Looking forward in 2010
The grey days of January are probably greyer (or whiter) than usual this year with the snows and the freezes putting the kybosh on everything from the MCR Hurdle and the much-anticipated Fulham/Portsmouth showdown (?) to the Glasthule Choir’s already delayed Christmas party. Even so, there is much to look forward to in 2010. Here are three:
1. Kauto Star v Denman
This should be massive. Horses being horses, a half a tonne of body on four comparatively spindly long legs, fragile beasts that they are, you have to cross all 10 fingers (eight if you’re a Simpson) in the hope that the pair of them make it to 19th March, Cheltenham Gold Cup day, in one piece, or two pieces, one piece each. Sir Peter O’Sullevan tells of the time when, a couple of months after Lester Piggott had started training, he asked him how it was going. “They’re made of glass, aren’t they?” said Lester apparently, and Sir Peter does a masterly impression.
Whatever Paul Nicholls does, whatever training methods he employs, whatever he feeds them, and it may just be my imagination, but he seems to have to endure fewer injuries to the horses under his watch than the average trainer, Master Minded’s fractured rib notwithstanding, so hopefully Kauto and Denman will tread the path to Cheltenham safely. There is no end to the number of things that the BHA could and should be doing in terms of promoting and, dare to use the term, ‘marketing’ this, all the ingredients are there, in order to make it the biggest racing duel since Arkle and Mill House, up there with the great sporting duels of our time. It should be mainstream, the Ali/Frazier of racing. The back and front pages await.
2. The Arkle
And speaking of Arkle, the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham is often the most exciting contest of the four days, and this year’s renewal is shaping up to be even more intriguing than normal, the most fascinating Arkle for years in terms of strength in-depth, even in the absence of last year’s Champion Hurdle fourth Crack Away Jack. There is a score of sorts to be settled between the Henry de Bromhead-trained Sizing Europe (winner of the Bord Na Mona Chase at Leopardstown) and the Eddie Harty-trained Captain CeeBee (faller at the last when challenging), two of the most exciting novice chasers in the business, the former the winner of the Irish Champion Hurdle in 2008 and arguably the moral winner of the 2008 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, the latter winner of the 2008 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and a slick jumper of fences, back this term after his enforced transition year.
Throw in Somersby, third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season and winner of his two chases to date, including the Henry VIII Chase, where his jumping was exemplary; Riverside Theatre, also winner of both of his chases to date, including the Wayward Lad Chase, by an aggregate of 40 lengths; Osana, second in the Champion Hurdle in 2008 and winner of two of his three chases; and Tataniano from the Paul Nicholls yard, another who has won both of his chases to date, including the Independent Newspaper Chase at Cheltenham in November, the race that Nicholls won with Azertyuiop, among others, before he went and won the Arkle in 2003. There is also the possibility that Long Run and/or Mikael D’Haguenet will contest the Arkle instead of the RSA Chase. That would just add to the intrigue. If even five or six of these make the line-up on the day, it could be the race of the Festival.
It is difficult to focus on the flat these days – just 47 shopping days to Cheltenham – but Aidan O’Brien is probably thinking about putting St Nicholas Abbey through his pre-season paces these days. Guineas or Derby? Guineas and Derby? You have to think that his main focus will be on the Derby, but there has to be a great chance that he will take in the Guineas en route. Ring a bell? It would be naïve to think that Sea The Stars II could come along the year after the original – he’s not a Rocky movie – but this fellow could be the real deal. He won the Group 2 Beresford Stakes on his subsequent start after winning his maiden, he is probably bred for a mile and a half, but he is not devoid of pace. That bell still ringing?
The son of Montjeu looked even better in winning the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on his last start last season than he had looked in the Beresford (and he had looked mighty impressive in the Beresford), coming through his field from an unpromising position off an unsuitably slow early pace before going clear of some potentially top class rivals. You probably won’t be getting rich backing him for anything now (7/2 for the Guineas, 5/2 for the Derby), unless you fancy him for the July Cup, but he could light up the flat scene this year just like John Oxx’s colt lit it up last year. And don’t be surprised to read about the stamina doubts again if he does happen to go and win the Guineas.
* For more of Donn’s thoughts, visit www.donnmcclean.com
Categories: Horse racing Irish Racing
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