Kempton far from ideal but Denman will still deliver
Of course this Kempton programme was lost yesterday and the entire card, with the Aon added, was rescheduled. The meeting now has to pass an 8am inspection, so let’s hope the green light is given.
Full marks to the British authorities for showing such initiative. They are clearly learning from their Irish counterparts, although I know it’s not as easy to be as flexible in Britain.
And a word of praise as well for HRI, who moved very quickly after Leopardstown on Sunday was also a victim of the weather. They clearly did the right thing putting the meeting back to the following Sunday.
That is hard luck on Navan, who now move to the Monday. But this Leopardstown Hennessy meeting is the biggest of the National Hunt season at home and the HRI action was totally necessary.
Obviously, I can hardly wait to get back on Denman in the Aon Chase. At likely cramped odds, he’s not going to be much good to the average punter, but this isn’t about betting, this is all about a proper horse returning to action.
The Denman of last season will pick up these six rivals and carry them. He worked well at Wincanton over a week ago, overall has lots of work done and looks great, but arrives now on the back of a heart problem.
I’ll ride him as I normally would, near the front and probably in the slipstream of Joe Lively, who seems the most likely to take us along.
I don’t know if Joe Lively will be going quick enough for Denman, so we will have to wait and see. This is a prep for the Gold Cup and the most important thing is that the horse pulls up 100%. Just as important will be how Denman is on Sunday morning.
You could make the case Kempton is far from the ideal course for Denman and I wouldn't argue with that. But, with some two inches of snow on the track yesterday, this is set to be a real slog and we know how well equipped he is in the stamina department.
It will also be interesting to see him travelling right-handed. He hasn’t gone in that direction since we combined to take a beginners chase, over two miles, at Exeter.
Anyway, I have taken more than a little interest regarding the speculation all week about the possibility of Tony McCoy riding him in the Gold Cup.
I have an open mind at this stage as to what I will be on in the Gold Cup and nothing is in any way set in stone right now.
I ride Denman today and then it will be Neptune Collonges at Leopardstown tomorrow week. And Kauto Star has been simply brilliant for me and I’ve never hidden my admiration for him.
WHO KNOWS what’s going to happen in the coming weeks, I mean I haven’t exactly got the greatest of records when it comes to injuries.
I’d like to sit as long as I can before making a decision between the three horses and the main priority for me, like every other jockey, is to hit Cheltenham week safe and sound.
I have one other ride at Kempton, Osako D’airy in a conditions chase. He ran well enough in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown, but didn’t seem to stay three miles.
First time blinkers then helped his jumping and this trip will be more suitable. It isn’t a handicap, however, and he appears to have plenty on at the weights. I’d be more hopeful than confident.
Let’s talk about other matters, starting with Celestial Halo. The best word I can think of to describe the way he beat Osana at Sandown last Saturday is workmanlike.
He certainly didn’t do his Champion Hurdle prospects any harm and, I’m told, a couple of bookmakers are still offering him at 12- 1. I wouldn’t discourage you from having a bit of that each-way.
Binocular, though, will be a big stumbling block and it will all depend on whether I can get him off the bridle far enough from home. I’m just not sure that’s possible.
Binocular is all speed and flash, with Celestial Halo it’s grit and determination. Istabraq, the best I’ve ever seen, was speed and flash as well, while I have Celestial Halo in the Brave Inca-Hardy Eustace mode.
I want to give a mention to two of Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham possibilities, Hurricane Fly and Cooldine. I have no idea what race he will run in at the Festival, but Hurricane Fly is one I’d want to be on.
Since turning professional, he is the only horse I have ever ridden at under 10-0. That will tell you what I thought of him and he was always on my radar.
I did 9-13 on Hurricane Fly to win a Grade 3 at Auteuil last June and, indeed, haven’t sat on the horse in public since France. This fellow is very good. He stays real well, so Cheltenham will not be a problem, and is an electric jumper.
The Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown will tell us whether Cooldine is up to winning the RSA Novice Chase at Cheltenham. He probably doesn’t have too high a profile as yet, mainly because he didn’t go to Prestbury Park last year. He’s a horse I love, as tough as nails and, when the chips are down, will stick his head out.
I was in Willie’s on Tuesday and Thursday and am going to tell you a little about it, especially the first day. I rode 12 pieces of work on Tuesday, which took about four hours.
I sat on horses I didn’t even recognise. Six of those I rode were bumper horses and four of them had never run. And those four worked with four others who have yet to be unveiled.
What is so impressive is that they are fine horses to look at. Willie has an array of talent at his disposal, an unbelievable army.
