US Sunday Preview: Nothing Placid about Stephanie's Kitten

Disposeablepleasure gets all the allowances and can’t be ruled out but she will do well to see off Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Filly winner Stephanie’s Kitten

Graeme North takes you through the best of Sunday's action in the second part of his weekend preview...

Sunday's main event at Saratoga is the G2 Woodford Reserve Lake Placid Stakes (16:55 local time, 21:55 BST) for three-year-old fillies over nine furlongs on the turf and, with a couple of G1 races open to the same horses the day before, it's no surprise it has attracted just six runners.

Leading trainer and jockey at Saratoga, Todd Pletcher and Ramon Dominguez respectively, team up with Timeform top-rated Disposeablepleasure. All her best form, however, which includes a second to Zo Impressive in the Mother Goose at Belmont in June, has been achieved on dirt and she could only finish fourth on her only turf start so far which was more than a year ago. Disposeablepleasure gets all the allowances and can't be ruled out but she will do well to see off Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Filly winner Stephanie's Kitten, who was unlucky to finish only fourth in the Lake George Stakes (a race contested by Irish 1000 Guineas winner Samitar) here last month.

Nearly all the protagonists that day take each other on again but that result shouldn't be taken at face value- there was plenty of trouble in running which the winner Centre Court and second Better Lucky avoided and Stephanie's Kitten and Somali Lemonade didn't, all on the back of an overly strong pace set by the previously progressive Medolina whose rider had a lapse of judgement.

Medolina is worth another chance given the deep impression she created in her previous win at Belmont given she is much more likely to get her own way in front this time, but the longer distance will be in Stephanie's Kitten and a repeat of her previous best will probably be good enough. An exacta boxing her and Medolina might be the smart play.

There is European interest at Woodbine on Sunday when Andreas Wohler's Scalo runs in the G2 Sky Classic (16:44, 21:44 BST) over a mile and a quarter. He settled the Gerling-Preis at Cologne last year with a good turn of foot, returning a Timeform rating of 120 in the process, but he has run only three times since and was some way below his best on his reappearance at Dortmund in June. At his best he'd take all the beating and Morning Line forecasts of 2.6 reflect that, but the claims of the reliable Smart Bid are just as convincing.

Graham Motion's six-year-old is a regular at the top level in States and finished ahead of the former Luca Cumani trained Forte Dei Marmi in the Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs back in June. He didn't need to be at his best when landing a non-graded stakes event at Penn National last time and is going to be very hard to keep out of the first two.

Chokurei, who won four races for Clive Cox last year culminating in a Nottingham handicap off a BHA mark of 82, makes her first North American start in the Belle Mahone Stakes (15:39, 20:39 BST) but she looks to have a fair bit to find on ratings. Mike Maker's Juanita, who won the G2 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs back in May, has 5lb in hand on Timeform's weight-adjusted figures but, though she has won on turf, she has never run on Tapeta and has shown all her best form on dirt. Second top-rated Moment of Majesty has won on the surface but her recent improvement has come on turf so all in all this is a tough race to call.

It's not often that Emerald Downs is on this column's radar but the Seattle venue plays host to the G3 Longacres Mile Handicap on Sunday. Several of the eleven runners have presumably been entered more in hope than expectation but a weight spread of 9lb helps bring the field together.

Top weight and veteran Awesome Gem was back to somewhere near his best last time on his first start this year on dirt when third in the Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows. That race, won by the subsequent G1 Whitney Handicap winner Fort Larned, is strong form in the context of this race but more important to Awesome Gem's chance is the prospect of a strong gallop- Fort Larned dictated the five-runner Cornhusker at a very slow tempo by dirt standards but three of the field in the Longacres has an average early position figure 90 or higher promising a very strongly-run race. That should be enough to make Awesome Gem's class tell, though Hudson Landing, who won here last time and was one place behind Awesome Gem in the G3 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gates in May, is respected.

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Sky-Televised Greyhounds Betting: All about the Blondes

Sky Previews / The Lord / 05 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Romford is the venue for Friday night's action

"Harrys Blonde (21:48) was a star puppy last year but has had problems, so it was good to see him back on track, and winning, last week. He might show the necessary improvement stepped back up to open class. He can lead up."

Some fantastic Easter action in prospect on Racing Post Greyhound TV kicks off tonight with open races at Hove and Henlow as the Classic season approaches, and on the eve of a terrific Golden Sprint at Romford. And our man The Lord is across it all.

Starting tonight, and a last chance for punters to feast on Henlow as Monmore replaces the Bedfordshire track next week for the summer season. Henlow is likely to return to the RPGTV screens later in the year, however.

Catching the eye early on is sprinter Funny Lari (19:54) who was hardly disgraced here last week and should improve for the experience, while rapid improver Flaming Honey (20:26) might well get first run again on Scramble over four bends.

Harrys Blonde (21:48) was a star puppy last year but has had problems, so it was good to see him back on track, and winning, last week. He might show the necessary improvement stepped back up to open class. He can lead up.

Ballymac William's (10:03) trap one draw catches the eye and this preferred trailblazer can return to winning ways over 550m, while first-run potential makes Westmead Armour (22:18) attractive as he bids for revenge against strong Hey Kiddo.

Hove kicks off with Get On Paris (19:31) set to improve for her first run back last week and stay stronger, before Sheffield raider Cals Goinghome (20:18) shows likely improvement from last week's first run at Hove to strike over the four bends.
Royal Premium cannot be trusted over hurdles but it's certainly a race to watch at 20:34, but Ballymac Eugenie (20:50) has the draw and some smart 475m form to outgun a real threat from improving Droopys Betson.

Blonde Kimber (21:06) will improve for a solid open-race debut last week, while trap three is better for Droopys Oscar (21:24) after he was hemmed in against the rails at Perry Barr last time. He should continue his rise back up to the top. Hats My Lady (21:56) could be tough to hold in the bitch's contest late on.

Onto tomorrow and Romford stages one of the best meetings of the year for fans of brute speed as 36 of the quickest greyhounds around begin their quest for gold in the heats of the Golden Sprint over 400m.

Six heats take place and the stars are out in force, kicking off with Blonde Snapper (19:46) who gets the vote after his terrific run last week; likewise his conqueror on the night - Drumcove Lad (20:02) - will prefer the midfield draw in heat two.

Lil Risky (20:18) can get back on track in heat three, although only his best start will do after a disappointing effort latest, while Swabys Tony (20:34) has a great draw in a very competitive qualifier for heat four.

Heat five sees Mountjoy Osprey (20:50) try to get back on track, but like Lil Risky, he must do everything right after a heavy defeat last time, while the final heat sees Slick Sian (21:06) helped by the fact that nearest rival Nans Turbo will rail from three.

Henlow Thursday

Funny Lari (19:54)
Flaming Honey (20:26)
Harrys Blonde (21:48)
Ballymac William (10:03)
Westmead Armour (22:18)

Hove Thursday

Get On Paris (19:31)
Cals Goinghome (20:18)
Ballymac Eugenie (20:50)
Blonde Kimber (21:06)
Droopys Oscar (21:24)
Hats My Lady (21:56)

Romford Friday

Blonde Snapper (19:46)
Drumcove Lad (20:02)
Lil Risky (20:18)
Swabys Tony (20:34)
Mountjoy Osprey (20:50)
Slick Sian (21:06)

The Betfair Trainers Championship - the ultimate battle between the nation's top six trainers - is fought out at Perry Barr this Wednesday evening and it's all live on Sky Sports. But can anyone stop Charlie Lister from winning the...

The best trainers in greyhound racing go head-to-head on Wednesday night for the Betfair-sponsored competition. It's a fantastic night of rollercoaster action, says The Lord, who takes an early look at the contest here...

Swindon's Arc final - live on Sky Sports on Thursday night - looks an absolute belter and it's possible to argue a case for almost the entire field, but track-record holder Sids Dream may just prove too speedy says Darrell...

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Follow The Money: Nothing Casual about this Mover

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 19 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

FTM are backing two at Kempton today

"Casual Mover who has been backed into [2.58] from [4.2]."

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Southwell and Kempton.

Today's negative runs in Southwell's 15.00. Chapel House has drifted to [2.44] from [2.06]. The gelding is up 10lb today following back-to-back victories at Leicester over 2m4½f. This nine-year-old is up in class today and has struggled when attempting this class before over fences and hurdles. Chapel House has had jumping problems in the past and that combined with tougher opposition may cause him to struggle today.

We then move on to Kempton for our first positive in the 15.20 Median Auction Maiden Stakes, where Red Shuttle has received steady support from [5.9] into [4.7]. This will be a step down in trip from 1m4f to 1m2f but, as this five-year-old gelding has been tiring at the finish in his previous races, this shorter trip could be the key to him picking up his first win. Having been placed in his three runs on the flat, after tailing off in a bumper, he has shown promise and a liking for the AW surface. Noel Quinlan's charge ran keenly last time in a slowly run race so the faster pace over this distance should also suit.

Our next selection is also at Kempton in the 15.50. The money has come for Casual Mover who has been backed into [2.58] from [4.2]. This four-year-old colt is having his only his sixth race and his third try at this trip. This debut winner got his career back on track when winning his last race at Lingfield over the same distance. He is up 5lb today and could well defy the rise as he looks open to improvement. With winning jockey Steve Drowne up again he could be notching up his third career win today.

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Follow The Money: It's all about Southwell

Tipping / Follow The Money / 12 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Two backs and one lay and today they all come from Southwell. Over to you, Follow The Money crew.

Today's Follow The Money movers come from Southwell where an additional "Jumpers Bumper" meeting has been added after the cold snap ravaged the schedule. All races are National Hunt Flat races over two miles on the Fibresand surface.

Our first back is in the 13:45 where Ferdy Murphy's The Hollinwell is [2.72] favourite after being a high of [7.4]. He is a fairly useful chaser and has the highest rating in the field. Add to that some course and distance form, winning a similar "Jumpers Bumper" event back in 2010, the only one in the field to have run on the surface, the money suggests he was way too big early on today and must have a big chance.

Two races later and we have our bigger back. In the 14:45 Alan Swinbanks Saviero is [9.0] in from [15.0]. He has a full set of bumper, hurdles and chase victories although has been out of sorts recently. He is however one of the more talented contenders in the race and the money suggests he could be involved at a decent price.

Finally we move to the end of the card for today's lay. In the 16:25 Glen Countess has moved from [2.48] out to [3.7]. Brendan Powell's mare is a former Point to Point winner and ran with promise when beaten well by a Willie Mullins horse in a Fairyhouse Bumper last time out. However, that form hasn't held up and punters are coming in for a couple of others ahead of this one.

Recommended Bets:

Back The Hollinwell [2.72] Southwell 13:45
Back Saniero [9] Southwell 14:45
Lay Glen Countess [3.7] Southwell 16:25

That's all for today. If you're on the move this information is recorded on 0870 90 80 181.

It's all about Leopardstown for David Cleary today and though the best bet of the day lies elsewhere, there are two seriously over-priced runners in the feature race. Read on......

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Paul Nicholls: Don't forget about Denman!

Latest News / Paul Nicholls / 02 December 2011 / Leave a Comment

Denman is 'a seriously big price' at 26 for the Gold Cup, according to Paul Nicholls

"We saw how Kauto Star’s Gold Cup price plummeted after the Betfair Chase, and I can tell you now that Denman will be as fit at Leopardstown at the end of the month as Kauto was at Haydock."

Amid all the excitement about stablemates such as Kauto Star and Master Minded, Denman has been out of the spotlight in recent months. But Paul insists there is plenty to come from 'the forgotten horse'...

It is not often that one of the best horses in recent decades slips under the radar. But does anyone remember a horse called Denman?

You may vaguely recall him. Big sort, who we have had a bit of luck with since he joined us in 2005 after winning his sole start in an Irish point.

Yes, that's the one. The 10-length winner of the Sun Alliance in 2007; the Hennessy winner in 2007 and 2009 who managed to squeeze in a seven-length defeat of Kauto Star in the 2008 Gold Cup in between. And runner-up in two other Cheltenham Gold Cups besides.

But how many calls have I taken about him this season? I am struggling to recall one outside of the usual stable tour visits.

I know we have been fortunate enough to enjoy success after success on big Saturdays this season, with Kauto Star, Big Buck's, Master Minded and any number of potential stars beginning to show their hand.

But I am still a touch surprised at how Denman has failed to attract any column inches.

That actually suits me just fine after the "should he, shouldn't he?" nonsense with Kauto before his win in the Betfair Chase. But I can tell you that the "Forgotten Horse", as I shall call him for now, is in great order as we prepare him for the Lexus at Leopardstown on December 28.

Rather like Kauto Star, I suspect that too many people remember Denman for his disappointing sign-off to last season, in his case at Aintree. But focus on his Newbury run - leading him in after the race there, you would have sworn he had won his third Hennessy, not finished third - or his second in the Gold Cup, and then we are talking.

And talking that he looks seriously big price at 26 on Betfair for the Gold Cup next March.

We saw how Kauto Star's Gold Cup price plummeted after the Betfair Chase, and I can tell you now that Denman will be as fit at Leopardstown at the end of the month as Kauto was at Haydock. He will be 100%. It would be asking him too much to win in the manner Kauto did, but this horse is not to be dismissed lightly in any company, even at 11.

Put it this way, I would like to see someone go in his box and tell him, anyway!

Susie May looks after him this season and is doing a great job. He goes well for a girl, and is certainly not the easiest to handle as he can be a very awkward so-and-so.

We took him for a racecourse gallop this morning - he will have another in a fortnight's time - and he went really, really well. He went 2m under Daryl in company with Tidal Bay (Nick Scholfield) and Noland (Harry Skelton), and looked great.

And now we will put some real hard graft into him, stoking the work into him, and he can take it, too.

He will have two or three canters up the hill every day apart from Sunday, as well as an hour and an quarter on the walker each day. As well as regular fast work too.

He came in with Kauto a fortnight after everything else, on August 1, and was as fat as a pig. But he knows he isn't on holiday any more, and is getting meaner and leaner. But he is thriving on the work and his appetite for the job is still readily apparent.

So the Lexus, a race he won in 2007 before winning the Gold Cup that season, is the plan and then straight to Cheltenham.

I have always said that I hope Kauto Star and Denman, the best of friends, will spend their retirement together in a field somewhere. And I have always said that when they do retire, I will make a comeback in the saddle to take Denman hunting, with Ruby on Kauto. But that is hopefully a long way off just yet.

Because the last thing that Denman would want is for his great mate to be solely in the Gold Cup limelight, without getting a look-in of his own.

And what a sign off it would be were he turn up again Cheltenham in March.

Forgotten for the time being maybe. But certainly not gone - not just yet.

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Could Doyle Brunson Be About To Quit Poker?

Poker News / Matthew Pitt / 12 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Legend

Winning bracelets and poker tournaments aren't as important to me as they were a few weeks ago

Doyle Brunson is a living legend. The 77-year old Texan is synonymous with the game of no limit Hold'em and has played at the very highest level for more than 50 years, but could he be ready to make a fold for the last time. A recent conversation with Daniel Negreanu seems to suggest that he is going to, at the very least, quit playing tournament poker.

It has been quite a few months for Bruson, the winner of 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, as he has suffered from numerous personal health problems and deaths within his family and circle of friends leading to some to question Brunson's ability to keep playing with the best in the business as he approaches eight decades of life. The biggest problem Brunson has faced recently was his cancer scare at the end of February where his dermatologist found a tumour in his left arm which resulted in surgery to remove it. Thankfully for Brunson the tumour was not malignant and required no further treatment, though he did develop another lump in the same arm but another incision leading Brunson to write on his popular Twitter account, "I've been carved on more than a Thanksgiving turkey in my life. Ouch."

Indeed it was on Twitter where Brunson hinted at his poker retirement after exchanging a number of Tweets with Canadian pro Daniel Negreanu, after he had told his 90,000 fans that he had "Busted #napt AQ vs 10-10. I rarely bust day 1. If you regularly bust day 1 of these events you need to quit poker asap. Had no shot today" Brunson replied by telling Negreanu to "Go back and play the way you used to. I know you don't think so, but you were much better...IMO"

Negreanu disagreed and also went all defensive when Brunson said he could not believe how many tournaments he has played this year, even prompting a bet from Negreanu that both Erik Seidel and Barry Greenstein would have played more than him in 2011 so far. He also put a thinly-veiled brag Tweet up saying he has had 11 consecutive winning years on the tournament front before telling Brunson, "you must be really bored btw, needling a guy right after he busts from a tourney! I'll remember to get you next time you bust :-)" Brunson responded by saying to Negreanu, "In your wildest imagination you can't believe how bored and useless I feel. I may never go bust in another tourny, guess why?" but when the Canadian pressed Brunson for the reasoning behind his last Tweet he swerved the question and started talking about golf and Jennifer Harman instead.

Brunson pulled out of the 2010 World Series of Poker Europe citing the fact the travelling was taking its toll on him, along with the long days of having to sit playing poker. Whilst recovering from his recent surgery he withdrew from the NBC Heads Up Poker Championship and the PokerStars BigGame and he even wrote in his blog, "Winning bracelets and poker tournaments aren't as important to me as they were a few weeks ago." Could it be that Doyle Brunson is going to step aside and hang up his trademark Stetson once and for all? Only time will tell.

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The truth about Capello's England

Internationals / Michael Cox / 24 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Lowest ebb - Capello watches England crash out of the World Cup against Germany

"The time may have come for Capello to admit that Lampard and Gerrard can’t be used together, especially with the emergence of Jack Wilshere."

With such a long break between international matches it can be difficult to keep up to speed with Fabio Capello's team. Michael Cox assesses the 12 matches England have played in the last year and makes four key conclusions.

Lampard and Gerrard still don't play well together

It's become a clichéd argument, but it's backed up by the stats. In the past 12 months, England have started six games with the Lampard-Gerrard partnership, and six games with only one of them. The difference in performance is stark - when only one has started, England have won 66% of matches, and the goals scored per game figure is at an impressive 2.16. When they're paired together, however, the win ratio falls to 33%, and the goals scored per game figure drops to 1.16. And that doesn't even take into account that one of the wins (and two of the goals) when both started were in England's 2-1 win over Hungary - when Lampard was taken off midway through the game, and Gerrard stormed forward to turn the game around with two superb goals.

Injuries have meant that the two haven't started together in the last five England matches, and Gerrard will miss this game. The time may have come for Capello to admit that the two can't be used together, especially with the emergence of Jack Wilshere.

Expect goals from the bench

In England's last five fixtures, as many goals have been scored by players who began the match on the substitute's bench, as from those who were in the starting XI. Jermain Defoe scored a hat-trick against Bulgaria; Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent have scored a goal apiece each when starting, but Bent, Peter Crouch, Ashley Young and Adam Johnson (twice) have all contributed to the scoring despite being initially left out.

England have a strong five-man strikeforce in the squad for this match, with Rooney, Bent, Defoe and Crouch joined by Andy Carroll, and a substitute may well be the difference on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney is the first name on the teamsheet, but is in poor form at international level

Rooney appears to have recovered from his early season slump in form for Manchester United, and has been very good in recent weeks when played off a main frontman - either Dimitar Berbatov or Javier Hernandez. This has changed from last season, where he was frequently used as United's main central striker.

He has generally been used off a 'big man' by Capello, and has always been in the starting XI when fit. He's started 11 of England's last 12 games - only Glen Johnson can equal that - but he's scored only one goal in that time. That's a disappointing record considering how well he started under Capello's management - between September 2008 and September 2009, he scored 11 goals in 10 games.

Capello's choice of frontman has often been dictated by what gets the best out of Rooney - Emile Heskey was the main beneficiary - but in recent times Rooney hasn't been scoring, and therefore England need goals from his partner.

England have had far too many centre-back partnerships

In the 12 games, Capello has used an incredible 10 separate centre-back pairings. The only two duos to have started more than one game together are John Terry and Matthew Upson, and Rio Ferdinand and Joleon Lescott - and neither of those double acts will be used on Saturday, as neither Upson nor Ferdinand are in the squad.

This has contributed to England's poor record at keeping clean sheets - only four in 12 games - a figure that should be much better considering the relatively poor standard of opposition Capello has encountered in the past calendar year.

John Terry hasn't started the last five England games, but having been awarded the armband, it's safe to say he'll start here. His partner is likely to be either Phil Jagielka or Joleon Lescott, with Michael Dawson also in with a shout. Whoever it is, though, it won't be a familiar combination.

How will England line-up?

Capello has experimented with three central midfielders in friendlies, but it's likely to be a 4-4-1-1 shape here, with Wayne Rooney in the hole.

My guess would be: Hart; Johnson, Dawson, Terry, Cole; Lennon, Lampard, Wilshere, Milner; Rooney, Bent.

With Capello's recent record of team selections, though, it's very difficult to predict.
I'm going to back a 1-1 draw, available at [10.5].

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Premier League Talking Point: Why Fergie still has lots to learn about tact

Premier League / Richard Aikman / 06 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

A law unto himself?

"Ferguson clearly feels that he can bring his own pressure to bear on the appointment of referees by speaking out."

Sir Alex is up to his old tricks - lambasting referees in order to divert attention from his team, trying to influence officials and shunning the media - but Richard Aikman wants to know if the powers will stand up to the Manchester United manager or do sweet FA...

We all know that football managers are biased. They will inevitably view the performances of match officials through one eye, because their livelihood can hinge on the decision of the men in black, or green or whatever colour it is they wear these days.

They certainly don't wear red. Not as far as Arsene Wenger is concerned anyway. The Arsenal manager labeled Anthony Taylor's decision to rule out Andrey Arshavin's goal for a non-existent offside on Saturday as "disgusting" and "disappointing" but at least he had the good grace to say, "What can we do about it? We must take it on the chin". As a result of that decision - and Arsenal's poor finishing - the Gunners are now three points behind Manchester United and out to [3.8] form [2.72] to win the title.

Blackburn boss Steve Kean was also restrained - unlike his players - when discussing the contentious late penalty that condemned his side to a 3-2 defeat at Fulham, admitting that "technically, he [referee Mark Clattenburg] is probably right that there was a bit of contact. But if that happens you would have to give ten penalties a match." As a result of that decision - and Rovers' bad defending - Blackburn are now just two points above the relegation zone and [4.8] to go down. Kean's response was disgruntled, but dignified.

Sir Alex Ferguson, on the other hand has shown no such tact. He is up on his latest FA charge for questioning the integrity of referee Martin Atkinson, after he awarded Chelsea a soft penalty against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge and sent off Nemanja Vidic for repetitive fouling. "You hope you get a strong referee in games like this," said Ferguson. "It was a major game for both clubs. You want a fair referee - or a strong referee, anyway - and we didn't get that. I don't know why he has got the game. I must say, when I saw who the referee was I did fear it. I feared the worst." As a result of Atkinson's display, and United's poor finishing, the Red Devils's odds lengthened to [1.78], though they are now [1.56] following Arsenal's stalemate with Sunderland.

The first thing to say about Ferguson's comments is that he contends that a match like Chelsea v United should be treated differently to any other match, which is a flagrant insult to other clubs. He also clearly feels that he can bring his own pressure to bear on the appointment of referees by speaking out.

Of course, the main reason behind Ferguson's comments was to divert attention away from his side's unexpected defeat - an age-old technique that has become his trademark. He feels that he can get away with it too because he has been slapped on the wrist so many times that he has become a law unto himself.

Ferguson had every right to be frustrated. David Luiz could have been dismissed for his foul on Wayne Rooney, but the 69-year-old's reaction to the foul was risible when you consider that Rooney should not have been playing in the first place after elbowing Wigan's James McCarthy the previous Saturday. The former Aberdeen manager even suggested the incident would result in the press "raising a campaign to get [Rooney] hung or electrocuted" - yet another example of Ferguson pressurising the notoriously weak FA into doing nothing about the incident.

So it will be interesting to see how the FA reacts to Ferguson's decision to appeal his charge for his Atkinson outburst. According to reports, the Scotsman has rejected legal advice to accept the charge - which would have resulted in a three-match touchline ban, starting with today's trip to Anfield. By doing so he could receive an extended suspension for repeat offending and wasting everyone's time.

But Ferguson knows that the FA is loath to alienate him and he has calculated that when the hearing takes place (probably 25 March) his side will have already played Liverpool, Arsenal (FA Cup) and Bolton anyway, by which time they might have built up enough leeway to cope with the absence of their magus from winable games against West Ham (a), Fulham (h), Newcastle (a) and Everton (h).

The next fixture in the calendar after that is Arsenal (h) in the league and it will be interesting to see whether or not the FA stands up to Ferguson by invoking its right to extend his punishment to a five-match ban.

With perfect timing Kenny Dalglish has waded into the debate. "It is impossible for officials not to make mistakes," he said. "But there is a respect campaign in football and I want to know whether we are going to be the only ones who adhere to it." In other words, are you going to act or do sweet FA?

It will be interesting to see what Ferguson does in the unlikely event that the FA does mete out a five-match ban. Maybe he'll refuse to talk to them. After all, he's not talking to the BBC and he's not talking to MUTV. He's probably not even talking to his wife at the moment. But then how will he exert any influence with the hairdryer turned off?

Sir Alex is up to his old tricks - lambasting referees in order to divert attention from his team, trying to influence officials and shunning the media - but Richard Aikman wants to know if the powers will stand up...

Kuyt hat-trick earns Liverpool key win and condemns United to second consecutive defeat. Meanwhile, Wolves and Spurs slug out six goal thriller......

Blackpool have pulled off some shock results this season, but with two of their star performers missing, Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch thinks that Chelsea will prove too strong for The Tangerines. Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ [1.54]....

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Paul Nicholls: Massively excited about Zarkandar and Sam Winner

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Cricket World Cup: Extras - read all about it!

Wonderful World Cup / Frank Gregan / 22 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Individual errors can cost matches

"The New Zealand bowling attack went through the Kenyan batting like a dodgy chicken bhuna in the tournament's second match."

Mashed fruit, dodgy chicken bhunas - Frank Gregan knows his googlies from his doosras but it's another type of ball that could make all the difference at the World Cup.

With the World Cup still in its infancy one thing is clear, the most consistent scorer in the One Day game has lost none of its potency. Extras (and I'm not talking about the weird looking folk that stand in the background of the Rovers Return eating Betty's Hotpot) could determine the outcome of the 'too tough to call' matches. Just one bad over resulting in an extra two or three balls being bowled and a couple of extra boundaries can change a game.

We got a glimpse of it during the first match on Saturday when Bangladesh were chasing a massive total of 371 to win. This wasn't a close contest, the Bangladesh openers went out to the middle knowing that they needed snookers but were given a ray of hope during an over by Sreesanth. During his third over, the fifth of the innings, the Indian pace bowler showed all the accuracy and control of an 18 month old toddler flicking mashed fruit off the end of a plastic spoon! He ended up bowling eight balls as a consequence of a wide and a no ball and to add insult to injury the wide evaded the diving grasp of his wicket keeper and ended up costing his team five runs whilst the total for the over was 24!

The following day the New Zealand bowling attack went through the Kenyan batting like a dodgy chicken bhuna in the tournament's second match. Sixty-nine all out was the African's miserable score, but ten of those runs, nearly 15% of their total came in extras. The Kenyans were only out in the middle for 23.5 overs so the maths is easy enough to do. Had Kenya been there for their full 50 overs the Kiwis would have surrendered 21 runs against very poor quality opposition. Let's face it, most of the Kenyan batsmen would be delighted to make 20.

One of the clichés that people who coach team sports often use is 'there's no I in team!' The collective is always more important than the individual but individual errors can be the difference between winning and losing. If a team loses a game that goes down to the wire and a bowler has gifted his opponents a dozen extras and subsequent additional runs off the bat then that bowler has cost his team dearly.

Is it indiscipline? Is it not a case of having to vary the line so that the batsman is kept guessing and the extras, in particular the leg byes and the wides are just the price of doing business?

That's always the counter argument but watch the great quicks during the last couple of overs of a game. It's full on concentration, line and length searching out the block hole with middle and leg being as far as they dare stray. If they foul and send it down the leg-side they are distraught, if they do the same thing in the middle of the innings they shrug their shoulders and have a giggle with the umpire on their way back to their mark.

Of course it's indiscipline but how do we punish it? The Free Hit ? The signal is enough to put people off the game. The image of Billy Bowden doing the twirling, helicopter finger action whilst looking like an stick-thin, un-co-ordinated John Travolta is not a pretty sight. Besides, there are many English supporters who believe that a Free Hit is any ball delivered by an Aussie spinner. Sure seems that way since the retirement of Shane Warne!

Goodness knows what the answer is but one thing's for sure, any of the leading contenders that can half the number of extras it concedes will give themselves an edge. England get their campaign underway tomorrow against Holland and the [1.04] available on them suggests they are expected to win easily. Winning the competition will prove much more difficult but at [10.5] they are worth supporting. They must surely get shorter as the competition progresses. And should they win it - well that would just be extra-special!

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Champion Chase Betting: There's nothing Folly about backing Woolcombe

Ante-Post Betting / Timeform / 07 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Woolcombe Folly: Has the form to have a big say in the Champion Chase

"Woolcombe Folly’s win at Cheltenham rates as one of the very best handicap performances of the season, and if he repeats it at the Festival he will more than likely place. If he can improve slightly upon that form then it is not at all difficult to envisage him playing an even more significant role."

The Champion Chase could prove to be one of the races of the Festival, with dual winner Master Minded set to have another crack at the one who stole his crown last year, Big Zeb. However, Timeform reckon the value lies elsewhere....

In the aftermath of his narrow defeat of Somersby in the VC Chase at Ascot in January, Master Minded drifted slightly in the ante-post market for the Champion Chase. However, rather than Master Minded running below form, we have taken the view that Somersby put up the sort of top-class performance that he had long promised at Ascot, and in getting the better of him Master Minded produced his best effort on Timeform ratings since announcing himself as the best two-mile chaser around in the 2008 Champion Chase. That sort of form makes Master Minded the clear one to beat ahead of this season's renewal of the Champion, and the rightful market leader at [3.35].

After some uncertainty as to which race would be his Festival target, Somersby has reportedly been confirmed as on track for the Champion Chase rather than the Ryanair. Whether that is the right move is open to question given how well he usually finishes off his races, but nevertheless the fact of the matter is that Somersby has a top-class performance in a two-mile chase to his name, and a reproduction of his VC Chase effort would obviously result in him being right in the mix in the Champion. In both his previous runs over two miles at Cheltenham (in the 2009/10 Arkle and this season's Tingle Creek) Somersby has got outpaced turning for home before staying on strongly up the Hill, and the likelihood is that a real test at the trip will see him at his very best. Strictly judged on form the [8.6] currently available about him for the race is too big, but the doubts raised by his previous efforts over two miles at Cheltenham temper enthusiasm somewhat.

Big Zeb is the reigning Champion Chaser, and he has built up a very solid profile over the last couple of seasons. He met with something of a bump on his road back to Cheltenham when beaten by Golden Silver in the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown at the end of January, but the market has by no means overreacted to that apparent setback, Big Zeb currently a [4.6] shot for the Champion, having been matched to decent money at a low of [4.0]. That lack of significant movement in the market looks justified, as Big Zeb's defeat to Golden Silver represented his best effort of the season on Timeform ratings, and he was only 2 lb below the form he had shown when winning the Champion in 2010. He will head there this time with excellent claims once more, though this year's race will likely take a bit more winning with Master Minded seemingly back to his best and a couple of other pretenders having emerged in the meantime.

Other than Somersby, Woolcombe Folly looks the strongest challenger among last season's novices. Woolcombe Folly won a Grade 2 novice chase at Doncaster on his first start over fences around this time last year, and was swiftly pitched into considerably rougher waters to contest the Arkle on his next start. The Arkle proved too much for Woolcombe Folly as he trailed in last, but the scope remained for him to still do better, and that has emphatically proved the case in two starts this season.

Woolcombe Folly started out 2010/11 with a win off 142 in a two-mile handicap at Ascot in November and built on that the following month when defying a mark of 154 at Cheltenham, in a time that compared very favourably with the one recorded by Master Minded in the Tingle Creek on the same day. Woolcombe Folly's win at Cheltenham rates as one of the very best handicap performances of the season, and if he repeats it at the Festival he will more than likely place. If he can improve slightly upon that form then it is not at all difficult to envisage him playing an even more significant role, so there is certainly a case to be made that the [10.0] currently available about him is on the generous side.

Golden Silver put up a career-best effort when lowering Big Zeb's colours in the Tied Cottage, running to the sort of figure that puts him right among the leading form contenders for the Champion Chase, though he does also have the option of the Ryanair at the Festival. The level of his form entitles Golden Silver to be shorter for both those races, though that is mitigated somewhat by his Cheltenham record, poor effort in the the 2009 Arkle and last season's Champion Chase all he has to show from two visits to Prestbury Park.

Captain Cee Bee is the best of those not yet mentioned, but at [12.0] he looks a very poor price on anything he's done over fences to date. He finished a long way behind Big Zeb and Golden Silver when last seen at Leopardstown over Christmas, and has getting on for a stone to find with the form principals.

Sizing Europe looked like he had the potential to make up into a realistic Champion Chase contender when winning last year's Arkle, but he hasn't quite gone on from that run as might have been hoped. He seemed to see three miles when tried over the trip on his first two starts this season, and ran to a similar standard back at two miles last time when third behind Golden Silver and Big Zeb at Punchestown. That suggests he may have reached his limit over fences, and there isn't a compelling reason why he'll reverse that form.

Recommendation

Back Woolcombe Folly @ [10.0] in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival

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Champion Chase Betting: There's nothing Folly about backing Woolcombe

Ante-Post Betting / Timeform / 07 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Woolcombe Folly: Has the form to have a big say in the Champion Chase

"Woolcombe Folly’s win at Cheltenham rates as one of the very best handicap performances of the season, and if he repeats it at the Festival he will more than likely place. If he can improve slightly upon that form then it is not at all difficult to envisage him playing an even more significant role."

The Champion Chase could prove to be one of the races of the Festival, with dual winner Master Minded set to have another crack at the one who stole his crown last year, Big Zeb. However, Timeform reckon the value lies elsewhere....

In the aftermath of his narrow defeat of Somersby in the VC Chase at Ascot in January, Master Minded drifted slightly in the ante-post market for the Champion Chase. However, rather than Master Minded running below form, we have taken the view that Somersby put up the sort of top-class performance that he had long promised at Ascot, and in getting the better of him Master Minded produced his best effort on Timeform ratings since announcing himself as the best two-mile chaser around in the 2008 Champion Chase. That sort of form makes Master Minded the clear one to beat ahead of this season's renewal of the Champion, and the rightful market leader at [3.35].

After some uncertainty as to which race would be his Festival target, Somersby has reportedly been confirmed as on track for the Champion Chase rather than the Ryanair. Whether that is the right move is open to question given how well he usually finishes off his races, but nevertheless the fact of the matter is that Somersby has a top-class performance in a two-mile chase to his name, and a reproduction of his VC Chase effort would obviously result in him being right in the mix in the Champion. In both his previous runs over two miles at Cheltenham (in the 2009/10 Arkle and this season's Tingle Creek) Somersby has got outpaced turning for home before staying on strongly up the Hill, and the likelihood is that a real test at the trip will see him at his very best. Strictly judged on form the [8.6] currently available about him for the race is too big, but the doubts raised by his previous efforts over two miles at Cheltenham temper enthusiasm somewhat.

Big Zeb is the reigning Champion Chaser, and he has built up a very solid profile over the last couple of seasons. He met with something of a bump on his road back to Cheltenham when beaten by Golden Silver in the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown at the end of January, but the market has by no means overreacted to that apparent setback, Big Zeb currently a [4.6] shot for the Champion, having been matched to decent money at a low of [4.0]. That lack of significant movement in the market looks justified, as Big Zeb's defeat to Golden Silver represented his best effort of the season on Timeform ratings, and he was only 2 lb below the form he had shown when winning the Champion in 2010. He will head there this time with excellent claims once more, though this year's race will likely take a bit more winning with Master Minded seemingly back to his best and a couple of other pretenders having emerged in the meantime.

Other than Somersby, Woolcombe Folly looks the strongest challenger among last season's novices. Woolcombe Folly won a Grade 2 novice chase at Doncaster on his first start over fences around this time last year, and was swiftly pitched into considerably rougher waters to contest the Arkle on his next start. The Arkle proved too much for Woolcombe Folly as he trailed in last, but the scope remained for him to still do better, and that has emphatically proved the case in two starts this season.

Woolcombe Folly started out 2010/11 with a win off 142 in a two-mile handicap at Ascot in November and built on that the following month when defying a mark of 154 at Cheltenham, in a time that compared very favourably with the one recorded by Master Minded in the Tingle Creek on the same day. Woolcombe Folly's win at Cheltenham rates as one of the very best handicap performances of the season, and if he repeats it at the Festival he will more than likely place. If he can improve slightly upon that form then it is not at all difficult to envisage him playing an even more significant role, so there is certainly a case to be made that the [10.0] currently available about him is on the generous side.

Golden Silver put up a career-best effort when lowering Big Zeb's colours in the Tied Cottage, running to the sort of figure that puts him right among the leading form contenders for the Champion Chase, though he does also have the option of the Ryanair at the Festival. The level of his form entitles Golden Silver to be shorter for both those races, though that is mitigated somewhat by his Cheltenham record, poor effort in the the 2009 Arkle and last season's Champion Chase all he has to show from two visits to Prestbury Park.

Captain Cee Bee is the best of those not yet mentioned, but at [12.0] he looks a very poor price on anything he's done over fences to date. He finished a long way behind Big Zeb and Golden Silver when last seen at Leopardstown over Christmas, and has getting on for a stone to find with the form principals.

Sizing Europe looked like he had the potential to make up into a realistic Champion Chase contender when winning last year's Arkle, but he hasn't quite gone on from that run as might have been hoped. He seemed to see three miles when tried over the trip on his first two starts this season, and ran to a similar standard back at two miles last time when third behind Golden Silver and Big Zeb at Punchestown. That suggests he may have reached his limit over fences, and there isn't a compelling reason why he'll reverse that form.

Recommendation

Back Woolcombe Folly @ [10.0] in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival

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