Curtain Falls On Memorable National Hunt Season

May 2, 2013 Leave a comment

Sport can often have its dominant forces and the National Hunt sphere certainly had one to drool over this season as Sprinter Sacre was the beacon of the equine world as he toyed and teased with his rivals before stretching them to a point that they could no longer live with.

Nicky Henderson’s superstar was the box office commodity at the start of the Jumps season and those who witnessed his marvellous display in the Tingle Creek Chase at SandownPark were left open-mouthed, as he duly annihilated his rivals with a flawless display and the Seven Barrows star continued to leave an ever-expanding fan base watching on in awe.

A facile winner of the Victor Chandler Chase in january, he was expected to face a stiff assignment against Sizing Europe in the Champion Chase, but he duly brushed him aside with disdain as he romped to a 19-length success in the Blue Riband event, before he went on to crush Ryanair Chase winner Cue Card and Irish luminary Flemenstar in another mind-boggling victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree in April.

It was Henderson’s willingness to campaign him hard that saw his stock enhance further and his win over Sizing Europe in the Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival saw him emulate the mighty Istabraq by winning at all three major spring festivals and duly cement his place as the leading jumps horse in training.

Henderson was crowned Champion National Hunt trainer for the first time since 1987 and along with the incomparable Sprinter Sacre, the Seven Barrows maestro also had the joys of lifting the Cheltenham Gold Cup crown with the battling Bobs Worth, who fought off a spirited effort from Sir Des Champs to add the coveted prize to his Hennessy Gold Cup win earlier in the season.

Another champion who yet again showed his class at the Cheltenham Festival was Hurricane Fly who returned to the top of the perch in the two-mile hurdling division, as Willie Mullins’ stable star regained the coveted crown off Rock On Ruby to win it for the second time in his illustrious career, whilst maintaining an unblemished record throughout the campaign.

Big Buck’s was absent from the Cheltenham Festival through injury, which left the door open in the three-mile division and an old Grade One stalwart of the two-mile sphere tried his hand at the extra eight furlongs and Solwhit duly delivered with a battling success over Celestial Halo in the World Hurdle to show that he could well be a rival to Paul Nicholls’ legendary stayer if he returns next year.

Ireland and Willie Mullins have certainly had a phenomenal crop of horses this season and Quevega secured her place in history by landing her fifth consecutive Mares’ Hurdle at the Prestbury Park extravaganza, whilst Champagne Fever was another who got the Emerald Isle dancing as he fought off the highly regarded My Tent Or Yours in a vintage Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Some other familiar names came to the fore yet again during the jumps season as AP McCoy was crowned champion jockey for the 18th year on the spin but there were a host of names that propelled into the limelight from the virtual unknown in a campaign full of major ups and some significant downs.

Lucy Alexander was to become the first lady rider to be crowned leading conditional jockey, as she continued her meteoric rise up the ranks, whilst a fresh-faced Brendan Powell followed in his father’s footsteps by landing a runaway success at the Cheltenham Festival on board Colin Tizzard’s Golden Chieftain to show the National Hunt jockey scene is in rude health with some talented youngsters emerging.

A new name left tabloid sub-editors licking their lips as Ryan Mania produced a peach of ride on board the Sue Smith-trained Auroras Encore to victory in the Aintree Grand National and the likeable Scot was found conveying the sport in a positive manner on a host of daytime TV shows with the Merseyside marathon proving a gargantuan success with all 40 runners and riders returning safe and sound.

However, this all rather paled into insignificance as the 2012/2013 National Hunt season will be remembered for the horrifying injuries picked up by John Thomas McNamara at the Cheltenham Festival after a crashing fall from Galaxy Rock in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup on the third day of the meeting.

A much-loved amateur around the weighing room, McNamara was expecting to hang up his silks at the end of the season following a superb career, but his accident on the Jonjo O’Neill-trained raider that saw him suffer paralysis left a sense of emptiness around Prestbury Park following the news and racing showed it was like a family as the likes of Barry Geraghty and AP McCoy showed true class as they offered their condolences to McNamara even after wins in the Gold Cup and Albert Bartlett, respectively.

The likes of Messrs Henderson, Nicholls and Mullins may have yet again dominated the big Saturday afternoon races but there were some other stars to propel into the limelight during the season and Venetia Williams notched up the most winners in one season during her career, with the winning machine Jupiter Rex following in the steps of Hunt Ball, who propelled up the ratings in terrific manner.

Harry Fry stepped out of the shadow of Paul Nicholls and showed that he could be a trainer to follow over the coming seasons as his strike rate was an impressive one, whilst Donald McCain continued to go from strength to strength as he notched up the most amount of winners, but will now be looking for a lot more Graded winners next year to try and challenge the Nicky Henderson juggernaut, who should have the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig and Bobs Worth ready to strut their stuff for the 2013/2014 campaign.

Filed under Latest Racing News, National Hunt Races, Nicky Henderson, Opinion, Paul Nicholls Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Auroras Encore Bids To Compelte Aintree and Scottish National Double

April 17, 2013 Leave a comment

Champagne corks would not have just been popping at Sue Smith’s Bingley yard after Auroras Encore’s shock 66/1 victory but the BHA and all concerned with improving the welfare of horses in the race would have breathed a sighed a huge sigh of relief over a glass of the fizzy stuff as the 2013 Grand National produced a magnificent spectacle with all 40 horses and jockeys returning from the four mile four furlong marathon trip safely.

Aintree have prided themselves on introducing safety measures over the last 12 months after two horses, including 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised, suffered fatal injuries in the world’s greatest steeplechase last year, and the Merseyside venue would’ve been triumphing over the positive impact their changes made to what was still a highlight of not only National Hunt racing but of the UK sporting calendar.

Witticisms were flying in ten to the dozen in the lead-up to the race with some in the racing ranks referring to the race as a potential glorified hurdle race, but the 4m 3f 110y marathon lost none of its glitz and glamour as the 40-strong field went careering to the first fence.

The obstacles have certainly become a lot less taxing on the horses, as they are now able to brush through the top of the fences with more ease, but the view of watching these 40 equine superstars jumping round the idiosyncratic course still created a buzz around the millions that were watching the race around the world.

Going into the race all eyes had been on Katie Walsh, as her mount Seabass was backed off the boards, but as he did 12 months ago, the Ted Walsh-trained raider failed to see out the closing stages, whilst the fellow Irish raiders Colbert Station and On His Own had both failed to make it around the course after falling in the middle part of the contest.

Meanwhile at the head of affairs Nick Scholfield was gaining a real tune out of Teaforthree, but the petrol tank was plummeting in the red as a tired jump at the last handed the initiative to Ryan Mania on board Auroras Encore and the 2012 Scottish National runner-up and the pair duly sprinted clear to send the bookmakers into raptures and a new name catapulted into the newspapers.

Mania was a name only known in racing quarters, but no doubt editors across the land enjoyed compiling their punchy headings utilising the Scotsman’s surname, but his fall the following day at Hexham, where he was airlifted to hospital just brought home to the nation the ups and downs with the national hunt world.

After being discharged from hospital, Mania will have to spend some time on the sidelines, but he will desperate to be back in the plate for Auroras Encore’s next race, which looks set to be in the Scottish National at Ayr on April 20, where he tries to emulate the legendary Red Rum by notching up the Grand National and Scottish National double and he is currently around the 12/1 market in the latest betting to secure victory north of the border.

Filed under Grand National, Latest Racing News Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Irish Saint Heads For Triumph Hurdle After Adonis Victory

February 25, 2013 Leave a comment

Trial races can often be overhyped but the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle has provided a fountain of clues in recent years for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and Saturday’s renewal of the Kempton Park Grade Two may have helped paint a clearer picture of the four-year-old title, which takes place on the final day of this year’s meeting on Friday, March 15th.

Since the turn of the century, four winners have managed to use victory in the Adonis as a springboard to Triumph glory at Prestbury Park, with Snow Drop (2000), Penzance (2005), Soldatino (2010) and Zarkandar (2011) all etching their names in both crowns, but can Saturday’s winner Irish Saint emulate that quartet and progress to Cheltenham glory?

Sent off a 5/4 favourite for the Adonis, the Paul Nicholls trained Irish Saint appeared to have it all to do turning into the straight as Ruby Walsh became more and more active in the saddle, but the Ditcheat inmate gradually got rocking and rolling in the closing stages and eventually came upsides Vasco Du Ronceray.

Driven out after a good leap at the last flight, Walsh managed to cajole him past Nicky Henderson’s raider and he won by half-a-length which forced Bet365 to cut him to 12/1 for next month’s Triumph Hurdle, but with a strong bunch of four-year-olds set to line up at Cheltenham, he will need to produce a slicker effort than Saturday’s performance.

Outpaced in the middle of the race, Walsh had looked to be fighting a losing battle, but he showed he could well be a future stayer in the making as he was producing his finest work in the latter stages, as he reeled in Vasco Du Ronceray, who is 14/1 with Bet365 for the Triumph, and asserting late on.

A strong pace from the flag fall, the Triumph could well suit Irish Saint, but it’s debatable as to whether he possesses the required speed to be victorious in the race and there could well be a whole host of more attractive betting propositions in the current ante-post market for the 2m Grade One prize.

Irish Saint’s victory at the weekend saw Bet365 slightly trim Rolling Star’s price to 9/2 as he comfortably beat him in the Triumph Hurdle Trial on Cheltenham’s Festival Trials Day and Henderson’s premier challenger for the crown could well be one of the leading contenders for the race and along with Far West (4/1) and Our Conor (9/2) is one of a trio of horses who spearhead the market with just over two weeks to go.

Vasco Du Ronceray may have finished a close second, but Henderson may opt to send him down the Fred Winter route, whilst Alan King’s mare L’unique (33/1 for Triumph) lost her unbeaten tag and looks to face a difficult task in reversing the form.

A potential improver from the race is Courtesy Call, who was making her hurdling debut for Henderson after a decent career on the Flat for Mark Johnston and having travelled well until the second last flight was just outclassed by the front two, but he is sure to improve and at 25/1 in the latest betting with Bet365 could be scribed into a few notebooks.

Filed under Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Kempton, Latest Racing News, Opinion, Paul Nicholls, Ruby Walsh, Triumph Hurdle Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Donald McCain Leading Prospects For The New Season

November 9, 2012 Leave a comment

Continuing the look at some of the National Hunt’s leading stables, here I look at the leading protagonists from Donald McCain’s Bankhouse Stables.

Peddlers Cross

After finishing runner up in the 2011 Champion Hurdle behind the brilliant Hurricane Fly, McCain decided that as part of his natural progression, Peddlers Cross would be aimed at fences the following season, with an open mind being retained as to what his ultimate career target would be. That plan has now changed!

For whatever reason Peddlers Cross simply did not take to bigger obstacles, he appeared to lose momentum each time he approached one and then lose further momentum each time he jumped over. This was totally the opposite technique to the way he tackled hurdles, over which he could be relied upon to clear without changing stride and then pick up speed the other side.

This season therefore is all about a reverse of direction and back to hurdles. The plan is likely to start him off in the 2m4f Ascot race that stablemate, Overturn won last November. All things being well, should he get back to winning ways then he will be aimed at the 3m staying races at some stage. Ultimately this will mean taking on Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but McCain has never been deterred by taking on top class opposition provided he is happy his own entry and his faith in Peddlers Cross hasn’t wavered and the prospect of a clash with Big Buck’s is a mouth-watering prospect.

Overturn

With almost £700,000 in earnings already to his name, Overturn is reported to be in rude health at home and ready to race. However, with the new novice chase structure being introduced, it has been hard to try and find the right race for him.

That said, McCain is not just going to send him anywhere and is more than happy to wait until the right opportunity comes along.

The word is that Overturn has schooled extremely well over fences and as such, remains a very exciting prospect for Novice Chases to come. It is hoped to have him primed and ready to go for either the Arkle or Jewson Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Cinders And Ashes

It provided the first highlight of last season’s Cheltenham Festival when the stable’s Cinders And Ashes won the Supreme Novices Hurdle. The strategic plan now is to go back to Cheltenham for a bid to win the Champion Hurdle but in the meantime, a progress check will be mounted when he takes on the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle later in November.

McCain will recognise that until you start mixing it with the ‘big boys’, you are never quite sure what you have. The stable will know a lot more after Newcastle and future plans are flexible until he has had his first run of the new season.

Ile De Re

This six year old was a huge star for the stable during the flat season and although unable to get into the mix in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Champions Day, he remains an exciting prospect for hurdling this winter.

He disappointed when finishing eighth, after going off  favourite, in a handicap hurdle at Ascot at the beginning of November and it will be interesting to see where he goes next and how he performs.

If he can transfer his improvement on the flat to hurdling, then he surely has a big race within him.

Weird Al

Weird Al goes extremely when well fresh and when he makes his seasonal debut, he will certainly be one to watch, wherever that may be.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup was his main target last season but he showed enough in the Grand National (despite falling) to suggest that he should be re-directed to Aintree as his season’s main target.

His fall in the Grand National aside, his jumping has always been sound and he has proven himself in Grade One company and as such, he will remain a competitive sort wherever he runs and is one to follow.

The Donald McCain stable has grown out of all proportion since son Donald, took over from ‘Ginger’ McCain his late father a couple of years ago. A Grand National win, victory in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and the Galway Hurdle plus the Northumberland Plate and Chester Cup on the flat are just some of the recent achievements  and with a stable’s array of talent growing all the time, more winners will surely be forthcoming.

Sky Sports Zoey Bird did this feature recently from McCain’s Cheshire stable, which is definitely worth watching.

Filed under Donald McCain, Latest Racing News, National Hunt Races, Opinion, Trainer

Five Stars For The Future From The Alan King Yard

November 9, 2012 Leave a comment

Having enjoyed plenty of success at the Cheltenham Festival down the years, the Alan King Barbary Castle Stable looks primed to enjoy success once again this season with a number of gifted youngsters amongst his ranks.

Theses will complement the many who have already established themselves as top performers from the yard. Horses such as Sefton Hurdle winner, Lovcen, the highly promising hurdler, Balder Succes, Raya Star, the stable’s biggest earner last season and not forgetting Smad Place, third in the World Hurdle behind Big Buck’s at the Cheltenham festival in March.

Here are five young horses from the Alan King yard I like the look of and will be watching over the coming months.

Handazan

Second on his British debut behind a decent Paul Nicholls novice, Far West was the much vaunted Handazan, who has arrived at the King stable after achieving a Flat Rating of 98, suggesting that this three year old oozes class. King was much impressed with his debut performance behind Far West and recognised that he would improve greatly for that run, something he did when comfortably winning a Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree a couple of weeks back on his second run for the yard.

He is being pencilled in as a possible Triumph Hurdle contender and on what he has shown so far, he would have every chance of being there and is currently rated as a 33/1 chance in the race’s antepost market.

Valdez

This very smart horse was been beaten just once last season in Bumpers, that coming in the Doncaster Sales race at Newbury, where he possibly had contracted some sort of stomach bug as he ran far below that was expected. Before that defeat, he won two from two over two miles with his first win coming on Good ground at Warwick, which he won by over eight lengths. That win came last March and he followed it up with a second Bumper victory at Kempton in February, this time on Soft ground, proving that the going will have little bearing on his performance.

His first start in Novice Hurdle company came at Wincanton in October, where he went down by a 1/4 of a length when 6/5 favourite.

It is abundantly clear that there are high expectations for Valdez and improvement is sure to come now tried over obstacles and he could be the yard’s challenger the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham next March.

Vendor

A winner twice from three starts last season after joining the King stable from France, this obviously very talented four year old also finished third in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival back in March (watch on Youtube). He is clearly one earmarked for stardom in the future but whether or not he has the speed over two miles is a doubt and it would seem the yard were keen to test his stamina over 2½ miles on his seasonal debut at Aintree recently. However, he was pulled up on that occasion leaving questions to answer but he should not be written off just yet and is worth watching on his next couple of starts.

McVicar

This three year old arrived at Barbary Castle with a glowing reference from Henrietta knight who has spent a lot of time schooling him. She believes that he will make the transition from Flat Racing to Hurdles comfortably and it is suggested that he has the potential to make it through to Graded Company. It may also be worth noting that McVicar was originally trained on the flat by Mick Channon, who had originally looked after Katchit, before he too moved to King and went on to win the Champion Hurdle in 2007. If McVicar is anything near that quality then the stable have got themselves a real star in the making!

McVicar was a very good handicapper with a couple of good wins under his belt and whole string of decent performances. His debut for the yard came at Huntingdon on the 4th November where he demolished five rivals in an easy 15 length victory when the 3/10 favourite. A more satisfying introduction to National Hunt life he could not have had and is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Grumeti

Already established as one of the stable stars, Grumeti will have benefited hugely from the Summer break after a hugely promising Juvenile season.

As is well known, Grumeti avenged his defeat by Countrywide Flame in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by winning the Grade One Matalan Anniversary Hurdle at Aintree three weeks later, where he had the John Quinn beaten by a length back in second.

Before the Cheltenham Festival, he had won twice at Grade Two level, including the Triumph Hurdle Trial in January, clearly proving that he had taken to hurdling far more readily than most. His racing career had begun on the flat as a 2 year old where he was trained by Michael Bell and campaigned in handicaps, winning twice.

King has no real reason to rush him straight back on course and has suggested that he will be kept back until the early part of December. At that time, he will be given a warm up before taking on his first target of the season, the Grade One, Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and the Champion Hurdle will be the longer term aim at the Festival in March.

Filed under Alan King, Latest Racing News, Opinion, Trainer Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Who’s Up For The National Hunt Season?

October 23, 2012 Leave a comment

With the opening meeting of the season at Cheltenham already been and gone, we can now firmly say that the new National Hunt season is well underway and we look forward to the feast of ‘jumps’ racing that is coming our way over the next few months.

Of course, Cheltenham use their first meeting of the season in October as a dress rehearsal for the bigger meetings that they will be hosting during the season, the major one being the Cheltenham Festival in March but the Open meeting in November and International meeting in December have both become increasingly popular in recent years.

However, Cheltenham is not the only course hosting big early season events and this weekend, Aintree opens its gates with the first important chase of the season, the Grade Two Old Roan Chase taking centre stage on Saturday. The two-day meeting hosts a total of 14 but the Old Roan, which was first run only in 2004. Since then, Kauto Star won in 2006 and Monet’s Garden made the race his own, winning three times between 2007 and 2010. Last year’s winner, Alberta’s Run, has won the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival twice and this year’s race will be sure to provide some early season pointers.

The following weekend will see the first Grade One Chase take place at Down Royal in Northern Ireland, the JN Wine Chase; won twice by Kauto Star in recent years whilst other well-known winners include, Beef Or Salmon (twice), The Listener and Florida Pearl. Whilst a quality field will be assembled for that race, another quality field will line up at Wetherby to contest the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase over 3m1f.

Like the JN Wine Chase, the Charlie Hall  is a genuine early season trial for the King George and the Cheltenham Gold Cup and has had a number of past winners who has won one or the other. Horses of the calibre of See More Business, won the Gold Cup, whilst One Man, Barton Bank, Wayward Lad, who all won the Charlie Hall twice also went on to win the King George at KemptonPark at Christmas.

The main supporting race on Saturday for the ‘Charlie Hall’ is the Grade Two John Smith Hurdle over 3m1f a race won in 2005 by the great Inglis Drever, three-time winner of the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

National Hunt meetings will also be held at Ascot the first weekend in November, with the Berkshire track hosting a Grade Three Chase and a Listed Hurdle event.

The following weekend on November 10th at Wincanton, the Grade Two Elite Hurdle over two miles shares top billing with the Rising Stars Novices Chase over 2m5f. The Elite Hurdle is a race that has yet to produce its first Champion Hurdler, but it has seen dual winner, Celestial Halo twice placed in the Champion Hurdle. It also saw Azertyuiop win in 2001 and who in 2004 went on to become the two-mile Champion Chaser at the Cheltenham Festival.

It is back to Cheltenham of course on 16th November for the hugely popular 3 day Paddy Power Open meeting, with the feature being the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup on the Saturday.

The first day feature is the Sharp Novices Hurdle over two miles which has seen the likes of Cue Card, Golan Way and Moon Over Miami in its winners enclosure in recent years. Top of the supporting cast on the opening day is the first Glenfarclas Cross Country Chases over 3m7f of the season.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup which is a Grade Three handicap over 2m4f, which carries a purse of £150,000. Although usually attracting the top handicappers, the race has been won by Imperial Commander who went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It was also won by Exotic Dancer, runner-up in both the Gold Cup and King George but a multiple Grade One winner in his own right. One of the early winners of the race was Gay Trip who won twice in 1969 and 1971, where in between those years he won the Grand National at Aintree. The first ever winner of the race in 1960 was Fortria, who won again in 1962. He also won the Queen Mother Two Mile Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in back to back years of 1960 and 1961 and became one of the most popular chasers in the country and as such, the form of the race will be one to keep an eye on as the 2012/2013 season unfolds.

The third day of the Open meeting at PrestburyPark opens with the Grade Two November Novices Chase and the card includes the season’s first Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle Trial over 2m5f. It also includes the Grade 3 Open Handicap Hurdle, making the meeting pretty much unmissable for NH fans.

As always at this time of year, I’m really excited by the return of Jumps Racing and I fully intend to keep the site bang up to date with just about anything there is to discuss in the world of National Hunt.

Filed under Ascot, Charlie Hall Chase, Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Down Royal, JNWine Chase, Latest Racing News, National Hunt Races, Paddy Power Gold Cup, Wetherby Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Five to Follow From Ditcheat This Season

October 12, 2012 Leave a comment

The countdown is on! We’re just weeks away from the official start of the 2012/2013 National Hunt season and as such, I’m going to be doing a couple of previews of runners I like from the leading stables, starting with Paul Nicholls.

Champion National Hunt trainer, Paul Nicholls, knows that retaining his crown from his great rival Nicky Henderson will be a tough ask in 2013.

Anybody with an interest in racing will have recognised that a shift in the balance of power, particularly in the chasing division, has taken place over the last 12 months and it is now Henderson that holds the vast majority of the “ace cards” when it comes to graded races over fences.

Gone from Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard are the great Denman and Grand National hero, Neptune Collonges, who have both been retired and whilst no decision has been made about the future of Kauto Star, it has to be thought he won’t have more than a couple of races left in him, given he turns 13 this season.

Nicholls will however retain dual Champion Chase winner, Master Minded and the incredible Big Buck’s for the 2012/2013 National Hunt season. Bick Buck’s of course is on a 15 race winning streak over hurdles and looks pretty much unstoppable as he looks to extend that over the coming months in his ultimate bid to win a fifth consecutive World Hurdle.

Here are the five other Ditcheat inmates that I hope big things can be expected from during the forthcoming flat season.

Sanctuaire

The highest rated Novice Chaser ever stabled at Ditcheat, this six year old was a very good hurdler but he looks a real prospect over the bigger obstacles, winning all three of his starts. The latest of those was the Grade Two Celebration Chase on soft ground over 2 miles at Sandown where he had the highly regarded Somersby 17 lengths behind him in second place. He will be aimed at the Champion Chase this season but he is likely to be next seen in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in December, a race that Nicholls has won seven times in the last ten years!

Zarkandar

Winner of the Triumph Hurdle as a juvenile in 2011, great things are expected of this half brother to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Zarkava. He was finishing best of all when fifth in the Champion Hurdle last season and looked the likely winner of the Aintree Hurdle when he fell three from home. He will be far more experienced this term and with further improvement like, he looks certain to be the choice of stable jockey, Ruby Walsh, for the Champion Hurdle again this season.

Themilanhorse

After four wins at Novice Hurdle level last season, a feat which very few achieve, it is likely that this six year old will be asked to take on bigger obstacles at some point this term for which his size and range looks tailor-made. His seasonal target will only be decided once his form is established but current thinking suggests that given his proven stamina, he could be aimed at the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next March.

Black Thunder

A couple of eye catching wins in Novice Hurdles last season saw me add Black Thunder to my note book as “one to watch” and I’ll be following him again during the Autumn and Winter. Whether he starts off over hurdles before switching to fences remains to be seen but he’s definitely got the profile of a chaser and is one of real note.

Rolling Aces

Anybody who backed this runner on his final two starts last season may have got their fingers burnt as he came across from Ireland with a big reputation and after winning his firs start for Nicholls in a Novice Hurdle at Wincanton, he was beaten when odds on at Taunton in December and again, disappointed at Wincanton last time out in a Handicap Hurdle.

He arrived at Ditcheat after winning a Point-to-Point in Ireland and I have no doubt that he’ll be running over fences this season and I’m happy to follow him as I think he’s got the makings of a good horse.

Filed under Cheltenham Festival Races, Latest Racing News, National Hunt Races, Paul Nicholls Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Camelot In Bid To Re-Write The History Books With St Leger Win

September 13, 2012 Leave a comment


Despite trainer Aidan O’Brien suggesting that Camelot will be out of his comfort zone when he takes on eight rivals in Saturday’s St Leger at Doncaster. However, neither punters nor bookmakers are taking his reservations about the 1m6f trip too seriously as it is common knowledge that his Sire, the late, great Montjeu, has already Sired two St Leger winners, Scorpion in 2005 and last year’s winner, Masked Marvel, which is precisely why the unbeaten Colt is as short as 1/3 to win the final Classic of the flat season.

After already landing the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby, Camelot’s bid for “Triple Crown” glory will come possibly at the expense of a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the usual route these days for Classic winners. However, having won two classics already and being far and away the best three year old in Europe currently, Camelot’s stud fees are already assured whether he wins the ‘Arc’ or not. Besides, winning the “Triple Crown”, as old fashioned as it has become, is an incredible achievement and helps the St Leger in particular secure its Classic status, earned over the period of its existence from 1776 until now. It is after all Britain’s longest running Classic race.

The last horse to win the Colts Triple Crown was one of the original Ballydoyle stallions, Nijinsky, who achieved the feat in 1970, becoming one of the great legends of flat racing in the process.

Nijinsky in fact did get his crack at the ’Arc’ but could manage only second place behind Sassafras, with many pundits holding jockey, Lester Piggott, responsible for the defeat, accusing him of giving the Colt too much to do down the final straight. Piggott argued that Nijinsky had simply gone past his peak for the season and the ‘Arc’ was one race too many.
We should not forget of course that Saturday’s St Léger is not a one horse affair, the first two home in York’s Great St Voltigeur last month, Main Sequence and Thought Worthy, are both in the field and a good cases can be made for both stealing the show. Thought Worthy is one of two major chances from the John Gosden stable, who has saddled the winner of the race for the past two years; the other entry being Gordon Stakes third, Michelangelo.

Encke, third in the Great St Voltigeur from the Mahmood Al Zarooni Godolphin stable is also in the field and a big improvement is expected from him, while William Haggas will be trying his hand with his excellent three time handicapper winner, Guarantee, who is certain to get the trip and might be good enough to get into the mix for the places. Ursa Major from the Irish stable of Tommy Carmody who won the Group 3 St Leger Trial at the Curragh a fortnight ago has earned his opportunity and could run a big race. So too could O’Brien’s second string Imperial Monarch who will come into the race fresh having not been seen on course since winning the prestigious Group 1 Prix de Paris back in July.

An absolute cracking race awaits in prospect for what is the best St Leger card in years. However, as good as the opposition looks, it is almost impossible to see beyond a Camelot victory and the colt is taken re-write the record books.

Filed under Flat Racing, Latest Racing News Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Bob Lingo Wins Galway Plate for JP McManus

August 2, 2012 Leave a comment

 

JP McManus owned horses accounted for 25% of the 20 runners in the 2012 Galway Plate field but it was perhaps one of those least expected to win that came up trumps in the form of 16/1 shot, Bob Lingo, who has a reputation of being awkward and very difficult to train but there was little evidence of that at Ballybrit on Wednesday when he ran an absolute blinder to win the race by five lengths from Casey Top.

Bob Lingo had recovered from a wind problem early on in the year and by and large he has been in decent form. The 10 year old has not had a break as such, winning a decent handicap at Fairyhouse in April before running well at the Punchestown Festival. He then performed poorly in what turned out to be an unnecessary spin over hurdles at Killarney but improved upon that with a decent show in two mile hurdle at Gowran Park in June. He also ran well in his warm up run for this a 1m6f flat race where he was beaten into second place by no less than a Ballydoyle horse.

Trainer, Tom Mullins, had fancied his chances 12 months ago with his Dr Whizz and although he did not discount Bob Lingo, he perhaps thought a place might be the most achievable. However, ridden with great determination by Mark Walsh, the 10 year old was kept at it from the outset and by halfway was a major threat. Walsh kept him handy, switching him inside and out to make sure a clear run would always be available.

Moving into 4th place three fences from home, it was clear that he was moving the best and although Casey Top, who had attempted to make all with Paul Townend on board were still very much in it, Walsh and Bob Lingo appeared to have their measure. The two went clear but once over the last, Walsh pressed the final button and Bob Lingo responded moving readily into the lead and went away in great style winning like a true champion.

The favourite for the race, Blackstairmountain, ridden by Ruby Walsh had attempted to get involved late on but could not make any impression on the leaders and in the end had to hang on grimly to third place, finishing a neck in front of Cross Appeal with Nina Carberry on board.

Once again, JP McManus retained jockey, Tony McCoy, had the pick of his boss’s horses and got it wrong electing to ride Wise Old Owl, who was having his first run since finishing second in the Galway Plate 12 months ago. This year he could only manage 9th place with McCoy undoubtedly looking ahead and noticing the green and yellow hoops of Mark Walsh going across the line first with Bob Lingo; a horse of course that he could have ridden. Ironically, Wise Old Owl was ridden by Walsh last year.

Where Bob Lingo goes next remains to be seen but if he is to follow in the footsteps of the last two winners of the Galway plate, then there’s every chance he may be seen at Cheltenham’s November and December meetings and/or the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.

Blazing Tempo, winner 12 months ago headed across the Irish Sea in March for a tilt at the Ryanair Chase but could never an impression before being pulled up. The 2010 winner, Finger On The Pulse, has been over to Prestbury five times since his Galway success. He has run in both the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup for the past two seasons, failing to make an impression on all four starts but he did finish a credible 7th of 22 runners in the Byrne Group Plate at the Festival this year and no doubt he’ll be back once again in the Autumn.

Filed under Galway, Latest Racing News, Opinion Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Don’t Forget About Galway Amidst The Olympics…

July 30, 2012 Leave a comment

 

The Olympic Games might well be underway but that will be nowhere near enough to stop the best part of 250,000 racing fans from both sides of the Irish Sea heading Galway Races this week for the annual seven day Summer Festival at the Ballybrit Racecourse.

The Streets of Galway after Racing…

Situated on the outskirts of GalwayCity, the Racecourse has been hosting the Summer Festival since it first began in 1869 and has seen it convert into a pilgrimage for many. They go each year to witness the best of both the Irish National Hunt and Irish Flat Racing and do so with the word “Party” very much in mind. They love the racing, of course they do, but the atmosphere engendered during the festival is every bit as important. I was lucky enough to go in 2010 and the scenes on Quay Street in the evenings after the racing was often more akin to Magaluf than those you’d expect from a crowd of racegoers!

Race after race ensues, from the first day, Monday 30th July (this year) until the final day on Sunday 5th August. Some days the racing takes place during the day while on others, evening meetings are the order. This allows for a little breathing space during the week.

Whilst the horses are doing their utmost on the course, the army of entertainers are doing the same off it. Horse racing to a backdrop of traditional music and dance is guaranteed to create the party atmosphere the festival is famed for. Laughter, cheer, song, and dance are common practices of all at the Festival, as is the optimism of punters who rarely show fear when backing their selections. Fashion these days also plays a very important role at the Festival and this year, Ladies Day is on Thursday 2nd August.

In all, there are 51 races spread over the seven days, with a feature race being held each day. However, the Festival of course first came into prominence with the emergence of the ‘Galway Plate’ one of the most famous handicap National Hunt races in Ireland. This is the feature race of the entire week and it takes place on Wednesday, August 1st (Day 3).

The ‘Plate’ was won in 2011 by Blazing Tempo, trained by Willie Mullins, and he could be in the field once again this time around. That said, Mullins has the more fancied Blackstairmountain as his main representative and could run Blazing Tempo in the Galway Hurdle the following day. There was only one entry from the UK, which is a pity as the race has been won by both Phillip Hobbs and Paul Nicholls in the recent past. This time, the UK National Hunt interest will be represented by Made In Time, trained in South Wales by Rebecca Curtis.

Top of the support bill on the racecards is the Galway Hurdle, which takes place on Ladies Day. This race is almost certain to be one of the most competitive of the week, with virtually the entire field in with chances of some description. Amongst the favourites will be the Donald McCain trained, Lexi’s Boy, who will be looking to emulate stablemate Overturn who won this great race in 2010.

It is impossible to close an article on the Galway Festival without mentioning the great Dermot Weld, his training success’s at the Summer Festival are beyond legendary they are beyond belief. Last year the County Kildare trainer his the target 17 times bettering his previous best of 11 by 6. 17 winners of course represents one third of all the entire racecard and whilst he might struggle to get too close to that this year, he is certain to finish top trainer and is the man as always, to follow.

Filed under Dermont Weld, Galway, Latest Racing News, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

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