for me.

“I was in a bad way. At this point, I took a look at the back of my throat. It was covered in white and yellow patches and it was just so raw and so painful and it was just… it was awful.”

Carl admitted that he “shouldn’t have let it” get to that point and when he did return to his doctor, he was immediately rushed off to A&E and was seen straight away.

The dad-of-three said: “I always remember the doctor audibly gasped when he saw the back of my throat. Because… it was in a bad way.

“They took some bloods, they put me on some pain medication and they gave me a load of antibiotics and I just waited for the bloods to come back.

“A couple of hours later, the doctor came back and sat me down and was like, ‘You’re really lucky you came into hospital when you did, you’re in the early stages of sepsis’.

“He basically told me that had I not come into hospital when I did, 12 hours, 18 hours later, I would have been arriving into hospital in the back of an ambulance.”

LIVERPOOL have placed a £50million price tag on young attacker Harvey Elliot amid interest from Champions League rivals across Europe.

The 22-year old is attracting suitors after his heroic performances for England helped them defend their U21 Euros title last week.

Marc Aspland - The Times

Harvey Elliott’s future hangs in the balance after a season on the periphery in Liverpool[/caption]

A deal worth £40m would be enough to seal the deal – provided Arne Slot’s Liverpool retained a buy-back clause, reports The Athletic.

The fee without such a buy-back option would have to exceed £50m to convince the Reds to sell.

Liverpool’s recent £30m sale of Jarrell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen is viewed as a point of reference when determining the youngster’s value.

Jobe Bellingham’s £32m move from Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund earlier in the window provides a similar benchmark, with Elliott having considerably more top-level experience than the teenage star.

Elliott joined Liverpool as a prodigious teenager from Fulham in 2019, and has made 94 appearances for the Reds since, bagging himself 18 goal contributions.

With two years left on his contract, Elliott has hinted that he is open to a challenge elsewhere – with Champions League clubs understood to be circling.

The Athletic name RB Leipzig as among those interested – although the Germans will not be able to offer European football having failed to qualify for any competitions.

SunSport revealed that Brighton are keen on the midfield ace. However, they too can not meet any European football desires.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

When asked about his Liverpool future ahead of his Euros campaign, Elliott told Hayters TV: “I am coming to an age where I do not want to be wasting years of my career.

“I want to be the best player I can be, and if [the way to do] that is to go somewhere else, then it is a decision that I am going to have to make.”

Elliott’s list of suitors has been bolstered by his outstanding contribution in England’s recent U21 Euros title defence.

Elliott’s brace saw England through a tight semi-final against the Netherlands, before he opened the scoring in the final against Germany three days later.

His performances earned him the player of the tournament award, an accolade most recently won by Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon.

Slot is believed to be undecided on Elliott, although sources told SunSport the Dutchman would be unlikely to stand in his way if he wanted to leave and if a deal could be agreed that suited club and player.

Kaizer Chiefs will have a new-look attack next season. This skillful and speedy winger and two strikers are set to join Amakhosi.