TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015 SPORTS Swiss Davis Cup Mullins, McCoy have Festival reign ends swiftly bookies running scared CHELTENHAM: The Costwold town of escape unscathed from the frenzy of the LONDON: Switzerland’s reign as a home tie against France who Cheltenham this week hosts jump rac- opening day,” said David Williams of Davis Cup holders was swiftly end- beat Germany with a day to spare. ing’s annual Olympics, the £4 million Ladbrokes. “It will shape the entire week. ed when they paid the inevitable “It’s been incredible the whole National Hunt Festival with two Irishman If all the Irish hotpots win we’ll be nurs- price for fielding a second-string week. To be in the quarter-finals in particular dominating the meeting’s ing more cuts and bruises than we’ve team and lost 3-2 to Belgium in for the second time in a row is a build-up. ever known.” the first round in Liege on Sunday. credit to everyone,” said world The four-day feast of racing starting Mullins and his stable jockey Ruby Just over three months since number five Murray who revelled Tuesday represents the last for 19-time Walsh unite in Wednesday’s Champion Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka in front of a Scottish crowd. champion jockey Tony McCoy. McCoy, Chase with Champagne Fever, who may drove them to an historic title in Isner, beaten in five sets by who is retiring at the end of the season, struggle to get a look in against Sire De Lille, it was a different story with- British number two James Ward on has high hopes of making it a swansong Grugy and Sprinter Sacre. out their big two as the Swiss Friday, had three set points in the to remember. With 30 winners already at Sire de Grugy returns to defend his became the first champions in 10 opener but could not convert and the fixture, McCoy’s book of rides include title won last year in the absence of years to fall at the first hurdle. despite some fierce resistance in defending Champion Hurdle victor Jezki, Sprinter Sacre, the brilliant 2013 winner Federer and Wawrinka had cho- the third set he could not keep the leading Triumph Hurdle fancy Hargam, who has returned after missing a season sen to stand aside after achieving 32-times champions alive. and Ned Buntline, who runs in the final with a heart problem. “We can’t say he is their ambitions and the stand-ins Italy, who beat Britain in the race of the week, which has been back to his immortal, unbeatable old were not able to upset the odds quarter-finals last year, went down renamed in his honour. self,” reported Henderson. against much higher-ranked play- to Kazakhstan in Astana where I’m not a believer in ‘it’s the taking “That probably won’t happen, but ers despite a heroic effort from 22- Aleksandr Nedovyesov, ranked part that counts’ - it’s about winning,” said we’re pretty pleased with where we are. year-old Henri Laaksonen. 130th in the world, stunned num- the racing legend from Northern Ireland. He’s not unbeatable, which he once was, The world number 344, who ber 22 Fabio Fognini in five sets to “However, my Cheltenham this year will but if he’s as good as he can be he still previously played for Finland, lev- seal a 3-2 victory. be better than next year. For that reason, has an outstandingly good chance.” elled the tie at 2-2 with a 6-3 3-6 3- Kazakhstan next travel to for- I’ll try to let myself enjoy it more than I’ve Henderson’s arch British rival Paul 6 7-6 (5) 6-1 win over Steve Darcis, mer Davis Cup heavyweights ever done. Nicholls trains the top two favourites for a player ranked 242 places higher. Australia who enjoyed a 3-1 victo- For the second time in three days, ry over 2012 and 2013 winners “In some ways I’ve never let myself Thursday’s highlight the World Hurdle, in the remarkable Laaksonen fought Czech Republic in Ostrava, Bernard enjoy it because when you have a win- Zarkandar and Saphir Du Rheu. back to prevail in a five-setter. Tomic clinching the win with a 7-6 ner, it’s about trying to win again next Regardless of how they fare, 24 hours Switzerland’s hopes, though, (4) 6-3 7-6 (5) triumph over Lukas time.” If Jezki gives McCoy a fairytale later in the Gold Cup Nicholls’ Silviniaco were extinguished in the deciding Rosol. farewell in the Champion Hurdle, he will Conti looks hard to beat. The nine-year- rubber when David Goffin, the Australia are through to the last have to get the better of hot favorite old is trying to claim the blue riband of world number 21 who was rested eight for the first time since 2006. Faugheen. jumps racing after two failed attempts, on Friday because of concerns World number one Novak The unbeaten seven-year-old is but his handler is hopeful it’ll be a case of over a back injury, proved too Djokovic’s Serbia crushed Croatia trained by Willie Mullins, who is sending third time lucky for the dual King George good for number 321 Adrien 5-0 and next take on Argentina or over a staggeringly-strong team in both VI Chase winner. Bossel and won 6-4 6-0 6-4. Brazil. numbers, around 50, and quality. Mullins “He’s been unlucky at Cheltenham in For the second year running Leonardo Mayer kept Argentina has four of the opening day favourites the past,” reflected the trainer. “”He looks Andy Murray led Britain to a first- in the tie against Brazil in Buenos with Faugheen joined by first race way better than he did this time last year round victory over the United Aires with a five-set win over Joao ‘banker’ Douvan, Un De Sceaux, and and he is in really good order. States when he beat John Isner 7-6 Souza in a match that set a compe- Annie Power. “If he wins a Gold Cup he will cement (4) 6-3 7-6 (4) in Glasgow. tition singles record by lasting six Just for good measure, Mullins also himself as one of the best.” Silviniaco The former Wimbledon champi- hours and 42 minutes. With the tie sends out Hurricane Fly, his record-break- Conti finished fourth last year to surprise on survived some early scares at 2-2, Argentina go into a fourth ing Grade 1 winner, to try and claim a winner Lord Windermere, who is back for against the big-serving American day on Monday with Federico second Champion Hurdle crown. a repeat. Also featuring in the line-up are before taking charge to steer Delbonis leading Thomaz Bellucci With all of Mullins’ might, it’s little the McCoy-partnered Carlingford Lough, Britain into an unassailable 3-1 6-3 in the deciding rubber after VANCOUVER: Japan’s Go Soeda serves against Canada’s Vasek Pospisil wonder bookmakers are apprehensive. Mullins’ well-backed Djakadam, and Bobs lead. In the quarter-finals they face bad light ended play. — Reuters during their Canadian Davis Cup match. — AFP “It would be madness to believe we can Worth, the 2013 hero. — AFP Mercedes-Benz Kuwait treats loyal customers to AMG Performance Tour KUWAIT: The region’s most loyal AMG cus- ed an impressive line-up of models: A 45 AMG AMG GT S and C 63 AMG at the event was an tomers have returned from Abu Dhabi after 4MATIC, CLA 45 AMG 4MATIC, C 63 AMG added bonus for our customers, considering being treated to an exhilarating on-track expe- Coupe, C 63 S, CLS 63 AMG 4MATIC, E 63 AMG the anticipation for the high performance, rience at the 2015 AMG Performance Tour. A.R 4MATIC, SL 63 AMG, S 63 AMG 4MATIC, S 63 high-luxury automobiles across the Middle Albisher & Z. Alkazemi Company — the AMG 4MATIC Coupe, ML 63 AMG, GL 63 AMG, East. Mercedes enthusiasts have much to Authorized General distributor of Mercedes- G 63 AMG and the new Mercedes-AMG GT S. enjoy and look forward to as the portfolio con- Benz in Kuwait — flew 35 of its highly valued Michael Ruehle, CEO, Abdul Rahman tinues to grow,” added Ruehle. clientele to the UAE for the exclusive chance to Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Company: “Speeding The AMG brand enjoys more than 45 years drive the full AMG portfolio of cars on the around one of the most highly rated F1 tracks of heritage in the world of motorsport and world class Formula 1 Grand Prix track. The and experiencing the power of an AMG at every was originally established by former group also included 5 customers from turn is something that many car fanatics dream Mercedes-Benz engineers Aufrecht and Boubyan Bank - Platinum-banking. With the of. Participating in the AMG Performance Tour Melcher who had an overwhelming passion most impressive line-up of Mercedes-AMG was the perfect opportunity for us to demon- for speed. vehicles to date, the 2015 AMG Performance strate our appreciation to some of our most loy- Today, the high-performance AMG vehicles Tour generated as much adrenalin for drivers al AMG customers in a memorable way. We represent the ultimate definition of speed and as the 15,300 horsepower unleashed around have no doubt that they had an incredible time power with a global presence in the interna- the Yas Marina Formula 1 Circuit in Abu Dhabi.