Monday, December 20, 2010
Sports World |
- Dunguib closing in on the comeback trail
- Rovers appointment still no closer
- Pady set for King George tilt
| Dunguib closing in on the comeback trail Posted: 20 Dec 2010 05:33 AM PST According to his trainer Philip Fenton, Irish star Dunguib, one of the star novice hurdlers of last season, is within four weeks of a return to action and a chance to confirm himself a genuine contender for top honours in the StanJames.com Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in mid-March, writes Elliot Slater. One of the Irish bankers for last season's Cheltenham Festival when sent off at cheltenham odds of 4/5 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle following an eight-race winning sequence, Dunguib could only finish third behind Menorah and Get Me Out Of Here, a disappointing effort at the time, but one that has subsequently proved to be high-class form. Sent off favourite once again a month later at Punchestown to win the Grade 1 Rabobank Champion Hurdle, the seven-year-old could only finish sixth when looking as if a hard season had taken its toll of him. Now, after a long break through summer and autumn, Dunguib is on the way back and connections are targeting the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas on January 15, or the Red Mills Trial Hurdle some four weeks later. Fenton reported that he has been able to keep his stable star ticking over during the freezing weather conditions endured over the last few weeks, but that he needs to increase his training schedule to have him ready to do himself justice when eventually the wintry weather releases its grip and he does get the chance to set foot on a racecourse. Most bookmakers and cheltenham gold cup betting pundits have priced up the son of Presenting at 20/1 for the Champion Hurdle, but Paddy Power appear reluctant to get too involved in the horse that some saw last year as the next great Irish hurdler after Istabraq, and make him just a 12/1 shot to win the two-mile hurdling crown on the third Tuesday in March.  |
| Rovers appointment still no closer Posted: 20 Dec 2010 02:36 AM PST The identity of the next permanent Blackburn Rovers manager is really anybody's guess. The club's new owners decided to relieve Sam Allardyce of his duties last week and the list of names for his replacement that has been drawn up is as long as it is diverse. As well as the obvious choices - Martin O'Neill, Martin Jol, Alan Curbishley and Gareth Southgate - there have been some leftfield candidates such as Diego Maradona. Alan Shearer was linked to the job, more out of nostalgia rather than any sense of realism. The former striker was quick to rule himself out of the race, keeping his place sitting on the fence in the Match of the Day studio. First team coach Steve Kean has been asked to take the reins on a temporary basis until a successor can be appointed, but the Scot had admitted he would love to a crack at management. "I would be delighted to have the job. If I do a good job, perhaps I will come into consideration," he said. The people making the decision regarding the position will be the new owners at the club, the Venky group. The Indian owners have made it clear that they are looking to hire another British manager to replace Allardyce and chairwoman Anuradha J Desai has thrown her support behind Kean to do a good job for however long the search takes. Indeed, the Andy Gray bets odds make him favourite to land the role. Kean took charge of his first game in the 1-1 draw with West Ham at the weekend, thanks to Ryan Nelson tap in. Kean's next chance to strengthen his case for the gig will be a tough Boxing Day test against Stoke, who lie a point behind Blackburn in 13th. If the club could convince an O'Neill or Jol to get behind the new project at Ewood Park, then it could be the start of some exciting times at the club. If the board lose their mind and stick Maradona in the job at what is a very modest club, then this could be a tough second half of the season for the Lancashire club. Meanwhile, the Hull City betting tips suggest the side could be in for a tough end to the season. The club, who were relegated from the Premier League last term, look in danger of going down again.  |
| Posted: 20 Dec 2010 02:11 AM PST Forpadydeplasterer must be one the most luckless horses in training having finished second on 11 of his 17 career outings including all of his last seven starts, but a runner's-up spot in the Grade 1 William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park during boxing day horse racing would be seen as something of a victory by connections, writes Elliot Slater. Amongst the very best two-milers in the business, the Tom Mullins' trained eight-year-old last got his head in front when winning the 2009 Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, since when he has finished second in four Grade 1 events; to the ill-fated Twisted Magic in last year's Tingle Creek Chase, to Big Zeb in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, to Alberta's Run in Aintree's Melling Chase (over two-and-a-half miles), and to Golden Silver in the Punchestown Champion Chase last April. Mullins believes that if there is one track where Forpadydeplasterer might stay three miles it is likely to be Kempton, and looking at his career record on all four occasions he has tackled two-and-half miles he has run well and shown no signs of stopping. If it transpires that he does stay the three miles and is anywhere close to the mighty Kauto Star down the home straight, there is no doubt that Forpadydeplasterer possesses a smart turn of foot and connections are hoping that he will be able to give a very good account of himself. Bookmakers and live horse racing betting pundits are certainly not ruling out the possibility of Mullins' stable star proving capable at the new trip and make him third favourite for the big holiday period race offered at a general price of 10/1. On official figures, if you take out Kauto Star who towers over the field on 190, Forpadydeplasterer's rating of 167 leaves him with only 1lb to find with Burton Port and rated the equal of The Nightingale.  |
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