Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sports World |
- Leading National hope Black Apalachi out for the season
- Pandorama not certain to run in Gold Cup
- Premier League deadline day madness
- The Biggest Mistakes in Poker - Going it Alone
- Should the transfer window be scrapped?
Leading National hope Black Apalachi out for the season Posted: 01 Feb 2011 06:31 AM PST The Dessie Hughes-trained Black Apalachi, on many people's short-list as a serious contender for this season's John Smith's Grand National at Aintree in April, will miss the race and not be seen again until next season having sustained a tendon injury, writes Elliot Slater. His absence from this year's renewal of 'the world's greatest steeplechase' has surely robbed the 12-year-old of his last serious chance of winning the Aintree marathon, a race in which he ran so well last year when a gallant runner-up to Tony McCoy and Don't Push It. The plan is reportedly for him to come back in 2012 and try his luck, but the gelded son of Old Vic would surely be past his best. All had appeared to be going well in his build-up to this year's race and Black Apalachi was scheduled to run over hurdles at Punchestown at the weekend. On arrival at the track however he was discovered to have heat in his leg and a subsequent scan has confirmed the worst fears of all concerned with the popular Irish chaser, that he has sustained damage to his tendon and will require at least two months' box rest. Anyone looking to put a Grand National bet on him will have to change their plans. As well as his great effort last year, Hughes' stalwart was going like a winner in 2009 when clear at Becher's the second time around only to fall when many believed he would have gone very close indeed. A winner of over £450,000 in career prize money and seven of his 37 races, Black Apalachi last visited the winners' enclosure when landing the Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February 2009. Donald McCain's Ballabriggs, an easy winner over hurdles at Ayr this week, remains the general 16/1 favourite for the Grand National. |
Pandorama not certain to run in Gold Cup Posted: 01 Feb 2011 03:22 AM PST Pandorama, Ireland's main hope for success in the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 18, is in danger of missing the showcase race after bruising a hock and being found to be lame, writes Elliot Slater. With the best part of two months to go until the big race itself it might seem at first glance to be something of an over-reaction to suggest that the eight-year-old won't be fit again in time to take on Imperial Commander, Denman, Kauto Star and Long Run, but his lameness means he will definitely miss his intended prep race in the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 6, and as a consequence getting him 100% fit and ready to run for his life is now no foregone conclusion. Last week ago it transpires that trainer Noel Meade found the horse to be lame on morning inspection, the gelding apparently having bruised a hock whilst in his box during the night. He did seem to be over the lameness a day or two later, but it has now returned. Now needing more rest to give the bruising chance to right itself, Meade is hoping that he will lose no more than a week's training with the horse who defied his critics with a fine win in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown at the end of December after running a shocker in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November, where he was pulled up when tailed-off at half-way. News of the setback has prompted bookmakers to push Pandorama's odds for the Gold Cup out to as big as 20/1 with racing tips for today(from 12's), so should he miss the big race it would mean that currently the shortest priced Irish representative could be Sizing Europe at 33/1! |
Premier League deadline day madness Posted: 01 Feb 2011 02:41 AM PST So despite the country being in the grip of recession and the government's austerity measures starting to bite the Premier League continued to spend money like it is going out of fashion. It is little wonder the bolshie Premier League is looked on with distain by their European cousins and disgust by those not totally enamoured with the game (as well as some who are) when they throw money about like some crude, nouveau riche lottery winner. The transfer window, for all its Sky driven last day excitement, isn't good for the health of the game. It puts pressure on managers, chairman and players, with desperation levels driving up prices and irritating owners already itchy trigger fingers. Lessons are not heeded and just a year after Portsmouth became the first Premier League side to go into administration the January window smashes all previous spending records. Chelsea perhaps symbolise the new age of financial irresponsibility, backed up by the safety net of a billionaire owner who could withdraw his support on a whim. The Premier League betting predictions suggest they will continue to do well for now, but that can't go on forever. They day they spent £72million on Fernando Torres and David Luiz was also the day they announced losses of £68million, despite winning the double and only bringing on one player on a free transfer in that time. The football odds may indicate they will do well in the short term, but longer term problems await. The Blues pr machine massaged the figures and somehow came out with the headline that they were 'cash positive'. But with UEFA's financial fair play rules coming into play from the summer Chelsea have some serious work to do if they are to fit in with the new rules. But operating within financial boundaries is not something the Premier League generally adheres to so I don't expect much to change. |
The Biggest Mistakes in Poker - Going it Alone Posted: 01 Feb 2011 02:33 AM PST In the old western movies a cowboy would walk into the bar with just a Colt 45 in his hand and he would take on at least thirty blokes. He would obviously kill them all before a local working whore would run to his aid, cleaning up the blood, from his slight bullet wound that grazed his neck. Everyone loves a hero! In poker, whether using the betfair welcome freeroll or not, there are some people who are just born with a natural talent. They don't need any help to get to the top, they are just like those top cowboy's. For the majority of people a helping hand is the quickest way to get to the top. Think of it like climbing over a wall with a bunky up as opposed to no bunky up. When trying to get to the top of anything it is always a good piece of advice to ask someone who has already been there. I assume this is what happened to the second person to try and reach the summit of Mount Everest. I assume they just asked Sir Edmund Hilary how he got there? Those studying the betfair free bet code should not that in poker there is a vast amount of information and data out there from anyone and everyone who has made it to the top of their profession. There are books, training sites and coaches galore so you won't have to look hard to find your very own Sir Edmund Hilary. All of the above tips and techniques are fine but the best way to advance is to hire a personal coach. The one to one personal contact is unrivalled in any other form of poker learning. So don't waste time, energy and money and don't be a hero. Get yourself a coach. Hire your very own Sir Edmund Hilary. |
Should the transfer window be scrapped? Posted: 01 Feb 2011 02:20 AM PST It provides us, the viewers, with a day of frantic entertainment and drama, but is the transfer window good for the game? After all it seems that by squeezing a season's worth of transfer activity into one month the pressure created causes managers, players and chairman into rushed, drastic and sometimes downright bizarre decisions. For starters it seems the pressure is too much for chairman, who will often pull the trigger in January in order to give any replacement manager time to bring their own players in. This only makes the job as manager even more unstable with bosses going after barely six months in the job – Roy Hodgson the most recent victim. Anyone who has bet on Premier League games will know how cruel the sport can be. Then there is the mad rush for players, with transfer fees spiralling out of control. Andy Carroll is a decent player, is he really worth £35 million? Darren Bent may have a decent goalscoring record in recent years but is he worth £24million? And Charlie Adam, did Liverpool really rate him at £14million? It is absolute madness and all this instability, wild sackings and irresponsible spending is surely bad for the long-term health of the game? It also won't help anyone looking to bet on Premier League winner. My solution would be a half-way house option. I would extend the summer transfer window until the end of September, allowing more time for managers to assess their squads. I would also make the January window two months long, again giving managers more time to turn things around and hopefully take some heat out of a rapidly over-heating transfer market. After all, if we did scrap the transfer window entirely, what would Jim White do? |
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