METIER STORMING IT
Fry’s stable star looks Supreme in workout
METIER has raised hopes of Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle glory at Cheltenham next week after impressing trainer Harry Fry in a workout.
Fry’s unbeaten stable star (right), formerly trained in Ireland, has had a two-month break since taking his winning sequence to three in the Grade One Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown. But Metier showed he was in prime form in a Wincanton gallop last week.
Fry, who also expects ground conditions to be ideal for the fiveyear-old, said: “He’s our leading light.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but his gallop was just what I hoped to see. The forecast is for unsettled weather in the middle of next week, and that should hopefully help us see a combination of good to soft and soft. That would be perfect.”
The trainer is considering a crack at the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle with If The Cap Fits — who has been chasing this season.
“He ran well behind Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle last year and we know he’s a 160-plus horse over them, said Fry.
“That would put him in with an each-way squeak.”
CHRIS McQUEEN says Ian Watson has already instilled a culture shift at Huddersfield Giants ahead of the new Super League campaign.
McQueen arrived at the club on a three-month trial in September, less than two weeks before previous coach Simon Woolford (below) exited by mutual consent.
The Giants appointed highly-rated Salford boss Watson (right) after a disappointing campaign that included a host of narrow defeats.
A handful of high profile recruits has lifted expectations in Huddersfield but McQueen (above) believes it is Watson’s approach that will have the biggest impact. And
McQueen said: “He’s really driven about the culture of the team. He wants you to do all the little things right with your job for the other boys.
“It lacked a bit of that last year, the really strong culture stuff. I’m really excited to see what he brings to the club. I think it’ll be really good for us.” Aussie-born McQueen, who won one England cap in 2017 through his Londoner father, penned a one-year deal with the Giants after impressing in nine appearances last season. Much of that time was spent filling in at prop, but the 33-year-old is clear he wants to return to the back row position that earned him six State of Origin appearances with Queensland. He faces significant competition though – Kenny Edwards, Joe Wardle and Joe Greenwood have all been handed lower squad numbers.
McQueen said: “When I came over there was a little bit of an injury crisis and I was just filling in where I could.
“But I’d like to make one of those back row spots my own. I want to be one of those reliable players that gets the job done and be somebody that people like to play with.”
Watson’s squad held an opposed training session against Halifax on Saturday, and came through without any injury issues ahead of their opening match with Hull FC on March 28.
KEELY HODGKINSON was last night hailed as Britain’s newest athletics star by Dina Asher-Smith.
Four days after turning 19, the Wigan youngster ran a commanding race to become European Indoor champion over 800 metres in Poland.
Her golden moment ensured Christian Malcolm’s unsung team departed Torun with 12 medals, matching Britain’s biggest ever haul at a European Indoor Championships.
“KEELY!! Champ at just 19,” world champion
Asher-Smith tweeted as Leeds-based student Hodgkinson stopped the clock on 2mins 3.88secs. “What a star.”
Paula Radcliffe hailed the “outstanding smart racing” of an athlete who five weeks ago broke the world under-20 record. “Calm, dominant and perfectly judged”.
Hodgkinson become the youngest British winner at a European Indoors since Marilyn Neufville took 400m gold in 1970.
“I didn’t really think about the pressure,” she said.
“I really believed in myself – because if I don’t, who is going to?”
Jamie Webb’s hopes of giving Britain an 800m double came up just short as he took bronze in 1:46.95.
Britain’s relay women and men took silver and bronze respectively in the 4x400m, while Andy Pozzi matched his fastest time indoors but had to make do with silver in the 60m hurdles.