Contrary to some opinions, his try-scoring was never primarily the product of pure pace, but the inevitable loss of a yard or two has left him more dependent than ever on his reading of play.That understanding of what happens on the pitch has seen him inherit the responsibility for coaching Great Britain. Men of 34 who can establish world records in the same breath as saying they are not sure whether they should still be playing deserve to be held in that sort of regard.Hanley so far this season has scored 41 tries, more than any other forward has ever achieved. "Signing Ellery would create a tremendous impact, so high is the regard in which he is held," he says. They would sign him on as a referee or a groundsman, such is the propaganda value of his mere name.Ken Arthurson, the chairman of the ARL, knows that value. No wonder that even the conjecture over his future is of heroic proportions. The plain truth behind the Australian Rugby League's designs upon him is that they do not much care whether they recruit him as a player or a coach.

Hanley has been, in every respect, a unique figure in rugby league over the last 15 years. No one has put in as much, achieved as much or got away with as much. It's the same situation in the 2,000 Guineas, with Willie undecided between Bahri and Nwaamis.". For any other player, the prospect of going into the Silk Cut Challenge Cup final tomorrow surrounded by speculation over whether he will soon be playing, coaching or both, on this side of the world, the other or neither, would hardly seem the perfect preparation But this is Ellery Hanley and normal rules do not apply. I spoke to Willie this morning and he said he hadn't decided He will not be rushed into making his mind up. Dick took the opportunity to get Richard down to get to know Harayir beforehand. But there has been no decision and I don't think there will be for a while.

The John Dunlop trained filly attracted similar support with Ladbrokes, who shortened her to 4-1 from 5-1. The market activity has been stimulated by news that Richard Hills, number two jockey for Sheikh Hamdan, is to ride Harayir in work on the Lambourn gallops of her trainer, Dick Hern, today.But the owner's racing manager, Angus Gold, stressed: "That was arranged just in case Willie opts for Aqaarid. She was cut to 7-2 favourite from 5-1 by Coral, leapfrogging Hamdan Al Maktoum's other runner, Harayir, who is a 4-1 chance She also hardened to 6-1 from 7-1 for the Oaks. NRs: Carnanee, Father Gerry, Section Seven, Supreme Alliance 5.40: 1 Randolph Place (R F Coonan) 7-1; 2 Saddlestown Glen 8-1; 3 Miltonfield evens fav 20 ran NRs: All The Vowels, Galavotti, Laura's Beau.. Aqaarid swept to the front of the 1,000 Guineas betting yesterday as punters anticipated that Willie Carson will opt to ride the Fred Darling Stakes winner in the Newmarket Classic. Henrietta Knight's gelding led into the straight but was swamped by Shaihar.PUNCHESTOWN RESULTS: 2.00: 1 Cotton Call (T Horgan) 20-1; 2 Gale Toi 16-1; 3 Ring The Alarm 14-1 21 ran 9-4 fav Thinking Twice NRs: Appellate Court, Justaway, Muscovy Duck 2.30: 1 Risk Of Thunder (Mr K Whelan) 7-1; 2 Ardubh 10-1; 3 The Parish Pump 12-1 18 ran 5-1 fav Far Senior NR: Waterloo King 3.05: 1 Shaihar (K F O'Brien) 16-1; 2 Stompin 13- 8 fav; 3 Backgammon 9-1 20 ran 3.45: 1 Derrymoyle (M P Dwyer) 8-1; 2 Dorans Pride 5-4 fav; 3 Currency Basket 11-4 8 ran NRs: Northern Hide, Simpson 4.15: 1 Strong Platinum (C O'Dwyer) 7-4; 2 Sound Man 5-2; 3 Klairon Davis 6-4 fav 5 ran 4.45: 1 Rough Quest (M A Fitzgerald) 4-1; 2 Feathered Gale 4-1; 3 Have To Think 14-1 9 ran 3-1 fav Force Seven NRs: Monsieur Le Cure, Scribbler, Wylde Hide 5.15: 1 Kimanicky (Mr E Norris) 8-1; 2 Madison County 3-1; 3 Finchpalm 7-2 20 ran 9- 4 fav Slyguff Rosey. The only qualifications to be a punter here are £3 and optimism, while the specification to be a bookmaker seems simply to possess the surname Farrell.The equine name of the meeting was Strong Platinum, the tough and talented gelding who followed up Tuesday's win by sweeping aside Sound Man and Klairon Davis, the pair who had previously fought out the Arkle Chase at the Festival.Indeed Cheltenham form looked a bit stale all round.

Dorans Pride and Chance Coffey, two heroic figures from the Festival, were no match for Derrymoyle in the Tipperkevin Hurdle.The Aintree victor Stompin was backed as if he was being given a circuit start in the Four-Year-Old Hurdle. If told the victim of the hard sell does not like apples they simply insist on selling a half bag.This was a last fix for those who had not yet run out of money or emotion, either here in the first two days or at the football and dogs. As the lights sparkled on Ireland against Portugal at Landsdowne Road on Wednesday evening a smaller, quieter gathering assembled at the nearby building site they call the Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium. Old women offer a dozen apples in a plastic bag for a punt, and are not easy to dissuade.