Murray may not make it to Wimbledon!
(20) E De Giles 5 9-9 .................................... C Shepherd
(11) J G O’Shea 7 9-7 (D4) ....................L Morris
(27) S Kirk 5 9-7 (D) .... Poppy Bridgwater (5)
(6) W Knight 5 9-6 (BF) .......... A Kirby P Hedger 10 9-5 (D2).................... Nicola Currie
(41) S Durack 4 9-1 ...........................D Sweeney
(202) D Ivory 6 9-0 (D) ........ J Duern (3)
(24) R Teal 4 8-12 (D) ............ Rossa Ryan
(18) S Dow 4 8-11 ............................. N Mackay
(60) A Carroll 6 8-8 ................ D Probert BETTING: 5-2 Unit of Assessment, 4 Taurean Dancer, 6 Subliminal, 13-2 Agent Gibbs, 8 Gravity Wave, 10 Roar, 12 Incredible Dream, 14 Zenith One, 20 Others.
7-2fav Raced wide tracked leaders, went 2nd 7f out, led 2f out, ridden 2 lengths clear entering final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind My Brother Mike at Kempton 1m 3f hcap 0-70 (5) pol.
4-1 Headway and close up after 2f, pushed along 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec beating Music Major by nk, 13 ran. 5-1 Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden and no impression 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 11, 11l behind Let Rip at Lingfield 1m nov stk (5) pol in Dec. 25-1 Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, switched left to challenge entering final furlong, never a threat, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Ice Canyon at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcap 0-70 (5).
7-1 Held up, pushed along over 4f out, some late headway, never nearer, 6th of 11, 7l behind Mouchee at Lingfield 1m 4f app hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
20-1 Reared start, tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never on terms, weakened well inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 6l behind Isle Of Avalon at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) in Dec.
9-1 Slowly into stride, in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 14, 7l behind Conkering Hero at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jun. ANDY Murray’s hip surgeon has revealed it will be very difficult for the Briton to continue playing until Wimbledon.
An emotional Murray admitted on Friday that his time as a professional is nearly up due to the pain he still suffers in the joint, and revealed his hope to bow out at his home grand slam in the summer.
But Dr John O’Donnell, who operated on the Scot’s troublesome right hip, said: “I don’t think it is impossible, but it will be very difficult.
“He enjoys the Australian Open, and has been very keen to play, but Wimbledon is the high point for him.
“Ideally he would want to play there, but I imagine once you make the decision that you are going to stop it must get very difficult to keep going with the rehab, never-ending exercising, and putting up with the pain. Once you see the end in sight, I guess it would be harder to get motivated.”
Murray is due to play Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round of the Australian Open today – a match which could be his last. O’Donnell said Murray had exhausted all avenues in his bid to return to the highest level.
It has been suggested that a hip replacement would be beneficial for the three-time grand slam champion, but O’Donnell added: “Andy has tried really hard and explored every option that has any real possibility of being helpful.
“I don’t think there is anywhere else to go to preserve his hip and get it better so he can continue to play. That won’t happen now.”
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic added their tributes to the outpouring of support for Murray.
Djokovic said: “We’ve seen so many years of Andy Murray being one of the fittest guys on the tour, running around the court, getting always an extra ball back.
“Obviously to see him struggle so much and go through so much pain, it’s very sad and it hurts me as his long-time friend, colleague, rival.”
Federer added: “I was disappointed and sad, a little bit shocked, to know now that we’re going to lose him at some point.”