Whatever you
wished for from Santa, I hope that you found it in the toe of your stocking. With
a great King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, Sprinter Sacre appearing at Kempton
on Friday and the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on Saturday, you could be
forgiven for thinking that all your Christmases have come at once.
But we know that’s
not quite true – because there have been some great Christmases already. There was that
heart-warming one when Wayward Lad won his third King George in 1985, that brilliant
one when Desert Orchid won his fourth King George in 1990, that heart-breaking
one when Bradbury Star was just beaten by Barton Bank in 1993 – and that frustrating
one in 1994 when Barton Bank fell at the last. Do you remember that one? Barton
Bank’s trainer, David Nicholson, was so upset he punched a photographer.
Perhaps that wasn’t a great Christmas after all.
After Captain
Chris’s failure to make the line-up for this year’s Boxing Day feature, I’m
hoping that 25/1 shot Tour Des Champs
will put in an appearance at Chepstow on Saturday. Teaforthree will run his usual good race and Well Refreshed looks well handicapped, but I’m siding with Tour Des Champs because he’s trained by Nigel
Twiston-Davies who has raised some good jockeys as well as training some good
horses.
Being a good
trainer and raising children at the same time isn’t easy. A friend of mine, who
trains racehorses, has two children: a little girl who is as good as gold
and a little boy who isn’t. The boy swears like a member of the trainer’s
stable staff and would give many a sailor a good run for their money.
For the last few
months they have been telling both children that they should behave well, or
else Santa may not visit them on Christmas Eve. It seemed like too good an
opportunity to miss – when the boy continued with his foul-mouthed ways, they
warned him that they’d report his language to Santa’s elves. When these threats
yielded no improvement, they turned to desperate measures. While the little
girl was provided with all the items that she had specified on her list, the
boy’s stocking was filled with fresh horse manure.
On Christmas
morning the parents sat in bed and waited - listening for their children’s
response to Santa’s visit. The little girl was delighted and came sprinting
into her parent’s bedroom, “Mummy, Daddy, Mummy, Daddy, – Santa brought me a
bicycle, a sparkly tiara, a lollypop and a sack of pony feed!” She wore the
biggest smile on her face.
They called out
to their son, who was looking mournfully out of the bedroom window, holding the
stocking full of horse dung in his hands. “What did Santa bring you son?” they
asked.
“I asked him for
a racehorse,” he said, “but the bugger's gone!”
Thursday, 26 December 2013
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
The Cartmel Christmas Quiz
Just
in case you were getting bored with the weekly blog, it’s time for some
audience participation.
Please send your answers to the 15 Cartmel Christmas Quiz questions, below, to info@cartmel-racecourse.co.uk or post them to the racecourse office to arrive no later than Monday 6th January.
The first correct entry drawn from our hat will win a VIP lunch for two people at Cartmel races in 2014. The first two losing entries (any score – even zero!) will win a pair of Paddock Enclosure badges to any Cartmel meeting in 2014. Good luck!
1) What was Gay Future's coat covered with, before he won at Cartmel in 1974?
A) Shaving foam B) Soap Suds C) Carlsberg
2)
How old was Cregmore Boy when he became the oldest horse to win at Cartmel in
1957?
5) How many winners did Tony McCoy ride at Cartmel during 2013?
A) 1 B) 4 C) 7
Good luck and don't forget - entries in by 6th January.
Please send your answers to the 15 Cartmel Christmas Quiz questions, below, to info@cartmel-racecourse.co.uk or post them to the racecourse office to arrive no later than Monday 6th January.
The first correct entry drawn from our hat will win a VIP lunch for two people at Cartmel races in 2014. The first two losing entries (any score – even zero!) will win a pair of Paddock Enclosure badges to any Cartmel meeting in 2014. Good luck!
The Quiz:
1) What was Gay Future's coat covered with, before he won at Cartmel in 1974?
A) Shaving foam B) Soap Suds C) Carlsberg
3)
The first running of the £27,000 Cumbria Crystal Trophy in 2012 was won by:
A) Soul
Magic B) Front Rank
C) What A Steel
4)
Which was the last horse to win at Cartmel and run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
A) Soul
Magic B) Kauto
Star
C) Knockara Beau
5) How many winners did Tony McCoy ride at Cartmel during 2013?
A) 1 B) 4 C) 7
6)
How many losers did Tony McCoy ride at Cartmel furing 2013?
A) 1
B) 4
C) 7
7)
How many career wins at Cartmel does Soul Magic currently have to his name?
A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
8)
In 1865 Oulton Boy entered the record books by winning three races in
the same:
A) Day
B)
Week
C) Season
9)
Which Cartmel winner went on to win the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham later the
same season?
A) Zarkander
B) Countrywide Flame C) Soul Magic
10)
Which horse, pulled up in a maiden hurdle at Cartmel in 2004 won a Group 1
sprint at Royal Ascot in 2006?
A) Soul
Magic B) Gay
Future
C) Les Arcs
11)
The average prize fund at Cartmel in 1900 was:
A) £3.47
B)
£34.71
C) £347.10
12)
Before the implementation of strict safety factors, what was the biggest field
to contest a race at Cartmel?
A) 20
B) 30
C) 40
13)
Which film featuring Pierce Brosnan was filmed at Cartmel Racecourse?
A) Mamma
Mia! B) Murphy’s
Stroke C) Die Another Day
14)
Which out of the following jockeys rode the most winners at Cartmel in 2013?
A) Lucy Alexander B) Tony
McCoy
C) Jason Maguire
15)
What’s going to win the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot this weekend?
A) At Fishers Cross B) At
Fishers Cross C) At
Fishers Cross
By
the way, in case you hadn’t guessed, this week’s selection is in the 2.25 at
Ascot on Saturday: At Fishers Cross.
Good luck and don't forget - entries in by 6th January.
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Miracle At Cartmel
Last
week’s blog sparked quite a bit of controversy, judging by my bursting
mail-bag of three letters. Father Patrick O’Shea and Father Michael McNamara,
both drawn to the article by its religious theme, wrote to express their dismay at
my mentioning Sprinter Sacre in the same paragraph as Arkle. I’m sorry
reverends, it won’t happen again.
The third letter wasn’t actually a comment; it was an offer from a reader who is trying to sell a box-set of “The Best Xmas Films Ever”. The problem is, the collection was missing my favourite Christmas film of all time and possibly my second favourite film from any category – the 1947 version of Miracle On 34th Street, not to be confused with the 1994 version featuring Richard Attenborough (which is watchable but not magical).
Miracle On 34th Street won three Oscars including one for the best original story and one for the best screenplay. The gem among a myriad of great lines comes when Kris Kringle (played by Edmund Gwenn, who won the third Oscar as Best Supporting Actor) is trying to explain to a small girl, who doesn’t believe in Father Christmas, why she should loosen up a little and let her imagination run free. He says “The Imagination is a place all by itself. A separate country. You’ve heard of the French nation, the British nation. Well, this is the Imagi-nation. It’s a wonderful place!”
All of which gives me heart when I fantasise about the 2014 running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup – which, now that he has proven he stays three miles, can be won by the appropriately named Wishfull Thinking. Or perhaps he could dead-heat with Knockara Beau – I’d love it if they could both win. And while we’re in the mode of wish fulfilment, could we all take a moment to pray for some fine weather next Summer? It’s so much nicer when the sun shines.
In particular, we need some good days around the end of May, the end of July and the end of August – when we shall be racing at Cartmel. If you haven’t written your letter yet to Father Christmas, don’t forget that Santa needs to place his order with us by Monday 16th December, if your Annual Members badge is to arrive in time to reach your stocking.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves - before then there is racing at Cheltenham this weekend. Colour Squadron is sure to be a popular choice in the big handicap chase, but I am going to go with Malcolm Jefferson’s Attaglance instead. He has a bit of ground to make up, based on their recent meeting in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but as Kris Kringle says in the film: “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to”.
... As if you needed any further reasons to continue following my advice.
The third letter wasn’t actually a comment; it was an offer from a reader who is trying to sell a box-set of “The Best Xmas Films Ever”. The problem is, the collection was missing my favourite Christmas film of all time and possibly my second favourite film from any category – the 1947 version of Miracle On 34th Street, not to be confused with the 1994 version featuring Richard Attenborough (which is watchable but not magical).
Miracle On 34th Street won three Oscars including one for the best original story and one for the best screenplay. The gem among a myriad of great lines comes when Kris Kringle (played by Edmund Gwenn, who won the third Oscar as Best Supporting Actor) is trying to explain to a small girl, who doesn’t believe in Father Christmas, why she should loosen up a little and let her imagination run free. He says “The Imagination is a place all by itself. A separate country. You’ve heard of the French nation, the British nation. Well, this is the Imagi-nation. It’s a wonderful place!”
All of which gives me heart when I fantasise about the 2014 running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup – which, now that he has proven he stays three miles, can be won by the appropriately named Wishfull Thinking. Or perhaps he could dead-heat with Knockara Beau – I’d love it if they could both win. And while we’re in the mode of wish fulfilment, could we all take a moment to pray for some fine weather next Summer? It’s so much nicer when the sun shines.
In particular, we need some good days around the end of May, the end of July and the end of August – when we shall be racing at Cartmel. If you haven’t written your letter yet to Father Christmas, don’t forget that Santa needs to place his order with us by Monday 16th December, if your Annual Members badge is to arrive in time to reach your stocking.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves - before then there is racing at Cheltenham this weekend. Colour Squadron is sure to be a popular choice in the big handicap chase, but I am going to go with Malcolm Jefferson’s Attaglance instead. He has a bit of ground to make up, based on their recent meeting in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but as Kris Kringle says in the film: “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to”.
... As if you needed any further reasons to continue following my advice.
Friday, 6 December 2013
In The Spirit Of Advent
Traditionally,
Christian Church readings and teachings during Advent help us to prepare for the
second coming; the word advent being a derivative of the Latin word adventus,
which literally means “coming”.
It is ironic, then, that on the first Saturday of Advent, Sprinter Sacre should turn out to be a non-runner in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown - due to an unsatisfactory pre-race health check. To many in the racing fraternity, Sprinter Sacre is the second coming – the original being Arkle, the Irish steeplechaser who carried huge weights, conquered all-comers during the 1960’s and generally known as "himself".
There remains the possibility that Nicky Henderson’s handsome two-miler will reappear instead in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on 27th December, which on reflection may be a more fitting conclusion to four weeks of intense anticipation. In the Garratt household we take the preparation of Advent very seriously… you could even say that it is a spiritual experience.
Behind every door on our Advent calendar is a small bottle containing a dram of whisky. The 24 bottles will take us up to the night before Christmas, when it will be down to Nick Devenish, the vicar of Cartmel Priory, to sustain our souls ahead of the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day (which I still think will be won by Captain Chris) and the Desert Orchid Chase the following day.
In the meantime, just like our Advent calendar, every day during the build-up yields a special surprise or treat. On Saturday, I am hoping that Wishfull Thinking (yes him again) will provide me with a small Christmas shopping fund by winning once again Aintree. He has two options: the Sefton Chase over the Grand National fences or a three mile chase over the more traditional birch obstacles. I have always thought he is a stayer, albeit one with a breathing problem, and I hope that he tackles the longer trip.
On the assumption that Nicky Henderson is bound to have a winner somewhere, look out for Lieutenant Miller, a previous runner at Cartmel, who looks seriously well handicapped over hurdles after a good campaign on the Flat. He has entries at both Aintree and Sandown. And in the absence of Sprinter Sacre, trainer Colin Tizzard could strike for the third Saturday running in a valuable chase (the last two weeks have yielded wins for Cue Card and for Hey Big Spender) - with Oiseau De Nuit in the Tingle Creek Chase.
The Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown features a strong field including three horses in the ownership of Martin Broughton – of which I hope Taquin De Seuil will be the representative. Perhaps the decision over which horse runs will be down to the going - but either way, lets all prepare for what’s coming.
It is ironic, then, that on the first Saturday of Advent, Sprinter Sacre should turn out to be a non-runner in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown - due to an unsatisfactory pre-race health check. To many in the racing fraternity, Sprinter Sacre is the second coming – the original being Arkle, the Irish steeplechaser who carried huge weights, conquered all-comers during the 1960’s and generally known as "himself".
There remains the possibility that Nicky Henderson’s handsome two-miler will reappear instead in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on 27th December, which on reflection may be a more fitting conclusion to four weeks of intense anticipation. In the Garratt household we take the preparation of Advent very seriously… you could even say that it is a spiritual experience.
Behind every door on our Advent calendar is a small bottle containing a dram of whisky. The 24 bottles will take us up to the night before Christmas, when it will be down to Nick Devenish, the vicar of Cartmel Priory, to sustain our souls ahead of the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day (which I still think will be won by Captain Chris) and the Desert Orchid Chase the following day.
In the meantime, just like our Advent calendar, every day during the build-up yields a special surprise or treat. On Saturday, I am hoping that Wishfull Thinking (yes him again) will provide me with a small Christmas shopping fund by winning once again Aintree. He has two options: the Sefton Chase over the Grand National fences or a three mile chase over the more traditional birch obstacles. I have always thought he is a stayer, albeit one with a breathing problem, and I hope that he tackles the longer trip.
On the assumption that Nicky Henderson is bound to have a winner somewhere, look out for Lieutenant Miller, a previous runner at Cartmel, who looks seriously well handicapped over hurdles after a good campaign on the Flat. He has entries at both Aintree and Sandown. And in the absence of Sprinter Sacre, trainer Colin Tizzard could strike for the third Saturday running in a valuable chase (the last two weeks have yielded wins for Cue Card and for Hey Big Spender) - with Oiseau De Nuit in the Tingle Creek Chase.
The Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown features a strong field including three horses in the ownership of Martin Broughton – of which I hope Taquin De Seuil will be the representative. Perhaps the decision over which horse runs will be down to the going - but either way, lets all prepare for what’s coming.
Thursday, 28 November 2013
Stopping Trains
The
handicapping of horses is relatively simple; or at least the method of slowing
them down is simple – we pack flat pieces of lead into a thin “satchel” that
slips beneath the saddle, which we call a weight-cloth.
There is an old saying in racing that “weight stops trains” and, as if proof were required, a recent item in the national media caught my eye: Kevin Chenais – who suffers from a hormone imbalance and weighs in at 500lb (nearly 36 stone) – was not allowed to board the Eurostar train that was intended to take him back to France. In fact the papers reported that he was also “too fat to fly”, suggesting that weight stops planes too, so it is little wonder that it stops horses.
All of which is most relevant to this weekend’s feature race, The Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Top-weight for the £175,000 handicap chase is Cape Tribulation who has a handicap rating of 158 and will carry 11st 12lb. The 132-rated Whodoyouthink, carries 26lb less, the minimum weight of 10st. In theory, all of the horses rated in-between have been given an equal chance and will pass the post in unison – by which I mean together, not members of a new equine trade union. The thing is of course, we know that won’t happen – so which of the 21 declared runners has managed to get away with an inadequate load?
Starting with the horses with the lowest handicap ratings, I like Loch Ba who carries just 10st 1lb. He may have unfulfilled potential and he ran out of steam during a recent prep-run at Bangor on soft ground. He’ll be fitter for that run and I can imagine him fighting out the places at a big price.
Also on my shortlist are Merry King (10st 8lb) and Invictus (10st 13lb). Both horses have shown promise, but Invictus is perhaps the most interesting as he has been off the track for nearly two years. When last seen, in his novice season, he comfortably conquered last year’s Hennessy winner (and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero) Bobs Worth - who is now officially rated 180. A strict interpretation of the form could leave Alan King’s charge more than 2 stone better off than the competition.
Closer to the head of the weights, Prince de Beauchene (11st 9lb) and Lord Windermere (11st 8lb) are both high class performers with scope for improvement. Both are well fancied and will be among the favourites for the race. But the horse that I am going to recommend is not one of the young, unexposed, brigade...
Imperial Commander is a 12-year-old, former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, who sustained a leg injury in 2011. He ran a blinder to finish a half-length second to Cape Tribulation on his return to action ten months ago, before being pulled up in a speculative attempt at the Grand National. At his peak he earned an official rating of 185 and sneaks into this race on a very generous mark of just 153, converting to a weight of 11st 7lb.
In the absence of Kevin Chenais, who eventually made it home to France on a ferry and was reportedly unable to make the weight, Imperial Commander will be reunited with his Gold Cup winning jockey Paddy Brennan.
Win, lose or draw, Imperial Commander will be retired after the race on Saturday and so I’ll be backing him with my heart as well as my head.
There is an old saying in racing that “weight stops trains” and, as if proof were required, a recent item in the national media caught my eye: Kevin Chenais – who suffers from a hormone imbalance and weighs in at 500lb (nearly 36 stone) – was not allowed to board the Eurostar train that was intended to take him back to France. In fact the papers reported that he was also “too fat to fly”, suggesting that weight stops planes too, so it is little wonder that it stops horses.
All of which is most relevant to this weekend’s feature race, The Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Top-weight for the £175,000 handicap chase is Cape Tribulation who has a handicap rating of 158 and will carry 11st 12lb. The 132-rated Whodoyouthink, carries 26lb less, the minimum weight of 10st. In theory, all of the horses rated in-between have been given an equal chance and will pass the post in unison – by which I mean together, not members of a new equine trade union. The thing is of course, we know that won’t happen – so which of the 21 declared runners has managed to get away with an inadequate load?
Starting with the horses with the lowest handicap ratings, I like Loch Ba who carries just 10st 1lb. He may have unfulfilled potential and he ran out of steam during a recent prep-run at Bangor on soft ground. He’ll be fitter for that run and I can imagine him fighting out the places at a big price.
Also on my shortlist are Merry King (10st 8lb) and Invictus (10st 13lb). Both horses have shown promise, but Invictus is perhaps the most interesting as he has been off the track for nearly two years. When last seen, in his novice season, he comfortably conquered last year’s Hennessy winner (and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero) Bobs Worth - who is now officially rated 180. A strict interpretation of the form could leave Alan King’s charge more than 2 stone better off than the competition.
Closer to the head of the weights, Prince de Beauchene (11st 9lb) and Lord Windermere (11st 8lb) are both high class performers with scope for improvement. Both are well fancied and will be among the favourites for the race. But the horse that I am going to recommend is not one of the young, unexposed, brigade...
Imperial Commander is a 12-year-old, former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, who sustained a leg injury in 2011. He ran a blinder to finish a half-length second to Cape Tribulation on his return to action ten months ago, before being pulled up in a speculative attempt at the Grand National. At his peak he earned an official rating of 185 and sneaks into this race on a very generous mark of just 153, converting to a weight of 11st 7lb.
In the absence of Kevin Chenais, who eventually made it home to France on a ferry and was reportedly unable to make the weight, Imperial Commander will be reunited with his Gold Cup winning jockey Paddy Brennan.
Win, lose or draw, Imperial Commander will be retired after the race on Saturday and so I’ll be backing him with my heart as well as my head.
Friday, 22 November 2013
The Team That Brings Tears To My Eyes
If
I’m looking a bit teary-eyed at the moment it’s not because Knockara Beau
finished second at Cheltenham last Saturday; although he did run one of those
heart-squelchingly, gutsy, races, where you really wish the stewards would just
place him first. No, I’ve been peeling onions.
Yes onions, because on Friday evening we’ll be welcoming around 110 members of our casual-staff for a party in the grandstand. They’ll be a bit of music, a drink or two, a lot of chat and some lasagne. That’s where the onions come in – there’s also garlic, salt, pepper, tomatoes, beef (supplied by Clare at Furness Fish, Poultry & Game Ltd – I know… they do beef too!), milk, flour and cheese.
If I’ve forgotten anything, perhaps you could let me know, as soon as possible, as the hunger of 110 people depends on this turning out alright. The alternative is crusty bread and butter.
The annual get-together has added significance this year, because it is the final time that Dorothy Lodge will be attending in her role as Staff Manager – I hope she will continue to attend for many years as our “former Staff Manager”, racecard seller, litter picker, envelope stuffer or whatever else she feels like turning her hand to.
As long as her hand recovers that is; because this week she has been wearing it in a sling following an operation. Together with her husband, Bruce, they make quite a pair. He has only one hand, following a misunderstanding with a piece of agricultural equipment some years ago. They’re not a very good pair; between them they have two left hands and no right ones at the moment – but they couldn’t be happier together, more congenial company or more dedicated to their work.
While Dorothy coordinates the race-day staff, Bruce supervises the public crossing point at the end of the finishing straight. During races he holds a broad white tape across the track in order to allow the horses with jockeys to pass one way and the ones without to pass the other. It’s a very important role, as you can be fairly sure that without him, most of the jockeys wouldn’t know which way to go.
On one memorable occasion Bruce made a valiant attempt at catching a loose horse as it veered towards him and ended up lying on the grass. While Bruce got to his feet and the Clerk of the Course and I discussed the safety issues surrounding the incident, Dorothy summed up their joint commitment to Cartmel races – “At least he would have died doing something he loved” she said.
If you think that I’ve just picked on a couple of "interesting" members of our race-day team for effect, you should meet the rest of them. I’ve always believed that if you want to run a racecourse with a bit of character, you have to employ a few. It’ll be a great party!
This weekend’s selections are Gevrey Chambertin (in the Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle, 2.25 Haydock - he's a full-brother to a previous winner of the race) and Silviniaco Conti (in the 3.00 at Haydock - a race he won last year).
Yes onions, because on Friday evening we’ll be welcoming around 110 members of our casual-staff for a party in the grandstand. They’ll be a bit of music, a drink or two, a lot of chat and some lasagne. That’s where the onions come in – there’s also garlic, salt, pepper, tomatoes, beef (supplied by Clare at Furness Fish, Poultry & Game Ltd – I know… they do beef too!), milk, flour and cheese.
If I’ve forgotten anything, perhaps you could let me know, as soon as possible, as the hunger of 110 people depends on this turning out alright. The alternative is crusty bread and butter.
The annual get-together has added significance this year, because it is the final time that Dorothy Lodge will be attending in her role as Staff Manager – I hope she will continue to attend for many years as our “former Staff Manager”, racecard seller, litter picker, envelope stuffer or whatever else she feels like turning her hand to.
As long as her hand recovers that is; because this week she has been wearing it in a sling following an operation. Together with her husband, Bruce, they make quite a pair. He has only one hand, following a misunderstanding with a piece of agricultural equipment some years ago. They’re not a very good pair; between them they have two left hands and no right ones at the moment – but they couldn’t be happier together, more congenial company or more dedicated to their work.
While Dorothy coordinates the race-day staff, Bruce supervises the public crossing point at the end of the finishing straight. During races he holds a broad white tape across the track in order to allow the horses with jockeys to pass one way and the ones without to pass the other. It’s a very important role, as you can be fairly sure that without him, most of the jockeys wouldn’t know which way to go.
On one memorable occasion Bruce made a valiant attempt at catching a loose horse as it veered towards him and ended up lying on the grass. While Bruce got to his feet and the Clerk of the Course and I discussed the safety issues surrounding the incident, Dorothy summed up their joint commitment to Cartmel races – “At least he would have died doing something he loved” she said.
If you think that I’ve just picked on a couple of "interesting" members of our race-day team for effect, you should meet the rest of them. I’ve always believed that if you want to run a racecourse with a bit of character, you have to employ a few. It’ll be a great party!
This weekend’s selections are Gevrey Chambertin (in the Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle, 2.25 Haydock - he's a full-brother to a previous winner of the race) and Silviniaco Conti (in the 3.00 at Haydock - a race he won last year).
Thursday, 14 November 2013
Ten Horses, Four Hundred Thousand Pounds
Pick
ten horses and win thousands of pounds – it sounds pretty simple
doesn’t it?
Each year The Racing Post’s ten-to-follow competition starts just before the Cheltenham Open Meeting (this weekend) and finishes after the Grand National in April. The horses, in your fantasy stable, gather points throughout the season and there are bonus points for winning the major races. Points mean prizes and there will be at least £400,000 up for grabs.
Having once made an entry which reached the top 100, in December 2011, I consider myself a bit of an expert. Yes – that’s the closest I’ve come to winning a prize and no, by the end of the season the same entry wasn’t even in the top 10,000. Anyway… it’s the taking part that counts. Here are my ten for the 2013 / 14 jumps season.
At Fishers Cross. He’s the young pretender to the World Hurdle crown, won last year by Solwhit in the absence of the legendary Big Bucks. He’ll have the assistance on Tony McCoy in the saddle.
Attaglance. There are bonus points for winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup this Saturday, in which Attaglance sneaks in on 10 stone. His jumping needs to improve, but even if he fails to pick up this valuable prize, he looks well handicapped for a profitable season ahead.
Captain Chris. Trained by Philip Hobbs, he is sure to be aimed at the King George VI Chase in which he has previously finished third and second. I think that those at the head of the betting market have plenty of questions to answer and he has an outstanding chance this year. He could well pop up again in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Colour Squadron. Another trained by Philip Hobbs, Colour Squadron is still classed as a novice over fences and could clock up a lengthy sequence of wins. However, he's also engaged in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him earn bonus points.
First Lieutenant. Owned by the head of Ryanair, this horse missed the Gold Cup last year in favour of the Ryanair sponsored 2½ mile chase. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is this horse’s destiny - expect him to come to the fore in the Spring.
Jezki. Like At Fishers Cross and Colour Squadron, Jezki is owned by J.P. McManus, famed for his massive tilts at the betting ring. Jezki will pick up several of Ireland’s top hurdle races before heading to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle in March.
Lord Windermere. Yes, he is in the list because of his name! But the Jim Culloty trained chaser also won the RSA Novice's Chase last season and is being aimed at the Hennessy Gold Cup at the end of this month. He could be another for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
My Tent Or Yours. Yet another gelding owned by JP McManus; like Jezki he’ll be bound for the Champion Hurdle, but the difference is that he’s trained in England – so he can pick up a few of the trial races on this side of the Irish Channel before then.
Sprinter Sacre. If you forget all the others, make a note of this horse’s name. Pegasus in disguise, his trainer nick-named him the “black aeroplane”, and he is the best two-mile chaser of this decade and probably any other decade. Tune in to Channel 4 Racing or RacingUK every time he runs and watch him fly!
The New One. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, this is another gelding bound for the Champion Hurdle. He always gives his best and is sure to give you an excellent run for your money.
To make your entry go to: www.racingpost.com/ttf . There are 400 horses in the list to choose from, so you don't have to pick the same horses, although I think you'll find these are the best!
Each year The Racing Post’s ten-to-follow competition starts just before the Cheltenham Open Meeting (this weekend) and finishes after the Grand National in April. The horses, in your fantasy stable, gather points throughout the season and there are bonus points for winning the major races. Points mean prizes and there will be at least £400,000 up for grabs.
Having once made an entry which reached the top 100, in December 2011, I consider myself a bit of an expert. Yes – that’s the closest I’ve come to winning a prize and no, by the end of the season the same entry wasn’t even in the top 10,000. Anyway… it’s the taking part that counts. Here are my ten for the 2013 / 14 jumps season.
At Fishers Cross. He’s the young pretender to the World Hurdle crown, won last year by Solwhit in the absence of the legendary Big Bucks. He’ll have the assistance on Tony McCoy in the saddle.
Attaglance. There are bonus points for winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup this Saturday, in which Attaglance sneaks in on 10 stone. His jumping needs to improve, but even if he fails to pick up this valuable prize, he looks well handicapped for a profitable season ahead.
Captain Chris. Trained by Philip Hobbs, he is sure to be aimed at the King George VI Chase in which he has previously finished third and second. I think that those at the head of the betting market have plenty of questions to answer and he has an outstanding chance this year. He could well pop up again in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Colour Squadron. Another trained by Philip Hobbs, Colour Squadron is still classed as a novice over fences and could clock up a lengthy sequence of wins. However, he's also engaged in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him earn bonus points.
First Lieutenant. Owned by the head of Ryanair, this horse missed the Gold Cup last year in favour of the Ryanair sponsored 2½ mile chase. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is this horse’s destiny - expect him to come to the fore in the Spring.
Jezki. Like At Fishers Cross and Colour Squadron, Jezki is owned by J.P. McManus, famed for his massive tilts at the betting ring. Jezki will pick up several of Ireland’s top hurdle races before heading to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle in March.
Lord Windermere. Yes, he is in the list because of his name! But the Jim Culloty trained chaser also won the RSA Novice's Chase last season and is being aimed at the Hennessy Gold Cup at the end of this month. He could be another for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
My Tent Or Yours. Yet another gelding owned by JP McManus; like Jezki he’ll be bound for the Champion Hurdle, but the difference is that he’s trained in England – so he can pick up a few of the trial races on this side of the Irish Channel before then.
Sprinter Sacre. If you forget all the others, make a note of this horse’s name. Pegasus in disguise, his trainer nick-named him the “black aeroplane”, and he is the best two-mile chaser of this decade and probably any other decade. Tune in to Channel 4 Racing or RacingUK every time he runs and watch him fly!
The New One. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, this is another gelding bound for the Champion Hurdle. He always gives his best and is sure to give you an excellent run for your money.
To make your entry go to: www.racingpost.com/ttf . There are 400 horses in the list to choose from, so you don't have to pick the same horses, although I think you'll find these are the best!
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