Indeed, they have often produced a result opposite to that intended. For many seasons I urged Rob Andrew and Stuart Barnes to split the outside-half and full-back positions between them Instead they contested the former position alone. And Barnes (who perhaps would have done better to opt for Wales) turned out to be the loser. Then there was another outside- half, Aled Williams of Swansea, who I thought deserved an extended run in the national side Nothing happened. My efforts on behalf of the Neath, Llanelli and now Treorchy flanker, Lyn Jones, were equally unavailing.I accordingly thought a period of silence on my part would be welcome to those players who were ambitious of international recognition and had happened to catch my eye. Arenice, who has won four chases and a hurdle race in 21 outings, will have a Cotswolds reconnaissance mission on Saturday week when he runs in the Pillar Properties Chase.

After that he will lodge until the Festival at Jackdaws Castle with David Nicholson, which means he may be best leaving his holiday snaps camera at home.Ireland have six representatives in an effort to claim the race last won for them in 1986 by Dawn Run. They are Belvederian, Commercial Artist, Flashing Steel, Merry Gale, Nuaffe and Second Schedual. Merry Gale is the shortest in Ladbrokes' betting at 12-1.The longest price available in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, for which 15 were entered yesterday, is about Wild Atlantic and you could get quite rich if he wins. The gelding's odds are 2,000-1.However, when his credentials are scrutinised even that looks shabby value. The 12-year-old has won just one novice event (at Carlisle) in three seasons chasing. "The owner insisted he was put in the race and he doesn't want him to run before Cheltenham," Zoe Green, who trains Wild Atlantic at Hawick, said yesterday."He's had leg problems, but is a good jumper. I just hope he gets close to sixth prize if the race cuts up and he gets round I think I'd rather be at Hexham.

The fourth Frenchmanis Arenice, who was trained to finish third in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris (French Gold Cup) last year by Francois Rohaut.Like Jean-Claude Rouget, the trainer of this year's multiple Group-race winner Millkom, the 36-year-old Rohaut trains at Pau at the foot of the Pyrenees. Over a century on, Gladiateur's shape, in statue form, stands at the entrance to Longchamp racecourse. Such immortality may also await The Fellow or one of three other Continental challengers who form a record Frenchentry for this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup. Of the 35 declared yesterday for the race on 16 March Francois Doumen, The Fellow's trainer, provides three (Algan, the King George VI Chase winner, and Val d'Alene, a victor on his only run in Britain, at Lingfield, are the others). "Tonight," said a direct descendent of one of the pillars of the Mormon faith,"we are going to celebrate. We are going to take over some place, and run the joint till it dies."NFL Championship games (home teams first) AFC: Pittsburgh 13 San Diego 17 NFC: San Francisco 38 Dallas 28..