Ruby Walsh: Teahupoo can deny all looking to dethrone him and deliver Stayers glory
NO DENYING HIM: Teahupoo. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.
Wednesday was Marine Nationale’s day. What a result it was for Barry Connell and for Sean Flanagan, and with Jazzy Matty winning 40 minutes later, how remarkably poignant that both could win two years after being ridden to victory here by Michael O’Sullivan.
The first race, the Turners’ Novice Hurdle, was a terrific race. The New Lion was given a great ride by Harry Skelton, and I thought Jack and Paul were very good in that race as well. Lecky Watson won the Brown Advisory well for Sean O’Keeffe, but Ballyburn was disappointing. He didn’t jump well enough and was too keen, and I’m sure Paul would love another go on him.
What a training performance by Willie to win the Coral Cup with Jimmy Du Seuil, who had been off the track for more than 10 months.
And I have to mention Jody winning the Bumper – what a star she is!
Thursday wasn’t the added day to the Festival, but it often feels like it is. With the changes to the races in play for the first time this year, it does feel like a poor relation to the other days. That said, seven sets of connections will stroll out the gate of Prestbury Park this evening full of the joys of life, and seven more winners will be added to the roll of honour.
The day kicks off with the Mares’ Novice Hurdle, and Sixandahalf, for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue, will carry plenty of Irish money. She only has one run over hurdles, which doesn't overly concern me because she has plenty of racing experience from the Flat and from bumpers - unlike Maughreen, who will only be having her third career outing.
The latter will have the largest following in the race and is a mare with a massive engine, but the whole occasion might be a little too much for her today, and I like one at much fancier prices.
Air Of Entitlement went somewhat under the radar at Christmas, winning the opening race on the British Isles at 11.40 on St Stephen’s Day, but the form of her win is working out well, and I think she has a great each-way shout.
The Old Turners has been replaced by the new Jack Richards Chase, a novice handicap that will be ultra-competitive, while the Pertemps Network Final will lead us into the graded action at 2.40pm, where an argument can be made for a host of horses.
For some reason, I feel the handicappers have underestimated the juvenile crop from last season, resulting in several well-handicapped five-year-olds. Karl Des Tourelles is one of them, and there is no reason why he hasn't improved in the spring of this year. At the odds, I like him.
The first Grade One of the afternoon, the Ryanair Chase, comes up next, and Il Est Francais will guarantee there are no hiding places for those wishing to collect Micheal O’Leary’s money.
James Reveley will allow this game front-running French horse to gallop and jump, and the opposition will have to follow him.
Last year’s hero, Protektorat, will most likely be the link between him and the chasing pack, but avoiding Galopin Des Champs in tomorrow's Gold Cup hasn't provided Fact To File with a walkover here. The opposition is strong, and Fact To File must bring his A-game to collect.
I like an outsider for each-way purposes: Jungle Boogie. He ran a blinder to the third-last in last year's Gold Cup but didn't stay. His sole run this season at Ascot was a solid enough effort, and going left-handed suits him better for this lightly raced 11-year-old.
Teahupoo faces a much easier task in the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle, and I can’t see why he won't win his second one. He was campaigned lightly last season, too, and with a lack of any new contenders of note, it is hard to see who will dethrone him.
A case could be made for Lucky Place, but he has to prove he stays, and while Rocky’s Diamond is improving, his age profile would concern me this year. He could be a challenger next year. In a nutshell, if Gordon is happy with Teahupoo, he will deliver.
The Plate will be the third two-and-a-half-mile chase of the day, and in the last three renewals of this contest it has paid to race close to the pace. A horse who could fit that profile is Ginny’s Destiny, who ran a blinder in last season's Turners Novice Chase.
This season hasn’t provided much joy for him, and the handicapper has dropped him a few pounds because of that, so if Paul Nicholls can unlock any of the talents this gelding has, he could be thrown in here.
The Kim Muir is the lucky last today and Derek O’Connor will always take his share of the market here, regardless of what he is riding. The plus side today is that he is riding Johnnywho, whose four starts over fences have all been at an inadequate trip for him. Surprise, surprise, connections seem to have found an ideal contest for him in mid-March.
