Ten for the Flat
Robin Oakley
As the string of brightly garbed riders in one recent Tour de France swept through a mountainside village, faces grim with concentration, knees pumping up to the handlebars, a small boy asked his father what was going on. 'That's Lance Armstrong, the winning rider in last year's race and the year before's,' explained his father. 'He's trying to win again."Yes, Daddy,' replied the infant. 'But why are the others doing it?'
You could have asked the same question about most of our jump jockeys over recent seasons, with Tony McCoy, injuries permitting, a shoe-in for the jockeys' title from the moment he swung his leg over the first Martin Pipe-trained runner of the season. With access to the multihorsepower Pipe yard, McCoy has been pretty well unbeatable. Now the two insatiable appetites are parted, with A.P. switching for the new season to Jonjo O'Neill at Jackdaws Castle, backed by the millions of owner J.P McManus. Though the Pipe—McCoy partnership has dissolved amicably, it had become clear over the past season that McCoy wanted to ride more class horses and collect more big race trophies, not just continue to amass winners. At 31 he is probably ready for the extra stimulant of a new environment.
At least it will give some new hope to the also-rans, of whom the all-time champion must be Les Boots, about whose career I was recently enlightened by my Australian friend Les Carlyon. The Adelaide-based Boots, who was so regularly in hospital after racing that his wife used to pack his pyjamas in his kitbag, had a depressing enough record on the Flat. He never even made it into the place money. Over jumps it was even worse. He was fine riding work, but on the racetrack his record was 39 starts for 41 falls. No, those figures are the right way round. He never completed, and in one race he fell, remounted and fell again. The additional statistic was the tumble he took slipping off the stretcher on the way to the medical room.
Les Boots apparently had two ambitions, neither realised. The first was to stay on a jumper long enough to win a race. The other was to come to Britain and ride in the Grand National. But then if he had, he once mused, he would probably have drowned in Becher's Brook.
According to Mrs Oakley, I am in the Boots class as a tipster. If I didn't keep the pocket zipped, she would probably be slipping the rail fare home into my wallet in expectation of punting disaster. She of little faith. After our Ten to Follow for the Flat last season turned in a handy profit of £214 to a £10 level stake, I can now report we kept up the good work through the winter season. The ten ran 27 races between them, and scored 11 victories, a frustrating eight second places, one third and just seven also-rans. The return to a £10 level stake was a profit of £119.
Tragically, French star Jair du Cochet was killed on the gallops after just one 11-4 victory. Strong Flow was injured in winning the Feltham Novices Chase at Kempton and out for the season, and Brooklyn Breeze, Len Lungo's promising novice, never made it to the racecourse again after his impressive winning debut over fences at Carlisle.
Cornish Rebel, Best Mate's brother, won one of his two starts. Henrietta Knight's Blazing Guns was a surprise blank, failing to make the frame in his two runs, and Kingscliff did not run again after finishing second to Arctic Jack.
The brave and consistent Rooster Booster, who failed so narrowly to win the Tote Gold Trophy carrying a hefty weight, was responsible for no fewer than five of the second places as well as his one victory. Iris's Gift won twice, including a thrilling victory in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, and was second in his other two runs.
But the star of the bunch, a horse whom Tony McCoy may well regret that he is not riding in big races in this new season, was Martin Pipe's Well Chief, the 9-1 winner of the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and of two other races as well. Stick with him next season, he has class.
Now Ten for the new Flat season. I am sticking with two who did us so well last year. Michael Stoute's lovely Russian Rhythm should benefit from changes to the race programme designed to increase opportunities for class fillies, and Andrew Balding remains keen on his five-furlong sprinter Dubaian Gift, who has already had the two prep runs he seems to need. In again, although she managed to find more traffic jams in her races last year than a bank holiday coachdriver, is Henry Candy's speedy filly Airwave. One more chance.
Worth noting too among the speedsters is Exceed And Excel. Purchased by Godolphin, he stays Down Under until Ascot, but after Choisir's exploits my Australian friends insist that when he does come over he will live up to his name.
Having backed him at two for the Derby, I am not deserting Snow Ridge, moved from Marcus Tregoning to Godolphin. He was running on well at the end of the 2,000 Guineas. Saeed bin Suroor also handles Sabre d'Argent, who won three out of four for David Loder last year and who seems sure to make his mark.
We don't know much yet about the twoyear-olds, but Mick Channon does well at Ascot and sees Hallho as one of his best hopes for the Royal meeting. Jeremy Noseda could have a useful youngster in Blue Dakota, who beat Channon's Turnkey, and John Gosden will be introducing Almanshood, one of the first of his Guineas winner Lahan's progeny.
Finally, I like to include one from one of the lesser-known yards, so watch out for Clive Cox's four-year-old New Seeker over a mile.
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