The turf
Extreme conditions
Robin Oakley
Conditions were pretty extreme at Ascot on Saturday, too. Amid the incessant, relentless downpour it was less a case of judging the best turned-out horse than of selecting which two you would send up the ramp of Noah's Ark. But there was still some vintage sport. Others far more elo- quent than I have already celebrated the fairy-tale return of Jamie Osborne and Coome Hill, as the jockey came back from a wrist shattered in 15 places and even worse non-trials and tribulations to ride the former Hennessy winner to success in the John Durkan Leukaemia Trust Handicap, the race named after his good friend who died so tragically young. It was summed up for me when I spoke afterwards to trainer Richard Phillips, whose Time Won't Wait had been 15 lengths in the lead when he slipped on landing and dumped Richard Johnson into the soggy turf. 'God works in a mysterious way,' said the trainer. 'I really wondered why he had fallen untill saw the result.' And why the change of tactics with Time Won't Wait, a horse normally restrained for a late challenge but who certainly seemed to be enjoying himself bowling along in front? Not intentional, it seems. He had a young fellow up who couldn't hold him, the trainer suggested with a twinkle. I did not manage to catch Richard Johnson for his version. But then if he had dallied for a word he would have had another pair of breeches to be wrung out. It certainly was not the day to be a jockey's valet. Coome Hill's trainer Walter Dennis had re-routed Coome Hill to Ascot specificallY at Jamie Osborne's request. He reported that the former Hennessy winner, who Pulled a muscle at Cheltenham on one of his two starts last season, had never been able to breathe properly last year. He had suffered from a soft palate but cauterisa- tion had cured the problem and had pro- duced the results we saw. It may be the only thing which Coome Hill has in com- mon with Rhapsody in Blue, the syndicate horse which carries this column's special Interest, but it was heartening nonetheless. Rhapsody's trainer Andy Tomei', shortly northward-bound to take over Lynda Ramsden's dual-purpose yard, was well- pleased with the showing of the four-year- old General Flight in the United House novices hurdle. Taking on a number of Older horses in the dire conditions, the four-year-old finished fifth. He was tidily ridden by Mr Colin Rae.
Colin is one of those who has exercised the option of reverting to amateur status, having lost his conditional jockey's allowance not because he had reached the limit of winning rides but because he had reached the age of 26. Trainers looking for a useful rider with a 51b claim to put up in amateur races could do a lot worse than this neat rider with 15 wins behind him. But it does seem hard that while he can still claim his five in such contests Colin Would now have to take on the Dunwood- les and McCoys at level weights were he to get a ride, say, in the Triumph Hurdle. There are some rules which bear another look. And General Flight is worth a look next time out as well.
Readers of this column may recall that, after his previous run at Kempton when he toppled over when coasting behind the eventual winner Chief's Song, I recom- mended an interest next time out in Roger Curtis's Dontleavethenest. So confident was I that I risked the ultimate, urging Mrs Oakley to invest the housekeeping on him too before he came home an impressive Winner at 4-1 of the United House Chase. (Since I gave her the winner of the next as Taufan Boy, and got up the forecast with Chief's Song I was almost forgiven for haying her Tote ticket in my pocket after she had spent a sodden half-hour searching for it at every previous port of call. Almost. Though it may still come to a new hat.) Dontleavethenest is really best at around 2In 31, says Roger, but there is no big Chel- tenham race at that distance and so he has to face shorter distances to go for the big prizes. Although he is best left for a late run, Dontleavethenest has so much speed that he tends to get his jockeys to the front sooner. Tony McCoy was coming to the front with him at the third last at Kempton and Norman Williamson had him there Ihree fences early at Ascot too. For once, flaying a loose horse in front proved help- • 1 Roger Roger Curtis says Dontleavethenest W. ill be better on quicker ground than he tpund at Ascot and he is still improving. ts-eep him in your notebook.
Robin Oakley is political editor of the BBC.
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