Harrington’s bold-jumping Beachdale finds his vocation

It is rare enough for one to be overly impressed by a National Hunt horse in the summer, but Jessica Harrington’s Beachdale Lad was a rare exception at Kilbeggan last Monday night.

The imposing six-year-old was a useful enough hurdler, rated 122 the last time he ran over flights.

But his two races over fences have already shown that this is most certainly his true vocation and already, you’d imagine, the handicapper would give him a mark way in excess of that achieved as a hurdler.

He produced an exhilarating exhibition of galloping and jumping to win first time up at Roscommon, by 14 lengths from The Real Article, who has a rating of 136.

It is one thing landing a beginners’ chase, quite another taking on previous winners in a novice event.

At Kilbeggan, however, Beachdale Lad went off a very strong favourite and treated Six Stone Ned, Datokepe (125) and Toner D’Oudairies (129) with utter contempt.

What was so exciting was the manner in which he absolutely attacked his fences and gave the impression of thoroughly enjoying his work.

He had what were useful enough sorts - at least facing into the contest - gasping for breath a long way from home and this fellow is simply a smashing summer chaser.

The other thing that struck one, watching the race, is why doesn’t Beachdale Lad’s rider, Mark Bolger, get more opportunities?

I loved the way he allowed his horse to get into a rhythm in the early part of the contest, before allowing him to stride on with over a circuit to cover.

Bolger filled the horse with confidence and then, when ready, asked him to do what he does best, gallop powerfully and jump like a gazelle.

It will be fascinating should Willie Mullins decide to challenge for the Melbourne Cup with Simenon.

We know Mullins is a master craftsman, just ask the Japanese after Blackstairmountain, but, even by his high standards, the job he has done with this horse is quite extraordinary.

Simenon used to be trained in England by Andrew Balding and, on the last occasion he ran for him, finished 14th

of 19 in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle in June of 2011.

He then came to Mullins, making his Irish debut when fifth in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in December of 2011.

Simenon then ran five more times over hurdles and, while smart enough, didn’t exactly set the world on fire.

So what was it that Mullins saw which told him he was a prime candidate for Royal Ascot last year?

Simeon duly mustered all the regalia and, remarkably, proceeded to win what would be regarded as two of the lesser races at the meeting.

And then, of course, Mullins set about a bigger prize entirely, the Gold Cup last week, and almost pulled it off.

Indeed, if Simenon had been better drawn, such a consideration is relevant, even over two and a half miles, he might have beaten Estimate, instead of failing by a neck to her.

Now the Melbourne Cup has been mentioned as a possible target, with the mark given to Simenon apparently the most important factor.

It always fascinates me as to how a handicapper can actually arrive at a weight for a horse like Simenon, given they are dealing with jurisdictions that are utterly different.

Remember, when we used to hear all those experts rattling on as to how badly treated Irish horses were in English handicaps, especially at Cheltenham time.

I could never get my head around the concept, because to me there was no way of knowing whether the English handicapper had been too harsh or not.

You know you’d hear someone spouting “he’s 10lbs worse off in England’’, although here’s one who could never quite work out how that was the case.

Of course most of the spouting has long ceased, it had to as Irish horses farmed more than their fair share of those type of races.

Cheltenham this year, for instance, was a case in point, with Irish horses winning four of the handicaps.

Anyway, when Simenon gets his Melbourne Cup mark, we’ll hear plenty as to whether he’s well handicapped or not.

None of it will mean anything, on the basis it will be virtually impossible to work out whether or which. Only if he runs will we have any idea whether the handicapper crucified Simenon to the cross, or was asleep when assessing him.

There were plenty bulling to lay long odds-on Zakhm at Down Royal last Saturday.

The thinking was that, while he only had four moderate opponents to beat, Zakhm was less than bomb proof and the chance was well worth taking.

He was returned at 1-5, while on the exchanges you could lay him at around 1-4 and even less late on.

So for every €250 or so risked, there was a possible return of a bag of sand and that was calling to some punters.

For most of the contest, you really wouldn’t have wanted to be with the hot pot, but he did finally condescend to go forward and fell over the line half a length in front of 16-1 shot Ubiquitous Mantle.

I’ve since read some rubbish about him not handling the track at Down Royal. Yeah, right.