So then, team, let’s have a look back and a look forward re last week’s Cheltenham Festival. 3 questions – (i) what was the most magical moment, (ii) what was the ‘cor blimey what’s occurring’ instance and (iii) who is you horse to take out of the meeting with an eye to the future??? My answers are : (i) On the podium after the ‘Champion Chase’. Wonderful scenes as Lieutenant Henderson added the ‘Champion Chase’ crown to his ‘Champion Trainer’ and ‘Champion Hurdle’ titles (notice a reoccuring theme there?!?). Princess Camilla, the forum’s favourite Royal, was in top form as she did the presenting honours and had the pleasure of being kissed on both cheeks by the Lieutenant prior to him being given his trophy. It was truly delightful to see the Lieutenant basking in the accolades and receiving all the plaudits after yet another marvellous training performance. He and Princess Camilla continued to chat and then hilariously were told off by the waiting photographers and ordered to get in line for the ‘victory snaps’ rather than gassing away on the periphery! A fantastic culmination following a great race. (ii) The barmy decision to run Movewiththetimes in the ‘Festival Plate’ rather than the ‘novice handicap’ by an owner and his management team so clueless it is shocking was a close 2nd but the winner has to be Apple’s Shakira starting at just 6/5 for the ‘Triumph’. Don’t get me wrong I think she’s a smart filly but this price was ridiculous given you just didn’t know what she was really competing against – so many of the other young horses had Potential with a capital ‘P’, were likely to be improving at a frantic rate and as none had ever had ‘the gun put to their head’ and could, for want of a better expression, been anything. I understand a mammoth plunge took place simply because at a ‘Preview Event’ on the eve of the Festival the owner had said it was his best bet of the week – staggering! (iii) Unquestionable Santini. Nothing went right for him whatsoever in the ‘Albert Bartlett’ but he was still beaten less than 5 lengths and looks an animal with a huge future ahead of him when tackling the big ‘uns. I can see him running up a sequence in novice chases, next term, and ultimately the 2019 RSA must be the target. Beyond that I can think of, right now, no more likely winner of the 2020 CGC than Santini. Well that’s my selections, troops. Feel free to add your own answers to the 3 questions posed above.
(I) Harry Skelton and his girlfriend in the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle. Harry cheering her on to victory and then the long hug and kiss celebration just past the finishing line Will have to think about the others. Re (iii) I need to get some explanation about the relative times of Footpad and Altior as that may give me my answer edit. where can I view the Santini race?
Still looking through the same Henderson tinted spectacles then. Re Santini.......proof yet again that you can only back properly battle-hardened novices to win the spud race. Worth remembering for next year! a) Kilbricken Storm possibly as I had a tenner each way at 50/1 but probably Lizzie Kelly winning her first festival race, a little bit of redemption after the shellacking she got last year. Of course any decent lad on Coo would have won by five lengths but lets not split hairs. b) Monalee taking on Presenting Percy when it should have been hosing up in the JLT, total madness. c) Laurina and Samcro who have the brightest of futures as chasers. Both magnificent looking horses that will give us a lot to marvel at for years to come. One lesser light to keep in the notebook was the JP horse A Great View who would have gone very close in the Pertemps but for one shuddering error!
The most magical moment for me was the thrilling duel for the Gold Cup and Native River staying on bravely up the hill to take the blue riband. An uplifting and inspirational performance from all concerned. "Cor blimey what's occuring" must have been uttered across the land by punters seeing Altior scrubbed along down the back straight in the Champion Chase and looking like he might surrender his unbeaten record over obstacles. That he overcame conditions to win going away is testament to his talent. The horse I would take out for the future is Penhill. Still only 7 and I guess they are still learning about him but he travelled supremely well throughout the Stayers Hurdle and showed a nice turn of foot on desperate ground. He has run once and won over fences so it will be very interesting to see what connections decide to do with him going forward.
I second that but it was a close call between that and Native river going past Might Bite as it looked temporarily as though Might Bight's class was going to tell. Reminded me of the classy Pendil being undone up the hill. Also I remember thinking "Oh bugger, Oddy has a grand on that, he's dethroned me"
Well done Pilgrim. Ron can see if he can spot Santini's troubled passage.....fooked if I can! (Sir Barney Bullshit)
Next Destination would clearly have won the Albert Bartlett, 1 of a number of high profile horses who ran in the wrong race.
I) most magical moment was Davy Russell winning the jockeys championship and his dad going up with him! After the recent loss of his mum that must have been hard to concentrate on riding let alone winning it - I’m sure Davy would have thought his mum had helped him II) has to be Apples jade getting beat- she was the Banker of the meeting after BVD no mare got close to her all season and with no big name Mullins horse(as we New at the time the likes of VVM, Let’s Dance) in the field I’m sure everyone thought she had won before she had run III) this was a tough one- and maybe my heart over my head but has to be Douvan - he jumped and travelled with zest but maybe the lack of race practice let him down and was guessing when he fell but damn!! he looked as if he was back!
1. Altior Champion Chase. Not very original but what a champ. Looked beat a long way from home but flew up the hill after the last to win as he liked. As an aside in the same race I'm not buying into the 'Douvan is back' line. On course he looked like he jumped out to the right quite markedly at the fences down the back before making a total bollox 4 out. 2. Coleman and Russell in the Arkle. Footpad looked very impressive in the Arkle but was surely helped by the strategies adopted by his main market rivals. 3. Samcro is the obvious one. One to pop up in a handicap at a later date would be Dream Berry. The ride given him by Jonjo Junior in the Martin Pipe was interesting. ****e could be an alternative description.
For me it would be number 2. Blow By Blow would be number 1 and he should have run at the Albert Bartlett and I think he would have won.
People, people, people. We are being a bit harsh here re Santini. He never got into a rhythm, his jumping was less than perfect, he was blocked off, later on had to be switched, is still somewhat weak and immature and will be a much better horse on decent ground. I think he did amazingly well, under the circumstances, to be beaten under 5 lengths, in a championship race, at Grade 1 level at this point in his career. When he’s fully matured and it all comes together for him expect him to be a superstar over the big ‘uns. I’m wondering if he will reappear again this term in either the Grade 1 staying novice at Aintree or Punchestown. However, the Lieutenant did put Bobs Worth away for the summer after he ran in the ‘Albert Bartlett’ so suspect he might do something similar with Santini – with another summer under his belt can see the 6YO developing and maturing no end.
I agree he should be a nice horse for the future but he just wasn't up to it at Cheltenham. I fully expected him to win that race but I couldn't say he was unlucky. Badly ridden maybe?
Maybe a tad harsh Barney but he was favourite and well hyped up. I have a feeling the race will turn out to be a fairly modest affair. As Pilgrim alluded to I rather expect that Blow By Blow would have gone very close to winning. I seriously doubt there is a superstar lurking in there but of all the runners Santini was the one most likely to benefit from the experience. I think they would be mad to run him again this season. Aintree is going to be so interesting this year.
(I). Knight of Noir winning the Stayers hurdle. (ii). Paul Nicholls telling the RP that Wonderful Charm was his best chance of a winner at the festival. Then Pacha Du Polder winning at 25/1. If you ever needed evidence that Nicholls stitches punters up, look no further. (iii).Samcro? Laurina? Footpad? Farclas? Shattered Love? All convincing winners with a bright future. Unlike the "also ran" from the Albert Bartlett. Change the record Walter, very boring.
I’d better not answer as every time I say something remotely negative, on here, about an NH saddle monkey all hell breaks loose. All that I will detail is that maybe the usually sound Nico had his mind on more urgent events in just over half an hour’s time. Only natural I suppose if he did. I do though find the owner something of a ‘loose cannon’ and one to bark out orders so if he wasn’t happy he might be looking for a new pilot! Re Santini’s family, by the way, he actually sold off 3 members in one go, all to separate purchasers, back in January! Is that a wise move now that Santinin is Grade 1 placed and could, in the future, become a superstar?!? They were incidentally his yearling half-sister (by Walk in the Park for £22k), Santini’s 3YO half-sister (by High Chaparral for £62k) and his 14YO dam (is that cricket selling off such an old girl?!?) for 32k.
