Fact to file, Romeo Coolio, Champion Hurdle, Dettori donates & Aamilah.

I admit to the fact that thus far in his career Fact To File has not won me over. Mark Walsh, a man who is riding like he has nothing to lose anymore, on the other hand has great belief in him, and, though I have not lost any faith in The Jukebox Man, I would be prepared to forecast that the two will partner each other in the Cheltenham Gold Cup come March, with Walsh, not that he is likely to, having the last laugh by, perhaps, winning his second consecutive Gold Cup triumph. I fear Fact To File now, which before I did not.
This time last year, Inothewayurthinkin was one of the ante-post favourites for the Aintree National and needed to be supplemented for the Gold Cup. This year it is Fact To File that needs to be supplemented to run in the Gold Cup, while the 2025 Gold Cup winner looks very much like a horse whose best days are behind him. It was sad to see him take a tired fall yesterday when out of contention and like all of us, trainer Gavin Cromwell feared the worst for a minute or two. In today’s Racing Post, Cromwell reported that the horse was home and well, which, as he said, was all that really mattered.
The down side to Fact To File taking part in the Gold Cup is that Gaelic Warrior could be diverted to the Ryanair, when he looks all-over a live Gold Cup contender. On the plus side, it might persuade J.P. to allow Nicky Henderson to have his way and for Jonbon to carry the first colours in the Ryanair, especially as Majborough has finally put his best foot forward and established himself as a more than likely winner of the 2-Mile Champion Chase.
I dare say someone has said it, though I did not read such a comment in the Racing Post this morning, yesterday’s Irish Gold Cup was a boost to the form of the King George, with Gaelic Warrior finishing second, in front of Galopin and the also-ran at Kempton, Fact To File, taking the glory.

Kargese might, if given the opportunity, win the Arkle, but can anyone envisage Romeo Coolio taking home the spoils? On bottomless ground, perhaps. He is a stayer, though, isn’t he? If he were not owned by two Englishmen, I would think Gordon Elliott would avoid Cheltenham altogether this year and concentrate on Aintree and Punchestown. Personally, I would take the bull by the horns and go for the Ryanair as even if he gets beat it will not necessarily bottom him, which a Brown Advisory on soft ground might, even if he won.

It was good to read this morning that Rich Richi is still minded to go for the Champion Hurdle rather than the Mares race with Lossiemouth. The Champion is wide open and on better ground at a track she enjoys, it does not take a crystal-gazer to imagine Lossiemouth reversing the form with Brighterdaysahead.

Frankie is now an ex-jockey and must work for his living from this day forth. Yet despite his financial woes (comparative) he was still man enough to donate his prize-money from his winning exploits at Gavea to the local apprentice school.

From the point of view of the future of the sport, the best news to come out of yesterday’s racing was not at Leopardstown but from Kempton, a racecourse that might not have a future. The Best Odds Guaranteed Overnight At CopyBet H’Cap Hurdle provided a little piece of history when Aamilah Aswat, riding Guchen for the Bailey/Nicholls stable, became the first black female jockey to win over the jumps. (I do not know about you but I cannot recall a black male jockey winning over the jumps).
For this sport to be truly inclusive, for every demographic to be represented and respected, there will always be a need for a pioneer, as was the case in the early days of the sport when someone stepped forward to declare himself the first professional rider at a time when the sport was dominated by amateurs, when riders were still considered the servants of the aristocracy for whom the sport was dedicated. Although she doubtless would prefer to be just another conditional jockey, Aamilah is a pioneer for others of her skin colour. The sport needs to support Aamilah and those who might follow in her wake.
The winning horse is owned by The Friends of the Ebony Horse Club, from where Aamilah found her love of horses, progressing through the Racing School with flying colours to Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls both of whom have only good things to say about her. I hope her family are proud of what she is achieving.