At this time of year the spotlight is, properly, on mudsplattered geldings thrilling us with their exploits over obstacles. They are, in the words of Will Ogilvie in his poem about steeplechasers, the “limber lean-of-head ones; hardy, hefty humble-bred ones”.
The FA Carlsberg Vase
Third Round Proper
Saturday 8 December 2007
Winning clubs receive £1,200
Click here for the fixtures
Who said you can’t win anything with kids? A stone’s throw away from the Theatre of Dreams – where youngsters David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs et al, won winners’ medals galore – a similar blueprint is being utilised by Gary Fellows, manager of high-flying Salford City, the solitary semi-professional club in Manchester.
Fellows’ North West Counties League Division One team play host to Hallam FC – who claim to be the second oldest club in the world (203-years-old) – in Saturday’s FA Vase Third Round. And his youth and recruitment policies will mean that most of the starting eleven will have been born and bred in and around the Salford area.
Last year’s Gold Cup winner, War Of Attrition, will not be back at Cheltenham in March to try to regain his crown. Though the eight-year-old, who damaged a tendon while being prepared for the Festival in March, is back in work at trainer Mouse Morris’s Co Tipperary yard, he is to be given more time to recover from stem-cell surgery.
Johan Santana
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The New York Mets still want a shot at Johan Santana.
With the winter meetings nearly over, the Minnesota Twins’ ace remained on the market Wednesday night and the Mets hoped to get seriously involved in trade talks.
Manchester City are attempting to take advantage of the continuing uncertainty at Liverpool by lining up a surprise £17m bid for Javier Mascherano. City are expected to be the Premier League’s big spenders in what could be an otherwise quiet January with owner Thaksin Shinawatra having already pledging substantial funds as the club pushes for European football. They want to recruit one leading striker, and possibly two, as well as a holding midfielder while discussions have been held about a new goalkeeper.
SYDNEY continued their purple patch with a thumping third quarter to secure a 120-100 NBL win over New Zealand Breakers on Thursday night.
The table-topping Kings dominated after half-time with a 35-23 third quarter rampage opening up a 25-point lead that allowed Sydney to cruise home to victory.
Not even the arrival former NBA player Orien Greene could stop the Kings, as the Sydneysiders moved to a 14-2 record for the season. The Breakers dropped to 9-7 to be in fifth on the NBL table.
Mark Worthington led the way with 28 points and seven rebounds for the Kings, while Dontaye Draper contributed 24 points and Jason Smith 21.
Marcus Walker scored 13 points and Josh Simmons made three free throws in the final seconds to lead Colorado State to a 44-40 win over Denver on Wednesday night.
Denver (3-3) pulled within one when Joe Jackson drilled a three-pointer from the corner with nine seconds left.
Simmons’ late free throws sealed the win for the Rams (5-3). He finished with five points, all on free throws.
Jason Kidd was “on strike” last night, several team sources claimed. He essentially called in sick, perhaps seeking to force a trade from the Nets or gain a contract extension.
AUSTRALIA forward Wycliff Palu has been stood down from Waratahs training after an alleged nightclub incident three weeks ago.
Palu faces a NSWRU disciplinary judiciary hearing on Monday after he was present at a serious assault in Lansvale in Sydney’s west on November 17 which is under police investigation.
"We activated our protocols as soon as we became aware of the incident and while there is no allegation of foul play on Wycliff’s part, he was present at the venue and is part of an investigation by the Police and NSW Rugby,” said NSWRU chief executive Jim L’Estrange.