INSEL-REGELN » rebounded after posting a 7.71 ERA in his first fo

Colin Tizzards stable stars Cue Card and Thistlecrack are reported to be firmly on target for next weeks Punchestown Festival. The former, winner of Aintrees Betfred Bowl in brilliant style, faces a rematch with Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Don Cossack in Wednesdays Grade One Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup. Cue Card was alongside the eventual winner when falling three out at Prestbury Park and Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer to his father, said: Cue Card has come out of the Aintree race really well and he was so fresh the following day that I couldnt be happier with him. Hes not had a hard second half to the season and he seems in as good a shape as he has been all season. He was also in lovely form the day after the Cheltenham Gold Cup and bounced out of that race and schooled nicely before Aintree. He was in as good as form as he had been all season then and while I didnt think he would be as impressive as he was in Liverpool, he sure ran a massive race. I think he would have won the Gold Cup.Im more than happy with the horse and hes never shied away from anything. The Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup could be a serious race and take nothing away from Don Cossack and Vautour, who have both stood up to everything. Well find out who the best is at Punchestown.Im having a lot of fun with (Don Cossacks trainer) Gordon Elliott at the moment and its good for racing and may the best horse win.Thistlecrack followed up his brilliant Ryanair World Hurdle victory at Cheltenham with a facile success at Aintree and he contests Thursdays Grade One Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown.Tizzard added: Thistlecrack seems to improve every time that we run him. Hes come out of Aintree lovely and weve still not got to the bottom of him - we dont know just how good he is. He seems a step ahead of them over hurdles at the moment.Punchestown is a good meeting with serious prize money and this year it fits in well after Aintree with three weeks between them. Every year weve started to bring more and better horses over and weve kind of saved our best horses like Thistlecrack to do the three - Cheltenham, Aintree and then Punchestown. Sky Tickets Racing Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports Air Max Plus Uk Cheap Online . Rookie Christian Vazquez got his first three major league hits and drove in three runs, while David Ortiz had three RBIs to break open the game in the sixth inning and lead Boston over the Houston Astros 8-3. Wholesale Air Max Plus . Basketball fans around the globe will be watching as Kobe Bryant makes his season debut - 240 days after tearing his left Achilles - against Toronto, a team he has used as his own personal punching bag. http://www.cheapairmaxplusuk.com/ . -- Floridas smothering defence returned to form just in time for the third-ranked Gators to keep their winning streak going. Cheap Air Max Plus Onlin .com) - Ryan Johansens creative moves and hometown appeal highlighted Team Folignos successful night at the NHL All- Star Skills Competition. Cheap Air Max Plus Sale . Patton told The Baltimore Sun that he took an Adderall pill four days before the season finished, trying to improve his short-term focus. "I took one because I was stupid," Patton told The Sun. SAN FRANCISCO -- After slow starts to the season, Ryan Vogelsong and Pablo Sandoval have had a resurgence that has helped send the San Francisco Giants to the top of the standings. Vogelsong struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings of a second straight scoreless start and Pablo Sandoval homered for the fourth time in six games to lead the Giants to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night. "I feel like when Im out there, I can throw anything in any count," Vogelsong said. "Thats a great feeling. Its not always like that, but the last couple of games it has been that way. It definitely helps your mentality on the mound." Vogelsong (3-2) followed up seven scoreless innings against Miami by limiting the Twins to three hits and one walk to give him a 1.35 ERA in his past six starts. The win gave the Giants (31-18) the best record in baseball. Josmil Pinto broke up the shutout bid with a leadoff homer in the ninth inning against Sergio Romo, but that was all the Twins could manage. Romo retired the next three batters to get his 16th save in 18 chances. Samuel Deduno (1-3) allowed two runs in 5 2-3 innings after being moved up a day in Minnesotas rotation, but ended up on the short end because of the performances from Vogelsong and Sandoval. Sandoval got off to a slow start in a contract year and was batting under .200 as late as May 13. But he has found his stroke of late to lead the way for San Francisco. "He has his timing and he has his confidence going," manager Bruce Bochy said. "That usually comes with success. That was the longest tough streak he has ever gone through. It looks like he has come out of it and is making great contact right now." Sandoval gave San Francisco the lead for good in his first at-bat for the second straight night, sending an 0-2 pitch from Deduno over the wall in left-centre to lead off the second inning with his sixth homer of the season.dddddddddddd It was a rare two-strike hit for Sandoval, who came in with just five hits in 79 at-bats for an .063 average after reaching two strikes. "I missed a changeup," Deduno said. "I like to throw it on the ground, but it was just a little bit up. Thats why he hit it." Sandoval added a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning after a poor throw from second baseman Brian Dozier cost the Twins the chance at a double play. That was enough for Vogelsong, who pitched out of trouble in the first three innings before finding his groove. The Twins had a runner on second with one out in each of the first three innings, but couldnt score against Vogelsong, who has rebounded after posting a 7.71 ERA in his first four starts. "He was throwing good cutters to both sides of the plate," Twins outfielder Jason Kubel said. "If youre thinking cutter, hell throw the straight one in at you, too, and it gets guys to chase. Hes got a good curveball. When hes got his pitches, hes tough to hit." Vogelsong was replaced after making a throwing error on Aaron Hicks comebacker with two outs and no on in the seventh. Juan Gutierrez got pinch-hitter Chris Herrmann to ground out to escape the inning. NOTES: The Giants improved to 23-4 when scoring first. ... Minnesota OF Josh Willingham (left wrist) is expected to be activated from the DL on Monday when the team opens a four-game homestand vs. Texas. Oswaldo Arcia (right wrist) is also expected to be activated. ... Giants RHP Matt Cain will miss his scheduled start Monday because of an injured hamstring that did not feel 100 per cent during a pregame bullpen session. Yusmeiro Petit will start in his place. ... Madison Bumgarner (5-3) will start the series finale for San Francisco against Ricky Nolasco (2-4). ' ' '