Autonomous Cloud will bid to regain the winning thread when he returns to his beloved Uttoxeter for the bet365 Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase.
Fergal O’Brien’s eight-year-old got the better of Jonjo O’Neill’s reopposing Iron Bridge when scoring on this card 12 months ago and supplemented that victory when returning to the Staffordshire track on his seasonal return.
He was pulled-up when sent off 9-2 joint favourite for the Welsh Grand National over Christmas but connections are hopeful he can recapture his best form and provide O’Brien with his second victory in this valuable contest.
“I was disappointed with him the last day in the Welsh National, but we have trained him for this race and fingers crossed he will go through the ground,” said O’Brien.
“He loves Uttoxeter and has won twice there and placed there. He goes in any ground and hopefully he just needed to be freshened up. He’s not a big, strong 16’3 horse, he’s quite narrow and Chepstow took quite a lot out of him.
“We’ve been waiting for this race, so fingers crossed.”
Not content with dominating proceedings at the Cheltenham Festival, Willie Mullins will attempt to land one last big prize of the week with Mr Incredible, who has not been seen since unseating Brian Hayes in the Grand National last April.
Before that, he was building an admirable CV in staying contests, placing in both the 2023 Classic Chase and Kim Muir, and he is joined in the line-up by fellow Irish raider and 2022 runner-up Young Dev.
Harry Fry’s Exeter scorer Ask Me Early arrives in rude health, as does Jamie Snowden’s Farceur Du Large, who bids for a hat-trick having done the military chase double at Sandown earlier this year.
Snowden said: “He came over from Ireland, where he had some good back form but his recent form was uninspiring.
“I suppose a change of scenery has perked him up and dropping back into those military conditions races probably helped.
“He won those pretty nicely and the handicapper has had his say and stuck him up 6lb for them, but we thought it was worth a shot at a bigger race now and see how he gets on.
“He will like the ground and like the trip and we will just see if he can continue his recent form or slips back into his old ways. But he is in good order and we go there hoping for the best.”
Classic Chase heroine My Silver Lining narrowly failed to double up in Haydock’s Grand National Trial and has the chance to fill the vacancy of stable star at Emma Lavelle’s Wiltshire base following the retirement of Paisley Park.
Guetapan Collonges was third behind My Silver Lining at Warwick and Charlie Longsdon feels he is a stronger stayer than when fourth in this event 12 months ago.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him run and I purposely avoided some of those trials like the Eider and the Grand National Trial because of the ground and to keep him fresh,” said Longsdon.
“He was fourth in the race last year and hopefully he can go a few places better. He is definitely a stronger horse this year and I’ve put a tongue strap on him as he sometimes hits a flat spot in these big races and hopefully that will take that away, especially on the heavy ground.”
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls saddled Truckers Lodge to win this in 2020 and the admirable 12-year-old is back for his fifth crack at the contest in the hands of Freddie Gingell.
“He is a standing dish in this race, won it in runaway style off a mark of 141 in 2020 and here he is back again for a fifth time,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“The heavier the ground, the more it will suit Truckers Lodge, who is only a few years younger than his 18-year-old jockey Freddie Gingell.
“I then ran him a bit too quickly in the Coral Welsh National after his fine win in the London National at Sandown. Truckers Lodge has had a nice break since then and is fresh and bouncing now. He has an each way chance with conditions in his favour.”
Sports Innovators Group Ltd (SIG) has inked at three-year deal with Spanish La Liga club CA Osasuna to organize an annual football camp in Jamaica. The inaugural camp, scheduled for April 1-5, 2024, at the Barbican Astro Turf, promises an enriching experience for young Jamaican football enthusiasts aged 8 to 17, both boys and girls.
The collaboration between SIG and CA Osasuna aims to provide Jamaican players with the opportunity to refine their skills under the guidance of experienced coaches, fostering their development and enhancing their chances of success in professional football. Managing Director at SIG, Paul Campbell, expressed the strategic importance of offering such opportunities to young players, citing the success of the previous SL Benfica camp and the need to maximize the potential of Jamaican talent.
"We felt from a strategic perspective that it was important for us to offer more opportunities to our young players by giving them the best possible chance of maximizing their potential," said Campbell, emphasizing the impact of quality coaching on player development.
Campbell highlighted concerns regarding Jamaican players' struggles to adapt to the demands of professional football overseas, emphasizing the importance of introducing European methodologies at an early age to facilitate smoother transitions in the future.
The CA Osasuna camp, accommodating 80 players, will feature two daily sessions, each hosting 40 participants over the first four days. On the fifth day, players will have the chance to showcase their skills during inter-squad games, providing a platform to impress coaches.
Head of the Physical Conditioning department at CA Osasuna, Iokin Lobo Yeregui, expressed excitement about working with Jamaican players, emphasizing the importance of developing their specific skills and leveraging their potential at a crucial age.
"This football training camp is a good opportunity to develop the specific skills of the children, taking into account their age is important to taking advantage of the window of opportunity they have," said Yeregui. "I think it will be successful as Jamaica is a special country to develop football, and we are going to live this experience to the fullest."
Endorsed by the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), the camp will also serve as a talent identification opportunity for CA Osasuna, potentially opening doors for Jamaican players to pursue professional careers abroad.
In addition to player development, the camp will include a coaching education workshop, offering ten local coaches the chance to collaborate with CA Osasuna coaches over the five-day period, further enriching football expertise in Jamaica.
With the partnership between SIG and CA Osasuna, Jamaican football stands poised to benefit from world-class coaching and opportunities for player and coach development, marking a significant step forward in the nation's footballing journey.
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, courtesy of a tidy batting effort led by Tion Webster’s unbeaten century, consolidated their advantage over Windward Islands Volcanoes on day two of their fourth round West Indies Championship encounter at Queen’s Park Oval, on Thursday.
Webster, an all-rounder, smashed 13 fours and two sixes to end not out on 107 off 139 balls, as his almost four-hour knock revived the Red Force innings, which eventually ended at 294. Veteran Jason Mohammed, with a 90-ball 56 and opener Vikash Mohan, with a 96-ball 52, also contributed to the host posting a 103-run lead in reply to the Volcanoes’ first innings total of 191.
Off-spinner Kenneth Dember was the pick of the Volcanoes bowlers with five for 63 from 22 overs.
The Volcanoes in their second innings were 68-2, 35 runs behind with eight wickets intact. Jeremy Solozano, on 30, and Alick Athanaze, on 10, will resume batting on Friday’s penultimate day of the four-day contest.
Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 191 & 68-2 (25 overs); Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 294 all out (87 overs) lead by 35 runs
Resuming at 89-1 with Mohan, on 34, and Jyd Goolie, on one, the Red Force lost the latter in the third over of the day, as he added a solitary run to his overnight score.
Mohan added 18 to his overnight score before he went caught off Shamar Springer for a well-played 52 that included six boundaries. Springer, who had Kjorn Ottley (47) on day one, also accounted for captain and West Indies Test wicketkeeper/batsman Joshua Da Silva (four), to leave the Red Force in a spot of bother at 136-4.
However, Webster came to the crease and shared in a 70-run fifth-wicket stand with Jason Mohammed, who had nine boundaries in his 56, before he fell to Dember.
Though Webster fought on, he quickly ran out of partners, as Dember ran through the lower order batsmen, who all failed to get past 10, and the Red Force innings crumbled shortly after the tea interval.
Springer ended with three for 76 from 23 overs.
Meanwhile, Volcanoes in their second time at bat, again lost opener Johann Jeremiah (19) and West Indies Test batsman Kavem Hodge (zero) cheaply, to leave Solozano and Athanaze, who had a half-century in the first innings, on repair duties.
Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre and West Indies pacer Jayden Seales have so far taken the wickets.
Elsewhere, Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners lead Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 90 runs with seven second innings wickets intact, at Frank Worrell Field in Trinidad and Tobago.
Scores: Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners 273 all out (Amari Goodridge 75, Sadique Henry 73, Romario Greaves 58, Yannick Ottley 24; Daniel Doram 4-37, Jeremiah Louis 3-54, Rahkeem Cornwall 3-86) & 76 for three (Sadique Henry 32 not out; Jeremiah Louis 2-18).
Leeward Islands Hurricanes 259 all out (Kieran Powell 114, Jeremiah Louis 31, Justin Greaves 29, Rahkeem Cornwall 22, Jahmar Hamilton 21; Romario Greaves 19.2-1-63-5, Zishan Motara 2-14, Jediah Blades 2-50).
At Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, Barbados Pride trail Guyana Harpy Eagles by 377 with seven first innings wickets in hand.
Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 436 all out (Veerasammy Permaul 90, Kevlon Anderson 87, Kevin Sinclair 72, Tevin Imlach 55, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 40, Gudakesh Motie 37, Matthew Nandu 28; Kemar Roach 2-52, Jason Holder 2-52, Jomel Warrican 2-98)
Barbados Pride 59 for three (Jonathan Drakes 20 not out; Isai Thorne 2-19).
Brianna Lyston, Jamaica's young standout athlete from the LSU women's track and field program, has received recognition from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association. She was named the South-Central Region Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, marking a significant achievement in her burgeoning career.
This prestigious honour adds to Lyston's list of accolades, making her the first LSU athlete to claim the title since Tonea Marshall in 2020. Notably, LSU now holds the record for the most regional indoor track athlete of the year awards in the region, with six to their name.
Lyston's remarkable performance at the NCAA Indoor Championships solidified her status as one of the top athletes in collegiate track and field.
She clinched the gold medal in the women's 60m, setting a new LSU record with a breathtaking time of 7.03 seconds. This victory not only made her the first Tiger since Aleia Hobbs in 2018 to win NCAA gold in the event but also elevated her to the second position in collegiate history among 60m runners, trailing only behind the 2023 Bowerman award winner, Julien Alfred.
Prior to her triumph at the NCAA championships, Lyston demonstrated her prodigious talent at the SEC Indoor Championships, where she claimed the women's 60m title with a meet-record time of 7.08 seconds.
This achievement marked a significant milestone in her career, especially considering her absence from a substantial portion of the previous indoor and outdoor seasons.
As Lyston prepares to transition to the outdoor season, she remains determined to continue her success on the track. Scheduled to make her outdoor debut at the Hurricane Invitational, she is set to compete in the 100m, 4x100m relay, and the 4x400m relay, demonstrating her versatility and prowess as one of the top collegiate athletes.
The Jamaica Scorpions produced a spirited batting display to secure first innings honors against the West Indies Academy on day two of their fourth round 2024 West Indies Championship fixture at Sabina Park on Thursday.
King, who is captaining Jamaica for the first time in this match, led the way with 77, his 15th first-class fifty, off 132 balls including 10 fours and one six.
Leroy Lugg also showed good form for the hosts with his fourth first-class half century, 64 off 80 balls including nine fours and a six.
All-rounder Peat Salmon, who got promoted from his usual batting position of eight to six in this innings, repaid that faith with an unbeaten 60* off 157 balls including five fours and a six. Derval Green was the other not out batsman at stumps on 25* as Jamaica reached 326-7 off 82 overs, leading by two runs.
Earlier, openers Carlos Brown and Kirk McKenzie made 33 and 29, respectively.
Joshua Bishop was the most successful academy bowler on the day with 3-85 off 27 overs while Kadeem Alleyne took 2-29 from eight overs.
Full Scores: West Indies Academy 324 all out off 82 overs (Joshua Dorne 83, Jordan Johnson 61, Kadeem Alleyne 52, Joshua James 36, Ojay Shields 3-28, Derval Green 3-38)
Jamaica Scorpions 326-7 off 82 overs (Brandon king 77, Leroy Lugg 64, Peat Salmon 60*, Carlos Brown 33, Kirk McKenzie 29)
In a bid to enhance the skills and capabilities of local football talent, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has handpicked 19 promising female footballers, aged between 16 and 18, to participate in an intensive two-month training programme in China this summer.
The selected players are poised to undergo rigorous technical training aimed at elevating their performance levels, with the ultimate goal of advancing to national teams. The JFF expressed satisfaction with the timing of this initiative, foreseeing its potential to bolster the depth of national squads while aligning seamlessly with both short and long-term development strategies.
Scheduled to depart from the island at the onset of June and return by the end of August, this endeavour marks a continuation of a bilateral sporting agreement established between Jamaica's Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, and the Asian Republic. It signifies a resumption of a program that was interrupted by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with similar contingents having embarked on such ventures in the two years preceding the global health crisis.
The chosen players underwent a rigorous selection process, having participated in multiple training sessions at the UWICHBC over the past three weeks. Their selection underscores their talent and potential, as well as their commitment to honing their skills in pursuit of excellence on the football field.
This training opportunity not only offers a chance for individual growth but also contributes to the broader development of women's football in Jamaica. As these young athletes embark on their journey to China, they carry with them the hopes and aspirations of a nation eagerly anticipating the fruits of their dedication and hard work.
It was deemed a “score draw” between the punters and the layers heading into the final day of the Cheltenham Festival after football encroached heavily on racing’s pitch on day three
The backers got off to a fast start when 5-2 joint -avourite Grey Dawning gave the flying Dan Skelton team victory in the Turners Novices’ Chase, but the bookmakers clawed back some momentum after Sir Alex Ferguson’s pair Monmiral (25-1) and Protektorat (17-2) gave the former Manchester United boss a thrilling day at Prestbury Park.
And although the bookies were able to cheer home Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace later on the card, victories for well-backed favourites Teahupoo and Inothewayurthinkin ensured many a punter left the Cotswolds track with their pockets bursting at the seams.
“Grey Dawning got punters off to a great start, while Monmiral and Protektorat had their supporters – possibly Manchester United fans – as did Harry Rednkapp’s Shakem Up’Arry, and Teahupoo and Inothewayurthinkin were also very well-backed winning favourites,” said Coral’s David Stevens.
“Golden Ace was our best result of the day, beating the Irish stars in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle, but in footballing terms, it’s a score draw as we head into the biggest betting day of the week.”
Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports, added: “We were on a rollercoaster ride on Thursday with some big results going in our favour, but Gordon Elliott got in on the act and the favourite in the last race also gave punters plenty to cheer about ahead of a decisive day.
“It’s 2-1 to the punters at this stage, but it’s all to play for on Gold Cup Friday.”
One football-loving racing fan was in clover on St Patrick’s Thursday as their £5 multiple on three horses owned by famous footballing names returned a whopping £16,195.
After Ferguson’s Monmiral and Protektorat had found the target to kick off the hat-trick bid it was Redknapp’s Shakem Up’Arry who sealed the 3,239-1 treble for the lucky punter.
Betfair’s Barry Orr said: “The punter must not only be a racing fan, but also a big football fan.
“The two ex-bosses are massive racing enthusiasts and Cheltenham is the Champions League of the horseracing world, so for both to score on the biggest stage is a great result.”
Dan Skelton made no bones about Willie Mullins’ unquestionable Cheltenham dominance, but he took the Festival fight to his rival’s door with a thrilling Grade One double on day three.
Wednesday marked Mullins 100th overall success at the National Hunt spectacular, with Skelton admitting it is now less about the home team taking on Ireland and more about everyone trying to remain competitive with Team Mullins.
Recent years have marked a distinct lack of Festival success for British-trained runners, but Skelton is doing his level best to buck the trend, supplementing a day two double with Grade One glory courtesy of Grey Dawning in the Turners Novices’ Chase and Protektorat in the Ryanair Chase.
Grey Dawning had to repel the challenge of the Paul Nicholls-trained Ginny’s Destiny for his win, with Venetia Williams’ Djelo taking third for a rare British clean sweep, while Protektorat was too strong for Henry de Bromhead’s defending champion Envoi Allen over the near two-mile-five-furlong trip of the Ryanair.
Both were partnered by Skelton’s brother Harry, and the trainer could hardly contain his delight after a dual strike on the biggest stage of all.
He said: “This is the place you want to win and when you beat Paul, when you beat Willie, when you beat Nicky (Henderson) and Gordon (Elliott) and Henry, they’re legitimate victories. It’s hard to do and we enjoy doing it.
“It’s remarkable how things are going, I’m very proud of the whole team. This is what you plan to do, but it actually coming off is very, very different.”
A nightmare set of Festival results in 2021 saw just five victories for British trainers, but Skelton’s winners combined with Paul Nicholls’ win in the Pertemps Final with Monmiral and the Kim Bailey-trained Chianti Classico’s verdict in the Ultima on the opening day had ensured no repeat of that disappointment by the middle of the third day.
While Skelton has faith fortunes will turn again in British trainers’ favour eventually, he believes the hard work will be in catching the all-conquering Mullins squad.
He added: “It’s not easy, we’re not having things our own way (in Britain), maybe we were used to having things our own way for so long.
“This is a sport, people have supporters and as trainers we have owners. What we’ve got to do is knuckle down, we all are, and get stuck into it and it’ll turn. I’m not saying it will turn all the way back and it probably wouldn’t be a good thing to have such one-sidedness ever again.
“Willie by his own admission says he seeks competition and all of this England versus Ireland talk, I hate to break it to everyone but it’s everyone versus Willie, so we need a dose of reality on that as well.”
Goalkeeper Shaquan Davis and strikers Kaheim Dixon and Bailey Cadamarteri have been included in Heimir Hallgrimsson's senior Reggae Boyz side for their upcoming Concacaf Nations League (CNL) semi-final contest against United States on March 21.
Though Davis, who represents Mount Pleasant and Dixon, of Arnett Gardens, both made their senior team debut in the recent friendly series against Trinidad and Tobago, it is their first time making the Reggae Boyz Nations League roster, while British-born Cadamarteri is being called to the Jamaican set up for the first time.
The six-foot tall 18-year-old, who plays for Sheffield Wednesday, alongside another Reggae Boy Dishon Bernard, also has Italian and Irish descent, but chose to honour his Jamaican heritage.
In fact, the rising English Championship sensation was interested in playing for Ireland, but doesn’t qualify, as his great grandparents hails from the Emerald Isle.
Still, their loss is Jamaica's gain and Hallgrimsson and company will be eager to put his skills to the test at some point in time in this crucial semi-final contest.
Cadamarteri burst onto the scene this season with three goals in 11 Championship outings for the Owls and qualifies to represent Jamaica through his father Danny Cadamarteri, who played for Everton in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Meanwhile, a notable absentee from the 23-man squad is Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey, who misses out on a spot in the squad after he was suspended for breaking curfew during the last national camp.
Squad: Andre Blake, Shaquan Davis, Jahmali Waite, Richard King, Damion Lowe, Dishon Bernard, Michael Hector, Dexter Lembikisa, Tayvon Gray, Greg Leigh, Daniel Johnson, Joel Latibeaudiere, Bobby Reid, Karoy Anderson, Kasey Palmer, Renaldo Cephas, Cory Burke, Demarai Gray, Bailey Cadamarteri, Shamar Nicholson, Michail Antonio, Jamal Lowe, Kaheim Dixon
Sir Alex Ferguson had the upper hand when meeting Harry Redknapp’s teams on the football pitch and he outscored his old rival two winners to one on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The big meeting was in danger of becoming more than a bit predictable with Willie Mullins recording a double on each of the first two days – but it was livened in some style up by wins for a couple of celebrity owners.
Ferguson, the former Aberdeen and Manchester United manager, has thrown himself into racing ownership since his retirement and has recently been enjoying great success with a horse he bred himself, Spirit Dancer, winning valuable prizes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia recently.
He has owned horses for a long time with friends Ged Mason and John Hales, and while they have had very good horses and won a host of good races, together they had failed to scale the Cheltenham Festival heights.
That all changed in a magical 40-minute spell on Thursday when first the Paul Nicholls-trained Monmiral caused a big shock in the Pertemps Final and then Protektorat, third in the Gold Cup a few years ago, returned to his best to win the Ryanair Chase on an equally special day for Dan Skelton.
Ferguson – who together with Hales, Mason and Peter Done paid a record €740,000 for Caldwell Potter at the sales in February – said: “I’ve finally had a winner here. Two in 40 minutes! It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? It’s a special place.
“It has been probably 20 years that I’ve wanted to have a winner here, as when I first started I just had Flat horses and no National Hunt ones.
“I got interested in the jumps with Ged and John. It 100 per cent makes it more enjoyable having a winner with friends. Everyone looks forward to Cheltenham, while on the Flat you have the Derby. These two events are unsurpassed.
“It’s special here, it’s like the Derby or the FA Cup final and I’ve waited a while to experience this. A lot of people who buy horses have never had a winner, never mind here. It’s a feeling of elation.
“Of course it’s not the same as winning at football, that was my life, I was immersed in that, this is what I do for pleasure so it’s a different feeling. I don’t have to worry about it, I leave that to the trainer.”
Redknapp echoed Ferguson’s sentiment as he also celebrated his first Festival success after years of trying.
His Shakem Up’Arry, who won the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase, got his name from Redknapp’s time at West Ham when a fan used to sit behind him and shout ‘shake ’em up, Arry’.
Redknapp said: “I can’t believe we’ve done it. He travelled so well and jumped the last and I thought ‘please, don’t stop now’. People were saying ‘Go on Harry, he’s won’ and I thought ‘no he ain’t!’.
“Racing has been a big part of my life. I grew up at West Ham as a player where we had a team of punters, that’s how it was back in those days. We all loved a bet, we all loved racing.
“I’ve been lucky to have got into racing as an owner and when you buy horses you dream of having a winner at Cheltenham.”
He went on: “My old nan was a bookie’s runner down our street in the east end and she used to get locked up every day for taking bets! To be here now in this position is incredible.
“My main worry is that they get round safe, I jump every jump with them and think ‘please don’t fall or get hurt’. When they come back safe and sound, especially in front, it’s all the better.
“It’s great for Sir Alex to have a winner as well, we had some great days. Going into his office at Old Trafford at quarter past two when the teams were out and we’d watch a bit of racing for 15 minutes and then we’d go out and I’d do my best to try and pull off a miracle and get a result!
“We both loved the racing and we both loved the football. For him to get two winners today is great and for me to get a winner is fantastic.”
One lucky Betfair punter put all three horses in a £5 accumulator they were calling ‘The Gaffers Treble’. It returned £16,195.
Betfair spokesperson Barry Orr said: “The punter must not only be a racing fan, but also a big football fan. The two ex-bosses are massive racing enthusiasts and Cheltenham is the Champions League of the horseracing world, so for both to score on the biggest stage is a great result.”
Emma Lavelle’s beloved staying hurdler Paisley Park has been retired after finishing down the field at the Cheltenham Festival.
The 12-year-old has been a constant presence in staying hurdle events over the past few seasons, going unbeaten in the 2018-19 season when his campaign culminated in success in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.
He has contested the race every season since, finishing third in 2021 and 2022, and alongside a superb record in that race he has three Long Walk Hurdles, three Cleeve Hurdles and a Long Distance Hurdle to his name.
Those victories, amongst 11 on his CV, make him one of the best and most consistent figures in the division and this season he showed he retained plenty of his ability when finishing second by the narrowest of distances in the Long Distance, the Long Walk and the Cleeve.
He lined up as a 14-1 chance in the Stayers’ Hurdle this time around but could only finish 10th, prompting connections to announce his immediate retirement after a stellar career for his loving owner Andrew Gemmell, who was born blind.
Lavelle said: “We have an awful lot to thank him for, we really do.
“I don’t know what is next for him, Andrew would like to keep him in his garden! He’d need to do something, but he’s the sort of horse who will do anything and he’s such a good ride.
“It’s definitely the right thing to do, we said this season would be on a race-by-race basis but he kept running his heart out, it was just a shame he couldn’t get his head in front for one last time.
“Today was the big test and he doesn’t have the same pace that he used to, that turbo button is missing and based on that, Andrew had a discussion as we crossed the line and as he’s done so much for us, he doesn’t need to do any more.
“It’s so emotional because he has done so much for us.”
Gemmell said: “That first win here when he made a ricket at the last and still won has to be my favourite memory.
“We’re retiring him, it was a great race and a great career but it’s time. It’s the right thing to do. He’s been marvellous.”
Harry Redknapp enjoyed a first Cheltenham Festival winner as Shakem Up’Arry found the scoresheet on a football-orientated day three of the Cheltenham Festival.
Having watched his former managerial rival Sir Alex Ferguson notch a double earlier on the card, it was soon the turn of the former West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham boss to return to the Prestbury Park winner’s enclosure with his course specialist – who supplemented his New Year’s Day triumph here in great style.
Sent off at 8-1 for the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase, the Ben Pauling-trained 10-year-old travelled supremely in the hands of Ben Jones and having jumped the last already looking the winner, he stuck his head down and galloped all the way to the line.
The victory continued Pauling’s fine run of recent form, with the Naunton Downs handler registering a fourth Festival success. However, it was a first victory for 24-year-old Jones at the meeting having only once previously enjoyed success at the Cotswolds track – aboard Shakem Up’Arry on the duo’s previous start.
Jamaica were crowned the 2024 CG United Women’s Super50 Cup champions picking up the winners’ cheque for $20,000 USD despite a 5-wicket defeat to Guyana in their final match of the tournament.
Winning the toss and batting first in a match reduced to 44 overs per side, Jamaica slumped to 73 all out in 27.1 overs at St. Paul’s Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Rashada Williams top-scored with 31 followed by Chedean Nation with 20. Ashmini Munisar once again led the way for Guyana with figures of 3/11, followed by Nyia Latchman with 2/1.
Guyana made a meal of the run-chase, losing five wickets in the process, but 24 from Mandy Magru and 21 from skipper Shemaine Campbelle ensure they did enough to earn the victory, finishing on 74/5 in 17.4 overs.
Jaunel Deers picked up 2/4 while Neisha-Ann Waisome had 2/23 bowling for Jamaica. Guyana finished second earning them the $10,000 USD runners-up cheque.
The Windward Islands earned a 44-run victory over Barbados, thanks to an 81-ball 72 from skipper Afy Fletcher and 30 from Namia Marcellin as the Windwards posted 233/9 in their 50 overs.
This is the second game in a row that Barbados have conceded over 200 runs when bowling. Shamilia Connell was the pick of the Barbadian bowlers with 4/38.
64 from Kycia Knight and 49 not out from Aaliya Allyene took Barbados to 189/9 from their 50 overs, as the Windwards bowlers kept the scoring in check.
Qiana Joseph 2/21, Zaida James 2/22 and Jannillea Glasgow 2/24 were the Windwards bowlers who got the defence job done.
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Divas finally earned a win and points in the final match of the competition when they defeated the Leeward Islands by 4 wickets.
Batting first, the Leewards posted 151 all out in 40.2 overs, thanks to 48 from Reniece Boyce and 39 from Tonya Martin. Caneisha Isaac had the best bowling figures for Red Force Divas of 3/33 followed by Steffie Soogrim 2/15 and Samara Ramnath 2/22.
Ramnath returned with the bat to score 35 in their run-chase along with 48 from Lee Ann Kirby as Red Force Divas reached 152/6 in 41.1 overs. Leewards captains Amanda Edward had their best bowling figures with 3/17.
The teams return to action on Sunday for the start of the T20 Blaze tournament, with three matches per day at Warner Park at 10am, 2:30pm and 7pm. The T20 Blaze will run from March 17- 25.
Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed not one but two Cheltenham Festival winners in an unforgettable afternoon on Thursday.
Alongside co-owners John Hales and Ged Mason, former Manchester United boss Ferguson was delighted to see the Paul Nicholls-trained Monmiral land the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle under Harry Cobden.
That victory was not the first time Hales and Mason have been lucky enough to encounter good fortune at the showpiece meeting – but it was a new experience for Ferguson after years of patience.
“I’ve finally had a winner here, I can’t believe it,” he said.
“The jockey was absolutely brilliant on him. What I was thinking at the tapes was ‘what the hell is he doing at the back’, but he crept forward and judged it perfectly.
“I couldn’t understand why before he came to the last John was saying he had won, but that is experience for you. I was just saying ‘just jump the bloody last!’.
“What a jockey, he was right at the back, he’s definitely champion material.
“It has been probably 20 years that I’ve wanted to have a winner here, as when I first started I just had Flat horses and no National Hunt ones.
“I got interested in the jumps with Ged and John. It 100 per cent makes it more enjoyable having a winner with friends. Everyone looks forward to Cheltenham, while on the Flat you have the Derby. These two events are unsurpassed.
“It’s special here, it’s like the Derby or the FA Cup final and I’ve waited a while to experience this.
“A lot of people who buy horses have never had a winner, never mind here. It’s a feeling of elation.
“Of course it’s not the same as winning at football, that was my life, I was immersed in that, this is what I do for pleasure so it’s a different feeling. I don’t have to worry about it, I leave that to the trainer.”
The afternoon only got better as Protektorat then galloped home with the Ryanair Chase for the same owners but a different trainer-jockey combination in Dan and Harry Skelton.
After standing on the podium a second time to claim the winner’s trophy, Ferguson said: “In terms of horses it’s the best (day I’ve had), it’s fantastic. You can’t compare it with the football because it’s a different thing because of the sacrifice of football, I just enjoy this.
“I’ve waited a long time for a winner here, it’s very special.”
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