Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Sports World

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Noel Fehily booked for National stalwart State of Play Posted: 04 Apr 2012 07:43 AM PDT Noel Fehily, still riding the crest of a wave after his authoritative victory on board the Paul Nicholls-trained Rock on Ruby in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, has been called up to partner the Aintree specialist State of Play in the John Smith's Grand National on April 14, writes Elliot Slater. State of Play has proven himself to be a real Grand National specialist, finishing in the frame in each of the last three renewals when partnered by his regular pilot Paul Moloney. With Moloney called up to partner the Evan Williams-trained first-string Cappa Bleu (14/1 in the online betting at Stan James), the Welsh handler has turned to Fehily to try and guide the 12-year-old safely once more around the rigours of the marathon Liverpool circuit, and the Irish rider is reportedly delighted to accept the offer. Generally on offer at 40/1 in the horse racing betting to win the 'world's greatest steeplechase' at the fourth time of asking, State of Play hasn't been seen in public since running fourth to Ballabriggs 12 months ago, staying on from a long way off the pace to again grab a share of the prize money. Ideally suited by a little cut in the ground, connections will be keeping their fingers crossed that rain will arrive in time on Merseyside to take the sting out of the ground and give the gelded son of Hernando every opportunity to show his best, as he did in 2009 when fourth to 100/1 shock scorer Mon Mome, and when third behind Don't Push It in the 2010 renewal. Williams reports himself very satisfied with the current wellbeing of his grand old campaigner who has proved a hard horse to keep sound over the years, but at his best was a very classy performer, famously winning the 2006 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, beating the smart Juveigneur by four lengths.

Nicholls aiming big guns at Aintree Hurdle Posted: 04 Apr 2012 07:43 AM PDT Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has revealed that he intends to run both the Stan James Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby and his stable companion Zarkandar in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle at the Festival meeting next week in a contest that is shaping up to be an absolute cracker, writes Elliot Slater. Bookmakers have installed Rock On Ruby as the 9/4 marginal market leader with Stan James for the two-and-a-half-mile contest, a bigger price than many punters might have anticipated after witnessing his authoritative success over Overturn and Hurricane Fly in the championship contest at Cheltenham last month. Some observers have expressed concern that the Aintree track, (rather than the step up in trip), might be against Nicholls' charge who was a distant third at the meeting 12 months ago behind Spirit Son. Nicholls however believes his champion will take all the beating, and insists the horse is far stronger and mentally tougher than at this time last season. For his part, Zarkandar met with his first ever hurdles defeat when fifth behind his stable companion in the Champion Hurdle, clearly getting outpaced at a critical stage of the contest before finishing with some purpose up the Cheltenham hill. In another few strides he might well have grabbed third place, so the extra half-mile at Aintree appears set to suit him ideally. A brilliant winner of the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on his previous outing where his stamina once again saved the day as he recovered from a seemingly impossible position approaching two out to get on top close home to beat Get Me Out Of Here in a memorable finish, punters who bet on racing can back the half-brother to the mighty Flat racer Zarkava at 7/2 in a race in which Oscar Whisky, winner of the contest 12 months ago, is priced up the 5/2 second favourite.

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