Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Sports World

Posted: 26 May 2010 04:40 AM PDT

Now that Jan Vermeer has added his name to the roster of potential Epsom Derby candidates trained by Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O'Brien, the very real prospect looms of the leading Irish handler sending out the 1-2-3 in the forthcoming colts' classic on June 5th, writes Elliot Slater.

O'Brien's dominance of the ante-post betting markets is so great that the barely thinkable could well happen, much in the same way that Michael Dickinson saddled the first five horses home in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

St Nicholas Abbey remains a rock solid 2/1 favourite despite his eclipse in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket at the start of May, and Jan Vermeer gained rave reviews for his seasonal return when romping to success at the Curragh last weekend. Should O'Brien choose to do so, he could run both leading market fancies along with wide margin Dante winner Cape Blanco and the comfortable Leopardstown Group 2 scorer Midas Touch. These are the four horses who currently head the ante-post list ahead of the Henry Cecil-trained Bullet Train and they are bound to dominate in lists of free horse racing tips.

Of course, it is more likely that O'Brien will divert one or more of the Epsom entries to take up the challenge of the French Derby at Chantilly the day after Epsom. Jan Vermeer is considered by some to be most likely to take on the French on their home soil having showed a particularly high cruising speed that could serve him well in the two furlong shorter Gallic classic.

The Ballydoyle permutations are many and varied, but it is significant that Skybet, one of the few bookmakers prepared to bet on the O'Brien 1-2-3, make the Irish handler just a 6/1 chance to pull off what would be a feat of epic proportions. I'm not sure it would be one of my Derby tips though.

Indeed, I wouldn't bet on O'Brien sending out the first three home in this year's Epsom Derby but, like many neutral racing fans, I would dearly love to see it happen.

Evans ready for United pressure

Posted: 26 May 2010 03:41 AM PDT

Jonny Evans wants to establish himself as a vital piece of the Manchester United jigsaw as they look to wrestle the Premier League title away from Chelsea next season.

The Old Trafford side finished second to their West London rivals last season and Sir Alex Ferguson has already moved to bolster his squad for next season's title challenge by signing Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez. The football betting odds make United second favourites to win the league, so the players will know they have to up their games.

The arrival of central defender Smalling from Fulham could see Evans face increased competition as he looks to oust either Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic from the first-choice defensive pairing.

Evans told the Manchester Evening News he was "delighted" to sign a new four-year contract at Old Trafford and that the deal will mean higher expectations placed on his shoulders for the future.

"I am 22 and, having signed that new long-term deal, I will no longer be classed as the young lad just coming into the squad. I will have been in the squad for two years and people will be expecting a lot of me," the Northern Irish defender said.

"I want to improve and become better so you have to put more pressure on yourself to perform consistently and be a more important figure in the team."

Ferguson recently called for the younger players at Old Trafford to look at the likes of veterans Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville to see the standards needed to help fire United to the Premier League title.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand will be looking to prove his fitness to England manager Fabio Capello.

The Three Lions are third favourites in the World Cup 2010 odds, but their defensive frailties could haunt them.

There are also doubts over the form of John Terry, while Ashley Cole is also edging back to fitness.

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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Sports World

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