the christmas racing.

​At this time of year, it’s none-too-easy knowing what day of the week it is and when the festive season is truly concluded but as there are no meetings at either Leopardstown or Limerick today it must be a safe bet that the Christmas portion of the seasonal festivities have drawn to an end. So how was it for you?
Now, I will be honest with you, I didn’t suggest Tornado Flyer would win the King George (did anyone?) but if you care to go back a few blogs you’ll be surprised to discover that I recommended him as an each-way bet. And though Clan Des Obeaux didn’t win, he ran well enough, and though Minella Indo disappointed to a greater extent than I expected and Frodon’s enthusiasm got the better of him again in the soft ground, my suspicions that Chantry House would be found out in the illustrious company he was keeping and that the fences would continue to get in the way of Asterion Collonge, proved demonstrably correct. Al in all, a good day.
Was the result a fluke never to be repeated? Given Tornado Flyer had no form to suggest he could win a major 3-mile chase, perhaps the answer is in the affirmative. I’m not so sure, though. He won well and though Cheltenham is a sterner test than even a soft-ground Kempton, he was the only horse that didn’t seem overly-tired after the race. In fact, walking to the winner’s enclosure, he looked quite perky, as if he had enjoyed himself. I see no reason why he wouldn’t stay the extra 2-furlongs of the Gold Cup and as of this moment he would be the one I would have ante-post (each-way, of course).
Before I leave the King George, I want to have my say about whether Frodon set too strong a pace. For himself, in that ground, perhaps he did. But if he was travelling at 30-m.p.h., for the others to have travelled at a lower speed would have meant Frodon would have gained many lengths in each furlong of the race. In the main this did not happen, so every horse in the race had to be going at the same speed as Frodon and as such the pace was not unduly fierce for a championship 3-mile chase.
Did A Plus Tard fluff his lines? And is Galvin a genuine Gold-Cup horse. Given that, as I believe was the case last Christmas-time, the De Bromhead horses were very in and out both in England and at Leopardstown and Limerick, if the answer to the second question is that Galvin is a very much a contender for the Gold Cup, then I think A Plus Tard did okay in the Savilles to warrant him remaining the Gold Cup favourite. As a winner over four-furlongs further, Galvin should appreciate the extra distance of the Gold Cup, though I contend A Plus Tard was not beaten for stamina last March and as such he remains my fancy to win this season’s Gold Cup. One things for sure, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is for export again.
Epatante beat nothing of championship standard in the Christmas Hurdle, though she won with impressive ease and Sharjah is a good horse – not a great, as the racing media is making out – and booked to be placed once again come the first day of the Festival, I doubt if Honeysuckle felt a shiver of anxiety at any of the festive results.
Obviously, Mark Drakeford deserves to be horse-whipped by angry Welsh sportsman for his absurd prohibition on spectators at open-air events, disregarding all the data, as usual, and the lack of atmosphere at Chepstow spoiled a great occasion. With spectators, Native River would have received a rousing farewell and a lap of honour around the parade ring if the decision to retire him was made quickly enough to organise the salute. Iwilldoit won well, a testament to Sam Thomas’ training skills and the ability of Stan Shepherd to get a horse home in front in a race of significance. What I took from the race was the prospects for Secret Reprieve winning the Grand National for Evan Williams and Adam Wedge, a combination deserving of such a moment in their lives. For once, race-fitness denied an Evan Williams runner, that though will not be the case come next April.
Shishkin looks as good as we all hoped he would be. Sir Gerhard looked awesome, as did all of the Closutton winners. Situation pretty near normal over the water, then. But if I could take one horse from the festive period it would be Bravemansgame and he is the horse I would be hopeful of keeping one of the Cheltenham Festival Grade 1’s at home this season. He doesn’t remind me one bit of Denman. The raw power isn’t there. But what he does remind me of is Frodon upgraded. He has more class than Frodon, perhaps the same amount as Denman, I just hope he has the same will-to-win from the last when he has to repel the best of the Mullins’ or Elliott 3-milers.