GORDON ELLIOT’S OUTLANDER was a shock winner of the first Grade 1 of the new Irish national hunt season, holding off Road to Respect in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.
The Gigginstown duo jumped the final fence neck and neck but it was 16/1 shot Outlander, steered by Jack Kennedy, who got his nose in front to win by half a length.
Zabana was 14 lengths back in third while Jessica Harrington’s Our Duke, the odds-on favourite, disappointingly tailed off at the back of the field and was later found to have scoped badly.
“He was beaten going to the first fence,” Harrington admitted afterwards.
In the Grade 2 MyCarNeedsA.com Chase, 5/4 favourite Disko did just enough to justify his price, holding off Enda Bolger’s Ballyoisin by half a length to take the prize for Noel Meade and Gigginstown.
At Wetherby, Coneygree pulled up and veteran chaser Cue Card crashed out five fences from home as Bristol de Mai (6/1) won the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase for Nigel Twiston-Davies and Daryl Jacob.
Both Cue Card and jockey Paddy Brennan were OK following the fall, trainer Colin Tizzard reported afterwards.
Fergal O’Brien’s mare Colin’s Sister (10/1) won the three-mile West Yorkshire Hurdle, staying on to beat 2/1 joint favourite Wholestone by two lengths, with Lil Rockefeller 12 lengths back in third.
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If his goal really is to win another champions league (that’s obviously not going to happen at United in what’s left of his career) then what genuine competitor for the tournament could afford him and more importantly actually want him?
@Gareth Keenan: i think he just wants to keep playing in the champions league, not necessarily win it again. Maybe he should consider an immediate loan spell with Rovers and help us push through to the group stages of it.
@Kevin: there’s a thought!
@Kevin: that would be some story, I can see it now…
Big Cristiano fan throughout the years but surely even he must recognise that the equation probably won’t add up the way he wants it too.
Big money + competitive champions league team + automatic starter in every game.is not realistic in my view.
He could probably find some good situations where he can get 2 of the 3.
Will be interested too see what happens. As a utd fan too I think that he might have to find a bit more humility I’d he is to stay relevant in ETH’s plans. Still great on his day.
Even with this Dr Evil demand level of money, with his level of skill even at this stage in his career the Saudi League would be like if he rocked up to an adults five a side match in the park on a Sunday. He’d be richer than rich but no way would he be satisfied professionally
Wants to leave but doesn’t want to go to any club who wants him
He Doesn’t need the money. Surprised someone like PSG didn’t go for him.