Sports Digest/HORSERACING: Triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate has been denied burial at Exeter racecourse "because of government legislation" and will be cremated instead.
Henrietta Knight's champion collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack after being pulled up on his reappearance in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup at the Devon track on Tuesday.
Afterwards owner Jim Lewis announced Best Mate would be buried at Exeter, but official permission was refused.
Lewis said: "We wanted to have him buried at the racecourse but there is some European legislation which forbids this to happen. There were regulations brought in by the European Parliament following foot and mouth.
"We've made fairly vigorous representations to them from the Exeter directors but we got nowhere at all. So the plan now is he'll be cremated, probably tomorrow - then we will have a memorial service . . . I guess that would probably be next week."
Three bouquets attached to the running rail now mark the spot where Best Mate fell.
CRICKET: Ashley Giles and Liam Plunkett suddenly clicked into gear as England made a mockery of a once highly unpromising position to wrap up a 52-run victory over the Patron's team in their opening tour match at the Pindi Stadium.
England were hustled out for 112 in their second innings and it seemed the Ashes heroes were set for a chastening defeat, with the hosts needing 158 to win from a scheduled 60 overs.
Openers Yasir Hameed and Asher Zaidi then put on 50 without loss - only for the match to turn dramatically in England's favour as the hosts lurched to 105 all out, Plunkett taking four for 16 and Giles four for 39.
CYCLING: Giant Asia professionals Paul Griffin and David McCann have been performing strongly in the 2.2-ranked Tour of Taiwan this week, writes Shane Stokes.
Griffin went clear with five others on yesterday's 190-kilometre stage to Taitung, staying away for 114 kilometres, and looked to be in with a chance of taking the stage win.
However, the break was caught inside the last minute of racing by 50 riders, the stage win going to Tobias Erler (Merida Germany). Griffin and McCann finished in this group.
The Irish duo are highly placed overall thanks to a strong performance on Tuesday's crucial mountain stage to Wuling. The 100-kilometre leg finished with a gruelling 50-kilometre climb, McCann and Griffin placing fifth and ninth respectively and moving into the same positions in the general classification.
Their team-mates, Ahad Kazemisarai and Ghader Mizbani, were first and second overall after the stage and still lead the overall standings heading into today's final, 220-kilometre stage in Taitung.
The Giant Asia squad has a 17-minute advantage on the rest.
