What a way it would be to sign off, were Djakadam to win the race
Djakadam, in the Gold Cup, will bring down the curtain for me on Cheltenham 2016 and what a way it would be to sign off, were he to win the race — and he has a real chance.
He was just a six-year-old when runner-up in the race last year, and started off this season with a very easy victory over two and a half miles at Punchestown.
He tipped up in the Cotswold Chase last time, but he has been in very good form since and I’m really looking forward to getting back on board.
The only real concern is the drying ground, which will also inconvenience Don Poli, and will swing things in favour of Don Cossack.
There’s also a better chance the doubtful stayers will get home.
But Smad Place and On His Own will ensure a good pace, which you always get in the Gold Cup, and Djakadam’s course-and-distance form is a real positive.
If he copes with the conditions, he should go really close and I would really love to win the race, not just for me, but for Willie Mullins.
Willie runs three in the Triumph Hurdle.
I had the choice of two but genuinely didn’t know which one to ride, and Willie put me on Footpad.
He won well at Gowran and followed up with a smart display on very testing ground at Leopardstown on Irish Gold Cup day.
The conditions will be very different this afternoon, but he is progressive and should go well.
He was in front of Let’s Dance last time but behind Apple’s Jade at Christmas, so it’s really hard to know what to make of them. I don’t think there’s a standout juvenile in Ireland, although if Ivanovich Gorbatov returned to the form of his maiden hurdle win I think he is the best horse in the race.
Of the British runners, Paul Nicholls’ Zubayr may be the one to beat.
I’m on Dicosimo in the County Hurdle but he has to carry 11-10. I was hoping Irving would run in the race, to keep the weights down, but he doesn’t, so that makes our task tougher. He fell in the Betfair Hurdle last time, and disappointed in last season’s Triumph Hurdle, but I might try different tactics this time. I’ll probably drop him and if that works for him he could have an each-way chance.
Great Field, who Barry Geraghty rides, might be the best-treated of our three.
He won very well at Leopardstown last time on what was his first run for Willie, and is entitled to improve. Ivan Grozny is not delivering on the track and is probably best watched.
Willie runs seven in the Albert Bartlett, and I’m on Long Dog because I wanted to ride a horse with a turn of pace.
The logic behind that is that he might outsprint Barters Hill, because I can’t imagine any horse will outstay him.
He is a dual Grade One winner over two miles but I’ve long been of the opinion he has been crying out for three miles.
Barry Geraghty rides Bleu Et Rouge, whose form is very strong. He was behind Long Dog at Christmas but won a Grade One at Leopardstown last time and can improve gain. Gangster has been working well, and was impressive on his only try over three miles, at Fairyhouse last time. Balko Des Flos was impressive at Punchestown, while Up For Review disappointed last but had good form previously. I can see him going head to head with Barters Hill from the off.
Other than a sub-par run last time, Bachasson’s form was very solid, including when just a neck behind Long Dog in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse.
He seems to be back in form now, and the drying ground will suit. Open Eagle has to improve and the ground may have dried too much for him.
Barters Hill sets the standard but I’ll be aiming to quicken past him late on Long Dog.
Willie has four horses in the Martin Pipe Hurdle but I don’t think there’s a Sir Des Champs, Don Poli or a Killultagh Vic amongst them.
If one could be well handicapped I’d say it could be the mare, Whiteout.
Yesterday could not have gone any better for us, and I just hope I gave enough encouragement to readers of this column to cover some of the Cheltenham expenses.
Black Hercules was great. He jumped super and even when the horse jumped across him at the second-last he dwelt in the air himself — he knew what he was doing. It was a great decision to run him in this race, rather than the four-miler.
Vautour was brilliant. He bounced off the ground, but was probably going as fast as he wanted to be early. He came on the bridle a long way out.
I wouldn’t say he was as spectacular as last year — he didn’t beat Valseur Lido as far as he did then, but was still very good.
If I was the trainer he’d have been in Carlow. I wouldn’t have run him in any race, but that’s the measure of Willie Mullins, the way he can shuffle the pack.
Limini was just different class in the mares’ novices’ hurdle.
Her jumping was deadly and I think she can mix it on the Flat and over jumps in the future.
Wherever she goes, I suggest you follow her. She’s brilliant.
