The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 18

port 18 OBSERVER SUNDAY 1 JANUARY 1989 Time remembered: When the sun shone all year round on sport in Manchester ff ft)(o fecroDDDSiDD BRIAN REDHEAD recalls the parade of glories and tragedies served up by a city where sport is king. For some reason I was watching that game on the box and when Lancashire won, most of the boys in the crowd ran on to the pitch and towards the sacred square. I said, until I noticed that the first boy to reach and touch Jack Bond was my eldest son. On my second son's seventh birthday, I took, at his request, six small boys to Old Trafford. They sat in privileged splendour in the front row of the stand and watched George Best work miracles.

The boy beside me sucked his thumb throughout the first half and never took his eyes off the ball. At half-time I asked him if he was enjoying his first First Division football match. He took his thumb out of his mouth and looked at me with eyes like saucers. he said solemnly, 'is the best day of my It was one of the best of mine, too. I JOINED the Manchester Guardian the day meat came off the ration.

Ms the sport good I asked. 'It's the they replied. And they were right. I had come from the North-east, where I had seen Charlton (R.) play his first game for Ashington Boys and had reported it for the Whitley Bay Seaside Chronicle. I had helped to prepare Jackie Milburn's first newspaper column and had pointed out that he seemed perfectly capable of writing it himself.

I had seen Len Shackleton run down St James Park with the ball balanced on his head. The ball later disappeared beneath a crush of players and the referee eventually found Shackleton sitting on it. But I had seen only minor county cricket, so on my first day off I went to Old Trafford, where I found myself sitting next to Al Read's double. 'He'll never score a he said of Lancashire's latest recruit. 'He'll never score a He scored 57.

ib ''3 i in rt rfl Ytt ri! ii. .) When the Rugby League season started, I went to The Willows with a Salford man who could not bear to see women at the matches. 'What are they doing he asked, spotting two. 'It's none of their The visiting team; I remember, scored a try after what looked suspiciously like a forward pass. The crowd roared its disapproval.

When the noise subsided, a solitary voice from the back of the stand boomed out. 'Explain yourself it said. Years later at The Willows I saw a man in a wheelchair, who had been courteously placed in front of the stand, catch a ball that bounced towards him. He jumped out of the spoke another word until the following Friday. There were bad times, the worst of all being the night of the Munich air disaster.

Men stood in silent groups along Cross Street reading Tom Henry's emergency edition of the Manchester Evening News in stricken disbelief. But there were great times, too. The greatest was the night United won the European Cup and Cross Street was alive with laughing, shouting people. And then there was the night that play went on until nine o'clock at Old Trafford and David Hughes scored 24 in one over. 'If I can see it, I'll hit he told Jack Bond.

And he did. chair, booted the ball neatly back to the scrum-half and sat back in his chair, pulling the rug round him. I saw Washbrook's last innings at Old Trafford and Clive Lloyd's first. And in the days when I was an editor and invited to everything, I had the choice of a United that boasted Best, Law and Charlton (R.) and a City that included Sum-merbee, Lee and Bell. Summerbee and Best were the best of friends.

Not so the fans. A Lord Mayor of Manchester once toasted the two great teams in the city, Manchester City and Manchester City Reserves, but he was joking. And the year that City were beaten in the Cup final, a neighbour of mine in Northenden drove all the way home from Wembley immediately after the match. His wife heard his key in the door and rushed to offer condolences. 'Oh she said, 'I am 'I want none of your bloody he said, and never Genius is wanted at Jockey Club RACING CHRIS REA Saracens 3 Wasps 24 force and enthusiasm often took precedence over the subtler skills.

Even so, Wasps possessed enough of those latter qualities to win so comfortably as to suggest that Saracens will have to do much recruiting between now and next season if they are to survive in the top flight. After being so rudely shaken in the opening seconds, Andrew was stirred to action midway through the first half with a deft pass to make room for Ellison's try, Andrew himself converting. Once breached, Saracens, for all their tireless covering and courage, could not match the power and superior technique of the Wasps forwards, nor the speed of their opponents' backs, among whom Simms appears to be fast regaining his appetite for the game. He it was who took advantage of an Oti surge to score Wasps' second try, which Andrew again converted. RICHARD BAERLEIN who will decide in February.

It is urgent, if racing's future is to be guaranteed, that the industry speak with but one voice; at the moment the bookmakers are the odd ones out and their reputation stands at an all-time low though I must admit here that many of them would have liked their committee to have agreed to the Levy Board terms. There is yet hope for the bookmakers. Bob Green, the man behind the organisation of Satellite Information Services, has been shot into the leading role in the industry, through his firm, Mecca, taking over the William Hill organisation. He is now chairman of both companies and therefore in a very strong position. Green is already on the bookmakers' committee in deadlock with the Levy Board.

However, in his new role he should quickly be given a seat on the Levy Board itself. With his dynamism he would be able to spread a little realism into proceedings there. The most pleasing aspect of the takeover will be the revival and survival of the William Hill organisation, so that they are strong enough to compete with Ladbrokes. Mecca are to keep the William Hill name and those of us who have regarded the William Hill firm as the leaders in the field are delighted with the new arrangement even if it does leave one short in the ante-post market, with Mecca and Hill as one firm. finish enlivens a dingy THERE WAS much anxiety about at Southgate yesterday.

Saracens, just one win away from a place in the First Division next season, are as certain as any side can be at this stage ot loining the upper crust. They were therefore anxious to get a foretaste of what thev must expect next season against neighbouring Wasps. Wasps, for their part, were anxious to maintain their posi tion as the premier club in North London without adding to their list of injuries. John fcUiot, the fcngland selector, was anxious to check on the fitness of national squad members Oti and Andrew; and the latter, having taken the first crushing tackle of the match from Lindley, was perhaps in the highest state of anxiety of all. In anticipation of the event and in the knowledge that the match was being televised, the occasion was enhanced by the biggest crowd at the ground for many years.

They were entertained to a game brimful of vim and vigour in which brute Glossy BRITISH rugby has been through a dark age in the 1980s. Nevertheless I am entirely optimistic about the future 01 the four home unions, for apart from a few local difficulties such as the current traumas of the Welsh the game is flourishing as never before. It is at last beginning to project and express itself as a major world sport. The game's burgeoning image is reflected in the rapid growth of commercial sponsors eager to use it as a medium to sell products and to entertain customers. Rugby World Cup Ltd are confidently predicting that they will raise some 20 million of sponsorship this year for the World Cup in 1991.

The Rugby Football Union at Twickenham, who have become the trend-setters in Britain, see their main thrust during the coming year being directed at the schools, youth BARCLAYS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE TOMMY HINDLEY swarm of Wasps. decade by building a strong financial structure and power base via the World Cup. from the Five Nations championship, the major international fixtures for the coming, year see England visiting Romania in May, the British Lions undertaking their first major tour of Australia in June, France and Argentina going to New Zealand in June and July respectively, where each will play two Tests, and New Zealand touring Ireland and Wales in October and November. South Africa hope to invite a world XV for a five-match tour in August to celebrate their centenary. In the run-up to the World Cup it is essential for the morale of British rugby that the Lions do well in Australia and that Wales and Ireland begin to peg back the huge deficit which currently exists between New Zealand and the rest of the world.

Clem Thomas SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION Celtic (2) 4 Hearts (1) 2 Stark 2, Hobertson McGhee 2 44.555 Dundee (1) 2 Aberdeen (0) 0 coyne s.sza Hamilton (0) 0 Rangers (0) 1 lo.aoo t-erguson Hibernian (1) 2 Motherwell (0) 0 Kane, May iu.uuu SI Mlrren (0) 0 Dundee Utd 7.768 oauacner APts Rangers 21 14 3 4 31 14 31 Dundee Utd 21 11 7 3 28 11 29 Aberdeen 21 8 11 2 26 19 27 Celtic 21 12 2 7 45 27 26 Hibernian 21 8 7 6 22 17 23 StMirren 21 8 5 8 24 29 21 Dundee 21 5 8 8 19 23 18 Hearts 21 4 8 9 22 27 16 Motherwell 21 2 7 12 18 31 11 Hamilton 21 3 2 16 13 48 8 DIVISION ONE Alrdrle (0) .....1 St Johnstone Cherry (og) 2,500 Clyde (0). 0 Rslth (1) 1 720 Dalziel Dunfermline Falkirk (0) 0 Jack 2 (1 pen) 12,000 Watson Forfar (1) 1 Ayr(1) 2 Ward Kennedy, 891 Cowell Kilmarnock 1 Clydebank (0) 0 McLaughlin 2,760 On Of South 2 Scott Reid (pen), 350 Cook Morton (0) 1 Partfck (0) ....0 Robertson 2,500 DIVISION TWO Alloa (0) .0 Queens Pk (0) 0 633 Arbroath (0) 0 Cowdenbeath 500 McKenzie Berwick (2) 4 Brechin (0) 4 Hughes 2. Candlish, Cass, Waddle, Porteous 537 Patterson 2 East File (1) 2 Stirling A (0) 0 Hunter, 086 Mitchell Stirling (0) 0 Dumbarton (0) 1 250 McOuade Montrose (1) 1 Albion (0) 0 Forbes 400 Stenhsemulr 3 Stranraer (0) 4 Erwin McMillan. Beaton Ewing, Frye 2 500 BEAZER HOMES Premier Dlv: Alvechurch 2 Bromsgrove Bed-worth 0 Worcester Crawley 0 Gos-port Dorchester 1 Darttord Dover 1 Leicester Utd Fareham 0 Burton 1: Merthyr 5 Waterlooville Moor Green 2 Ashford Reddilch 0 Corby VS Rugby 0 Cambridge 0: Wealdstone 1 Bath 2. GREAT Prem Dlv: Plymouth Arg 0 Liskeard Taunton 5 Radstock 1.

Dlv Devizes 1 Bath 0. lo IU A id 1 1 if '1 0 i Busy as bees: A In the forthcoming Five Nations tournament France, with their huge resources, will remain the most powerful European nation in spite of the efforts of their coach, Jacques Fouroux, to stifle their flair because of his obsession with physical power. England, who have earned some entitlement to optimism for the championship, must now guard against another false dawn and beware of Murphy's Law 'If anything can go wrong, it will'. The Welsh, although short of forwards, leadership and enlightened administration, must not be totally disregarded, while Ireland and Scotland, with their more diffident and relaxed approach to the championship, are always capable of springing a surprise result. In the broader context, the International Rugby Football Board are set to translate then-ambitions of managing the game worldwide into reality DIVISION FOUR Burnley (0) ....1 Grimsby (0) 0 7,367 Stockport (0) 1 Colville 3,774 Hereford (0) .0 1,755 York (0) .0 3,092 ognani Carlisle (1) Hart (og) Darlington (0) 0 Exeter (1) 2 Rowbotham (pen), Neville Orient (0) 0 4,025 Rotherham (0) 2 Russell, Buckley Scarborough Thompson, Graham Scunthorpe 0 4.154 Torquay (0) ....1 Edwards Wrexham (0) 1 Russell Halifax (0).

......0 5,258 Crewe (0) 1 Richards (og) 3.088 Tranmere Lister (og) Peterboro (0) 0 2,877 Goals SPORT at large Davies tempted RUGBY UNION: Jonathan Davies says Widnes have offered him 150,000 to turn professional as a Rugby League player. 'I don't want to he said at Llanelli, where he was playing against Rosslyn Park. 'I want to go on the Lions tour and I want to go on captaining Wales. If they drop me, it might be a different story. But I believe that if Wales pick the right side, we could win the Triple Leicester full-back Dusty Hare celebrated his MBE in the New Year honours list by scoring 16 points to take his world record tally past 7,000 during his side's 39-13 victory at Nuneaton.

Eric bows out DARTS: New Year honours weighed more heavily on Eric Bristow, the sport's first Member of the British Empire. The Crafty Cockney bowed out of the MFI British Open to Yorkshireman Ray Battye as the barbs about his selection for honours were still raining in. Bristow denied that press criticism had affected his form and blamed 'missed doubles and poor finishing' for his 3-2 defeat in the eighth round at Kensington. An even bigger shock came with the defeat of favourite and world number one Bob Anderson, beaten 2-1 by Martin Hurley, a 22-year-old cab driver from Gravesend who also knocked out 1984 champion Cliff Lazarenko before losing a one-sided final to new champion Brian Cairns, a 48-year-old unemployed lorry driver from Wales. Cathy McCulloch, a 36-year-old computer operator from Renfrew, became the first Scot to win the women's singles title in the MFI British Open championship when she beat Merseyside's Elsie Halligan 3-2.

Cash or Czech TENNIS: Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash steered Australia into the final of the inaugural Hopman Cup mixed team tournament with a stirring victory over West Germany's Patrick Kuhnen in Perth. Cash recorded his sev enth successive victory since returning from a four-month lay-on by winning an enthrall ing de-breaker 11-9 to clinch a 6-3, 7-6 win in the deciding singles tie of a dramatic semifinal. Hana Mandlikova had earlier crashed 6-0, 6-1 to Steffi Graf, but the Czech-born Aussie then partnered Cash to level the tie by beating Graf and Kuhnen in the dou bles. The 2-1 win sent the Australians through to today's hnal against Czechoslovakia, where Mandlikova faces her former compatriots Helena Sukova and Olympic champion Muoslav Mecir. CROSS COUNTRY: Steve Tunstall, the former French foreign legionnaire, out-sprinted his Lancashire rival Dave Lewis to win the General Portfolio Invitation race at Durham by eight seconds in a time of 23min 33 seconds.

Conner-ed? SAILING: American syndi cates interested in the Ameri ca's Cup have requested a meeting with the Mercury Bay Boating Club to discuss the planning of the next Cup races should the event oe held New Zealand. This is viewed as an expression of genuine concern that the legal wrangles in the New York courts fol lowing the twenty-seventh defence last September could see Dennis Conner's Stars Stripes disqualified from the races. Illusion, a Davidson 34-fboter skippered by Australian Gino Knezic, claimed handicap honours in the 630-nautical mile Sydney to Hobart classic. Great Brittan BOWLS: Crown green king Mark Brittan of Wigan sounded a warning to the country's top bowlers when he crushed world championship runner-up Wynne Richards 21-13 in the opening game of the Mackeson rylde Classic at Blackpool. Brittan came from 7-5 down to win nine of the next ten ends to secure a remarkable triumph.

Bob Holmes In the second half Wasps seemed content for the most part to protect their lead, Andrew's clever run and kick through for Rose's try midway through the half bringing to an abrupt end Saracens' revival. Even then the home defence proved uncommonly hard to breach, with Adamson at No. 8 remaining defiant to the end. Oti, however, did at last get the try for which the crowd had been waiting and for the fourth time in four attempts Andrew converted. The clearest indication of Wasps' domination was the fact that Kennedy, Saracens' leading points scorer, was given just three opportunities at goal and at the third attempt reached his 200 points for the season.

Scorers: Saracens: Penalty: Ken-nady. Wasps: Trlss: Ellison, Simms, Rose, Oti. Conversions: Andrew (4). Saracens: Robinson; A Kennedy, Buckton, Smith. 0 McLagan: Holmes, Steadman; Leonard, McFarland, Roberts, Malone, Oorrell.

Lindley. Adamson, Kempster. Wasps: Pilgrim: Bailey, Simms. Lozowski. Oti; Andrew, Bates; Holmes.

A Simmons, I Dun-ston, Pinnegar, Rose, Rigby, Ellison, Pegler. Referee: Griffiths (London). RUGBY UNION level. Wales are also in the process of appointing three youth development officers. In addition the RFU have already announced ambitious plans for the development of the north stand area of Twickenham.

Subject to planning permission they intend to start building a complex next May which will include a gymnasium, concert hall, restaurant and fast-food areas to help generate further income and improve spectator comfort. FOOTBALL RESULTS DIVISION THREE Brentford (1) 2 Wolves (1) 2 uootrey, Jones Mutcn, Bun 8.020 Bristol (1) 1 Swansea (1) 1 Kurnell Puckett 4,803 Bury(0) 0 Aldershot 1 3.196 Randall Chester (0). 2 Northampton Dale, Abel Culpin 2,733 Chestemd (2) 4 Fulham (0) 1 Brien, Walker Bloomer 2, 3,086 McDonald Mansfield (0) 1 Hudderstleld 0 Owen 4,638 Notts Co (2) 2 Bolton 0 Lund. Law 5.097 Preston (0) 2 Shell Utd (0) 0 Patterson, 11,005 Joyce Southend (0) ...1 Bristol (1) ...2 Bennett McGarvey, 4.012 Walsh Goals A Pts Wolves 21 13 5 3 49 25 44 Port Vale 20 12 4 4 44 20 40 Shelf Utd 20 12 2 6 46 25 38 Chester 21 10 6 5 35 32 36 Swansea 21 9 8 4 30 25 35 Bristol 21 9 7 5 38 28 34 Preston 21 9 7 5 36 29 34 Bury 21 10 4 7 34 28 34 Bristol City 21 9 6 6 27 24 33 Fulham 21 10 3 6 31 31 33 Reading 21 9 5 7 36 31 32 Brentford 21 8 6 7 28 26 30 Mansfield 21 7 9 5 25 26 30 Huddersfld 21 8 4 9 25 31 28 Bolton 21 7 5 9 31 29 26 Southend 22 6 6 10 27 40 24 Blackpool 21 5 8 8 26 25 23 Notts Cnty 20 5 8 7 23 25 23 Cardiff 18 5 7 6 23 28 22 Northmptn 21 6 1 14 30 37 19 Wigan 22 4 7 11 25 32 19 Gillingham 21 6 1 14 19 33 19 Aldershot 20 3 6 11 17 39 15 Chesterfld 20 3 3 14 14 50 12 GM VAUXHALL Aylesbury 1 Sutton (0) 0 Lilherman 1.036 Cheltenham 1 Welling (0) Jordan Burgess 1,372 Chor ley (1) 1 Altrlncham (0) 0 Brady 1.033 Enfield (1) 2 Fisher (1) 1 Furlong, Ambrose Wilkinson 619 Kettering (J) 2 Runcorn (0) 0 Moss, Cook 2,337 Maccleefld (0) 0 Boston Utd (1) 1 1.805 cook Maidstone (0) 1 Wycombe (2) 3 Rogers West 2 (1 pen) 1.127 Kerr Norttiwlch (0). 3 Newport (0) 1 Parker.

Nuttall Parker. 830 Peacock (og) Telford (0) 2 Stafford (2) 2 Nelson. Camden 2 Stringer 1,804 Yeovil (0) 1 Klddorm'ster Donelan Jones. Weir. 2,373 Tuohy and student level, which they believe is vitally important for the future.

They feel that the restructuring at senior level is now in place and only needs fine tuning but they have identified considerable organisational difficulties among the Under-21 sides and the students. The problem is that they often do not know with whom to deal. The RFU believe the Under-21 level is a vitally important stepping stone between school and senior rugby. This year they will play two Under-21 divisional matches in order to select a side to play a junior international against Romania in Bucharest on the same day, 13 May, that the countries' two senior sides face each other. The RFU are now looking closely at the work of their divisional technical administrators, who they feel are hopelessly overstretched, and are preparing to appoint youth development officers at county DIVISION TWO Brighton (0) 4 Birmingham cnivers.

8remner 3 Chelsea (0) 1 West Brom (1) 1 Roberts (pen) Anderson 25.906 Hull (1) 1 Ipswich (0) 1 wmtenurst Heatora r.suu Leeds (0) 2 Plymouth (0) 0 Baird, Snodin 24,043 Leicester (2) 4 Blackburn (0). 0 Turner, 10.820 Cross. Newell. McAllister Shrewsbury 2 Barnsley (1) 3 Bell (pen). Currle (pen), Irvine Lowndes, 4,401 Moyes (og) Stoke (1) 1 Oxford (0) 0 Henry 10.552 Sunderland 4 Portsmouth 0 Gates, Ord, 21.566 Armstrong, Swindon (0) 1 Man City (1) 2 White Gayle, White 10.776 Walsall (0) 0 Bradford (1) 1 5,366 Leonard Watford (0) 1 Bournemouth Holden 14.006 Goals THERE are two major problems to be faced in the coming year: the composition and power of the Jockey Club, and the attitude of bookmakers towards racing.

Just before Christmas Alan Neale, the Labour MP for Mansfield, ended a four-day vigil in the House of Commons, staged in the hope of guaranteeing a second reading to his Private Members' a Bill aimed at revolutionising the administration of racing. The Bill, if it became law, would mean the abolition of the Jockey Club and their replacement with a body representing the interests of all sections of the industry. As far back as 1952 I drew up a charter for the strengthening of the Jockey Club by bringing in business brains to help, but neither I nor anyone who has since suggested means of improving the administration of racing, including the Royal Commission on Gambling, ever went as far as Alan Neale. It is widely agreed that the Jockey Club must remain to control the disciplinary side of racing, which they do so well. Replacing them in that particular sphere would take years of study and might never be satisfactory.

Neale described the Jockey Club's announcement last week that they were to 'appoint a chief executive later this year as too little and too late. The idea is good but not revolutionary, as some other writers have suggested. The problem is to find the right man. I have spoken to two possible candidates and they both wonder whether the Jockey Club would give them the autonomy they demand for helping to run the industry. Happily the Jockey Club has a very able PRO, David Pipe, on hand to stand in until some genius agrees to take the job.

The bookmakers present another problem. They are at loggerheads with the Levy Board over the amount of levy they are prepared to pay. As they cannot agree the matter has gone to the final arbitrator, the Home Secretary Douglas Hurd, RUGBY RUGBY UNION INTERNATIONAL Ireland. 31 Italy. IS CLUB MATCHES 33 Glamorgan satn sa Nortnampton a Birmingham 3 Solihull 14 Blackhealh 20 Sldcup 9 Broughton Pk.

3 Waterloo 64 Cardiff 10 Maesteg 10 Cheltenham 10 16 Cross Keys 13 Aberavon 13 Fylde 7 Sale 15 Gloucester. 17 Bridgend 12 Wakefield. .16 Llanelli 44 Rosslyn Pk 25 Ldn Welsh 14 Newport 36 Nottingham 21 Leicester. 39 OUey. ....15 Roundhay 9 Pontypool 3 EbbwVale 10 Pontypridd 28 Sth Wales Pol.

9 Saracens. 3 24 Sheffield 35 Hull ER 3 53 Tredegar. 19 Vale Of Luna 36 Preston as wastoe 3 SCOTLAND INTER-DISTRICT CH'SHIP Anglo-Scots 32 Glasgow. 21 South .7 Edinburgh 29 CLUB MATCHES Glasgow Acs 12 Edinburgh 19 Stewarts Mel FP. 3 Gala 59 Watsonlans 12 Harlots FP.

53 TODAY'S SPORT FOOTBALL. Barclays Leaaue: Division pm) Manchester Utd Liverpool. New rear a Dash Wakefield 11) wiCB international Club Tournament (Crystal Palace 12) Finals: Teeslde Masters Women's Tournament (Teeslde IBC). road New Tear Day 10 Km (Hyde Park 10.30). ROAD City of London 10km (London Wall).

Mercantile Credit Clas sic (Norbeck Castle Hotel. Blackpool 2 and 7.15) Women's Interna tional Tournament (Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading). Poland England (2.30): Peru Poland (4.30). RUGBY LEAGUE STONES BITTER (3 pm unless stated) Castleford Bradford (3.30);Leeds Oldham: Wakelield Featherstone (3.30): Widnes St Helens; Wigan Warrington. Olv II: Batley Oewsbury (11.30); Carlisle Whitehaven (2.15): Fulham Rochdale (2.15): Hunslet York Keighley Bramley (3.15): Leigh Swinton (3.30): Runcorn Chorley; Workington Barrow (2.15).

CYCLING COLOGNE SIX-DAY RACE. Standings after fourth night: 1 A Kappea (WG)R Hermann (Liechtenstein) 143 points: 2. TourneE de Wilde (Bel) 125; 3. Clark (Aust)T Doyle (QB) 111. TREBLE CHANCE Telephone claims required for 22 points dividend forecast is very good.

Thar are eta aeon draws and tour Everyone who knows Bob Green believes he will be a great asset at the top of the industry and we can look forward to improved co-operation from the bookmakers in due course. Never forget the words of the Royal Commission: 'If the bookmakers prefer to see racing decline and take the consequences, that is their business. Apart from tipping the winner of the once-famous Schweppes (now known as the Tote Gold Trophy) once again our selection last year was withdrawn on the morning of the race my first wish for 1989 is that Fulke Walwyn will win the Gold Cup for the fifth time, with Ten Plus. Seventy-eight-year-old Fulke, one of the few to have ridden and trained a Grand National Winner, has not won a Gold Cup since The Dikler in 1973. Ten Plus won yesterday's Mandarin Chase at Newbury.

I would like to see Dick Hern back in action again after setbacks from a serious hunting accident, and winning a Classic with one of his three potentially smart colts, Al Hareb, Nashwan and Prince of Dance. I especially like Al Har-eb's chance in the Two Thousand Guineas I have backed him at 20-1. When he won the William-; Hill Futurity he held more scope than most of the top two-year-olds of 1988. My other Two Thousand Guineas choice is Vincent O'Brien's Saratogan, whom the Irish maestro holds in very high esteem though he has yet to win a race. Long-range forecasts for the Derby include Prince of Dance, rated co-best two-year-old by Timeform, and High Estate, owned by the 94-year-old Jim Joel and unbeaten after five races.

Watch out for Tessla in her Oaks preparation. Before leaving for a month in Antigua at the end of the week I hope to receive some holiday expenses after Homme d' Affaire has run at Lingfield on Thursday. A Happy New Year to all readers. 2.0 (2m 100 yds) AFARISTOUN (T Morgan) 2-1 fav, Grey Salute 5-2. Sheer Nectar 9-2, 5 ran (J Edwards) short hd.

20, Tote: 2.80. 1.20. 1.70. DF: 3.30. CSF: 7.03 2.30 (2m 41 eap Ch) BATTLE KING (PScudamore) 7-2, Mr Christian 13- 8 fav.

Landing Board 9-4. 4 ran Brooks) 2i. 7 Tote: 3.90. OF: 3.50. CSF: 8.76.

3.0 (2m 4f 120 yds hdle) MOW LEY STREET (J Frost) 11-10 lav, 1: Cash Is King 5-2. Laplaffe 33-1. 7ran 15. 6. (G Balding) Tote: 2.20, 1.20.

2.10. DF: 2.90, CSF: 4.37. Nr. High Aloft. Tote Jackpot: 2, 135.40, Placepot: 368.90.

CATTERICK 12.45 (2m H'cap Ch) TRAFALGAR BLUE (C Dennis) 7-1 Vulrory'a Clown 4-1 Royal Cracker 4-1, 3: 8 ran (C Beever) 5, Kevinsfort 100-30 fav. Tote: 7.10. 2. 1.40, 1.40. DF: 22.10.

CSF: 29.84. Tricast: 91.40. 1.15 (2m hdle) NAP MAJESTICA (S Turner) 85-40 fav, Oriental Express 9-1. Fountalncourt 6-5 fav. 3: 8 ran (K Morgan) j.

1J. Tote: 3.60. 1.40. 2. 1.10.

DF: 8.90, CSF: 19.34. Nr: Aba-comefti. 1.45 (3m 11 80yds Ch) BORDER RAMBLER (N Doughty) 7-1, Joe's Fancy 7-1. Glen Lochan 5-1, 3: 5ran (G Richards) 3, 3, Target Man 6-5 lav. Tote: 6.20.

2, 2.70. DF: 9.80. CSF: 42.11. 2.15 (2m Hdle) MERRYACRES (S Turner) 12-1, Pacific Sound 14-1. Cala Cone 14-1, 15 ran (R Whitaker) i.

3. Chotomski 8-11fav Tote: 10.50. 2.50. 5.40. 2.60.

DF: 62.80. CSF: 164.66 2.45 (2m ch) TARTAN TAILOR (G McCourt) 3-1, 1: Junior CrUzon 6-4 fav. Plat D'Or 13-2. 6ran (G Richards) 25, 20. Tote: 3.40.

2.10. 1.50. DF: 4.20, CSF: 7.51. 3.15 (3m 1f 80yd H'cap hdle) APPLE WINE (M Dwyer) 6-1, Hlghfrtth 5-1. The Pike 11-2, 11 ran (O Chapman) 10.

8. Cool Reception 7-2 fav. Tote: 7.90. 2.70, 1.80, 1.60. DF: 12.30.

CSF: 33.63. Tricast: 157.52. LEICESTER 1.0 (2m hdle) WESTERN LEGENO (Mr Fenton)33-1, Big Diamond 15-2 Deplete 4-1. 3: 17 ran (J Edwards) 4. 2J.

Certain Style 5-2 fav. Tote: 59 10. 6.90. 1.90. 1.80.

DF: 538.10. CSF: 246.19. 1.30 (2m hdle) CAYMAN QUEEN De Haan) 4-1, Travel Music 50-1. 2 Mill De Lease 9-1, 3: 10 ran (M Tompkins) 6. neck.

Merire evens fav. Tote: 5.90. 1.80. 14.80. 1.70.

DF: 246.10 CSF: 125.31 2.0 (2m Ch) THE A TRAIN (M Pitman) 9-2, Another Bolus 5-2 jnt fav Roscoe Harvey 5-2 jnt lav. 3: 6 ran (Mrs Pitman) neck, 10. Tote: 4.10. 1.50. 1.70.

DF: 5.30, CSF: 14.78. 2.30 (2m 4f H'cap Ch) MATRIC (M Brennan) 5-2, Permaboe 2-1 fav. 2. How Now 1 1-4 5 ran (J Blundell 5. 25.

Tote: 3.70. 1.90. 1.40. OF. 4 30CSF: 7 55.

3.0 (3m Ch) PIKEMAN (B Oowling) 14- 1, Vlvaque 4-1. 2: Backpecker 7-2 jnt fav. 3: 12ran (R Lee) 8. 3. Tote: 16 90.

4.10. 1.70. 2. DF: 42.40. CSF: 61.08.

Nr: Leaguane. Rectory Mystery 3.30 (2m 41 eap hdle) NORTHERN RULER (M 8rennan) 25-1. James My Boy 7-1. 2: Wide Boy 11-2, 3: llran (R Thomson) 8, 6, All Jeff 9-4 fav. Tote 15.80.

2.90. 2. 1.60. OF: 43.20. CSF: 172.37.

Tricast 1,000.40. Nr Mr Wrby.Plaeepot 270.70. RACING Aston (0) 0 Arsenal (2) 3 32,486 Smith, Rocastle, Groves Chsrtton (0) 0 West Ham (0) 0 11.084 Oerby(0) 0 Mlllwall (0) 1 16,154 Sheringham Everton(2) 3 Coventry (1) 1 Sheedy 2. Bannister Bracewell 30,790 Norwich (0) 0 Mlddlesbro 16,021 Shelf Wed (0) 0 NottmFst(J) 3 20,407 Gaynor. Webb, Hodge Southampton (0).

1 QPR (0) 4 Le Tissler Allen, Barker, 15.086 Falco 2 Tottenham (2) 2 Newcastle 0 Walsh. Waddle 27,739 Wimbledon (2) 4 Luton (0) ...0 Jones, Gibson, 4,899 Scales, Fashanu Ten Plus is tip-top FULKE WALWYN, who is now 78 and whose fourth and last Gold Cup winner was The Dikler in 1973, looks set for another victory in the race after Ten Plus won the Bradstone Mandarin Chase at Newbury, writes Richard Baerlein. It is an outstanding achievement to have brought Ten Plus back into Gold Cup contention. Walwyn, whose fifth Mandarin win this was, had always regarded Ten Plus as Gold Cup material. But after a season as champion novice hurdler, everything went wrong in the first two seasons when he was put to chasing.

Patience has at last been rewarded. 'Now we have got that right there should be no hither difficulties', he said. The horse is now 10-1 for the Gold Cup. Tom Morgan was put in a difficult position when riding Afaristoun in the L'Oreal Handicap hurdle. He was just back from a two-day suspension for excessive use of the whip when winning on the same horse by a short head at Ludlow.

But if he had not got down to work in the same style on the same horse here he would not have won. The stewards took no action this time. Devil's Elbow, owned by Prince Charles and the subject of a dope enquiry after failing a test at Worcester, threw jockey Brendan Powell in the opener at Leicester. Powell sustained a bruised elbow. NEWBURY 12.30 (2m 160yds) THE DRAGON MASTER (G Mernagh) 5-2.

Blueberry King 9-4 Fred The Tread 5-4 fav 3ran (R Waley-Cohen) 6. 3, Tote: 3.40. DF: C3.20. CSF: 6.56. 1.0 (3mt20 yds hdle) YOUNG BAVARO (G Bradley) 6-1, 1, Kruggeran Smuggler 9-4 fav.

2: Rostreamer 10-1. 7 ran (D Murray Smith) Tote: 9.20, 3.60. 1.70. OF: 13.90. CSF: 25.56.

1.30 (3m 2f 82yds) TEN PLUS (K Mooney) 11-10 lav, Against The Grain 5-1, 2: IHaventallght 33-1, 4 Walwyn) 1. 15, Tote: 2, Of: Q.tO, CSF: C6.69. Chelsea 23 11 8 W.B.A. 23 11 8 Watford 23 12 5 Man City 23 11 7 Blackburn 23 12 3 Barnsley 23 10 6 Portsmth 23 9 8 Sunderlnd 23 8 10 Bournemth 23 10 4 Stoke 23 9 7 Leeds Utd 23 8 9 Crystal Pal 22 8 8 Leicester 23 8 8 Ipswich 23 9 4 Swindon 22 7 9 Plymouth 23 8 5 Bradford 23 6 10 Oxford 23 7 6 Hull 23 6 8 Brighton 23 7 3 Oldham 23 5 8 Shrewsbry 23 4 10 Blrminghm 23 3 6 Walsall 23 2 8 Wrexham 21 10 8 Rotherham 21 10 7 Scarboro 21 10 7 Crewe 21 10 7 Torquay 21 10 4 Exeter 21 10 3 Tranmere 21 8 8 Scunthorpe 21 8 8 Lincoln 21 9 4 Burnley 21 8 6 Cambridge 21 8 5 Doncaster 21 8 5 Leyton 21 7 7 Hartlepool 21 8 4 Stockport 21 6 9 Rochdale 21 7 6 Peterboro 21 7 6 Halifax 21 8 2 Grimsby 21 6 6 Hereford 21 6 6 York 21 6 5 Carlisle 21 5 7 Darlington 21 2 9 Colchester 21 3 5 CONFERENCE Kddrmnstr 25 14 5 Macclesfld 24 13 4 Kettering 21 13 4 Barnet 24 13 4 Runcorn 23 11 6 Maidstone 22 11 5 Wycombe 23 9 7 Welling Utd 22 9 7 Boston 22 10 4 Fisher Ath 23 9 6 Cheltnham 23 8 6 Chorley 25 9 3 Sutton Utd 21 7 8 Telford 22 8 5 Yeovil 24 .7 7 Northwich 21 7 6 Altrncham 20 7 6 Enfield 23 6 5 Stafford 22 7 2 Weymouth 21 5 6 Newport 24 4 6 Aylesbury 23 4 4 Goals APta 18 11 4 3 40 20 37 19 10 7 2 28 19 37 18 8 6 4 29 21 30 18 8 6 4 25 17 30 Arsenal Norwich Millwall Everton Liverpool 18 7 7 4 22 13 28 Coventry 19 7 6 6 22 20 27 Derby Cnty 18 7 5 6 20 14 26 Southmptn 19 6 8 5 32 31 26 Tottenham 19 6 7 6 30 28 25 Nottm For 19 5 10 4 23 23 25 Man Utd 18 5 9 4 22 16 24 OPR. 19 6 5 8 22 19 23 Aston Villa 19 5 8 6 28 30 23 Wimbledon 18 6 4 8 21 26 22 Mlddlesbro 19 6 4 9 23 31 22 Shelf Wed 18 5 6 7 15 21 21 Lulon 19 4 8 7 17 22 20 Charlton 19 3 8 8 19 31 17 Newcastle 19 4 5 10 16 34 17 West Ham 19 3 5 11 15 33 14 VAUXHALL OPEL PREMIER DIVISION Barking.

2 Tooting 1 Stortford 4 Windsor. 1 Croydon 0 Hayes 2 Dulwfch 2 Famborougn 4 Grays 0 Carshalton .2 Kingstonian Marlow 1 St Albans. 2 Olvlston Basildon utd 2 Worthing Boreham Wood 1 Hitchin Town Chesham Utd 3 Basingstoke Tn Met Police 2 Bracknell Tn Southwick 0 Staines Tn 1: Uxbridge 0 Leatherhead Walton Hersham 0 Kingsbury Tn Wembley 0 Hampton Woking 2 Chal-font St Peter Division II (N): Aveley 0 Harlow Tn Hemel Hempstead 2 Witham Tn Heybridge Swifts 2 Hertford Tn 0: Hornchurch 0 Berkhamsted Tn Letchworth GC 2 Tring Tn Purfleet 2 Royston Tn Rainham Tn 1 Stevenage Saffron Walden Tn 3 Barton Rovers Vauxhall 2 Clapton Ware 2 Billericay Tn Wolverton Tn 0 Tilbury 2. A Pts 3 39 27 38 4 35 17 37 4 35 24 37 4 29 21 37 7 27 24 34 8 33 30 33 5 24 20 32 5 33 30 32 8 31 29 31 7 25 21 30 8 32 33 29 8 26 35 29 7 35 24 28 9 21 29 28 6 26 21 27 8 29 32 27 8 23 28 27 11 41 37 26 9 29 34 24 9 29 35 24 10 28 36 23 9 24 30 22 10 24 40 15 13 23 44 14 Goals A Pts 6 46 32 47 7 43 30 43 4 33 23 43 7 46 40 43 6 47 29 39 6 52 33 38 7 41 34 34 6 28 24 34 8 35 38 34 8 42 36 33 9 36 38 30 13 32 42 30 6 34 27 20 9 23 22 29 10 40 47 28 8 37 35 27 7 26 28 27 12 32 40 23 13 32 41 23 10 25 40 21 14 25 49 18 15 26 53 16 3 HHe.1 rwtnlpt A Pts 4 44 24 41 4 39 21 41 6 35 22 41 5 33 23 40 8 36 32 39 7 32 29 36 6 34 29 35 5 34 26 34 9 26 25 34 7 26 33 34 6 28 22 33 6 33 30 32 7 30 31 32 10 30 30 31 6 30 30 30 10 30 36 29 7 24 28 28 10 36 34 27 9 27 35 26 13 32 39 24 10 36 40 23 9 20 31 22 14 16 46 15 13 19 34 14 HFS LOANS Premier Olv: Caernarfon 1 Hyde Fleetwood 0 Witton Gainsborough 1 Buxton Gateshead 2 Worksop 1: Goole 2 S.Liverpool Hor-wich 0 Bangor 3: Matlock 2 Frickley Mossley 1 Barrow 1: Rhyl 1 Southport 0. NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST Prem Olv: Bridlington Trinity 2 Oenaby Utd Emley 6 Brigg Grimethorpe MW 2 Ferriby Guise-ley 1 Belper 1: Hallam 2 Harrogate Railway 4: Hatfield Main 2 Armthorpe Welfare 1: Long Eaton Utd 2 Thackley 0: Ossett Alb 0 Bridlington 1.

OVENDEN PAPERS COMBINATION. Luton 1 Tottenham 1. Vinnal BajB) taalBDBannnMVej lannVaavVW.