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I caught my first glimpse of him in the pre-parade ring on a balmy October afternoon in 2005 at Wincanton. He had a thin white diamond in the middle of his forehead but that was the only thing about him that could be described as thin. He was powerfully built but beautifully balanced with a strong head and a long neck. He didn’t look like a hurdler at all, especially against the other horses on show that day, and there was only one word to describe him. Chaser.

I had received a whisper from a contact at Ditcheat to say that that they had got this horse who had sluiced up by 12 lengths in a Liscarroll point to point that spring, and they thought he might be a bit useful. So much for the power of understatement and the wisdom of hindsight. It recalls one of football’s famous stories when Bill Shankly was driving a youth player back home from training one evening and probably with his mind on the practice session rather than his speed on the road, suddenly saw a flashing blue light in his rear-view mirror.

As Shanks wound down the window the young constable went to admonish him but Shanks cut him off. “Don’t you know who you are talking to young man?” asked the Scot. “Well Sir, of course I do, you are Mr Shankly.” The Liverpool manager looked contemptuously at the officer. “Not me sonny,” he replied, and pointing his finger at the callow youth in the passenger seat, continued “You are talking to the future England football captain”. The lad in the front of the car was Emlyn Hughes.

The horse went off at 5/6 that day beating Lyes Green (who won next time out) by a generous length but he was blowing afterwards and looked like he needed the run, despite Christian Williams giving him a good ride, saving a little for the easy run-in. He was back there the following month for another novice hurdle, up in class and this time taking on the well fancied Victor Dartnall horse Karanja, who was sent off the 8/11 favourite. My racing pal was firmly on the favourite whilst I had lumped on Denman with £100 win at a juicy 2/1 and the writing was on the wall for the jolly round the back as Denman made all and cleaned up by 16 lengths. Nice.

The next test for the emerging star was the Challow Hurdle on New Year’s Day, his first graded race, and he had Ruby up for the first time and was still a lovely 5/2. Two out he pushed clear without really coming off the bridle and beat The Cool Guy by 21 lengths (who I had enjoyed a lovely return with, when he won the Aintree bumper at 50/1 the previous spring). Behind him was Boychuck, a decent Hobbs horse and beating only one home was Double Dizzy who ran in last week’s Cheltenham Cross Country.

Denman was starting to become a horse to follow and next won an egg and spoon race at Bangor by 17 lengths sent off at 1/12 on. He was favourite for the Sun Alliance Hurdle at the Festival but was inexplicably turned over by Nicanor (who won next time out at Punchestown, but has managed only one other win to date) with the drying ground that day probably going against him. However, one swallow does not a summer make and having been beaten for the first time in six runs, he then did what he was put on this earth for, chasing, and won his next nine races.

He beat the smart Alan King horse, Penzance, first time over the big fences at Exeter by ten lengths in the autumn of 2006 sent off at 1/3 and carrying the ludicrously light weight of 10st 12lbs. He had a tougher race at the Paddy Power meeting the following month beating a decent horse by less than a length, and again with the wisdom of hindsight, an ante-post bet for the 2010 Grand National on the runner up would have yielded dividends. The horse in question was Don’t Push It.

Following two more small field demolition jobs at Newbury either side of Christmas at ludicrously cramped odds, he went off 6/5 favourite for the Royal Sun Alliance Chase at the Festival (he had been quoted at 14/1 a year previously). He didn’t disappoint, putting in a superb round of jumping to beat Snowy Morning by 10 lengths, although a bad stumble from Aces Four when upsides about three out might have seen his winning margin into single digits.

This really marked the coming of The Tank, the horse that looked and jumped like an old fashioned chaser of the type that we had seen in Mill House, Borough Hill Lad and Dessie. That win meant only one thing: that the following March, if not before, Denman and Kauto Star, the 2007 winner, would meet in the Gold Cup. He opened the 2007/08 season with a demolition job in the Hennessy carrying 11st 12lbs and beat Dream Alliance by eleven lengths (giving him 19lbs) with Character Building a further eight lengths back in third (giving him nearly two stone). And this on testing ground on a typical winter day that is made for staying chasers, with the fingers of leafless branches silhouetted against the slate grey sky.

Over Christmas he popped over to Ireland to take in the Lexus winning easily by four lengths and then back to Newbury in February for the Aon where only three brave souls took their place against him, and with two of them already ten years old, only the progressive Regal Heights was any threat, coming second by 20 lengths after Ollie Magern had tried to run him out of it, but failing abysmally. Denman jumped and travelled with such fluency that you could hardly blame Harry Findlay for his excitement after the race, and his cry of ‘Bring It On’ in reference to the Gold Cup was echoed by all lovers of the sport.

And so it was, on that Day of Days, the 14th March 2008 that they lined up for the Gold Cup on ground that may have been softer than ideal for Kauto, but the race has been well documented and I doubt if any horse, past or present, could have lived with The Tank that day, irrespective of the going. He simply ran the legs off his rivals, powering ahead just past the stands on the last circuit and although he was driven out, he was seven lengths to the good at the post with Kauto behind followed by Neptune Collonges to give team Ditcheat a fabulous 1-2-3.

His run was rightly praised not only in the trade press but the general media as it was a staggering performance to burn off top rated horses like that, but who would have thought that day that the big horse would only win one more race, a second Hennessy under a welter weight eighteen months hence. In the meantime, news had broken in September that Denman had been detected with a fibrillating heart and he didn’t reappear until February 2009 at Kempton (the race switched from Newbury), where he was comprehensively beaten by Madison Du Berlais, who loved flat tracks whereas Denman was patently not fit and more to the point, running the wrong way round.

And so back to Cheltenham and in some ways he ran as good a race coming second as when winning, following on from his health problems, and although 13 lengths behind Kauto (who became the first horse in history to regain the Gold Cup), connections were rightly proud of his run. And then to Aintree for a rematch with Madison Du Berlais in the Totesport Bowl, with a decent field lining up including Exotic Dancer (who sadly collapsed and died after the race), Albertas Run, Our Vic, Snoopy Loopy, The Listener and Mr McGoldrick.

Denman was being niggled along to get upsides Madison three out but at the second last he took his first ever fall (in fact his only fall) and was roughed off for the season. November 2009 saw him back at his beloved Newbury for a second Hennessy where he put up another staggering weight performance to hold off What A Friend, ironically ridden by Sam Thomas who had piloted Denman to Festival Glory. He won off a mark of 174, 13lbs higher than his win two years previously, which put most of the field either on a feather weight or out of the handicap completely. It was a performance that put him up there with the all time greats.

With connections preferring not to use Ruby to ride, he returned to the Berkshire track for the Aon in February with AP up but started to look in trouble four out and then he uptipped AP at the next fence. The astonishing ride given by Ruby on Tricky Trickster to get up on the line when four lengths down at the last was not lost on anyone. And so back to the Festival again for The Decider with Kauto, but it never materialised, as the Star ran a little flat and took a crashing fall that left everyone gasping until he got up. Imperial Commander took the spoils and Kauto received a rousing reception as Ruby cantered him past the stands, but we all felt we had missed out on a head to head with our dream of seeing the Ditcheat horses sail over the last together thwarted yet again.

Paul then took him to Punchestown where he was sent off favourite but ran flat and was unplaced, and that was that for the season. His last three races started off at Newbury again for another Hennessy, but this time Diamond Harry and Burton Port got the better of him again receiving two stone apiece with the big horse running off an 8lbs higher mark than the previous season. And so for what was to be his last run at the Festival and yet another second place behind the young pretender Long Run with Kauto in third, but that hardly does justice to the race that nearly gave us the sight we had longed for.

Long Run was favourite, the precocious six year old who had stylishly won the King George but had two relatively poor runs at Cheltenham, falling short against Weapons Amnesty in the 2010 RSA Chase and then beaten third again by Little Josh in the Paddy Power with a less than fluent round of jumping. Imperial Commander was second favourite followed by Kauto and then Denman. In one of those dreamlike races that you couldn’t have written the script any better for, Midnight Chase the gallant handicapper in exulted company took them round the first circuit, but like three Dads at the school games afternoon running against their sons, the old guard just had to show the rest how it was done.

Kauto took it up at the start of the second circuit, followed by Imperial Commander with Long Run and Denman stalking – was this really happening? The big boys kept hold of the race round the back and turning down the hill towards three out Imperial Commander pulled up lame leaving Kauto, Denman and Long Run starting to pull clear. Biting nails, perched on the edge of the sofa and scarcely believing what I was seeing, that three or four seconds towards and over the second last was for me almost run in slow-motion.

Everything that we had dreamt of since 2007 was happening right in front of us and I almost wanted to freeze the television picture as twelve hooves were in the air together over the second last. Three wonderful horses all jumping in a line but Kauto was slightly slower and lost a little momentum, leaving Long Run and Kauto’s next-door neighbour to chase down the last. The younger legs told but Denman didn’t give any quarter and Kauto held on for third from the fast finishing What A Friend, another Ditcheat inmate. It would have been a travesty had he not done so. Exhausted. Elated. Enchanted. The entire 60,000 crowd were enraptured by what had unfolded before them and the three placed horses received a hero’s welcome as each came into the winners enclosure. The crowd sensed that not only had they seen something particularly special before the verdant backdrop of Cleeve Hill that day, but that they had also seen for the last time in a Gold Cup, the two horses that have surely shaped chasing this century (with full apologies to Best Mate and Moscow Flyer).

Denman ran his last race in the Bowl again at Aintree and proved he didn’t much care for the Liverpool course by only beating one home in another flat run. And with his retirement announcement this month we have seen the last of this monster of a horse on a racecourse, although he will surely be popular in big race parades. He will now see out the winter in his box next to Kauto and the fact that the big fella won’t run again makes us realise that we must enjoy these legends whilst we have them, especially his neighbour.

There is no doubt that Denman is one of the best horses we have seen in the last half century, and his weight carrying performances in the Hennessy will be a benchmark against which others will be measured. In full cry, particularly at Newbury, he must have put the fear of God into his rivals with slick, fast fencing and a relentless, powering gallop. And at Cheltenham too the fences held no terrors for him, winning an RSA Chase, a Gold Cup and two seconds in that race.

And so we say farewell to The Tank, who probably still broods in his box, his back end facing to anyone who dares poke their head over the stable door, and who will boss Kauto and friends in the field in the coming summer, where I sometimes see them when I drive past. And so a great chasing career is over, and it seems a long time since I caught my first glimpse of him in the pre-parade ring on a balmy October afternoon in 2005 at Wincanton.

Following the retirement of Denman last week we saw another stalwart run his last race on Monday in The Tatling. What a wonderful horse and to win on his final appearance less than three weeks before his 15th birthday is astonishing. He ran 176 times, winning 18 races and was placed 53 times earning £271,695 in win prize money, topping that to £687,763 with place money added. At his peak he was rated 116 (ran off 60 yesterday) and after making his debut in May 1999 he won his fourth race at Yarmouth later that year. He is probably the only Flat horse to have ever won in three different decades and is certainly the only horse running that won in the last century. He was partnered by 37 jockeys in his race career. He never ran further than 6f and won five class 1 races in his prime including winning the Kings Stand Stakes at Ascot, and was runner up three times in the Nunthorpe. All racehorses celebrate their official birthday on the 1st January but he was actually born on the 23rd April 1997. If ever a horse epitomised the bulldog spirit of the patron saint of England with whom he shares his birthday, then this horse did. Happy retirement The Tatling. Marvellous.

Posted by kevlane in Uncategorized

The old man eased himself into his favourite armchair, scratched his head and rubbed his temples with his forefingers. He threw a small log onto the fire and watched as it was engulfed by the flames around it. He was in his eighties now but he still chopped a few small logs every day, as it stretched his muscles and got him out for some fresh air. It had been cold this November and he had needed his grandson to come around and chop the bigger logs up for him. The lad was enthusiastic and used the axe like he was trying to hit Graeme Swan over the pavilion roof.

“No, no, no,” said the old man on many occasions, “it’s all about rhythm, it should be an extension of your arm. Like this.” The old man motioned to the boy to show him how it was done. The lad was keen if a bit cheeky at times. He liked hearing stories from the past but once he said to his grandfather, “Why is it that the older a man gets, the faster he could run as a lad?” The old man smiled at that.

He looked into the dancing flames as the fire came to life, and the sharper, older memories came flooding back to him. He still had to pinch himself that it was late autumn 2041, a date that had seemed so far away when he was a younger man. A smile crossed his lips as he recalled that marvellous day thirty years ago. Was it really thirty years ago? It was at Haydock Park and the Lancashire course had never seen a day like it; racing had never seen a day like it. In one of the most competitive Betfair Chases for many a year, two past Gold Cup winners, Long Run and Kauto Star, went head to head with the previous seasons Hennessy winner, Diamond Harry, the previous months Charlie Hall Chase winner, Weird Al, and another progressive chaser in Time For Rupert who was runner up in the Charlie Hall.

The memories of the race were still vivid but the old man wanted to savour each and every detail in his mind. There was the pre-race build up in the press with all of the trainers confident of a good run from their charges. Then there was the public who had divided opinions as to whether Kauto Star, by far and away the best chaser in an generation and possibly more but now eleven years old and rising twelve, should have been retired after a stirring performance in the Gold Cup but then failing to complete at Punchestown at the end of the previous season. And whether Long Run had improved over the summer and would justify not only his short price for this race but also his favouritism for the King George and the Gold Cup.

The old man smiled again as he remembered watching Kauto Star enter the parade ring to a loud cheering and the waving of green, yellow and purple scarves. Was this judgement day for Kauto? Would a poor run see his retirement? The excitement built as race time approached and the horse looked well in himself.

He picked up the poker and jabbed at the charred billets, coaxing them back into life. Then he put his head back in the chair and closed his eyes. As the tape went up Kauto was sent into an early lead, to huge roars from the crowd, but the finish was still three miles away and with the small matter of 18 fences to jump. From the first Kauto pinged the obstacles with an effortless elegance that belied his years and was joined by Time For Rupert and then Diamond Harry. The race was run at a good gallop and after the first circuit Time For Rupert was starting to struggle.

The old man remembered thinking how well Kauto was going and could it, would it, be his day. Long Run was close up in third but making small jumping errors that prevented him getting on terms. Rounding the final bend Kauto was the only horse left on the bridle with the rest of the field driven along. The crowd held its collective breath, not sure it could believe what it was witnessing. Four out and another good jump from Kauto but Long Run now into second. Watchers stood open-mouthed as he breezed over the third from home as Long Run continued to chase. Two out and there were signs of tiredness in the leader and the old man remembered jumping up and down screaming at Ruby to get him home.

Another fine jump at the last, and a sloppy one from Long Run, sealed it and as he quickened on the run-in to score by a comfortable eight lengths the crowd went into overdrive, aware that they were witnessing something very, very special. When the enormity of the victory hit home, grown men had to bite their lips to control their emotions. As he walked into the winners enclosure the crowd took the roof off the old stand and the cheers could be heard across the broad acres.

The old man brushed a tear away as he recalled the shouts from the crowd – Three Cheers For Kauto. Trainer Paul Nicholls was more animated than he had ever been and Ruby Walsh had a grin across his face that would have put a Cheshire cat to shame. Such scenes, such elation, such joy. As he got older it was the memories that kept him going. There were other horses and other great deeds that he would recall on another day, but none were more vivid in his mind than the day that the Star burned so brightly at Haydock on that grey winter afternoon all those years ago.

Todays feature race is the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, always an early winter highlight, although it could be argued that todays renewal is not quite up to the stellar fields of recent years when Denman kept most of the others out of the handicap. Half of the 18 runner field have a realistic chance in this and favourite this morning is Paddy Power winner Great Endeavour. He is too big a price for me to lay at nearly 7/1 but I can’t see him taking this today and doing the double, like his former stablemate Celestial Gold did in 2004. This is run over the Cheltenham Gold Cup trip of three miles, two and a half furlongs and with Great Endeavour failing to win beyond 2m 6f, the only time he has got close beyond three miles was over hurdles two years back.

Nicholls saddles Aiteen Thirtythree but I am not sure about his performances in bigger fields. He was placed second of three behind Somersby (runner up to Master Minded next time) at Kempton last month and won twice here last winter beating the 138 rated Tarablaze in February where only one other finished. Tarablaze would be 4lbs out of the handicap today. At this meeting he beat Voramar Two (my lay of the winter, beaten as a short priced favourite in four races after this one) by 17 lengths but may or may not have beaten the very talented but ill-fated Tell Massini when that one took a fatal fall when upsides and travelling well five out. Only five ran in that.

Nicholls also saddles Michel Le Bon who he has always had a very high regard for but to be plunged into this after just one chase start and 730 days on the sidelines with a leg injury is a big ask. A more likely sort is Ian Williams Wayward Prince who will get the trip, has a nice weight and brings winning graded chase form to the table. He has not been seen since a substandard run at Aintree in April but won first time out last season, albeit in a class 3 novice chase at Huntingdon. He ahs also won in 14 and 15 runner fields so won’t mind the hustle and bustle of this.

Wymott looks on a good mark for what he has achieve so far and he won three on the bounce last winter, two of them very comfortably. He pulled up in the RSA Chase at the Festival but was found to have a small fracture. However, my shilling each way is going on Planet Of Sound today. Already a Grade 1 winner (when he beat Denman, War Of Attrition and Cooldine) at Punchestown, and the winner of the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter two years ago, he looked to have a promising winter ahead last term when a decent third behind Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase on his seasonal reappearance. He choked in the King George and had an operation on his palate and then a leg infection prevented him lining up in the Cheltenham showpiece. He has been dropped 5lbs and with the Hobbs team having 15 wina d placed horses in the last ten days, I feel that he has the class to put up a good show over a trip and on ground that will be ideal.

Good luck today

Posted by kevlane in Uncategorized

Horses, and their place in history, have been to the forefront of my mind this morning after spending a wonderful evening at the National Theatre last night watching War Horse. I read the book last year and have been waiting a long time to get tickets, such is the demand, but the show is everything and more that you have heard about it. The puppetry is amazing and if you know horses, you will be amazed at the accurate depiction of their behaviour, particularly their head and ear movements.

The story of course, revolves around Joey being taken from his Devon farm to join the cavalry in the First World War and also highlights the terrible treatment meted out to horses back then and the how they too suffered a horrendous amount of casualties. Now, nearly 100 years on, nine strikes with an air-cushioned whip equals a ban! Phah ! Don’t get me started on that one.

What a wonderful day of racing we have ahead of us today at both Haydock and Ascot. Long Run, Kauto Star, Diamond Harry, Weird Al, Time For Rupert all competing in a very hot Betfair Chase at 3.10 at Haydock.

Long Run is a the obvious one but at 5/4 or 6/5 is short enough and maybe today is the day to take him on. His jumping is at risk of errors and the more pressure that he is under in a race the more likely he is to make a mistake. With Time For Rupert likely to go off in front the possibility of Long Run trading higher than his off price when in-running is quite likely, so there may be the opportunity to lay to back to cover your liability in this race.

Long Run was beaten first time out last season, when only third behind Little Josh in the Paddy Power chase, a handicap and not a grade one race like today. As a prep for that race Little Josh dead heated at Carlisle with….Weird Al. Long Run has bigger fish to fry later on this season with the King George and Cheltenham again and today may be the one day to catch him out.

Diamond Harry has a tremendous record fresh and won the Hennessy last season on his first run. He was receiving lumps of weight from Denman and again that was a handicap, but he deserves to be second favourite today and should run a big race.

Weird Al beat Time For Rupert in the Charlie Hall three weeks ago and it will be interesting to see what improvement the former might make in the coming weeks whilst the latter, who runs well at Cheltenham, might not appreciate this flatter track.

And what of the great Kauto Star? Of course, I am sure that everyone watching this race to a man (or lady) will want to see the old boy back safe and sound. Can he win it? Unlikely although Paul Nicholls says that he has him fitter for today than in the past when he had longer term targets and is taking his career race by race. With a clear round and a good run there is every reason to think that he will have a decent chance of being in the first half of the field home, ie, in the first three. Come back safe old boy.

So for me I am going to back Diamond Harry and lay Long Run with a view to backing him in running to cover my liability.

I had planned to look at another couple of races today but as we didn’t get home from London until just after 2am this morning I am a little late on parade today and am going to slump in the armchair and watch the action.

Good luck today.

Posted by kevlane in Uncategorized

The last of the excellent three day meet at jumps HQ sees the Greatwood Hurdle as the highlight of the afternoon. The day kicks off with the Independent Newspapers Novices Chase where Al Ferof is the clear odds-on favourite. With eight runners and therefore three places it may pay to look for some place value and with both Court In Session and Lancetto having better form on good or quicker going, and Bellvano beaten 26 lengths and pulled up on his only two tries here (as well as being turned over at 1/5 on when debuting last January) I am drawn towards Astracad from the in-form Twiston-Davies yard and who won here 13 months ago over hurdles and won a novice chase at Perth in September. He also ran well beaten a dozen lengths by Champion Court at Aintree lat month.

In the Scholer Chase at 1.45, Gauvain tries to replicate his victory in this last season in what was a stronger renewal, beating Forpaddydeplasterer (second again – his form figures since November 2008 read 22212222222P2) and Tataniano with Festival winner Oiseau De Nuit in fourth and Oh Crick in sixth and Chaninbar last. Todays favourite is Woolcombe Folly who was beaten into third by Tataniano at Chepstow last month with Oh Crick in fourth. Chaninbar lines up today but is a risky proposition having refused to race three times in the spring. The other live candidate is West With The Wind who has won both his chase starts this term, at Ffos Las and then beating a below par Loosen My Load at Limerick last month. His win penalty means that he has a bit to find with the others but is progressive and will run his race. I am tentatively going with Gauvain in what will hopefully be a good race to watch.

The Greatwood Hurdle has been won by some cracking sorts starting with Menorah last season and then back to Khyber Kim, Sizing Europe, Detroit City, Rooster Booster and Westender in the last decade. I looked at the card last night and quite fancied Ultimate and then I saw that he had been Price-wised this morning in the Racing Post. He ran really well at Huntingdon beating Australia Day who then went on to win two on the bounce and before that he won a reasonable handicap on the flat at Catterick. Maybe Ultimate can give some consolation to trainer Brian Ellison whose horse Bothy was just touched off in this last year.

Of the favourite Pateese, he won well enough at Sandown last time but this demands a further step up and with Balthazar King, Wishfull Thinking and My Shamwari failing to justify their prices yesterday, the Hobbs team have a bit to find with their horses at present. The Irish raider Moon Dice has to be of interest and so has Brampour with young Harry Dereham taking 7lbs off for Nicholls, but A Media Luz doesn’t seem to settle very well for me and she will need to do so, and jump better, to take a hand.

The competitive hurdle at 3.30 sees another Hobbs inmate in Fingal Bay head the market. He won the Persian War Novice Hurdle in taking style beating Baile Anrai by six lengths and the rest of the field by 40+ lengths. The runner up that day was held at Wincanton latest in fourth when falling so there is no collateral form to analyse from that. Prior to that Chepstow victory he had again sluiced up on testing ground at Exeter last winter in a bumper but with the runner up beaten 26 and 53 lengths in two subsequent starts and the third, a 40/1 shot that day, also beaten 35 lengths next time, it does question what the form amounts to. It will certainly show if the horse is hype or hero.

David Pipe runs the unbeaten African Broadway in this and he too has wide margin wins although the runner-up last time did place when next seen. He has a big step up in class today but has proven that he gets the trip, unlike Nicholls’s Polisky who has a couple of decent placed efforts, one in France and one at Ascot, over shorter.

Good luck today.

Posted by kevlane in Uncategorized

Its Super Saturday at Cheltenham with the feature race the Paddy Power Gold Cup at 2.35. Formerly known as the Mackesons and the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup, this high class Grade 3 Class 1 handicap has a somewhat distorted look this year as a third of the field is out of the handicap proper, due to the 170 rated Poquelin lining up with top weight. His stablemate Mon Parrain, bidding for a first Nicholls victory in this race, is the morning favourite and the presence of Poquelin does help to keep the weight down for him.

However, after an impressive British debut at Sandown, he was galloping over everything in the Topham at Aintree in April when he stopped quickly on the run-in to finish second. His jumping was again slick that day and although he has little experience of the undulations of this circuit, he must surely go close given a wet sail and a following wind. He will have strengthened up over the summer as a five year old and connections will be looking for a big run from him today.

There are of course, plenty of chances elsewhere and the in-form yards of Hobbs, Pipe and Henderson have live chances with their runners. Second favourite Wishfull Thinking from Philip Hobbs’s yard has a record of 121211 over the last twelve months, including a win and two seconds here (one of them in the Jewson at the Festival) and a trawl back further in his form sees a win at Taunton in January 2010 over Grands Cru by seven lengths.

David Pipe, who notched up a treble here yesterday, runs the grey Great Endeavour for owner David Johnson, who won this in 2004 and 2005 with Celestial Gold and Our Vic. He is lightly raced for a seven year old and won at the Festival in 2010 although he did fall at this years showpiece. Against him is his form in this last year when he was also making his seasonal debut and was beaten 25 lengths into sixth.

At bigger prices, The Giant Bolster, Noble Alan and Billy Magern also make some appeal but the Whisperer shilling is going sixpence each way on Daves Dream from Seven Barrows. He has course form, winning the handicap chase at this meeting last year, albeit over 2 miles, and first time out for the last four seasons his form reads 1111. Against him is that he has yet to prove his stamina for this two and a half miles having not won beyond 2miles 2f but with a relatively light weight of 10st 3lbs and Geraghty eating and drinking nothing but ice cold water this week to do the weight, he must have a decent each way shout with a best price of 11/1 this morning (and shop around as some bookies are paying for five places).

Of the remainder of the card, it kicks off with a JCB Triumph Hurdle trial at 1.20 where all eight of the nine who have raced have won and seven of those last time out. Nicholls and Henderson go head to head with Hinterland and Ozeta although McCain will have a say with Hollow Tree. Ozeta, being a filly, gets 7lbs from the Ditcheat inmate and that might be the difference at the finish.

The 1.55 is a very competitive three and a half mile chase with nine of the eleven runners priced under 14/1. Hennessy runs from just out of the handicap but has had a pipe-opener this season at Kelso and Ferdy Murphy’s horses are in good order. Chicago Grey has won over four miles here and had a decent spin here last month until unseating two out and at about 6/1 he is each way for me.

The two big field handicap hurdles at 3.10 and 3.40 are too tough for me to call although it will be interesting what encouragement Ruby gives Edgardo Sol after a brilliant ride to win at Chepstow last month that cost him a ban for one smack too many.

The card closes once again with another very interesting novice chase, this time over three miles where the apple of Robin Dickin’s eye Restless Harry makes his jumps debut (has won a point) after a successful career as a staying hurdler. He won easily last month at Wetherby although this is a different discipline. I like Saint Are for Tim Vaughan who has won over hurdles at three miles and he was very impressive when finishing second to Champion Court over slightly shorter at Aintree last month. That horse of course, chased Grands Cru home yesterday in what was a good day for the Whisperer with Tanks For That winning at 13/2 in from a morning price of 10/1 and the above mentioned placing at 8/1 along with Ericht at 5/1 backed in during the day.

Good luck today

Posted by kevlane in Uncategorized

As the passage of time quickens with the years, so the distant memories become sharper and the recent ones seem to dim. Reading the obituaries of Joe Frazier this week I was taken back to an era when boxing made the main news on the sports pages and we were spoilt with a triumvirate of the greatest heavyweights that we will probably ever see. The most brutal fight that I ever saw was in 1985 when, in one of the most violent and bloody battles ever to be fought under rules, Marvin Haggler and Thomas Hearns gave no quarter for almost 15 rounds, and the sight of the finally victorious Haggler with a blood soaked face stamped upon me an image that has never faded.

A decade earlier Ali, Frazier and Foreman were engaged in many battles that marked the early 1970’s as a special time for boxing and after the 1971 Ali v Frazier bout at Madison Square Gardens, we had Foreman v Frazier in Jamaica and of course, the famous Thriller In Manil,a and the best of all in the blistering heat and humidity of Kinshasa in 1975, The Rumble In The Jungle. A landmark film was made of that bout and the lead up to it, Leon Gast’s When We Were Kings. Wonderful.

Its not often that sport throws up such excellence in the same era, although cricket was also blessed with a quartet of some of the best all-rounders ever some thirty years ago when, like the rare alignment of the planets, we were blessed with Sir Ian Botham, Sir Richard Hadlee, Kapil Dev and Imran Khan all at the same time.

Thinking of When We Were Kings my eyes were drawn to that famous print that many of us have on our wall, We Three Kings, a painting of Arkle, Rummy and Dessie. Three of the all-time greats but not in the same era. We have been lucky to see two of the best in the last half a dozen years, in Kauto Star and Denman, who have raced against each other, and the third Ditcheat inmate to make up and stunning trio, in Big Bucks.

You can’t compare eras of course, even though it’s a great way to pass the evening with friends debating the merits of players, teams and horses from times past, and whilst I was too young to see Himself in action, Dessie and Rummy were great for racing and legends both. The best I have seen in modern times is Kauto Star and although that twinkle is now fading from his star as he rises 12 years old, there is no doubt in my mind that his performances in the 2006/2007 season was something that we may not see again for a very long time.

Opening up with a 21 length victory in the Old Roan Chase over 2m4f, he followed up with arguably his second best ever run (after his 2009 King George), winning the Betfair Chase over 3m by 17 lengths, a race which saw Ruby’s face as wide as a sunbeam as he cantered home. Just two weeks later he dropped back to 2 miles to win the Tingle Creek by 7 lengths and then to Boxing Day for an 8 length victory in the King George back up to 3 miles. He had his biggest scare next time in the Aon winning by just a neck but comfortably took the Gold Cup over 3m 2.5f to close a wonderful season. These thoughts whet the appetite for the jumping feast ahead of us.

Today sees the start of the second biggest jumps meet of the entire season with many the top horses out at HQ in some competitive races over the next three days. I have been a few times and actually prefer it to the Festival in March as there is quality racing but more space to move around. The highlight for me today is the Steel Plate and Sections Novices Chase at 4.05 won in the past by Denman, Imperial Commander, Weird Al and last season, Time For Rupert. Todays renewal sees Cue Card take on Grands Crus, although the race isn’t a complete head to head as Champion Court and Zaynar are also in the line-up and Dualla Lord could be anything.

Smart hurdler Cue Card won his chasing debut at Chepstow beating Micheal Flips and Silviniaco Conti who have both won since, the latter taking the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton in great style by 25 lengths. By comparison, Grands Crus makes his chase debut today having spent his time in both championship races last spring, here and at Aintree, watching the back end of Big Bucks disappear away from him.

However, with a clear round he could be better than Cue Card over the bigger obstacles, although the 2m4f will probably be on the short side for him in the long run. He won at Plumpton and here over this trip but has been up to 3 miles latterly. He is an exciting prospect. However, this isn’t a two horse race and I fancied Champion Court when he beat three smart novices at Aintree three weeks ago and whilst he was less than fluent over the last two, he won in taking fashion and looks a nice horse. He has also won here, when beating Sybarite (reopposes today) easily in the Neptune a year ago at this meeting over hurdles and despite there being only 7 runners, I will have a bit of each way about him at some of the 7/1 available as there is a possibility that one of the principals won’t run to form and he might just be good enough to challenge anyway.

Dualla Lord won five point to points, including being unbeaten in four in the UK, and was a clear second at Chepstow over hurdles three weeks ago, which will put him spot on for this. He could be anything and Nicholls knows the time of day for these sorts of races, but the quality here is exceptional and he will need to be top drawer to take a hand.

The card opens with a tricky amateur riders chase, not the sort of race that I get involved in but as a rule of thumb, given that the horse is fairly well up in the betting, I tend to go for the best jockey. Today sees Sam Whaley Cohen ride Time For Spring who beat Havingotascoobydo in March, and that horse went on to win three of his next five. He is now rated 130 so at 125 Time For Spring could be a handicap snip. In his last run he beat Ballycolin at Carlisle and that one won again at Musselburgh last week. Bescot Springs is also one for the short-list.

The 1.45 sees the return of Crack Away Jack having moved stables from Emma Lavelles to Ditcheat. Last season was a wash out for him and he was off the previous season with an injury. However, he won at Sandown in a chase in November 2009 and was second a month later in the Henry VIII Novice Chase at the same course behind Somersby, so on old form he has a chance and today will tell if the old Jack is back. Second favourite in this is the aforementioned Havingotascoobydo but having fallen once and jumped a little sketchily in small fields, these obstacles in a big handicap could be his undoing. Of more interest is Tanks For That as the Henderson yard starts to hit form and he is my each way selection. He hasn’t won a chase for 18 months but was a decent second here behind Woolcombe Folly 11 months back and led for most of the way on his last start at Ayr in April.

The cross country chase is a fun spectacle but not a betting proposition for me and Garde Champetre will be a popular winner. This horse is a tough handicapper but Clive Smith must wake up in a cold sweat some nights as he tried to buy this horse from Anthony Bromley about seven years ago but was outbid by JP McManus. Smith thought he would have the next decent one that Bromley came up with as a consolation. That horse turned out to be Kauto Star. Some consolation !

The 2 mile novice hurdle at 2.55 (won last year by Cue Card) sees three horses well ahead of the rest in the betting. Steps To Freedom has some hurdling experience under his belt, which can be crucial at this level, as has Prospect Wells but both are short enough for me. At around 5/1 Ericht, a son of Alderbrook, receives weight from the other two and he won a Grade 2 bumper at Newbury last term (the third in that won last week), comes from a top stable and for me is the value bet.

Good luck today.

Posted by kevlane in Uncategorized

The Racehorsewhisperer is back with some irreverent ramblings for the coming jumps season. Last week’s Old Roan Chase was a nice entrée for the winter game but for many, todays Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby is the first main course of an exciting campaign that leads to Cheltenham in March.

Coupled with a good card at Ascot, including the United House Gold Cup Chase, Wetherby also hosts a Listed mares hurdle, the John Smiths Hurdle (where Fair Along bids for a three timer in this race) and a competitive novice hurdle featuring the former Lincoln winner Smokey Oakey.

The main feature, however, is the Charlie Hall Chase and it’s a strong a renewal today as I can remember for a while. In the past this has been won by the likes of See More Business, Marlborough, the wonderful Grey Abbey, Ollie Magern, Our Vic, State Of Play and another grey in Nacarat last season.

The market has three against the field in Diamond Harry, Time For Rupert and Poquelin. Diamond Harry has won first time out the last three seasons but only ran once last term, winning the Hennessy but was pulled out of the Gold Cup with a ligament injury. Time For Rupert looked a top prospect last season winning his first two chases at HQ (in the second one, Chicago Grey 8 lengths behind, reopposes today) and was a worthy favourite for the RSA Chase at the Festival, but he was found to be suffering from a lung infection and also broke a blood vessel, so to finish just six lengths off the winner was a remarkable feat.

The other fancied horse is Poquelin whose last five wins have come at Cheltenham and he is the highest rated horse in the race today on 170. However, he has not raced beyond 2m5f and the 3m1f will certainly test him in this. Nacarat is next best in the betting and he defends his title after carrying 11st to victory last season, but with the tables turned on him today and 11st 10lbs on his back, I can’t see him winning unless something happens to the other principals.

I fancy a bit of a punt on a talented and lightly raced horse in Weird Al. He won three novice chases on the bounce in the 09/10 season, including the Towton here over 3 miles. His reappearance last season saw him dead-heat with Little Josh at Carlisle, giving him 6lbs and whilst he was well beaten by Diamond Harry in the Hennessy and pulled up with a broken blood vessel in the Gold Cup, he is only eight and has had just eight starts. He has also moved stables to Donald McCains from Ian Williams and he will surely be ready for this.

If Poquelin fails to get the trip or either Diamond Harry and Time For Rupert fail to run their races then I think the 12/1 each way about Weird Al represents good value.

Good luck today.

Posted by kevlane in Uncategorized

Royal Ascot Day Four

Winners at 8/1 and 7/2 yesterday plus placed horses at 12/1 and 10/1 on an excellent day for the Whisperer.

Ascot: Soft
2.30 The Chesham Stakes
Nothing appeals outside of the top two in the market, Maybe and Fort Bastion.

3.05 The Hardwicke Stakes
Await The Dawn is 1 to 2 on with the rest of the field 12/1 or bigger. I think he may be worth taking on at the price, with the possibility of greening up in-running. His last three wins have been at 10f on good or good to firm and this is 12f today on soft. He could walk this of course, but at the price I am going to oppose him. I am backing Drunken Sailor each way at a big price who has won and placed over further.

3.45 The Golden Jubilee Stakes
Delegator is now out of this one, and although not everyone’s idea of the winner, he certainly had a good chance before the ground went. I am not completely convinced by Bewitched or Star Witness. This is a step up again in class for the former whilst I successfully laid Star Witness in the Kings Stand Stakes on Tuesday over 5f. Although he was staying on strongly at the end, the rain will make this 6f today seem more like 7f and I think he may struggle. I think that the ground has gone for Bated Breath and with just one favourite winning in the last 10 years and two 33/1 shots taking this along with two 20/1 winners, it may well be that an outsider will win today. I am backing each way the filly Hooray and Monsieur Chevalier.

4.25 The Wokingham Stakes
Another one of these fiendishly difficult 28 runner races that don’t really float my boat from a betting point of view. Going with the high draw that has been sound this week, Macs Power and Nasri are two to consider.

5.00 The Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes
With only one favourite winning this in the last few years and plenty of double digit winners, I am not that keen on any of the market principles. Modun looks a progressive horse for Stoute and may do the business but I never bet on hype, and whilst he may win, he won’t be carrying my money at a shade under 4/1. Sharaayeen has had two career wins, over a mile and 1m2f, on good or firmer. He ran well last run last backend on softer over this trip off 91 and close second last time off 93 on quicker ground at HQ, but up another 5lbs for that and not won at this level before. Taqleed is a more likely sort along with a couple of outsiders in Blissful Moment and Awsaal.

5.35 The Queen Alexandra Stakes
The longest flat race in Britain by 37 yards from the Pontefract marathon, this 2m 5f 59yds closes the card. Nothing leaps out at me to back now that favourite Overturn is out as I really fancied him, but of those that are left Swingkeel, who was third in this last year and won over hurdles in the spring, looks a good a shout as any with Halla San my alternative selection.

Good Luck

Posted by kevlane in Uncategorized

Royal Ascot Day Three

A nice 6/1 winner in the Norfolk Stakes yesterday but not too much else to shout about.

Ascot: Good, Good to Soft in places
2.30 The Albany Stakes (2yo fillies)
Teolane is the short priced favourite for this but she doesn’t meet some of the trends for a typical Albany winner and she maybe worth taking on at around 6/4. Her three runs have all been on good to firm and there is a possibility of the going getting even softer today. There are nine other winners in the field, some of them unbeaten and open to any amount of improvement. I like Illaunglass and Switcher, the former being trained by the shrewd Jeremy Noseda and she won well enough at Lingfield whilst Switcher also won her only race, at Haydock despite a slow start.

3.05 The King Edward VII Stakes
Run over the Derby trip, only one favourite in the last six years has taken this. I was looking to lay World Domination in this when he was about 5.8 earlier on this morning but he is now out to 10 so I will leave him alone. I do quite like Alexander Pope at a big price today, despite him not having won a group race before, whilst Genius Beast also makes each way appeal.

3.45 The Coronation Stakes
If the King Edward is the Ascot Derby then this is the Ascot 1,000 Guineas, for 3 year old fillies. The betting shows it is fairly open and Immortal Verse might be a big price come ten to four today as her immediate past form doesn’t look great. She was withdrawn from the 1,000 Guineas after playing up in the stalls and had a rubbish draw in the French version. She has won where there has been some cut in the ground and if she starts OK I hope to see her run a big race.

4.25 The Wolferton Handicap
Green Destiny has been backed today as though defeat is out of the question, priced at around 7/4 and then 7/1 the field. At a nice each way price I am backing Spanish Duke and Right Step.

5.00 The Queen’s Vase
Only one of these young horses has raced beyond 1m4f so this 2m is a complete unknown for all of them. Six of the last eight winners have been shorter than 5/1 (The other two at 7/1) so a look towards the top of the market is a good starting point. Mark Johnston has won this three times in the last five seasons so I will be going with his Namibian for my selection.

5.35 Buckingham Palace Stakes
Nothing in this 25 runner handicap for me today.

Good Luck

Posted by kevlane in Uncategorized

Royal Ascot Day Three

Ascot: Good, Good to Soft in places
2.30 The Norfolk Stakes
A very open 5f sprint handicap for 2 year olds with well over half the field having visited the winners enclosure. Bapak Chinta is my tentative choice, albeit an unoriginal one, but after two double digit priced winners in the last two years, followed by two short priced favourites before that, it’s a hard job pinning down which of these youngsters is on song on the day.

3.05 The Ribblesdale Stakes (fillies)
Without doubt Rumh has the best form on offer with her third in the Swettenham boosted by the first two finishing first and third in the Oaks. Banimpire is fancied from the Jim Bolger stable but I am keen to oppose her, whilst if she can be forgiven her Epsom run Zain Al Boldan would have an excellent each way shout on previous form.

3.45 The Gold Cup
Without doubt Fame And Glory is the class act in the field but he has done most of his winning at this sort of level at 1m2f and 1m4f. Won a couple of weaker races this season at 1m5f and 1m6f in Ireland but has to prove his stamina for 2m4f and at the price he is opposable with that uncertainty. So what wins if he doesn’t? I would love to see Geordieland winning (he has placed three times in this race) but don’t think he will after a 643 day lay-off and whilst Duncan has stamina to prove for the trip, I think that he is a good shout at the price against the favourite with Blue Bajan likely to run a big race after his second in the Yorkshire Cup and victory at Sandown last time.

4.25 The Britannia Stakes
30 runners, prices starting at about 8/1 and a real minefield (recent winners at 20/1, 28/1 and 33/1). With the high draw working well this week, four of the first five in the betting are drawn high, so no clues there then!! I got the big field Royal Hunt Cup all wrong yesterday so I will leave this one alone.

5.00 The Hampton Court Stakes
A hard race to fathom with recent winners priced as low as 9/4 and as high as 33/1 but in the absence of anything more concrete I will side with Marksmanship who, although only once raced, did it really well winning at the Curragh and could be anything.

5.35 King George V Stakes
Another competitive middle distance handicap and several in with chances. I like the look of Apache who won well at Leopardstown last month and is from the respected Aiden O’Brien stable. Census won well last time at Newbury, albeit over slightly shorter but despite that, he has a 9lbs rise to overcome and this is a better field than Newbury. Sud Pacifique has won both starts this season and looks to benefit from a step up in trip.

Good Luck !

Posted by kevlane in Uncategorized