Globale News » everybody stayed poised

A preview of the pick of the action from the first day of The Open at Cheltenham on Friday. Trainer Ben Pauling is relishing the prospect of seeing stable star Barters Hill make his debut over fences in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices Chase at Cheltenham.The two-and-a-half-mile contest has an illustrious roll of honour, with Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Denman, Imperial Commander having landed successive renewals. Grade One winners Grands Crus, Dynaste, Taquin Du Seuil and More Of That have also struck gold in the race.A quality field of seven runners has assembled for the latest running, with Barters Hill perhaps the headline act, having won seven of his eight previous starts.Pauling had been aiming his charge at next weeks Hennessy meeting at Newbury, but decided to let him line up at Cheltenham following significant midweek rainfall.With March in mind, I dont think you can have too much experience of the place, really, said the Bourton-on-the-Water-based trainer.If wed been forced to go to Newbury next week I was considering bringing him here at Christmas for the Dipper.Now were getting a run here it means we can also consider the Feltham (Kempton). It just opens up options for us.At Newbury, wed have been taking on horses who had managed to get a run under their belts at level weights, but by running here those that have won already will be giving us weight.As ever, he will come on a good deal for his first run but hes as fit as we can get him at home. Im just so glad its rained, we can finally crack on with him.Its a relief all round, for me, his owners and everyone in the yard as we were getting frustrated.The Philip Hobbs-trained Rock The Kasbah made a fine start to his chasing career at Chepstow a month ago, but must concede 8lb to Barters Hill as a result.With Barters Hill in the race, it will be interesting, Hobbs told At The Races.He was very safe with his jumping at Chepstow, which is probably a good thing for a first time novice chaser.Hes got the penalty to carry, which might not be easy against some of these ex-hurdlers, but hopefully hes a very decent horse and probably our best prospect for novice chasing.O O Seven won three times over hurdles last season and was twice runner-up in Grade One company.Trainer Nicky Henderson, who also saddles Theinval, said: O O Seven is a novice to look forward to - he is a pretty talented horse.He has schooled very well and his technique looks very good. We are not as forward as some people at this time of year.The horses are winning what they are capable of winning, getting away with it, but when you get into this sort of standard of races you need to be a little bit riper than we probably are.Dan Skeltons high-class hurdler Itsafreebee made a smart debut over fences at Fakenham last month, while the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Flying Angel won at Perth before falling when beaten in the race won by Rock The Kasbah at Chepstow.Sizing Tennessee from Colin Tizzards yard completes the line-up.Grade Two honours are up for grabs in the Neptune Investment Management Hyde Novices Hurdle.Wholestone and Thistlecracks half-brother West Approach do battle for the second time within the space of three weeks, having finished first and second respectively at The Showcase fixture last month.The Skelton-trained Spiritofthegames, Baden from the Henderson yard and Paul Nicholls Pilansberg also feature in a nine-strong field along with two Irish challengers in Crosshue Boy and Peregrine Run.The latter steps up in grade, having won his last three starts for trainer Peter Fahey.He said: I cant say I have got a reason why he has improved - maybe he has just taken time to mature.Since he won his maiden hurdle, he has been thriving and improving with each run.Once the ground softens, we might try him over two miles and see how he gets on but we wont keep him too busy him over the winter.We will have him back for the spring festivals. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports ￡10 completely free bet! Jason McCourty Jersey . They started shooting the puck. Joe Pavelski had a hat trick to move into a tie for second in the NHL in goals and the Sharks beat Philadelphia 7-3 Thursday night in the first game for both teams following the Olympic break. Steve Nelson Jersey . -- Zach Johnson is like most players at the World Challenge, not sure whether hes still playing in 2013 or if hes in the middle of the new wraparound season that officially started in October. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/451p-...y-patriots.html. A 23-year-old rookie, Stroman is 4-2 with a 3.44 earned run average in 12 games this season, the past seven of those being starts. He logged the first scoreless outing of his career on Friday versus Oakland in a no-decision. Jon Morris Jersey . Numbers Game looks at the As getting Jon Lester from Boston, sending Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox along with a deal involving the As and the Minnesota Twins. The Athletics Get: LHP Jon Lester, LF Jonny Gomes, OF Sam Fuld and cash. Gunner Olszewski Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. CHICAGO -- The individual accomplishments are all well and good to Kevin Durant. This means more. The Thunder shook off their worst loss, then stood their ground when the Bulls came charging at them. Durant finished with 35 points and 12 rebounds, and Oklahoma City beat Chicago 97-85 on Monday night. Russell Westbrook added 17 points after sitting out the previous day to rest his surgically repaired knee, and the Thunder rebounded from their most lopsided loss of the season. They went on a 13-point run after the Bulls scored eight straight early in the fourth to cut the lead to one and pulled this one out after falling by 23 at home to Dallas on Sunday. Durant ran his streak of games with 25 or more points to 32, the longest in the NBA since Michael Jordan did it in 40 in a row during the 1986-87 season. He also chipped in with five assists. "I just go out there and ... play to win," Durant said. "If all that stuff comes with it, then thats cool." Whats most impressive about the streak is the sheer consistency, the lack of a true off game. That and the fact Durant just shrugs it off stand out most to coach Scott Brooks. "I know when I had a three-game streak of four, I was worried about that fourth game," Brooks said. "I had to make my first shot. Hes not worried about it. Hes worried about playing hard and playing the correct way and finding ways to help his team win. Thats what hes done. Hes an amazing leader and hes so consistent." Westbrook had nine rebounds and nine assists, although he did struggle from the field. He was 5 of 14, and the Thunder shot 41.3 per cent overall. They had the touch from long range, hitting 13 of 25 3-pointers -- three each by Durant, Westbrook and Caron Butler. The Bulls never found their rhythm, shooting 34.5 per cent overall, and settled for a six-game split on a tough homestand that included wins over defending champion Miami and Houston. "I would have liked it better if we won a couple more games, but 3-3 well take it," Joakim Noah said.dddddddddddd "Weve just got to move forward. I wish we could have this game back." Noah, whos been hearing "MVP!" chants lately, had a rather quiet night, although he just missed his fourth triple-double of the season. He shot just 2 of 8 but finished with nine points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Taj Gibson had 16 points and seven rebounds. Jimmy Butler scored 13, and Carlos Boozer chipped in with 12 points and 11 rebounds, but the Bulls came up short. The Thunder were leading by nine early in the fourth when the Bulls scored eight straight points, Butlers fastbreak dunk putting a charge in the crowd and back-to-back baskets by Gibson cutting it to 76-75 with about 10 minutes remaining. After that, things turned in a big way. The Bulls missed their next 11 shots, and the Thunder scored 13 straight over the next 6 1/2 minutes. Derek Fisher started the decisive rally with a 3-pointer. A layup by Serge Ibaka, dunk by Durant, three free throws by Caron Butler, a driving bank shot by Westbrook and a free throw by the guard just over a minute later made it 89-75 with 3:45 remaining. Noah hit a free throw for Chicago 15 seconds later, and after Ibaka nailed a 3, Gibson dunked to end a 7-minute, 4-second drought between baskets for the Bulls. "We took their hit, and thats what the games all about," Durant said. "Theres going to be a time when youve got things clicking. Youre up nine, wed have pushed it up to 12, 15, but we didnt find a way. But everybody stayed poised." Notes: Westbrook insisted Chicagos Derrick Rose can make a strong return from his latest season-ending knee surgery. The two have trained together in the off-season. "I talked to him numerous times," Westbrook said. "Hes a tough guy as you guys know. He does a great job of coming out, competing. Its unfortunate that he had to be hurt and hell be out another year, but hes goi ' ' '