He returns to action tomorrow as perhaps Ireland’s second most popular sporting figure
Posted in General on 22. Jul, 2010
He returns to action tomorrow as perhaps Ireland’s second most popular sporting figure of modern times behind Jack Charlton and there will be many happy to squander an emotional punt on his chances.This band, though, will not include the gelding’s trainer, Tom Foley, who will be more than delighted if his charge merely returns home without recourse to the service bay.”If there are 11 runners in it I’ll be happy if he finishes 10th,” Foley said yesterday. The one in name, to be held at Haydock this afternoon, and the one in reality, which will unfold at Leopardstown tomorrow.
The Champion Hurdle Trial at Newton-le-Willows has attracted just six entrants, only two of which, Atours and Mysilv, could even vaguely be talked about as possible winners of the big one at the Festival. Their performances last time out, however, were deserving not so much of a form figure as exhalation through the hand to produce a raspberry.If an exhilarating display over timber is to be produced it will surely be in the Champion Hurdle of Ireland, although there are medical doubts about several of the leading players. Maurice Cerullo would probably be the most valuable person in the paddock at Leopardstown as great acts of faith will be required from punters if they are to back such accident- prone animals as Balawhar, Montelado or Danoli.All three have been bitten hard by injury, most notably Danoli, who was close to being measured for a coffin after sustaining a serious fetlock injury in victory at Liverpool last year. James Lowes switches to scrum-half, with Mick Shaw starting at hooker in a game that will have an inevitable air of “what might have been” for Leeds.. RICHARD EDMONDSON
There are two Champion Hurdle trials this weekend. He has been found not guilty of the punching offence for which he was sent off against Warrington last week.The Wigan captain, Shaun Edwards, will face a disciplinary committee next week following Bradford Bulls’ complaint over a tackle that left their scrum-half, Robbie Paul, concussed.Leeds, Wigan’s opponents tomorrow, will be without their prop, Harvey Howard, whose appeal against a two-match ban for a high tackle failed yesterday.
Dean, 19, has played admirably in the scrum-half role left vacant by Wayne Parker, but the most startling impact has been made by the 17-year-old Chester, who has been playing with astonishing poise and maturity.Halifax will hope to take advantage of Saints’ upheavals. To finish third with the depleted squad Steve Simms has had at his disposal will be a most encouraging sign for the Super League season that lies ahead.Halifax will have their prop Wayne Jackson available. Brian Case and John Myler will remain in charge of St Helens for the match that will decide third place in the Stones Centenary Championship tomorrow, as their club wait for a work permit for their new coach, writes Dave Hadfield. Shaun McRae, whose credentials include assisting Bob Fulton on two Kangaroo tours, is now expected to arrive from Australia on Monday, by which time Saints could have underlined the progress made under the sacked Eric Hughes by finishing behind only Wigan and Leeds in this last winter season.
Halifax stand in their way and Saints will not be helped by the likely absence of Paul Newlove with a recurrence of his foot injury, as well as the suspended Scott Gibbs.Halifax’s recent form has defied their own injury toll, with young players like Craig Dean and Chris Chester performing far better than anyone had the right to expect. Instead, one of Wigan’s young reserves, Andrew Johnson, produced a classical run and pass to provide Offiah with his 27th try of the season, although Lynton Stott raised Sheffield’s spirits a little by following up Sheridan’s kick to score.The admirable Sheridan soon went through for another Sheffield try, David Mycoe’s fourth goal bringing them back within range of the champions, but then Tuigamala finished them off, another surging run setting up Rob Smyth.Sheffield Eagles: Ganson (Sovatabua, 65); Dakuitoga, Stott, Garcia, Sodje; Mycoe (Price, 72), Sheridan; Broadbent, Lawless (Hughes, 31), McAllister (Dixon, 47), Hay, Carr, Cook.Wigan: Radlinski; Smyth, Tuigamala, Craig, Offiah; Paul (Cardiss, 63), Robinson; Cowie (Baines, 74), Dermott, O’Connor (Knowles, 57), Barrow, Cassidy (Houghton, h-t), Johnson.Referee: D Campbell (Widnes).. And when Kris Radlinski went half the length of the field to score despite being caught on the line by Joe Dakuitoga, Sheffield’s long run of success was rapidly running out.Ryan Sheridan struck back, selling a dummy to breach the Wigan defence and keep the Eagles in the hunt at half-time but eight minutes after the break yet another Tuigamala charge set up the position from which Henry Paul was able to dart over.Sheffield could still have got back into it if Paul Carr had not dropped the ball reaching over the line to touch down.
I couldn’t even speak’Alan Minter’Who else is to blame? It was me hitting him, nobody else just me… I kept seeing Bradley’s face and I couldn’t take it’ Richie Wenton. DAVE HADFIELD
Sheffield Eagles 24 Wigan 36
Sheffield Eagles’ nine-match winning habit, which had seen them beat every other team in the division, finally cracked on contact with Wigan, and Va’aiga Tuigamala in particular.The Eagles gave the Stones Centenary champions a stirring fight but could never control the Western Samoan, who scored two tries and contributed to three others.A Wigan side without five of the players who won the Regal Trophy last week were rocked by the welcome Sheffield gave them with a third-minute try from dummy-half by John Lawless.It took smart work from the game’s other hooker, Martin Dermott, in a rare first-team start, to bring Wigan level, his reverse pass sending in Tuigamala who, five minutes later, also paved the way for Mick Cassidy to go in.The Eagles’ inability to cope with Tuigamala’s power caught them out again when he took Martin Offiah’s pass to plough over. It was so hard for me because it was me who’d thrown the punch. It was my fault’Barry McGuigan’I was just out there getting a living and he was just out there trying to get a living.. I was gutted. “Who else is to blame? It was me hitting him, nobody else just me,” Wenton said.In Wenton’s first fight after beating Stone he finally turned away and was stopped.
“I kept seeing Bradley’s face and I couldn’t take it,” he said at the time. However he has since defended his British title and two weeks ago contacted Docherty to encourage the Glasgow-based boxer to continue. “I told him to remember that time is a great healer,” Wenton said.Docherty knows that tonight’s fight will not be easy. Jiminez is a champion of quality, but it is obvious that the Puerto Rican is only part of the problem: it is clear that the memory of Murray will be with Docherty when he walks from the changing-room to the ring this evening.Three cautionary tales: Living with the echoes of a nightmare’I really didn’t want to box again. So, of course, it was my fault,” McGuigan said.The British super-bantamweight champion Richie Wenton is still blaming himself for the death of Bradley Stone after their title fight in April 1994. It was a gut-wrenching moment.”I really didn’t want to box again, I felt so guilty.