Carter to storm the Crucible

Carter to storm the Crucible


Punting
Michael Duffy

THE absence of Ken Doherty at the Crucible over the next two weeks puts a dampener on the World Snooker Championships for Irish fans. The Dubliner’s poor run of form continued and he failed to make it through the qualifiers for a competition he won all of 11 years ago.
Like last week’s US Masters, the World Championships centre around one man. In the same way that if Tiger Woods had brought his ‘A’ game to Augusta the rest would have been fighting for second, if the right Ronnie O’Sullivan turns up at Sheffield he’ll win the World Championships again.
But that, increasingly, is becoming a bigger ‘if’ than ever, and our 12-1 recommendation is for a player whose time looks to have come. Ali Carter surprised quite a few people by making the World Championship final last April and his form this year suggests that he can go one better this year.
The draw has been kind to the Englishman and, potentially, it sees only Stephen Maguire between him and a place in the semi-finals. Maguire is good, a genuine break-builder and a player who has been on the verge of a breakthrough for some time. But his ability to handle the marathon challenge presented by the Crucible remains a question mark, and Carter could easily take his measure.
Jamie Cope isn’t nicknamed ‘Shotgun’ for nothing. His rat-a-tat style is great to watch and Cope looks value at 8-1 in the Furthest Progressing Qualifier market. He made a belated Crucible debut last year and was edged out by Peter Ebdon 10-9 in the opening round. That experience should stand to him and though he’ll have to beat Joe Perry in his first match, a victory there could kick off a run through the rounds. Mark Williams is the obvious favourite in that market but old foe Stephen Hendry stands between him and a place in the second round. Cope, at 8s, is the bet.
Recommendation: Ali Carter 12-1 (Outright betting, World Snooker Championships, begins Saturday). Jamie Cope 8-1 (Furthest Progressing Qualifier.

Two to watch for Scottish National
THREE Nationals down, one to go. After the excitement of Fairyhouse on Monday, we now know the winners of the Irish, English and Welsh Nationals — but what of the Scottish equivalent? It’s on to Ayr on Saturday for another slog-fest starring the long-distance heroes of the National Hunt game and one of the quirkiest of those is our tip to finally land the big handicap he has threatened so often to do. Fresh from her big success at Aintree, Venetia Williams will try and prepare Flintoff to get his head in front. He was second in the Midlands National last month, a race in which he characteristically came off the bridle early before coming back onto it late on. It will take an all-star ride to get Flintoff to win but — third in the race last year — he’s an each-way must and could land the odds again for Williams.
Parsons Legacy was a Grand National springer in the week before Aintree but enjoyed a luckless run. Hampered early on, Richard Johnson’s mount made a premature exit in the race and will hope for better fortune at Ayr. 25-1 looks a more than fair price about a horse who will stay all of the extended four-mile trip and for whom the ground could scarcely be firm enough.
Recommendation: Flintoff 20-1 each-way, Parsons Legacy 25-1 (Scottish Grand National, Ayr, Saturday).

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