- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Ballyoptic backed by Johnson
- Updated: December 19, 2016
Richard Johnson says “there wouldn’t have been much in it” had Ballyoptic not fallen at the last flight of the JLT Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
Having helped cut out a serious pace in front, Ballyoptic looked to be tiring in the fog approaching the final flight but was still just about in front coming to the final flight, when stumbling on landing and coming down, effectively handing the race to Unowhatimeanharry.
The winner now heads the betting for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham at 5/2 with Sky Bet, but Johnson, who was partnering Ballyoptic for the first time, said he believed the ante-post betting may not be paying sufficient respect to his mount, who can be supported at 12/1 with the same firm.
“He just lost his back legs,” said Johnson in his Betway blog. “It’s a little hard to understand exactly why, but these things happen and all I can say is that he ran a …
