Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Sports World |
- UK NFL fans set to suffer?
- Comply hints at return to form
- Henderson pair state strong Cheltenham cases
| Posted: 18 Jan 2011 05:49 AM PST After enjoying a trip to watch the 49ers triumph at Wembley in one of the few games they managed to win this season, I can reliably inform you that the support for the teams was both passionate and loud, with the majority of the 90,000 crowd deciding to back the Niners and leaving their opponents playing football in an atmosphere that most NFL sides can only dream of. However, instead of deciding to capitalise upon the huge surge in popularity that the NFL has enjoyed after it decided to bring one game a season to the UK, the NFL seems instead to be looking towards dropping the hugely successful International Series due to a lack of support from franchise owners. The current failure to agree to a new collective bargaining agreement also means that the renewal of the International Series seems to have slipped down the NFL agenda and this will no doubt upset the British fans currently poring over the Super Bowl 2011 betting odds. With the UK probably boasting more than enough of a fanbase to support its own franchise, there had been a slight whiff of a suggestion that, should the NFL decide to increase the number of franchises, London could well end up with its very own team, something that looks highly unlikely at present. It doesn't seem probable that UK fans placing Super Bowl 2011 bets will have their own side to back in a couple of years' time. Despite this, the fact that nothing is set in stone right now means that the London-based NFL fans can still keep their fingers and toes crossed that the NFL is going to get its act together and sign a collective agreement before kicking some sense into the bigger franchises such as the Patriots, showing them exactly why it's worth giving up a home fixture to play at Wembley.  |
| Comply hints at return to form Posted: 18 Jan 2011 05:02 AM PST The 2008 John Smith's Grand National hero Comply Or Die should definite signs of an imminent return to form when running well for a long way before fading in the closing stages of the gruelling Totesport.com Classic Chase at Warwick on Saturday, writes Elliot Slater. David Pipe's tremendously popular staying chaser was having only his second out of the season having run poorly at Wincanton when finishing well down the field on his first outing of the term at Wincanton in November. Ideally suited by a much better surface, his Warwick run was all the more noteworthy and suggested that the 12-year-old gelding is on very good terms with himself at present. It had been looking as though Comply Or Die might be feeling his age after a number of below-par efforts last term, although he did run well for a very long way at Aintree in April before fading out of contention from three out in the race famously won by Tony McCoy on Don't Push It. A real Aintree specialist, owner David Johnson's son of Old Vic also ran a tremendous race in the 2009 renewal when finishing an excellent second to Mon Mome as he bid to become the first horse since Red Rum in the 1970s to win back-to-back renewals of the great race. Bookmakers weren't quick to react to the pipe runner's effort and he still is available at up to 40/1 in the Grand National betting odds to win back the crown, a feat that would be unequalled in the long history of the race. West End Rocker, trained by Alan King, who won the Warwick event from Minella Boys, seems to have been of more interest to bookies and punters being cut to just 25/1 for Aintree glory after his three-quarters-of-a-length victory.  |
| Henderson pair state strong Cheltenham cases Posted: 18 Jan 2011 03:57 AM PST On a quite extraordinary day for trainer Nicky Henderson his two stable stars, Binocular and Long Run, advertised their Cheltenham Festival credentials in the best possible fashion with tremendous victories in the Christmas hurdle and King George VI Chase respectively, writes Elliot Slater. Reigning champion hurdler Binocular's smooth as silk success in the Grade 1 hurdle on a track that most pundits (and his trainer) felt might see him caught out for pace, sent out a serious warning shots to those who fancy their chances of taking his crown away that they are going have to fight very hard to do so. Confidently ridden by Tony McCoy, Binocular was always travelling well in the slipstream of the gallant Overturn, and once taking it up before two out he was never going to be caught, even though the runner-up kept on gamely to the line. Binocular's odds for back-to-back Champion Hurdle victories have been slashed and he appears the one they all have to beat and the Cheltenham betting offers reflect this. Long Run has always been held in the highest regard by the Henderson team but plenty of pundits doubted his jumping would be good enough for a championship grade three-mile contest. They couldn't have been more wrong as the Sam Waley-Cohen-ridden six-year-old put in an exhibition round and was always going too strongly for the great Kauto Star, who was under pressure a long way from home and despite battling bravely could only finish third behind the new champion. Long Run is now a clear second-favourite for the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 18 behind reigning champion Imperial Commander and will no doubt attract plenty of Cheltenham 2011 bets. With both horse and jockey having silenced their critics in no uncertain fashion there will be plenty of confidence in Long Run improving on his third place in last year's RSA Chase and the similar position he filled behind Little Josh in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Prestbury Park in November.  |
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