Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Sports World

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Marvel delights Gosden in Leger prep gallop Posted: 14 Sep 2011 08:21 AM PDT John Gosden knows as well as any trainer in recent years just what it takes to win the Ladbrokes St Leger and the Newmarket handler is beginning to sound ever more confident that Masked Marvel, his main contender for the big race at Doncaster on September, will run a very good race indeed, writes Elliot Slater. Gosden first landed the final classic of the British flat racing scene as far back as 1996 when his Shantou (in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed) stormed home to a famous success. It wasn't until 2007 that Gosden struck again in the prestigious one-mile-six-furlong-132-yards contest, this time sending out Locarno to defy the popular opinion of those who bet on racing win in the colours of American owner George Strawbridge. He didn't have to wait too long for his third win in the race though as the first-time application of headgear on Arctic Cosmos proved a particularly shrewd move and saw William Buick's mount score in the colours of Godsend's wife, Rachel Hood. Now Masked Marvel is the main hope for his trainer this year having won well at Newmarket ion his most recent outing in July where he proved just too strong for the subsequent Group 3 Geoffrey freer Stakes winner Census in the Group 3 Bahrain trophy over 13 furlongs. Gosden and most racing betting tips have no doubt that the Montjeu colt will stay the extra furlong-and-a-half as the three-year-old's dam Waldmark stayed well enough to win the German St Leger. In his most recent piece of work on the Limekilns gallop, Masked Marvel went a mile alongside a useful stable companion and delighted connections with the way he eased away in the closing stages to demonstrate his wellbeing. The Bjorn Nielsen-owned classic contender is still available at odds of 9/1 to give his tremendously popular handler a fourth success in the big race.

Maguire to remain on sidelines until November at the earliest Posted: 14 Sep 2011 04:23 AM PDT The fickle nature of the National Hunt racing game can't be better illustrated than the ups-and-downs enjoyed and endured by Jason Maguire, one of the sport's leading jockeys, who won the John Smith's Grand National in April of this year then suffered a serious neck injury as the result of a fall in a minor event at Cartmel on August 28, writes Elliot Slater. At the time of his injury Irishman Maguire was on the 49-winner mark for the season and in second place in the jump jockeys' championship behind the relentless Tony McCoy, but after it first appeared he had escaped any significant damage it soon transpired that something was amiss and x-rays subsequently revealed a spinal injury in his lower neck. Maguire had been airlifted from the track initially suspected of suffering a broken collarbone, an injury that can heal in as little as four weeks, but in hindsight it appears that Donald McCain's stable jockey was lucky that the damage has not proved irreversible. Those looking at the Grand National betting will be hoping he gets back fit. Expecting to be on the sidelines until mid-November at the earliest, Maguire explained that he needs to wear a neck brace until mid-October after which he will be issued with a soft brace as the neck begins to regain strength and support his head without complications. At that point regular physio and gym training should ensure that when he does return to the saddle Maguire will be fit and ready to pick up where he left off.  Those following the Grand National free betting should bear this in mind. Amongst the host of high profile horses awaiting the popular jockey's recovery is last season's high-class hurdler Peddlers Cross who has reportedly schooled very well ahead of his eagerly anticipated debut as a novice chaser. Maguire will not be back in time for that scheduled outing in October, but doubtless he will be present to see just how his Cheltenham Festival and Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner goes first-time out over the larger obstacles.

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