while Klizan rallied past Bernard
while Klizan rallied past Bernard
Jean-Claude Rouget expects the demands of Ascot to bring out the best in Almanzor in Saturdays Qipco Champion Stakes. The French Derby hero beat his elders for the first time when seeing off subsequent Arc heroine Found in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last month and a rematch could be on the cards.Almanzor showed thrilling acceleration to score in Ireland, but Rouget is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding what tactics will be employed this weekend. He said: Almanzors a very good traveller, and the plan is that hell come over on his own in the lorry on Thursday to give him a little time to acclimatise to Ascot.I believe he will like Ascot, which resembles our French racecourses more than Newmarket does with its undulations, although I won (the Champion Stakes) there with Literato.As far as tactics go, Ill wait to see what we will employ when I know more about the draw.Its something that will be decided at the last minute with his connections.Aidan OBrien will make a decision on whether Found will turn out less than a fortnight after her Chantilly success later this week.The Ballydoyle maestro has a wealth of options on Champions Day, with Found in both the Champion Stakes and the Fillies & Mares Stakes.Minding, a four-time Group One winner this term, is in both races and has the added option of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.OBrien expects owners Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and John Magnier to make their plan of action in midweek, but Found and Minding are likely to be split up.Found likes a nice clear-run race and doesnt run over a mile and a half very often, the trainer told At The Races.Shes a Group One winner over a mile, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half. Shes a really special mare.The lads (owners) are going to talk about it, probably on Wednesday, and will decide what to do then. Found has two options and Minding has three.It looks like the ground is going to be nice and well see what they decide.Having an embarrassment of riches as he seeks to improve on his 20 Group One triumphs this year, OBrien has other star fillies to slot in at Ascot should they be needed.He has Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks heroine Seventh Heaven in the Fillies & Mares while Alice Springs, who has been successful three times at the top level this season, was confirmed for the QEII.Its possible Alice Springs could go to the Breeders Cup, but a lot is going to depend on where Minding is going to go, said OBrien.Whenever we know what way the lads are going to go with Minding then the others will slot into different other places.She has had a run in Newmarket so she doesnt have to run. She could go straight on to America if she didnt make this weekend.It the ground wasnt good Seventh Heaven wouldnt be there. With the ground being good theres a possibility shed go to the Fillies and Mares. Thats the only option at the weekend, so its very possible she could go there.If she did, she could go on to America after that.reopens Ascots clerk of the course Chris Stickels will on Wednesday make a final decision on which track the Champion Stakes will be staged.Officials provisionally planned to run the 10-furlong showpiece on the newly demarcated inner Flat course, which was given the thumbs-up by leading jockeys Ryan Moore and Pat Smullen after taking part in a gallop earlier this month.However, due the unseasonably dry autumn, the going on the inner course is currently described as good to firm, firm in places, while the outer course, on which the remainder of the races will be staged, is good, good to soft in places.Stickels said: "There is the risk of an odd shower from later today until tomorrow and then there is an increased risk of shower from tomorrow through to the weekend."Were making a decision on the Champion Stakes tomorrow, probably late morning." 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Kelli Stack and Alex Carpenter also scored for the Americans, who avoided a repeat of Finlands upset at the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., in November. Finnish goalie Noora Raty made 58 saves in that one, but the three-time Olympian could stop just 40 of 43 U. Mike Trout Jersey . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.NICE, France -- Carlos Berlocq of Argentina and Martin Klizan of Slovakia won three-setters to reach the second round of the Open de Nice on Tuesday. Berlocq, who won the Portugal Open this month, broke for a 5-3 lead in the final set to overcome Julien Benneteau of France 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, while Klizan rallied past Bernard Tomic of Australia 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Tomic slammed 11 aces but dropped serve in the final game against Klizan, who won the BMW Open this month in Germany. Robin Haase of the Netherlands, Dominic Thiem of Austria and American qualifier Jack Sock also advanced. Haase did not face a break point in his 6-3, 6-2 win over Filippo Volandri of Italy, Thiem outlasted Steve Johnson of the United States 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5, and Sock saved all five break points he faced in his 6-4, 6-2 win over Kenny De Schepper of France.dddddddddddd Third-seeded Gael Monfils of France pulled out from the singles main draw after feeling pain in his right ankle in a doubles match. Monfils and compatriot Benoit Paire lost 6-4, 6-7 (3), 10-2 to Daniele Bracciali of Italy and Oliver Marach of Austria on Tuesday. The facetious Monfils shot and posted a video of himself and Paire on Instagram during a changeover. Sam Querrey of the United States replaced Monfils in the main draw as a lucky loser. ' ' '