Big in Japan
I’m at Ayr today for three relatively modest mounts for Paul Nicholls, but do not ride in the Scottish Grand National. In marked contrast, I have a bucket of high-profile possibilities to look forward to at next week’s Punchestown festival.
I must start, however, with a look back at that historic success I enjoyed aboard Blackstairmountain in Japan seven day ago.
I’d imagine plenty of you have looked at the contest on Youtube at this stage and the one thing that will have not have escaped most is the pace at which the race was run.
It was simply helter-skelter and there was absolutely no hiding place. The best way I can describe how fast we were travelling is to say that it was as quick as a Galway Hurdle, but over two miles and five furlongs.
Blackstairmountain jumped like a buck and had to, because one error and his chance was gone. At no stage could I afford to get a breather into him.
It was a marvellous occasion and I was thrilled to be part of it. I have to say it was an exceptional training performance by Willie Mullins and a tribute to his forward planning.
And you have to admire Blackstairmountain’s owner, Rich Ricci. This was a big investment on his part, with no guarantee whatsoever of any sort of return.
There is great credit due as well to the two lads who looked after the horse in Japan, Dermot Keeling and Emmet Mullins.
Where they stayed was right next to Blackstairmountain’s stable and they literally lived with the horse for weeks.
The race itself could hardly have panned out any better. Blackstairmountain jumped brilliantly, travelled beautifully and, if anything, I got to the front sooner than ideal. But he kept finding and that was terrific.
The lead-in to the race was most interesting. It wasn’t like a Thursday at Thurles, for instance, where all connected with horses are allowed to roam freely in the enclosures.
In Japan we were kept segregated until the race was over. Then Willie, his wife, Jackie, who accepted the trophy on behalf of the owner, and the grooms were introduced to the public.
I gave an interview on an Olympic-style rostrum and it was the first three-way interview of my career. A young lady, with perfect English, translated and boy was I glad to see her.
I’ve been asked if I’d like to return to Japan and my response has been why not? This was a huge prize and we now know exactly what is required.
When it comes to prizemoney, it was actually the biggest race I have ever won. The Grand National at Aintree is worth more, but when I last won that, on Hedgehunter in 2005, it was worth ÂŁ30,000 less than the Japanese spectacular.
and my efforts to get among the winners at Ayr. I think Sametegal, in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, is my best chance.
He was last seen when third to Our Conor in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, in a contest I think of as two races!
Our Conor, who shaped like the proverbial aeroplane, was enjoying his own race miles in front, while the rest of us were having our own in behind.
In any case, Sametegal was far from disgraced and will love both the track and the rapidly drying ground.
Funny Star is hard to fancy in a handicap hurdle. The five-year-old ran a shocker at Aintree and I’ll be pleasantly surprised if he gets involved.
I end on Hawkes Point in a handicap chase and he has a life. He didn’t stay in the four-miler at Cheltenham and was outclassed anyway. Down in trip and a much weaker race offers us hope.
I have no strong view on the Scottish National, but would love to see the Aintree hero, Auroras Encore, winning. It is a brave call to come here. Yesterday, I spoke to his jockey, Ryan Mania, at Ayr and it was great to see him looking so well.
I think Willie’s Perfect Gentleman will win a maiden hurdle at Tramore today. He was in hot enough company when third to Foxrock and Wedding Present at Naas and is in good order at home.
Willie’s Sweet My Lord will relish the two miles and six of the conditions chase and is likely to deliver as well.
Next week is all about Punchestown and to say I’m looking forward to it would be an understatement.
Willie has many horses ready to go, the likes of Hurricane Fly, Quevega, Champagne Fever, Boston Bob, Marito and Pont Alexandre, who seems to be back on song at home.
Most of his army will be going out on grass afterwards, but there will be others heading to Auteuil.
