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| Big Buck's lands the cash in Long Walk Today's best bets plus all the news from the action at Newbury and Leopardstown3.15pm Buck's lands the cash in Long WalkWill Hayler reports: It's a day where you can't afford to be afraid of getting dirty at Newbury, with persistent rain turning conditions into a quagmire. But Big Buck's (1-2) showed once again that he is not afraid of a fight when taking the Long Walk Hurdle under Ruby Walsh. He briefly touched 4-1 in Betfair's in-running betting on the home turn, when Ruby Walsh had to stoke him up in order to keep tabs with leader Fair Along, as well-backed second-favourite Diamond Harry was sent forwards to make his challenge, seemingly going much the better. But once finding his stride, Big Buck's pricked his ears and picked up the pace again, staying on down the straight in gruelling conditions to beat Karabak by three and a half lengths, the RSA Hurdle form seemingly being confirmed as Diamond Harry finished a respectable but ultimately one-paced third. The victory capped a good day's work for Paul Nicholls after his earlier win with What A Friend in the Lexus Chase. Walsh said: "He's a very, very good horse - he's a great stayer. He handles the ground, I wouldn't say he loved it but not too many horses do. He only does enough, but I guess that's what you want with three-mile hurdlers. Like a lot of the best staying hurdlers, you have to keep at him a bit."Diamond Harry's trainer Nick Williams had earlier taken the Challow Hurdle, the other Grade One action on the card, with Reve de Sivola, who came from an impossible-looking position to catch Restless Harry and final-flight leader Finian's Rainbow. Owner Paul Duffy said: "That was fantastic. We quietly fancied him but you never quite know what you are up against. He was bought as a chaser so all of this is a bonus."2.20pm Thomas hails Friend after Lexus successTony Paley reports: What A Friend won the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, in the process paying a huge compliment to stable companion Denman who gave him 22lb and an easy beating in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury last month. Notre Pere and Joncol cut out most of the running, and the latter appeared the likeliest winner going into the last. But as Joncol's stamina gave out, What A Friend (11-2) took advantage and held off the late lunge of Money Trix by half a length. Winning rider Sam Thomas said: "He travels very well and jumps very well, which makes my life a lot easier. I was disappointed not to be riding the horse in the first place but I got the opportunity today. "I need to thank Tom George's owner Philip Nelson for letting me get off his horse to come over here. Barry Geraghty was due to ride him and has a lot of experience around here. Everything happens for a reason and the gods must have been looking down on me. Thank goodness for the fog! "He had to dig deep and it is a long run-in - it felt a long way home from the last. I was keen to keep a lead as long as possible and we had something to aim at coming to the last. If you take Denman out he would have been a good winner of the Hennessy and all credit to him for coming here three weeks after that run. "People thought he was ungenuine in the Hennessy when he wandered about going to the final fence but he was just trying so hard. Some great horses like Denman and Beef Or Salmon have won this race so hopefully our horse can go onto bigger and better things and I think he might come back here for the Irish Hennessy." 1.45pm Voler on course for Irish ChampionTony Paley reports: Voler La Vedette will head for the Irish Champion Hurdle on January 24 after her two-length victory in the ITBA Fillies Scheme EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown today. Trainer Colm Murphy will use the Grade One test to determine her Cheltenham Festival target, with the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle and the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle her two options. Murphy said: "Paul [Townend] said she was doing too much, so dropping her back to two miles with a fast pace will suit her. We will throw her into the deep end now and give her an entry in the Irish Champion Hurdle next month. "That will tell us where to go afterwards. She will have an entry in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but the mares' race is the obvious place to go." William Hill cut her into 7-2 for the Mares' Hurdle, while she remains unchanged at 20-1 with the same firm for the Champion Hurdle on March 16.Today's best bets and weather update, by Will HaylerNewbury's soggy-looking weather forecast shouldn't worry backers of Big Buck's (2.40) as he bids to continue his unbeaten run in the rescheduled Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury. He seemed to travel more smoothly than ever when winning on his reappearance and it's not inconceivable that he may have improved again this year, given that he is still only six.That said, the fact that he does find so much for pressure will no doubt mean that Ruby Walsh will be keen to avoid coming to the final fence cruising on the bridle alongside Diamond Harry, who is in all probability better than his run in the RSA Hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival and could yet challenge Big Buck's at the head of the staying hurdler ranks.The tactical aspect of today's race should be fascinating, with Diamond Harry's rider Timmy Murphy showing no signs of being able to deviate from what has become his characteristic modus operandi of sitting as quietly as possible in the early stages and trying to win without having to ask for maximum effort. Murphy is undoubtedly a fine jockey, but his slightly one-dimensional approach to race-riding makes it easier for his critics and I have to question whether the sort of waiting ride he keeps giving Diamond Harry is really showing the horse to best effect.Barry Geraghty returns from Ireland with a couple of likely-looking winners for Nicky Henderson, for whom his strike-rate this season is a truly astonishing 27 winners from 56 rides (48% and a substantial level-stakes profit). Dave's Dream (12.00) hasn't attracted the same level of attention as some of Henderson's other exciting novices, but time may yet show him to be as good as any. The stable's runners are going much better now than when he had to work hard to beat My Moment at Huntingdon, but that form has been franked since in any case.As a caveat, he may not want conditions to be bottomless and heavy rain is forecast for the course before the start of racing. Hopefully, the fact that he runs in the first race rather than later in the card will allow conditions to hold up sufficiently ... I don't think he's unmissable at 13-8, but I certainly fancy him.Finian's Rainbow (2.05) made a real impression when easily beating Sereth (himself a useful stayer on the Flat who had looked potentially smart when winning on his hurdles debut) at this track last month and could take a successful step into Grade One company by taking the Challow Hurdle. He showed signs of inexperience when having to be shaken up a couple of times before the race had really got serious, but powered away once hitting the front. This is a competitive affair and there are unknown quantities among his rivals, but the 2-1 available this morning doesn't look a bad price.Salvaged from yesterday's fog, the Lexus Chase (1.25) still remains a mouthwatering event at Leopardstown this afternoon even if the likes of Walsh and Geraghty have opted to get off their mounts in order to ride at Newbury.From a betting point of view, Sublimity (2.00) looks a fair play to take the December Festival Hurdle by confirming his recent Newcastle form with Solwhit. Sublimity beat Muirhead and others when winning this race last year on similar ground (important to his chances: significant rain would be a negative). Solwhit has still to totally convince me that he is a genuine Champion Hurdle contender. Punjabi may not have been at his best when going down to him by a short-head in testing ground last May and his victory over Muirhead and Hurricane Fly also looks suspect. He certainly doesn't have much in hand over an in-form Sublimity on that rival's favoured quicker surface and looks short at even-money compared to Sublimity's 4-1 quotes.A decision will be taken today as to whether Cheltenham deploy the track-wide frost blankets (recently arrived from sister track Kempton) ahead of their big meeting on Friday. The forecast for the course over the next 72 hours suggests that frost itself shouldn't be a problem, but there remains a possibility of snow showers later in the week.Frost blankets would provide important protection against a relatively small amount of snow, but heavier snowfall might make the covers impossible to remove, meaning that clerk of the course Simon Claisse has a calculated gamble to make.Haydock are to inspect at 3pm today ahead of their scheduled meeting for tomorrow while Musselburgh have called an inspection for 9am tomorrow in advance of their Friday card.Click here for all the day's racecards, form, stats and results.Click here for today's latest odds.And post your racing-related comments below.Horse racingHorse racing tipsWill HaylerTony Paleyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Asif takes six as Australia all out for 127 • Australia 127; Pakistan 14-0• Mohammad Asif claims career-best six-wicket haulPakistan have taken a firm grip on the second Test after bowling out Australia for only 127 on an extraordinary opening day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.The home side were dismissed shortly before stumps after winning the toss and electing to bat on a seaming, green pitch. The fast bowler Mohammad Asif was Pakistan's star performer with career-best figures of six for 41 – the second-best return by a Pakistani at the SCG. It was Asif's sixth five-wicket haul in only his 16th Test.Bad light stopped play for the day 10 minutes before stumps. The visitors will resume at 14 for no loss, with Imran Farhat on nine and Salman Butt three.Australia were floundering at 62 for seven prior to tea before a 44-run eighth wicket partnership between Nathan Hauritz (21) and Mitchell Johnson (38) eased them past 100.Rain delayed the start until 2pm, and Ricky Ponting was left regretting his decision to bat soon after play got under way. He and the recalled Phillip Hughes fell for ducks in successive balls, with Shane Watson (six), Michael Clarke (three), Michael Hussey (28), Marcus North (10) and Brad Haddin (six) making hasty exits as the pace attack made the most of the perfect bowling conditionsMohammad Sami, with three for 20, took the first three before the impressive Asif stepped up to remove the next six.The previously innocuous Sami, who took a Test bowling average of 51 into the match, was almost unplayable as he ripped through the top order. He removed Hughes, an 11th-hour replacement for the injured Simon Katich, and Ponting before adding Watson to his list of victims.Having waited 167 days for another chance at Test level, Hughes charged to the crease well ahead of his partner Watson and nervously made his way to the non-striker's end.Having patiently waited as Watson faced the first over, the 21-year-old should have been back in the pavilion immediately after he flashed a cut shot straight to Umar Akmal at gully, who dropped the regulation chance.The fidgety left-hander somehow survived the remainder of Sami's first over but did little to settle the nerves of the crowd when he swiped wildly at the seventh ball he faced and was lucky not to offer an edge. Sami got his man three balls later, when Hughes offered a thick edge to Faisal Iqbal at second slip, ending his unconvincing 14-minute stay without managing a run.Hughes' Twenty20 approach seemed to infect Ponting, who launched into an ambitious pull shot to the first ball he faced and top-edged a catch to Umar Gul at backward square for a golden duck.Further drama was just a ball away as Watson was struck on a toe by Sami but the umpire Billy Doctrove gave Watson not out, which was upheld following a referral.After cracking Australia's first boundary in the eighth over, the opener pushed forward to a Sami outswinger and nicked a simple catch to Kamran Akmal behind the stumps to leave the hosts at 10 for three.Clarke survived a referred lbw appeal but soon went, driving hard at Asif and being bowled between bat and pad as the ball nipped back off the seam.The drama kept on coming. With the score on 42, North was given out lbw to Asif for two. The Western Australian referred a decision to the video umpire and the decision was reversed.Hussey was next to go, attempting to pull Asif but only sending a top edge high above the slip cordon. Misbah-ul-Haq turned from first slip and held his nerve to take the catch and leave Australia 51 for five.Without adding to the total, North flirted at the next ball and was out caught behind to put Asif on a hat-trick.Haddin negotiated the ball but was out just before tea, driving ambitiously at Asif and spiralling a catch to Mohammad Yousuf at mid-off.Hauritz added a breezy 21 before being caught behind off Asif and Johnson smashed five fours and a six off 57 balls to top-score with 38 before holing out to cover to give Asif his sixth victim. Doug Bollinger was the last man out, leaving the tourists 14 overs to survive until stumps.Australia are 1-0 up in the three-Test series.Australia Cricket TeamPakistan cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Brian Laws: I can keep Burnley in top flight Brian Laws is confident that he can keep Burnley in the Premier League, having been confirmed as their new manager only a month after he was sacked by Sheffield Wednesday. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Roberto Mancini handed harsh lesson at Goodison Park IN THIS helter-skelter Premier League season there have been few more amusing losses of perspective than the suggestion that a suddenly resurgent Manchester City might take the title. Thanks then be to Everton for raining down this ice-cold shower of a reality check. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Photos purport to show Woods at rehab center JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- That sure looks like Tiger Woods. The face. The rounded shoulders. The eyes staring out from under a cap. Celebrity Web site radaronline.com says the next issue of the National Enquirer will feature photos of the world's No. 1 golfer at Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services in Hattiesburg, Miss.... hosted.ap.org |