Watergate one to note in juvenile hurdle
I’m due to ride at Sandown today, but the meeting is subject to a 7.30am inspection. The plan is to fly out of Dublin to Heathrow at 7.50 this morning.
I’ll be standing at the gate in Dublin waiting for news of the inspection. If, by any chance, you are a passenger on that particular plane, and are wondering what the delay is in taking off, it’s because I’m refusing to board until news from Sandown filters though.
Seriously, though, it’s a real nightmare trying to get one’s travel arrangements spot-on at this time of the year.
If I’m to get to Sandown then I will have to be on the 7.50 and it may well be a case of trying to come home immediately on landing.
I’m praying the meeting goes ahead, because I have reasonable prospects of getting among the winners, starting with Watergate in the juvenile hurdle.
This will be his first run over jumps and his first for Paul Nicholls. He came out of Mark Prescott’s and horses from that yard often do well over jumps.
He’s a nice-sized four-year-old, who should have a future at this game. I schooled him on Wednesday and he gave me no cause for complaint. Essentially, Watergate has been doing everything right at home and we’re optimistic.
I’m looking forward to Free World, under top weight, in the featured handicap chase. I know he’s been costly to follow, but expect a big effort now.
I changed tactics on him at Cheltenham last time and they worked a treat. He normally front-runs, but I dropped in and will be doing the same again.
He was second to French Opera then and it was a good effort. Free World charged into the fifth fence and did well to stay standing.
Overall, however, his jumping was excellent and, you know what, plenty of weight or not, I think he’ll nearly win.
Paul has thrown Ghizao in at the deep end in the Tolworth Hurdle. He’s a maiden over flights and this is a Grade 1.
Ghizao has a lot of ability, however, and ran into a fair sort when beaten a length by Nicky Henderson’s General Miller at Cheltenham.
Nicky relies on Oscar Whiskey now and he has to be respected. Anyway, I was a bit of a sitting duck for General Miller the last day.
My lad just jumped very quickly and got to the front too soon. Barry Geraghty was able to come and pick me off and I would have preferred to be attacking him.
Don’t underestimate Qozak in a handicap hurdle, even if he has to overcome an absence of 273 days. He was tall and lean last season, but is a way stronger, more powerful, horse now, having been done for his wind.
I’ll be at Naas tomorrow, if the snow somehow disappears and the track passes an inspection this morning.
I start on Arvika Ligeonniere in the maiden hurdle, a horse who came from France and has had one run for Willie Mullins.
He was a short price when only fourth in a Fairyhouse bumper and certainly won’t be winning on that form.
But he ran away too free and pulled hard throughout, so I’ll be attempting to get him to settle. He’s not a bad horse and Willie rates him.
I’d love to believe Naas will get the green light, because Quel Esprit and Sports Line are two cracking rides to have.
I’ll be disappointed should Quel Esprit fail to win the Slaney Hurdle. He won at Punchestown and then went on to bolt in at Cork.
If anything, he seems to be in better form at home now than he was before heading to Cork. He will love the ground, trip and track and is very good.
The dreadful weather prevented Sports Line from meeting an engagement at Limerick at Christmas and he tries again in the novice chase.
In time, he will need further than this two miles, but is a fair sort and, hopefully, will live up to his reputation.
He was very good on his debut over fences at Navan, making just one error, and is entitled to improve for that.
I have to finish this week with a word about Kauto Star, who was amazing in the King George. He could not have done it any better and the further we travelled the further he was going to win.
He jumped superbly, moved through the contest quite beautifully and it was simply a top-class display. The bottom line is, he beat proper Grade 1 performers a distance.
People have asked if this was his best ever performance? My response is that it was one of them. But Kauto has produced so many magnificent efforts, over an honourable career, that you couldn’t pick one over many others.
