Thursday, January 6, 2011
Sports World |
- RFU review rules out move for Woodward
- Winter returns with a vengeance to wreck racing schedule
- Dunguib team hoping to overcome training hold-ups
| RFU review rules out move for Woodward Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:40 AM PST Clive Woodward is unlikely to make a return to the England rugby union management team after a review by new RFU chief executive john Steele appeared to rule him out. Sir Clive took charge of the England national team at its lowest ebb and guided them to World Cup glory in 2003. There had been speculation amongst many a Rugby Store that Woodward was in line for a position within the RFU, possibly in a newly created role of performance director - which would put him directly above current head coach and captain of Woodward's successful team, Martin Johnson. Other former international coaches including Jake White, the man who led South Africa to victory at the 2007 World Cup have been linked to the position, but now it seems less likely that a position will be created at all, with Steele, a former head coach of Northampton, looking to provide a direct link between Johnson and the England team himself. Those over at rugby15.co.uk note that the man looking most likely to lose out from the new proposals is Rob Andrews, who will see his role reduced by the introduction of either Steele himself or a new member of the team. Woodward is currently performance director for the British Olympic Association, and is likely to see that role through to the 2012 Olympics in London.  |
| Winter returns with a vengeance to wreck racing schedule Posted: 06 Jan 2011 04:33 AM PST The loss of both National Hunt fixture on the last Friday of racing before the Christmas break due to snow, heralds the return of the wintry weather that caused such mayhem to the jumps schedule only a week ago, writes Elliot Slater. Cheltenham betting pundits note that Uttoxeter was the first to give up the ghost when they found themselves unable to remove the frost covers due to the weight of snow that had fallen at the Midlands track in the hour before their second morning inspection. Ascot had been very optimistic about at least staging racing on the Friday of their 'Long Walk' and Ladbroke Hurdle fixture, but after a second inspection they too were forced to abandon as temperatures plummeted, the frost didn't come out of the ground, and a large band of snow swept towards London from the West. With only a few exception such as Cheltenham's 'A.P McCoy' two-day fixture and the rescheduled Peterborough Chase card at Newbury earlier this week, jumps racing in Britain has been something of a disaster area this December and the picture has been no rosier across the water in Ireland, where thankfully they did manage to run the rescheduled Fairyhouse card earlier this week – even if it was at the fourth time of asking. Those looking ahead to the cheltenham 2011 tips note that the prospects of any Saturday jumps cards across the nation at Ascot, Haydock and Newcastle going ahead are looking increasingly slim, and with forecasters suggesting that the latest cold snap could be with us for some days, it might well be that the next possible jumps racing will be on Boxing Day when seven meetings, (most notable amongst them the 'King George' fixture at Kempton Park), are scheduled to race. The racing fraternity might well now be looking at one of the longest enforced winter breaks for many years, with the only chance of backing a jumps winner being 4/5 chance AP McCoy in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday night!  |
| Dunguib team hoping to overcome training hold-ups Posted: 06 Jan 2011 02:59 AM PST Last season's star Irish novice hurdler Dunguib could make a return to action at Naas on January 15 in the Limestone Lad Hurdle, but connections are still not yet sure whether he is fit enough to take his chance having been affected worse than most by the recent spell of freezing weather, writes Elliot Slater. An outstanding novice last term, the eight-year-old son of Presenting came to the Cheltenham Festival as one of the hottest Irish favourites for many a long year on the back of having passed the post first on each of his eight previous racecourse outings. Sent off the 4/5 favourite with irish racing tips to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, trainer Philip Fenton's charge ran well but could only finish third to Menorah, form that has subsequently been franked time and time again. Sent off favourite with racing tips for today once more for the Grade 1 Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown a month later, Dunguib never travelled with his usual fluency and was probably feeling the effects of his Cheltenham effort in finishing a disappointing sixth of the fifteen runners behind current Champion Hurdle favourite Hurricane Fly. Not seen since, Fenton nonetheless reports his stable star to be in good form at home but would have very much liked the opportunity to give him a racecourse gallop three weeks ago. Unfortunately, all racecourse and most home gallops were frozen solid at that point and Dunguib has had to do mainly light exercise in a bid to regain full fitness. The Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 13 remains the obvious target for Barry O'Connell's mount, but Fenton made it clear that results between now and then will dictate whether or not his charge is worthy of a place in the starting line-up. A best priced 20/1 chance with Corals, Dunguib is offered at only 12/1 by Paddy Power, who clearly still hold him in high regard.  |
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