Sunday am Sport Update

World Cup Final Sunday; Celtic 9 points ahead in Scotland; Ulster lost to La Rochelle in Champions Cup; Dettori Announces Retirement plan; Navan Racing Cancelled

France and Argentina contest the World Cup final this afternoon.

Both countries are going for their 3rd World Cup title: Argentina in 1978 and 1986; France in 1998 and 2018.

Argentina, with Messi, were runners-up in 2014

Croatia beat Morocco by 2 goals to 1 in the third place play off game at the World Cup.

The win earns Croatia 25 million euro and 23 million to 4th place Morrocco

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Celtic left it late to restore their nine-point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 1-nil victory at Aberdeen.

Burnley twice came from behind to extend their advantage at the top of the English Championship to six points with a 3-1 win at home to Middlesbrough.

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Ulster lost 36-29 to the Ronan O’Gara coached reigning champions La Rochelle in their Heineken Cup clash at the Aviva Stadium.

Ulster trailed 29 points to nil at the break.

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The Ireland women's hockey team were beaten by Japan in the broze medal match of the Nations Cup in Valencia.

Ireland led by 2 goals to 1 from Katie Mullan and Niamh Carey.

But two late goals from Japan gave them the victory.

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Frankie Dettori has confirmed he'll retire from horse racing at the end of the 2023 season.

The 52 years old Italian has been the champion jockey three times.

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Galopin Des Champs is favourite for the rescheduled John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase tomorrow.

The two-and-a-half-mile Grade One is the feature of a card that was cancelled due to weather last Sunday.

Galopin Des Champs is the 5/2 favourite for the Gold Cup after winning three of his four starts over fences as a novice.

His biggest threat is the Joseph O'Brien trained Fakir d'Oudairies, who will be having his first start of the season.

Gordon Elliott's Fury Road, Jessica Harrington's Lifetime Ambition, Gavin Cromwell’s Vanillier and Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow complete the line-up.

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HRI has this morning, announced an amended race programmes for Naas and Fairyhouse on December 20 and 21  

The cancellation of Navan today, Sunday, December 18, due to frost, twill not be reschedule

However, The Tote Navan Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) will now be held at Naas next Tuesday December 20 as an eighth race with original declarations to stand.
 
In addition, The NavanRacecourse.ie Rated Novice Steeplechase will now be held at Fairyhouse next Wednesday December 21 as an eighth race.

This race will revert back to entries at weights stage and will close for FRESH declarations along with the rest of the Fairyhouse Meeting by 10am on Monday 19 December.
 
Finally, as The Bective Stud Tea Rooms Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) was unable to be held at Navan today, The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) due to be held at Leopardstown on Wednesday 28 December, will now have a value of €50,000 (up from €30,000).