He isn't a superstar but he's a real grafter with a big heart

"He isn't a superstar, but he's a real grafter with a big heart and a never-say-die attitude," he said. Wigan have completed their overseas quota for next season by signing the prop forward, Brady Malam, from the Auckland Warriors. The 26-year-old, who has made 55 appearances for the Warriors, will arrive in January to take the place on the overseas roster vacated by Danny Moore's transfer to the London Broncos this week. Malam is a more direct replacement for the Australian prop, Brett Goldspink, who has joined Halifax. Wigan's rugby executive, Dean Bell, believes that Malam, the first signing made by their new coach, Frank Endacott, will prove to be a real asset. Malam is a more direct replacement for the Australian prop, Brett Goldspink, who has joined Halifax.

Both Strong Promise and Djeddah are possible non-runners, however, if forecast rain turns the ground soft.. Wigan have completed their overseas quota for next season by signing the prop forward, Brady Malam, from the Auckland Warriors. The 26-year-old, who has made 55 appearances for the Warriors, will arrive in January to take the place on the overseas roster vacated by Danny Moore's transfer to the London Broncos this week. "I'm going to be speaking to the owners again and we won't make a decision until near the time we have to declare tomorrow.

But I would have to say that my preference would be to race at Leopardstown anyway." If Dorans Pride is absent, a maximum of 11 runners would remain to face the starter. Downbeat she may be, but Williams' large and devoted band of followers will still hold out every hope of the latter. The field for the King George on Monday may be down to single figures by race day, following the news that Dorans Pride is more likely to stay in Ireland for the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown the following day. "The transport over to England is a big problem over the holiday period," Michael Hourigan, his trainer, said yesterday. "With a rating of 133, there's not really that many races I can run him in," his trainer said. "I really wanted him to go in the first race on the card, which is sponsored in memory of his owner's late husband, but that was a 0-130, so he just missed out." When a trainer sounds this pessimistic, there can be but two results: abject defeat, or a 30-length victory. He's well in himself, but he's been well in himself in the past, and pulled up, so there's really no telling." Sparkling Cone does at least seem to go well fresh, although it is not necessarily part of a cunning master-plan that he will go to Chepstow without a run under his belt. To hear Williams' downbeat assessment of his prospects, though, you would think he had no chance. As the trainer points out, he won two of his five races last season, but in the other three, he ran so poorly that he was pulled up "I really wouldn't get too excited," Williams said. If it happens to be trained by Venetia Williams, though, most will make an exception, as bookmakers know all too well, which may explain why the gelding is at relatively short odds in the ante-post lists. The form of his win on heavy ground at Chepstow last season, from just a 3lb lower mark than he races off next week, certainly gives him a live each-way chance.

"He's pulled up more often than anything else, and this is far and away the most competitive race he's ever run in. This is not a race in which many punters make a habit of backing a horse without a previous run. The leg injury which almost cost him his life, sustained in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, continues to keep him off the track, and it is still far from certain that he will race again. "He's just cantering very quietly at the moment, it's very light exercise," Williams said yesterday. "It was a wonderful race to win, but I don't think we want to talk too much about the future with him.