FOLLOW WINTER AT SANDOWN .sx Team Spirit nap to repeat his Mildmay win .sx By THE SCOUT .sx TEAM SPIRIT , winner of the Mildmay Memorial 'Chase last January , returns to Sandown today in an attempt to stage a repeat .sx Strictly on the book , he has little chance of beating Dandy Scot- assuming that Fred Winter's mount would have made it a very close thing 12 months ago had he not capsized at the last fence .sx Team Spirit is 12lb .sx worse off this time , but on the other hand is two years younger than his rival , and is likely to have made the greater improvement .sx Also , there is little doubt that he has a brighter turn of finishing speed than Dandy Scot , who only held on to second place in the Rhymney Breweries 'Chase through his own indomitable courage and the relentless driving of his jockey .sx GOOD FORM .sx Limonalt , brought down by Chavara when well to the fore at Cheltenham last month , earlier beat Frenchman's Cove here- form that looked all the better when the runner-up went on to trounce Mandarin at Kempton .sx Limonalt is nothing to look at but is tough and game , and will stay this trip well .sx He is suggested as the best each-way long-shot and , together with Dandy Scot , the danger to Team Spirit ( 2.35 nap) .sx Even if he fails on Dandy Scot , Fred Winter is unquestionably the jockey to follow .sx He should score on Flame Gun ( 1.30 ) , Some Alibi ( 3.5 ) , and Tovaritch ( ) .sx Blinkers made all the difference to Tovaritch at Hurst Park and , similarly equipped today , he looks much too good for his Village Hurdle rivals .sx Best of the opposition may be Chinese Pintall , favourably noted when sixth , running-on , behind Luminarch here last month .sx Flame Gun , unbeaten here , seems well suited to giving away lumps of weight in small fields such as he faces in the Londesborough 'Chase .sx CAPSIZED .sx It is impossible to say whether Some Alibi would have won had he not capsized three fences out at Windsor last Saturday .sx But he was several lengths ahead of King's Nephew at the time , and would have probably made a close race of it .sx He should have too much speed , providing he stands up , for Hal's Hope , still far from a clever fencer , in the Stand Novices' 'Chase .sx Top novices' clash is at Birmingham , where Retour de Flamme ( 2.0 ) , Tokoroa , and Bandalore meet in the Packington 'Chase .sx Retour de Flamme allies his always bright turn of speed to brilliant fencing , and he should be too strong at the finish for his rivals .sx Commandeer ( 3.30 ) is one of the best four-year-old hurdlers seen out so far- though that is not saying much .sx He should have an easy task in the last event .sx RETOUR DE FLAMME FOR THE 'REPLAY' .sx By PETER O'SULLEVAN .sx THE finishing order in the 1958 Champion Hurdle , won by Bandalore from Tokoroa and Retour de Flamme ( 2.0 nap ) , may be reversed in a unique replay this afternoon , when the trio clash at Birmingham over fences .sx Retour de Flamme was frequently backed to beat Tokoroa over hurdles , but in six encounters he never succeeded .sx And after each had staged an impressive first-time effort over fences Fred Rimell bet Syd Warren that Tokoroa would again triumph the first time they met in a 'chase .sx The Packington 'Chase will determine the bet , and if Syd Warren proves the winner , as I expect , Bob McCreery will complete an unusual hat-trick .sx For on the two previous occasions he partnered this novice National entry , he won on him at Lewes ( on the flat ) and over hurdles at Newton Abbot .sx Anyway it should be a great race .sx For Tokoroa's Hurst Park running was undoubtedly an incorrect reflection on his true ability .sx While Bandalore had no chance last time out to endorse his notable first fencing effort .sx THE BLOT ?sx .sx Northern Mildmay hope , Springbok arrived at Sandown yesterday in fine trim after leaving Middleham at 5 a.m. He could prove a blot on the handicap- as connections hope .sx Merganser also seems well treated , and Johnny Lehane is confident of a bold bid by Miss Popsi Wopsi .sx Me , I am going along with Dandy Scot ( 2.30 e.w. ) on his seventh run over the course where his first effort in the 1955-6 season was a fall two from home in a novices' 'chase .sx Since then he has won two 'chases here and been beaten a short head over hurdles .sx Gerry Madden's luck finally changed yesterday- and what a reception his fellow jockeys gave him- when King's last-fence fall handed the Stanley 'Chase to Mandarin .sx There is now no doubt that the winner's confidence was shaken by his Chepstow fall , and he'll miss the National in favour of a Gold Cup preparation .sx And , of course , 29-year-old Gerry , to whom Mme Kilian Hennessy has remained so loyal , will continue to partner him henceforth .sx Problem horse Mossreeba even defied Johnny Gilbert's skill in the Metropolitan Hurdle .sx He struck the front after jumping the last but as Keith Piggott says :sx " He'll come and beat anything , but as soon as he gets his head in front up it goes- and he doesn't want to know .sx " Avala compensated the stable when a doubtful issue was clinched by Beldon Hall's last-fence fall in the Mole Handicap .sx League v Players- replay Wednesday .sx MINISTRY STAGE A LAST-CHANCE PEACE TALK .sx By CLIVE TOYE .sx AN urgent peace move by the Ministry of Labour last night could stop Soccer's headlong flight into a strike .sx The Ministry have called the Football League and the players' leaders together for a conference in London next Wednesday- 72 hours before the players' strike is due to begin .sx The conference could end in , at least , a postponement of the strike notices .sx For the players' leaders are keen to tell the League :sx " We wish to negotiate on one of YOUR ideas- an eased form of the retain and transfer system .sx " This new system was suggested by the Football League management committee on December 29 , accepted by the players , then rejected by the Football League club chairmen this week , causing the present crisis .sx 'FIRST-CLASS IDEA' .sx Players' leader Jimmy Hill said last night :sx " It was an absolutely first-class idea by the League , and it would really work in practice .sx " The League clubs feared this proposal because they thought it could rob them of too many players at one time .sx That isn't so .sx " With new , longer contracts , a manager could sign some of his players for one year , some for two and some for three .sx At the end of any one season , only a small number of players would be in a position to ask for a move .sx " League president Joe Richards said last night at his Barnsley home that he would go to next Wednesday's meeting " if my presence means avoiding a strike .sx " He added :sx " But I am not going to waste time .sx I am not budging on the issue of the transfer system .sx " The players now believe that , if it is necessary , the final instrument for the defeat of the Football League is the case of 26-year-old former England B inside-forward Alfie Stokes .sx STRONG CASE .sx Stokes is ready to take legal action against Fulham , his last League club , claiming they have no right to keep him out of League football .sx Stokes , the players have been advised , has an even stronger case against the League's present contract than George Eastham , the Newcastle star transferred to Arsenal after a long , bitter wrangle with Newcastle .sx Under the system suggested by the League management on December 29 , a player due to be offered a new contract by his club would be given details of his terms by May 19 , accepting or refusing by May 31 .sx If he refused to sign , the League would find him another club before June 30 .sx If a player was not transferred by June 30 , and his club wished to retain him , the club would have to pay him a minimum of +15 a week until he was transferred .sx Mr. X will be happy with 10% .sx By ROBERT FINDLAY .sx The Sports Editor .sx THE mysterious Mr. X sat drinking coffee in the back room of his modest Charterhouse-street , London , office .sx Mr. X , accused by Football League secretary Alan Hardaker as being the man behind the strike .sx [SIC] Mr. Hardaker hinted Mr. X wanted to enrol all footballers under his banner , then hire them out to clubs at his price .sx Wasn't Jimmy Hill , chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association , one of his men ?sx I decided on a frontal attack .sx " You are trying a Soccer take-over , " I accused the fresh-faced , fortyish character who offered me coffee in an Irish brogue .sx " You want to dictate to the League clubs .sx " His name .sx Mr. X sighed helplessly .sx " Not on your life .sx I'm only a literary agent trying to earn 10 per cent to keep the wolf from the door .sx " Bagenal Harvey is the name .sx His partner sat opposite him .sx His name ?sx Denis Compton .sx Eleven years ago the enterprising Mr. Harvey began to specialise in contributions by well-known sportsmen .sx He enrolled them on 10 per cent commission to endorse articles for newspapers , periodicals , books , broadcasts , and advertising .sx He guided the feet of Denis Compton , Godfrey Evans , John Surtees , Danny Blanchflower , Johnny Haynes , Trevor Bailey , and dozens of other sportsmen through the pitfalls of Fleet-street towards contracts based on their fame and personality as sportsmen .sx " And that's all I'm interested in , " said Mr. Harvey helplessly .sx " Ten per cent and the right to help sportsmen make something out of their great reputations .sx " Mr. Harvey is extremely successful in his aims , though he creates enemies in sport and in Fleet-street through his activities in putting a price on sportsmen's contributions .sx " But to say I am behind the strike is so much nonsense , " declared Mr. Harvey heatedly .sx " WHY ?sx I can't make players' contracts .sx I can't make a club pay a player so much a week .sx And , what's more , I don't want to .sx " A strike's the last thing I want .sx It would put my clients out of business , and then where would I be ?sx " Mr. Hardaker knows Jimmy Hill is on my list of contributors , but our deals are strictly business .sx His business .sx " Jimmy has legal and other advisers much better qualified to help him than I am .sx " And in any case I have enough to do minding my own business without wasting time dispelling silly rumours .sx " On the walls of his office hung pictures of sporting celebrities signed in " many thanks " terms .sx On his shelves stood sporting books by his contributors .sx Denis Compton broke in with :sx " And , believe it or not , Bagenal is the only man an England cricket team ever invited to go on tour at their expense .sx " It was before the 1957-58 tour of South Africa , when Bagenal said half-jokingly before some of the team :sx 'I wish I was going with you so-and-so's .sx ' " The next thing the M.C.C. lads had whipped round the necessary +500 and invited Bagenal , through their captain , Freddie Brown , to go with them .sx " He didn't because he took ill shortly afterwards , but the gesture was what I call 'highly commended' in any language .sx " I said adieu and left Mr. X stripped of his mystery , to finish his coffee and calculate the week's takings at 10 per cent .sx CHEUNG from CHINA FACES WOLVES .sx By MIKE LANGLEY .sx OUT with the half-time lemon and in with the chop-suey .sx . for here comes Cheung Chi Doy , the first full Chinese to play in the Football League .sx He is Blackpool's outside left against Wolves today .sx And Aston Villa assistant manager Dick Taylor , who saw 19-year-old Cheung bamboozle Villa reserves on New Year's Eve , offers this testimonial :sx - " I've not seen such a perfectly balanced player for years .sx I just can't understand why he hasn't been in the first team sooner .sx " Cheung called in at Blackpool last summer on his way to Rome , where he was due to play for Formosa in the Olympics .sx He decided he liked Lancashire , forgot Rome , and signed professional for Blackpool in October .sx Ten reserve games , the last five at centre forward , and seven goals- that's Cheung's record .sx