The grey for Gold? Kitzbuhel gives Mullins lots to ponder after answering Final Demand
ROARING HOME: Harry Cobden on Kitzbuhel comes home to win the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
The nature of the racing game is to always look forward. Even in the elation of a Cheltenham Festival victory, thoughts quickly turn to what might be rather than what just happened.
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is a particular case in point. It’s a big race, a Grade One in its own right, but it’s viewed almost entirely through the prism of identifying the following year’s Gold Cup winner even though no horse has followed up in the blue riband since Lord Windermere’s 2014 triumph.
And so that was the inevitable question asked of Willie Mullins after Kitzbuhel got the better of stablemate Final Demand by three-quarters of a length in Wednesday’s Brown Advisory.
A brilliant winner of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day, Kitzbuhel fluffed his lines when falling at Sandown last time and was an easy-to-back 11-1 shot here.
However, given a fine front-running ride by Harry Cobden, Kitzbuhel jumped majestically throughout and refused to be headed.
So what about the 2027 Gold Cup?
“You'd have to be looking at the Gold Cup,” Mullins said, “but given how he whizzed around Kempton at Christmas the King George will definitely be on his agenda.” Mullins added: “It was a very brave performance from Kitzbuhel to jump out and make all. Heading to the last and looking at Paul (Townend, on Final Demand) I thought he had him covered, but by the line Kitzbuhel was going away again.
“When you have a grey horse who loves to make the running, there's been some brilliant ones down the years and they build up a big following. It's been a lucky colour for me.
“And it's great for (owners) Joe and Marie (Donnelly) given the bad luck they've had with State Man and Sir Gino this year, to have a third one up to winning Grade Ones is great. Harry said he knew going to the start he was in great form.”Â
For Cobden, this was swift compensation for No Drama This End’s no-show in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
“It’s funny how 40 minutes changes your life,” Cobden said. “I thought No Drama This End was my best chance of the week and I had no luck at all – everywhere I went I got stopped, I was always too far back and could never win from the second hurdle.
“He (Kitzbuhel) was so brave – everywhere I asked him, he delivered. Credit to the horse, he is very, very tough.”Â
Like Kitzbuhel, Final Demand lined up on the back of a disappointing pre-Festival run and Townend declared himself happy with his performance.
“He felt more like himself today,” he said. "His jumping was much better and he carried me everywhere. That was more like the horse and I still thought I’d win when I jumped the last and even halfway up the run-in I thought so, but it’s brilliant for Joe and Marie, who have a torrid time with their horses this year.
“They are two very nice horses, smashing horses, but unfortunately I was on the wrong one today.”
