Cheltmental 2018

And now the end Is near..... for my final blog there is only event I could write about - Crufts, I cant believe those folk jumped about the podium...... only joking it has to be CHELTENHAM!!!. I went to the Festival in 2012 and it is an incredible experience and one I would recommend even if your not a big horse racing fan.

Yes it was that week of the year where my wife get increasingly annoyed at me saying wait a minute I'm just watching this race - by the time the 28th race of the week had been run I think there may have been a call placed to the solicitor - if they ever extend it to 5 days I think a divorce may be on the cards. Fingers crossed she gets sick of me watching it all the time and packs me off there for a few days.


For a horse racing fan like myself there is no better week of the year, the best of the best running against each other, all the hype and opinions either being proven right or making me look stupid. thankfully I was more right than wrong this year, although it was a bad start with my pick for the Supreme Novices Hurdle running no race,
however my ante post bet in November at 6/1 was proven 110% correct as the future undisputed champion of the world, the flying, fantastic, Fenonmeno (yes I'm cheating using the Italian word for phenomenal) Footpad!! won the Arkle in brilliant fashion, powering up the hill under Ruby Walsh - although at halfway I was a little nervous due to the distance Ruby had him back in third - but who am I to doubt Ruby. The Champion Hurdle was won by the reigning champion Buveur D'air who was made to battle by Melon - not many win two Champions never mind three but it will take a good one to beat the champ. It was definitely another Ruby Tuesday as Benie Des Deaux shocked Apples Jade in the Mares Hurdle - now we wont get into what happened in the same race three years ago COUGH ANNIE POWER COUGH. I don't think many punters who were waiting on her for the big pay out that day - myself included will ever forget, but this year it was far different as Ruby brought the winner with a powerful late run to take the win.

Onto day 2 and it was all about the bankers - the Irish one - the second coming of Jesus Christ as Matt Chapman calls him but to us its Samcro and the English one Altior. Samcro justified the hype by winning the Ballymore and send the Irish wild. later on it was Altior's turn to put his reputation on the line in a high class Champion Chase. It wasn't plain sailing though as he was struggling at times but his class and Ferrari engine showed as he powered up the hill. A match of Altior v Footpad in 12 months time is mouth watering. In between the bankers there was the RSA chase which went to the impressive Presenting Percy - winning at the festival for the second year in a row for Davy Russell, with the way he jumps and stays surely a run at the Gold Cup next year is on the cards.

Day 3 began with the JLT for those who aren't quick enough for the Arkle or have enough stamina for the RSA - sounds like me at football -  no speed or endurance hence why I was a goalkeeper - it was won by Shattered Love who certainly didn't shatter my heart seeing as I got on at 8/1. it was the start of three wins in a row for Gigginstown - the stable of Ryanair owner Michael O'Leary - I suppose owning your own airline isn't enough you have to own the best horses as well. The Irish dominated Thursday that much, the meeting might as well been moved to the emerald isle but thankfully Missed Approach wasn't having any talk of a whitewash by winning the final race on day 3 to give the Brits one to cheer. the performance of the day though was by Concorde... I mean Laurina but given how she won the Mares Novice Hurdle she might have given the famous plane a run for its money.

The final day (sob) saw Gold Cup day being run on extreme ground due to the weather, at this point you have to give credit to the team at Cheltenham for the hard work they put in given the amount of rain they had - although in Scotland its usually called summer weather. Favourites fell by the wayside including blog favourite Apples Shakira who couldn't get those hips moving in the tacky ground. The Gold Cup was absolute thriller and I will massage my own ego a little as I was telling anyone who would listen (not that anyone would want to listen to me) that Native River would win and he led every single yard of the 3m2f, the superb Might Bite was on his best behaviour after trying to take a trip to the Guinness Village last year for a pint seeing as he was 20 lengths clear, if the ground wasn't as heavy he may well have had reason to stop for another.

Well this is the final curtain for the blog as University is coming to an end (touchwood). this blog has been enjoyable to write and I hope you all have got some enjoyment out of it as well and got to see why I chose this subject as my blog topic.

Cheers

Scott

The week that was 17th February - 23rd February

Firstly, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has read, liked, shared or commented on the blog, I have enjoyed writing it and hope that everyone continues to enjoy reading.


In three weeks time, the greatest show on turf will be upon us and although every race will be hotly contested and many of a high class, it will be difficult for any of them to get the old juices flowing as the Ascot Chase did on Saturday. The grand old war horse Cue Card rolled back the years to his magnificent best, taking up the running with all the va va voom of Thierry Henry in his prime and showing all the athleticism of the great man. Unlike Henry's return to Arsenal there was no happy ending as previous blog winner Waiting Patiently used his younger legs to great use by going past Cue Card on the run in, this was an emotional success for the Jefferson's as trainer Malcolm was laid to rest the previous day.

It wouldn't be a GGG blog without having to write about Bryony Frost, after I finish writing these I will have to send her a present as she keeps making my task much easier by coming up with Saturday winner after Saturday winner, there are many famous duos in history - Del Boy and Rodney, Batman and Robin are just two that spring to mind - after winning for the 8th time this season, Frost and Black Corton are fast becoming another famous duo. I only wish I could back a horse to win once in a season,  never mind managing to ride the same one to win 8 times in a season. Next stop is the RSA Chase at the festival and it will take a brave person to bet against them adding one more famous victory to their tally for the season. Black Corton is co-owned by the infamous Jeremy Kyle - at least if they keep winning  they might not end up on his sofa for a rollicking


The name Regal Encore has always stuck in my head for a few reasons - the main one being that on a stag do in Liverpool in 2013, he let me down for a sizeable sum - I then had to drown my sorrows in Liverpool's finest establishments but that is a story for another time. He once again showed that he has the talent to win good races and if putting all his ability forward could have a big say back in Liverpool for the Grand National.

Speaking of the Grand National, it was the trial for the race at Haydock, being able to find a KFC that is open is easier than having to run 3 and a 1/2 miles around Haydock at this time of year. The Dutchman as expected showed up and was fancied but pulled up injured, my long term Grand national fancy Blaklion ran well enough under a big weight but was only able to finish a distant second in a race that only two horses managed to finish.

The week that was 27th January - 2nd Feb

Cheltenham hosted its annual trials day ahead of the best week of the year in March and as usual threw up a few interesting clues.

Thankfully Jenkins was not running this week so I can breathe easy and can focus on making a fool of myself in other ways.


In the Triumph Hurdle trial it was Apples Shakira who eventually got her hips going and won by 8 lengths on going that would have been unsuitable, there is talk that she might go for the mares novice hurdle instead but "wherever whenever" she turns up, in this punters eyes she is going to be top of the pops.

The north of the country has had a decent few weeks to show its not all grim up here, and Definitly Red continued the trend by winning the Cotswold Chase, his Geordie trainer has always dreamt of winning the Northumberland plate but winning the Gold Cup would ensure that the town would be Definitly painted red!

How does the song go?? here come the girls... well they stole the show on Saturday winning two big races, first arguably the find of the season Bryony Frost - the second woman to win a grade 1 over jumps,  showed all her class on Frodon to sneak up the rail with a great run to win by a street, not to be outdone however was Lizzie Kelly - incidentally the first to win a grade 1 over jumps, came with a great run on Agrapart to win the cleeve hurdle.

I mentioned last week that Toast Of New York was out in California catching a few rays and trying to win millions of dollars - unfortunately nothing seemed to go right for him and he trailed in last - however his trainer has 100% faith he will win another big one, but on this occasion there was no fizz in this toast.

The week that was 20th-26th January 2018

I mentioned last week in my first blog that Jenkins had begun to make moves to make me eat my words - well if that was the starter then this was the main course as he not only won again but did so carrying 8lbs more in weight. I have to give credit where its due and say it was a good performance and will be interesting to see what targets in his future now he is showing the talent that many thought he had - now where's my fork for the humble pie.

The flying machine that is Un De Sceaux turned up at Ascot and like many of the great Mullins raiders took the prize money back to Ireland with little fuss. A repeat in the Ryanair at Cheltenham might just be a little bit more difficult this time though especially if Cue Card turns up on his retirement tour.
A big eye-catching performance at Ascot was that of Dancing Lass - who danced his way through the field down the back straight after deciding to give his opponents a head start by jumping poorly for the first mile before putting on his dancing shoes and jumping brilliantly for the rest of the race for Noel Fehily

Everyone loves a good fairy-tale in sport and that of The New One continues to warm the heart, for the fourth year he won the Champion hurdle trial at Haydock Park and as usual he done it the hard way, showing all his heart and courage that has become his calling card. his jockey Sam Twiston-Davies says that he has nearly paid his mortgage off thanks to the New One - if he manages to win the World Hurdle then surely Sam will have to move him in!!

Haydock at this time of year is basically a mud bath and in the slog that is the Peter Marsh chase it was The Dutchman who ploughed his way through like a John Deere in a muddy field to stay on best and win by 9 lengths, a return in the Grand National trial in similar conditions might be on the cards - if he can get cleaned up in time!

As its winter and the snow, wind and rain are gripping the country it feels strange to be writing about a horse going over to California for a multi million dollar race - but that is what Toast of New York is doing this Saturday. Back in training with Jamie Osborne after 3 years off track which prior to his time off included a very unlucky 2nd in the Breeders Cup classic, he won on his comeback at Lingfield and will have the assistance of the best big race jockey in the world - Frankie Dettori. If he wins then it will be a fairy tale of New York.

Lanzarote Hurdle day at Kempton Park.

Kempton Park has found itself in the news for a variety of reasons over the past few years, whether it be the addition of the all weather track, Kauto Star paying for punters Christmas for four consecutive years then coming back two years later to add an incredible fifth King George, and most recently the controversial decision to axe the course in favour of building houses, which personally I feel is  disastrous move as Kempton on boxing day is as traditional as Father Christmas coming the day before.

Saturday proved to be the scene for another big moment, where the continued rise of 16 year old James Bowen showed no signs of stopping, Bowen who has burst onto the scene in the last 12 months including a win just last week on Raz De Maree - only three years his junior - in the rescheduled Welsh Grand National the fact that Bowen was born the same year I could legally drink and gamble makes one feel old.. This time Bowen was seen to great use aboard William Henry in the Lanzarote hurdle for trainer Nicky Henderson who watched from afar in Scotland ( not sure I would have missed a day at the races to get married like Mr Henderson - but shh don't tell my wife), in a typically run handicap it was full of hustle and bustle, and coming to the second last there were 5 horses who stood a chance of winning, but it was William Henry who had a horrible first experience over fences who stayed on best and is now destined for the wild west that Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March resembles.

It is fitting that Henderson being a big supporter of Kempton and to keep racing there should have a treble on the card. He also saddled Chef Des Obeaux to an impressive 19 length win in the novice hurdle, the gelding showing considerable improvement from a 1/2 length win on his hurdles debut and is one to keep onside when stepped up in grade. Jenkins has for a long time been a talking horse and was at one point the favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle in 2017. However after an odds on reverse at Kempton on boxing day 2016 he missed the big festivals. I've never been convinced despite his reputation but he went some way to making me eat my words, with a comfortable 5 length win in the closing handicap hurdle and it will be interesting to see where Nicky goes with him next, options could include the County Hurdle or the Betfair Hurdle.

Elsewhere on the card Fountains Windfall managed to put in a clear round of jumping to win impressively in his first try in a handicap. Despite being a faller at Newbury on Ladbrokes trophy day then in the Kauto Star on boxing day he was sent off a warm order at 10/11 and did not let his supporters down winning by 9 lengths. A step back into novice company in the RSA will surely be on his horizon but they may choose to get more experience into him before the big day. This would be a wise move as having had a few falls, another nice confidence booster would do the horse a world of good.

In the listed chase there was a big winner for the North as Waiting Patiently won impressively for Brian Hughes and Malcom Jefferson who had an across the card double with Black Ivory winning the Pertemps qualifier at Warwick. The 7 year old was taking his unbeaten record over fences to 5 with a very taking performance beating the bold jumping Art Mauresque in a field that contained several grade 1 winners. The winner is surly destined for graded races and should take the step up in his stride based on this performance.