Risky business
Robin Oakley There was at least one game girl on the race train back from Newbury on Saturday. 'You didn't smell very good on the sofa this morning,' the carriage heard her tell a potential swain on her mobile. 'But if you're up for a celebration tonight then I am, too.' On the basis of a flatmate's introduction to a temporary lodger, she was clearly willing to take a chance. Many are going to have to take a similar risk with this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Kauto Star, who is giving a new definition to the concept of a flawed diamond. The biggest star of the jumping scene remains a question mark on four legs.
Kauto Star would smell fine on the sofa. He looks grand and oozes class. He has a magnificent engine. But he also has a habit of clouting at least one fence in a race so hard that any normal animal and rider would part company. He did it at Kempton's last fence in the King George and he did it at Newbury's last fence in the Aon Chase on Saturday. He and rider Ruby Walsh survived once again and beat EAmi by a neck in a battle to the line. But if figures later show that there was a sudden spate of cardiac arrests nationwide at around 2.46 p.m. then blame Paul Nicholls's 2-9 favourite.
Concerned jockey Ruby Walsh declared, 'It felt like he was trying to "bank it" — and he's making a habit of it,' while Paul Nicholls admitted, 'I don't know why he keeps doing it. I just can't understand what goes through his head. He's run almost 20 times so he should know what he has to do. It's almost as if when he's coming to the last he tries to hurdle it. One thing's for sure: no amount of schooling will make any difference because he's foot-perfect at home.'
Kauto Star has now demonstrated that he can battle when he has to and that he should stay the Gold Cup distance. Personally, I am still disinclined to take 7-4 on a horse which has fallen twice, including in the Champion Chase at last year's Festival and who will be put under greater pressure at Cheltenham. Paul Nicholls argues that Kauto Star did his best jumping in the pell-mell Tingle Creek chase at Sandown when the participants were all attacking their fences. But what worries me is that Ruby Walsh says Kauto Star doesn't give him any clue when he's about to put in a bad one.
The sure-fire Cheltenham bet on Saturday's evidence is another horse trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Walsh. Denman's Newbury exhibition round of jumping was the perfect warm-up to the Sun Alliance Chase. Pity he can't take his stablemate aside for an equine talking-to.
On a glorious day of quality racing the crowd cheered a fine comeback by Well Chief after a 658-day lay-off with injury. David Pipe, who took over from father Martin at the end of last season, has already shown he can win big races with decent horses. Here he demonstrated that he has the patience to bring back classy invalids, too. Martin, beaming as cheerfully as his lanky son, declared, 'The staff are telling me he's improved the horse compared with the previous trainer.' Certainly the eight-year-old Well Chief looked a picture in the paddock, and, after Ashley Brook had set a scorching pace in the Game Spirit Chase, Well Chief coasted into the lead and settled matters in a few strides. 'Thirty-one days to the Festival and I'll be counting every one,' said David. Provided he stays sound Well Chief looks to me like the one to be on in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Actually, I will be on a recovery mission. I had just replied 'Well Chief' to trainer Charlie Mann's inquiry about what would win the Game Spirit and was on the way to place a bet when Mrs Oakley called, 'Clumping or non-clumping?' she inquired. 'Excuse me?' Clumping or non-clumping cat litter,' she explained.
The Cat, at the venerable age of 20, had greeted the week's snow with a decision that she was no longer prepared to negotiate the feline flap and perform outside.
Ample evidence had been provided that a litter tray was now required, and by the time consultations were over I was too late to get on. An 11-length 5-2 winner lost over a bag of shavings. What is now very definitely Mrs Oakley's Cat will not be easily forgiven.
The value bet we all missed was Heathcote, the 50-1 winner of the £150,000 Totesport Trophy hurdle. Mesmerised by more fashionable yards, we forgot that Heathcote had won three of his four juvenile hurdles last season, had the ground to suit and that trainer Gary Moore has a fine record in these handicaps.
Gary had been away in Barbados for the week and so winning jockey Jamie Moore had been overseeing. 'He shouldn't have been that price,' said the modest Jamie, who emphasised the team effort. 'He was only five lengths behind Papini at Sandown and was 7lbs better off, yet Papini was 15-2.' The young rider pointed out, `Dad's won four Lanzarote hurdles. He doesn't get too many big jumping types but he buys horses off the Flat with ability. They tend to be quicker, sharper sorts but they're battle hardened, too.'
Heathcote goes next for the Imperial Cup and could take in Cheltenham's County Hurdle. But after Newbury's great day my top Cheltenham selection would have to be the chaser Copsale Lad, convincing winner of the Totescoop6 hurdle. Nobody prepares horses better for the Festival than Nicky Henderson. The only trouble is that after that display he couldn't say which of four Cheltenham races Copsale Lad might figure in. Keep something in your wallet for when the decision is made.
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