matt rennie, enigma, dependable stage man, ballyburn & matt chapman.

​When a young (ish) journalist is asked to sub for a more experienced and better-known colleague, he or she knows they are making it in the profession. Chris Cook must be away on his annual winter break and his Monday review column was given to Matt Rennie, a Scot, I should imagine, as is Chris Cook.
My only moan about Matt Rennie’s worthy effort in filling bigger boots is his assertion that Final Demand’s romp at the Dublin Racing Festival justified his owner Bryan Drew’s desertion of British trainers. No, Matt, it does not justify anything. Prize-money in Ireland is, by and large, no better than in this country. Bryan Drew has turned to Ireland in order to get himself a bit of the Mullins’ pie. If he had spread the horses he either owns or part-owns, as it is with Final Demand, over three or four lesser trainers, for want of a phrase, I could forgive Mr. Drew. But he chooses to bask in the glories of Closutton when he could have taken the decision to remain loyal to British trainers, British racing and helped to steer change for the better in his homeland. For this reason and this reason alone, I hope Final Demand does not win at the Cheltenham Festival as I respect those who display loyalty and have little respect for those who jump ship for selfish intent.

Gaelic Warrior is of enigmatic character and will doubtless flummox, intrigue and create awe for the length of his stay at Closutton. He is as likely to win the Champion Chase, if that remains his target at the Cheltenham Festival, as be pulled-up. It is perfectly possible he might run in the Ryanair and be a running-on third or fourth, looking every inch a Gold Cup horse. Some horses are like that, and quite often they are blessed with huge amounts of ability. When Goshen was younger, for example, he was far more entertaining than the good boy who ran a respectable third in a competitive handicap at Sandown last Saturday. Of course, it is possible that Gaelic Warrior has no love for Leopardstown. That is the second time he has run no race at the Dublin Racing Festival and yet come March last season he bounced back to his best in the Arkle. Or maybe he does lack class and needs heavy ground to slow down the opposition. We will learn the truth in 5-weeks-time, perhaps.

Calamity, so nearly calamity. When Lossiemouth took her purler in the Irish Champion Hurdle my heart skipped several beats as it looked a fall with the possibility of dire consequences. Then, in a split-second, I was holding my breath as it seemed for all worlds that Stage Man was destined to fall over her. They say that Stage Man is nothing if not dependable and in changing course so deftly he highlighted his dependability. He saved the day, even if the day and the weekend went to Paul Townend.

I was not impressed by Ballyburn until the final 100-yards when he bolted clear of a half-decent novice chaser in Croke Park. Of the two, I remain convinced that The Jukebox Man is the better prospect for putting it up to Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup next year, yet there is no denying that Ballyburn has class and stamina written all over him. I hope both horses come to hand early next season and clash in the King George on Boxing Day.

Whenever Matt Chapman is in close proximity to an attractive young lady, as on Sunday in the company of Meg Nicholls, he postures with the inelegance of a bull around an in-season heifer. His blunt interruption when it was suggested that Solness might be a worthy contender for the Champion 2-mile Chase, which after winning two Grade 1 2-mile chases he undoubtedly is, demonstrated all that is wrong with the often brilliant Matt Chapman. He cannot help himself; he has to be right; he has to have the last word. In emphasising with dictatorial loudness that Jonbon is a good thing for the Champion Chase he is merely aligning himself with what the majority of us believe. I dare say Oli Bell and Meg Nicholls think the same. Yet last year was Matt one of the multitude who thought El Fabiolo only had to turn-up to win the race? Recently, the Champion 2-miler has been the race to throw-up surprise winners. Not that Solness would be in that category if he were the one to take advantage of any misfortune that might befell the favourite.