SPORTS SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014 Pineau de Re wins National LIVERPOOL: Pineau de Re, trained by Doctor jockey and who has a packaging business. L’Escargot in 1975, came down at the next. Richard Newland, sprang a 25/1 shock in the “John is my oldest racing friend, he taught me world’s greatest steeplechase the Grand a lot about the sport especially when we rode as REMARKABLE RECOVERY National at Aintree racecourse yesterday. amateur jockeys,” said Newland. “This is unthink- Pineau de Re, named after a wine and bought Given a brilliant ride by 37-year-old Leighton able, my heart rate was not healthy throughout out of Ireland last year after he won the Ulster Aspell, who gave up riding over jumps in 2007 the race!” he added. National, was prominent for much of the race before returning to the code, he came home The 10/1 joint favourite Double Seven under although Aspell, second on Supreme Glory in clear of the gallant 14/1 shot Balthazar King. Tony McCoy came in third while the other joint 2003, had to make a remarkable recovery at the 13th fence as his horse’s nose went down with his nose touching the ground. Rocky Creek was handed the lead along with Mr Moonshine-rid- den by Mania teaming up again with last year’s winning trainer Sue Smith-after long-time leader Across The Bay suffered the grave misfortune to be carried over to the rails on the far side of the course by a loose horse when well clear going out onto the second circuit. Jockey Henry Brooke carried on but his chances were shot and he eventually finished 14th of the 18 runners. Rocky Creek’s resistance SPAIN: Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale of Wales (center) duels for the ball with Real faded as they came to the turn into the straight Sociedad’s Markel Bergara (left) and Carlos Martinez, during their Spanish League and the final two fences, leaving Pineau de Re, soccer match. — AP Double Seven, Balthazar King and Alvarado bat- tling for the honors. Bale strike keeps Real on Aspell forced Pineau de Re to a significant lead at the last while Johnson got another signif- icant effort out of Balthazar King who had Atletico and Barca’s tails looked to be flagging. However, Pineau de Re pinged the last and although Balthazar King ral- MADRID: Gareth Bale deputised ably for the Chilean international could get himself back into lied Aspell had five lengths to spare at the finish- injured Cristiano Ronaldo with a wonder strike position. Pepe added a third as he turned home ing line. “I am immensely proud of Balthazar from 35 yards as Real Madrid kept up the pres- Ramos’ knockdown before substitute Alvaro King, he is a superstar, he tries so hard,” said sure on Atletico Madrid and Barcelona with a 4-0 Morata broke clear to make it 4-0. Barcelona trainer Philip Hobbs. His rider Richard Johnson win away to Real Sociedad yesterday. were made to struggle at home to bottom- was finishing second for the second time and is Atletico stay top, three points clear of third- placed Betis as they needed two penalties and a yet to win in 18 rides. placed Real, as they squeezed out a tense 1-0 Jordi Figueras own goal to see off Los Double Seven was third, 1 1/4 lengths in win over Villarreal, whilst Barca remain in second Verdiblancos. arrears while there was 10 lengths back to after overcoming Real Betis 3-1 thanks to two Messi put his side in front from the spot after Alvarado who ran on brilliantly on the second goals from Lionel Messi. just 15 minutes and the hosts looked to have the circuit giving jockey Paul Moloney his fourth Real were leading 1-0 thanks to Asier game sewn up when Figueras turned the ball into successive top four finish. Illarramendi’s opener when Bale pounced on an his own net from fully 20 yards. Ruben Castro The highly-fancied Monbeg Dude, co-owned error from Sociedad keeper Claudio Bravo to brought Betis back into the game moments later, LIVERPOOL: Pineau de Re ridden by Leighton Aspell crosses the finishing line to win the Grand by England’s 2003 World Cup winning centre register his 18th goal of the season with a sweet but Messi killed the game off four minutes from National horse race at Aintree Racecourse. — AFP Mike Tindall, came with a run but then faded left-footed striker 25 minutes from time before time by slotting home the rebound after Antonio and finished seventh while Katie Walsh had an Pepe and Alvaro Morata rounded off the scoring. Adan had saved his second penalty of the day. “I’ve been watching the National since I was a favourite Teaforthree fell at the 15th fence, The eventful ride on Irish outsider Vesper Bell. Without World Player of the Year Ronaldo And Barca boss Gerardo Martino admitted his young boy,” said Aspell, whose predecessor as Chair, on the first circuit. Having picked up the mount in the morning due to a knee problem, Madrid took their time side had suffered a bit of a hangover from their winning jockey Ryan Mania also won the Other favoured horses also failed to make it she came in 13th despite Vesper Bell making to get going in San Sebastian and could have Champions League clash with Atletico in mid- National on his return from self-imposed retire- past the first circuit. The 13-year-old Tidal Bay’s two appalling mistakes. Despite only 18 finishers been behind when Antoine Griezmann’s header week. “When you play for something that is so ment. hopes of becoming the oldest winner since all the 40-runner field returned safe and sound. flashed just over the bar midway through the important twice in such a short period of time as “You secretly crave a bit of success. To get a Sergeant Murphy in 1923 ended when he The start had been disrupted when the noto- first-half. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s men went in the two games against Atletico what comes in ride in the National is a great thing and to get unseated his rider after colliding with Golan Way riously petulant Battle Group refused to start front the first time they really threatened the the middle isn’t as decisive,” he said. “I was also a one with a live chance is even better.” at the Canal Turn. and was given a second chance which prompted Sociedad goal as Bale fed Karim Benzema and bit short with the rotation of the players. Newland, who gave up his surgery last year, His stablemate Long Run, bidding to become a false start-even at the third time of asking he when Bravo could only parry the Frenchman’s Watching the game I could have given more rest was in dreamland as he delivered victory to his only the third horse to achieve the Cheltenham dug his heels in and watched the other 39 run- effort, Illarramendi was on hand to slot home to some of the players that played against old friend owner John Provan, a former amateur Gold Cup and National double and the first since ners disappear into the distance. — AFP against his former club. Sergio Ramos and Atletico.” Atletico were also far from their best as Benzema then struck the bar as Real started the an early goal from Raul Garcia was enough to second-half with greater intent. claim all three points at home to Villarreal. “We Bale killed the game off as a contest when he were holding on more because it was only 1-0 Chiefs snatch draw collected Bravo’s errant clearance and thumped than because Villarreal had a lot of chances,” the ball into the bottom corner before the admitted Atletico boss Diego Simeone.—AFP BLOEMFONTEIN: A post-siren try by right-wing Tim Nanai-Williams enabled Waikato Chiefs to snatch a 43- 43 draw at Central Cheetahs yesterday in a Super 15 thriller. Fly-half Aaron Cruden converted from in front of the posts to end a 10-try feast for a 15,000 crowd at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. It was the second high- scoring stalemate on a tour of South Africa for the defending champions with the New Zealanders draw- ing 34-34 at Northern Bulls last weekend. Chiefs stay third on the overall southern hemisphere championship standings with 20 points, one behind the Australian ACT Brumbies and three adrift of the South African Coastal Sharks. Cheetahs, at home after a disastrous four-defeat visit to Australasia, collected three points and moved off the bottom with compatriots Western Stormers dropping to last place. Cheetahs stunned the visitors by building a 34-10 half-time lead on the back of a superb performance IRELAND: Munster’s Ian Keatley (center) is challenged by Toulouse’s Guthro Steenkamp (left) from scrum-half Sarel Pretorius. His sniping runs and and Lionel Beauxis during the Heineken Cup quarterfinal match at Thomond Park. — AP alertness brought two tries and centre Rayno Benjamin and flank Boom Prinsloo also crossed the try-line. Fly-half Johan Goosen converted the four tries and Munster rout Toulouse kicked two penalties while all Chiefs could manage was a try from scrum-half Augustine Pulu that Cruden con- PARIS: Munster outplayed four-time champions grounding after a well-worked driving maul, verted and earlier kicking a penalty. Toulouse 47-23 to move into the European Cup Keatley kicking the extras.