Ruby faces tough choice
I have to hold my hand up and admit Kauto Star proved me wrong.
After that performance yesterday he’s obviously the right horse. I was very dubious about his jumping and whether he’d get the trip but when he kicked the last fence again yesterday he showed he was a great horse.
One thing the horse has done that didn’t used to when he made that kind of mistake is that he doesn’t lie down anymore. He did everything to stand on his feet. The technique still isn’t there but when he messes up he can save himself now.
I fancied Beef Or Salmon as an each-way bet but he ran a different race to the one I expected. He’s been a hold-up horse all of his life but yesterday his connections grabbed the bull by the horns and said ‘win or bust’ and made the running. The horse clearly doesn’t like that approach and with blinkers on it just didn’t happen for him. For that matter the Gold Cup isn’t a front-runner’s race by any means and I can only think of Cool Dawn and Mr Mulligan who won it making the running.
Next year’s race is already shaping up to be a thriller with Denman and Kauto Star, and War of Attrition possibly coming back as well as maybe Kicking King.
It’s a lottery looking so far ahead in National Hunt racing and the chances of both Denman and Kauto Star making it to next year’s race and both being sound, well, you know yourself.
An important point for me in Kauto Star’s victory yesterday was that he needed a jockey of Ruby’s calibre on board. But if I were him and had to choose between the two today I’d pick Denman. Probably. He’s younger and fitter and a better jumper. come the right route from Ireland and point to points. He’s come over and been a good hurdler and now he’s a good chaser. Kauto Star is French bred and they don’t tend to stay around quite as long.
They’re more forward earlier in their careers. Kauto Star is only a seven year old and can still be an improver but I’d go with Denman. He’s a big horse as well, massive, and will only be improving with age.
What Kauto Star also did yesterday was to save the meeting for the punters. It had been the bookies week up to that point, although a few of those well-backed favourites shouldn’t have been in my view.
Anyone who keeps backing short-priced favourites at Cheltenham would want their head examined. History shows this place is the biggest graveyard for short-priced favourites ever.
I’m hoping Sublimity doesn’t suffer that fate in future Champion Hurdles because this horse is sound and he’s definitely here to stay.
He should never have been the price he was but there were a couple of factors that made him such a long shot this week. Number one he was trained by John Carr, who nobody had ever heard of, so therefore no-one backed. Number two, he was desperately unlucky not to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle the year before, when he got into every bit of trouble he possibly could and still finished fourth.
While Sublimity has what it takes to rule the Champion Hurdle and the same can be said for Inglis Drever in the World Hurdle, the Champion Chase is still crying out for a new Moscow Flyer to become its star.
I just didn’t fancy Voy Por Ustedes, his form didn’t live up to winning that race and I don’t think he is the answer, while the Arkle winner My Way de Solzen will probably head to the Gold Cup.
So for me, there isn’t a two miler standing out for me right now, which may be me being harsh. Newmill hasn’t got what it takes and Nickname nees soft ground while Well Chief could be a start but is certainly no match for the likes of a real star like Moscow Flyer.
It’s wide open.
