Losing the battle, winning the war
Mouse Morris’ much-loved eleven-year old, in his last race, had just applied the final brush strokes to a storied career by finishing a crowd-pleasing second behind the victorious British raider in the Guinness Gold Cup.
As final bows go, it was a neat fit as it was another runners-up spot – behind Brave Inca in the 2004 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham - which had first brought him to the wider world’s attention.
Events in between and, in particular, a Gold Cup double claimed at Cheltenham and here at Punchestown in 2006, have guaranteed the Gigginstown star a piece of National Hunt racing’s heart.
Yesterday’s scenes were almost as memorable.
“As good as winning,” was the view of one gushing punter perched for a look-see on the edge of the winners’ enclosure. It was a sentiment shared by virtually everyone at the sunsplit Kildare venue.
Even Hobbs, the winning trainer, took note of the prevailing wind and assented to a break in protocol that allowed a special presentation be made to the retiring warrior prior to the official race prize-giving.
Owner Michael O’Leary had dropped some positive soundbites about favourable ground prior to the race but even he wasn’t prepared for such a “dream run” after what has been a nightmare week given events in Iceland.
“For eleven years of age what a performance. It was also a great ride by Davy (Russell). In fairness to Davy, he was niggling at him a long way out and what a terrific way for him to retire.
“Apart from the birth of my children, this horse has given me the best days if my life,” he said. “Winning the Gold Cup was probably the greatest day but that was closely followed by his success at Punchestown three weeks later.
“As long as I own racehorses, we’ll never repeat it. There’s no way he’ll run again and the plan is to take him home in another week or two. He’ll go hunting in the winter and keep active.”
War’s retirement was mourned and celebrated in equal measure. Russell, who guided him past his last post, said it was only fitting that he should say his farewells on Irish soil. Morris described it simply as “a sad day”.
Among the horses trailing in his wake was another perennial crowd favourite in the shape of Paul Nicholls’ Denman, the 11/8 favourite whose day was every bit as forgettable as War’s was memorable.
One punter had dropped €10,000 on the horse they call ‘The Tank’ in the minutes leading up to the off but fears over his dislike for right-handed tracks came to the fore from early on.
Ruby Walsh put it succinctly halfway round when he opined that the Lambourn entrant was giving AP McCoy “a horrible ride” and the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up eventually took the tape in a disappointing fourth place.
Nicholls, whose hopes for Denman and Kauto Star had come to naught in Cheltenham last month, seemed stunned by a sense of deja vu as he stared unblinkingly at the rerun on the big screen.
“Ruby and I spoke at length beforehand and we both thought that he’d be okay,” he revealed,” and he ran some race given the ground he gave away. He’ll stick to left-handed tracks from now on.
“After he jumped the third, I said to Georgie (Browne) that he was in trouble then because he was not going to win when he jumped like that.”
Denman’s demise, however unforeseen, actually nestles in snugly in the unfolding story of a festival which has come to be dominated by those who didn’t turn up – both figuratively and literally - rather than those who did.
Iceland’s volcanic interference might not have prevented the British raiders from turning up but the aviation turmoil did thwart the plans of up to 3,000 UK racegoers from making it.
Added to that has been the absence of Ruby Walsh through injury, Andrew McNamara being sidelined with concussion, Twist Magic’s refusal to take the line in the Champion Chase and Joncol’s late withdrawal yesterday.
In an environment like that there is always ample room for unlikely heroes and so it was that Planet Of Sound stood up to the plate for the week’s feature, coming home at a virtually ignored 14/1.
“That was his first time over three miles but he definitely got the trip no problem,” said a “chuffed to bits” Hobbs. “He just made one mistake down the far side but, apart from that, he jumped great.
“He's always looked very good but at Cheltenham (in the Ryanair Chase) he choked so we put a tongue tie on him today. He's been the forgotten horse today and I couldn't believe what price he was.”
For the record, War was a tasty 20/1.
