Former Scotland captain Mike Blair announced his retirement from international rugby on this day in 2013.
Blair made the decision in order to focus on life in France, where he was playing for Brive, while also allowing Scotland to uncover fresh options at scrum-half in time for the 2015 World Cup.
Stepping down from the world stage as a 31-year-old, he had made 85 appearances for the team and led the side 14 times.
“I’m in the very fortunate position of being able to decide myself when my international career ends. For me, that time is now,” said Blair, who retired despite remaining a regular starter.
“The fact that I still feel attuned to playing at international level has made the decision harder, but it’s not been reached lightly and I’m very confident that it’s the right decision.”
The 2009 British and Irish Lions tourist spent only one season at Brive and after two years with Newcastle, he joined Glasgow before his playing career ended in 2016.
This afternoon’s meeting at Naas is subject to a second inspection at 9.30am.
The threat of frost prompted officials to call an initial 7.30am check and while the track is reported to be fit for action, fog is causing some concern at the track.
The fog is forecast to lift, but another inspection is required.
Elena Rybakina defeated world number two Aryna Sabalenka in their Australian Open final rematch with a dominant straight sets win to claim the Brisbane International.
The world number four from Kazakhstan charged out of the blocks, dominating the first set 6-0 and continuing the form through the second set 6-3, winning in just over 70 minutes.
Rybakina was clinical on break points, winning five of a possible seven, and limiting the Belarusian to just one break point.
Sabalenka was on a 15-game winning streak in Australia before the loss, spanning back to the start of 2023 in Adelaide and continuing through her Australian Open-winning campaign.
The win was 24-year-old Rybakina’s sixth career title.
Coco Gauff defended her Auckland title as she beat Ukrainian Elina Svitolina to win the ASB Classic in three sets.
The 19-year-old American won 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-3 in just over two and a half hours to make it 10 straight wins at the event.
Gauff was put through a difficult, topsy-turvy first set, losing in a tiebreak.
But the teenager turned it around in the second and third sets as she improved her first serve success from 46 per cent to 73 per cent in the second and above 80 per cent in the third.
The win was the 2023 US Open winner’s seventh WTA title.
Elena Rybakina defeated world number two Aryna Sabalenka in their Australian Open final rematch with a dominant straight sets win to claim the Brisbane International.
The world number four from Kazakhstan charged out of the blocks, dominating the first set 6-0 and continuing the form through the second set 6-3, winning in just over 70 minutes.
Rybakina was clinical on break points, winning five of a possible seven, and limiting the Belarusian to just one break point.
Sabalenka was on a 15-game winning streak in Australia before the loss, spanning back to the start of 2023 in Adelaide and continuing through her Australian Open-winning campaign.
The win was 24-year-old Rybakina’s sixth career title.
Sam Reinhart recorded a hat trick and Aleksander Barkov had four assists to lead the visiting Florida Panthers to their season-high seventh straight victory, 8-4 over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
Carter Verhaeghe had two goals and an assist and Matthew Tkachuk added a goal and two assists for the Panthers, who have scored 31 goals – including 10 on the power play – during the win streak.
Reinhart has 10 goals in the seven-game run, including three multigoal games. He ranks among the NHL leaders with 28 goals this season, three fewer than he had in 82 games in 2022-23.
Cale Makar and Valeri Nichushkin each scored one goal and set up another as Colorado had a seven-game point streak snapped.
Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to extend his home point streak to 21 games to start the season.
Streaking Oilers win behind Hyman’s hat trick
Zach Hyman notched his third hat trick of the season and the Edmonton Oilers extended their winning streak to seven games on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
Stuart Skinner stopped 30 shots and Evan Bouchard had three assists for Edmonton, which has overcome a 5-12-1 start by going 15-3-0 in their last 18.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch became the first coach in NHL history to have two seven-game winning streaks in his first 25 games in the position.
The Senators got their lone goal from Parker Kelly and dropped their third straight.
Fleury ties Roy as Wild win
Marc-Andre Fleury tied Patrick Roy on the all-time wins list with Marco Rossi’s overtime goal that gave the Minnesota Wild a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Fleury made 25 saves to match Roy with his 551st win and now trails only Martin Brodeur (691) on the career list.
Matt Boldy scored two power-play goals and Marcus Johansson also tallied for the Wild, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Columbus’ Cole Sillinger scored all three goals for his second career hat trick.
Jayson Tatum poured in 38 points with a season-high eight 3-pointers and Jaylen Brown added 31 points to help the Boston Celtics snap the Indiana Pacers’ six-game winning streak, 118-101 on Saturday.
Tatum, who also had 13 rebounds and six assists, combined with Brown for 27 of Boston’s 46 baskets on a night they never trailed.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 17 points, seven assists and six rebounds and five steals. Indiana was held to a season-low point total and lost the rebounding battle, 70-42.
The Pacers were within 84-81 entering the fourth quarter, but the Celtics went up 100-85 on Tatum’s 3-pointer with 7:30 remaining.
Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis played only six minutes due to an eye laceration.
Rockets survive Antetokounmpo’s 48 points
Alperen Sengun had 21 points and the Houston Rockets overcame 48 points and 17 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, 112-108.
Antetokounmpo shot 16 of 25 from the field for his seventh straight double-double but teammate Damian Lillard shot 5 of 16, including 1 for 8 from long range, and missed a season-high three free throws on 10 attempts.
Jalen Green scored 16 points and Fred VanVleet added 14 with seven assists for Houston, which has won three of four following a three-game skid.
Randle leads Knicks over Wizards
Julius Randle scored 39 points and Jalen Brunson had 33 as the New York Knicks won their fourth straight game, 121-105 over the Washington Wizards.
Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 19 rebounds as New York showed no letup following an impressive 128-92 rout of the 76ers a night earlier.
Kyle Kuzma had 27 points and Deni Avdija added 23 for Washington, which has lost four in a row and seven of eight.
American Chris Kirk heads into the final round of the PGA Tour season opener in Hawaii with a one-stroke lead.
Kirk hit eight birdies and a bogey in a third-round 66 to push his way into pole position at The Sentry in Maui.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, the halfway leader, hit a 71 to drop three shots off the lead.
Tyrell Hatton could not replicate Friday’s 62, carding a 72 and dropping into a tie for 14th a further two shots back.
Fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick is four shots off the pace in a share of 10th after a 69.
American Akshay Bhatia, 21, pushed his way into second spot, one stroke behind Kirk on 20 under, while Xander Schauffele, Jordan Speith and Byeong Hun An are a further stroke back in third.
Kirk said he will have to remain aggressive to hold his lead.
“You certainly can’t protect anything out here, that’s for sure,” he said.
“When it’s a shootout like this and the scores are really low, you just stay aggressive and just go do your thing.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers held onto their slim play-off chances, courtesy of a 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
After ending the regular season with three straight wins, the Steelers will qualify for the post season on Sunday if the Buffalo Bills lose to the Miami Dolphins or the Jacksonville Jaguars go down to the Tennessee Titans.
Pittsburgh opened the scoring at a rainy Baltimore through a six-yard run from Najee Harris near the end of the first quarter.
The AFC North champion Ravens, who rested several key players including quarterback Lamar Jackson, evened the score at 7-7 just before half-time when Tyler Huntley found Isaiah Likely in the endzone on a 27-yard reception.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph broke the game open with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson on the first play of the fourth.
Each side kicked a field goal from there as the Steelers now play the waiting game.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was reinstated by the NBA from his suspension on Saturday after he missed 12 games following an incident with Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic on Dec. 12.
The league said Green “demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to standards of NBA players” during his suspension, which began Dec. 14. He has met with a counselor as well as had multiple joint meetings with representatives of the league, the Warriors and the National Basketball Players Association.
Those meetings, the league added, will continue throughout the season.
While Green is eligible to return to the lineup on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors, he is expected to need approximately a week to ramp up for a return to the court.
Green was suspended for the fifth time in his career earlier this season for putting Minnesota center Rudy Gobert in a headlock during an In-Season Tournament matchup.
Green was given a five-game suspension as the NBA cited past infractions in relation to the punishment.
The 12-year veteran is averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 15 games this season.
England have yet to finalise the details of their ‘hybrid contracts’ but Steve Borthwick has revealed that setting players’ workload when on club duty will not be among his powers.
Up to 25 of the contracts will be given to leading squad members chosen by Borthwick with the deals worth £150,000 per year and ranging in duration from one to three years.
By providing a guaranteed annual sum in advance rather than paying match fees, it is hoped that England’s stars will be persuaded to stay in the Gallagher Premiership instead of pursuing the greater riches on offer in France’s Top 14.
The contracts will also give Borthwick more say in their conditioning and medical programmes when on club duty, but there are clear limitations to an arrangement which is expected to be approved in the Spring.
“The details are still being worked out but there will be no control of player game time,” said head coach Borthwick, who will also be unable to influence what position an England international fills when in action in the Premiership.
“Clearly there is the integrity of the league and we need to make sure the players are available for that. But there is also the understanding that England have the best players available when they are needed.
“We have got to make sure we find a system that works and we all want to see the best players playing for both club and country.
“We have outlined positions where we don’t have huge depth and we want to see the best players for club and country in those positions.
“The clubs want the best players playing and if you look at the minutes and compare them to teams such as Ireland, who have a different system, then since the World Cup the England players have played a lot of minutes.
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“How we get this system right is still being worked out but this is definitely a step in the right direction as we find the right solution.”
Borthwick names his squad for the Six Nations on January 17 and will be looking for a better performance than last year’s championship when England managed only two victories and finished fourth.
For the Red Rose boss it feeds into a bigger picture of underachievement in the competition.
“This is a special tournament. Now we’ve got some way to go. England in the last six years in the Six Nations have won 50 per cent of the games,” Borthwick said
“In four of those six years, England only won two games in the Six Nations. What England have done in recent Six Nations hasn’t been good enough so we’ve got work to do.
“I love this tournament and I want England competing again at the end of it for being at the top of the table.”
Saracens boss Mark McCall insists the Gallagher Premiership champions will fight to keep Owen Farrell after it emerged the England captain has held talks with Racing 92.
Farrell could conclude his 15 years as a regular in Saracens’ first team at the end of the season if he signs for the Top 14 leaders, who have released a statement denying an agreement has been reached.
The 32-year-old has already stood himself down from the Six Nations in order to prioritise his mental wellbeing and should he sign for Racing he will become ineligible for England selection.
McCall, speaking after Saracens’ 19-10 defeat at Leicester, admitted he wants Farrell to remain at StoneX Stadium, although he refused to elaborate further on news that has sent shockwaves through English rugby.
“I think having Owen Farrell in your team is what everybody would want,” director of rugby McCall said.
“It’s just not fair on anyone to talk about something that is speculation. Until there’s something to talk about, we’re not going to talk about it.”
Speaking before the game, McCall insisted that he would not begrudge any senior player if they wanted to leave north London.
“I can understand that when players have had long careers at one club, they would want to experience something different,” he told TNT Sports.
“There are a lot of good things coming out of the Premiership and we shouldn’t be talking it down. There are a lot of good clubs.
“We’re in the middle of transition and we have some players who have been at the club for a long time and who are nearing the end of the careers and we want to send them off with a bang.”
Along with his team-mates, Farrell endured a difficult afternoon in the East Midlands with mistakes by the skipper leading directly to two of Leicester’s three tries.
It produced Saracens’ fifth Premiership defeat of the season – equalling their entire total of losses for their 2022-23 campaign – and registered a third defeat in four matches in the competition.
“Owen went well. Like he always does, he led from the front and he had a good game. He’s very good at putting distraction to one side and we saw that again here,” McCall said.
“We don’t want to be losing matches, obviously. We want to play better than we’re playing. We haven’t quite had the season that we want – that’s obvious too.”
Leicester were impressive with commitment and intelligence stamped all over a hard-fought win that keeps them in seventh place but hints at better things ahead.
“We felt pretty comfortable and came away with a good four points,” Tigers head coach Dan McKellar said.
“When teams come here they know it’s going to be a physical battle and that’s what we wanted to give Saracens. They’re a quality side so we’re pleased.”
There will be an early precautionary inspection at Naas on Sunday morning ahead of a card that includes the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.
Forecast low temperatures and the threat of fog have prompted the decision, with staff at the track set to inspect at 7.30am.
Brendan Sheridan, clerk of the course at Naas, said: “There was a very slight grass frost on Saturday morning but the track remained raceable at all times and we would have raced today.
“However, having been in regular communication with Met Eireann this afternoon, the latest forecast is for temperatures to get down to -2 or -3 tonight along with the possibility of fog in the morning also.
“With that forecast we will hold the precautionary inspection to assess the situation.”
Saracens’ torrid weekend that began with revelations over Owen Farrell’s possible move to Racing 92 continued with a 19-10 Gallagher Premiership defeat at Leicester.
Farrell’s champions struggled on a hard-fought afternoon in the East Midlands with the England captain powerless to prevent a third league defeat in four matches.
News he has been in talks with Racing 92 over joining the Top 14 leaders next season emerged on Friday, sending shockwaves through Saracens and the Premiership even if an agreement has yet to be reached.
Farrell is England’s biggest star who has spent 15 years at StoneX Stadium, but a move to Paris would make him ineligible for the national side and land another blow on the credibility of a competition experiencing an exodus of players across the Channel.
If he does head to the French capital, on recent evidence he will be departing a troubled Saracens with their latest loss registering a fifth Premiership defeat of the season – their total for the whole of the 2022-23 campaign.
Errors by the 32-year-old contributed to two of Leicester’s three tries but Tigers also made life difficult for the visitors, their determination stamped all over an impressive display.
Farrell’s early contributions were with the boot when stationed deep inside his own half as Saracens faced an early onslaught from the hosts, but in the 12th minute he made a significant blunder.
Flinging out a pass intended for Elliot Daly, the ball was instead picked off by centre Dan Kelly who cantered over for the opening try.
Saracens hit back with a long-range try inspired by Daly’s athleticism that was finished by Tom Parton and, having landed the conversion, the England fly-half delivered successive pinpoint kicks that forced Leicester to scramble.
Having nudged Saracens five points ahead with a penalty, he then dropped a simple pass and kicked a ball straight into touch, inviting Tigers to attack from the edge of the 22.
With waves of Leicester runners building pressure, the visiting defence cracked with Matt Rogerson crashing over to open a 12-10 lead.
Kelly had a second try in which he outhustled Daly controversially chalked off and the frantic pace continued into the second half with both sides going close to scoring.
Leicester turned down three routine points in favour of going for the corner and they began hammering away at the whitewash, gaining the advantage of Maro Itoje’s departure to the sin-bin for not retreating 10 metres.
Saracens’ scrum was stood up and, with the white shirts buckling before the repeated attacks, quick hands delivered the key moment with Harry Simmons finishing in the right corner.
Leicester now had the cushion to close out the game and they did this in solid fashion to leave the visitors positioned in sixth place in the table.
Padraig Butler’s Da Capo Glory struck on his seasonal debut to land the EASYFIX Handicap Hurdle at Cork.
The seven-year-old has not been seen since pulling up in the Galway Hurdle in August last year but took no time in hitting his stride this time around.
Under conditional rider Darragh Allen the gelding started a 9-2 chance and toughed it out to prevail by a head on testing soft to heavy ground.
“It is his first run for five months and Darragh (Allen) knows him very well having won a bumper and maiden hurdle on him,” said Butler.
“We couldn’t look past him with his 7lb claim on that ground, which is worth its weight in gold.”
He went on: “This horse was my first winner, he is still flying the flag and is a mighty horse. He isn’t big but is very well bred and jumps hurdles very well.
“He pulled up in the Galway Hurdle when they went a million (miles per hour) and we were behind and beaten after the first hurdle. He didn’t really get a race though but the thing about him is he can hit flat spots in his races.
“He ran well when finishing fourth in the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran last year and that is an option again.”
Willie Mullins’ Largy Hill got off the mark over obstacles when winning the ITM Irish Stallion Trail 12-13 January Maiden Hurdle under Paul Townend.
The bay is a bumper winner who finished second on his hurdles debut at Navan in November, a run he improved for as he secured a two-and-three-quarter-length victory over Oscars Brother as the 1-2 favourite.
“He stayed nicely, travelled well and with the ground being testing, had to do things right which he did,” said Townend.
“He improved from a good first run (over hurdles) and we were hoping he would improve at this distance.
“He was professional in everything he did and stayed very nicely. That ground is hard work and when I got there, he sized up the last himself. I’d imagine that that is his distance, as the way he races he has no problem with three miles.”
The other maiden hurdle on the card, the Happy New Year From All At Cork Maiden Hurdle, went the way of Thomas Cooper’s D Art D Art, a three-and-a-quarter length victor under Donagh Meyler at 100-30.
The chestnut was well beaten on his hurdles debut at Naas but returned to action at Cork to claim a second career success to add to his prior bumper win last term.
“We dropped him in at Naas but he got crowded and with more light today, jumped savage and was deadly,” said Cooper.
“Ricky Doyle schooled him over hurdles before he ran at Naas and said he never saw a horse go from A to B as quick.
“Sean (Flanagan, on Will Wilde) took him on early doors today and while he was gaining on the flat, my fella was gaining over the jumps. He was low and quick.
“His form is on heavy but yielding ground shouldn’t inconvenience him. I didn’t think beyond today and it is hard to know where to go now.”
Thomas Gibney’s Flamborough won the Annual Membership Available Rated Novice Hurdle as the evens favourite under Darragh O’Keeffe.
“It was a very suitable race and was almost made for him. It’s great if you have a horse who fits into these novice rated races and he did. He didn’t travel great in the race so we are delighted to get the result,” said Gibney.
Ellmarie Holden’s Jet Setting Johnny took the Quays Bar And Bistro Fermoy And The Stables Bar Carrigaline Beginners Chase under Hugh Morgan at 100-30.
The performance was the gelding’s third start over fences and he prevailed by half a length over the two-and-a-half-mile trip.
“That was a long time coming but we got there in the end and Hugh, who is with me full-time now, knows him inside out,” Holden said.
“It looked positive coming here today from a good run the last day although we were concerned about the ground.
“The initial plan was to sell him after point-to-pointing him but that didn’t work out although he is for sale now.”
The 12-year-old R’evelyn Pleasure showed he had plenty to offer still with a half-length triumph in the EASYFIX Handicap Chase.
Partnered by Mark McDonagh, the 13-2 chance was the winner of a veterans’ race at Limerick eight days ago and clearly came out of that contest ready to go again.
“I had to run him back so quick as he came out of Limerick well. They went no gallop at Limerick, he found things so easy so I had to run him,” said O’Brien.
“He ran well in this race a few years ago and I liked him coming today as it was a small field and Mark kept it simple. He toughed it out well and is really enjoying his racing.”
Dibble Decker rewarded some strong support in the market after prevailing in a tight finish to the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Chase at Wincanton.
Trained by Tom Lacey, Dibble Decker was backed into 11-2 near the off and was always travelling powerfully for Stan Sheppard.
Charlie Deutsch attempted to make all on the Venetia Williams-trained 2-1 favourite Georges Saint and he was still just about in front at the second fence from home.
Sheppard was delivering his challenge on his inside while Iconic Muddle was on his outside, but it was Dibble Decker who was always doing enough on the far side, benefitting from a first-time tongue tie.
Sheppard told ITV Racing: “He’s certainly much better with a lead, the last day he was fairly forward. His first run last year was poor and his first run this year was so he obviously takes a run to reach a peak.
“The tongue tie was definitely a contributing factor, I’d never heard anything wrong with his wind but it was worth a go today.”
Lacey and Sheppard teamed up over Christmas to win a nice race with Blow Your Wad at Kempton and the jockey had news of his future targets.
He said: “Tom has been very good to me over the past four or five years, jockeys and trainers need good horses and we seem to have found one with him. I think he might go to the Pendil at Kempton in February, miss Cheltenham and then go to Aintree.”
Joe Tizzard could have a nice prospect on his hands in Lord Of Thunder, who justified strong support in the Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle.
He travelled strongly throughout for Brendan Powell and the 4-5 favourite had no trouble in pulling seven and a half lengths clear.
Powell said: “I think he’s improved since his last win. We didn’t go mad early but he quickened up from the back of two out and he’s put almost 10 lengths between himself and the others fairly rapidly.
“Maybe Kim Bailey’s horse (Heros De Romay) has slightly underperformed but regardless of what he beat he couldn’t have done it any easier.
“I wouldn’t say he needs soft or testing conditions but he does handle it very well.
“He’s quite exciting, I don’t want to get too carried away but he’s earned the right to step up in grade.”
Fast Buck (100-30) was put in as favourite for the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Chase, yet despite two non-runners ended up being the outsider of four.
You would never have known, though, as he made just about all the running under Lorcan Williams, who said: “It’s nice to be sat on him in such great form and he got into a nice rhythm.
“It’s fantastic for the owners and the trainer (Jane Williams) is in form, I was lucky enough to be sitting on him.
“He’s got a unique jumping technique but now he’s 10 he’s probably got the knack of it.”
Trainer Joe Tickle celebrated his first winner of the season when Daany (8-1) stayed on dourly to win the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Hurdle, the second leg of a double for Micheal Nolan.
Tickle said: “It’s taken a while to come but two miles round here seems to suit him down to the ground.”
Nolan had earlier won on Mairis Icon (9-4), who got off the mark at the eighth attempt in the Virgin Bet Fives Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle for Seamus Mullins.
Rare Clouds (15-2) was rewarded for a series of consistent efforts when winning the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle for Simon Earle and James Best.
The concluding Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Chase went the way of the Noel Williams-trained Haston Clermont, with Jonathan Burke steering the 4-1 shot to victory.
Ben Pauling is confident Handstands will go on to bigger and better things after maintaining his unbeaten record with a comprehensive victory at Newcastle.
Bought for £135,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point in the autumn, the five-year-old made an immediate impact on his debut under rules when scoring impressively at Hereford last month.
Newcastle’s QuinnBet Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Hurdle appeared a gilt-edged opportunity for the son of Getaway to follow up under a penalty and he was priced up accordingly as the 2-7 favourite.
Those who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns, with Handstands always travelling strongly in the hands of Ben Jones and a mistake at the final flight did little to stop as his momentum as he galloped on for a seven-length success over Taras Halls.
“That was everything we wanted to see really. I think he’s just a big, brave youngster that just needs some practice,” said Pauling.
“Although he won it very nicely, it was good to see him jump another round of hurdles, running on different ground, going left-handed instead of right-handed and he came up with all the goods.
“He’s got a sensible head on him, he popped the last and when Ben gave him a flick off he went. He’s got plenty of ability and he’s a lovely horse for the future.”
While Pauling is looking forward to raising his sights in the spring, a trip to the Cheltenham Festival may have to wait for another year.
Considering plans, the Gloucestershire handler added: “We’ll see how he comes out of this and whether we look at an EBF Final or a Sidney Banks, I’m not sure.
“I’ll speak to Tim (Radford, owner) and see where we want to go and what we want to do, but he’s looking well above average at this moment in time.
“I don’t know if he’s a Cheltenham horse this year, if I’m honest. If you saw him in a proper race it might be at Aintree, but who knows?
“We’ll probably leave all options open and won’t rule anything out, but to me he’s a chaser and a big, gorgeous, raw individual that probably wants to be looked after.”
Curley Finger bounced back to form for local trainer Rebecca Menzies in the QuinnBet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle.
The seven-year-old had failed to add to his tally since landing a valuable prize at Musselburgh last spring and was pulled up on his chasing debut and first start of this season at Carlisle.
A return to the smaller obstacles did not yield much improvement at Musselburgh on his next start either, but he showed his true colours in the north east, scoring by a length and a quarter under a positive ride from Nathan Moscrop as a well backed 7-2 shot.
“This ground wouldn’t be Curley Finger’s favourite, he won the Northern Lights (at Musselburgh) on a decent surface, so we were a little bit worried,” Menzies told Sky Sports Racing afterwards.
“We’ve had him entered everywhere trying to find some better ground and kind of got sick of waiting, so we just decided to run him while he’s in such good form.
“We tried chasing with him first time this season, he jumps very well at home but I think he needs a sound surface for that. He could well go chasing later on into the spring.”
Blazing Soldier (16-1) denied 6-5 favourite Two Auld Pals in the QuinnBet Acca Bonus Novices’ Hurdle.
The winner was making his first start under rules having hinted at promise in point-to-points.
“He’s a nice horse, we’ve had him six or eight weeks now and he’s shown us plenty and jumped well,” said trainer Mark Walford.
“His point-to-point form is sort of patchy, but if you look back when he finished third it was a very good race.
“He has a nice pedigree and has shown us enough at home to suggest he might run well, I didn’t think he’d win. We’ve just been treating him like a nice, young jumps horse and bringing him along steadily.”
Judd Trump has called on the Alexandra Palace crowd to continue to bring the noise as he prepares to kick off the defence of his Masters title against Kyren Wilson at the famous venue.
Less than a week after 16-year-old Luke Littler brought the famous old house down with his performances in the PDC World Darts Championships, 16 of the world’s best snooker stars are set to converge on the arena.
And while the usual protocols will be in place, Trump hopes the unique atmosphere generated at the tournament will help him lift the title – regarded as his sport’s third ‘major’ – for the third time.
“It has grown into my favourite event,” Trump told WST. “I enjoy the atmosphere, it is completely different to any other tournament.
“It is more like a rowdy football game with a lot more passion. When everyone is clapping and cheering, then it relaxes me. I feel like I belong there and at that point it is my time to shine”.
Trump is the player of the season so far having reeled off three straight wins towards the end of last year, but after being dumped out of the UK semi-finals by Ding Junhui he knows he is yet to fully realise his potential on the biggest stage.
Last year’s Masters final win over Mark Williams served as a timely reminder that he has what it takes, and the 34-year-old will rely on his renowned fighting spirit in a bid to keep hold of the silverware he first won in 2019.
“I love the feeling of winning and I absolutely hate the feeling of losing,” Trump added.
“I think that is what spurs me on – the feeling of going home every time without the trophy is just absolutely horrendous.
“Winning surpasses everything. I don’t want to look back at the end of my career and have missed events and not practised enough.”
While Trump must wait until Tuesday to open his account against Wilson, world champion Luca Brecel gets the event under way on Sunday afternoon with an appealing clash against Jack Lisowski.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ding Junhui will reprise their recent UK final when they meet on Monday afternoon, while the clash of former winners Mark Allen and John Higgins provides arguably the first round highlight on Wednesday afternoon.
Jamie Snowden is considering the next plan of attack with You Wear It Well after a waterlogged track scuppered an intended outing at Sandown on Saturday.
Winner of the Mares Novices’ Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, the seven-year-old is being prepared for a return to the Cotswolds in March, with the Grade One Mares’ Hurdle her objective.
She made a successful start to the current campaign in a Listed event at Wetherby in November before finishing third as favourite for the rearranged Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown last month.
Snowden had been planning to lower his star mare’s sights back in Listed company at the Esher track this weekend, but with the meeting called off and the powers that be deciding against rescheduling the race, the Lambourn-based trainer must now go back to the drawing board.
He said: “I spoke to the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) and they were keen to reschedule, but The Jockey Club and the Levy Board didn’t see the need to fund the race, which is frustrating.
“You need the good races for the good horses, everyone is complaining the Irish have got a better programme than we have and it’s just a shame we can’t reschedule good races.
“We’ll have a little think and see where we go from here. I suppose there are three options – we either go to Lingfield for the Winter Million weekend, go to Doncaster for a two-mile Listed race there or wait for Warwick next month.”
Snowden felt You Wear It Well underperformed in the Fighting Fifth, but is confident she is back firing on all cylinders.
He added: “You should have seen her on the schooling ground yesterday – she was full of it. She’s in great order and bursting out of her skin to run again.”
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