The mood was Sobers and sober.
“It could be that the other countries have simply become better and the West Indies have not kept pace,” said Chris Dehring, the man charged with organising the World Cup in the West Indies in 2007. The anniversary of Garry Sobers’ entry to the stage and what happened afterwards was joyous and tinged with relief here The West Indies were glad to have something to celebrate They were also asking where it all went wrong. Half a century ago last Tuesday, a 17-year-old slow left-arm bowler was called from nowhere to play his first Test. He was to become the best all-round cricketer there has ever been. I had to jump the next two because I couldn’t pull him up, but he had jumped brilliantly and was just warning up.”Takagi unseated rider 15th 25-1Davy Russell: “He gave me a great ride, but he just left his hind legs in the ditch at the Chair.

He’d jumped the first five super and it was a big disappointment.” Bindaree (bd 6th) 10-1 co favCarl Llewellyn: “I was hampered by a loose horse going into the fence.”What’s Up Boys (bd 6th) 25-1Richard Johnson: “A horse fell in front of him and he had nowhere to go.”Blowing Wind refused 6th 33-1Jimmy McCarthy: “He’s getting on now and refused.”Bramblehill Duke (ref 6th) 200-1James Davies: Taken to hospital.Exit To Wave (pu) 9th 50-1Bobby McNally: “My buckle went at Becher’s. I was baulked and just could not jump the fence.”Bounce Back (fell 6th) 50-1Andrew Thornton: “He turned a somersault.”Montreal fell 6th 200-1Joey Elliott: “I was in mid-division when a loose horse ran into a couple of us and I came down.” Risk Assessor (ur 6th) 66-1Seamus Durack: “We got bumped on the take-off side of the fence and he landed on top of it.”Skycab (ur 6th) 200-1Leighton Aspell: “He got caught in the m?e caused by the loose horse He did his best to stay up. I was going all right at the time.”Akarus (fell 6th) 33-1Rodi Greene: “A loose horse ran down the fence and caused carnage. The ground was a bit too quick.” 10 The Bunny Boiler 33-1Ross Geraghty: “He was always jumping that bit slowly and they got away from us on the final circuit.” 11 Davids Lad 12-1Timmy Murphy: “We couldn’t get to the leaders and, after the rain, the ground was bit too soft.”Artic Jack (fell 1st fence) 20-1Dominic Elsworth: “It was short-lived.Luzcadou (fell 1st) 200-1Brian Harding: “He fell.”Kelami (brought down 1st) 66-1Thierry Doumen: “I was brought down. There was nothing I could do.”Shardam unseated rider 3rd 18-1Tom Scudamore: Taken to hospital with broken arm.Jurancon II fell 4th 10-1 co favTony McCoy: “I don’t really know what happened We might have been knocked over.

He got very tired in the closing stages.”9 Kingsmark 66-1Mick Fitzgerald: “I had a great ride. I think I might have been fourth or fifth otherwise.” 8 Bear On Board 14-1Robert Thornton: “He got rid of me twice before the start, but he ran a solid race, jumping really well. No longer will they be able to say that Donald McCain is a one-pony trick.National breakdown: The jockeys’ verdicts on the finishers and fallers 1 Amberleigh House 16-1Graham Lee: “I didn’t have a good passage over the first six fences with loose horses. He had to jump Becher’s from a standstill first time round and got a bit of a fright.”2 Clan Royal 10-1 co fav Liam Cooper: “I lost my whip five out but it didn’t make any difference. It was a thrill to get round.”6 Smarty 100-1Andrew Tinkler: “We were no danger on the second circuit but he kept trying the whole way.”7 Ardent Scout 50-1Warren Marston: “He jumped great and never touched a fence, but he was hampered at Becher’s each time by loose horses. He’s a much better horse on fast ground.”5 Spot Thedifference 50-1Richard McGrath: “He gave me a great ride.