Sean calms Wigan worries
But it’s the first Saturday in June – Derby day – and there is no known cure.
“Don’t ask me why,” said racing’s most recognised face. “In England, you say, ‘On tenterhooks’. In Italy, we say, ‘Sulle spine’.
“My career has taken me to pretty much every great race, and I’ve been lucky enough to have had a lot of success.
“I’ve won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and I’ve won the Dubai World Cup three times. They’ve got huge prize-money, but there’s no occasion that gets to you like the Derby.
“It’s stressful and nerveracking. You feel the tension, but that’s a good thing – if you arrived at Epsom and you didn’t feel it, that would mean the Derby didn’t matter. And WIGAN skipper Sean O’loughlin insists he is not worried about losing touch with the top four ahead of tomorrow’s must-win clash with Wakefield.
Thursday’s last-gasp 22-19 defeat to rivals St Helens means that the injury-hit Warriors have not won in four league games and have fallen to sixth, behind their next opponents.
But O’loughlin (right) says that Wigan’s displays in defeat — with a host of youngsters in their ranks — means they are not concerned about falling off the play-off pace.
The 34-year-old said: “The majority of boys wouldn’t even know where we are in the league — we just keep approaching games, wanting to win.
“We’ve not won a few now, but eventually we will and we’ll climb that table.
“We’ve got every confidence we’ll be up there or thereabouts come the end of the year.
“At the minute, we’re down to the bare bones. We’ve had players missing and kids coming in.
“But this will pay dividends for us, come the back end of the year, when, hopefully, we get a load of troops back.
“In the past, we’ve had injuries, but managed to pick up wins, and that’s probably one thing we’ve not done as much as last year.
“We’ve got to address Saturday, 4.30pm, ITV
Trainer: Newsboy’s verdict: Aidan O’brien (right) has won the Derby five times, so it’s not surprising this Galileo colt, set to be ridden by Ryan Moore after his Dee Stakes win at Chester, heads the market this year.
Trainer:
Newsboy’s verdict: Frankel colt, unwanted at the sales, recorded a fast time when winning the Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April and the step up to a mile and a half should prove right up his street.
Trainer:
Newsboy’s verdict: Strong at the finish when landing the Lingfield Derby Trial on his return to Europe – a run that proved his ability to handle Epsom’s contours and see out the trip.
Trainer:
Newsboy’s verdict: Began his campaign with a loss at Bath but has improved hugely since. He followed a narrow Epsom defeat by Cracksman with wins at Newmarket and in York’s Dante Stakes. Warrington v Salford 3.00 Widnes v Leeds 3.00 Wigan v Wakefield 3.00 Leigh v Castleford 4.00 Catalans v Hullfc 7.00
that and start winning.” Tomorrow’s match is part of Super League’s second “double” weekend this month, with teams playing twice in the space of four or five days.