Before we even reach the starting tape here, one can but doff your cap to Nicky Henderson and his team at Seven Barrows. What an amazing job they have done. Not only in coaxing, cajoling, maybe even codding, Constitution Hill back to full health.
Not only that, but doing so in such a manner that the gargantuan equine behemoth resembled a green two-year-old charging towards the starting stalls on the first day of the Flat season on the open plains of The Curragh. On that score, it is to Nico De Boinville’s immense credit that he managed to keep a lid on his Galactico partner not only in getting to the start but also keeping the handbrake on while they were in combat. Thereby still having enough in the tank to ease away from Lossiemouth for as easy a two and a half length way as you are ever liable to see.
So, the great one is back and the two mile hurdle division is back to being a procession, right? Quite possibly, but it may not be as straight forward as that. Firstly, no doubt the Seven Barrows team will be mindful of the possibility of the ‘bounce’ factor coming into play. That is to say, their stable star Constitution Hill possibly not running as well next time out as was the case on Thursday last.
Aside from that, however, I would venture that, on better ground, meeting the hill as you head for home in Prestubry Park, you may well see a different version of Rich Ricci’s grey mare. Good enough to attack Michael Buckley’s Constitution? I’m not so sure, but good enough that I’m not inclined to file the Champion Hurdle under ‘foregone conclusion’ just yet.
Elsewhere, over the past month or so, the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival was deemed to be a penalty kick for either Majborough or Sir Gino, depending on which side of the Irish Sea you happened to be hearing the conjecture from.
Again, in fairness to Seven Barrows, they once more trumped a Mullins representative, Ballyburn, in the Wayward Lad Novice Chase (formerly the Desert Orchid) at Kempton with Sir Gino.
But, while you’d be hard pressed to knock the Henderson horse as it was onlyhaving its first spin over the larger bushes, you can equally be sure perspective tacklers would be ill advised to judge the potency of the entire Mullins novice chaser squad on Ballyburn alone.
I would readily contend that WPM has as good as if not better than Ballyburn under wraps in Closutton, none more so than the aforementioned JP McManus owned burgeoning star (Majborough) and there are probably more at the Bagnelstown residence whose identities have slipped this writer’s mind.
Mind you. whatever about in the novice division, there is an intriguingly open look to the top rank chasing, i.e. the Gold Cup, where on today’s evidence at Leopardstown, Gallopin Des Champs has no intentions of relinquishing his crown too easily, but, from an Irish perspective at least, greatest threat to him doing so could come from across the yard in his own homestead. In the guise of Fact To File.
Even though there were seven and a half lengths between the two this afternoon at Leopardstown, though. as with the novice race, the possibility of a steed in the silks of Ronnie Bartlett upstaging all the more highly vaunted contenders is indeed a live one.
Courtesy of the Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge. That in itself creates a fascinating storyline in itself. Bartlett, whose father Albert is credited with breeding the Rooster potato, is no stranger to having elite equine stock. From Simonsig, to Galvin to Rathvinden to Stattler to Ballyburn and Banbridge. For reasons which aren’t even wholly clear to myself, Banbridge is a horse I’ve just been in love with since first the one seeing eye rolled over him.
From what can be recalled, he was a high level bumper performer and equally as efficient over the smaller obstacles. But – though it’s a cliche that often doesn’t play out – gut feeling always has been that the gelding named after the town mentioned in The Star Of The County Down would be projected in the best light as a chaser.
And, whatever about those of us who have been canvassing for Banbridge’s election to the parliament of stardom in racing, the rest of the fraternity were really compelled to take note and afford him due respect after a Newbury victory earlier in the season.
Though even that was put into the shade by the exquisite performance of the jumper from the Mountains Of Mourne under Paul Townend in garnering the King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day.
Watching pre race favourite Il Est Francais go a cut throat gallop, Townend confirmed the prominence of ice in his blood holders by almost nonchalantly easing his mount out off the rail and plugging out the French connection. Thus giving Banbridge’s amazing young trainer another landmark success. And to think he was going to give up training jumpers altogether!
Now, those for whom Irish domination of Cheltenham in recent years has been living rent free in their heads have, over the last while, created a pseudo competition between Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson with regard to the big jumps races during the season.
By their calculations, the notional championship currently sits at 2-0 to Henderson after both Lossiemouth and Ballyburn were overturned by Constitution Hill and Sir Gino respectiveiy.
But that to me is just a wholly different scenario to expecting a landslide victory for one side or the other. The following would be my take on the situation at this stage of the season:
I’d give the ‘home’ team the Champion Hurdle. Albeit with a caveat to De Boinville to wind his neck in a bit. Though truth be told, Constitution Hill is only as near to being a winner you could mark down already due to the paucity of opposition Michael Buckley’s prized possession will face.
Lossiemouth obviously has a good chunk of ground to make up with the former champ, while State Man wouldn’t get close to him in a horsebox behind a jeep!
In the other flagship races, though, the Irish do appear to have the upper hand. Examples: Arkle Majborough or Ballyburn; Queen Mother – Energumene; Gold Cup: Gallopin Des Champs/Fact To File/Gerri Colombe; Mares Hurdle: Brighterdaysahead Stayers Hurdle: Teahupo; Champion Bumper: Kalypso’chance.
Mind you, for all of the above guess work, there’s a lot of road to be travelled between now and March 11th. So for now we’re still left with more questions than answers.
Leave a Reply