Die Macht » just too fast for officials.In the first quart

Alex Hammond looks ahead to the opening English Classics and thinks Marcel has an each-way chance in the Qipco 2000 Guineas. Richard Johnson was finally crowned champion jockey for the first time on Saturday; do you think anyone can wrestle his shiny new trophy off him in the next few years?I dont think there is a single racing fan or professional in the game who would begrudge Richard Johnson his first title. He has had to wait over 20 years to get his hands on the trophy; and a new trophy at that as the last one was quite rightly given to Sir Anthony McCoy. Over the years there have been a handful of jockeys, both Flat and jumping, that you have huge sympathy for as they were top class, but never champion. Like Johnson until now, they were born in the wrong era. We all have our own thoughts on that, but Adrian Maguire was a close second to Richard Dunwoody and was a prodigious talent. Dickie said that the championship was his biggest achievement; he has said that if he had gone his whole career without getting his name on the roll of honour it would be his one regret. Thats how much it means to these sporting heroes, they travel thousands of miles each year, day in day out, in the quest to be the best of a very good bunch. You can see that Johnson is buzzing with the accomplishment; you can see he has no intention of giving up the accolade any time soon. Like the colossus before him, you get the impression that while he is riding, he wants to be the best. Aidan Coleman put up the closest fight, but even he was 105 winners behind the new champ. Without the firepower of John Ferguson, who provided him with 59 of those winners, its going to be even harder for him in the future. Our new champ has the hunger and drive, and barring injury, he should keep a tight grip on the title for a few seasons to come. Paul Nicholls just edged out Willie Mullins in the UK trainers championship in the end, how do you see this battle developing next year?As much as that must have been bad for the blood pressure of the protagonists, the trainers title going right down to the wire like that was a PR exercise that will be hard to beat in future campaigns. The only thing it may have done is whetted the Mullins appetite to try and win the British championship in future. Until the season was well into its autumn, Mullins didnt seem to take the title bid seriously, when he did it was almost too late. Still, a sliding door here and a change in luck there and it could easily have been reversed. It will be interesting to see how Irelands champion tackles the British season in future. I cant see him changing too much early on, but if things go well, then things may change from the New Year onwards. One thing is for sure, I wouldnt be lumping on Nicholls to win the 2016/17 season at the current prices as there is more than just Mullins snapping at his heels.The Flat season really cranks up a gear this weekend, give us three equine stars on the level to follow in the coming months.Im getting my head round the Flat season now and am really looking forward to seeing several horses over the coming months, its hard to narrow it down to three:Dartmouth (Sir Michael Stoute) - There are few trainers better at campaigning high class older horses than Sir Michael Stoute. Dartmouth is a Darley-bred colt, owned by The Queen, and he could give Her Majesty plenty to smile about in the year of her 90th birthday. This four-year-old progressed up the handicap ranks last season and started the 2016 season with a win at Chelmsford on a surface he doesnt really relish. That was in Newburys re-routed John Porter Stakes, which wasnt the strongest runnings of the contest in its history, but this looks like a horse that should continue to improve over middle distance trips.Gifted Master (Hugo Palmer) - I flagged this horse up after his win at Newmarkets Craven meeting and he looks capable of winning his share of races over the specialist trip of seven furlongs and he should be effective over six furlongs too which brings in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.Order Of St George (Aidan OBrien) - Im a sucker for a Flat stayer/Cup horse and this horse looks a top-class performer to follow in that sphere. He won three of his four outings as a three year-old culminating in an unchallenged victory in the Irish Leger. It will be interesting to see what route his trainer takes to Royal Ascot for what will no doubt be his first big summer target, the Gold Cup, for which he is already 5/2 favourite with Sky Bet. He seems versatile on most ground conditions, so there shouldnt be too much concern whatever conditions are like in June.As I said, there are so many horses to look forward to, but Ill be disappointed if we dont see these three winning some nice prizes.Air Force Blue is the short-priced favourite for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, will you be taking him on at prices around the 4/6 mark?I wont be backing Air Force Blue, but it doesnt mean he wont win the colts classic. It was interesting to hear Aidan OBrien expressing a slight doubt about this son of War Front staying the mile. His sire was top class over 6/7 furlongs and his dam was speedy too and this colt has plenty of toe, so there has to be an element of doubt. Having said that he won the Dewhurst well, staying on over the seven furlongs and is twice a winner over that trip. When you hear OBrien waxing lyrical about his latest superstar, it feels a bit like the boy who cried wolf. Yeah, yeah you think, as you hear about the best horse he has ever trained. Having said that, those superlatives tend to be backed up by performances on the track, so who am I to take those comments with a pinch of salt? So, he looks hard to beat on all known form, but for me the bet at the prices could be Marcel each-way. Peter Chapple-Hyam has produced horses to win on the big occasion many times in the past and this horse is proven over the mile having won the Racing Post Trophy last autumn. As it was snowing in various parts of the country this week and theres been rain around, the ground is unlikely to be fast and that would play into the hands of Marcel. Hes now 12/1, having been shortened in the last week and that still looks reasonable each-way value - you can also back him with Sky Bet in the market without Air Force Blue at 9/2.And finally, what do you fancy in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas on Sunday?Aidan OBrien looks to hold the key to this race too with Minding the ante-post favourite and Ballydoyle a pretty handy second string. Minding is bred in the purple being a daughter of Galileo out of a mare called Lillie Langtry, who won the Coronation Stakes and Matron Stakes at the highest level at three. Minding is already proven in Group One company having won the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Fillies Mile, the latter over this course and distance. Minding beat Ballydoyle in the Moyglare, but the latter is also a Group One winner having added her name to the list of Prix Marcel Boussac winners at Longchamp in October. Last year their head-to-head record read Minding 1 Ballydoyle 1. I think Ballydoyle looks like a real galloper and at current prices at the time of writing (11/2 with Sky Bet) I have backed Ballydoyle to cause a bit of an upset and beat her stablemate. The fly in the OBrien ointment could be Mark Johnstons Lumiere, who splits them in the market. She had three starts over six furlongs last season, winning the Cheveley Park Stakes, and has loads of speed. However she doesnt look like a one-trick pony and is bred to stay this trip. She could be vulnerable from the front though. Nathras win in the Nell Gwyn gave a form boost to Minding, who beat her in the Fillies Mile. That win at Newmarket gives her the fitness edge on her rivals and trainer John Gosden has hit the ground running this season. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports Taysom Hill Jersey .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. Jim Taylor Jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. https://www.saintsjerseyssale.com/1393f-renaldo-turnbull-jersey-saints.html . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Wil Lutz Jersey . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Jim Wilks Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When Luke Kuechly was carted off the field with a concussion, the tears streaming down his face as he left, it appeared the Carolina Panthers might be ready for another collapse.Their defensive leader was gone and another big fourth-quarter lead was crumbling.Instead, the Panthers did just enough to hold on and beat the New Orleans Saints 23-20 on Thursday night in a game marred by injuries to key players.When Kuechly went down the lead was at 10, and players gathered around him as he was put on a cart near midfield. Carolina would give up another score, but hold on for itsr third win in four games.We rally behind that guy, defensive end Charles Johnson said about Kuechly. Hes our leader. When you see a leader go down like that, we just rally behind him. Im keeping Luke in my prayers.The Panthers, who surrendered a 17-point lead and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs last week, entered the fourth quarter with a 23-3 lead before injuries began to take their toll. Along with Kuechly, the Panthers lost two-time All-Pro center Ryan Kalil (shoulder), top pass rusher Mario Addison (foot) and cornerback Leonard Johnson (chest) to injuries. The Saints lost running back Mark Ingram to a head injury in the third quarter.It was the Grim Reaper walking around out there, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said.Saints quarterback Drew Brees seemed to seize the momentum.Brees, who had been held to 171 yards and no touchdowns in the first three quarters, rallied the Saints back to 23-20 with touchdown passes to Brandon Coleman and Coby Fleener.But an 18-yard reception by Kelvin Benjamin on a third-and-10 with 2:39 left in the game proved pivotal, taking enough time off the clock where Brees only had 14 seconds to work with on his final drive. He couldnt manage to get his team into field goal range.Newton finished 14 of 33 for 192 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr. as the Panthers (4-6) pulled even with the Saints for third place in the NFC South.Our mantra is to Keep Pounding and it speaks volumes in situations like this, Newton said. I will take an ugly win over a pretty loss.Jonathan Stewart also ran for a touchdown and Graham Gano had three field goals.Carolinas next two games are on the West Coast -- at Oakland and Seattle.Hopefully, the time off will give us enough time to heal up for thiss long road trip, safety Kurt Coleman said.ddddddddddddAnd also you wonder if it wasnt a Thursday game and it was a Sunday game, would there be these type of injuries? You never know. ... Im just going to pray for everybody. Not only our team but their team.BETTER DEFENSEBrees finished with 285 yards passing.That was a dramatic difference from the last time the two teams met on Oct. 16 when Brees threw for 465 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-38 win over the Panthers.They did exactly what we hoped and that was keep the ball it in front of them, Rivera said of his young secondary. You cant ask for the guys to do a better job.KICKING WOESSaints coach Sean Payton was upset after the game about the teams continuing struggles on special teams, including a blocked field goal that was returned 73 yards by Kuechly before the half to set up Ginns touchdown catch.Last week the Saints lost to Denver when a potential game-tying extra point was blocked and returned for a 2-point defensive conversion.Fundamentally weve got to be able to kick an extra point. ... Weve got to be able to, you know, kick a field goal thats a makeable one, Payton said. Weve just struggled in that area. It cost us at New York, it cost us last weekend (against) Denver and it cost us again tonight. And weve got to be smart enough in the game early to understand that the turnovers arent good.LOSE SOME, WIN SOMEMaybe Ginn is just too fast for officials.In the first quarter Ginn appeared to score on a 14-yard run, but officials reviewed the play and ruled his knee was down at the 1-yard line taking away a touchdown. Then, in the closing seconds of the second quarter, officials ruled Ginn was out of bounds on a pass from Cam Newton. But after instant replay officials overturned the ruling and gave Ginn a 40-yard touchdown catch.UNDER PRESSURENewton was under heavy pressure for most of the first half, taking a sack on third down that took his team out of field goal range -- the second time he has done that in as many weeks.A COOL BREESBrees eclipsed 3,000 yards passing for the 13th consecutive season, tying Peyton Manning for the second-longest streak in NFL history.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '