Tuesday, March 16, 2010
I HEADED for Cheltenham on Sunday night and then had a relaxing enough day yesterday.
In the morning, I rode out two lots for Willie Mullins, before heading to Sainsburys to stock up on supplies for what promises, to say the least of it, to be an interesting week.
I told you here last Saturday Celestial Halo had a great each-way shout in the Champion Hurdle and haven’t changed my mind. Listen, this is the most open of the championship races and some luck in running and tactics are set to play a major part in the final outcome.
Celestial Halo schooled brilliantly in blinkers the other day, is working really well right now and looks great.
I know he was disappointing when fourth to Solwhit at Leopardstown, but the ground was terrible and I’m inclined to forgive that effort.
My reference to tactics centres on just who will make the running. My horse certainly won’t win a sprint, but I don’t want to make it one either. Ideally, I would love a lead, with plenty of pace in the race. Paul Nicholls and I have discussed the contest and we really don’t know what we should do.
I believe Solwhit is the best horse in the field. We are all aware of the well-documented scare when scoping badly and that has to be taken into consideration. But he scoped clean last Saturday and connections wouldn’t risk him unless they were fully satisfied will be able to do himself justice.
Medermit and Khyber Kim are useful horses, but, to my way of thinking, Go Native is beatable.
You would have to respect last year’s winner, Punjabi. I know he had nothing to beat at Kempton last time, but there was a lot to like about the way he went about his work. You can’t possibly be too dogmatic regarding the likely outcome, but I’m happy enough to again recommend Celestial Halo each way.
If Blackstairmountain can finish in the first three, in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, I will be more than pleased. His only run over flights so far saw him win in a canter at Punchestown, where he jumped beautifully. Importantly, he has travelled over well.
But I have to say I am a massive fan of Dunguib and my opinion of him is that he’s an aeroplane. I’m well aware of the fears about his jumping, but I’ve seen horses jump worse than him and still manage to win round here.
Get Me Out Of Here is now an experienced handicapper and the hustle and bustle will not be a problem. I still cannot see beyond Dunguib.
Sports Line is a good horse and has his chance in the Arkle, but whether he’s up to this remains to be seen. He was beaten by An Cathaoir Mor at Leopardstown and there is no doubt will need to improve on that if he’s to win.
The big two from an Irish point of view, I suppose, are Captain Cee Bee and Sizing Europe.
I know Captain Cee Bee can hurdle a fence or two, but he’s a class act, although nine-year-olds do not have much of a record in the race. I think Sizing Europe needs a longer trip.
Somersby won well at Sandown, has lots of speed and jumps. He might just upset the Irish apple cart.
The Tother One, off top weight in the William Hill Handicap Chase, hardly qualifies as one of my better rides of the week. He has the unhappy knack of getting it wrong at the early fences and then runs on at the end.
I’ll be asking him to jump well over the first couple of obstacles and, if he obliges, that will give us a fighting chance.
AND then we come to my best ride of the day, Quevega, in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle. I know it’s her first outing of the campaign and there have been persistent rumours as to her current well-being.
Willie Mullins and I have both heard the mutterings and enjoyed a good laugh about them. She has been working very well and was 100% yesterday morning. I don’t know much about betting, but this kind of idle talk can work well for punters. I’m told she went out as high as 2-1 and that seems a fair enough price.
There appears to be a lot of confidence behind Voler La Vedette and she is good, but will have to be a hell of a mare to beat Quevega.
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