Mountain set to scale the heights
Analifet is owned by Gigginstown House Stud, but with their number one, Bryan Cooper, opting to stay at home at Navan, I have been given the call by Willie Mullins.
The plan was to fly from Dublin this morning at 8.00 into Leeds-Bradford. Then it was a matter of making the short 45 minutes hop to the course and hoping for the best.
I went to Doncaster once last season, but that was for a certainty, Annie Power, and Analifet obviously isn’t in that league.
She does, however, have a real chance. The five-year-old fell two out in the race won by Carrigmoorna Rock at Leopardstown at Christmas and appeared to be going strongly at the time. Her work is very good right now.
Whatever our fate, I will be leaving Doncaster like the proverbial scalded cat to get on the 5.20 out of Manchester back to Dublin.
The only horse I am leaving behind at Navan is Willie’s Daneking in a rated hurdle. It is very competitive and I think there should be more of this type of contest.
I rode Daneking last time at Punchestown, when we finished third behind Sadlers Risk and He’llberemembered. Sadlers Risk, of course, weighed out 4lbs light and disqualification was inevitable.
Anyway, Daneking was very free that day and, if they go a good gallop, that will make Paul Townend’s job a lot easier. It was two and a half miles at Punchestown and dropping down four furlongs in trip now will be a help.
Willie introduces a newcomer in the bumper called Augustin, who is by Martaline. I rode him one day in a schooling bumper at Thurles and think he’s not a bad horse.
I am particularly looking forward to Leopardstown tomorrow, where I have some cracking rides, headed by the great Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle.
What is left to say about a horse that has won 21 Grade 1’s and who is unbeaten in nine races around this track? I adore him and it is wonderful that he continues to have a great will to win and the heart and hunger for a fight.
I am hoping for a nice drop of rain on the lead-in to the race. It’s not that he doesn’t handle good ground, he does, but rain will inconvenience his two biggest challengers, Jezki and Arctic Fire.
I have the greatest respect for them and, as at Christmas at Leopardstown, there is unlikely to be much between us.
Jezki improved from Punchestown to the last day and, given that he is much younger than Hurricane, should come on again, while Arctic Fire is clearly on the upgrade.
We can be pretty certain there is no improvement left in Hurricane Fly. Paul Townend, however, rides him in all of his work and he is happy. When Paul is happy then I’m happy.
You should fasten your safety belts for the battle between my horse, Un de Sceaux, Gilgamboa and Clarcam in the Grade 1 Arkle Novice Chase. If ever proof were needed that you do not need a lot of runners to provide a great race then this is it.
Clarcam has a rating of 156 and it is hard believe that he is likely to start the outsider of the trio. My gut instinct is he is flattered by that, but time will reveal all.
To be honest, I can hardly wait to throw my leg over Un de Sceax, in what I regard as a proper race. He’s a horse that wears his heart on his sleeve and we will be belting away from the start.
I hope we can do it for owner Eddie O’Connell, and his family. They are really enthusiastic and would derive enormous pleasure from winning such a prestigious contest.
Gilgamboa and Clarcam are clearly two dangerous opponents and if one or both can go by me in the closing stages then good luck to them.
Willie runs three in a novice hurdle and I’m on Killultagh Vic, who has to get back on track, following a poor performance at Ascot.
We were beaten then by a smart horse in L’Ami Serge, but my lad put up no resistance whatsoever.
He just didn’t show and should at least have made a fight of it to the final flight. He is working great at home now and I anticipate a much improved display.
Willie’s other two are Outlander and the French-import, Net d’Ecosse. Outlander probably didn’t stay three miles when beaten by Martello Tower at Limerick, while it will be interesting to get a handle on how much ability Net d’Ecosse possesses.
The horse we all have to beat, though, is Gordon Elliott’s No More Heroes, who was too good for Willie’s Shaneshill at Navan.
My day ends on Heathfield for Tony Martin in what looks a modest enough handicap chase. All I can tell you about him is that Tony thinks he will win.
Willie takes the wraps off yet another newcomer, Fugi Mountain, in the bumper.
He is owned and bred by Willie’s wife, Jackie, and was named on that memorable trip to Tokyo, when Blackstairmountain did us all proud. By Diamond Green, this is a decent sort.
Nap: Fugi Mountain 4.20 Leopardstown, Sunday
Double: Analifet 2.05 Doncaster
Heathfield 3.50 Leopardstown, Sunday
