Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DOG BARES TEETH
Fahey’s charge bites down hard to earn
THE BIG DOG registered his first success over fences when bagging the €80,000 Grand National Trial in Punchestown yesterday.
Gambled-on from 5/1 to 5/2 favourite, Peter Fahey’s charge jumped into the lead early in the last mile, was headed briefly by Screaming
Colours on the run-in but fought back bravely to triumph by a half-length under
Jamie Codd, close to his minimum weight, who lost an iron after the final fence.
Fahey said: “This race was in my mind since he missed the cut for the Thyestes. It was his first handicap, but the one thing he does is stay going.
“He’s entered for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, but would need heavy ground to go there. The Irish National would be an obvious target for him, if he gets in.”
The Noel Meade (inset) trained Thedevilscoachman made it three wins from four starts over hurdles when landing the listed INH Stallion Owners Novice Hurdle, providing Mark Walsh with a follow-up to his treble at Naas on Saturday.
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend combined to land both divisions of the maiden hurdle, with Pont Aval and oddson favourite Jungle Boogie.
ENGLAND are fighting for little more than scraps in Chennai after being completely outfoxed by India on a spinner’s paradise.
Skittled for 134 in their first innings, a resigned-looking England coughed up a 195run lead that by the close of day two was extended beyond a target they have any real hope of successfully chasing.
But just because England have accepted the pitch is one of the more difficult they will play on, the lack of skill to cope with it is something to work on rather than to look to point the finger of blame elsewhere.
Batting coach Graham Thorpe did just that with his end-of-play comments, even if he thought otherwise, while another former England star reckoned they simply got a taste of their own medicine.
Thorpe said: “It’s a very challenging surface, that’s what I’m going to say.
“In terms of me commenting on the pitch, I think that’s for someone above me to look at.
“It was incredibly challenging on that surface for us on day two. They’re obviously a very skilled spin attack in their own conditions. It was a very good toss to win. The guys have plans but they didn’t happen for us today. There were some good deliveries in there, some unfortunate dismissals, some good catches.”
Inevitably most of the disquiet about the pitch was voiced by former players such as Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan, Mark Waugh and Matt Prior – and batsmen in particular.
But former spinner Graeme
Swann was the lone voice with an alternative point of view. “I have no problem at all with a pitch offering this much spin,” he said.
“We prepare green pitches to suit our bowlers at home when deemed necessary so it’s fair game.
“We should be taking notes on how to excel from Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin.”
He is right because on a pitch that has been the same for both sides, India have been far more skilful and capable in every department. Only Ben Foakes managed to find a way to stay out in the middle in making 42 not out as the rest crumbled, including even the remarkable Joe Root, dismissed for just six.
Root was one of the few who was not a victim of Ashwin, whose 5-43 took him past Harbhajan
Singh as the second most successful bowler in India, although Ashwin did take the catch from a top-edge sweep that removed the England skipper (left).
Ashwin’s 29th five-wicket haul served to highlight what England are up against, and while
Jack Leach is doing his best to match him, they operate on different levels.
Ashwin said:
“When you play spin you have to take your time, bide your time and cash in later, it is another form of art.”