Murray left uncertain over tennis comeback
(39) Ronald Thompson 9-10 ....Robbie Walsh (7) 65 (16) Mrs H Main 9-7 ............. P J McDonald 52 (31) Miss T Waggott 9-4 ... Phil Dennis (3) 51 (9) A Brittain 9-4 ...................... C Hardie 74 (33) Roger Fell 9-4 (CD) ........... B Sanderson (5) 71
(31) Stef Keniry 9-0 (C) ................ L Keniry 54 (169) D Brown 8-7 ................................ Aaron Jones (3) —
(31) B Ellison 8-4 ................K Schofield (7) 57 (32) P McBride 8-3 ......................D Fentiman 26 BETTING: 7-4 Macs Blessings, 11-4 Kodi Dream, 7 Cheap Jack, 8 Good Tyne Girl, 12 Klipperty Klopp, 14 Arriba De Toda, 16 Simba Samba, Alfred The Grey, Fitzy.
7-2fav Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure to lead inside final 150 yards, soon clear, won at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-60 (6) in Feb beating Lexikon by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
3-1 Slowly into stride, soon ridden into mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Dolly Dupree at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Feb. 33-1 Held up in last pair, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Fenjal at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) in Jan. 20-1 Held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 11, 1 3/4l behind Eye Of The Water at Wolverhampton 6f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) in Feb. 10-1 Slowly into stride, outpaced in rear, headway over 1f out, soon beaten, 10th of 12, 8l behind Dolly Dupree at Southwell 1m app hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Feb. 16-1 Took keen hold in mid-division, pushed along 2f out, no significant headway, 7th of 12, 7l behind Macs Blessings at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-60 (6) in Feb. 14-1 Steadied start, raced keenly, held up and behind, never on terms, 11th of 12, 11l behind Macs Blessings at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-60 (6) in Feb. 66-1 In touch, driven halfway, soon beaten, 8th of 9, 11l behind Red Saree at Pontefract 5f 2yo mdn aut (5) gd in Sep. 50-1 Held up, took keen hold, switched right and headway over 7f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 7, 31l behind Marhaban at Wolverhampton 1m 1f Novice Stakes (3yo) (5) in Feb. ........................................................ Gavin Peter Brouder (7) ........... Phil Dennis (3)
...... J Hart .................. ...................................................................Robbie Walsh (7) —
A Breslin (5) 55 ..............N Garbutt (3) 30 BETTING: 6-4 Star Cracker, 3 Windforpower, 9-2 Guiding Star, 7 Decision Maker, 10 Climax, 16 High Anxiety, 25 Ise Lodge Babe, 50 Spoken Words.
4-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Furni Factors at Newcastle 5f hcp 0-50 (7). 5-1 Held up in mid-division, driven over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Furni Factors at Newcastle 5f hcp 0-50 (7).
14-1 Hampered start, mid-division, headway halfway, chased leaders over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 17, 9l behind Honey Gg at Ayr 5f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Oct. 7-1 Keen prominent, ridden and hung left halfway, weakened final furlong, 8th of 11, 7l behind Mininggold at Southwell 5f hcap 0-70 (5) fbs in Jan. 5-1 Prominent, lost place 2f out, 8th of 10, 9l behind Dusty Bin at Redcar 5f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) sft in Oct ‘16.
50-1 Chased winner until ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 3l behind Rockley Point at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-60 (6) in Feb.
100-1 Held up in touch, lost place 3f out, soon well behind, last of 7, 18l behind Tashaaboh at Doncaster 6f nov mdn stks (5) gf in Jun.
200-1 Always towards rear, last of 11, 9l behind Archimedes at Newcastle 5f hcp 0-65 (6) in Jan. ANDY Murray is no longer in pain but remains unsure whether he will be able to play top-level tennis again.
The former world number one had his second hip operation five weeks ago as he bids to overcome a problem that first became a serious issue in the summer of 2017.
Speaking at Queen’s Club while announcing a long-term partnership with British clothing brand Castore, Murray said: “I want to continue playing, I said that in Australia. The issue is I don’t know whether it’s possible.”
Murray laid bare his struggles at a tearful press conference ahead of the Australian Open, announcing he was planning to retire after this summer’s Wimbledon but that the Melbourne tournament may be the last of his career.
That may yet turn out to be the case but Murray will attempt to break new ground by returning to top-level singles action.
He said: “I’m a lot happier now than I was, certainly the last 12 months, because I have no pain in my hip now and I was in pain for a long time.
“The rehab is slow but it’s been going pretty well. I just need to wait and see how things progress. If it’s possible, I’d certainly love to compete again.”
Castore was set up by brothers Phil and Tom Beahon in 2015 and Murray first wore the clothes on a match court in his dramatic five-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round in Australia.
While a long-term partnership would indicate Murray is hoping to play for several more years, the Scot is also thinking ahead.
He will become a shareholder in the company and help with product development as Castore looks to establish itself in the tennis market.
Murray, who has invested in a number of British start-ups, said: “It’s high-quality clothes and the fact it’s a young British company, it’s two brothers who have played sport, there’s synergy there with my story.”