Perpignan believe O’Driscoll will help in hunt for greatness
O’Driscoll, 24, signed for the Catalan club when it became clear Donncha O’Callaghan and Paul O’Connell were the first choice lock partnership with Munster. He is one of a host of big-name signings for Perpignan,
including Australian centre Daniel Herbert, Kiwi forwards Scott
Robertson and Perry Freshwater, and England winger Dan Luger.
O’Driscoll impressed Perpignan during their two Heineken Cup pool games with Munster this season.
“He is an excellent player. He played very well in the two pool games against us,” said Perpignan president Marcel Dagrenat.
“We also had him watched in the game against Gloucester in Limerick and he was fantastic that day.”
Perpignan’s Canadian number eight Phil Murphy, who has played for Irish schools, says O’Driscoll can do very well in the South of France.
“He is a good player,” said Murphy, “the game down here is not as physical now as it was when I came here first. Back then, there was eye gouging and guys grabbing you where guys shouldn’t grab you but that’s changed, teams are trying to play more rugby and that should suit a player like O’Driscoll.”
Murphy’s contract is up at the end of the season and he is under pressure given the arrival of Robertson.
“I don’t know what’s happening. Robertson can play number eight or number six so maybe we can both be accommodated but I don’t know.
“I’d like to stay in France but I’m a professional player and I’ll go where I have to.”
O’Driscoll has some serious competition to contend with in the incumbent second row pairing of Rimas
Alvarez-Kairelis and Jerome Thion. They were superb in the win against Leinster in the Heineken Cup semi-
final and Perpignan have also confirmed the signing of the 30-year-old
Narbonne lock Colin Gaston.
However, Dagrenat believs the Irishman is up to the challenge.
“We think he will be a compliment to our players. He is a good jumper, he is young and he has that special Irish spirit. Munster looked tired in the second-half against Toulouse. Maybe if they had brought O’Driscoll on we would be playing Munster in the final, who knows?”
Bookies refuse to bend as Alamshar does just enough
SAGITTA 2,000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend hardened as Epsom Derby favourite in the wake of Alamshar’s narrow win in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown yesterday.
Alamshar, the subject of scare-stories this week following a problem with a burst abscess, came from well off the pace and quickened well to head The Great Gatsby with a furlong and a half to race.
But, instead of stretching clear as his many fans expected, the John Oxx-trained son of Key Of Luck became involved in a protracted battle with Aidan O'Brien’s second-string The Great Gatsby, getting home by a head, with Brian Boru a never dangerous third and Napper Tandy fourth.
There was no doubting John Oxx's relief at the outcome, following the problems encountered during the week.
Oxx explained: “Alamshar was never lame but wasn't fluent in his work and Johnny wasn't happy with him. He was down and quiet in himself. Something was clearly bothering him. He didn't miss any work but, on Thursday, he wasn't going to run.”
“He started improving on Friday and I was happy to give him the go-ahead this morning.
“I came here half expecting him to get beaten, hoping that he might scramble home. And, realistically, that's what he did.
“He was lazy the last day but seemed keen early in today's race before he settled. He picked up well and Johnny said he idled when he hit the front. But he won, that's what matters.”
This trial has been won by the last three winners of the Vodafone Derby. And, when quizzed by one British hack whether he would compare Alamshar and 2000 Epsom victor Sinndar, Oxx replied abruptly, “No”, before pointing out that, like Alamshar, Sinndar beat Bach narrowly in the 'Derrinstown' en route to Epsom.
Oxx added, “On this evidence, he has to improve and to stand up to the preparation for Epsom. And he must stay the trip.”
Considering the latter topic, Oxx offered the belief that it's “highly likely” that Alamshar will stay the Derby trip.
Ground conditions at Epsom will be crucial to Alamshar's challenge as yesterday's “good to yielding” surface, softening due to heavy showers, was far from ideal.
Alamshar would require fast ground, unlike Dermot Weld's 2,000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend, which needs an ease, a point emphasised by Weld when reflecting on yesterday's events.
“The ground out there is quite dead and probably didn't really suit John's colt. But he won well. It was a workmanlike performance.”
Refuse To Bend is now 5/2 favourite (from 7/2) for the Epsom Derby with Ladbrokes and Cashmans while Paddy Power offer the best price available 100/30.
Yesterday's winner Alamshar eased to 9/2 (from 7/2) with Ladbrokes but remains a solid 7/2 second favourite with Cashmans. Brian Boru, which failed to pick up, but stayed on to finish third' varies from 6/1 (Ladbrokes) to 10/1 (Cashmans).
Runner-up The Great Gatsby is as low as 12/1 with Ladbrokes while, in the immediate wake of the race, Cashmans offered 33/1.
Aidan O'Brien considered that both of his colts “ran well”, emphasising that The Great Gatsby has always been a “possible” for Epsom while stressing the task facing Brian Boru yesterday, under a Group 1 penalty and having his first run of the season.
Both colts remain in the Epsom Derby picture, along with stable-companion Albert Giacometti, third to Dalakhani in the Group 1 Prix Lupin at Longchamp yesterday.
The 'Derrinstown' overshadowed the remainder of the card. But it was a day to remember for veteran rider Pat Shanahan who recorded a tremendous treble highlighted by Cat Belling's win in the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial in addition to picking up a three-day careless riding b ban in the opener.
Kevin Prendergast's second string stayed on resolutely to foil the John Oxx-trained supplementary entry Flamelet by a head. And the result was confirmed after an apparently frivolous objection lodged by Johnny Murtagh, rider of the runner-up, was overruled.
"She has been working well and needs an ease in the ground. So the rain came just in time," explained Prendergast, "She had two good runs before today and she might as well take her chance in the Irish 1,000 Guineas now."
Cat Belling will join stable-companion Walayef in the classic line-up in two weeks. But Rainbows For All, a disappointing favourite when last of five yesterday, will miss the race.
The Entenmanns Irish 2,000 Guineas was nominated as a possible target for European after he completed a first-and-last-race double for Curragh trainer Con Collins in the listed Amethyst Stakes.
Conqueror of Catcher In The Rye in his only previous start, European should improve significantly from this hard-earned neck victory over Mr.Houdini.
Trainer Collins is currently on holiday and discussions with owner Frank Hardy will take place on return to decide whether European will be supplemented to the 'Guineas' at a prohibitive cost of 40,000.
Shanahan initiated his treble and incurred the wrath of the Stewards when getting the Collins-trained Little Whisper home winner of the Ballybrack 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Both Timmy Houlihan (two days for excessive use of the whip) and Cathy Gannon (one day for careless riding) also received sanctions.
Handel, a first winner of the season for apprentice Colm O'Donoghue, confirmed the promise of his debut run here when scoring a convincing win in the Carrickmines Maiden.
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