No hiding place for Kauto Star
I’ve said it before and will say it again, Kauto is best going left-handed, notwithstanding the fact he has won four King Georges at Kempton.
But that is only a minor matter and I really don’t envisage there being any need for excuses. I haven’t sat on him since the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but Paul Nicholls tells me he is in great order and has travelled over well.
Nacarat likes to bowl along near the front and was impressive at Aintree last time and also when winning the Charlie Hall earlier on at Wetherby.
But I rode in both of those races and didn’t think we went very fast in either. As far as I’m concerned there will be no hiding place today.
I intend to ride Kauto Star the way I did at Cheltenham, aggressively and on the pace, on the basis he stays and stays.
He ran a blinder in the Gold Cup and just didn’t have the legs to go with Long Run and Denman in the straight.
I believe that is easily the best piece of form of any of the runners facing into the contest.
In my opinion Nacarat barely gets three miles and I won’t be allowing Paddy Brennan to dictate matters to suit himself. I just don’t think Nacarat will get three miles and a furlong around Punchestown.
Kempes never got out of first gear in the Gold Cup and we have no explanation for that performance.
He looks in good shape at home, but I suppose he will need to get back on track on the racecourse before you could be confident about him.
I partner Empire Levant for Paul in the four-year-old winners’ of one hurdle. He’s no star, but the Irish juveniles, with the exception of Unaccompanied, look moderate.
Right now Empire Levant is just a shell of a horse, but might be very good in say 12 months time.
That said, he won at Doncaster and was then second to Sire De Grugy at Kempton. Empire Levant won’t be far away, but whether he can cope with David Pipe's Street Entertainer, I'm not sure.
Willie Mullins runs four in the Grade 2 novice hurdle and I’m on Bishopsfurze. He didn’t put his best foot forward when fourth to Hidden Cyclone at Thurles and the plan will obviously be to do better now.
Bishopsfurze’s jumping has been less than satisfactory at times in the past, but he has a big engine and I will be trying to get it out of him.
I rode Allee Garde to get up close home at Gowran Park and he beat a decent enough field that day.
Lambro had a hard race when scoring at Fairyhouse last week, while Raptor is totally unexposed. There are several others with chances and the bottom line is that I can’t even tell you which of Willie’s is best.
I will be watching the Champion Bumper with interest, especially Willie’s Lovethehigherlaw. He was a 1-2 shot when getting well chinned at Limerick and that defeat more than surprised me.
He is going particularly nicely at home and should certainly emerge as the best of Willie’s challengers.
I end my evening on Scotsirish for Willie in a handicap chase. He was only fourth at Fairyhouse, but two miles was too short.
He is far better over today’s trip, two and a half, and will love the ground. It’s a big ask off top weight, but I won’t be shocked if he goes close.
I was in Willie’s yesterday morning and reckon we rode out about 50 horses. Hurricane Fly, So Young and Quevega all seemed on good terms with themselves. Let’s just say that he has a lot of ammunition to come this week.
