Rocket Impressive in Carter Win

Ronnie O'Sullivan claimed the World Championship title for a fourth time with a comfortable 18-11 victory over Ali Carter at the Crucible........

O'Sullivan Wins Ebdon Match

Ronnie O'Sullivan completed a 10-4 victory over old rival Peter Ebdon with few alarms to launch his bid for a fourth World Championship title.

The three-time champion, resuming 7-2 up after a dominant first session, made an 80 clearance to extend his lead.

Ebdon, champion in 2002, hit back to make it 8-3 before a run of 68 put O'Sullivan within one frame of victory.

Breaks of 45 and 51 saw Ebdon extend the match, but after an interval O'Sullivan sealed victory with a 54.

"All credit to Peter, he has had a fantastic season, won the last ranking event and is one of the hardest competitors on the circuit," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport. "He made it tough for me and I am just pleased to get the win.

"No-one runs away with it with Peter. He has won the title here before and he is one of the great competitors of our game."

O'Sullivan, who has recently been dealing with the after-effects of glandular fever, will face either two-time champion Mark Williams or China's Liu Chiang in the second round starting on Saturday, 28 April.

"Mark has a tough match there," he added. "I have played Liu a few times in practice and he has beaten me, so it will be tough whoever I play.

"But you don't expect any easy matches at the Crucible. It is just nice to get through and have the chance to go again."

Despite O'Sullivan's generous words for his opponent, who has twice beaten him at the Crucible, Ebdon showed little of the form that saw him win last month's China Open and his World Championship qualifier 10-0 against Alfie Burden.

After a riveting opening frame that could have gone either way but eventually went to O'Sullivan after 21 shots on a re-spotted black, the 41-year-old never got close enough to putting 'The Rocket' under any pressure.

A 103 break - his 107th century at the Crucible - helped O'Sullivan into a 3-1 lead, but he did not have to find anything approaching top form to end Monday's first session with a 7-2 lead, only a battling 90 from Ebdon in the last frame of the day keeping him in touch overnight.

It was a similar story when they resumed on Tuesday, Ebdon failing to profit from several good chances as O'Sullivan's greater scoring prowess proved decisive.

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Hendry Aims for Betfred World

Seven-time champion Stephen Hendry has vowed to do his all to qualify for the Betfred.com World Championship.

The world number 23 has fallen so far down the rankings he is incredibly no longer guaranteed a place at Sheffield's Crucible theatre.

Hendry is due to take on Chinese cueman Yu Delu and the 43-year-old admits having to go through qualifying is 'not enjoyable'.

The Scot, who dominated the sport during the 1990s, knows the importance of approaching the game with the right attitude, stating any negative thoughts will result in defeat.

"I've got the attitude that I just go there to win," explained Hendry on his upcoming qualifier.

"I don't go there hoping to play well, or hoping to play fantastic snooker, I just go there to get the match won and that's the main thing.

"I don't think I'll enjoy it. To have to qualify for the Crucible, where I've won seven world titles and had a great career, is not going to be enjoyable.

"But I'll just knuckle down and the important thing is to win the match. It doesn't matter how I win, I've just got to win it.

"It's all about having the right attitude. If you go there with the wrong attitude, depressed that you've got to qualify, you'll lose."

John Higgins is pulling for his fellow Scot to avoid an upset, so that the tournament throws up the possibility of the pair playing each other at the Crucible for the first time.

"That's one of the players I think I could be drawn against," reigning world champion Higgins said.

"If you look at the career Stephen's had, and I've done not so bad myself, for me and him to never have played at the Crucible is strange.

"We've never even got close to playing and I would love to play Stephen Hendry at the Crucible. I think it would be a great occasion for Scotland."

Synchronised Set for Smith's National

Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Synchronised is one of 59 that remain in the John Smith's Grand National after Tuesday's scratchings stage.

Jonjo O'Neill's charge is rated 8/1 favourite to become the first horse since Golden Miller in 1934 to win chasing's two biggest prizes in the same season.

"He's been left in but we'll wait until nearer the time before we make any decisions," said Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus.

"He was tired for a day or two after Cheltenham, which you would expect as it was a marvellous performance.

"But Jonjo is pleased with him now and we'll wait a week or two before we decide what to do."

The same owner and trainer won the National with Don't Push It in 2010 and could have another leading hope in Sunnyhillboy, who was also a winner at Cheltenham last week in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup.

"He's also come out of the race good. He's in the National and the Irish National and he'll probably run in one of those. Nothing is set in stone yet," Berry added.

The weights continue to be headed by Synchronised on 11st 10lb, with last year's Grand National hero, Ballabriggs, 1lb behind on 11st 9lb.

Betfred make Prince De Beauchene the 9/1 second favourite for the race and he is one of six remaining entries from Willie Mullins' stable and one of 23 Irish-trained entries still in the race.

On His Own, winner of the Thyestes Chase for owners Graham and Andrea Wylie and Cheltenham Gold Cup ninth The Midnight Club are among Mullins' other entries.

Other Irish-trained contenders include the progressive Seabass, trained like the 2000 winner Papillon by Ted Walsh, and the 2011 Irish Grand National hero Organisedconfusion, the likely mount of Nina Carberry.

The Gold Cup form is also represented by fourth-placed Burton Port, Midnight Chase, who came seventh, and Weird Al, who was pulled up on Friday.

Malton trainer Malcolm Jefferson saddled a double at last week's Cheltenham Festival and he paraded his National hope According To Pete, winner of the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in January, at Aintree today.

Other leading contenders include the David Pipe-trained Junior, winner of the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2010 and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival, who is a 10/1 chance with Betfred after being beaten a short-head in a Doncaster handicap chase on March 3.

The Alan King-trained West End Rocker has not run since winning the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase over the National fences at Aintree on December 3 and is 16/1 with Betfred for the big race.

Philip Hobbs has withdrawn Fair Along but intends to run Planet Of Sound.

"Fair Along will probably run in the Scottish National instead. Planet Of Sound will definitely run providing everything goes all right," the Minehead trainer told At The Races.

Others among the 18 withdrawals were Massini's Maguire, Hold On Julio, Niche Market, Stewarts House and Backstage.

The five-day confirmation stage for the Grand National is on April 9 with the final declaration stage at 10am on April 12 when there can be a maximum field of 40 runners, with the provision for up to four reserves.

The two other races over the Grand National fences, the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase and the John Smith's Topham Chase, close on March 27.

Pipe Switches Grand Crus to RSA

Grands Crus will contest Wednesday's RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival rather than tackle Friday's Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Trainer David Pipe had been deliberating between the two options for his unbeaten novice, who was last seen when landing the Grade One Feltham Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

Connections had been tempted by the Gold Cup, but Pipe confirmed he will stick to the novice route for now.

He told At The Races: "We had a chat with the owners and the defining thing is you have to do what is right for the horse and in our opinion at this stage of his career the RSA is the right race for him.

"It's what we thought for him as an individual. I'm sure he could cope with the Gold Cup, but hopefully we might be going there next year.

"You're always going into unknown territory, but Tom Scudamore was confident of him getting the Gold Cup trip.

"It's a decision we've made for the horse and the best for him. He's in good form, he's had a good preparation and we wish the race was today.

"Unfortunately Grands Crus and Tom parted company schooling the other day, but all was OK afterwards. Tom schooled him on Sunday and he jumped well.

"You never want these things to happen but they do and he was fine afterwards."

Long Run Schools for Betfred

Long Run will have a schooling session with jumping guru Yogi Breisner next week in preparation for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old also had his first workout since his victory at Newbury two weeks ago on Tuesday morning.

"He came out of Newbury well and did his first bit of work this morning," said the Seven Barrows handler.

"He'll have one session with Yogi Breisner next week and won't see a fence between now and then.

"He'll wear earplugs in the parade (at Cheltenham) and they will come out at the start."

Henderson admits Kauto Star will be a formidable opponent at Cheltenham.

"I don't think there's any doubt this is a different horse to the one we were playing with last year," Henderson said of Kauto Star.

"I think he was going through a patch last year and people were baying for his retirement. I wish Paul had listened!

"He has even avoided going through the final fence now - he has put the whole thing together.

"At Kempton we were only beaten a couple of lengths and (Long Run) had really winged the last we might have got it down.

"Ruby (Walsh) has really put the turbo on early with Kauto this year and (Cheltenham) is a different track to do it on.

"In the Gold Cup they tend to wind up the pace and if he's going to go on, he's got another two and a half furlongs up the hill to go."

Favourite

Henderson added: "We were two-love up and now it's two-all and it's going to be a very interesting battle.

"I've a nasty feeling public opinion will go with the old favourite and I'll be a very unpopular if we beat him.

"Last year was a great Gold Cup. It's all to play for and I don't think there's much between them."

One weapon Henderson has up his sleeve is the use of earplugs, which the French-bred has traditionally worn during races.

"He will have them for the parade, as we want to block that out, but they will come off in the race," he said.

second string

Seven Barrows suddenly boasts another Gold Cup contender in Burton Port, who closed to just half a length behind Long Run at Newbury when in receipt of 10lb.

However, it was his first start for a year and a quarter and Henderson is wary of the 'bounce factor' - when horses run well on their return from a lay-off but fail to back it up the next time.

"We got the impression he had improved at home and we weren't surprised how he ran," the trainer said.

"He got 10lb at Newbury and he's got to improve more than that, but I think there is improvement.

"We've just got to pray there's no dreaded 'bounce'.

"No-one has been able to explain it, but it does happen and you have to be wary about it. But he does look fantastic."

Punters should also hold their bets for the John Smith's Grand National on Burton Port, even if it is owner Trevor Hemmings' favourite race.

Henderson continued: "Trevor has very much said, 'This is a good horse - let's win the Gold Cup, rather than leave him for Aintree."'

Nicholls: Kauto and Long Run Even

Paul Nicholls believes it will be "even stevens" when Kauto Star and Long Run clash in the Betfred Gold Cup at Cheltenham on March 16.

The champion trainer has remarkably brought Kauto Star back to peak form this season during which he has beaten the defending Cheltenham champion in the Betfair Chase and William Hill King George VI Chase.

However he is under no illusion about the size of the task he faces next month, telling the Racing UK podcast: "If Kauto was four years younger, then he would be favourite, but I suppose people think Long Run will be better suited to Cheltenham and he is the champion after all.

"Without a doubt, Kauto is better than last season, and it is difficult to know whether Long Run has improved since last year, so it should bring them closer together.

"Not having Denman in the race will also help, as he would harry and pressurise him at the top of the hill. The quicker they go the better early on, but then it's just a case of getting a breather in, and Kauto never had that chance with Denman up his backside.

"Last year, he wasn't quite finishing, but if we can get him a bit fitter, he should finish better up the hill.

"He's cantered pretty much every day since the King George; we haven't been too hard on him but now's the time to up a gear. We've got five weeks to really tune him up and got some hard graft to do to get his fitness levels up, along with a bit of schooling."

Looking back to Kauto Star's victories over Long Run at Haydock and Kempton, Nicholls added: "It took him a while to get over his races last year. These two races were like he was when he was at his very best. He was so fresh the next day. He's a confidence horse and there's no sign of aging.

"Going into the King George, we thought Long Run would improve for his first run and thought he was the one to beat.

"But I was astounded at how Kauto had improved and looked before Kempton. I think it's even stevens between them now."