It was revenge for the winner, not just for his half-length defeat by Rooster Booster in the same race two years ago, but for the four others in their previous five meetings. The race represented Rooster Booster’s last chance to claim a victory before the Festival, but after the 100-1 outsider of six, Cool Roxy, grabbed such a flier from the gate that he was a flight in front of his rivals before half-way, Richard Johnson had to commit far earlier than desirable on the 2003 title holder and was mugged on the run-in by Self Defense. “If we hadn’t got to the one in front, there was always the risk of being called every name under the sun. But you’ve got to be a good horse to keep up the gallop he did round this course and he wasn’t anything like up to that standard.”The pack, headed by Rooster Booster, swallowed up Cool Roxy in the home straight before the second-last, and up the testing climb to the finish Self Defense drew three lengths clear, with Chivalry, who briefly looked a danger, fading to third. “My race was geared round tracking Rooster Booster, wherever he was, wherever he went,” said the jockey. It’s all very disappointing, but he’s run another solid race.”
That Johnson had to play his cards so soon was perfect for Robert Thornton on Self Defense. “With that other horse so far in front, Richard felt he had to chase from where he did,” he said.

“Then Rooster Booster did what he’s done so many times before, just flattened out when he hit the front. In an ideal world, Rooster Booster is produced to lead close home, and the post-race frustration of his trainer, Philip Hobbs, was apparent – not with the gallant old gelding, who comported himself with his usual honesty, but with the circumstances. The Irish grip on the Champion Hurdle, already fairly secure, tightened to short and curly proportions here yesterday after one of the last recognised trials for the Cheltenham crown, the Agfa Hurdle, panned out as something of a farce. I can’t quite remember who coined it – it might even have been me – but it wasn’t all that clever because it was just a play on an advertising slogan prominent in the early Sixties. I say, `Good luck to London’.”Nawal, the first woman to head an Evaluation Commission, is best remembered as the young girl who, in 1984, became the first North African woman, and first female Muslim, to win an Olympic gold medal – in the 400m hurdles in Los Angeles. Although she is now forbidden to comment as chair of the Evaluation Commission, Nawal El Moutawakel, a 43-year-old mother of two from Casablanca, has previously made it clear that she does not believe the IOC will be influenced by events in Iraq.
Two years ago, she told me: “I have heard there could be this Islamic vote against London because of the Iraq war, but I will be surprised of such a feeling does exist among IOC members.

Some would even say the world’s.
He had entered into the spirit of the night, hurling his goalkeeper’s jersey into the grasping hands of the Chelsea travelling supporters. Since Edwin van der Sar doesn’t do exultation, he merely appeared slightly bemused, or even dazed With reason. Arsenal are reported to have offered pounds 55,000 a week, still less than many Chelsea players.Punishment could theoretically include deduction of points, which Arsenal and Manchester United must conclude is their only hope of catching the champions-elect at the top of the Premiership. As Reid and Thimothee Atouba made merry down the left, giving Linvoy Primus a lively time, Spurs forced a string of corners, Dejan Stefanovic almost put through his own goal, Mido headed wide and then attempted an outrageous bicycle kick. Despite carrying a groin strain suffered in training on Friday, Mido (full name Abdel Hamed Ahmed Hossam) started and though he did not last the course he abruptly terminated Tottenham’s recent bleak run of three League losses with a brace of plundered goals, wrought havoc with Pompey’s central defence and lifted his team-mates to their most impressive performance for weeks.
Mido’s alleged playboy reputation was shrugged aside by the Tottenham manager, Martin Jol: “He is a sweet guy, a terrific lad, a good character.” He is also, clearly, a quality scorer of goals. But they will be aware it will need performances of a higher quality than this to sustain the challenge for a Champions’ League place..

At pounds 6.3m, the 28-year-old Spaniard is hardly a bargain, but there was evidence here that Liverpool’s long court-ship of the Real Madrid striker was worthwhile “He will be better each week,” Benitez enthused. The meeting was particularly alarmed by powerful evidence, first reported in The Independent on Sunday last July, that the oceans are slowly turning acid, threatening all marine life (see panel).Professor Chris Rapley, director of the British Antarctic Survey, presented new evidence that the West Antarctic ice sheet is beginning to melt, threatening eventually to raise sea levels by 15ft: 90 per cent of the world’s people live near current sea levels. Recalling that the IPCC’s last report had called Antarctica “a slumbering giant”, he said: “I would say that this is now an awakened giant.”Professor Mike Schlesinger, of the University of Illinois, reported that the shutdown of the Gulf Stream, once seen as a “low probability event”, was now 45 per cent likely this century, and 70 per cent probable by 2200. He is writing a book on the implications of Republican Party policies. With a new reality television show a week planned for 2005 featuring subjects as diverse as masked celebrity wrestling to rearing a plastic baby, soon almost everyone in the UK will have had the opportunity to appear on camera having a colonic irrigation, doing the washing-up or failing at a new skill like bricklaying or golf.