Grab your binoculars and a stiff drink, or perhaps a miner’s lamp, given the state of things. If you thought the road to the Cheltenham Festival was a straight line, this weekend just proved it’s more of a zig-zag through a swamp, occasionally interrupted by a literal abyss in the ground.
From the bog at Naas to the “Twilight Zone” finale at Prestbury Park, here is the insider track on who’s booking their tickets to the Cotswolds and who’s falling through the cracks.
The Naas Nuggets: Who Booked Their Ticket?
Naas today was less of a racecourse and more of a testing ground for amphibious vehicles. But amidst the flying clods of Irish turf, a few stars emerged from the gloom:
- Shuttle Diplomacy (The Cooper Special): Thomas Cooper’s charge was the name on everyone’s lips after the 13:55. Taking down a Mullins hotpot in Arcadian Emperor, this horse showed the kind of “grit-and-grunt” required for a wet Wednesday at the Festival. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle markets are twitching; he’s got that high cruising speed that breaks hearts.
- Kai Lung (The Mullins Juggernaut): Opening the card at 12:55, Danny Mullins guided this one home with clinical precision. It wasn’t flashy, but in heavy ground, “efficient” is the new “electric.” He looks a typical Boodles (Fred Winter) type, tough, unexposed, and likely to be targeted at a handicap where he can carry a bit of weight through the mud.
- Love Sign D’aunou: If you like your winners “easy,” this was the one. Willie Mullins and son Patrick combined in the bumper to win by a country mile. The Champion Bumper beckons, and while the “Silks and Shenanigans” crew usually looks for value, it’s hard to bet against the Closutton machine when they travel that smoothly on heavy ground.
The “Cheltenham Hole” & The Photo-Finish From Hell
While Naas provided the facts, Cheltenham yesterday provided the “shenanigans.”
The Abyss at the Second-Last: In a scene more suited to a construction site than a Grade 2, a mysterious hole (likely a collapsed drain) appeared right next to the second-last hurdle before the finale. The ground staff were seen literally “arm-deep” in the track trying to find the bottom of it.
- The fallout: Nicky Henderson, playing it safe as always, pulled out the favorite Act Of Innocence. To be honest it was to do with the ground. The rail was frantically moved three yards out, causing a nearly 30-minute delay.
The “Can’t See My Hand In Front Of My Face” Finish: Because of the delay, the AIS Novices’ Hurdle was run in what can only be described as “pure darkness.” When Kripticjim and Harry Redknapp’s Taurus Bay hit the line together, the high-tech photo-finish cameras were essentially useless, it was too dark for the sensors to catch a clear image.
The Controversy: The judge had to rely on grainy TV footage to call a short-head victory for Kripticjim. Ben Pauling (trainer of Taurus Bay) was understandably frustrated, but in a display of sportsmanship (or perhaps just exhaustion), he conceded the video looked conclusive enough. Expect a very thorough investigation from Clerk of the Course Jon Pullin this week; the “Cheltenham Hole” cannot become a recurring character at the Festival.
Expect a very thorough investigation from Clerk of the Course Jon Pullin this week; the “Cheltenham Hole” cannot become a recurring character at the Festival.
Timeform Naps & Top Ratings (Monday, Jan 26)
If you’re looking to rebuild the betting bank tomorrow, Timeform has flagged these as the ones the “clever money” is watching:
14:30
Hereford
Ski Lodge
NAP (Strong form, relishes the testing ground)
16:30
Hereford
Princess Keri
Top Rated (Ahead of the handicapper)
14:00
Hereford
Draco Malfoy
Smart Stat (High cruising speed, big threat)
16:25
Wolverhampton
Okami
All-Weather Best (Strong Timeform Verdict)
The “Shenanigans” Watchlist
- Sir Gino: The biggest heartbreak of the weekend. Pulling up at Cheltenham with an injury is never what you want to see for a horse of his calibre. The “New Lion” might have won the Unibet Hurdle, but the shadow of Sir Gino’s health looms large over the Champion Hurdle market.
- Maestro Conti: Dan Skelton’s juvenile looked the real deal in the Triumph Trial. He did plenty wrong and still won. That’s the hallmark of a horse with a massive engine, keep him on your radar for the Friday opener.
Silks and Shenanigans 