Alex Hammond looks ahead to the opening English Classics and thinks Marcel has an each-way chance in the Qipco 2000 Guineas. Richard Johnson was finally crowned champion jockey for the first time on Saturday; do you think anyone can wrestle his shiny new trophy off him in the next few years?I dont think there is a single racing fan or professional in the game who would begrudge Richard Johnson his first title. He has had to wait over 20 years to get his hands on the trophy; and a new trophy at that as the last one was quite rightly given to Sir Anthony McCoy. Over the years there have been a handful of jockeys, both Flat and jumping, that you have huge sympathy for as they were top class, but never champion. Like Johnson until now, they were born in the wrong era. We all have our own thoughts on that, but Adrian Maguire was a close second to Richard Dunwoody and was a prodigious talent. Dickie said that the championship was his biggest achievement; he has said that if he had gone his whole career without getting his name on the roll of honour it would be his one regret. Thats how much it means to these sporting heroes, they travel thousands of miles each year, day in day out, in the quest to be the best of a very good bunch. You can see that Johnson is buzzing with the accomplishment; you can see he has no intention of giving up the accolade any time soon. Like the colossus before him, you get the impression that while he is riding, he wants to be the best. Aidan Coleman put up the closest fight, but even he was 105 winners behind the new champ. Without the firepower of John Ferguson, who provided him with 59 of those winners, its going to be even harder for him in the future. Our new champ has the hunger and drive, and barring injury, he should keep a tight grip on the title for a few seasons to come. Paul Nicholls just edged out Willie Mullins in the UK trainers championship in the end, how do you see this battle developing next year?As much as that must have been bad for the blood pressure of the protagonists, the trainers title going right down to the wire like that was a PR exercise that will be hard to beat in future campaigns. The only thing it may have done is whetted the Mullins appetite to try and win the British championship in future. Until the season was well into its autumn, Mullins didnt seem to take the title bid seriously, when he did it was almost too late. Still, a sliding door here and a change in luck there and it could easily have been reversed. It will be interesting to see how Irelands champion tackles the British season in future. I cant see him changing too much early on, but if things go well, then things may change from the New Year onwards. One thing is for sure, I wouldnt be lumping on Nicholls to win the 2016/17 season at the current prices as there is more than just Mullins snapping at his heels.The Flat season really cranks up a gear this weekend, give us three equine stars on the level to follow in the coming months.Im getting my head round the Flat season now and am really looking forward to seeing several horses over the coming months, its hard to narrow it down to three:Dartmouth (Sir Michael Stoute) - There are few trainers better at campaigning high class older horses than Sir Michael Stoute. Dartmouth is a Darley-bred colt, owned by The Queen, and he could give Her Majesty plenty to smile about in the year of her 90th birthday. This four-year-old progressed up the handicap ranks last season and started the 2016 season with a win at Chelmsford on a surface he doesnt really relish. That was in Newburys re-routed John Porter Stakes, which wasnt the strongest runnings of the contest in its history, but this looks like a horse that should continue to improve over middle distance trips.Gifted Master (Hugo Palmer) - I flagged this horse up after his win at Newmarkets Craven meeting and he looks capable of winning his share of races over the specialist trip of seven furlongs and he should be effective over six furlongs too which brings in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.Order Of St George (Aidan OBrien) - Im a sucker for a Flat stayer/Cup horse and this horse looks a top-class performer to follow in that sphere. He won three of his four outings as a three year-old culminating in an unchallenged victory in the Irish Leger. It will be interesting to see what route his trainer takes to Royal Ascot for what will no doubt be his first big summer target, the Gold Cup, for which he is already 5/2 favourite with Sky Bet. He seems versatile on most ground conditions, so there shouldnt be too much concern whatever conditions are like in June.As I said, there are so many horses to look forward to, but Ill be disappointed if we dont see these three winning some nice prizes.Air Force Blue is the short-priced favourite for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, will you be taking him on at prices around the 4/6 mark?I wont be backing Air Force Blue, but it doesnt mean he wont win the colts classic. It was interesting to hear Aidan OBrien expressing a slight doubt about this son of War Front staying the mile. His sire was top class over 6/7 furlongs and his dam was speedy too and this colt has plenty of toe, so there has to be an element of doubt. Having said that he won the Dewhurst well, staying on over the seven furlongs and is twice a winner over that trip. When you hear OBrien waxing lyrical about his latest superstar, it feels a bit like the boy who cried wolf. Yeah, yeah you think, as you hear about the best horse he has ever trained. Having said that, those superlatives tend to be backed up by performances on the track, so who am I to take those comments with a pinch of salt? So, he looks hard to beat on all known form, but for me the bet at the prices could be Marcel each-way. Peter Chapple-Hyam has produced horses to win on the big occasion many times in the past and this horse is proven over the mile having won the Racing Post Trophy last autumn. As it was snowing in various parts of the country this week and theres been rain around, the ground is unlikely to be fast and that would play into the hands of Marcel. Hes now 12/1, having been shortened in the last week and that still looks reasonable each-way value - you can also back him with Sky Bet in the market without Air Force Blue at 9/2.And finally, what do you fancy in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas on Sunday?Aidan OBrien looks to hold the key to this race too with Minding the ante-post favourite and Ballydoyle a pretty handy second string. Minding is bred in the purple being a daughter of Galileo out of a mare called Lillie Langtry, who won the Coronation Stakes and Matron Stakes at the highest level at three. Minding is already proven in Group One company having won the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Fillies Mile, the latter over this course and distance. Minding beat Ballydoyle in the Moyglare, but the latter is also a Group One winner having added her name to the list of Prix Marcel Boussac winners at Longchamp in October. Last year their head-to-head record read Minding 1 Ballydoyle 1. I think Ballydoyle looks like a real galloper and at current prices at the time of writing (11/2 with Sky Bet) I have backed Ballydoyle to cause a bit of an upset and beat her stablemate. The fly in the OBrien ointment could be Mark Johnstons Lumiere, who splits them in the market. She had three starts over six furlongs last season, winning the Cheveley Park Stakes, and has loads of speed. However she doesnt look like a one-trick pony and is bred to stay this trip. She could be vulnerable from the front though. Nathras win in the Nell Gwyn gave a form boost to Minding, who beat her in the Fillies Mile. That win at Newmarket gives her the fitness edge on her rivals and trainer John Gosden has hit the ground running this season. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports Nike Air Max Thea Australia Sale . This week they discuss Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling. Air Max 97 Australia Cheap . Bjoerndalen broke the record he shared with cross-country skiing great Bjoern Daehlie, also matching his fellow Norwegians record of eight gold medals. Bjoerndalen earlier won gold in Sochi in the mens sprint biathlon. http://www.outletairmaxaustralia.com/air...-australia.html. Moors, from Cambridge Ont., landed a double-twisting, double somersault in the layout position, en route to a score of 14.600 points in the womens floor exercise, more than a full point ahead of runner-up Pia Tolle of Germany. Air Max 270 Australia Womens . The result means Atletico Madrid now tops the table, with Madrid level on points in second and Barcelona a point behind in third with nine games remaining as the title race shapes up to be the closest in years. Air Max 97 Plus Australia . Calgary finished atop the CFL standings with a 14-4 record and earned the right to host the West Division final at McMahon Stadium on Nov.(SportsNetwork.com) - The New Jersey Devils began a three-game tour of California with a victory and will try to build off the win Friday when they visit the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. The Devils beat the defending Stanley Cup champions to kick off the West Coast swing, taking a 5-3 decision Wednesday night in Los Angeles despite playing without leading scorer Jaromir Jagr. New Jersey used four second-period goals to down the Kings at the Staples Center. Steve Bernier had two power-play goals and Cory Schneider made 23 saves for the Devils, who snapped a two-game losing streak. We had a couple of days off so we had some good jump tonight and thats always helpful, Schneider said. Mike Cammalleri, Martin Havlat and Michael Ryder also tallied for New Jersey, which is 3-1-1 over its last four games. The Devils are just 9-14-2 as the road team this season and still 12 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The club will complete this trip Monday in San Jose before returning East for a five-game homestand. Jagr and fellow forward Tuomo Ruutu were not with the team at the start of this road trip due to illness and both players are expected to be out again tonight. Jagr leads the Devils with 25 points off nine goals and 16 assists. Defenseman Eric Gelinas could play tonight for New Jersey. He also was out with an illness, but could return to the ice for the first time since Dec. 31 in Deetroit.dddddddddddd Gelinas could draw into the lineup Friday in place of defenseman Mark Fraser, who is expected to miss tonight with an injured pinky finger. Schneider is expected to start for the Devils on Friday. He is 4-2-1 with a 2.53 goals against average in nine career games (6 starts) versus the Ducks. Anaheim, which is tied with Nashville for the most points in the NHL with 62, is off to a 4-1-0 start to January and enter Fridays clash on a two-game winning streak. The Pacific Division leaders also played their most recent game on Wednesday when they cruised past visiting Toronto, 4-0. Frederik Andersen stopped all 28 shots he faced to post his second shutout of the season, while Corey Perry contributed his third hat trick of the campaign for the Ducks. Just trying to get back in the swing of things, Perry said. Tonight I feel like I was a lot better than I have been. Perry is leading the Ducks with 18 goals despite missing 15 games this season due to illness and injury. Kyle Palmieri also lit the lamp and Ryan Getzlaf added a pair of assists for the Ducks, who are 5-2-0 on an eight-game homestand that ends tonight. Anaheim is 16-5-3 as the host this season. The Ducks had lost four straight in the series with the Devils before posting a 3-2 overtime win in New Jersey on Dec. 20 of last season. Anaheim hopes to halt a two-game slide on home ice against the Devils tonight. ' ' '