It may have been the bracing spring sunshine or the teatime start that kept Punchestown's first-day crowd healthy in a cash crisis but those who came just to admire a lap of honour from Master Minded got more excitement than expected. The dual two-mile champion had only a head to spare over Big Zeb in the Kerrygold Champion Chase and would have been beaten if his rival had not fluffed the last fence.
Paul Nicholls, his trainer, had been convinced Master Minded was in better shape than when defending his title at Cheltenham last month but his nerves were shredded in a fraught climax. Nicholls felt Master Minded idled after being obliged to make his own running but Ruby Walsh, his jockey, was less forgiving.
“He didn't travel with the gusto or jump with the exuberance he usually has,” Walsh confessed. “He just wasn't taking me there out in front and he was pulling up again before the line. This wasn't his best effort but he's still won and he's an incredible horse.”
Nicholls, admitting it was “a gamble” to bring Master Minded here after ten months on the go, believes the personality of the horse has altered. “Just like Kauto Star, you learn about these horses all the time and I think he's got a bit complacent. You'll see him next in the Tingle Creek in December and I'd expect him to have a pacemaker.”
Bookmakers eased Master Minded slightly for a third Champion Chase but took the shears to the price of Big Zeb, running his best race yet for Colm Murphy. “It's a pity to get so close and not win but he's on the upgrade and something to look forward to,” Murphy said.
Nicholls had earlier watched with mixed emotions as Walsh initiated a grade one double by dismissing significant rivals to establish Hurricane Fly as new favourite for the 2010 Champion Hurdle. Admiring though he was of horse and rider, Nicholls now knows he may have to seek another jockey if Celestial Halo makes it back to Cheltenham next year.
There may, of course, be considerable caveats about Hurricane Fly getting there - his missed the Festival last month with minor injury and, being by Montjeu, he has hotheaded tendencies. His talent, though, is beyond question and the speed with which he put a false-run race to bed yesterday was breathtaking.
It came as no surprise to Willie Mullins, his trainer, who recounted a home gallop last Tuesday “which amazed us all”. Characteristically, Walsh anchored him towards the rear and looked to have a problem as he turned into the straight behind a wall of horses. He attracted the attention of the stewards by nudging a path through but his mount then sprinted seven lengths clear of Kempes and Riverside Theatre.
The latter, watched by a nattily clad Jimmy Nesbitt, his part-owner, was part of a decimated travelling party for Nicky Henderson, who yesterday scratched Punchestowns from the Ladbroke World Series Hurdle tomorrow after he was slightly lame behind. “It's nothing serious but we can't risk him,” Henderson said.
He had already taken Barbers Shop, owned by the Queen, out of today's feature race, the Guinness Gold Cup. Notre Pere, Ireland's leading chaser on ratings, is likely to contest favouritism with Imperial Commander, who won the Ryanair Chase for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Cooldine, a Cheltenham winner for Mullins, is also among the 13 declared but he will not turn out again after disappointing yesterday in the Boylesports Champion Novice Chase. Walsh led from the start again but Cooldine jumped without fluency and dropped out tamely in the straight as Rare Bob, fourth in the Irish National, produced the surprise of the day.
More than 16,000 turned up, with an increase in general admission compensating for the predictable corporate decline. The jury is out on the late start and evening finish but the benefits may have been as much to local landlords as local workrate.
Source:The times
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Colin Montgomerie wants to increase Ryder Cup wild cards
Colin Montgomerie wants to increase the number of wild-card picks he will have for next year's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
The European Tour's players' committee meets in Ireland on May 12 and the Europe captain wants more than the two picks his predecessors have had for the past seven matches. America regained the trophy in October after their captain Paul Azinger sought and was given four picks, two more than previously.
"I am one vote, but a more powerful one than I was being the captain," Montgomerie said. "I will put the case forward."
He did not reveal how many wild cards he would request - he once said the captain should be able to choose all 12 of the side - but did confirm his proposal is a change to the current system.
Last year, Nick Faldo overlooked Montgomerie, the German player Martin Kaymer, European Open champion Ross Fisher and Darren Clarke - winner of two qualifying tournaments, including the penultimate one - in favour of Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.
Poulter's selection was controversial because he had not flown back from America for the final event when he still had a chance to make the team automatically. However, he was Europe's top scorer in the contest with four wins out of five.
Source:The times
The European Tour's players' committee meets in Ireland on May 12 and the Europe captain wants more than the two picks his predecessors have had for the past seven matches. America regained the trophy in October after their captain Paul Azinger sought and was given four picks, two more than previously.
"I am one vote, but a more powerful one than I was being the captain," Montgomerie said. "I will put the case forward."
He did not reveal how many wild cards he would request - he once said the captain should be able to choose all 12 of the side - but did confirm his proposal is a change to the current system.
Last year, Nick Faldo overlooked Montgomerie, the German player Martin Kaymer, European Open champion Ross Fisher and Darren Clarke - winner of two qualifying tournaments, including the penultimate one - in favour of Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.
Poulter's selection was controversial because he had not flown back from America for the final event when he still had a chance to make the team automatically. However, he was Europe's top scorer in the contest with four wins out of five.
Source:The times
England overlook Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell for first Test with West Indies
Michael Vaughan, Ian Bell and Stephen Harmison have all been left out of England's 12-man squad for the first npower Test match against the West Indies on Wednesday. Owais Shah has been dropped after playing the last three Tests in the Caribbean.
Ravi Bopara, the Essex batsman, has been picked to fill the No 3 position after hitting a hundred against the West Indians in Barbados last month. And in a party of bold selections, uncapped seamers Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions will provide the back-up to James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
"This is very exciting for the two young fast bowlers to be included in the squad for a Lord's Test match and sends a message to all county players that if they put in consistently good performances they will get recognised," Geoff Miller, the national selector, said. "Both have had good starts to this season and had been close to Test match selection on a number of occasions.
"They have earned their place in the party. The selectors also felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter.
"There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. He showed he has the ability to play at Test level."
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar is also included which gives captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower the opportunity to ponder the option of two slow men, a policy which some believe could be productive for the Ashes later this summer.
On the batting front, Bell, 27, was expected to return after hitting the LV County Championship's first hundred of the season for Warwickshire against Somerset and also registering a one-day century against the same opposition.
However, the selectors have demanded greater weight of runs in domestic cricket from him to emphasise a desire to get back to the international fold.
Shah, the man who displaced him for the final three Tests in the Caribbean, has been consigned to bench-warming in the Indian Premier League and therefore unable to justify his retention after a fallow return to Tests. So Bopara, currently featuring in the Indian Premier League, is back after his 104 in a one-off chance at Kensington Oval.
"The selectors felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter," Miller added.
"There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. "He showed in Barbados that he has the ability to play at Test level."
England squad for the 1st npower Test Match against West Indies:
A Strauss (Middlesex, captain)J Anderson (Lancashire)R Bopara (Essex)T Bresnan (Yorkshire)S Broad (Nottinghamshire)P Collingwood (Durham)A Cook (Essex)G Onions (Durham)M Panesar (Northamptonshire)K Pietersen (Hampshire)M Prior (Sussex, wicketkeeper)G Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Source:The times
Ravi Bopara, the Essex batsman, has been picked to fill the No 3 position after hitting a hundred against the West Indians in Barbados last month. And in a party of bold selections, uncapped seamers Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions will provide the back-up to James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
"This is very exciting for the two young fast bowlers to be included in the squad for a Lord's Test match and sends a message to all county players that if they put in consistently good performances they will get recognised," Geoff Miller, the national selector, said. "Both have had good starts to this season and had been close to Test match selection on a number of occasions.
"They have earned their place in the party. The selectors also felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter.
"There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. He showed he has the ability to play at Test level."
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar is also included which gives captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower the opportunity to ponder the option of two slow men, a policy which some believe could be productive for the Ashes later this summer.
On the batting front, Bell, 27, was expected to return after hitting the LV County Championship's first hundred of the season for Warwickshire against Somerset and also registering a one-day century against the same opposition.
However, the selectors have demanded greater weight of runs in domestic cricket from him to emphasise a desire to get back to the international fold.
Shah, the man who displaced him for the final three Tests in the Caribbean, has been consigned to bench-warming in the Indian Premier League and therefore unable to justify his retention after a fallow return to Tests. So Bopara, currently featuring in the Indian Premier League, is back after his 104 in a one-off chance at Kensington Oval.
"The selectors felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter," Miller added.
"There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. "He showed in Barbados that he has the ability to play at Test level."
England squad for the 1st npower Test Match against West Indies:
A Strauss (Middlesex, captain)J Anderson (Lancashire)R Bopara (Essex)T Bresnan (Yorkshire)S Broad (Nottinghamshire)P Collingwood (Durham)A Cook (Essex)G Onions (Durham)M Panesar (Northamptonshire)K Pietersen (Hampshire)M Prior (Sussex, wicketkeeper)G Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Source:The times
McLaren hit by suspended three-race ban for 'Lie-gate' scandal
McLaren Mercedes have been hit with a suspended three-race ban after they pleaded guilty to misleading stewards at the Australian Grand Prix.
Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren team principal, faced the FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris today, and pleaded guilty to five charges of bringing Formula One into disrepute in connection with the “Lie-gate” scandal. However, the penalty will only be enforced on the team if "further facts emerge" about this incident or if there is a "further breach" of the rules.
The team did not contest the case and threw themselves on the mercy of the FIA as a result of the attempt by Lewis Hamilton and Dave Ryan, the now dismissed McLaren sporting director, to deceive the stewards after the race in Melbourne and before the Malaysian Grand Prix.
"Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh addressed the World Motor Sport Council and the change in culture he made clear is taking place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deemed appropriate," an FIA statement read.
"That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races [in the world championship]. This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if in the next 12 months there is further breach by the team."
Hamilton has avoided any further punishment after his disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix. The world champion was initially promoted from fourth to third after the race stewards in Melbourne handed Jarno Trulli a 25-second penalty for passing the Briton behind the safety car.
During the meeting, Whitmarsh again took the opportunity to offer his team's sincere apologies for the mistakes made in Australia and Malaysia.
Following the hearing described by McLaren as "very fair", Whitmarsh said: "I would like to thank the FIA World Motor Sport Council members for affording me the opportunity to answer their questions this morning.
"We are aware we made serious mistakes in Australia and Malaysia, and I was therefore very glad to be able to apologise for those mistakes once again.
"I was also pleased to be able to assure the FIA World Motor Sport Council members that we had taken appropriate action with a view to ensuring that such mistakes do not occur again."
A McLaren statement added: "We now look forward with enthusiasm to continuing our efforts to develop a closer and more co-operative relationship between ourselves and the FIA.
"We will also continue to focus our efforts on closing the performance gap that exists between our car and the fastest cars.
"Following Lewis' encouraging fourth place in Bahrain on Sunday, we are now optimistic we will be able to play an increasingly competitive part in what is fast developing into a very exciting season of Formula One motor racing."
Speaking after the hearing, Max Mosley, the president of the FIA, said the WMSC's decision had been "entirely fair."
"They [McLaren] have demonstrated there is a complete culture change, that it's all different to what it was," he said. "In those circumstances it looks better to put the whole thing behind us, so unless there is something similar in the future, that is the end of the matter."
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone described the proceedings as "good, fair, honest and straight."
"I thought Martin was happy with that. He shouldn't have done something wrong should he? So he got a slap," he said.
"But it was good for everybody that decision. They had their wrist slapped. That was all they needed. They've had enough punishment."
Source:The times
Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren team principal, faced the FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris today, and pleaded guilty to five charges of bringing Formula One into disrepute in connection with the “Lie-gate” scandal. However, the penalty will only be enforced on the team if "further facts emerge" about this incident or if there is a "further breach" of the rules.
The team did not contest the case and threw themselves on the mercy of the FIA as a result of the attempt by Lewis Hamilton and Dave Ryan, the now dismissed McLaren sporting director, to deceive the stewards after the race in Melbourne and before the Malaysian Grand Prix.
"Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh addressed the World Motor Sport Council and the change in culture he made clear is taking place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deemed appropriate," an FIA statement read.
"That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races [in the world championship]. This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if in the next 12 months there is further breach by the team."
Hamilton has avoided any further punishment after his disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix. The world champion was initially promoted from fourth to third after the race stewards in Melbourne handed Jarno Trulli a 25-second penalty for passing the Briton behind the safety car.
During the meeting, Whitmarsh again took the opportunity to offer his team's sincere apologies for the mistakes made in Australia and Malaysia.
Following the hearing described by McLaren as "very fair", Whitmarsh said: "I would like to thank the FIA World Motor Sport Council members for affording me the opportunity to answer their questions this morning.
"We are aware we made serious mistakes in Australia and Malaysia, and I was therefore very glad to be able to apologise for those mistakes once again.
"I was also pleased to be able to assure the FIA World Motor Sport Council members that we had taken appropriate action with a view to ensuring that such mistakes do not occur again."
A McLaren statement added: "We now look forward with enthusiasm to continuing our efforts to develop a closer and more co-operative relationship between ourselves and the FIA.
"We will also continue to focus our efforts on closing the performance gap that exists between our car and the fastest cars.
"Following Lewis' encouraging fourth place in Bahrain on Sunday, we are now optimistic we will be able to play an increasingly competitive part in what is fast developing into a very exciting season of Formula One motor racing."
Speaking after the hearing, Max Mosley, the president of the FIA, said the WMSC's decision had been "entirely fair."
"They [McLaren] have demonstrated there is a complete culture change, that it's all different to what it was," he said. "In those circumstances it looks better to put the whole thing behind us, so unless there is something similar in the future, that is the end of the matter."
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone described the proceedings as "good, fair, honest and straight."
"I thought Martin was happy with that. He shouldn't have done something wrong should he? So he got a slap," he said.
"But it was good for everybody that decision. They had their wrist slapped. That was all they needed. They've had enough punishment."
Source:The times
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
