If Ireland wins one of the five main chases at Cheltenham it will be an achievement
To make the picture appear even better, Newmill produced a career-best effort to land the two mile Champion Chase.
Fast-forward to the lead-in to another Prestbury Park extravaganza, however, and it is hard to believe how far our standards have slipped.
At last year’s Festival we didn’t win the Gold Cup, Champion Chase, SunAlliance Chase, Arkle Trophy or Ryanair Chase, nor did we ever look like taking a hand in any of them either.
And this time round the scenario is almost as bleak. I think we can say with virtual certainty the Gold Cup will not be making it’s way across the Irish Sea.
When you see long-absent Kicking King quoted as the shortest of ours then it really is a sad state of affairs.
We simply do not currently have horses who are in the same league as the likes of Kauto Star and Denman.
Mossbank, I suppose, is a possibility, but has plenty to find with Denman and the Ryanair Chase is surely a more realistic target anyway.
Snowy Morning could run well, if given the chance, but he is going round in hurdle races at the moment to preserve his handicap mark with the Aintree Grand National in mind.
If the Gold Cup is set to remain firmly across the water then that’s a remark which can also be very much applied to the Champion Chase.
Not too many of us thought Mansony and Schindlers Hunt were realistic challengers, but to see both of them struggle badly at Ascot last Saturday, on their ideal surface, quenched any lingering hopes.
Right now we have only one novice who could be put forward with confidence to hold his own against the Brits and that’s Glencove Marina.
Essentially, Glencove Marrina, Mossbank and Snowy Morning represent the future of Irish chasing. It’s a paltry party, when you glance at the quality they have to offer.
Bottom line, if Ireland wins one of the five main chases at the Cheltenham Festival that will be an achievement.
* WAS watching BBC’s coverage of Ascot last Saturday, which is a rare occurence these days. It was only because there was no Irish racing, otherwise the focus would have been on ATR.
Have to say Norman Williamson was hugely impressive and understand now why they go to the trouble of flying him over when the need arises.
They did a piece on Denis O’Regan riding a finish with a circuit to go at Fakenham and on the Tramore debacle on New Year’s eve when most of the jockeys, in the chase ‘won’ by Mr Aussie, also rode a finish with a circuit to cover.
Williamson’s message was that he had little sympathy for O’Regan or for any jockeys who, literally, cannot count.
Those suspended at Tramore were given five days and Williamson said “they got away with murder.” And, of course, he’s right.
The stewards were far too lenient on the day, it should have been 14 days, and the matter was then subsequently conveniently brushed under the carpet by the Turf Club.
We all know the majority of people commenting on the game, especially in Ireland, whether on television or in the newspapers, prefer to remain politically correct. That’s their business and it takes all kinds! But Williamson is clearly different and if Saturday is anything on which to base one’s judgement then he is going to be compulsive viewing in the future.
* HANGING around at the moment waiting for this game to hit top gear again and keeping an eye out for two horses who are expected to contribute to the holiday expenses! Arthur Moore’s Stewarts House is one. He is a born chaser, but well capable of picking up a hurdle or two along the way.
He was grabbed late and beaten into third spot behind Oscar Lyons and The Rall, on ground plenty quick enough for him, over two and a half miles at Leopardstown at Christmas.
You’d imagine he would want that trip at least, but is entered over two miles in a winners’ hurdle at Navan on Saturday. Mildly puzzling! Our Bob, deprived of a run when Fairyhouse was cancelled on Sunday and then abandoned yesterday, is the other.
Frustrating until getting off the mark emphatically at Naas earlier in the month, he just might be half-decent.
The grey has been given an entry in Sunday’s Grade 2 Toshiba Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown, but whether up to matching strides with Whatuthink remains to be seen.
