HORSE RACING: Aisling Oscar won his eighth successive race after Oisin McSweeney steered the 3/1 favourite home by three quarters of a length in Thursday evening’s one mile handicap on Southwell’s all-weather track. The five-year-old was bought for just £3,360 back in September and has since collected over £40,000 in prize money. The last horse to match his winning streak was Ballynakelly almost 30 years ago.

CYCLING: Britain finished top of the European Track Cycling Championships medals table with seven golds, four silver and two bronze. Maidstone-born Matthew Richardson, who recently switched from representing Australia, beat Dutch world and Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen in both sprint and keirin finals, as well as picking up silver in the team sprint. Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky won three golds in the women’s madison, points and elimination races.

DARTS: Michael van Gerwen won Thursday night’s opening Premier League of Darts round in Newcastle after overcoming Dutch compatriot Gian van Veen 6-4 in the final. Van Veen had earlier knocked out world champion Luke Littler 6-4 in his first match, while van Gerwen saw off last year’s champion Luke Humphries and Stephen Bunting. Next week’s second leg of the 17-round tournament takes place in Antwerp. 

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Table-topping Brora face lowly Strathspey Thistle among a full set of Highland League fixtures on Saturday afternoon. Second-placed Formartine, a point behind but with a game in hand, play Banks O’Dee, Clachnacuddin in third are up against Buckie Thistle and Brechin take the league’s best defensive record to Huntly. Bottom of the table Rothes, who are yet to win this season but have drawn their last two games, visit Deveronvale.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Scott Parker admits every match is “massive” as Burnley attempt to breathe life into a poor campaign against fellow strugglers West Ham tomorrow. The Clarets are 19th in the Premier League on 15 points after 24 matches, with Monday’s 3-0 humbling at fellow promoted side Sunderland leaving them 11 points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest. Burnley boss Parker is looking for a response having reflected on a “bad result” and “bad performance” as 18th-placed West Ham head to Turf Moor tomorrow afternoon.

WOMEN’S TENNIS: British number four Katie Boulter beat America’s Katie Volynets 6–1 6–3 today to reach tomorrow’s Ostrava Open final. Boulter raced through the first set, responded immediately to an early break in the second and sealed victory after saving three break points to book her fifth career WTA final.

WOMEN’S CRICKET: Former Australia captain Meg Lanning has signed for Lancashire Thunder for this summer’s T20 Blast. The 33-year-old won two World Cups and five 20-over world titles with Australia before retiring from international cricket in 2023. Lanning said: “The women’s game in England is moving quickly, and Lancashire is clearly committed to being at the forefront of that growth.”

SNOOKER: World champion Zhao Xintong held off a fightback from Chris Wakelin to edge a last-frame decider and reach the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong today. Zhao had looked in control after taking a 4-1 lead with a break of 84 before Wakelin rallied with runs of 91, 76 and 118, but eventually closed out the ninth frame 79-34.