Standing at 40-1 with the sponsors on the morning of 20 January, he was down to 9-1 after an impressive victory in the Lanzarore Hurdle that day and is now down to 7-2. He is not the only horse to have been backed though and Express Gift (2.15) looks like a horse that has been waited with in order to pick up a substantial prize.The opening televised event gives a chance to find a flaw in the Grand National weights, but Clever Shepherd (1.10) may outspeed five Aintree entrants.For the ecologically unsound who choose to bypass Newbury, Ayr offers an opportunity for McGregor The Third (3.00), deemed unqualified for the National, and Champion Hurdle hope Celestial Choir (1.00).Jacques Wertheimer obituary, page 18. Preferable is Dancing Paddy (1.40), who put in a very solid performance when third to, and giving weight to, Big Matt last time and will be better suited by the cut in the ground than talented but brittle Travado.In Ireland, Monsieur Le Cure is the obvious one to topple Master Oats, but neither of them are certain to be suited by Leopardstown's tight track and Imperial Call (3.45), who has crept unheralded on to the scene, will be just as able to cope with the easy ground.At Newbury the big betting race is the Tote Gold Trophy and the big gamble of the race is Warm Spell. The driving force of Maguire may be just what Viking Flagship needs, while Williamson's motionless stance and tactical awareness may coax the best from Master Oats.For those that do not retain belief in the big two, there are plenty of alternatives. Valfinet, a top novice last season, receives 7lb from Viking Flagship, but needs to show a great deal of improvement all the same.

Things may be different today for Viking Flagship in Newbury's Game Spirit Chase now that this notoriously stuffy horse has had a couple of warm-up races and, similarly, Master Oats may again look like a viable alternative to this year's Gold Cup favourite, One Man, after tomorrow's rescheduled Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.An even more important factor may be the men in the saddle, as Adrian Maguire and Norman Williamson have not been fit to partner their mounts this season. Racing JOHN COBB What finer return to racing on turf than to have as the centre of attraction Master Oats and Viking Flagship, the two most exhilarating chasers of last season. But before becoming overwhelmed with the prospect of seeing, or even backing, the Gold Cup winner with the massive frame and talent or the tough two-mile champion, remember that the key phrase in referring to their attributes is "last season".Neither horse has won this term and neither has raced with the zest that characterised their golden year. At West Hartlepool, Leeds, Nottingham and Bedford they also expect to play.Sarries, incidentally, are greatly aggrieved that Robert Howley, the new Wales scrum-half who registered with them during the autumn, has instead accepted an offer which binds him to the Welsh Rugby Union and are already considering whom to approach as an alternative half-back partner for Michael Lynagh.. "He is still the best in England by a very long street," Dick Best, Quins' director of rugby, said yesterday.Elsewhere prospects are promising. Leicester's pitch is protected by the Welford Road covers, the snow on the terracing which caused the Saracens tie to be called off last time no longer being a problem. That postponement has had the useful effect for Newcastle of enabling them to introduce those of their recent signings who have completed their 120-day qualification.Rob Andrew, player-manager and television pundit, was already qualified and the delay means he can be joined by the Ireland prop Nick Popplewell and the Scotland flanker Peter Walton as well as Phil Belgian, an England Colt from Gateshead formerly with Bath.But for injury, Dean Ryan and Graham Childs would have joined them, and if there were another postponement Tony Underwood and John Dixon would be eligible next Saturday and the Scottish pair Gary Armstrong and Doddie Weir, as far as the Rugby Football Union is concerned, a week after that.Quins' primary objective will be to keep tabs on Andrew, who even at 32 - 33 next Sunday - appears to remain the one English outside-half capable of consistent performance at international level.

Newcastle v Harlequins qualifies as the glamour tie of the round, this status having been only marginally reduced by Will Carling's absence because of the knee injury which caused his premature departure from the Wales game.In his stead Will Greenwood of England A, son of a former England coach, is the only change from the Harlequin side who would have played on 27 January. A thaw of sorts having set in in Yorkshire, Wakefield expect to proceed against the holders, though it will be muddy at College Grove too.The seven ties postponed a fortnight ago are due to take place today, though all will be subject to morning inspections. STEVE BALE Mike Catt has been Bath's outside-half all season, now all of a sudden wants to play exclusively at full-back in order to enhance himself internationally, and nearly ended up playing in the centre in this afternoon's Pilkington Cup fifth- round tie at Wakefield. Eventually all was well when Jeremy Guscott, who hurt a shoulder in last Saturday's England-Wales encounter, was passed fit, leaving Catt to mudlark at the Rec as full-back for the second XV. I would love to be in the position of seeing an Irish team rattle Leicester Then people could judge me on merit If we don't get promotion, I'll shoot myself.".

"There will be some serious teams in the Second Division next year, so this is the time to go up. He's a little gem."London Irish were due to play Leeds in the fifth round of the Pilkington Cup today but it's not the silverware that concerns Woodward. It worries me to death what other coaches say to him when he's not playing for London Irish. It was almost a nightmare to see how well he played in the Varsity match (Humphreys scored all Oxford's 19 points) because of the interest he would attract in other clubs. He's been around for a few years and I can't believe Ireland haven't picked him They should put him in against France He's got it, big time There's no need to coach him. He can't see Michael Heseltine, for instance, getting his locks in a twist over the programme.

At the heart of government, the culture is essentially non-disclosive. It can justify a position beyond any semblance of plausibility. It makes you laugh, but it's also true."Bremner does not get concerned about how his targets view his onslaughts. The culture is geared towards artful drafting - they're all Artful Draft- Dodgers. It resisted me for a while because there's so much information.