Dein erstes Forum » following the additions of Hargreaves and Brent Grimes

Nicky Henderson hailed Sprinter Sacre as the horse of a lifetime after confirming on Sunday that the dual Cheltenham Festival hero, one of the most popular modern-day steeplechasers, is to be retired due to a minor leg injury. Hendersons charge had bounced back to form on this day 12 months ago at Cheltenham when landing the Shloer Chase, sparking emotional celebrations in the winners enclosure.He went on an unbeaten run following that victory, winning three more times including his second Champion Chase victory at Cheltenham in March. His final racecourse appearance was to be at Sandown in April, where he demolished Un De Sceaux by 15 lengths. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Sprinter Sacre had returned to work ahead of a planned reappearance in Sandowns Tingle Creek Chase next month, but after exercising on Tuesday was found to have some heat in his near-fore leg, prompting connections to make the decision to retire him.At a specially-convened press conference at the racecourse, an emotional Henderson said: Hes been a great part of our lives. Nico de Boinville celebrates winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase What happened last year was something that will never be repeated in my lifetime. In terms of emotion it took us all to the brink.He will be here today and he looks as well as hes ever done. Hes in staggeringly good form. The sad thing is that he is doing everything right. The delighted rider gives Sprinter a hug If you saw him now, you wouldnt know which leg it was, but theres a little bit of heat in his near-fore that has shown up on the scan. If he was seven, youd say give him a year off and hed be back. But hes not seven any more and this is the right thing to do.For a long time I protected See You Then and said he was our best horse but during Sprinter Sacres best two years, he was unbeatable. Literally unbeatable. Sprinter Sacre (left) beats Cue Card to win the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase Im sad for him because hes come here today thinking hes going to have a race and hes all excited and ready to show his public what he can do, but at least people will have the opportunity to see him again today.Sprinter Sacres most recent partner and the jockey under whom he took last seasons Champion Chase was Nico De Boinville, and Henderson went on: Nico has been with Sprinter from the start. He rode him every day at home when Barry Geraghty was his jockey and they have always been great friends. Sprinter Sacre soars over a fence earlier in the contest I had to ring him this morning to let him know just before he went into surgery for the arm he broke here yesterday. It wasnt the easiest conversation to tell him his mate wont be there for him to ride when he comes back.Sprinter Sacre won 18 of his 24 starts and amassed £1,136,000 in prize-money.In between his two Champion Chase victories, however, he was plagued with problems before returning to something approaching his best last season.Joining the Henderson stable from France, he made a winning debut in an Ascot bumper in February 2010 and went novice hurdling the following campaign.After winning two of his first three starts, he was then third in the Supreme Novices Hurdle in March 2011.It was a chaser he really made his mark, though.He created a big impression in his novice season which saw him defeat Cue Card in the Arkle Trophy in 2012.Sprinter Sacre went on to win his first 10 races over fences, including the Champion Chase at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.But his successful streak came to an abrupt halt when he was pulled up in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton that December, after which it transpired he had an irregular heartbeat.He made a full recovery and returned to action in January 2015 when he was second to Dodging Bullets in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot.But when he was pulled up in that seasons Champion Chase it seemed his best days were behind him.However, he came back in tremendous form last season and after wins in the Shloer Chase and the Desert Orchid Chase, Sprinter Sacre reclaimed his two-mile crown with a convincing defeat of Un De Sceaux at the Festival in March.He wound up the campaign with a similarly authoritative victory in the Celebration Chase at Sandown in April in what turned out to be his swansong.Explaining Sprinter Sacres career-ending injury, Henderson said: It all crept up yesterday. He worked on Tuesday and everything was grand.We were just a bit worried on Wednesday night as he was warm in one leg. I was going to work him yesterday but we couldnt work him.We cant ask him to come back, not at his age.Hes in the same stable he has always spent his days in here (at Cheltenham) and you wouldnt know which leg I was talking about. In fact, if I was thinking about working this afternoon him I would.It (the injury) wouldnt hold up in the short term and when you cant go for the long term, you have to sadly bite the bullet.Barry Geraghty rode Sprinter Sacre 17 times, winning on 13 occasions, and said his old ally was just unbelievable.The jockey said; Hes something special and he is to be celebrated. Ive never sat on a horse over fences like him - he was electric.The first day he won here (in the 2012 Arkle), just to see him sail away on the way to the last, Ive never seen that before.He was just unbelievable. 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Stitched Anaheim Ducks Jerseys . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars talk every day about starting fast.In two preseason games, theyve been able to experience it.Blake Bortles threw two touchdowns passes in three drives and gave the Jaguars an early lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who rallied to win 27-21 in the preseason Saturday night.We talk about starting fast all the time and I think were finally starting to do that, said Bortles, who led the Jags to 10 points on his first two drives in the preseason opener.Second in the NFL last season with 35 TD passes, Bortles connected with T.J. Yeldon for a 14-yard score in the first quarter and then lofted a 24-yarder to Allen Hurns in the back of the end zone in the second.Bortles completed 8 of 11 passes for 85 yards, with no sacks and few mistakes.Jameis Winston had a slow start, misfiring on his first six passes, but rebounded against Jacksonvilles second-team defense and found Mike Evans on a fade route for a 4-yard score. Winston finished 3-of-10 passing for 28 yards, with an interception.Tampa Bay (1-1) and Jacksonville (0-2) held two joint practices during the week, so they had plenty of in-person preparation before a mostly meaningless exhibition.SEMINOLES STAND OUTWinston wasnt the only former Florida State player who made an impact in the game.Jaguars rookie CB Jalen Ramsey had three tackles in his NFL debut. Jaguars LB Telvin Smith had a near-interception and was flagged for a late hit on Winston.Bucs rookie Roberto Aguayo was wide right on a 32-yard field goal and later on a 49-yarder. Those were Aguayos second and third misses of the preseason. A second-round pick from FSU who finished his college career as the most accurate kicker in NCAA history, Aguayo missed an extra point in the preseason opener at Philadelphia.Winston, Ramsey, Smith, Aguayo and Jaguars WR Rashad Greene were teammates on Floridas State 2014 national championship team.ODD CALLSThere were four penalties on coaches, including three in the first half. The Jaguars were flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct because of where coaches were on the field, although one of them was offset since Tampa Bays staff was called for the same thing. The Bucss were penalized 15 yards for it early in the second half.ddddddddddddThey called it -- both ways, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said, laughing. Yep.NIGHT OFFBuccaneers: LB Daryl Smith, returning to Jacksonville nearly four years after playing his 126th and final game for the Jaguars, did not dress for his homecoming. The 34-year-old veteran also sat out both joint practices during the week, but Koetter said it was precautionary.Jaguars: Veteran DT Roy Miller got the night off for Jacksonville.ROOKIE WATCHBuccaneers: First-round pick Vernon Hargreaves III had two interceptions in a span of six plays. Hargreaves stepped in front of Chad Hennes pass late in the first half and returned it 28 yards to set up a field goal. He picked off Henne again during the opening drive of the third quarter.Jaguars: LB Myles Jack played with the second-team defense and finished with two tackles.POSITION BATTLESBuccaneers: CB Johnthan Banks, a former second-round pick who dropped on the depth chart following the additions of Hargreaves and Brent Grimes, had an interception.Jaguars: Backup CB Dwayne Gratz, vying for a roster spot in the final year of his contract, had an interception. LG Mackenzy Bernadeau played well despite getting flagged for a false start early.INJURY UPDATEBuccaneers: RB Doug Martin (ribs) and DT Gerald McCoy (ankle), both Pro Bowlers, were held out with minor injuries. Reserve WR Evan Spencer left the game with a knee injury.Jaguars: S Peyton Thompson and OT Jeff Linkenbach were evaluated for concussions. CB Nick Marshall (finger) and DT Abry Jones (quad contusion) also were hurt. LT Kelvin Beachum (knee) missed his second straight preseason game.QUOTABLEBuccaneers: Well, its great to get points, but we should have more. -- Koetter on failing to score after a long, opening drive.Jaguars: I thought the guys did a really good job of rebounding and coming back and putting up some points. -- Bortles on scoring two touchdowns after an ugly first series.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '