O’Dwyer’s great strength is that he makes everything look so simple
I couldn’t be happier for Conor. I remember the first time he won the Champion Hurdle on Hardy Eustace, people were asking him whether it was the right time to retire. He was having not a bit of it and yesterday’s ride just goes to prove him right.
He’s an amazing man and a master horseman. He always manages to get round in one piece and I think in all his career he’s only broken his collar bone once, he just never gets injured. He’s probably been around for as long as he has because he just makes everything look so simple. Horses just jump great for him and War Of Attrition never put a foot wrong for him yesterday.
There had been question marks over his stamina but Conor obviously knew he would get the trip because he rode him up with the pace and then sent him on. It was a great ride and you can see them at it again next year. And the year after. The fact that he’s got speed as well sets him up nicely for a crack at a King George.
Mouse Morris definitely deserves a mention also. A lot of trainers are struggling away with moderate horses but it just goes to show that when the likes of Mouse gets a good one they can produce the goods. It’s an art because racehorses are so fragile.
Hedgehunter ran a blinder for second place, better than I thought he would. Maybe we should have read more into the fact he is being aimed at defending his Aintree Grand National crown and Willie Mullins wouldn’t have sent him to Cheltenham unless he thought he was capable of running a big race.
That was a serious run yesterday and from his relaxed jumping you can see why he won the National last year. Now you’d have to get on him for this year’s National.
What was abundantly clear was that Beef Or Salmon just doesn’t like Cheltenham. Michael Hourigan did the right thing in sending him here one last time but there are many more places this relatively young horse can excel and the 10-year-old should be allowed to stick to his strengths.
He should be staying in the races he’s done so well in over the years, at Leopardstown, in the Hennessy and the Lexus Chase. He’s an Irish horse, keep him in Ireland. With all the rain the going stays soft for most of the winter and that means Beef Or Salmon can trundle around early on and fairly steady and ease himself into a race before hitting his stride with his jumping. Here in England they’re galloping flat to the boards from the word go.
Cheltenham is just full of fairytale stories and now living in County Cork I was delighted for John Murphy winning the Queen Mother with Newmill and also for Ray Hurley, who won the Foxhunters with Whyso Mayo. He was so long out of the spotlight as assistant to Fergie Sutherland and never got any credit but here he is several years later getting a Festival winner and getting all the credit he deserves. Whyso’s not a great jumper but Damien Murphy did an excellent job on board. I met him on Wednesday and he knew he could win but he was worried he wouldn’t get round on him. I told him the secret of the fences at Cheltenham, to go wide and come in on the bends and I like to think he took my advice.
Here’s another couple of pointers you might want to take on board. If you have a spare fiver for the Gold Cup next year, stick it on Racing Demon. He was a big disappointment in the Arkle this week but he’s crying out for the longer trip and he’ll be much better next year.
Paul Webber’s Pressgang came second in the Bumper and is one to watch for next season in novice hurdles while you should look no further than Brave Inca for the 2007 Champion Hurdle.
