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Talented hurdler Starluck nearing racecourse return
Posted by: | CommentsStarluck, the smart two-mile hurdler who failed to cut much ice in a disappointing campaign last season as a novice chaser, is close to returning to racecourse action ahead of a possible second bid to land the Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13, writes Elliot Slater.
The seven-year-old was the undoubted star of trainer Alan Fleming’s string after arriving at his yard from his native Ireland where he was a useful middle-distance handicapper on the Flat. He immediately proved himself a talent over hurdles winning his first three starts before finishing a highly respectable fourth to Zaynar in the 2009 JCB Triumph Hurdle, then going one place better behind Walkon in Grade 1 company at Aintree a few weeks later. Those looking for Cheltenham Betting tips will be keeping a close eye on him.
Beaten just a short-head by Go Native in the 2009 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Starluck was a popular choice for the 2010 Champion Hurdle, but although he ran well he could only finish fifth behind Binocular. After finishing runner-up to Peddler’s Cross in last season’s Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle and then third to Binocular at Kempton in the Christmas Hurdle, Fleming decided to switch to the larger obstacles mid-season, a decision that somewhat backfired following Starluck’s winning first outing as he was twice beaten by horses who had been much his inferior over timber just a few months before. Punters will be wondering if he can return triumphant at the Betfair 2012 Cheltenham meeting.
Moving recently to the care of David Arbuthnot, Starluck is reportedly in fine shape and could run in one of a number of good races in early-February, (including the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton or the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las), where if he performs well he may book himself a return trip to Cheltenham to bid again to land the biggest two-mile hurdles prize of all. He is currently a general 50/1 shot in the ante-post market for the Champion Hurdle.
Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide
Talented hurdler Starluck nearing racecourse return
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Can anyone stop Novak?
Posted by: | CommentsIs there any stopping Novak Djokovic? You would think a gruelling semi-final victory over Andy Murray would have been enough to end his chances of winning the final of the Australian Open against Rafael Nadal, but seemingly not. Those looking at casinos Android even note note he battled on to emerge victorious from the longest final ever.
Some have described him as super-human, others have just looked on in astonishment, but what is true is that Novak Djokovic has come into 2012 in just the sort of form that allowed him to dominate tennis the previous year. He may even be better, unbelievably.
And the world number one has described his victory over Rafael Nadal as the greatest moment of his career.
“It was the longest Grand Slam final of all time. Just hearing that fact makes me cry,” said the emotional Serbian. “Wimbledon is right up there because it is the tournament I always wanted to win. But this comes out on top.”
Djokovic’s victory means that he joins Roger Federer, Andre Agassi and Mats Wilander in being the only Open-era players to complete a hat-trick of successes.
He added: “I am very proud to be a part of history, to be among the elite group of players who have won this trophy several times.
“I had lots of chances to finish the match in the fourth, but he came up with some incredible serves and incredible points.
“So he deserved to prolong the match in the fifth set, and then really both of us could have won the match. Even when I was 4-2 down I still pushed myself up to the limit.
“I’m sure any other tennis player would say the same. We live for these matches.
“We’re trying to dedicate all our life to this sport, to come to the situation where we play a six-hour match for a Grand Slam title.”
It was quite some year for Djokovic in 2011, as he won the Australian Open, the US Open and Wimbledon. In 2012 he will be hoping to do all that again, but to also add the French Open to it.
That will, of course, be a tough ask, with Nadal dominating on the clay surfaces of Roland Garros, but with the Serb in such fine form, can anyone stop him?
Just a few years ago, people were putting Djokovic in the same category as Andy Murray, as being unlucky to be playing in the same era as Nadal and Federer. They said that in any other era Djokovic could have been world number one, but not this one.
They were proven wrong, as last year he shot to the top of the rankings. Playing the way he is now, it looks as though it will be a long time before anyone knocks him off his perch.
Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide
Can anyone stop Novak?
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