Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Sports World

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Caspar books his 2000 Guineas ticket Posted: 25 Apr 2012 08:01 AM PDT The admirable Caspar Netscher, a tough as teak juvenile last season who took his trainer Alan McCabe to all the big meetings throughout last summer and autumn, has carried on this year where he left off last by proving he has trained on in style in impressively winning the Group 3 AON Greenham Stakes at Newbury, in the process booking his place in the line-up for the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5, writes Elliot Slater. A winner last term of both the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury over six furlongs and the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York over the same trip, Caspar Netscher had arguably been very unlucky in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October when repeatedly denied a run inside the final two furlongs, eventually finishing full of running in being beaten just over a length in a blanket finish behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained Crusade. Not disgraced when coming home eighth behind Wrote at Churchill Downs in November in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf over a mile, Caspar Netscher, a son of Dutch Art, had reportedly done well over the winter and arrived at Newbury with hopes high amongst horse racing betting tips that he would give a good account of himself. Although he had never before raced on genuinely soft ground, any fears that McCabe's charge would struggle on the testing surface were soon allayed as he travelled well under Shane Kelly before switching to the stands rail approaching the final furlong where he came through to take it up off Boomerang Bob and Bronterre before drawing away to win by a length. Bookmakers reacted by trimming the Newmarket-trained colt to best racing odds of 25/1 for the 2000 Guineas having been available at 50/1 prior to his pleasing Greenham win. The likelihood is that the rock solid Caspar Netscher will finish with more horses behind than in front in the first colts' classic of the 2012 campaign.

Lewis Ends The Power's Unbeaten Run Posted: 25 Apr 2012 03:16 AM PDT Adrian Lewis beat the darts odds favourite, Phil Taylor, 8-5 in the latest round of Premier League fixtures in Bournemouth, to bring The Power's unbeaten record in this year's competition to an end. The world champion, Lewis, was forced to come from behind before sealing the victory; after a lack-lustre opening, Taylor went into the interval 4-2 ahead. Taylor's average was only 94.45, while his check-out percentage was just 40 per cent. Lewis moved through the gears on the resumption to seal an impressive victory. "I had to", the 27-year-old admitted afterwards. "At 4-2 down against Phil Taylor, you have got no choice, because he is the best player in the world. You have to believe in your own ability. "I'm not in the play-offs yet though. I've got to treat every game like a final now, starting with Gary Anderson in Liverpool, next week." It was a fine display by Lewis, who drew with Taylor on the opening night of the season in Manchester, with a 160 checkout being the highlight of his victory. The win lifted Lewis to fourth in the Premier League Darts table, above Raymond van Barneveld, after the Dutchman suffered a shock 8-5 defeat to Simon Whitlock. Meanwhile, Kevin Painter moved off the foot of the table, after defeating Gary Anderson 8-4, his first victory in five weeks. Andy Hamilton drew 7-7 with James Wade, his second successive draw, to keep his hopes of reaching the play-offs alive.

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