Fuller targets Cheltenham after Graded win
PAGE Fuller may be reaching for the stars at the Cheltenham Festival after landing her first Graded race success on Anythingforlove in the Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown.
Described by winning trainer Jamie Snowden as “an integral part of my team”, Fuller came in for the ride on the 18-1 shot only because Gavin Sheehan was in action at Fontwell.
She made the best of the chance as Anythingforlove beat Sandymount Rose by two and three-quarter lengths, for a Grade Two success which may extend their association in next month’s Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Fuller, who is enjoying a stellar season after riding out her claim in October, said: “That meant so much to me – a first winner at this level and a lovely mare for her owners. I knew she had every chance and was delighted when Gavin had to go to Fontwell.
“It was really hard work, and I had to assume she was going to stay. She heard the others coming, and wasn’t going to be passed. Winners like her show we have the quality in the yard – and while Gavin’s the number one, I am so lucky to get chances like this.”
Snowden said of the winner: “She used to be a bit novicey, and we rode her wrong in the Rossington Main. Over this trip she found it easier, because they were going a tad slower. I would certainly take a look at the Dawn Run.”
Nick Gifford’s dream of winning the race run here in April in memory of his late father Josh came a step closer with the 5-1 success of Belargus, under Niall Houlihan.
The six-year-old’s resounding nine-length triumph over Grey Diamond in the Elmbridge Handicap Chase has teed him up for what Gifford sees as “limitless options”.
LAST August, when eight Aberdeen players had a rather expensive night on the town and Celtic’s Boli Bolingoli had his doo-lally daytrip to Spain, Scottish football was placed on a yellow card by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Here in this column, I wrote that it was just a matter of time therefore before the game was given an early bath if football was to be held responsible for individual transgressions. There is more chance now of Celtic pegging back Rangers at the top of the Premiership than there was then of no further lapses on the part of players across the country, and while that part of the prediction has played out as expected, it appears the First Minister is a surprisingly lenient official.
Given speaking to footballers is part of my daily routine, I know from experience that the vast majority of them are decent, sensible people, often much smarter than they are given credit for and often doing much more for their local communities than might be publicly known.
My own family has had cause recently to raise funds for my son to receive medical treatment, and players who I do not know personally have quietly donated huge sums on the provision that their identities remain secret. So, from personal experience, I know that the demonising of footballers – fuelled by the First Minister’s public “exasperation” with them – is wildly wide of the mark.
Like any other walk of life though, there are a percentage of them who – to be frank
– fall into the category of “daft laddies”. Though it may be giving the five Rangers players who have now been caught attending a house party huge benefit of the doubt to categorise them as such, particularly 28-year-old Bongani Zungu.
However you want to label his actions, and those of Ibrox youngsters Calvin Bassey, Nathan Patterson, Dapo Mebude and Brian Kinnear, the fact is that the blame for their recklessness and blatant disregard for their responsibilities lies with each individual, and not with Rangers. And far less Scottish football as a whole.
Predictably, given the tribal tit-for-tat which goes handin-hand with football rivalry, there were a great many Celtic supporters who were quick to draw equivalence between the Rangers situation and their own club’s trip to Dubai, which they were publicly caned for. The big difference though is that Rangers didn’t arrange the gathering. It may have been a house party, but it wasn’t a “Big House” party.
The players should be criticised just as Bolingoli was, and they will likely be ostracised by their club in much the same way as he was too. Their punishments from the authorities should be consistent with those players who have breached regulations in a similar manner, such as the Aberdeen players or George Edmundson and Jordan Jones, who were playing for Rangers when they too stepped out of line.
Bolingoli left the country and failed to quarantine upon his return, so his situation was slightly different. But it was harsh in my eyes that Celtic had two games postponed as a result of his indiscretions and, similarly, it would harsh on Rangers should they be punished as a result of their players’ irresponsible actions.
In fairness to Celtic supporters, there has been very little talk of points deductions or calls for the season being declared null and void, certainly in a serious vein.
Leaving the trip to Dubai aside, what more can our clubs do? They have gone to great lengths and great expense to protect their players, realising the privileged status given to football to continue, and have repeatedly hammered home the message to each individual player that with their great privilege, comes
a great responsibility. It isn’t easy for young footballers, many of them away from their homes and families, to deal with the loneliness and boredom that living up to these standards often creates. But this in no way excuses their actions. This current way of life is hard for everyone, so there will understandably be no violins playing when players so brazenly abuse their privilege.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard must be tearing his hair out. His team stands weeks away from a landmark title victory, one of the most meaningful in the club’s history, and while it doesn’t appear as though the five miscreants have blown it for them, the fact they placed the achievement in any kind of jeopardy at all must be infuriating for him. And for supporters.
But these indiscretions were not on club time. They were not the club’s responsibility. And that is why, in all these cases, Nicola Sturgeon has been right to keep her red card in her pocket.
The vast majority are decent people
JUST when he thought he was out, they pulled him back in. Having spent two decades within the Cricket Scotland system in various roles – player, captain, development officer, marketing manager and assistant coach – Craig Wright walked away from it all in 2016.
Disillusioned by the game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), restricting opportunities for Associate nations like Scotland and in need of a fresh challenge, the 194-times capped player called it a day after the T20 World Cup in India.
A chance to coach overseas took him to Hong Kong for two years before he returned to Edinburgh where he has been coaching academy players as well as helping out a former team-mate, Jamie Kerr, with his property business.
The lure of a return to the inner sanctum of the Scottish game, however, has proved too great. And so Wright is now back as assistant to men’s head coach Shane Burger, his enthusiasm restored ahead of a year that could, Covid permitting, be a busy one, concluding with another T20 World Cup in India.
The 46 year-old was correct five years ago to fear the decision to reduce the 50-over World Cup to just 10 teams would cost Scotland – although they came agonisingly close to upsetting the odds. But he has witnessed breakthrough moments such as a first-ever ODI win over a Full Member side and the memorable home victory over England to feel suitably encouraged that cricket in Scotland has continued to grow despite the ICC’s best attempts to keep them down.
Now he wants to help restore that momentum once cricket in this country gets going again.
“Having had a couple of years away and then coming back, I can say for sure that my passion for Scottish cricket is as strong as ever,” he says.
“This role that suited my skill set came around and it just felt that the stars were aligning. It was the right time to come back in.
“In 2016 we had just come off the back of featuring in two World Cups and the next year to 18 months after that looked really quiet, plus there was the shift to the 10-team 50-over World Cup. I just felt that having been involved with Cricket Scotland for so long – and with a period of competition downtime looming
– it was the right time to step away and see where my head was at. I had intended to take some time away from cricket completely. But then the Hong Kong chance came around out of the blue and it was too good an opportunity to turn down – and it was a fantastic experience – but now I’m back and this opportunity has come up at the right time for me, with the squad hopefully heading into a really busy period. And I’m excited to be a part of that again.”
Wright and Burger may be forming a new coaching alliance but the Scot is no stranger to the squad, having worked with many of them prior to his departure five years ago. He added: “I’ve been involved with this group of players for a long time, the vast majority of them since they were in the youth programme. I’ve always had a faith and belief in their ability and we’ve seen that come to the fore in recent times with some of the landmark wins that they’ve had.
“With the qualification process for the 50-over World Cup, in particular, becoming tougher, it’s now about showing that consistency to make sure you get those places that are available for the global events. With Covid having knocked a year off the programme, there’s a lot of cricket to catch up on. And hopefully we can string together some good runs and start to build momentum again.”
South-Africa born Burger has a vision to make cricket as high-profile in this country as football and Wright, a massive Aberdeen fan, knows only big results and regular appearances at major tournaments will help catch and retain the public’s eye.
“It’s tough as we know that it’s very difficult to compete with football in this country,” added the Paisley-born coach.
“That’s why it’s so important to get access to the global events so that we’re playing on the international stage against the main Full Member countries.
“I’ve been shouting about this since the early 2000s so it’s not a new thing. But the game-changer for cricket for me will be having regular home fixtures against the leading nations and appearing at World Cups. And winning some of those games when they come around.
“We saw the excitement that everyone felt when we beat England in 2018. Even noncricket fans were talking about that win. If the team can keep pulling off results like that on a more regular basis then I’m sure interest in the sport in Scotland will only grow.”