Sir Des Champs a ridiculousprice for Cheltenham Gold Cup
But not a bit of it and those brave boys who do their business off-course were unmoved and refused to allow any extension in the horse’s odds.
He remains a top-priced 6-1 with some firms, 5’s with others and there are even those, well Coral, who think punters should come out to play as low as 4-1.
There is only one word to describe such offers and that’s ridiculous. He has been brilliantly placed by Willie Mullins and his score for the trainer, since arriving from France, is now seven from seven, five over fences and two over flights.
But that effort at Punchestown raised sufficient doubts to definitely make you want to stand back for a long time before putting Sir Des Champs forward as a possible Gold Cup winner.
He jumped away to his left at a number of fences and generally did not impress at all. Then he went and battered the last and it was a miracle Davy Russell wasn’t deposited on the turf.
It would be quite wrong to be too hard on the horse, on the basis of this performance, because making the running — in what was a most uncompetitive affair — didn’t suit.
He is surely better judged on a smooth-as-silk display when easily taking the Jewson at Cheltenham.
He remains a real talent and the fact Willie Mullins thinks so highly of the horse has be totally pencilled in.
But the Punchestown effort was disappointing and it would be crazy to even consider backing him for the Gold Cup at this stage of proceedings.
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THE stewards were called into action at the Curragh last Sunday, after Cnocan Diva had beaten Susiescot a short head in a one mile handicap.
Apparently there were those who felt the placings would be reversed and that was a school of thought which became stronger on At The Races, the longer the inquiry went on.
The stewards took plenty of time over their deliberations, before deciding an alteration wasn’t necessary.
I have since looked at the head-on of the contest and the only surprise to me is that the stewards didn’t conclude the result should stand in about five seconds.
Interference was minimal and, to my way or thinking, the result wasn’t affected and the best horse undoubtedly won.
Susiescot’s trainer, Willie McCreery, has, however, decided to appeal the decision. Good luck with that Willie.
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ON the same Curragh card Aidan O’Brien ran two in a seven furlongs Listed race, the clear form horse, Nephrite and the apparently modest, Requisition.
Someone, however, knew far more than the form book was telling us and Requisition was all the rage in the market, strong on Betfair and from 6-1 to 7-2 on track.
And so it came to pass that the punter(s) who invested on Requisition had the best marked card of all.
Requisition soon bounded away in front and duly landed the touch with uneasy 4-9 shot, Nephrite, well held in third place.
Afterwards, connections indicated that Nephrite’s future was probably as a sprinter, although he did beat Born To Sea in the seven furlongs Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown as a two-year-old.
I wasn’t at the Curragh, but colleagues in the press room tell me that a member of the public hurled abuse in the direction of O’Brien after the race.
Such behaviour is not to be in any way condoned, but at the same time we can understand the frustration which might be felt in some quarters.
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IT really was the most extraordinary of weeks at Punchestown and, overall, one has to say that the management did an exceptional job in the most trying of circumstances.
I know there were those who were moaning about how it looked on television, but critics on the couch are a dime a dozen.
All that really mattered was the safety of the horses and the jockeys and the latter seemed perfectly happy to ride and experienced men like Barry Geraghty, Ruby Walsh and Davy Russell had no issue with the conditions.
There were some decent performances, obviously, but the one that got this scribbler the most animated was Champagne Fever in the Champion Bumper.
Alright, alright there was a few quid involved, but that was of no importance — he lied. But seriously. to do what he did was amazing.
Champagne Fever went a savage gallop in front and, the way he carries his head, you are almost waiting for him to chuck it at any moment.
But that is just the make and shape of the horse, because there is no doubting his resolution and capacity to fight when the need is greatest.
He won the bumper at Cheltenham as well, of course, and only two horses had ever completed that double previously, Dunguib and Cousin Vinny. Dunguib, however, subsequently lost the Punchestown race on a technicality.
