DIARY – KEMPTON PARK – BOXING DAY 26 DECEMBER 2008
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King George VI Chase A number of weeks ago it was confirmed that Voy Por Ustedes
would run in the King George VI Chase, all things being well. So it was only to be expected that Choc
would ride him on Boxing Day. I
therefore purchased a ticket for the fixture a number of weeks ago. As I
fully expected Choc to then ride at Chepstow on Saturday 27 December, I
didn’t buy a ticket for the second day of the Stan James Christmas meeting. Despite it being a Bank Holiday I set my alarm
clock for 06:00, and dragged myself out of bed at around 06:10 – this is the
first year that I’ve ever had problems getting out of bed in the
morning! All my life I’ve been such as
early bird! Anyway, I showered and
washed my hair, put on my make-up, ate breakfast, watched the Channel 4
Morning Line, and left home to drive to Kempton Park at 08:50. The gates opened at 10:00, I arrived at 09:45. My
route had taken me via the M25 and M3, then following the AA road notices for
Kempton Park, I didn’t leave the M3 at Junction 1, but continued to the next
junction, down the slip-road, circled the roundabout, and drove up the slip-road
onto the main road again, heading in the opposite direction, before bearing
off to the left, along the lane and into the Main Car Park. Although there was plenty of room in the car
park, I parked over near the railway station. Being early I decided to wait
in my car for a while, especially as it was bitterly cold outside. Whilst waiting, I noticed horseboxes for
Philip Hobbs and Jonjo O’Neill arrive. At around 10:20 I left my car, having wrapped up
very warm (7 layers plus coat) and walked around to the Paddock entrance, as
I’d only purchased a medium range ticket – but it still cost me £30 plus £15
for parking! As I never venture into
the bars when I’m alone, I went to sit on a bench overlooking the Parade
Ring, ensuring that I sat in the sunshine!
The first race was at 12:55, so I remained sitting
on the bench until around 12:00 noon, when I walked over to the Parade Ring
to listen to the tipsters giving their opinion of the likely winners of the
upcoming races. The grounds were
fairly crowded by the time the horses appeared for the first race. For all the races, apart from the last one,
I walked around the side of the grandstand, going through the food area, to
stand either near the rails or on the tarmac area above it. For the final race I stood in the small
uncovered stand adjacent to the large grandstand. Choc didn’t have a ride in this race, a Novices’
Hurdle. It was won by Micheal Flips (the spelling is correct) ridden by AP
McCoy. Choc wasn’t competing in the
second race either, the Feltham Novices’ Chase. The race was won by Breedsbreeze,
trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh. There were two fallers, the French
representative – Millenium Royal (again the
spelling in correct) and Shining Gale ridden by Timmy Murphy replacing the
injured Noel Fehily (cracked collarbone). The Market Man ridden by Barry Geraghty was expected to give a good showing but, having made
a mistake, he seemed to lose his confidence and came in last of the 4
remaining finishers. Massini’s Maguire was 2nd, with Hold Em
3rd. It was now time for Choc’s
first ride of the day. In order to
take photos I walked around to the back of the Parade Ring, so that the sun
was behind me. Choc was riding Afsoun for Nicky Henderson in this race, the Christmas
Hurdle. It was an incident packed event and unfortunately, Choc’s mount having taken a keen hold, was the first to
fall, at the 4th flight. Afsoun had fallen in his last start, a Steeplechase, and
he was no better over hurdles this time around. Luckily Choc was thrown clear
and walked back unscathed. But more
was yet to come. The next to fall was
Punjabi at the 2nd last when disputing the lead, and again Pierrot Lunaire came to grief
at the last fence when tired. All
three horses were okay, as were the jockeys. The winner was Irish representative, Harchibald, who had won the race in 2004. Second was Snap Tie, third Blue Bajan and fourth Straw Bear (the only other finisher). It was now time for the big race of the day, the
King George VI Chase. Kauto Star was bidding to win the race for the third
consecutive year, despite the recent set-back at Haydock
Park where he blundered and unseated Sam Thomas at the last fence. As mentioned above, Choc was riding Voy Por Ustedes,
who was trying the trip for the first time.
Choc was interviewed by Derek Thompson when he entered the Parade
Ring. Once mounted, Choc did an extra
circuit of the paddock as he needed to be in last position for the pre-race
parade. When Choc was heading down the walkway to the
course, I walked around to take up a position as close to the rails as
possible, although I couldn’t quite get to the front as these positions were
already taken. The horses paraded
past, but unfortunately Choc sent Voy Por into a canter just as I was about to take a picture
so I missed it. The runners took a
look at the last fence in the straight, and then cantered to the start away
to our left. Then they were off for the big race. Voy Por Ustedes was held up and not
always fluent at his fences, he hit the 10th, made headway to the chase
leaders from the 12th fence, but hit the next. He was chasing the leaders approaching 3
out, and kept on to press for 2nd place on the run in, but had no chance with
Kauto Star under Ruby Walsh who won very easily,
with Albertas Run finishing 2nd for Jonjo O’Neill and Tony McCoy. Briareus
was 4th, Airforce One 5th (having run through
beaten horses), Imperial Commander 6th, Snoopy Loopy 7th, and Tamarinbleu last.
Our Vic and Mont Misere were pulled up. Kauto
Star and Ruby returned to the Winners’ Enclosure to be met with cheers and
applause. I was more interested in
Choc and Voy Por Ustedes. Choc
could have been riding a donkey and I’d have taken more interest in him than Kauto Star!
Following his debrief, Choc returned to the Weighing Room. The prize was awarded to the winning owner,
Clive Smith, who having injured his foot in a golfing accident was wearing an
orthopaedic shoe. Paul Nicholls and
Ruby climbed the podium to receive their prizes too. Choc’s
ride in the next race, a Novices’ Handicap Steeplechase, was Paradise
Regained. His mount was held up, but
ridden and hit the 10th fence, soon struggled and became tailed off. Martin Keighley had a runner in this one,
Rodrigo Gonzales, who finished a close 2nd.
The winner was Pressgang ridden by Timmy Murphy, trained by Paul
Webber. It must be a talented horse,
as it jumped out severely to the left as it cleared the final few fences,
thus having to make up much ground on its competitors. When Paul was interviewed he said the horse
had been jumping out to the right on its previous runs, so he couldn’t
explain it at all. Alan had two horses running in the 6th and last
race of the day, a Handicap Hurdle, top weight, Your Amount, ridden by Matty Rowe, and Pagano ridden
by Choc. When the race started Pagano was held up in mid-division, but was ridden and
struggling in rear when he hit 3 out, then he tailed off and was pulled up
before the next flight. I waited for Choc to canter past before I returned
to view the Winners’ Enclosure, despite him not being placed. The race was won by Royaleety trained by
Nicky Henderson. Shortly afterwards I
left via the Premier entrance to return to my car in preparation for the
drive home. I waited a while before
setting off for home, drinking black coffee from my thermos and eating
pretzel sticks (my current addiction ... along with Choc!). The traffic hadn’t cleared in the slightest, in fact it was probably worse, when I finally decided
it was time to go. I drove across to
the car park to the exit, waiting until the queuing drivers let me in, which
someone did. Outside the gate the
queue turned right and went around to join the M3
Junction 1 roundabout. Once on the M3, I drove down to the M25, around
to the Junction 21A and home, arriving at 17:30. |
