Realistically, today is Kauto Star’s Gold Cup
Five years ago I arrived at this track, to ride Kauto in the same race, hoping he would give me enough encouragement to think might be a Gold Cup horse.
He didn’t disappoint, beating Beef Or Salmon by 17 lengths and, of course, went on to take two Gold Cups.
In other years Paul Nicholls and I would be looking at this test as the ideal preparation for the King George at Kempton at Christmas.
If he got beaten it wouldn’t be the end of the world and we knew he would strip fitter and meaner come St Stephen’s Day. But those days are over and, realistically, this is now Kauto’s Gold Cup. He’s as fit as a flea and will be going into the contest very much as an underdog.
It’s a terrific race, with the list of dangers obviously headed by this year’s Gold Cup winner, Long Run. He’s just a very good horse, but this season will bring a different type of pressure. Last season he was probably the underdog, now the six-year-old is the one we all want to topple.
It is far from a two-horse race. Diamond Harry runs for the first time since landing the Hennessy at Newbury almost a year ago, while Weird Al and Time For Rupert were first and second respectively in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby.
I’d imagine this will be run at a high tempo and the question is whether there is one more great day in Kauto Star? Truth to tell, I don’t know.
Domtaline won a handicap for me at Chepstow in fine style and now takes on Grandouet in the opening conditions hurdle.
I think Grandouet will prove hard to beat. He’s a class act and appeared to be travelling strongly behind Celestial Halo when falling two out at Wincanton.
I’m looking forward to Indian Daudaie in a handicap hurdle. He hasn’t run since falling at the second last at Aintree, in a Grade 1, when closing on the leaders.
He might have been placed that day, but my worry now is whether two and a half miles is far enough. I don’t think he’s at all badly handicapped and, if he doesn’t score now, then is a winner in waiting when stepping up to three miles.
Robinson Collonges is nicely fancied by Paul for another handicap hurdle. It’s a really big pot, but with that comes a hugely competitive heat.
I believe Sue Smith’s Gansey has a great chance in a three mile handciap chase. I rode him at Aintree when we were third, after Gansey blundered badly at the third last.
Sue thought he would come on for the outing and I got off the horse thinking he will win next time. Let’s just say I’m delighted to be at Haydock to renew acquaintances.
I’m disappointed Hurricane Fly has to miss the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown tomorrow, but regard Thousand Stars as some substitute.
I have to admit to being at a loss to understand why the bookmakers think he should only be third favourite, behind Pittoni and Oscars Well. Certainly, he has a nice bit in hand of both of them, on the handicapper’s ratings.
Perhaps, the thinking is because he won the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil, over three miles, one and a half furlongs, that he is essentially a stayer. Well, all I’ll say is that he’s a quick stayer.
Thousand Stars’ form is rock solid and he is a hard, seasoned campaigner, who will not go down too willingly.
I have great respect for Oscars Well, but thought he was just a bit disappointing on his reappearance at Down Royal.
Pittoni bounded away from Donnas Palm at Naas, but his jumping seemed moderate enough. I think Thousand Stars will win.
Willie Mullins’ decision to run So Young in the first, rather than the Morgiana, can reap a decent dividend. He ran a cracker at Cheltenham when third to First Lieutenent, after missing out the final flight.
He definitely wasn’t at his best afterwards at Punchestown, sixth and last behind Tim Vaughan’s Spirit Of Adjisa.
But I didn’t excel on him then, spending too much time watching Davy Russell on First Lieutenant. I’d say Davy was watching me as well and, in the end, neither of us won. So Young is working good right now.
My eighth and final ride of the weekend comes aboard Dare To Doubt in a handicap hurdle. She’s as game as a pebble but not very big, and I just wish she had 10-7 and not 11-7.
Finally a word about Master Minded at Ascot today. He has improved a ton for his run at Aintree, will love any ease in the ground and relish travelling right-handed.
