Nor did it help that the maverick qualities of Luis Garcia were completely lost in another tide of whimsy and lost possession

Nor did it help that the maverick qualities of Luis Garcia were completely lost in another tide of whimsy and lost possession.It meant that comparisons between the champions of Europe and those of England could hardly have been more extreme.Chelsea made them so by merely re-establishing a cutting edge to the relentless control and professionalism that has already carried them into the middle distance of the Premiership race. Inevitably, their mastery was shot through with a sense of mockery, both on the field and the terraces. It was inevitable because that advantage they have in so many crucial areas of the game had perhaps rarely been so evident against opposition which might just have believed in their ability to push forward from such a recent points victory.That conviction was fragile by half-time At the finish it was made of matchwood. In an interview in The Sunday Telegraph with the former England captain Michael Atherton, Marlar, himself a former first-class cricketer, was indignant when he stated: "Did you know that Brighton College are playing girls in their First XI? Girls! I think it's absolutely outrageous.". We don't have to end the discussion about when Rafael Benitez will return Liverpool to the stars, but anything less than a decent pause might make the Special One rather cross Reasonably so, to be fair. Jose Mourinho's men may not have been 4-1 better than the reigning European champions, not creatively, anyway, but in terms of organisation, stern purpose and deeply entrenched discipline they inhabited their own planet.

He is a master of all circumstances and he's at the height of his powers at the moment It's just a lucky day for us.". He had been in office barely 24 hours before Robin Marlar, the incoming president of the Marylebone Cricket Club, was raising an apparent dust storm in the game's corridors of certainty at Lord's. It was almost possible to see a smile playing around Magnier's lips."I was very worried when I saw him [Hurricane Run] at the back," he said "I thought he had no chance. I thought he was out of the race to be honest."But then you never know with Kieren. Andr?abre, the multiple champion French trainer, had won his sixth Arc.Hurricane Run was bought before his victorious run in the Irish Derby by John Magnier's midas empire at Coolmore. The bay colt advertised not only himself yesterday but also his sire, Montjeu, the new celebrity stallion in Co Tipperary.

"I thought he had it in the bag," Michael Bell, his trainer, said. "It was just unfortunate that the gap came a little too soon Johnny had to set him alight to get him through that gap He had to take it. If we do go again we would hang on to him until the very last minute."Motivator faltered but hung on for fifth as he was passed by Westerner, Bago and Shirocco. He was passed fastest, however, by Hurricane Run, who was carried along by a combination of enticement and muscle by Fallon At the line the partnership was two lengths clear. It was a true mile and a half and he didn't get it."This was the crushing of Motivator's remaining claim to greatness.