Sports Line looks sure to go well in Arkle
I’m at Ascot today to team up with Twist Magic in the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase and, I suppose, he has to start favourite, following a brilliant display in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.
But Sandown and Ascot are like chalk and cheese. Ascot takes a lot of getting, while Sandown is a far easier track, ideally suited to Twist Magic.
He was tremendous in the Tingle Creek, beating Forpadydeplasterer by 15 lengths and never giving me any cause for concern.
Well Chief was beaten 24 lengths into third and a literal interpretation of the form will tell you David Pipe’s horse cannot win.
But this is a different day, on a different course, and it would be ridiculous to read too much into that. After all, Well Chief was runner-up behind Master Minded in last year’s Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
Realistically, one to five in the race have plenty to find and Well Chief and Petit Robin are the dangers. Petit Robin made a race off it for a long way with Master Minded and Well Chief at Cheltenham, before fading back to third.
I hope my fears about Twist Magic at Ascot prove unfounded, but it keeps entering my head that he disappointed in this race previously. Petit Robin is my principal worry.
I’m obviously hoping to make the ideal start aboard Advisor in the juvenile hurdle. He used to be trained by Michael Bell and made a winning debut over flights for Paul Nicholls at Newbury.
He scored by six lengths at a tasty 7-1. The price tells you that the success came as a pleasant surprise and it would be nice if he goes and surprises us again! That was an ordinary race, but he jumped and stayed and might be half-decent.
I partner Easter Legend in a mares’ hurdle for Emma Lavelle, but we have to move quickly past that contest, because I know nothing at all about her.
Paul has decided to run Qozak in a handicap hurdle, just two days after winning by ten lengths at Taunton. That wouldn’t have been much of a race, whereas this seems a fairish contest.
I suppose my lad won’t be much value, but in theory should win. He carries a mandatory 5lbs penalty and there seems little doubt will go up in the future by a lot more than that.
Red Harbour has proved most disappointing of late and will need to improve to take a hand in the last, a novice hurdle.
The big one tomorrow is the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and all logic says this is a straight match between Solwhit and Davy Russell and Celestial Halo and myself.
Celestial Halo disappointed me when failing to cope with Khyber Kim at Cheltenham, I thought he’d find a lot more when the pressure was applied.
I think I’m really caught between a rock and a hard place now. If this develops into a tactical affair, in other words with little pace on, then there’s no way Celestial Halo can win.
He is best granted a swinging end-to-end gallop and when stamina comes into play. But if I set a scorching pace then more than likely will be playing right into the hands of Solwhit.
I think I am going to have to ignore Solwhit and just do what’s best for my horse, to simply play to his strengths. Let’s see just see what happens, but it won’t be a case of shock-horror if Solwhit goes by me in the closing stages.
I could have ridden Take The Breeze in the Arkle, but have decided to stick with Willie Mullins’ Sports Line. Too much shouldn’t be read into that, I feel I should ride for Paul on Saturdays and Willie on Sundays.
Mind you, I am more than happy to be on Sports Line, who made an excellent start over fences at Navan. He’s in great order right now and schooled really well at Punchestown the other day.
Take The Breeze has improved out of all proportion since going over fences. He loves soft ground and to front-run, so that makes it interesting.
Sports Line is a natural front-runner as well, but I’ll be happy enough to slot in a little if take The Breeze and Major Finnegan want to make this a thorough test of stamina.
Dooneys Gate ran far too free when failing to justify favouritism in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown and has his chance, dropping down in trip in a handicap chase.
I’m very much looking forward to riding Quel Esprit in a novice hurdle. I’ve ridden him plenty of work at home, but haven’t sat on the horse in public since the bumper at Cheltenham in March.
I think he’s one of the most exciting novices in the country right now and, hopefully, will go and prove such thinking is correct.
Dorset Square is a possibility in a wide-open handicap hurdle, but I’d be happier if this was three miles, the trip over which he won at Clonmel.
