The sad news today was the death off the great Desert Orchid at the age of 27.
The grey was not an overnight success and his career nearly eneded before it began. On his hurdles debut, starting at 50/1 he fell at the last and lay on the ground without moving for fully 10 minutes. He went on to record some success over hurdles winning 6 out of 7 races leading up to Cheltenham where he was unplaced in the Champion Hurdle. The following season he was pulled up in the Champion Hurdle and the Welsh equivalent.
When switched to fences it was a very different story with Dessie winning 27 of his 50 races. He won the Irish Grand National and the Whitbread Gold Cup but his favourite course was undoubtedly Kempton. Here he triumphed in the King George no fewer than 4 times. He was probably best going right handed, which might explain his disappointing record at Cheltenham. Time and time again Dessie went to the Festival only to disappoint. On March 16 1989 Dessie ensured his place in racing history. This time he came to Cheltenham having been unbeaten that season. The morning of the race brought snow and sleet and the questions were asked – would he stay three and a quarter miles in very soft ground. The race was pure drama. Desert Orchid led the field at the start only to be overtaken by Ten Plus until he fell fatally at the 3rd last leaving Dessie in the lead. He was headed by the outsider Yahoo only to battle gamely back roared on by 50,000 voices to record a famous victory. A very special character. As his former rider Simon Sherwood said, "He was brave, tough, intelligent and totally honest.”
I missed the Cheltenham Open Meeting so I have been catching up on some of the race videos. Charles Egerton may not have the biggest string in jumps racing but he does have some quality horses and anything of his ridden by Tony McCoy is well worth a second look. Rubberdubber won the 2 mile handicap chase for the Egerton/McCoy combination on Friday beating the ever consistent Armaturk. Rubberdubber had fallen on his last outing but jumped confidently here and looks capable of winning further races during the season.
By the time the novice chase went off at 4.10 the light was getting a bit murky but Standin’ Obligation lit up the afternoon with an impeccable round of fencing and although he only one by a length he basically toyed with the opposition under the most confident of rides from Timmy Murphy. He could well be destined for the top. He gave David Pipe his first ever Cheltenham winner at a meeting that his father dominated for so many years.
The other highlight on Friday was Spot the Difference who won over the unique cross country course for a remarkable 5th time at the age of 13.
At Newcastle on Friday we had a couple of runners from our list to follow in the novice chase. Aces Four won at 5/2 while our other runner Rasharrow was pulled up after the saddle slipped.
Denman has his critics and although he maintained his 100% recorded over fences on Saturday there are still some that remain unconvinced. He had to work for his win in the Jim Brown Memorial novice chase beating Don’t Push It by 3 parts of a length. Denman hung left markedly up the run in but kept on gamely winning in a fast time. Don’t Push It had blundered at the third last and that may have made the difference. Later on Saturday Star de Mohaison took advantage of a very lenient hurdles mark and his next stop may well be the Hennessey.
There was a cracking run from Idle Talk in the last where he was collared up the run in by yet another Paul Nicholls runner My Will. This was one of the best finishes of the meeting.
Roll Along won for our list to follow at Uttoxeter albeit at 1/4.
There were plenty of old favourites in the staying chase at Wetherby which was won by King Killone who looks to be going the right way. Apart from a slight blip two out he jumped well and got the better of the grey Silver Knight and course specialist Jungle Jinks.
The highlight of Sunday’s Cheltenham card was Detroit City’s run away victory in the Greatwood Hurdle. He made all and powered well clear to stake his claim as a real contender for the Champion Hurdle.
There were also a couple of winners for our list to follow at Carlisle on Monday. Tidal Bay won the opener to make it two out of two over hurdles while According to John beat the highly rated Royal Rosa in the novice chase. Both look to have bright futures.
Aztec Warrior is our only runner on Tuesday. He was pulled up after the first on his chase debut at Wincanton but he appeared to be hampered by a faller in front of him that day. A winner over hurdles last season he is the type to do better over fences and has a chance here. Garde Champetre is the obvious danger though.
See you tomorrow
ahorse 