PART II
DIARY – CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2013
DAY TWO
FEATURING THE QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2013
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Wayne Hutchinson is thrilled to win the Coral Cup
aboard Medinas; a victory for the Alan King yard Click here to read Day 2 Diary Part I It was now time for the feature event of the day,
the Queen Mother Champion Chase. As with each of the feature events, there was a
pre-race parade; the horses exited onto the course and formed into number
order before the parade began. Two
mounted members of a local hunt preceded the racehorses; just seven runners,
presumably a number having been frightened away by the participation of
Sprinter Sacre, last year’s Arkle
winner, never beaten over fences and the 1-4 favourite to win his first Queen
Mother Champion Chase. Members of the police force and a number of
stewards had already lined up along the edge of the racecourse, upon the
all-weather strip, to deter anyone from escaping the confines of the
enclosures to run out onto the track; in protest or just to cause a scene of
any sort. The parade was led by the ear-plugged Mail de Bievre, trained by Tom George; the French-bred horse had
been trained by Alan King during the 2008/2009 season, running at Exeter,
Doncaster and Uttoxeter, after which he’d returned
to France; and it is recorded that he has won three times when racing in his
native country. He’d had just one run
for his current trainer, the previous month when finishing 5th to Silviniaco Conti at Newbury. Once the parade had been completed, the runners
cantered down past the grandstands and entered the all-weather strip to
continue their journey to the start which was located at the far end of the
home straight.
On
the outside of the pack, Sanctuaire was led in by
Paul Nicholls’ Assistant Trainer Dan Skelton.
Then they were off. The field
was led away by Mail de Bievre, from Sizing Europe,
Somersby, Sprinter Sacre, Tataniano,
Wishfull Thinking and Sanctuaire;
a slight error was made by Richard Johnson’s mount at the first fence. The
runners continued up the home straight, in chevron formation, Paddy Brennan’s
mount at the head of affairs. Having
cleared the second fence, they passed through the gap in the rails and
entered the main circuit of the track.
Somersby got a little bit close to the next but then put in an extra
stride before the 4th, hit the top and Dominic Elsworth
was thrown over his head as the horse stumbled badly on landing. However, to add insult to injury, the horse
was then brought down by his prostrate jockey. Not surprisingly, it took Dominic a while
to rise. The
six remaining runners headed out into the country for the one and only time;
Mail de Bievre still leading the way, from Sizing
Europe, Sprinter Sacre, Tataniano,
Wishfull Thinking and Sanctuaire. They cleared the uphill fence and then set
off down the back straight, the leader making a slight error at the first
fence therein. Having cleared the
water-jump, it was now time for Sizing Europe to cruise up on the outside of
Mail de Bievre and take a narrow advantage having
jumped the first open-ditch. Sanctuaire, still at the
rear of the field, wasn’t particularly fluent at the 9th. Taking the dog-leg turn, Paddy Brennan’s
mount began to fade, Sprinter Sacre now cruising
along just behind the leader, Sizing Europe; although the favourite put in an
extra stride and brushed through the second open-ditch, his first (and last)
semblance of a mistake. Mail de Bievre made a bad error here and dropped to the back of
the field. The
two leaders had drawn well clear of their pursuers as they began their journey
down the hill to the third last fence; Wishfull
Thinking, Santuaire and Tataniano
initially travelling as a group, Mail de Bievre now
tailing off but continuing – for there was prize money of £4,901.18 for 6th
place. Having
cleared the obstacle, Sprinter Sacre cruised into
the lead, Barry Geraghty not even moving a muscle aboard
the chaser. Sizing Europe was already
being ridden along, before appearing to stumble as he travelled over the
pathway which crosses the course at this point; it didn’t help his cause, as
he lost even more ground upon the leader. Sprinter
Sacre headed into the home straight and jumped the
penultimate obstacle with a four or five length advantage over the Irish
raider, with an even bigger distance back to Sanctuaire
and Wishfull Thinking who were fighting it out for
third place. The
leader cleared the final fence with ease and galloped up towards the
finishing line; his jockey glancing back to check there were no dangers, he
was already patting the horse and celebrating yards before the post. The horse hadn’t even come off the bridle
once. He won by 19 lengths, easing
down. Sizing Europe completed in 2nd,
with Wishfull Thinking claiming 3rd, Santuaire 4th, Tataniano 5th
and Mail de Bievre a very remote last of the 6
finishers.
Dominic
Elsworth cracked his sternum as a result of the
fall from Somersby, so would be unable to take up his intended Thursday engagements
or any other rides for the next few weeks either. There
were two Alan King runners in the next race, Meister Eckhart the more fancied
at 14-1 than Medinas who was considered an outsider at 33-1. Wayne Hutchinson choose the latter, having
won this season’s Welsh Champion Hurdle aboard the diminutive horse, who
actually reminds me a lot of the late lamented Katchit.
Aidan Coleman picked up the spare ride
aboard Meister Eckhart, due to the injury absence of Choc. The
favourite for this race was the Charlie Longsdon-trained,
AP McCoy ridden, Pendra; sporting the colours of JP
McManus. The
starting gate for this event was in the mid-course chute; upon exiting the
horse walkway, the runners cantered across the home straight and headed up
the all-weather track around the top bend.
They then crossed the racecourse to enter the chute; with two flights
to negotiate before the far turn at the off.
A
nightmare number to keep tabs on during this race, the maximum 28! The runners included five greys ...
evidently the proliferation these days being a result of many of the horses
being French-bred.
Having
exited the in-field, the runners swung out wide as they arrived on track and
then they were off. The runners were led
away by Hollow Tree and Timesawastin; Mr Watson
made an error at the first flight. Heading
towards the second flight the order was Loose Chips, from Timesawastin,
Hollow Tree, Meister Eckhart, Urbain de Sivola and Master Of The Sea. Travelling on the wide outside of the
runners was the grey Any Given Day; Medinas was travelling towards the inside
in mid-field; in rear another grey, Saphir River.
Having cleared the hurdle, the field set off around the far turn, Loose Chips
and Timesawastin still at the head of affairs;
three of the greys at the rear of the field, Barbatos,
Fiveforthree and Saphir
River. Timesawastin hit the top of
the third flight but still held the advantage over Loose Chips, Meister
Eckhart, Urbain de Sivola,
Hollow Tree who received a backhander from his jockey, and following him was Mr
Watson. This group was a few lengths
clear of Buck Magic, Any Given Day, Master Of The Sea, Big Easy, Ericht, Orsippus, Bondage, Black Thunder, Saddler’s Risk, Owega Star, Medinas, Rattan, Tour d’Argent,
Un Beau Matin, Wyse Hill Teabags, Cash And Go, Pendra, Crack Away Jack, Abbey Lane, Barbatos,
Fiveforthree and Saphir
River (that everyone’s one and only complete name check - whew!). Having
cleared the fourth flight, the runners headed away from the stands for the only
time, Loose Chips now leading the field by two or three lengths. Travelling down the back straight, there
were one or two untidy leaps at the next flight, notably Buck Magic who
almost flattened one of the panels. Medinas was not as fluent as others here either,
jockey Wayne Hutchinson re-organising his ‘knitting’
on the run to the next, where panels of the flight were again damaged by the
runners. The
horses then travelled around the dog-leg turn, Meister Eckhart jumping into
the lead at the next flight as Loose Chips quickly lost ground. Struggling at the back of the field were Mr
Watson and the tailed off Saddler’s Risk.
The
field then headed down the hill towards the third last flight, the Alan King
first string remained in the lead, from Urbain de Sivola and Ericht; a number of horses had improved
noticeably from further back in the field, including Medinas who was now in
around 7th position. They cleared the
next flight and headed for two out, where Black Thunder fell. Meister
Eckhart led into the final turn, Fiveforthree
almost upsides to his outside, close behind were Ericht, Urbain
de Sivola and Owega
Star. Medinas and Un Beau Matin were leading the next group, two or three lengths
off the pace. The runners turned into
the home straight and headed for the final flight. Aidan
Coleman’s mount was now challenged on both wings, Fiveforthree
to the stand-side and Ericht to the far side.
Jumping the last he had rebuffed these; with Un Beau Matin falling at this flight when in 8th place. However, the final threat was to come from
his stable companion, Medinas, who was driven up the inside and stayed on
strongly to win by 2 lengths at the line.
Meister Eckhart gamely fought off the persistent Fiveforthree
to claim 2nd by a nose; Ericht finished 4th.
I
confess to shouting ‘Go on Wayne’
as Medinas made his challenge!
I
decided that I should return to the steppings above
the Winners’ Enclosure, rather than remain beside the rails to see the
winning horse and jockey return via the walkway in front of the stands. I made it back in plenty of time, as I’m a
fast walker ... although I often think I’d like to be smaller, so that I
could nip easily around the slowest spectators! I’m built more in the Sprinter Sacre mould than the Medinas mould ... although, these
days, I’m feeling more ‘Ugly Bug’ than
anything else. I
stood on the steps behind the Winners’ Enclosure taking photographs, and then
I saw Choc; he’d decided to make a brief visit to the Festival after
all. He was wearing beige trousers and
a brown jacket; the empty right arm of which was tucked into the corresponding
pocket, his arm being in a sling. I
took a few photographs, to remember Choc by, because it was highly unlikely I’d
see him again until he was fully fit and riding again. L Having
seen Choc, I decided I wouldn’t return to the course-side rails but would
remain close to the Parade Ring hoping to get a further glimpse of my
favourite jockey. I did get another,
but only brief. However,
I will describe the action from the final two races of the day ... beginning with
the 24-runner Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. The joint-favourites
for this race were Saphir Du Rheu
and Bordoni at 6-1.
Alan King had one runner in this event, McVicar,
ridden by Wayne Hutchinson. Being
an extended two mile trip, the horses cantered up the all-weather horse
walkway in front of the stands before turning back to head down the turf and
re-enter the all-weather strip and canter to the start at the far end of the
home straight.
The
horses galloped out of the in-field enclosure for this one, and then they
were off. The runners were led away by
the flashy Counsel, with Fatcatinthehat and Habesh taking over as they jumped the first flight, the
latter jumping across in front of the Jason Maguire ridden horse. Hilali, sporting
the second JP McManus colours, brought up the rear. The
field continued up the home straight towards the grandstands. Fatcatinthehat
leading from the hard pulling Habesh, then came Angelot du Berlais, Counsel and
the three John Ferguson trained runners, Three Kingdoms, Ruacana
and Bordoni.
Having
cleared the second flight, the runners headed up the hill and out into the
country for the one and only time. Fatcatinthehat led the way by two or three lengths from Angelot du Berlais, Habesh, South South West,
Counsel, Three Kingdoms, Ruacana, Pistol, Bordoni, Ptit Zig, Megalypos, Zamdy Man, Totalize, Saphir du Rheu, Flaxen Flare, Blood Cotil,
Another Sensation, McVicar, Milord, Caid du Berlais, Knight of
Pleasure, Kalmann, Ibsen, and Hilali. Ruby
Walsh’s mount, sporting the colours of the Stewart Family, hit the third
flight and lost his hind-legs on landing.
Another Paul Nicholls’ trained runner, Ptit Zig, made an error at the following flight; Angelot
du Berlais assumed a very narrow advantage at this
one. Having jumped the hurdle situated
on the dog-leg section of the track, Counsel received a reminder from his
jockey as he began to drop back through the field. Down
the hill they headed, Fatcatinthehat was now
disputing the lead with Habesh, close up to their
outside was Three Kingdoms. Just in
behind came South South West and Flaxen Flare. By the time the runners had cleared three
out, Saphir du Rheu had
lost touch with the back of the main group and Another Sensation would soon
suffer the same fate too. Fatcatinthehat
blundered at the second last flight; this permitted Habesh
and Flaxen Flare to take the advantage, the latter cruising into the lead as
the runners straightened up on the approach to the last flight. His nearest pursuers were Ptit Zig and Caid du Berlais, both
representing the Paul Nicholls yard.
The Irish raider, sporting red blinkers, was pushed clear on the
run-in to win by 4½ lengths. Caid du Berlais claimed 2nd, 1¾
lengths ahead of Ptit Zig. The Kim Bailey trained Milord finished
4th. McVicar finished 16th;
23 completed, none fell, Pistol was pulled up. And the favourites? Saphir du Rheu finished 20th and Bordoni,
having hit 4 out, finished last.
NEWS FROM THE STEWARDS’ ROOM
FOLLOWING THE RACE: WHY
THEY RAN BADLY A
number of notable jockeys were riding in the bumper ... Grand National
winning pilot Graham Lee (Caledonia), who now rides under the flat code;
Richard Hughes (Sgt Reckless), Champion Flat Jockey last season; and Joseph
O’Brien riding Shield trained by his father, Aidan. I’d seen the O’Brien ‘delegation’ walking the course whilst I was beside the
course-side rails waiting for the racing to begin! There
were two joint favourites for this event – Le Vent D’Antan
and Regal Encore at odds of 7-1. Again
being over an extended two mile trip, the horses cantered up the all-weather
horse walkway in front of the stands before turning back to head down the
turf and re-enter the all-weather strip and canter to the start at the far
end of the home straight.
Then
they were off. Doctor Harper initially
took the lead, but Timmy Murphy reined him back; taking up the running now
were Vieux Lion Rouge, Hellorboston and Kayf Moss. At the
rear of the field was Fascino Rustico,
sporting the well-known Hales colours.
The
horses continued up the home straight, soon passing the grandstands to head
out into the country. Still leading
the way were Vieux Lion Rouge and Kayf Moss, from Union
Dues, Doctor Harper, Sizing Tennessee, Caledonia, Hellorboston,
Blackmail, Sgt Reckless, Purple Bay, Le Vent d’Antan,
The Liquidator, The Clock Leary, Posiden Sea, Golantilla, Pure Science, I’m Fraam
Govan, Shield, Milo Man, Briar Hill and Drumlee; Regal
Encore and Fascino Rustico
brought up the rear. They
then headed down the back straight; Kayf Moss,
Vieux Lion Rouge and Doctor Harper continued to cut out the running as they
headed towards the farthest corner of the track. Regal Encore made progress on the outside
of the field, tracked through by Ruby Walsh aboard Briar Hill. Hellorboston,
having been prominent early, dropped to the back of the field. Having
negotiated the dog-leg stretch of the track, the runners then headed
downhill. Vieux Lion Rouge led the
way, from Caledonia and Kayf Moss; the latter now
under pressure. They were followed by
Blackmail, Doctor Harper, The Clock Leary and Union Dues; those moving
through the field to make their challenges as they galloped towards the final
bend were Le Vent d’Antan, Regal Encore, and Briar
Hill. Union
Dues held a narrow advantage as the runners turned into the home straight,
Regal Encore poised to make his challenge to his outside, Briar Hill wider
still; to the inside Golantilla and Blackmail and,
tracking these, Purple Bay. Sporting
the beige and black Wylie colours, Ruby drove his horse into the lead and
readily powered clear to win by 7 lengths at the line. Regal Encore under AP McCoy claimed 2nd
place 2¼ lengths ahead of Golantilla; the latter holding
off The Liquidator by a short-head.
Purple Bay was 5th, with Pure Science staying on to be 6th. A
25-1 winner; Ruby’s 4th victory of this year’s Festival; Willie Mullins’ 5th
and his 8th in the history of the Champion bumper.
NEWS FROM THE STEWARDS’ ROOM
FOLLOWING THE RACE:
The racing now over for the day, I waited for the
crowds to disperse before I left the racecourse and returned to my car. I ate the remaining cheese rolls before
departure. At one point, following a
commotion behind my vehicle where I believe people were trying to push their
car up the slope, the driver knocked on my car door. “Please can you move your vehicle”, he
asked, “I can’t back out of the space as we have too many passengers”. I begrudgingly started the engine and moved
down into a space in the row below.
Why couldn’t they just have lightened their load? Doh! At 18:30 I decided it was time to depart. Fortunately, just as I got to the end of
the row and was about to join the queue ... if someone would let me out that
is ... the passenger of a transit van parked immediately next to the exit
roadway, jumped out of the vehicle to gesture to the cars heading down the
hill to stop, in order that his companion could drive out into the resulting
space. So, whilst the transit stopped
to let the passenger back aboard, I drove out into the queue in front of
them! I was directed to turn right outside the gate
then, at the mini-roundabout a short distance along Swindon Lane, I turned
left into Tommy Taylor’s Lane. What a
difference a later departure time makes.
I drove down the lane without once having to stop and, by the time I
reached St Paul’s Road at the far end, there wasn’t a single vehicle waiting
at the T-junction. Wicked. As usual, my route took me through Clarence
Square and into Clarence Road. I took
the left hand lane, before heading up Prestbury
Road. A right turn then took me around
one side of Pittville Circus and onwards into Pittville Circus Road and then to join Hewlett Road. At the T-junction I turned left to drive to
the ‘longabout’
and up Harp Hill. I then drove along
Greenway Lane to reach the traffic-lights at the Six Ways junction. It was 18:50 when I began my journey along
the A40 towards Oxford. Having reached Oxford, I continued along the city’s
Northern bypass to reach the M40, before continuing in an easterly direction
to join the clockwise carriageway of the M25.
I left the latter motorway at Junction 20, visiting the nearby petrol station
to fill the tank ahead of tomorrow’s return trip to Cheltenham. Having arrived later than yesterday, many of the
pump lanes were cordoned off, allowing the staff to keep a closer eye on the
ones which were still open.
Unfortunately, one of these pumps was also out of action. Very few to choose from and a number of
motorists waiting. I can’t recall
using a pump on the right hand side of a lane before, the petrol cap being on
the left of my car; but on this occasion I did. Needs must.
And as proof that I’d queued less today, the petrol cost £26.33, when
compared to yesterday’s £28.49. Having completed the task I drove home, arriving
at 20.55. Having parked on the
driveway and got out of the car, I was surprised to see very light covering
of snow on the roof of the house. I knew the roads were wet, and salt
spreading was being undertaken on the motorways (M40 and M25) but didn’t
realise it was quite that cold. Last year there was fog on my Thursday trip to
Cheltenham and at the beginning of my trip to Aintree too. This year, the threat is snow! Supper tonight was poached eggs on toast. I had time to upload photos and write a
brief blog, although briefer than on the previous evening due to tiredness,
before turning in at 11:15. Two days
completed; two to go. |
