Everything’s perfect, there’s no excuses

By Ruby Walsh

Friday, March 19, 2010

SO this is it, the highlight of the entire week and the only real question to be answered at Cheltenham today is whether I can win a third Gold Cup on Kauto Star.

Regular readers of this column will be aware that there is no greater fan of Kauto Star than me. He has it all, class, speed, power, jumps for fun, travels, quickens and then quickens again.

He will arrive in terrific shape, fresh and well and, essentially, in the form of his life. He has schooled well, the ground will be perfect and there can be no excuses – save what I always want in these races, normal luck in running.

Let’s have a glance at the opposition, headed by Denman, who slammed us in the Gold Cup of 2008.

If Denman is going to win again then he will have to come right back to the tremendous weight-carrying performance he produced in the Henenssy at Newbury. What he did in the Aon Chase, also at Newbury, subsequently simply won’t do.

Imperial Commander flopped badly in the King George, but did win the Ryanair here a year ago. He’s an obvious possibility.

I’d say Tricky Trickster will run well and the other to consider is Willie Mullins’ Cooldine, who was so good for me when taking the RSA Chase last year. He looks in very good order right now and has been doing things right all week. He has to repeat his RSA form, and improve on it, but just might.

Anyway, let’s just say I am more than happy to be renewing acquaintances one more time with Kauto Star.

I had a choice between Advisor and Secant Star in the Triumph Hurdle and have gone with the former. I am in no way certain I’ve got this one right. Advisor won well at Newbury and improved on that next time at Ascot. You have to stay to win a Triumph and he was a stayer on the flat.

Secant Star is a good horse, who would have won at Leopardstown, but for falling at the last, and then bolted in at Gowran Park. Alaivan is the likely favourite, but I’m not a fan and think he is well beatable.

I ride Tito Bustillo in the County Hurdle, but you can clearly make a case for this being the hardest contest of the week to solve. Tito Bustillo ran nicely when third to Bellvano at Newbury and is a horse I like. He will be ridden off the pace and it will be a case of trying to come though late.

I can’t tell you to back him or not and this is one race for which I am more than happy to sit on the fence.

Willie Mullins has decided to set punters a proper poser by running four in the Albert Bartlett.

I’ve decided to stick with Quel Esprit, who sent me spinning to the turf at the second on Wednesday. He ran loose, but didn’t get very far, and is one 100% and none the worse for the experience. I fancied him the other day and fancy him again, especially as he is now stepping up to three miles.

I’m just a big fan of the horse and think he is the best of Willie’s. He is an out-and-out stayer and there will be loads of pace in the race, which will suit.

Willie’s other three? Fionnegas will like the ground and the trip, Enterprise Park the trip, but Arvika Ligeonniere will need to settle better than the last day I rode him.

I finish the meeting aboard Free World in the Grand Annual. He has his share of weight and I’m going to be in big trouble for a winner if still waiting by the time this contest is due off.

I managed my third winner of the week yesterday when Big Buck’s was super in taking his second World Hurdle.

My biggest problem was getting to the front too soon and I couldn’t believe it coming down the hill when neither Sentry Duty or Karabak was cruising in behind me.

That second, Time For Rupert, is good, have no doubt about that, but Big Buck’s is simply the best around.

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, March 19, 2010