Quel Esprit can deliver in Gold Cup
We know he’s had his problems over fences in the past, but is unbeaten in three races this season and will arrive now in good shape.
Paul Townend was to have partnered him in the Cheltenham Gold, but wasn’t happy with the horse the morning of the race and Willie Mullins withdrew him.
I rode Quel Esprit last Thursday morning at Willie’s and he gave me a good feel. He has schooled well, is working well and we have every reason to feel optimistic.
All the rain which has fallen will certainly work in favour of Robbie Hennessy’s Rubi Light. The ground has come right for him, but the question is will he stay three miles plus?
I feel Captain Chris has lost his way somewhat since taking a fall at the last at Exeter back in November.
His jumping at Cheltenham last time was horrendous and I couldn’t wait to get out from behind him.
Follow The Plan won in fine style at Aintree recently, but the ground is going to be entirely different and he may struggle.
Quantitativeeasing is a decent sort in his own right, but all the evidence is that he has to improve to win this.
Quel Esprit seems to have got his jumping together, stays and will handle the surface, so I have to be reasonably optimistic.
I begin on Loch Ard in the four-year-old hurdle and have little hesitation putting him up as my best of the day.
On his second run over flights, Loch Ard bolted in over two and a half miles at Gowran Park. There is no doubt about him staying then, but he’s not short of pace either.
The fact the ground won’t be a problem is another obvious plus and he’s been doing everything right at home since Gowran.
Gordon Elliott’s import Un Beau Matin won a Listed Hurdle at Auteuil and has to be respected, but it is very hard to translate French form to Britain and Ireland, until a horse actually goes and runs.
Next up for me is Sous Les Cieux in the three mile Grade 1 hurdle for novices. This horse has my head wrecked.
You can argue I came from too far back when he was beaten at Leopardstown at Christmas and that Benefficient got first run on us in the Deloitte at Leopardstown subsequently.
But then he was very disappointing behind Simonsig at Cheltenham. I blamed myself twice - but not for Cheltenham - so he has become a real puzzle.
Anyway, this is wide open, although I have half a fancy for Liam Burke’s My Murphy, who mugged me late on aboard Marasonnien at Navan.
I rode My Murphy one day at Thurles, when he was unsuited by the slow pace. I thought he was a smashing horse.
The Champion Bumper is some cracking race, with Willie running both Champagne Fever and Mozoltov.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Mozoltov went and won and I’d say Patrick Mullins engaged in some head-scratching before coming down on the side of Champagne Fever.
Logically, however, you would have to favour Champagne Fever, who won the bumper at Cheltenham.
I was on the third that day for Willie, Pique Sous, and thought it rode a hell of a race. John Ferguson’s New Year’s Eve split us and I believe Champagne Fever, on home ground, will beat him by more on this occasion.
Willie’s Raptor is hard to fancy, on the basis of his last two outings, in the two and a half mile handicap chase.
I cannot do the weight, which means Paul Townend will be in the plate. Raptor is not without hope, though, because he is now running over his correct trip and will think has been let loose with just 9-12 to carry.
Willie runs a Gigginstown horse, Flash Of Genius, in the concluding bumper. He hasn’t been seen for 801 days, not since winning his only point-to-point. To my eyes he’s a speedy sort and likely to want better ground than meeting here!
I was in Willie’s yesterday morning and can tell you that Quevega, Hurricane Fly and Felix Yonger all went nicely. I’m particularly looking forward to that trio, as the week progresses.
