Review of the 2006/7 jumps season
The 2006/6 jumps season will be best remembered as a season of change. We lost some great old favourites with the demise of Best Mate and Rooster Booster, the legendary Martin Pipe decided to call it a day, Paul Nicholls took the trainers crown and both Moscow Flyer and Baracouda were retired after distinguished careers.
Once again the Irish captured many of the top prizes. Three of the biggest races of the season went the way of the Irish with Kicking King, Brave Inca and War of Attrition taking the King George, Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup respectively.
The 2006 Gold Cup had been billed as a clash between Best Mate and Kicking King pre season. Neither actually made it to Prestbury Park with Best Mate tragically suffering a heart attack at Exeter and Kicking King out through injury after Christmas.
Although injury restricted Kicking King’s season he did have his moment of glory when winning the King George. However the fact that he only won by a neck from the fast closing Monkerhostin may show that even in victory he was not quite at his best.
If I had to nominate a “horse of the year” it would be a close run thing between War of Attrition and Brave Inca.
War of Attrition has always looked a horse with stacks of ability and there were early signs that he could be a serious threat to the main contenders at Cheltenham when he beat Kicking King over 2 miles 6 at Punchestown in October. A couple of runs in Ireland followed including a second behind Beef or Salmon in the Lexus chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. That was over 3 miles and although he went straight to Cheltenham I was pretty hopeful that he would get the extra 2 furlongs. As it turned out he was always travelling and jumping well in the Gold Cup and ran out quite a comfortable winner from Hedgehunter, with another Irish Horse, Forget the Past completing an Irish 1-2-3.
To emphasise his superiority War of Attrition rounded off his season with a win in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April where Beef or Salmon, never at his best at Cheltenham, chased him home. War of Attrition has more pace than the majority of staying chasers and there is every reason to suppose that he is an above average Gold Cup winner.
In 2004 War of Attrition and Brave Inca fought out the finish of the Supreme Novices with Brave Inca just getting the better of the argument by a neck. That race produced both the major champions of 2006 as Brave Inca won the Champion Hurdle. He had been my long term fancy for the race and had won 3 of his 4 races leading up to the festival. The last of these was in the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown at the end of December when he beat old rival Mac’s Joy by a length. Brave Inca and Tony McCoy looked a formidable combination all season and a typically battling performance saw the partnership prevail in the big race. Mac’s Joy lost nothing in defeat and chased the winner all the way to the line. The two met again at Punchestown and after Brave Inca had won on their last 5 clashes no one would begrudge Mac’s Joy his success as a change of tactics by his jockey Barry Geraghty paid off. Rather than waiting with Mac’s Joy he set sail for home from 3 out and, on ground that was probably a little quicker than he would ideally want it, Inca Trail never looked like reeling in the winner.
It was another vintage year for the Irish hurdlers and right up there with the best of them was the mare Asian Maze. After an absence through injury she started he season with a promising 2nd to Mac’s Joy in the Red Mills Trial at Gowran Park. She then rather surprisingly went for the Champion Hurdle rather than the World (formerly stayers) Hurdle and was a faller. Compensation was not far away though as Asian Maze galloped her rivals into submission in the Aintree Hurdle trouncing Hardy Eustace who had been 3rd in the Champion Hurdle. This was a performance of some quality. She went on to land the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown over 3 miles and she looks an exciting prospect for the future.
My list of Irish horses to follow was quite remarkably successful with almost all of them finding their way into the winner’s enclosure.
One of the Irish winners on my list that gained a rather surprising win was Sir OJ. He came with an astonishing late run to land the Robin Cook Memorial Handicap at Cheltenham at odds of 16/1 flashing home past a tiring leader on the run in.
He won at Naas in a Grade 2 after that but was a faller in the Grand National where in truth he was always likely to lack for the necessary stamina anyway.
I had high hopes for Accordion Etoile, a decent hurdler starting out on a jumping career. Things began well enough when Paul Nolan charge just got up on the line to pip the Martin Pipe trained Tamarinbleu at Cheltenham in November. His jumping had not been fluent that day and it let him down when he blundered away his chance in his next 3 runs. He jumped much better on his final outing when winning a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Fesival. Good ground is an important factor for him which is likely to dictate his racing plan for next season as mid winter conditions in Ireland are unlikely to bring out the best in him.
I have already given a mention to Forget the Pat who was 3rd in the Gold Cup. He also won Grade 2 Chases at Gowran Park and Fairyhouse.
Other horses to note from the Irish section of my list to follow were Missewed hat, The Railway Man, Mansony, Mr Nosie and Southern Vic.
Missed That had won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2005 and connections decided to send him straight over fences. After a far from impressive debut he rattled off 3 wins including a couple of Grade 1 novice chases at Leopardstown. He then never really got into the race in the Arkle and he was a faller at Fairyhouse, but he was back on the winning trail with a resounding success at the Punchestown Festival.
Mr Nosie won 3 times and was 4th in the Royal and SunAlliance Novice Hurdle while The Railway Man justified his place on my list to follow by winning twice, the second of these at 16/1. Most of the leading Irish horses were seen in the UK but Southern Vic who won 4 times from 6 starts raced exclusively in Ireland.
In the UK there was a shift in the balance of power with Paul Nicholls claiming the trainers title from Martin Pipe, who announced his retirement at the end of the season during hannel 4s Morning Line programme.
Nicholls had been increasing the quality of his string year by year, particularly with his French imports and was I feel a popular winner. He is also very open about his horses chances when interviewed by the media.
Kauto Star was probably the main long range Nicholls hope for championship glory at the Cheltenham Festival. Injury had restricted his chances the previous season but he had shown himself to be a horse with immense potential and with Moscow Flyer aging, and Azertyuiop and Well Chief on the easy list the Queen Mother Champion Chase looked a realistic goal.
As is often the case with jumpers things didn’t go quite as planned. His campaign started well enough when he finished 3rd to Monkerhostin in the Haldon Chase at Exeter, giving weight to the winner. The race of course will always be remembered as Best Mate’s last. Kauto Star’s next stop was the Tingle Creek where he turned the tables on Monkerhostin easily enough and the Champion Chase seemed a very real aim. Unfortunately come the big one at Cheltenham Kauto Star was a faller at the 3rd and didn’t race again. He remains a horse of some potential and hopefully he will be back challenging for honours next season.
From the point of view of my list to follow the too most prolific Nicholls runners were Neptune Collonges and Star De Mohaison, like Kauto Star both were French imports.
The grey Neptune Collonges won 4 of his 7 starts over hurdles and is expected to do even better over fences, particularly when he gets his preferred soft ground. Three of his wins, at Sandown, Wetherby and Haydock came in Grade 2 company but arguably his best runs were in defeat. At Christmas he ran a blinder when 2nd to My Way de Solzen in the Long Walk Hurdle which was rerouted to Chepstow. The subsequent exploits of the winner make this some performance in hindsight. Neptune Collonges missed Cheltenham but ran at Aintree where he was 3rd to the redoubtable Black Jack Ketchum. This was on good ground showing that he does not absolutely have to have it soft or heavy. Neptune Collonges was already a winner over fences before coming to the UK so was denied a novice chasing season. He looks an exciting prospect for the better races over fences in 2006/7.
After winning at Aintree in October Star de Mohaison finished 2nd and 3rd in races won by The Listener, before getting back in the winning track when 1/3 favourite at Fontwell. His season will be remembered though for an almost unprecedented spring double.
He was a relatively unconsidered 14/1 shot for the Royal and Sunalliance chase at the Festival but in a race where many were let down by their jumping Star de Mohaison jumped like a stag and really only Idle Talk, another from our list to follow posed any likely threat at all over the last couple of fences.
He then went to Aintree and won the Mildmay Novices. Again he was chased home by a couple of horses from our list to follow, Turpin Green and Copsale Lad, but again, although he had to dig deep on the run in he showed accuracy of jumping and real pace to mark himself down as a novice of some potential. Only one other horse had completed this particular Cheltenham and Aintree double and that was the ill fated Monsieur Le Cure.
Sticking with the French imports Alan King enjoyed plenty of success with Halcon Genelardais and, especially from My Way de Solzen. Halcon Genelardais fell at the last fence on his UK debut at Aintree and then finished 4th at Bangor before running up a hat trick of wins in soft ground novice chases, the best of which was a Grade 2 at Wetherby. Very soft ground may be the key to this horse and the Welsh National could be a suitable long term aim.
My Way de Solzen ended the season with form figures of 21112. His first run was a handicap hurdle where he finished well and was only beaten a neck.
There was much better to come though as he went on to take the Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow, getting the better of Neptune Collonges in a race where the hot favourite Inglis Drever was disappointing and was well beaten when falling. My Way de Solzen then made all to beat Dancing Brave at Fontwell on his way to a memorable victory in the World Hurdle.
My Way de Solzen won a thrilling race at Cheltenham just holding off the fast finishing Golden Cross ridden by flat jockey Johnny Murtagh. This was a gutsy display on ground that was not as soft as he would have liked. This was though a pulsating race run at an end to end gallop with Chocolate Thornton excelling on the winner. As a horse to follow My Way de Solzen couldn’t be faulted as his wins at Chepstow and Cheltenham came at 12/1 and 8/1 respectively. Mighty Man was sent off 4/1 favourite for the World Hurdle and finished a creditable 3rd. Mighty Man started the season unbeaten from 4 starts but his campaign was dogged by ill luck for much of the time. He just got up to beat The Market Man by a head at Cheltenham in December giving Richard Johnson his hundredth winner of the season but his next two races proved frustrating. Firstly, on New Years day The French Furze was allowed to slip the field and established a massive lead which Mighty Man just failed to cut down, going under by 3 parts of a length, he was then arguably unlucky in the Cleeve Hurdkle, run at Sandown when he flew home in second after meeting with some interference.
He made up for the disappointments on his final run at Aintree where he reversed the Cheltenham form with My Way de Solzen, the pair of them pulling well clear of the rest of the field. Ridden much closer to the pace this time Mighty Man clearly appreciated the track and the good ground. My Way de Solzen, a taller bigger animal looks likely to go chasing next season while Mighty Man may well be kept to hurdles. Mighty Man was actually the first horse to be unsaddled in the new Aintree winner’s enclosure.
Another horse from our list to follow that just failed at Cheltenham was the grey Monet’s Garden. Nicky Richards’ star apparently does not take too much racing and therefore it was no surprise that he only ran 4 times during the season. His only reversal was in the Arkle at the Festival when he finished 2nd to Voy Por Ustedes. In fact he was the only horse to give that winner a race. His other wins came at Ayr (twice) and Carlisle, all at long odds on. Monet’s Garden jumps particularly well and seems quite versatile when it comes to trip. It is said that he is best on a flat track.
Robert Alner’s grey gelding The Listener is related to a couple of jumpers that have featured in my list to follow previously, Fork Lightning and Distant Thunder. He won his first 3 novice chases in decent company, beating Star de Mohaison twice but having jumped really well in those races fell on his 2 subsequent starts, the second of which was the Royal and SunAlliance at the Festival.
Racing Demon started the season in most people’s lists to follow after his second to No Refuge at Cheltenham the year before and he was a hugely popular winner on his first start of the season at Exeter in the race after Best Mate’s demise. Wins at Sandown and Exeter again followed, but although made favourite for the Arkle he could only finish 7th, confirming the suspicion that his future probably lies in staying chases rather than speed events.
Sir Mark Prescott’s flat stable has provided jumps trainers with some decent hurdlers in recent years and the latest to come off that conveyor belt was Straw Bear. He had the right sort of profile having won 3 times on the flat up to 11 furlongs and shown a liking for soft ground. He notched up 3 wins in novice hurdles under Tony McCoy, the best of which was a Grade 2 at the Aintree Grand National meeting. He lost nothing in defeat when a neck second to Noland in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham and ended his campaign with another second in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival and remains an exciting hurdles prospect for trainer Nick Gifford.
An otherwise excellent Cheltenham festival was marred by the deaths of 9 horses. Three of those fatalities occurred in the National Hunt Chase for amateur riders, including Millenaire from my list to follow. He had been a profitable selection winning 3 novice chases at odds of 9/2, 7/2 and 4/1 ridden each time by AP McCoy.
Other multiple winners on the list were Cerium, The interestingly named Senorita Rumbalita and Rasharrow. The trouble with putting Lenny Lungo’s horses on a list to follow is that they tend to “mop up” in the North at skinny prices but fail to win on their trips down south. Rasharrow rather came into this category winning at odds of 1/4, 1/5 & 4/6 at Kelso, Ayr and Perth but losing in between at Sandown and Cheltenham. In fairness he was highly tried on those occasions and he ran well enough in his final novice hurdle win at Perth to suggest that he could do well over fences.
Like Rasharrow, Senorita Rumbalita boasted winning bumper form from the previous season and went on to score 3 times in novice hurdles. Mind you, that should by rights have been 4 wins but on her debut at Wincanton her saddle slipped jumping the last and she parted company with Andrew Thornton allowing Barton Park to take the race at 100/1. Her best win was at Sandown where she should a good turn of foot to collar Mister Quasimodo close home at odds of 11/2. She went on to run with great credit at Aintree where she was 4th to Straw Bear. Cerium was not in the front rank of Paul Nicholl’s novice chasers but he did land races at Warwick, Aintree and Wincanton.
The list to follow also supplied some big priced winners, the most profitable being Florida Dream, a full brother to the great Florida Pearl. While not having his illustrious relative’s class he did his job as a horse to follow with wins at 8/1 and 20/1. His jumping was not always the best but first time blinkers may have done the trick for the first win at Huntingdon. His second success came in a handicap chase at Wincanton where he led the field a merry dance and made just about every yard of the distance under top weight. This was a gallant performance from the front having set a pretty fearsome tempo.
Another horse to win by making all the running was Andrew Balding’s Briareus. He put in a smart performance to win a grade 2 hurdle at Wincanton at 14/1, really turning the proceedings into a bit of a procession and pulling 14 lengths clear of the second, Royal Shakespeare. He was not disgraced when 6th in the Champion Hurdle but is really built for chasing and will almost certainly be seen in that sphere next term.
Three other notable big priced winners were Go For Bust, River Alder and Valley Ride, all showing that sometimes one win is enough to ensure a profit from following a horse. Nicky Henderson’s Go For Bust won once in 7 starts in a handicap hurdle at Ludlow at 18/1, River Alder won a handicap Hurdle at Kelspo at 20/1 from only 3 starts while Valley Ride was a 10/1 winner at Bangor from 6 starts. Having said that, Valley Ride should have recorded another win when he lost a race at Stratford in October in quite bizarre circumstances.
In a dramatic conclusion to a competitive handicap Valley Ride swerved badly right under the whip on the run-in and unseated his rider Tom Doyle ten yards from the line when clear in the lead.
Howard Johnson had enjoyed a dream of a season in the previous year but found things much tougher this time with his horses running below par for much of the time. I had a fair sprinkling of his horses on my list to follow but most disappointed.
Inglis Drever looked on course to defend his World Hurdle title when winning with ears pricked at Wetherby first time out and went on to get the better of Baracouda at Newbury but things went wrong after that and he never made it to the Festival, while No Refuge only registered one win, a grade 2 hurdle at Windsor in mid November. Two of the Johnson horses that paid their way for me were Lennon and Galero. Lennon won twice with the second win coming in a handicap hurdle at Perth right at the end of the season which he won at 9/1. Galero won a novice chase at Musselburgh at the same odds under an excellent ride from Graham Lee. Both horse and jockey did well to fend off the challengers up the straight. This was a gritty victory and he is certainly a horse with size and stature.
I didn’t have much luck with Martin Pipe’s horses on my list. The giant Bannow Strand won a couple but didn’t really fulfil his considerable potential and Standin’ Obligation was probably the most successful of the Pipe horses with 3 wins. The best of these came in a competitive big field handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in November. From a betting point of view his most profitable win came in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in April where he fairly romped home at 14/1 under Timmy Murphy.
Restless D’Artaix looked a useful prospect for Nicky Henderson when winning cosily at Newbury in a novice hurdle on his second run after finishing a promising 3rd on his UK debut at the same venue. He didn’t run again so presumably must have had some sort of problem.
Villon had an even more restricted season running just once. Villon had won a couple of bumpers and also twice over hurdles and there were high hopes for him over fences. He duly obliged in a beginners chase at Uttoxeter beating Roman Ark but like Restless D’Artaix was not seen again. The problem now will be that he has lost his novice status for next season without having gained much experience.
Another Lenny Lungo inmate Brooklyn Breeze paid his way for me. Although better known as a chaser he landed a handicap hurdle at Aintree in October coming off the pace with a strong finish under Gary Berridge at odds of 13/2. He showed the benefit of a wind operation here but only ran twice more, which included a decent 4th to Sir OJ in the Robin Cook Memorial Chase at Cheltenham.
Handicap hurdle races have never really been my forte but this year I seemed to do OK with my selections in them. Ursis looked a likely horse to follow from Jonjo O’Neill’s yard. A winner on the flat in France he had won with some ease on his hurdles debut at Wetherby the previous season. After a “sighter” at Chepstow he justified favouritism in a handicap at Wetherby making all in October, and after a 3 month break cruised to victory at Chepstow making light of a 6 lbs rise in the weights. His winning odds were 6/4 and 3/1. Another successful “U” was Undeniable, a thoroughly genuine and consistent chaser from Sue Smith’s yard. He unseated once in 8 starts but was in the first 3 in all his other races winning twice. The first of these came over 2.5 miles at Huntingdon where he was running 11 lbs below his hurdling mark, and then at Carlisle over 3 miles. In between he was 3rd in the Kim Muir at the Festival.
I have already mentioned Mister Quasimodo. A dual bumper winner he proved a useful novice hurdler winning at Chepstow and Exeter, the latter at odds of 6/1. His best effort was when 2nd of 11 to Noland in a listed event at Exeter.
The Reveley family have provided me with a few winners over the years and this season I followed Keith Reveley’s Into the Shadows. This mare won handicap hurdles at Huntingdon and Ayr and managed to sandwich a win on the all weather at Southwell in between.
I normally manage to spot when a horse from my list to follow are entered but in the case of All in the Stars I didn’t realise he was running until I noticed him about halfway round at Fontwell on the TV in November. Held up by young conditional Daryl Jacob he came through to win the 3.5 mile handicap chase nicely in the end at 8/1. He then contested the Hennessey where he finished well in 5th behind Trabolgan. His jumping was not the best that day and again let him down when he stayed on stoutly to finish second to Royal Auclair in the Mears handicap, a listed race, in December. A second deserved success did come his way in the Country Gentleman’s Association Chase at Wincanton in February again at 8/1. He went to Ayr well fancied for the Scottish National but ran no sort of race and was pulled up.
Another handicap chaser to show a profit for me was staying chaser Rosie Redman who won at Kelso in April at 7/1, a race she had won the season before.
I have already mentioned some of the principle races at the Cheltenham Festival. Two winners from my list to follow that gave me particular satisfaction were Reveillez (in the Jewson) and Non So (Racing Post Chase). I had followed both horses for a number of years. Reveillez was a decent handicapper on the flat and also a winner over hurdles and he landed a gamble in the Jewson. He came to the festival having won a small novice chase at Folkestone and jumped and travelled well for Tony McCoy to repel a determined challenge from Copsale Lad up the run in. Mick Fitzgerald, who was on board Copsale Lad rode Non So to a comfortable and deserved win at 14/1. The horse whose name in Italian means “I don’t know” had been an unlucky loser of a coupe, of decent races the previous season.
Three horses that were involved in memorable finishes were Cornish Sett, King Killone and Turpin Green.
Paul Nicholl’s Cornish Sett ran consistently in good company for most of the season and won a novice chase at Newbury in November a couple of days before my birthday. I best remember him for a terrific finish to the Vodaphone Gold Cup when he dead heated with Horus. Horus has led most of the way bur Cornish Sett collared him up the run in only for the Pipe horse to fight back again. It was a result to smile about as neither horse deserved to lose. The post race presentation featured messrs Nicholls and Pipe both with a hand on the trophy.
King Killone’s win in a novice chase at Newcastle was really in stark contrast to Cornish Sett’s epic battle as he came home in splendid isolation, the only one of the 5 runners to finish. A 9/1 winner for my list to follow nonetheless. He has earlier won a four runner novice chase at the same track beating odds on favourite Wild Cane Ridge by a short head in a race where another of my list horses, Galero, was pulled up.
I had high hopes for Turpin Green trained by Nicky Richards. He got off to a winning start getting the better of Sue Smith’s Rebel Rhythm in a gruelling battle up the hill at Carlisle but that proved to be his only success. Having watched that race at Carlisle you really wouldn’t have questioned the horses resolve but he made a right mess of things two runs later in the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown. He came to the last with the race in the bag but tried to refuse and ended up climbing over the fence and losing all momentum allowing Napolitain to steal the race. He was then 5th behind Reveillez in the Jewson but went a long way to redeeming himself with a good effort in 2nd place behind Star de Mohaison at Aintree.
Copsale Lad has received a couple of mentions along the way. His best efforts were when chasing home Reveillez and Star de Mohaison in big races but he did also win a couple, of novice chases, both over 21 furlongs at Lingfield.
Rebel Rhythm is a horse I have always liked. After his losing effort behind Turpin Green at Carlisle he won at Wetherby but struggled after that and may have had breathing problems. He did end the season on a winning note though with a comfortable 28 length success at Market Rasen.
Crow Wood, a winner of 7 races on the flat took to hurdles quite well winning twice, including the fiercely competitive 17 runner Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh in February.
Rimski and Penneyrose Bay kept the list to follow ticking over during the early part of the season. The front running mare Penneyrose Bay won novice hurdles at Worcester (3/1) and Wincanton (11/4). She went chasing later in the season and ran 2nd in a beginners chase at Stratford. The grey Rimski won twice at Chepstow, the second in the Persian War novice hurdle a grade 2 contest over 2.5 miles. Hr didn’t really live up to that early promise as the season unfolded but did finish 6th in the Royal and SunAlliance. The pick of his later efforts was probably when 2nd to Standin’ Obligation in an 18 runner handicap in April.
I decided to keep Alderburn on my list to follow for a second season after he had done OK for me first time round winning a maiden hurdle from Penneyrose Bay at 15/2. He won a couple of novice chases and justified his inclusion on the list.
Exotic Dancer had looked a talented horse the previous season and I was particularly impressed with his close up third in the Aintree Hurdle at a time when Jonjo O’Neill’s string had been under something of a cloud. I decided to keep him on my list for another year in the hope that he would make a novice chaser. In the event his jumping tended to let him down but he did manage to win one of his 4 starts, beating Bewley’s Berry, another horse from the list, in a 4 runner event at Cheltenham.
Billyvoddan and Idle Talk both got their novice chasing careers off to a promising start. Billyvoddan won two of his 6 starts, beating Reveillez in the second of these at Leicester. Idle Talk also won twice but his best effort was in defeat when chasing home Star de Mohaison at the Festival.
Charlie Egerton’s cutely named Mr Pointment had won a bumper at Bangor the year before and had a light campaign in 05/06 winning novice hurdles at Market Rasen and Fakenham. And put in a career best when 5th in the Royal and Sunalliance hurdle, where Glasker Mill another from the list to follow was 7th and Rimsky 6th. Glasker Mill is with Henrietta Knight so will be a chaser in time a feeling enhanced by the way he won over the fixed brush hurdles at Haydock in January. He is owned by Trevor Hemmings.
The BHB Order of Merit scheme has its detractors and I must admit that its finale did become a bit of a fiasco but the eventual winner Royal Shakespeare, although short of top class gave his all throughout the season. In search of the Order of Merit crown he was sent to the races 12 times, all in good company, and although only winning twice he was never disgraced. His best win was in a Grade 2 at Wincanton early in the season.
Going into the last day of the season Monkerhostin was 4 points behind Royal Shakespeare, who edged ahead of him at Ayr on the previous Saturday. At one point it looked as though both horses would go for the Celebration Chase at Sandown on the last day of the season even though Royal Shakespeare had never jumped a fence in public. In the end neither horse ran and connection agreed to share the prize money.
I will end this year’s review with my favourite race of the season. The Grand National saw a couple of horses from our list to follow claiming places. Clan Royal was well fancied on the day and quite rightly so. A narrow and possibly unlucky second to Amberleigh House on 2004 and carried out when leading in 2005 he was campaigned over hurdles during the to protect his handicap mark. He actually won over timber at Market Rasen in March showing his wellbeing but on the day at Aintree just found a couple too good. He will be 12 next year and his chance has probably gone but he will go down as a real Aintree specialist, in the same vein as the likes of Spanish Steps, and a horse that deserved to win a National. I fancied Nil Desperandum each way at a big price but lost confidence on the day and deserted him. Having come 6th in 2005 he again ran a big race to finish 4th at 33/1. This was his last run under Irish trainer Frances Crowley as the horse will be trained in England next season. No doubt another visit to Aintree will be on the cards.
ahorse 