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Possol flop leaves Daly puzzled
3/9/2010 4:55:00 AM
Henry Daly went to Doncaster at the weekend with a live John Smith's Grand National contender in the talented Possol and his charge was duly backed down to favouritism for the Grimthorpe Chase. What followed left the Shropshire-based handler perplexed and doubtless wondering whether or not to allow Possol to take his chance at Aintree, writes Elliot Slater.
Last year's Racing Post Chase runner-up had been deliberately campaigned over hurdles this term in order to protect his chasing handicap mark, and the results were tremendously encouraging with Possol scoring impressively at both Doncaster and Ascot. Having been allotted a good racing weight of 11st 3lbs for the Aintree marathon, Daly then switched Possol back to the larger obstacles in the Grimthorpe Chase and must have fully expected the seven-year-old to continue where he had left off last year, where he concluded his season winning the Kilmany Cup at Perth.
From the outset however, the horse quoted as low as just 16/1 for the Grand National jumped poorly, blundering at both of the first two fences under regular pilot Richard Johnson, and was a long way behind when Johnson decided to pull his charge up before the 11th fence in the three-mile contest eventually won by Nicky Henderson's rejuvenated Wogan.
Bookmakers reacted swiftly to the below-par effort of the Daly-trained French bred gelding who was taken out of the betting by a number of firms, whilst others pushed him out from 16/1 or 20/1 to a general offer of 33/1, (although some aintree grand national 2010 runners and prices now even offer 40/s).
Judging by this latest effort it must be far less likely now that Possol will take his chance at Aintree with little more than a month before such a stern test of jumping to iron out what appeared considerable problems in the fencing department for Daly's charge.
Berbatov 'can be fantastic lone striker'
3/9/2010 3:16:00 AM
Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United are capable of winning the title even without Wayne Rooney as they boast Dimitar Berbatov in their ranks.
The new England captain played the full 90 minutes at the weekend as United beat relegation candidates Hull City 1-0 thanks to Paul Scholes' 100th Premier League goal.
United were forced to play the game without star striker Wayne Rooney, who aggravated a knee injury in England's game against Egypt.
As a result, Bulgarian Berbatov was forced to play as a lone striker at Molineux. He impressed in the victory that propelled United to the top of the Premier League, where they now sit two points clear of both Chelsea and Arsenal, although the Blues have a game in hand.
Ferdinand told MUTV after the game that Berbatov was "fantastic" and can bring skill and flair to the United attack, as well as holding the ball up well to bring others into the game.
"He occupied their whole back four, which is all you can ask of a centre forward, especially one playing on his own," said the centre back.
"I think he proved he can be the lone striker if we need him to be."
United's run-in for the Premier League title could be buoyed by the return of England midfielder Owen Hargreaves from long-term injury.
He has not played since September 2008 but is set to play for United's reserves this week as he tries to regain fitness and return to the first-team picture.
Meanwhile, United are preparing to face Milan in the second leg of their Champions League clash.
The Red Devils lead 3-2 after the first game and the Champions League odds suggest they should progress.
Wayne Rooney faces a battle to be fit for the game, although his current injury shouldn't keep him out of this year's Football World Cup.
EPL 2009-10: Wolves - Manutd goals
3/6/2010 8:41:00 AM
Wolves - Manchester United
Roulez looks a cool National customer
3/4/2010 1:16:00 AM
Owner/trainer Robert Waley-Cohen has been tremendously successful over the years in particular with horses he has first acquired and campaigned in France. His talented youngster Roulez Cool has yet to be seen this term but could be the most notable dark horse amongst the whole Aintree Grand National entries, writes Elliot Slater.
Campaigned in his native France as a three and four-year-old, Roulez Cool had his first British outing in a novices' hurdle at Newbury in November 2008 where he ran well for a long way before blundering and unseating his rider at the last. Given a six months break he then returned to action to win a three-mile Bangor handicap chase as he pleased at odds of 33/1, off a mark of 130 with Grand National Betting.
Raised 12lbs for that success, the gelded son of Classic Cliché then stepped up in grade to run an absolute blinder when beaten just half a length by Russian Around in a valuable Uttoxeter handicap chase, with decent sorts Pretty Star, Pablo Du Charmil and Exmoor Ranger all behind him.
Waley-Cohen has had big winners before and has a lively Cheltenham Festival RSA Chase candidate Long Run. Not so long ago he saw his Katarino win the Aintree Foxhunters Chase when ridden by his son Sam, and Waley-Cohen jnr could well be in the saddle should Roulez Cool be given the nod to take his National chance, even though he has yet to set foot on a racecourse this term.
At the unveiling of the Grand National weights it was no surprise to see Roulez Cool being allotted a mark of 11 stones, meaning that BHA handicapper Phil Smith had assessed his Uttoxeter effort as having been a further 6b improvement on his win at Bangor.
At the age of just seven Roulez Cool has all the statistics against him as no horse of that age has won the race since 1940, but the Waley-Cohen's have defied the odds before and at up to 50/1 Roulez Cool could give supporters a very good run for their money.
Game Spirit return for the Master
2/28/2010 10:01:00 AM
Dual Champion Chase winner Master Minded is set to return to the fray on Saturday as he seeks to put down a marker to potential rivals with an authoritative display in Newbury's Game Spirit Chase, writes Elliot Slater.
Nothing less than a very convincing display will do as, with the exception of potential rival Voy Por Ustedes, none of the other horses declared at the five-day stage are rated within 20lbs of Paul Nicholls top class chaser.
Master Minded hasn't been seen in action since finishing a disappointing third behind Well Chief in the Connaught Chase at Cheltenham in mid-November, after which it transpired that the gelding had suffered a rib injury during the course of the contest. This kept him off the track for nearly four months and connections will be keen to find out how the absence has affected him as he prepares for Cheltenham 2010.
The Cheltenham odds put him at 6/4 to make it three wins in a row in the two mile chasing championship race, so the seven-year-old will need to prove he is back to his very best to justify his current market position.
During Master Minded's absence his stable companion Twist Magic has been in tremendous form, while last season's Arkle Chase runner-up Kalahari King put up an excellent performance on his seasonal debut at Doncaster when defying top weight to beat a field of smart handicappers with consummate ease.
The presence of Master Minded in the race scared off most of the opposition resulting in the BHA reopening the event for further entries for a 24-hour period. As a result a number of new entrants, including Gary Moore's useful handicapper Fix The Rib, were added to the field.
On paper, the 2007 champion chaser Voy Por Ustedes looks the most likely to trouble Nicholls' charge, but in recent seasons he has appeared a far more potent force over at least two-and-a-half miles than over the minimum trip. It might well be left to Nigel Twiston-Davies' Mahogany Blaze to chase home Master Minded.