Bracing times for those of us who are part of the winter fuel allowance generation — FAGs, as we like to call ourselves. At Haydock Park, the courageous Kauto Star thundered back into the national conscience with a spine-tingling win in the Betfair Chase. The 11-year-old is an equine superstar in the mould of Red Rum and Desert Orchid, and the sight of him showing his Gold Cup conquerors, Long Run and Sam Waley-Cohen, a clean pair of hindquarters can’t make Boxing Day at Kempton come soon enough.
Kauto’s trainer Paul Nicholls was probably still enjoying a celebratory drink when 34-year-old Darren Lockyer, as Australian as a sweaty singlet, ended his rugby league career by captaining his country to victory over England at Elland Road. He appeared to have scripted the perfect denouement when he scored a crafty last-minute try, but then he fluffed the conversion from in front of the posts. What was that about triumph and disaster? Lockyer’s unruffled reaction to both events would have made Kipling smile. The following night in Los Angeles David Beckham, 36 and magnificent, performed his traditional curtain call by ensuring that his last match for a club helped LA Galaxy win the MLS Cup.
Though you can’t get too whiffly about the passing of days. The sight of Chelsea’s defensive grandee John Terry spreadeagled on the Stamford Bridge turf as the ball nestled in the home goal three minutes from the end of Sunday’s game against Liverpool was a sure sign that the years can condemn. From Petr Cech in goal to Didier Drogba up front, Chelsea’s once sturdy spine appears to be creaking. Terry, and even Frank Lampard, suddenly seem ponderous of thought and slow of movement, unable to adapt to the thinking of their just-out-of-nappies gaffer, Andre Villas-Boas.
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