Friday, March 18, 2011
Sports World |
| Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:53 AM PDT Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have both confirmed they will take part in the Monte Carlo Masters tournament next month. The tournament is a traditional warm-up event for the French Open which takes place at Roland Garros the following month. The duo will be looking to take a mental advantage in the battle for the second grand slam of the year and a win at this event would be the perfect preparation. Nadal will once again head to Monte Carlo as the stand-out favourite after dominating the tournament for the past six years, with titles every year. The Spaniard is once again the reigning French Open champion and will be looking to add an astounding fifth title to his collection. While Nadal will come under the usual pressure to perform at his high standard, it's hard to see anybody really challenging arguably the finest ever clay court player for the trophy and the French Open odds reflect this. Federer will return to Monte Carlo following his absence last year, and will be looking to re-establish himself as the world's best player after a mixed couple of years. After finishing as a beaten finalist three times at Monte Carlo, Federer will be going all out to switch the balance of power. The Swiss sensation had a strong finish to last year, winning the end of season Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. It has been over a year since Federer reached a grand slam final though and will be looking to end that drought sooner rather than later.  |
| Scudamore deputises for Costello in Gold Cup Posted: 18 Mar 2011 08:08 AM PDT 'One man's meat is another man's poison', so the saying goes, and the desperately bad luck that struck jockey Dougie Costello at Stratford on Monday on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival and resulted in him sustaining a double fracture to his leg, has ruled him out of the ride on Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Midnight Chase and presented Tom Scudamore with a high quality spare ride, writes Elliot Slater. According to racing tips, Costello has built up a great rapport with Neil Muholland's rapidly improving chaser having won on the Lady Clarke-owned gelding in six of their last seven races together, including the last four in a row, the final three of which were all at Cheltenham. Many people see the son of Midnight Legend as a potential surprise package (especially if the ground was to ease), having gone from strength-to-strength on every start over the last 12 months. Costello has been given a great deal of the credit for the improvement having forged a genuine understanding with the horse, but after learning that he might be out for the rest of the season Mulholland had to move quickly to ensure he would have the most appropriate replacement. In choosing Tom Scudamore, both Mulholland and Lady Clarke believe that his style will suit their horse, and whilst both would have preferred Costello to be in the plate, in the circumstances they are happy with having secured Scudamore's services. In horse racing tips Midnight Chase is currently a rock solid 14/1 shot to spring a surprise on the more established big names in the blue riband event that is the centrepiece of Friday's card, and indeed of the whole Cheltenham Festival. Last year's winner Imperial Commander remains a solid 10/3 favourite to retain his title even though he hasn't been seen in competitive actions since winning the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock in November.  |
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