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OTB Brief | Brentford win, Parrott loan, Galway Races, snooker 'lab rats'

Welcome to The OTB Brief; everything you need to know about sport, every morning - we have all th...



OTB Brief | Brentford win, Par...
Football

OTB Brief | Brentford win, Parrott loan, Galway Races, snooker 'lab rats'

Welcome to The OTB Brief; everything you need to know about sport, every morning - we have all the big sporting news for you this Thursday morning.

OTB Brief | Brentford win, Parrott loan, Galway Races, snooker 'lab rats'

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SOCCER

Fulham and Cardiff City go head to head tonight for the right to meet Brentford in the Championship play off final.

Scott Parker's Fulham take a 2-0 lead into the second leg at Craven Cottage.

Brentford beat Swansea 3-1 at Griffin Park last night, winning the tie 3-2 on aggregate.

Brentford said goodbye to their home of 116 years, Griffin Park, with last night the final game to be played there.

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Meanwhile, it's reported that Troy Parrott could be set for a loan move to Championship club Millwall.

The Republic of Ireland teenage striker looks set for a season-long stint at the New Den.

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TENNIS

Women's world number one Ashleigh Barty has pulled out of the US Open in New York at the end of August due to fears over the coronavirus pandemic.

Australian Barty may still defend her French Open title in September.

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CRICKET

Ireland take on world champions England in a one day international at the Rose Bowl in Southampton from 2pm.

Ireland will be without Mark Adair for this opening match. The seamer is still recovering from an ankle injury.

Harry Tector and Curtis Campher could make their O-D-I debuts in the 'bio secure bubble' in Southampton.

All-rounder Campher was born in South Africa, but qualifies through an Irish grandparent.

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GOLF

Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell are all in the field for the World Golf Championship St Jude Invitational in Memphis, which starts today.

McIlroy will tee off in a group alongside Webb Simpson and Jordan Spieth while Lowry is with Tyrrell Hatton and Dustin Johnson.

On the European Tour, Paul Dunne, Jonathan Caldwell, Gavin Moynihan and Cormac Sharvin play in the Hero English Open at the Forest of Arden in Birmingham.

And Miguel Angel Jimenez will make European Tour history when he tees-off at that tournament today.

The Spaniard will pass 2002 Ryder Cup winning captain Sam Torrance by making a record 707th tournament appearance.

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HORSE RACING

The Galway Hurdle is the feature race on day four of race week at Ballybrit.

The market is headed by 'Felix Desjy' and 'Wonder Laish' - the race goes to post at 6.45.

The first of eight races is off at 4.45.

Over at Goodwood, Donnacha O'Brien saddles favourite 'Fancy Blue' in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at 3.15.

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RUGBY CHIEFS

Exeter will retain their Chiefs branding but will "retire" club mascot 'Big Chief' following a board review.

A supporters' petition had gathered more than 3,500 signatures, calling for an end to their "harmful imagery and branding".

The rugby union side decided that the use of the logo was in fact "highly respectful" - and had a long history with people in the area.

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SNOOKER

Five-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan believes snooker players are being treated like "lab rats" at this year's World Championship.

Some fans are being allowed into the Crucible in Sheffield, where social distancing measures will be in place to protect against coronavirus.

But O'Sullivan says he doesn't think it's a "risk worth taking".

The tournament starts tomorrow.

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Cricket Fulham Galway Races OTB Brief Ronnie O'Sullivan Troy Parrott