Battle Between Two Gold Prospects

On December 9, two emerging Gold Cup prospects for Cheltenham will do battle in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown. It is the flashy new kid on the block, Flemenstar, up against the more experienced powerhouse that is Willie Mullins’ Sir Des Champs. The question is how do you separate them when reading the form?


Flemenstar

Adding complexity to what I think will be the top two in the market is the possible entry of Paul Nicholls’ Cristal Bonus. Nicholls has had a great start to the season, and his partnership with Ruby Walsh could be commonplace in the winner’s enclosure of racetracks up and down Britain and Ireland. Other entries include Willie Mullins’ lesser lights, Blackstairmountain and Blazing Tempo, as well Realt Dubh and Hidden Cyclone; all formidable opponents. However, both Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs featured on my Top 5 horses to watch in the new season, and I don’t see either of them finishing out of the top two in the placing in the John Durkan. The name of this blog may well separate them, but who holds the couple of inches of advantage?


Sir Des Champs proved himself to be a top class chaser last season, not only at Cheltenham, but subsequently at Punchestown in Grade One company. His form is strong, and his performances have suggested he is nothing short of classy, but Flemenstar is a relatively untapped talent, surrounded by exciting talk, and whispers of unpredictability. His level of improvement over the course of his novice career, and progression to his first run and win in this year’s Fortria Chase last week. He proved his class in that field, and it is his continuing improvement that makes me side with him, if only tentatively. With unpredictability with regards levels of talent comes a possibility of a horse not living up to the hype. You have to believe it to be a certainty, but that doesn’t always make it true.

Sir Des Champs

In this case, Flemenstar has had a run this term, and showed undeniable class, while Sir Des Champs seasonal reappearance will be in the John Durkan. This is enough for me to suggest Flemenstar will strip fitter again for his seasonal debut, and will get the better of Sir Des Champs. I would suggest a two to three length win for Peter Casey’s charge, but I expect it to be closer if they meet again in the Gold Cup. I think Peter Casey hopes Flemenstar is a Gold Cup horse, and if there is any chance for him to take him there, he will go. I expect his odds to shorten further after the John Durkan, and I think after that race, there will be no doubt about his prospects.

After seeing him win at Cheltenham in March, I was one of the people to suggest Sir Des Champs would be the Gold Cup winner in 2013, but having watched Flemenstar mature, I think he’ll take all the beating, both in the John Durkan, and the Cheltenham showpiece. I believe Long Run is not the horse he once was, and is vulnerable; Flemenstar could be the animal to take advantage of that vulnerability.

Celebrating Before The Line - Triumph And Defeat

Anthony Knott celebrating when the race was won

Horse racing has become synonymous with memorable celebrations, from the teary eyed, heart-on-sleeve owner of Hunt Ball, Anthony Knott, to Frankie’s famous flying dismount. However, Anthony Knott jumped up on Hunt Ball to celebrate in the winner’s circle, long after the finish line was passed, and Frankie likewise. In certain circumstances, the celebrations come too early, with a show of over exuberance, or sheer confidence, but not all are rewarded with actual victory. In certain cases, celebrating too early can make the jockey look audacious and sublime in victory, lead to devastating losses, or result in a moment of sheer panic. These are the tales of tremendous triumph, and cringe worthy defeat.

Before the 2011 Epsom Derby, the script had already been written; the Queen’s horse Carlton House would win, and the field would fall in behind. In the course of the elaborate Royal procession onto the course, one nineteen year old jockey never received that script, but he proceeded to metaphorically rip it up in sensational fashion. His horse, Pour Moi, became the first French trained winner of the Derby for thirty five years, but the surviving memory of the day will be that picture of the rising star, Barzalona, upright in his stirrups, saluting the crowd with his unneeded whip. The youngster had no fear of the powerful trainers and jockeys who were bearing down on him, like the Aidan O’Brien trained Treasure Beach, who finished second. 

Bravery beyond his 19 years

This celebration has become Barzalona’s trademark as he wins big races all over the world as he becomes Frankie Dettori’s long term replacement at the powerful Godolphin stable. Luckily for Mikael Barzalona was aboard a horse good enough to warrant his iconic celebration. But premature celebration is a sin committed by many famous sporting names. On occasion they escape with a winning margin less than they anticipated, or they lose in the most embarrassing of circumstances.

Horse racing has always been famous for before-the-line celebrations and over confident riding, and not all are as spectacular as Mikael Barzalona on Pour Moi. In June 2012, a superstar was arriving on UK shores for the first and only time, to put her unbeaten record on the line against a British field. That superstar was Black Caviar, unbeaten in 21 races down under; the mare came to Royal Ascot to prove to the world just how invincible she was. The rest of the field for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes were an afterthought in the build-up, and Black Caviar was going to jump out, travel with ease, kick with two furlongs to go and win by a mile, but one thing we have learned in racing is never to expect anything, even a 1/6 unbeaten favourite. As the race unfolded, her jockey said go, and she pulled out a slight advantage over her rivals. With less than one hundred yards to race her jockey, Luke Nolen eased her down as he had done on 21 other occasions in Australia, but this wasn’t as easy as before, and the field was looming behind her like a rushing wave catching a stumbling surfer. When Nolen realised his mistake, and Moonlight Cloud looked to pass him, he desperately grappled with the reins for one last push before they flashed past the post. 

Black Caviar survives late scare to win at Ascot

The worry of dashing the incredible mare’s reputation was visible on his face, an air of embarrassment and genuine worry hung over the racecourse before Black Caviar was announced the winner. Nolen wasn’t guilty of celebrating too early, but he was guilty of over confident riding before the end of a race, which is almost equal to celebrating. Nevertheless, he survived the scare and it was 22 from 22 for the Aussie wonder horse, even if only by a fast finishing head.

In 2005, Irish jumps jockey, Roger Loughran wasn’t quite as lucky as Barzalona or Nolen. Loughran had just been a professional jockey a couple of days when he took the ride on the Dessie Hughes trained chaser, Central House in the Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown. Much of the pre-race focus was on one of the most famous chasers ever, Moscow Flyer and Central House who had beaten Jessica Harrington’s star before. After the final fence, the race was between Loughran on Central House, Fota Island, and Hi Cloy. With each stride it looked as though Loughran had timed his run to perfection as he was getting the better of the other two, when he suddenly shot to his feet, standing in the stirrups, saluting the crowd with his whip. As he did, the other two jockeys remained at work on their mounts, subsequently going past him. Loughran at mistook the winning post, while in actual fact there was 100 yards still to run. Hi Cloy went on to win, and the embarrassed Loughran had to settle for third on Central House.

Roger Loughran's excruciating mistaking of the winning line

 The mistake led to a 14-day ban for the young jockey, and the horse’s connections had to settle for prize money of €6,300, instead of the winning prize fund of €45,000. Trainer, Dessie Hughes remarked after the race, “I couldn’t believe it”, but he took solace in the fact that he may now have the best horse going forward toward the Cheltenham festival. The race was also famous for the fact that Moscow Flyer’s standing was lowering; he finished 4^th behind the infamous mix-up.

Most recently, at the 2012 Galway racing festival, Davy Russell celebrated by raising his whip to crowd on board Rebel Fitz in the Galway Hurdle. When he turned back from the crowd he noticed the Gordon Elliot trained Cause of Causes right alongside him as they passed the post. Russell had an agonising wait for the photo finish to be analysed before the Michael Winters trained Rebel Fitz was called the winner. The ever professional Russell risked losing the richest national hunt prize in Irish racing for a celebration, and almost paid the ultimate price. Luckily, the line came in time and the celebrations began for the popular Cork trainer, and his very relieved rider. Davy Russell was ultra-critical of himself in the post-race interviews, stating with authority that “this will never happen again.” As we know, this sort of celebrating will happen again, it just won’t be Davy Russell.

Too close for comfort for Davy Russell and Rebel Fitz

Frightening…Extraordinary…Sprinter Sacre

In what could be another phenomenal season for Nicky Henderson, he need look no further for a superstar than last term’s Arkle conqueror, Sprinter Sacre. This French bred gelding was foaled way back in 2006, and experienced somewhat up-and-down form, before exploding onto the scene as a real star in 2011/12, when he tackled fences.

Probably the most fluent jumper in training

Sprinter Sacre began his racing career in a National Hunt flat race at Ascot in February 2010, where he won by just a nose to King Of The Night. A couple of months later he won a similar race at Ayr by a more impressive 4 lengths. When sighted again in November 2010, he was being sent over hurdles, and lost his first test to Frascati Park having been sent off 6/5 favourite. The jury was out; would he be as good as expected? An answer of sorts came just two weeks later when he slammed the field in a hurdle race at Ascot by 10 lengths. Following this, Henderson decided to bring Sprinter Sacre to the Cheltenham Festival, where he was to run in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. Tony McCoy was booked to ride, and while travelling strongly, he collided with the last flight, and weakened to finish third to Al Ferof and Spirit Son.

In the 2011/12 season, the shrewd Henderson switched Sprinter Sacre to chasing, and his first test was a steeplechase at Doncaster in December 2011. He demolished his opponents by 24 lengths at odds of 2/9, and soon he would take a jump up in class. At the end of the month, Sprinter Sacre contested the Grade II Wayward Lad Novices Chase at Kempton. His main competitor in on the day was the 2011 Champion Hurdle runner-up, Peddler’s Cross, and a horse who only found Hurricane Fly too good at the festival had to be respected. Sprinter Sacre led from the start, and crossing the finish line, he was a massive 16 lengths clear. The jockey that day, Barry Geraghty, described him as “one of the best I’ve ever sat on.” Then began the expectation, and the festival was looming for the world’s newest chasing star.

In the February of 2012, Sprinter Sacre won impressively by 6 lengths against more experienced chasers, like the runner-up on the day, French Opera. At Cheltenham, Sprinter Sacre was competing in the Arkle, where he re-opposed a horse that had beaten him over hurdles in 2011, Al Ferof, as well as the formidable Cue Card and Menorah. He had the field in trouble four fences out, and as he strode away, none of them could go with him. He went on to win readily by 7 lengths, despite being eased by Geraghty in the closing stages. Speaking after the win, Barry Geraghty described he ride in the Arkle as a “schooling session”, and referred to the horse as “the special one.” A month later, Sprinter Sacre had his rivals running from the track, not on it, and only three horses showed up to face him. He was sent off at odds of 1/7, and he strolled around, jumping marvellously, to record a 13 length win from runner-up, Toubab. Upon this victory, his trainer, Nicky Henderson described him as “frightening…extraordinary”, and he proclaimed there was “an aura about him.”

A legend in the making

In the 2012/13 season, the chaser we will all be watching with admiration is no doubt Sprinter Sacre. In September, Nicky Henderson declared his intention to take the “conventional route” to the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, starting with the Tingle Creek at Sandown. He said, “He (Sprinter Sacre) may well take the conventional route of the Tingle Creek, Victor Chandler, Game Spirit, and all being well, he Champion Chase.” Henderson also said he genuinely finds Sprinter Sacre “scary to watch”, but that he was “spectacular.” Sprinter Sacre is currently trading at 11/10 in the ante-post markets for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but expect those odds to shorten further as we watch the Tingle Creek, Victor Chandler, and the Game Spirit. Despite him likely to oppose the likes of Finian’s Rainbow and Sizing Europe on the day, 11/10 already looks a steal for one of the greatest ever.

The Punter's Eye - Cheltenham Week In The Bookies

Cheltenham week, and the experts, the dim and the dopey rush through the doors of the local bookies shop, and why? Because they’ve got a tip, a hunch, a fiver, a chance. The hum of expectation hangs on the now fanned air of the shop floor, and the unflappable anticipation of victory peters out with a fall, a stumble, a dodgy jockey, and the inconceivable ‘donkey’ he rode in on.

Students flood in, Mothers ask questions of taking odds, businessmen loosen their ties and the weight of their wallets, eating a sandwich, catching a race on their lunch break. Snubbing the intrusion of the strangers, the usual punters accumulate on the lower chairs, chewing on the tips in The Star, The Irish Field, The Racing Post, and with them all mulled over, they sit none the wiser with a case having been made for every horse in the ‘big one’. They take issue with the newcomers, and stand, tapping their feet impatiently behind the clueless young fella waiting to place a bet, and share the same few words with the young, uninterested girl behind the glass.

One of those days?

Horses circle at the post in the three o’clock, and the anxious old men circle each other, cursing the trainers and jockeys before a fence is tackled, fearing the loss of their precious few bob. As Ruby falls at the last, the carpet of the shop is decorated amply with crumpled betting slips. The aul lads scorn the celebrating students as lucky, because the ‘smart money’ was on Ruby, and they take comfort in that. The fences are too big after all, and sure wasn’t the ground a bit soft for him, over-watered by the English.

With the lads a couple of quid down, the intruders disperse following the last at Cheltenham, but they are sticking around to chase losses in the evening meetings, in places as glamorous as Kempton and Newcastle. Now that the lads can concentrate, and can actually hear their ears, the winners will fly in, and Paddy Power will fly off the handle at all the money he’s lost. The evening meetings come and go, and the betting slip carpet is thicker still, but the aul lads’ spirit is unshaken; “Jaysus, I’ll tell you one thing, and I won’t tell you two things, I fancy Ruby in the big one tomorrow.” “Same here, sure he won’t be beaten.” Nothing surer!

Chin up pal!

30 Years of Mystery – Shergar

Today, the racing world will remember thirty years of mystery that has surrounded one of the most famous racehorses ever, Shergar. it was this day thirty years ago, under the cover of darkness, that a group of men went to the home of James Fitzgerald to kidnap one of the most famous horses the world has ever known.

The Aga Khan bred Shergar was trained by Sir Michael Stoute in Newmarket, and began his racing career in 1981 with a scintillating 10 length win in the Guardian Classic Trial at Sandown. After witnessing the magnificent colt in this classic trial, racing correspondent Richard Baerlein advised punters that “at 8/1, Shergar for the Derby, now it’s time to bet like men.” His words would come to be wise beyond even his expectations. Improving on his debut, Shergar slammed the field in the Chester Vase by a colossal 12 lengths, before becoming the odds on favourite for the biggest race of his career, the Epsom Derby.

The perfect vision of the equine form

 As a young 19 year old at the time in his first Derby, jockey Walter Swinburn would only have to sit tight and let Shergar make history. Swinburn remarked after the race that he just allowed Shergar to “lob along as the leaders went off at a million miles an hour.” Shergar ranged up alongside the field, cruised by and went a long way clear. He had gone so far clear at one stage that the jockey on the runner-up, Glint of Gold thought he had won, only to realise that there was another horse ahead on the Epsom skyline; that horse was Shergar who won by a record 10 lengths. No horse has ever matched, or even nearly matched Shergar’s winning distance in the Derby. From Epsom, Shergar moved on to the Irish Derby at the Curragh, and he duly obliged by 4 lengths, and as the commentator expressed, he was barely in “an exercise canter.” He also won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot by 4 lengths, before failing to fire in the St Leger at Doncaster. Speaking about Shergar’s loss, jockey Lester Piggott commented that “he must have been over the top by then”, but in any case, the horse’s enigmatic career was over.

Shergar was to be sent to stud at Ballymany Stud, near the Curragh, Co. Kildare. Proving how much of a national hero he had become, Shergar returned to a carnival atmosphere on Main Street, Newbridge, where school children waved the Aga Khan silk colours, and the horse was royally welcomed home to the Curragh of Kildare. Shergar had produced 35 foals before his disappearance, one of which, Authaal, went on to win the 1986 St Leger.

In the dense fog of February 8, 1983, a group of what is thought to have been 6 masked gunmen entered the poorly protected Ballymany Stud stables to take the legendary Shergar. At 8.30pm on the night, Shergar’s groom, James Fitzgerald thought he heard a car pull into the yard, but believing it to be nothing, he forgot about it. At 8.40pm, Fitzgerald’s son Bernard answered a knock at the door, where he was confronted by a man dressed in a Garda uniform and a balaclava. “Is he in?” the man asked. Bernard stepped back into the house to alert his father, when he was victim to a heavy blow to his back. James rushed from the sitting room and found a pistol pointed at him, and he and his family were pushed to the kitchen and held at gunpoint. The gang then forced James out to the stables where he had to bring the men to the illustrious Shergar’s stall. They loaded him into a horsebox and towed the great champion away into the flatland mist that hung over the Curragh. Mr Fitzgerald was then forced into another vehicle and driven around for three hours, before being given a password for the gang’s negotiations, and dumped out of the car seven miles from the stud.

Shergar winning the 1981 Epsom Derby by a massive 10 lengths 

What followed the horse’s kidnapping was a media frenzy, and the public were enthralled in the mystery of Shergar’s disappearance. Chief Superintendent with the Gardaí at the time, Jim Murphy once said of the investigation, “a clue…that is what we haven’t got.” Every stable, farm, and outhouse in the Republic of Ireland was searched during the investigation, but the thieves’ negotiations failed as the syndicate owners of the horse refused to pay any ransom for the safe return of Shergar. Their reason for this was the contention that such a payment would mean every racehorse in the world becoming a target for similar crimes. The thieves have never been brought to justice, but many theories of their identity have been bounded about in the following years. In the aftermath, the syndicate released a statement blaming the IRA for the crime. The IRA theory has become the most prevalent in subsequent years.

It is alleged in the IRA “supergrass” Sean O’Callaghan’s book, “The Informer”, that the IRA were responsible, and that the motive for the crime was to raise money for arms. He claimed the entire crime was led by Kevin Mallon, and that Shergar was shot within hours of being snatched. When they discovered they would not receive any ransom for the horse, it is said the captors felt they couldn’t release the horse given the vast media and public whirlwind surrounding the debacle. In a Sunday Telegraph interview, a former IRA member involved said that he witnessed Shergar being machine gunned to death in his remote stable. He said “there was blood everywhere” and at one point it was so bloody, “the horse even slipped on his own blood.” He described how there was a lot of cursing and swearing when it appeared the horse would not die. He said Shergar eventually bled to death. Despite these reports, there has never been a definitively confirmed account of the horse’s demise, and a body has never been discovered. Thirty years on, conspiracy theories and rumours aside, the mystery of Shergar still remains as contentious and debatable as ever. His story has become legend, and almost packaged by fading memories as a myth, but Shergar was a real hero of the track, and a thoroughly great champion.

Top 10 - Racehorse Names

In my opinion, these are the top 10 names of racehorses currently in training. What would you include?

The beautiful, and brilliantly named Monkerty Tunkerty

1. Monkerty Tunkerty

2. Littledean Jimmy

3. Boo Boo Booyakasha

4. Juno The Muffinman

5. Shakalakaboomboom

6. Choccywoccydoodah

7. BonBon Bonnie

8. Finefrenzyrolling

9. Hot Rod Mamma

10. Smoothtalkinrascal

Tribute to a Champion - Frankel

A poem and video I composed for the greatest racehorse to have ever lived - The Freakish Frankel









FRANKEL




A thunderous clatter of hooves,
a flexing of utopian muscle.
A carriage embellished with diamonds,
strides extending tangibility.
Eyes beam inherent boundless glory,
a ghost of unwritten history.

Paving a pure untrodden passage,
adorned with needless anticipation.
An anomalous lifetime,
revived by destined memory.

Pereived as an earthly creature,
encased in an infallible frame.
Bestowed wilfully to legend,
for a laconic, classic era.

A famous sovereign existence,
undying, immovable force.

The perpetual glow of majesty,
a horse of no mortal age.

A time honoured champion.




By Justin Kelly

Ones To Watch - The Jumps Season

SIR DES CHAMPS

The 2013 Gold Cup Winner?

This Willie Mullins trained chaser went some way in 2011/12 to prove he is going to be one of the best around this term. The unbeaten 6 year old won in handicap company at the Cheltenham festival in 2011, but his credentials as a top prospect took a huge boost when he landed the Jewson at the festival earlier this year. The french bred gelding improved again following that win to slam the field by 36 lengths in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown, staying 3 miles in the process. The Hennessy looks to be an easy target for Mullins with Sir Des Champs, with the overall goal being a crack at the big one, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He is currently trading in the ante-post markets at around 6/1 for the Gold Cup, and heads the market with Bobs Worth and 2011 winner Long Run. Sir Des Champs will be a tough nut to crack this term, and may be the key to Gold Cup market. 





HUNT BALL

Charismatic owner Anthony Knott celebrates on Hunt Ball

The fairytale from last season was undoubtedly the story of Hunt Ball, and his often laughing, always sobbing owner, Anthony Knott. If ever an owner was overwhelmed by a series of events surrounding their racehorse it was Knott. He immersed himself into Hunt Ball's year, and vested his heart, and many tears into his campaign. This talented chaser rose a massive 85 lbs in the weights over the season, culminating in a win at the Cheltenham festival, and a respectable third place finish in the Betfed Bowl at Aintree in April. This year's prospects for Hunt Ball are somewhat unknown, but having proven himself against some top sorts, nothing is being ruled out this time around. At the end of last season, Anthony Knott touted is ambitions to take a spin at the Gold Cup, and on the balance of form, it is not an impossibility. Currently a 20/1 shot for the Cheltenham showpiece, expect to see the odds shorten when Hunt Ball returns to the track. Expect big wins, big crowds, and a lot of tears when Hunt Ball is around. 





FLEMENSTAR

Flemenstar wins with ease at Fairyhouse

If Anthony Knott was the owner of last year, Peter Casey was by all means the trainer. His post interview antics kept us all entertained in the winner's enclosure, and the horse that kept him there was the wonderful novice chaser, Flemenstar. Arguably the most exciting novice chaser from 2011/12, and by all accounts the main danger to the obvious leading lights for the main event at Cheltenham in 2013. Peter Casey remarked, "we hope he's a gold cup horse", when Flemenstar returned to training in August. In my opinion, he will take a place in the line when March swings around, and he may be in a stronger place in the market than his current ante-post price of 12/1. No doubt between now and then both Peter, and his enigmatic chaser will keep us thoroughly entertained. It is likely Flemenstar will make his seasonal reappearance on November 11, in the Fortria Chase at Navan, where he will be red hot favourite. 




HURRICANE FLY

Aiming to bounce back in 2013

When the runners approached the second last flight in the 2012 Champion Hurdle, I expected to see Ruby Walsh motionless in the saddle on board Hurricane Fly, cruising by the field to what became his customary 3 or 4 length victory. Sadly, it soon became clear the fly was floundering, and going down in defeat to the aptly named winner, Rock On Ruby. The fact that the Willie Mullins trained is still the ante-post favourite for the 2013 renewal of the Champion Hurdle proves that his best days may yet be ahead. He is currently trading at a generous 11/2, and I wouldn't expect those odds to survive long when Mullins sends one of his best ever hurdlers back to the track. It would be foolish to right off such a talented sort, and I feel 2013 will be the year the fly cements his place as a legend among the very best hurdlers like Istabraq.




SIMONSIG

The immortal grey?

Many experts vision of the 2013 Champion Hurdler is Nicky Henderson Neptune hero from 2012, Simonsig. If looks won horse races, this beautiful grey would be already written into history with the greats. His only defeat came at the hands of the super talented, Fingal Bay, and that loss does not diminish this gelding's prospects one fraction. It is not confirmed that Henderson will steer Simonsig toward the Champion Hurdle, but given the fact that former champions, Istabraq and Hardy Eustace found their way to the big one via the Neptune, his ambition and vision as a trainer may decide as such. Although I think Hurricane Fly will take all the beating if coming back to his best, the element of the relatively unknown plants seeds of doubt in the form of Simonsig. An Arkle bid is not out of the question, and in fact is perhaps a more likely route for this one.