Monday, November 21, 2011
Sports World |
- Struggling Seahawks suffer setbacks
- Kauto Remains A Star Of The UK National Hunt Scene
- Boro owner ‘needs support’
| Struggling Seahawks suffer setbacks Posted: 21 Nov 2011 08:48 AM PST Seattle Seahawks have suffered a double injury blow after learning that tackle James Carpenter and guard John Moffitt are out for the season. Moffitt suffered medial ligament damage during the first quarter of Sunday's victory over Baltimore while Carpenter tore an anterior cruciate ligament in practice earlier this week. Both men require surgery, to offensive line coach Tom Cable's dismay. He said: "It's tough on them, because every day they do something that is part of their development. "The off-season would be valuable for them, as would the second half of the season. So we're going to lose all that but, once we get them back next spring, we'll go back to work with them." The Seahawks are expected to bring in Paul McQuistan at right guard and Breno Giacomini at right tackle for this weekend's game against St Louis. Anyone looking at the early Super Bowl betting should remember this. McQuistan was a third-round pick by Oakland in 2006 but, after three seasons with the Raiders, he moved to Jacksonville Jaguars and then Cleveland Browns. The 28-year-old signed for the Seahawks in January and featured in three matches earlier in the season when Robert Gallery was sidelined with a groin injury. Meanwhile, Giacomini, who was a fifth-round pick by Green Bay in 2008, moved to Seattle in September 2010. Seattle have endured a difficult season, with Sunday's 22-17 victory against the Ravens being only their third success in nine matches. However, there have been signs of improvement of late, and the Seahawks have allowed just two sacks in their last two games.  |
| Kauto Remains A Star Of The UK National Hunt Scene Posted: 21 Nov 2011 08:12 AM PST Well we cannot say we were not told, trainer, Paul Nicholls had been saying all week that Kauto Star had never been better at home ahead of Saturday's tilt at the Betfair Chase. Jockey, Ruby Walsh, warned the Bookmakers that the 11 year old was far too long in terms of odds and of course Kauto Star had already won the Betfair Chase three times in the past. Moreover, the legendary gelding had won four of his last five seasonal openers and is always at his best when fresh. These facts and warnings of course were mostly ignored as the money poured into the waiting clutches of the Bookmakers, the vast majority of it aimed in the general direction of race favourite, Long Run. Last season's top chaser, went off in the end as a short price 6/5 favourite with Kauto Star a very modest 6/1. Even Diamond Harry, having his first run since winning the Hennessy Gold Cup 12 months ago went off shorter in price. In fact there were only very few who believed that the two time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and four time King George Chase winner, could win the Betfair Chase for a fourth time. But win it he did and in such style that he broke the course record finishing an impressive eight lengths in front of Long Run and a further two lengths clear of recent Charlie Hall Chasse winner, Weird Al in third. Nicholls and Walsh having discussed the tactics that they would use in the race the day before agreed that they were going to blaze a trail from the off and using Kauto's brilliant jumping to pressure the rest. It was a tactic that worked to perfection, as one by one the quality field found the pace too much and were beaten. Long Run did put in a game effort at the end, but he was no match on the day for Kauto Star with Walsh on board riding him with great poise and purpose. Nicholls was quick to let the media and horse racing world know that Kauto will now definitely take his chance in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day where he will be looking for a record breaking fifth win. He will undoubtedly be meeting Long Run again in that race, last year's winner, will improve for this first run of the season, but he will have his work cut out to beat Kauto Star in this form. Nonetheless, the Bookmakers make Long Run the 6/4 favourite for the Boxing Day spectacular, with Kauto Star and stablemate, Master Minded, who also returned to winning ways on Saturday both at 4/1. The Phillip Hobbs trained Captain Chris is next at 5/1. Diamond Harry was a long way back by the end, but his trainer, Nick Williams will be pleased that he now has him running again and that there were no further setbacks during the race. Williams believes that the 8 year old will come on hugely for this run and that his next target would also be the King George. Paul Webber was not too disappointed in the performance of his Time For Rupert confirming that he will continue to aim him for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. He will be seen next in a Graduation Chase at Newbury in December and will have one more run after that before the Festival.  |
| Posted: 21 Nov 2011 07:58 AM PST Middlesbrough fans should give chairman Steve Gibson their full backing, according to former Newcastle owner Sir John Hall. Speaking to BBC Tees Sir John claimed that Gibson is doing a fantastic job in bankrolling the club but must have his doubts about what is happening at the club. "When I see the support he doesn't get, he must wonder if it is worth carrying on," he said. "I feel sorry for Steve, he's done a hell of a job." Gibson was part of a consortium which took Boro from the brink of liquidation in 1986 and took over as chairman eight years later. He stuck with the club despite their relegation into the Championship in 2009 despite having to contend with falling attendances and some disappointing performances on the pitch. Anyone looking to place a winning Championship bet will know things are getting better now. However, Sir John pointed to the small crowds, claiming that 13,000 fans a week is "not good enough" and that a full stadium would give the players a boost as well as ensuring the club had some much needed funds in the bank. The former Newcastle owner admitted that he would not have ploughed his personal fortune into a club in the manner which Gibson has done and claimed that the Boro chief must have "put millions in" to keep the club running. Despite recent poor performances on the pitch, it hasn't all been doom and gloom during Gibson's reign. In 2004 the club won the Carling Cup and two years later Steve McLaren took them to the UEFA Cup final, which they lost 4-0 against Sevilla.  |
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