Hoping against hope Kauto can deliver once more
The plan, of course, is to get to Kempton to team up with the great Kauto Star and a date with destiny in the King Keorge.
Barry Geraghty too will be heading across and he flies from Shannon. We will meet at the other side and share a taxi to the track.
This year, in contrast to others, we can afford to be reasonably relaxed. The weather forecast is good and so travelling, hopefully, should be the least of our worries.
This Christmas for me is all about Kauto and his attempt to win a fifth King George. Tony McCoy was aboard last year, I was injured, when he performed moderately behind the impressive Long Run.
Now the pressure is off Kauto and we go there as underdogs, even accepting that we were far too good for Long Run at Haydock last time.
I expect Kauto to turn up as much the same horse you all saw at Haydock. He is at his best on this track and it will be simply fantastic if he can go and win again.
But I’m a realist and now expect to meet a much sharper and fitter Long Run. When Kauto Star beat Long Run at Haydock, Nicky Henderson’s horses had yet to hit top gear, but they are absolutely flying at the moment.
Master Minded has to be regarded as the dark horse of the contest and the big question is whether he will stay? I think he will.
We can certainly assume he will travel strongly for much of the race, but is he actually good enough? That’s the question I cannot answer.
Captain Chris is the other to consider. He took the Arkle at Cheltenham and would probably have won the Haldon Gold Cup, on his reappearance at Exeter, but for falling. But this is a big step up on any of the challenges he has hitherto faced.
I’m hoping against hope Kauto can deliver one more amazing performance, but believe Long Run is going to be very hard to beat.
Plenty Pocket, who was a bit disappointing when third to Molotof at Hayock, starts my day in a novice hurdle. It doesn’t look a great race, but I’m still more hopeful than confident.
The Grade 1 Feltham Chase is worth the entrance fee alone and I am especially looking foward to teaming up with Silviniaco Conti, against Grands Crus and Bobs Worth. Silviniaco Conti won by 25 lengths at Wincanton and he stays really well and has a bit of pace.
Grands Crus wasn’t a million miles behind Big Buck’s over hurdles and that’s a fair old recommendation.
But I wasn’t that impressed with him the last day and feel he has something to prove at this particular discipline.
Bobs Worth is a cracking horse, but to my eyes just spent too much time in the air when winning at Newbury.
I have a good vibe about Silviniaco Conti, despite the strength of the oppositon, and feel the track is made for him.
In contrast, the track is against Rock On Ruby, who is a stayer more than a speed horse, in the Christmas Hurdle.
He won a handicap in fine style at Newbury, but that was the minimum required to be considered for a race which is an an entirely different ball game.
That’s the negativity out of the way and, all things considered, I won’t be shocked if Rock On Ruby proves good enough.
Overturn, who has had a lot of racing, will take us along and that will suit my horse. This is not the best Grade 1 ever run and I just hope we aren’t chopped for speed when the need is greatest.
I end aboard Like Minded in a wide open handicap hurdle. He has plenty of weight, plenty of ability and two ways of running. Let’s just say he won’t be foremost in my thoughts heading to Kempton.
At Leopardstown on Monday, I think Willie Mullins will win the opening maiden hurdle with the ex-French horse, Marasonnien.
He has been working and schooling nicely and ticks the right boxes. I was hoping he might wait until Tuesday, when I’ll be back in Ireland, but you can’t have everything.
Willie run Blackstairmount in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase, but this should go to Bog Warrior.
I won the Drinmore at Fairyhouse on him and, while he is no two-miler, that worry should be more than offset by the likely testing conditions.
At Limerick, Sir Des Champs, who shapes like a very nice horse, can win the Grade 2 novice chase for Willie.
