He is a character who can duck not only bouncers but thus far the temptations which
He is a character who can duck not only bouncers, but, thus far, the temptations which accompany huge celebrity at a young age.Flintoff’s greatest gift though is that, cricketing genius apart, he appears thunderously normal and seems to think of himself in those terms. Australians are one thing but Michael Vaughan yesterday came up against an element which English cricket has never defeated The elements themselves. The England captain was on home territory, at Headingley, skippering a World XI against a Yorkshire XI in a Twenty20 match as part of his benefit. But then the whole of England may soon be home for the captain.
He may not know what an empty glass is ever again.
Vaughan had with him the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen and Steve Harmison, which also meant he had with him 14,000 ticket holders. Simon Jones was missing and there was no sign of Matthew Hoggard but all the other England players were on the scorecard.It all seemed an attractive proposition, right up to the time it was determined that Vaughan’s side would bat first At 5.10pm, a close and brooding evening exploded. Coral: 7-4 Proclamation, 5-1 Goodricke, 6-1 Gift Horse, 9-1 Somnus, La Cucaracha, 10-1 Etlaala, 12-1 Galeota, 14-1 others.CAMBRIDGESHIRE (Newmarket, 1 Oct) Ladbrokes: 9-1 Ashkal Way, 12-1 Pedrillo, Stronghold, 14-1 Cesare, Evaluator, Musicanna, Sound Breeze, 16-1 All That And More, Blue Monday, Momtic, 20-1 others.Richard EdmondsonNap: Shortest Day(Salisbury 3.20)NB: Nidhaal(Salisbury 4.20). The huge crowd scattered as Leeds was visited by thunder, lightning and driving rain, in all honesty the sort of weather Vaughan would like to bag up and take down south for five days next week.There is, though, a further injury worry to report. Heading the weights on 9st 10lb is Eccentric, who landed the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor last Saturday.SPRINT CUP (Haydock, Saturday): William Hill: 6-4 Proclamation, 4-1 Goodricke, 5-1 Gift Horse , 10-1 Etlaala, La Cucaracha, 12-1 Iffraaj, Somnus, 16-1 Galeota, 20-1 Lucky Spin, 33-1 others. Ladbrokes: 6-4 Proclamation, 9-2 Goodricke, 5-1 Gift Horse, 10-1 Etlaala, La Cucaracha, 12-1 Somnus, 14-1 Iffraaj, Galeota, 16-1 Lucky Spin, 25-1 others.
The son of Ashkalani landed a massive gamble at Beverley recently and is the 9-1 market leader with Ladbrokes from 129 entries for the £130,000 contest over nine furlongs. Dandy improves his horses and has done it with some good sprinters over the years I think he can do it with this one.”Brian Ellison’s progressive three-year-old Ashkal Way has been installed as favourite for the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on 1 October. He’s won a lot of money now.”The six-times champion jockey had been seen to great effect when getting Cross The Line home in the opening handicap for Alan Jarvis, who said: “I’ve been using the top jockeys for 35 years but Kieren is a genius.”The three-timer was completed on Charlie Cool, impressive winner of the maiden. The William Haggas-trained colt quickened well to earn a 33-1 quote from Victor Chandler for the 2,000 Guineas and Derby.”He feels like a real nice horse; a proper horse,” Fallon said “He quickened twice and you don’t usually see that. It’s quite exciting when you get one that can do that.”With Jarvis’s praise still ringing Gift Horse came in for strong support for Saturday’s Sprint Cup at Haydock after it was confirmed that Fallon will ride.The David Nicholls-trained Gift Horse was last seen winning the Stewards’ Cup and Fallon said: “He was always better than a handicapper and he proved that at Goodwood but Proclamation [the favourite] has a lot of ability.”"He is coming back in trip and will need luck in running so he is not home and hosed by any means My fellow deserves to be there. Maybe he had a harder race than we thought last time.”Mullins Bay was the middle leg of a Kieren Fallon treble and the jockey said: “He’s a lovely horse and Aidan loved him last year, so much so that he pressed for him to stay in training this year and it’s worked out well. Maraahel’s jockey, Richard Hills, said: “He travelled well into the straight but didn’t pick up.
