Forget the hype - Cloone's the one
There has been so much hype recently over one particular horse from the Paul Nicholls stable that rival trainers could be forgiven for thinking the Arkle Trophy is a lost cause.
That is plainly not the case – no matter how impressive Kauto Star was at Newbury the other day.
Jockey Ruby Walsh told Nicholls he had a “machine” on his hands immediately afterwards, a remark the Ditcheat maestro has not been quick to play down.
But the bookmaking fraternity have still plainly gone overboard and he is now as low as 3-1 favourite with Sporting Odds for the Irish Independent-sponsored contest at Cheltenham.
And the 9-2 on offer with Bet Direct is as big as he is anywhere else as all the other firms go 4-1 bar William Hill, who are 7-2.
He may well turn out to be the horse connections think he is, but surely that can be considered a ludicrous price at this stage.
Much better value lies elsewhere, most notably in the shape of leading Irish hope Cloone River.
Make no mistake, this is a proper horse and he has made a smooth transition to fences after landing a monumental touch in the Galway Hurdle back in July last year.
He was fancied when just touched off in the same race 12 months earlier, and Paul Nolan opted to run him exclusively on the Flat – where he scored twice, over 10 furlongs and a mile and a half – before his second crack, the plan coming off to perfection.
Never off the bridle approaching the last, he picked up sweetly to go away and score by two lengths from subsequent winner Gemini Guest, much to the delight of Nolan, who was almost overcome with emotion as he ran down the side of the track to welcome his charge, punching the air as he went.
How it must feel to bring off a long-range plan like that – acknowledged geniuses like Sir Mark Prescott must have looked on with a knowing smile.
Attentions were then immediately turned to the larger obstacles with one aim - the Festival in March.
Cloone River has duly been foot-perfect in his new sphere and looks a natural jumper of fences.
Effective on any going, he is crucially considered at his very best on fast ground, something he is likely to get at jumping’s showpiece meeting – will the ex-French Kauto Star like hearing his hooves rattle?
He hails from a stable going places, too – Nolan is also responsible for leading Smurfit Champion Hurdle hope Accordion Etoile.
There looks to be a very strong case, then, to hoover up the general 12-1 before he has his big-race prep in the Irish equivalent at Leopardstown later this month.
