through the afternoon and the weather system is diving south across the north sea which will bring showers to the eastern half of england and some of those could become extensive. the northerly winds are blowing across the cold north sea where the temperatures are only six celsius and the change in the wind direction will bring lower temperatures to central and eastern england and northern and eastern scotland with typically ten or 12 degrees but still very mild in southern wales on the south—west of england. they will be the warm spots. more generally dry weather on thursday, some cloud around but the exception is eastern england where there is the threat of rain coming off the north sea and although it's cloudy for most, there will be breaks in the cloud across the western side of the country. temperatures again around 11 to 14 celsius, something like that and this quiet spell continues on friday and into the weekend beyond. however, there will be chilly winds blowing across east anglia and coastal areas of south—east england as well for a time. george. that's all from the bbc news at six. so it's goodbye from me, and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc�*s news teams where you are. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm gavin ramjaun. history is made on the opening day at cheltenham. rachel blackmore becomes the first female jockey, to win the champion hurdle. jos buttler delivers a brutal batting display against india as england go ahead in the t20 series. and — the return of zlatan! swedish hero ibrahimovic is back in the national side, at the age of 39. hello and welcome to sportsday. we start the programme at the cheltenham festival. one of the blue riband events of the jump racing season, but with a difference this year. no famous cheltenham roar with the festival taking place behind closed doors. and what a day of racing the crowds would have enjoyed, as our senior sports news correspondent laura scott can tell us. laura. the sun was shining all afternoon _ laura. the sun was shining all afternoon at _ laura. the sun was shining all afternoon at cheltenham - laura. the sun was shining all afternoon at cheltenham andl laura. the sun was shining all. afternoon at cheltenham and you laura. the sun was shining all- afternoon at cheltenham and you get the sense that with the performances we have seen on the track and the weather, it would been one of those days the fans really would have savoured but they are not here, the festival being held behind closed doors for the first time in its history perhaps in sharp contrast to date one of last years festival when more than 60,000 people descended onto the track, one of the very last sporting events to go before the pandemic struck. that was in line with government guidance at the time and this year the government guidance was to go ahead behind closed doors. did you just —— the logistical challenges have been great. the irish participants had been kept separate from others in line with covid guidelines was up and perhaps the moment that capture the absence of spectators most of all was when the tape went up for the first race and instead of the iconic cheltenham work, we heard the words and they are off echoing around the stands from the ten away. despite the fact there isn't the normal atmosphere, rachel blackmore wit up the track this afternoon when she won the championship heard by nearly seven lengths on the unbeaten mayor honeysuckle, she was the favourite for the rest but no one has won the change of hurdle, a woman that is. despite all of the successes of recent years, rachel blackmore was really taken aback by this victory. lam i am speechless to be honest. she is 'ust i am speechless to be honest. she is just so_ i am speechless to be honest. she is just so incredible. i cannot believe we want _ just so incredible. i cannot believe we want to— just so incredible. i cannot believe we want to champion hurdle. this was never_ we want to champion hurdle. this was never even _ we want to champion hurdle. this was never even a _ we want to champion hurdle. this was never even a dream, it was so far from _ never even a dream, it was so far from what — never even a dream, it was so far from what i — never even a dream, it was so far from what i ever thought could happen— from what i ever thought could happen in_ from what i ever thought could happen in my life to be in cheltenham writing the winner of eight _ cheltenham writing the winner of eight champion hurdle, it is so far removed _ eight champion hurdle, it is so far removed from anything i thought could _ removed from anything i thought could be — removed from anything i thought could be possible. so maybe there is a lesson— could be possible. so maybe there is a lesson in_ could be possible. so maybe there is a lesson in that for everyone out there _ a lesson in that for everyone out there but— a lesson in that for everyone out there but it _ a lesson in that for everyone out there but it is incredible. —— a championship hurdle. what a story there. _ championship hurdle. what a story there. and — championship hurdle. what a story there, and this festival comes amidel— there, and this festival comes amidst criticism for the sport. how vital is this — amidst criticism for the sport. how vital is this for _ amidst criticism for the sport. how vital is this for the _ amidst criticism for the sport. firm" vital is this for the image of horse racing? it vital is this for the image of horse racin: ? ., , , vital is this for the image of horse racin. ? ., , , ., vital is this for the image of horse racin? , ., ., , racing? it has been a really difficult few _ racing? it has been a really difficult few weeks - racing? it has been a really difficult few weeks for - racing? it has been a really difficult few weeks for the l racing? it has been a really - difficult few weeks for the sport andindeed difficult few weeks for the sport and indeed a year with the pandemic but the sport has been on something of a recovery mission and many people are seeing this week as what they hope will be a positive shop window for the sport. the british horseracing authority's chief executive julie horseracing authority's chief executivejulie harrington warned that the sport face an existential crisis and set the support needed to redouble its efforts to convince the public at home that welfare is essential to its values following some distressing images of the top irish trainer gordon elliott and the amateurjockey robjames both sitting astride dead horses. both of them have been suspended, elliott is not here but his licence at his yard in ireland was taken over by denise foster and she sat on a winner this after —— this afternoon, and that was a reminder that the crisis from which racing is trying so hard to recover from. which racing is trying so hard to recoverfrom. and perhaps rachel blackmore's historic victory this afternoon could be the tonic that race needs. afternoon could be the tonic that race neede— afternoon could be the tonic that race needs. . ., ., . ~' , ., race needs. laura scott, thank you very much — race needs. laura scott, thank you very much indeed. _ race needs. laura scott, thank you very much indeed. doris _ race needs. laura scott, thank you very much indeed. doris got - race needs. laura scott, thank you very much indeed. doris got there | race needs. laura scott, thank you i very much indeed. doris got there at cheltenham for us. —— laura scott. let's turn our attentions to the champions league now — and manchester city have the chance to seal their place in the last eight of the competition tonight. they're in budapest to play german side borussia monchengladbach. they're ahead from the first leg — and face a team on the slide at the moment. pat nevinjoins me now — he's commentating on the game for radio 5 live. city will be confident ahead of this one? they will be confident but they will try to get this game finished as early as possible, a two—goal delete —— and two—goal lead is great. if they get another one that would be a very good to rest when the two players, it's will be key for manchester city facet there is a lot happening the season and they don't want anyone injured or tired or suspended. this is important they try to get this game with wrapped up as early as possible. ads, try to get this game with wrapped up as early as possible. fit. 11th try to get this game with wrapped up as early as possible.— as early as possible. a lot on steak for them. is the quadruple realistic for them this season? don't ask pep guardiola because he will not be happy, but this is very unusual, everything has to fall for you. you get the right drawer in the champions league which if they get through this round, but many things at the fall for and in dispatch that management notjust of the players but the rest of the players and if they rest them enough, there is enoughin they rest them enough, there is enough in that group to win at least two, it may be three and possibly all four. a word on the scotland national side who you represented 28 times. what is your thoughts on the upcoming games and the potential players who can start for them? i’m players who can start for them? i'm excited for — players who can start for them? i“n excited for scotland and i have not been able to say that for many years because it has been so long to get to championships. we got to the euros but also the world world cup qualifiers. all sorts of players. however, it is a big however, scoring goals has been a problem, he has a new weapon in his armoury, a big surprise to those in scotland, his scoring has been better than anyone else. he has run out of form recently, so he may well be the one to give the answer that stephen clark has been looking for. he is very exciting- — clark has been looking for. he is very exciting. we _ clark has been looking for. he is very exciting. we will _ clark has been looking for. he is very exciting. we will be - clark has been looking for. he is very exciting. we will be talking about zlatan ibrahimovic next. how would shoot some him up in one sentence? neverseems would shoot some him up in one sentence? never seems to age. 0ne sentence? never seems to age. one way of would never some him up is that he doesn't lack confidence. the former manchester united striker ibrahimovic, thank you for that much. zlatan ibrahimovic, the former manchester united striker — has announced that he's returning to international football for sweden. never one to shy away from bravado — he referred to himself as a god on twitter earlier — ibrahamovic is set to make his comeback at the age of 39. he last played for sweden, in their euro 2016 group stage exit quitting shortly after. so what can we expect this time? swedish journalist frida fagerlund explains. he is massive in sweden. it has been five years since may i say that rather tedious championship in france where he played his last game. it felt like an unworthy and into the greatest player in history. so the fact that we could possibly see him in a swedish insured again at the upcoming euros this summer is at the upcoming euros this summer is a very thrilling and even though he divides the public, i think most football fans around the world agrees with me. == football fans around the world agrees with me.— football fans around the world agrees with me. football fans around the world aarees with me. . , ., agrees with me. -- sweden shirt. you don't forget — agrees with me. -- sweden shirt. you don't forget zlatan, _ agrees with me. -- sweden shirt. you don't forget zlatan, he _ agrees with me. -- sweden shirt. you don't forget zlatan, he is _ agrees with me. -- sweden shirt. you don't forget zlatan, he is an _ agrees with me. -- sweden shirt. you don't forget zlatan, he is an icon - don't forget zlatan, he is an icon in many ways. when it comes to how it will work out for him, he is 39 years old and been there and done it effectively, is there a way he can improve on his game and and prove the national team? first improve on his game and and prove the national team?— the nationalteam? first and foremost. — the nationalteam? first and foremost, it _ the nationalteam? first and foremost, it will _ the nationalteam? first and foremost, it will be - the national team? first and i foremost, it will be interesting the national team? first and - foremost, it will be interesting how much she can play. he has been injured recently and he's definitely not a youngster any more. but he should obviously start if he is good to go. i am sure youngsters can really benefit and learn something from him. you have to remember they are taking a big risk here, both the manager and zlatan. if this turns out well, it will be remembered as the greatest comeback in sweden football history. and if not, well let'sjust football history. and if not, well let's just say there is a lot at stake here so to speak. let's see how it pans _ stake here so to speak. let's see how it pans out. _ england are back on top in their twenty20 series against india. it was largely down to a ruthless display from jos buttler — who stole the headlines from india's virat kohli, as patrick geary reports. today's game was played behind closed doors due to a spike in coronavirus cases. and then they disappeared, there was a 60,000 here on sunday, now there were none. things change fast on planet pandemic. although not as fast as mark would. and click it —— and cricket shortest form, it hurts to be down early for us at the captain said run so he ran. but the bossis captain said run so he ran. but the boss is not always right. 0ut captain said run so he ran. but the boss is not always right. out for some he felt guilty, but this is a good apology, after only 77 runs, only england were sorry for set the target 157, beyond what they like but that is not accounted for the remarks up —— remarkable reach of joss butler, chasing is easy when you can do this. this has been finishing first and there will be no reversing that logic here. but where looks indestructible —— indescribable. too late to apologise this time and a series that will finish in front of no one is led by england to — one. patrick gearey, bbc news. let's take a look at some more of the day's news now. ireland forward cj stander has announced he'll retire from all forms of rugby at the end of this season. he won his 50th cap during sunday's six nations win over scotland. british number one dan evans has been knocked out in the second round of the dubai championships. he lost in three sets to aslan karatsev, who was a surprise semi—finalist at last month's australian open. the final stage of the tirreno—adriatico cycling race was won by wout van aert with tadej pogacar taking the race victory overall. van aert came home in front at the end of the 10 kilometre time trial, but there was no stopping the tour de france champion pogacar in terms of the race win. manchester united women are set to play their first ever match at old trafford. next week's wsl game with west ham united will be played at the theatre of dreams, and moved from their usual ground in leigh. meanwhile, the fa have announced that the season for tiers 3—6 of the women's football pyramid in england has been ended. the leagues were suspended when non—elite sport was paused injanuary. there will be no promotion or relegation between tiers three to six, which affects teams like wolves, who are top of their division in tier 4. earlier i spoke to their manager daniel mcnamara about the decision to curtail the seaosn. i think it will be huge and that's my biggest worry about what a fallout of the decision again. i think brett across the country, not just in the national league, there are clubs that are funding women's programmes now and are changing to strive to move up the pyramid and they want to be successful. to have it stunted again is really, really detrimental to that. the national league especially tier three is packed with international footballers so whether they turn out, the young players that are trying to work into full—time football and still have aspirations of playing professionally in the female game, what did they not do for the next three, four, five months and what does that send to them that their season doesn't matter? ~ ., ., , ., them that their season doesn't matter? ~ ., ., ., them that their season doesn't matter? ., ., ., ., them that their season doesn't matter? ~ ., ., ., ., , matter? what would you wait to see ha en matter? what would you wait to see happen from — matter? what would you wait to see happen from here _ matter? what would you wait to see happen from here on _ matter? what would you wait to see happen from here on in _ matter? what would you wait to see happen from here on in because - matter? what would you wait to see happen from here on in because the| happen from here on in because the second consecutive season go over division student —— lower divisions have been curtailed, there is a lot of talent in the lower weeks, will it affect the pyramid? the national leaaue is it affect the pyramid? the national league is described _ it affect the pyramid? the national league is described as _ it affect the pyramid? the national league is described as the - it affect the pyramid? the national league is described as the pillar. it affect the pyramid? the national league is described as the pillar of| league is described as the pillar of the of each game, not my words. i think the biggest disappointment for me was learning that never happened from last year for some 12 me was learning that never happened from last yearfor some 12 months ago, my players and all my staff and players all crunch —— all across the country had to deal with the same scenario. so why are we in a situation where the exact same thing is happening?