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Yorkshire's Adil Rashid pivotal in victory against Worcestershire

• Leg-spinner achieves career-best 11 for 114 on dry pitch
• Reece Topley takes seven Kent wickets in debut for Essex



  • David Hopps
  • guardian.co.uk, Sunday 10 April 2011 21.09 BST <li class="history">Article history
    Adil-Rashid-Yorkshire-007.jpg
    Yorkshire's Adil Rashid celebrates after taking the wicket of Worcestershire batsman Vikram Solanki at New Road. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

    Yorkshire claimed the first championship victory of the season, beating Worcestershire by nine wickets at New Road, with Adil Rashid achieving career-best figures of 11 for 114 to suggest that his graduation into England's Test side might not be too long delayed.
    Worcester in April, normally a haven for seam bowlers, is the last place that a leg-spinner would expect to prosper, but persistent sunshine meant that the groundsman, Tim Packwood, produced a surprisingly dry pitch and Rashid reaped the benefit in front of England's chief selector, Geoff Miller.
    Rashid took five for 37 in the second innings as Worcestershire were dismissed for 137, leaving Yorkshire needing 52 for victory. Worcestershire, newly promoted, had been well on top 24 hours earlier, but the match turned courtesy of Ryan Sidebottom's career-best 61 and a county-best 177 not out from Gerard Brophy.
    Yorkshire's championship designs rest heavily on Rashid, 23, continuing his education in county cricket this summer, but England have a heavy winter schedule in the subcontinent and, with Mike Yardy's clinical depression threatening to end his England career, opportunities will soon beckon if he maintains this form.
    Reece Topley, a gangling 17-year-old fast bowler, took seven wickets on a sterling debut for Essex against Kent, a contest between the two counties relegated from Division One. Topley, bowling left-arm inswing at briskish pace, is taking his AS exams next month at The Royal Hospital School in Suffolk and his father Don, a former Essex bowler, has spent the week acting as chauffeur. "He has more wickets than he has had driving lessons," said Topley senior.
    Essex have the advantage of two fresh England batsmen &#8211; no other county can claim that after a horrendous winter schedule &#8211; but Alastair Cook, in his first meaningful match since England's Ashes success, and Ravi Bopara both got out when well set, leaving Essex 198 for six, 87 adrift of their target of 285.

 

Andy Murray hopes practice with Rafael Nadal can raise his game

&#8226; Murray to prepare on clay with world No1 in Monte Carlo
&#8226; Scot still not ready to appoint a full-time coach



  • Simon Cambers in Monte Carlo
  • guardian.co.uk, Monday 11 April 2011 18.09 BST <li class="history">Article history
    andy-murray-007.jpg
    Andy Murray hopes he can improve his form by practising with the world No1, Rafael Nadal, in Monte Carlo. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

    Andy Murray is enlisting the help of the world No1, Rafael Nadal, as he looks to regain top form over the next few weeks. The Scot begins his clay-court season here, searching for confidence having lost all three of his matches since losing the final of the Australian Open in January. He admits he may not find a new full-time coach until after Wimbledon and plans to use Adidas's Darren Cahill and Sven Groeneveld leading into the French Open. In the meantime who better than the world's best player to lend his old friend a helping hand?
    The two men will practise together at the Monte Carlo Country Club and getting up close and personal with one of the best players ever to pick up a racket, on his favourite surface, at one of his favourite stops on the tour can surely be only of benefit to Murray. While Nadal said that he watches videos of his old matches to remind him how to play on clay; Murray said he would benefit by doing the same &#8211; of Nadal.
    "You need to watch others to see what others do better," Murray said. "The one thing that Rafa does very well is his movement. Behind the baseline he moves diagonally back to the ball so he takes it at the highest point. If you move across the baseline too much, that's when the bad bounces can make you mis-hit the ball. You need to make sure that you always take the ball at the highest point. You can get away with half-volleys on hard courts and on grass but it doesn't work on clay."
    This time last year Murray was whistled off court when he was beaten 6-2, 6-1 by Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in his first match, a hangover from his defeat by Roger Federer in the 2010 Australian Open final. He says he is practising well and believes he is coping better with the disappointment of a third grand-slam final defeat, this time to Novak Djokovic, a man who has yet to be beaten this year.
    Seeded No3 with Djokovic absent, Murray is due to begin his campaign against the Czech Radek Stepanek. His defeat by Kohlschreiber kick-started a turnaround in his fortunes last year. The Scot will hope his renaissance comes even sooner this time round.

 
Jockey Peter Toole set to come out of induced coma after Aintree fall

&#8226; Doctors to let 22-year-old wake gradually after scan
&#8226; Conditional rider of 100-1 shot suffered bleeding to brain



  • Press Association
  • guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 12 April 2011 00.29 BST <li class="history">Article history
    Aintree--007.jpg
    A number of falls, like MP Walsh's on Quolibet, pictured, and the deaths of two horses in the Grand National led to criticism of Aintree's safety record by animal rights groups. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

    Doctors overseeing Peter Toole are set to bring the injured jockey out of his induced coma. The 22-year-old conditional rider suffered bleeding on the right side of his brain when his 100-1 shot Classic Fly fell at the first fence during the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree on Saturday.
    Toole was taken to Fazakerley Hospital, near the course, and was later transferred to the neighbouring Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery.
    He is attached to Charlie Mann's yard in Lambourn and the trainer said on his Twitter page this evening: "Peter Toole has had a CT scan this afternoon. Doctors are happy for him to gradually come out of his induced coma through the night."
    Mann had said earlier in the afternoon: "They need to give him a CT scan.
    "They won't wake him up until they have done the scan and, if the CT is going to be late, they'll probably do it tomorrow, so there's no change as it stands."
    Toole's weighing-room colleague David Crosse tweeted that he had spoken to Mann and that Toole "is now coming off the drugs that are keeping him asleep, hopefully will have more good news tomorrow".

 
Grand National 'on a par with bullfighting' after deaths

Aintree to review safety after two horses died following race in sweltering heat and over firmer ground than usual



  • Sam Jones
  • guardian.co.uk, Sunday 10 April 2011 20.46 BST <li class="history">Article history
    Horses-fall-at-Bechers-Br-007.jpg
    Only 19 of the 40 horses that started the race finished it. Photograph: John Giles/PA

    The Grand National has been compared to "Spanish bullfighting" and its organisers accused of "ritualised animal cruelty" after Saturday's race in sweltering heat and firmer than usual ground left two horses dead and the winning animal too exhausted to be ridden into the winner's enclosure.
    The annual controversy over the dangers of the meeting intensified further after a jockey riding in the Maghull Novices' Chase &#8211; a race that did not feature the National fences &#8211; was put in a medically-induced coma after sustaining head injuries when his horse fell at the first fence earlier on Saturday.
    The National, run over ground officially described as "good, good-to-soft in places", was won by Ballabriggs in nine minutes and one second, making it the second fastest ever. The speed at which the horses travelled increased the likelihood of injuries.
    Only 19 of the 40 horses that started the race finished it. Ten fell; five were pulled up; four unseated their riders; and two were brought down by other fallers.
    The two horses that died fell during the first circuit of the four-and-a-half-mile race. Ornais tumbled at the fourth fence, breaking its neck, while Dooneys Gate fell at the sixth, Becher's Brook, breaking its back. Their falls led to both fences being bypassed in the second circuit, the first time such action has been taken in the history of the Grand National.
    The race also appeared to have taken a heavy toll on Ballabriggs, which was given oxygen and doused with water to cool it down. Its rider, Jason Maguire, had to dismount and enter the winner's enclosure on foot. Three of the first four horses to finish were too exhausted to enter the winners' enclosure and went directly to their stables.
    The protest group Animal Aid, which pointed out that 20 horses have died on the Grand National course since 2000, called for the event to be banned, saying it "should have no future in a civilised country". Its director, Andrew Tyler, said: "When horses are killed at the Grand National meeting, their deaths are not accidents but entirely predictable. The public has been conned into believing that the Grand National is a great sporting spectacle when, in reality, it is straightforward animal abuse that is on a par with Spanish bullfighting."
    The League Against Cruel Sports described the race as "ritualised animal cruelty" and accused its sponsor, brewers John Smith's, of putting "their profits into sponsoring the cruelty".
    Tony Moore, chairman of Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe (Faace), said the deaths were "not only sad &#8230; [but] inevitable", adding: "We are going to continue campaigning and raising awareness of this tragedy and perhaps we can make it change, make people think about what they are putting the horses through."
    The BBC also came in for criticism for its coverage of the animals' deaths after its commentator, Mick Fitzgerald, referred to the dead horses as "obstacles".
    "[It] deserves special condemnation for all but concealing news of the deaths," said Tyler. "In fact, one of its commentary team described the dead horses as they lay on the course as 'obstacles', which was particularly disgusting and callous."
    The corporation defended its coverage, saying it had been aware of the fatalities and had tried to cover them with "as much sensitivity as possible". A spokeswoman added: "Clare [Balding] was also most sensitive in her reporting of the incidents and even touched on it in her closing links to the programme."
    The race's organisers said they were "desperately sad" over what had happened and promised a thorough review of Saturday's events. "When a horse gets hurt, everyone is deeply upset," said Julian Thick, managing director of Aintree racecourse. "Safety is the first priority for the organisers of the Grand National meeting and we will redouble our efforts to make sure that everyone involved in the event &#8211; the horses, the jockeys, the spectators &#8211; is able to participate in safety and comfort."
    The RSPCA confirmed that it would be taking a close look at the race footage to see if anything could have been done to prevent the deaths.
    "The death of a horse at any race meeting is never justifiable and it is crucial that, wherever possible, steps are taken to reduce the likelihood of such tragedies occurring," said a spokeswoman. "The Grand National is the most testing of races and due to the number of runners, the distance of the race and the number and variety of obstacles there is a higher risk to horses." Meanwhile, the jockey who suffered bleeding on the right side of his brain when his horse fell in the Maghull Novices' Chase on Saturday remained in a stable condition.
    Peter Toole, 22, was taken to Fazakerley hospital, near Aintree, but was later transferred to the neighbouring Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Trainer Charlie Mann, to whom Toole is attached, said: "He's in an induced coma and he won't be brought out until Monday at the earliest. He has bleeding on the right-hand side of his brain.
    "He also dislocated a shoulder, which has been put back in place. He's on a ventilator, and it's not great &#8211; but we won't know any more until Monday."
    His weighing-room colleague David Crosse added: "I've spoken to Peter's dad, who said he remains stable, but with no improvement. He's going to be sedated for 24 hours."
    Don't judge a sport on one race

    The Grand National is one of the most famous and popular events in world sport. It is also the only horse race that many people watch each year, and while its very uniqueness is an important part of its appeal, it has its dangers, too.
    The most obvious is that tens of millions of viewers will use this brief exposure to an unfamiliar sport to draw conclusions not just about the Grand National, but horse racing in general. No one would watch a single football match in a 12-month period and use it to make broad judgments about injury rates or player discipline. The National is not so fortunate.
    When a race continues around a stricken horse, it can seem callous and indifferent, as if no one cares about the horses, when the opposite is the case. There are thousands of people in racing who devote their lives to training and caring for horses, and they are the ones who will feel the loss most keenly. But at the same time, these are racehorses, not pets.
    I walked the Grand National course a couple of hours before the first race at Aintree on Saturday. The ground had been watered the previous evening and was as close to perfect for racing horses as it is ever likely to be. The course itself has changed significantly over the last 20 years, too. The fences, Becher's Brook in particular, are much fairer and less demanding, and the safety of horses and riders is a primary concern before, during and after the race.
    The fact that two horses died in this year's National does not change that, because racing, like driving a car, can never be risk-free. It is the racecourse's responsibility to reduce the risk wherever possible, and that is what Aintree continues to do.
    Greg Wood
    Greg Wood is the Guardian's racing correspondent

 
Bayern winger Robben banned for two games


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Updated Apr 11, 2011 1:59 PM ET
Bayern Munich's star winger Arjen Robben has been banned for two games and will miss the key match against Bayer Leverkusen that could decide if Bayern qualifies for the Champions League.
Robben's absence leaves interim coach Andries Jonker without one of his top players in his first match in charge.

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''I am not pleased but we will find a solution,'' Jonker told reporters Monday.
Robben was sent off after the final whistle for insulting the referee following Bayern's 1-1 draw at Nuremberg, and was given the ban by the German football federation.
Coach Louis van Gaal was sacked after the Nuremberg game and his assistant Jonker got the job for the last five games of the season.
Leverkusen is second, nine points ahead of fourth-place Bayern, which is hoping to finish either second or third. Second place brings a direct slot in the Champions League, third means qualifying.
The draw in Nuremberg left Bayern trailing Hannover by one point.
''The players want to play in the Champions League next season absolutely,'' Jonker said.
''We must be in third place on May 14 (when the season ends) and have more points than Hannover,'' the 48-year-old Dutchman said.
''I don't need to teach players anything for five games, I don't need a philosophy. What I need to do together with the fans, the board, the coaching staff and the players is to clinch that Champions League qualification spot. If we all stick together we can do it.''
Bayern's designated coach as of next season is Jupp Heynckes, who is now in charge at Leverkusen. Heynckes is in a delicate situation - his current team could destroy the Champions League hopes of his next one.
Jonker will remain at Bayern after Heynckes' arrival and will be in charge of Bayern's reserve side.
 
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  • Report Abuse kfhjfghd
    • 4/11/2011 10:19:51 PM
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    • 4/11/2011 10:18:39 PM
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  • Report Abuse rotwiessessen222
    • 4/11/2011 9:51:56 PM
    Muller is going to have to play wide at RW against Leverkusen and I would start Klose and Gomez up top and hope that one or both of them can find the net on the weekend.

    And Kraft better get his scheisse together because I sure as hell don't want to see anymore school boy stuff out of him in this game ! Tymo or Gustavo in the spot next to Schweinsteiger.
  • Report Abuse rotwiessessen222
    • 4/11/2011 7:52:50 PM
    Steve, I think Robben is happy at Bayern to a large degree and I am sure with Van Gaal leaving he will be even happier, but that doesn't excuse that red card in the derby game. You just can not let your emotions get the better of you in a situation like that and even though the game was over and the ref could have let it go, now Robben is suspended for two of the biggest games of the season. Composure is a key ingrediant in winning trophies and Robben needs to learn that ASAP.
  • Report Abuse Steve_Mannschaft
    • 4/11/2011 6:11:16 PM
    I don't know how to read Arjen Robben. Is he happy at Bayern Munich? I think he is a bit fragile and often times forces shots in lieu of a safer pass, but I love watching him launch that left-footed rocket. Robben is very good with the ball and always gives maximum effort on the pitch. The Bavarians need him and I hope he stays. His meltdown Saturday was ill-timed and unfortunate but Bayern must find a way to get 3 points.
  • Report Abuse kpgixxer1k
    • 4/11/2011 5:36:41 PM
    wait so bayern munich's coach for next year his current team is in the hunt for one of the final champions league spots? what if he tanks the last few games to make sure his new team gets in? ooh that could be bad.
  • Report Abuse Dallaskraut
    • 4/11/2011 1:17:55 PM
    I cannot remember being so annoyed with FCB's vorstand as with the LvG situation. With their comments in the press, they are making themselves seem like a bunch of wimps. We told him not to do this or that etc, etc, etc.... If he was destroying the team and season, then stand up and get rid of him before the damage is done. They have done it in the past for less cause. When all hope is lost. they finally find the cohones to fire him but they keep him on the job so he can complete the job by depriving us of the CL next season.
  • Report Abuse ronaldinho_freak
    • 4/11/2011 11:53:42 AM
    mud i pray that ur wrong
  • Report Abuse Dex
    • 4/11/2011 11:41:30 AM
    I like what Jonker says about getting the team, club and fans together to get the 3rd spot. At least Jonker gets the fact that we need to pull together and doesnt have the chip on his shoulder about ALWAYS being right. Hopefully our squad can get back to playing normally.
  • Report Abuse Mudig
    • 4/11/2011 11:40:06 AM
    I only assume that this is all just an act by Robben to get the club to let him go.
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Kiessling quiet on title tilt


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Updated Apr 11, 2011 7:20 AM ET
Stefan Kiessling is refusing to discuss Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga title chances until after next week's game against Bayern Munich.
Leverkusen head to Munich knowing a win would secure them at least third place, and with it a place in the Champions League next season, following their 2-1 win over St Pauli - in which Kiessling scored the winning goal.

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But three points at the Allianz Arena could also see them remain in the hunt for the title with league leaders Borussia Dortmund now only five points ahead at the top.
"We want to win in Munich and then we can wrap up a place in the Champions League," said Kiessling.
"We still have five games left and if we can win in Munich, then we can talk about the title."
Jupp Heynckes continues to take things game by game, and he insists there will be no easy ones for his side between now and the end of the season.
Leverkusen have not lost a game since early February, but Heynckes says that could happen against anybody in the Bundesliga.
"Everybody expected this to be an easy win for us, but St Pauli fought incredibly hard," he said.
"You could see today that the teams who are in a relegation battle give everything and that made it incredibly difficult.
"I am glad that we turned the game around. That says a lot about my team's maturity."
Leverkusen can therefore be glad to face five sides who have no such relegation fears between now and the final day of the season on May 14.
After travelling to Munich, Leverkusen host Hoffenheim and Hamburg and also have trips to Cologne and Freiburg.
 
German Bundesliga roundup, Apr. 10


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Updated Apr 10, 2011 8:13 PM ET
Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to beat St. Pauli 2-1 on Sunday and move within five points of Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund, with five rounds remaining in the season.
Substitute Lars Bender, whose brother Sven plays for Dortmund, scored the winner in the 77th minute.

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"Before the match, everyone said this should be a routine win, but we saw how difficult it was. St. Pauli did everything right," Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes said.
In the earlier game Sunday, Marcus Reus scored twice as last-place Borussia Moenchengladbach revived its hopes of avoiding relegation by crushing Cologne 5-1.
Leverkusen wasted a half-dozen good chances before falling behind to a goal by Charles Takyi in the 58th minute from a perfectly executed counterattack.
Florian Bruns broke through on the right and swung in a cross for Takyi to knock the ball into the net.
Leverkusen equalized in the 66th, Gonzalo Castro putting through substitute Eren Derdiyok, who played the ball back for Stefan Kiessling's first-time shot to find the target.
Michael Ballack played well, he sent a powerful shot wide and then had a free kick saved.
But Bender secured Leverkusen's fifth straight win when he beat the offside trap and slotted the ball underneath goalkeeper Benedikt Pliquett.
Leverkusen next plays Bayern Munich, Heynckes' team next season. Bayern fired coach Louis van Gaal on Sunday. Heynckes' move to Bayern was agreed before the dismissal.
Moenchengladbach remained last, two points behind St. Pauli.
The home side scored three goals during a 10-minute spell in the first half and completed the rout by scoring twice in two minutes after the break.
Juan Arango opened the scoring in the 29th minute and Reus followed up with goals in the 34th and 39th.
Milivoje Novakovic pulled a goal back for Cologne in the 50th, but Filip Daems converted a penalty in the 65th and Havard Nordtveit capitalized on some terrible defending to score the fifth in the 67th.
 
Schalke hoping to cruise into CL semifinals


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Updated Apr 12, 2011 3:24 AM ET
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP)

After a stunning 5-2 away win over Inter Milan, the roles will be reversed in Wednesday's return match with Schalke now the heavy favorite to reach the Champions League semifinals and the title holder going in as underdog.
But Inter hasn't given up hope of pulling off the improbable, despite needing to win by four goals to advance.
''I continue to be optimistic. Our goals haven't changed,'' Inter's Brazilian coach Leonardo said. ''Anything is possible.
''That's what I think and the players as well, starting with Eto'o, who knows a thing or two about comebacks, having experienced them first hand. He told us about them and it was really emotional.''
Striker Samuel Eto'o was with Barcelona when it overcame a 5-1 deficit against Spanish rival Getafe with a 4-0 win.
''It's fairly difficult to believe in this comeback, but anything is possible in football, even dreams are possible,'' Eto'o said.
''Inter is a squad made to play a great match and advance. And in the league also, since there are still two months to go,'' the striker said.
Inter president Massimo Moratti has stood by Leonardo, providing encouragement for the coach into the early hours of the morning following the opening leg.
Inter rallied from a home loss to a German rival to reach the quarterfinals. Inter lost 1-0 at home to Bayern Munich but advanced by winning 3-2 at Munich.
Inter's defense fell apart completely in the opening leg and Leonardo will be happy to have center back Lucio back from suspension.
Another key center back, Walter Samuel, has been included in the squad for the first time since surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right knee in November.
''I don't think he'll play, although it's good that he's on the team,'' Moratti said.
Cristian Chivu is suspended after getting sent off in the opening leg, but Inter has regained some confidence following a 2-0 win over Chievo Verona on Saturday, bouncing back not only from the opening leg loss to Schalke, but also a 3-0 derby defeat to AC Milan.
Schalke will be missing forward Jefferson Farfan, one of its best players in recent matches, who is also suspended.
But the German side still boasts Raul Gonzalez, the striker with 70 goals in the Champions League.
Schalke seems to have blossomed under new coach Ralf Rangnick, who replaced Felix Magath less than a month ago. It had a 2-0 win over Magath's new team, Wolfsburg, on Saturday in the Bundesliga.
''I will be calm only if we are still three, or even better four goals ahead with five minutes to play,'' Rangnick said.
Central defender Benedikt Hoewedes said Schalke had to be cautious, especially in defense, not always the team's best department.
''We were underdogs in Milan but we dominated the game. Now, we have to be careful,'' Hoewedes said.
''Inter will surely do all it can and will throw everything into attack. It's no secret that they have excellent strikers and outstanding attacking qualities. We have to be very alert.''
 
Grand National deaths press the case for horse age-limits

The appropriate reaction to events at Aintree is to see whether more can be done to protect the welfare of the participants



  • Jason-Maguire-Grand-Natio-007.jpg
    Jason Maguire, right, received a five-day ban for excessive use of the whip on the Grand National winner Ballabriggs. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

    The Grand National made for grim viewing and I say that as someone who has been a committed fan of jump racing for about 30 years. The deaths from spinal injuries of Dooneys Gate and Ornais were shocking and TV viewers had their noses rubbed in the fact of what had happened by the shots of Ornais under tarpaulin as the field was directed round him on the second circuit.
    I need no persuading that the welfare of each racehorse is a matter of great importance to the sport's participants and to those who run racing but I should think a fair proportion of Saturday's audience now hold the gravest doubts on that subject. Such doubts have been vigorously expressed in comments on the Guardian's website and in contributions to radio phone-ins over the last two days.
    The National has been the subject of several safety-inspired revisions over the past quarter-century and, though some traditionalists have fumed, that policy can hardly have ruined it since Aintree sold out on Saturday for the first time in decades, while 8.8m watched from their living rooms. The only appropriate response to two deaths is to consider whether more can be done.
    The first change I would make would be to turn away runners as young as seven or as old as 13. Such horses struggle to cope with the National; no seven-year-old has won since 1940, no teenager since 1923. These age limits suggest themselves.
    It would not change the nature of the race, since there are only a handful of those ages each year, with plenty of nine- and 10-year-olds waiting to take their places. There might sometimes be a horse aged seven who is equal to the National's test, just as there are some people aged 15 who can drive. It is just not appropriate to let them try, especially when their failure can put others at risk. At the other end of the scale, the drop in ability from 12 to 13 seems dramatic for most chasers.
    It is possible that the goodwill of some spectators could be restored by a ban on jockeys using the whip to make horses go faster.
    After Ballabriggs had attacked that course with such courage, it was a miserable thing to see Jason Maguire's whip slashing repeatedly towards his hindquarters.
    Maguire is hardly to blame, even though he earned a ban for excessive use. The rules also require him to make every effort to win the race and there will be no mercy for the jockey who loses a National through lack of commitment.
    We have many excellent horsemen in the weighing room these days. Let them find a way to motivate their mounts without the stick, not just in the National but in any race.
    Neither of these changes would have saved Dooneys Gate or Ornais. They might, however, still be breathing if the ground had had rather more give. Instead, and despite artificial irrigation, hot weather dried the surface to the extent that the race-time was the second-fastest in history.
    When the ground dries, the runners go faster and there is less of a cushion beneath them, both factors increasing the chance of a broken bone. But the RSPCA's David Muir reports the going was no faster than good on Saturday and he makes no criticism of the course management.
    There have been fatalities even in soft-ground Nationals but it seems at least logical that easier ground should reduce the risk.
    If softer going is impossible to achieve in balmy weather, then perhaps the race should be run at a different time of year. Surely no one thinks it a good idea just to turn up next spring in the hope of a happier outcome.

 
Dortmund's Barrios out injured for Freiburg match


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Updated Apr 11, 2011 5:04 PM ET
DORTMUND, Germany (AP)

Borussia Dortmund's top scorer, Lucas Barrios, will miss the Bundesliga leader's next match against Freiburg because of a groin injury.
The club says Barrios will miss Sunday's home game against Freiburg.
Barrios has scored 13 goals for Dortmund this season.
Dortmund's lead has shrunk to five points over second-place Bayer Leverkusen. There are five rounds left in the season.



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Grand National deaths press the case for horse age-limits

The appropriate reaction to events at Aintree is to see whether more can be done to protect the welfare of the participants



  • Jason-Maguire-Grand-Natio-007.jpg
    Jason Maguire, right, received a five-day ban for excessive use of the whip on the Grand National winner Ballabriggs. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

    The Grand National made for grim viewing and I say that as someone who has been a committed fan of jump racing for about 30 years. The deaths from spinal injuries of Dooneys Gate and Ornais were shocking and TV viewers had their noses rubbed in the fact of what had happened by the shots of Ornais under tarpaulin as the field was directed round him on the second circuit.
    I need no persuading that the welfare of each racehorse is a matter of great importance to the sport's participants and to those who run racing but I should think a fair proportion of Saturday's audience now hold the gravest doubts on that subject. Such doubts have been vigorously expressed in comments on the Guardian's website and in contributions to radio phone-ins over the last two days.
    The National has been the subject of several safety-inspired revisions over the past quarter-century and, though some traditionalists have fumed, that policy can hardly have ruined it since Aintree sold out on Saturday for the first time in decades, while 8.8m watched from their living rooms. The only appropriate response to two deaths is to consider whether more can be done.
    The first change I would make would be to turn away runners as young as seven or as old as 13. Such horses struggle to cope with the National; no seven-year-old has won since 1940, no teenager since 1923. These age limits suggest themselves.
    It would not change the nature of the race, since there are only a handful of those ages each year, with plenty of nine- and 10-year-olds waiting to take their places. There might sometimes be a horse aged seven who is equal to the National's test, just as there are some people aged 15 who can drive. It is just not appropriate to let them try, especially when their failure can put others at risk. At the other end of the scale, the drop in ability from 12 to 13 seems dramatic for most chasers.
    It is possible that the goodwill of some spectators could be restored by a ban on jockeys using the whip to make horses go faster.
    After Ballabriggs had attacked that course with such courage, it was a miserable thing to see Jason Maguire's whip slashing repeatedly towards his hindquarters.
    Maguire is hardly to blame, even though he earned a ban for excessive use. The rules also require him to make every effort to win the race and there will be no mercy for the jockey who loses a National through lack of commitment.
    We have many excellent horsemen in the weighing room these days. Let them find a way to motivate their mounts without the stick, not just in the National but in any race.
    Neither of these changes would have saved Dooneys Gate or Ornais. They might, however, still be breathing if the ground had had rather more give. Instead, and despite artificial irrigation, hot weather dried the surface to the extent that the race-time was the second-fastest in history.
    When the ground dries, the runners go faster and there is less of a cushion beneath them, both factors increasing the chance of a broken bone. But the RSPCA's David Muir reports the going was no faster than good on Saturday and he makes no criticism of the course management.
    There have been fatalities even in soft-ground Nationals but it seems at least logical that easier ground should reduce the risk.
    If softer going is impossible to achieve in balmy weather, then perhaps the race should be run at a different time of year. Surely no one thinks it a good idea just to turn up next spring in the hope of a happier outcome.

 
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