I’m just so proud after fairytale festival
Riding three winners on Tuesday was simply a dream come true and, several days later, I’m still pretty chuffed about that.
First of all, however, a word about yesterday and the great Kauto Star. He may have only finished third behind a splendid winner, Long Run, in the Gold Cup, but I could not be more proud of him.
He jumped great and travelled super, but age has just caught up with him and he didn’t have the zoom off the final bend.
It was smashing to put another on the board with Final Approach in the County Hurdle and he did remarkably well to get up on the line, because he was almost on the floor at the first.
And here’s a name for you for the future, even if he was only fourth in the Triumph Hurdle: Sam Winner.
He jumped too big and was outpaced, but mark my words, he will be the next big challenger to Long Run.
Willie Mullins and his staff did some job with Hurricane Fly and guiding him to success in the Champion Hurdle was the easy bit.
He can get quite hot, but Paul Townend rides him at home every day and he is now a horse on good terms with himself.
It looks as if he is going to head to Punchestown, but we will worry about that later and, for the moment, enjoy what we have achieved.
It was terrific to win my first Champion Hurdle and I certainly won’t be getting off Hurricane Fly any time soon.
Al Ferof got me away to a flyer in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and I can’t wait to ride him over fences.
He should make some chaser and, you’d imagine, will start off with next year’s Arkle in mind.
Quevega won her third mares’ hurdle and there is no reason why she can’t go and make it four, or even five, in the future.
She is just class and I’d love to own her. Quevega will make some mare for breeding and, as long as staying alive and well, is a pension fund.
So Young disappointed us on Wednesday, but have no doubt, he will redeem himself, sooner rather than later.
As I said here afterwards, his jumping just wasn’t good enough, but that will obviously improve as he gains more experience.
Because of the way he jumped, it didn’t work out for me and I was too wide over the second last.
That said, if he had winged the final flight, instead of getting it all wrong, I think he’d have won. At least I do after Oscars Well blundered his chance.
We could argue about it all day, but what I will say is I would love to take on First Lieutenant, Rock On Ruby and Oscars Well again.
I was thrilled with Big Buck’s on Thursday.
There are those who think the slow pace, at least for some of the contest, didn’t suit him, but to me it made no difference.
He is just quicker and stays better than other horses over three miles. Even though I lost my whip, I felt I got this right tactically, increasing the pace of the race at the top of the hill.
The jury is out at this stage as far as Master Minded is concerned. He was disappointing, so we will now have to see if stepping up in trip is the right way to go with him.
Today, I round off my week at Uttoxeter and that’ll clearly be low profile, compared to the highs of the last few days.
I have just two rides, starting with Red Harbour in a handicap hurdle. He loves nice ground, but you’d think this is being used as a prep for the Scottish National at Ayr.
Then it will be Tricky Trickster in the four mile-plus Midlands Grand National. He hasn’t won since beating Niche Market in the Aon Chase at Newbury a fair way back.
Again the Scottish National is his main goal. He ran at Aintree last year and finished ninth behind Don’t Push It. The original plan was to return to Aintree, but on reflection Paul Nicholls felt that he didn’t really take to the place.
I don’t ride on Sunday and intend to take a couple of more days off next week. I’m going to spend plenty of time with my wife, Gillian, and daughter, Isabelle.
Gillian was a rock during those dark days when I was injured and is expecting our second child at the end of April. The least I can now do is to make a contribution around the house for a while.
