I have made a change to the normal format this year. I have selected 50 horses that for one reason or another impressed me during the season and added comments on a few more that didn’t quite make the initial list. As usual the list is very much a personal one.
Alfie Sherrin (P Nicholls) – Recruited by Paul Nicholls after winning his only point to point in a Larkhill maiden he earns his place on the list by winning both his starts under rules, a bumper at Chepstow and a novice hurdle at Fontwell.
American Trilogy (P Nicholls) – Formerly a smart French flat performer. Paul Nicholls’ grey turned a competitive looking County Hurdle into a procession winning as he pleased under Ruby Walsh at 20/1. He had won a maiden at Aintree at the start of the winter but had rather lost his way until making nonsense of his handicap mark at Cheltenham.
Andytown (N Henderson) – This son of Old Vic started the season as a novice chase hopeful but in the end his two wins both came over hurdles, and both at Cheltenham. The first win came in mid November with Felix de Giles during the steering in a conditional jockey’s handicap. The nature of the victory didn’t escape the notice of the handicapper who raised the horse 18 lbs! It didn’t prevent him gaining a memorable second success though. The penultimate race at the Cheltenham Festival was a conditional jockey’s handicap named after the now retired legend of the training ranks Martin Pipe. Not surprisingly son David was keen to capture the prize and accounted for 7 of the 23 starters. Andytown spoiled the party though. Always travelling well he stayed on strongly up the hill under Felix de Giles to win convincingly at rewarding odds of 25/1.
Auroras Encore (Sue Smith) – Progressed into a useful chaser. Wins at Sedgefield and Carlisle were followed by a further success at Ayr when he was trying 3 miles for the first time at 17/2.
Bakbenscher (A King) – Alan King’s grey proved a profitable horse to follow winning a novice hurdle at Newbury in December at 11/2. His best run though was when runner up to Big Eared Fran in a Grade 3 novices handicap hurdle at Sandown.
Ballygalley Bob (O Sherwood) – I always like to include a variety of horse in my end of season review, not just the big name champions but some of the lesser lights as well. Ballygalley Bob is certainly no superstar but he won a long distance handicap chase at Warwick making all at 11/1 so was a profitable one to follow.
Bensalem (A King) – A smart recruit to the hurdling ranks. A former Irish points winner Bensalem won a bumper at Sandown before notching 3 wins from 4 starts in novice hurdles with the only defeat coming in a close finish against Diamond Harry. He missed Cheltenham through a bad scope and also bypassed Aintree as it was feared the ground would be on the quick side for him. He looks an exciting prospect for next season whether he stays over hurdles or, as is more likely tackles fences.
Big Eared Fran (D Pipe) – This grey put up a couple of particularly taking performances. He landed a valuable novices handicap hurdle at Sandown in March and went to the Festival the following week where he finished 3rd in the inaugural running of the Conditional jockeys handicap hurdle named in honour of Martin Pipe.
Big Fella Thanks (P Nicholls) – Came into the new season with great expectations having won twice over hurdles, a discipline that was never going to play to his strengths. After a slightly patchy start to his career over the larger obstacles he won the Skybet Chase at Doncaster in January. Although a beaten favourite in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton this almost certainly represented improved form. Her then finished 6th in the Grand National, not at all a bad effort given the miserable record of 7 year olds in the big race.
Binocular (N Henderson) – After impressive displays in the 2008 Cheltenham and Aintree festivals Binocular (pictured below) was a leading fancy for the Champion Hurdle and began his campaign with a penalty kick win at odds of 1/9. Facing a stiffer test in the Boylesports International at Ascot in December he simply blew away 4 talented rivals including the previous season’s champion Hurdler Katchit without coming off the bridle.
On the big day he was sent off 6/4 favourite for the Champion Hurdle but in a thrilling finish was edged into 3rd by his less fancied stablemate Punjabi. How much a less than ideal preparation contributed to his defeat is hard to say but it may be that a combination of a fast pace and uphill finish just tested his stamina a shade too far.
Character Building (JJ Quinn) – A smart handicap staying chaser when things fall right for him he boasted a 2nd in a National Hunt Chase and a 3rd in a Hennesey on his CV coming into the season. He is not entirely straightforward but stays and jumps and Jamie Codd gave him a peach of a ride to land the 24 runner Kim Muir at the Festival producing the grey late at odds of 16/1.
Chomba Womba (N Henderson) – After failing to get in foal when retired to the paddocks Chomba Womba proved a real money-spinner for connections with early season wins in the Elite Hurdle at Ascot and the Ascot Hurdle, both Grade 2 events. She was far from disgraced for the remainder of the season running well for the most part in top class company.
Cooldine (WP Mullins) – Gets into the “fifty” courtesy of his win in the RSA Chase at The Festival. Willie Mullins’ gelding simply toyed with his rivals leaving the best of the British trailing in his wake. He looks a genuine Gold Cup contender for next year.
Copper Bleu (P Hobbs) – Very much a chaser in the making Copper Bleu did little wrong over the smaller obstacles and was never out of the frame in 6 starts. He justified favouritism to win a Newbury maiden but his best efforts were when 4th in the Supreme Novices and runner up at Aintree in the Grade 2 Mersey Novices Hurdle. He rounded off the season by winning at Punchestown.
Dave’s Dream (N Henderson) – The Imperial Cup on the Saturday immediately before Cheltenham is always an ultra competitive affair. Dave’s Dream, considered mainly a future chaser came into the race with only 3 previous starts over hurdles but was not unfancied at 12/1 and he won well by 7 lengths. What always makes this contest so interesting is the bonus put up by the sponsors, which were Paddy Power this season, for winning here and the following week at the festival. Although connections were initially unsure about running him again so quickly he did take his place in the line up for the County Hurdle 6 days later. Under a 5 lbs penalty Nicky Henderson’s charge started 7/2 favourite but finished 6th in a race turned into a procession by Paul Nicholls grey American Trilogy
Diamond Harry (N Williams) – Went into the new season with a perfect record having won the same valuable bumper at Newbury in each of the previous 2 seasons. Always held in high regard by his trainer he quickly rattled off a hat trick of wins over hurdles at Uttoxeter, Cheltenham and Newbury without being seriously troubled. Timmy Murphy, who has ridden him in all his races to date had to get more serious for the 4th win of the season at Cheltenham to see off the attentions of the useful Bensalem but with a record of 6 from 6 Diamond Harry went to the Festival for the Ballymore Novices. As usual, he was given a patient ride and came to the fore seemingly running away under Murphy before three out. His jumping was awkward when it needed to be quick, and a mistake at the last two hurdles sealed his fate and he finished 3rd. He should develop into a serious Arkle contender next season.
Fiveforthree (WP Mullins) – Held back by injury she made a very belated seasonal reappearance winning at Wexford in mid March. He then went to Aintree for the John Smith’s Grade 1 Hurdle and was just beaten in the final 75 yards by Solwhit. Compensation was not far away though and he duly landed the 3 mile hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in fine style.
Forpadydeplasterer (T Cooper) – Won a competitive renewal of The Arkle. He jumped well throughout for Barry Geraghty although he had to dig deep to fend off the late thrust of Kalahari King. The drop back to two miles proved to be the key to Thomas Cooper’s gelding that was positioned brilliantly through the race by his jockey.
Go Native (Noel Meade) – The Supreme Novice Hurdle went the way of the Irish, as Go Native held off Medermit under a cool ride from Paul Carberry. Runner-up to Hurricane Fly at Leopardstown over Christmas, he travelled strongly and stayed on well having hit the front turning for home.
Great Approach (N Richards) – Great Approach began the campaign in novice chases and didn’t make too bad a fist of it although not getting his head in front in 3 efforts. Reverting to hurdles he won a competitive handicap at Bangor in March at 9/1.
Great Endeavour (D Pipe) – David Pipe had a very poor first half of the season by the high standards of the yard but one horse that did him proud during that period was Great Endeavour. He also proved a superb horse for my list to follow as his 3 wins in maiden and novice hurdles came at 2/1, 15/2 and 11/2.
Grizebeck (N Richards) – Ran 4 times winning the first and final starts in Novice hurdles at Bangor and Ayr, beating Merigo in the latter. Was third behind Cape Tribulation and Junior in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Doncaster.
How’s Business (C Mann) – One of my more successful “listers” winning twice at odds of 7/1 and 15/2. The first win came in a handicap hurdle at Exeter and the latter in a listed mare’s handicap hurdle at Cheltenham. She also ran a creditable 6th in the David Nicolson Mare’s Hurdle at The Festival and she has since won at Uttoxeter in the “summer season.”
Hurricane Fly (WP Mullins) – Was unbeaten in 3 Grade 1 novice hurdles in Ireland. Won the future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas in tremendously impressive style beating the subsequent Cheltenham winner Go Native by 10 lengths.
I’msingingtheblues (P Nicholls) – Won 3 of his 6 starts and was runner up in the other two. Best suited by good ground and a flat track his best win came in a valuable handicap at Doncaster on the last day in January.
Imperial Commander (N Twiston-Davies) – Has always looked a horse with a good deal of potential ever since he was an impressive winner between the flags in Ireland. He also seems to have a particular liking for Cheltenham and was landing his 4th and 5th wins there when taking the Paddy Power Chase and the Ryanair. (Imperial Commander is pictured below)
Kalahari King (F Murphy) – For once I didn’t have much luck following Ferdy Murphy’s runners but one that did prove very profitable was Kalahari King. He ran 7 times and ended with form figures of 1121212. The best of the wins for this highly consistent novice chaser came in April in the Grafe 1 Maghull Novices Chase. He has earlier only gone down by a short head in the Arkle behind Forpadydeplasterer, running a cracker on ground easier than he would have wanted it. Kalahari King is pictured below.
Kilmackiloge (M Todhunter) – I was rather pleased to tip this one when he won first time out in a handicap chase at Wetherby. He had won on his first two outings in both the previous two seasons and clearly goes well fresh.
Master Medic (R & S Alner) – Robert and Sally Alner’s chaser was one of the successes of my list to follow running up a hat trick before Christmas and at nice odds of 5/2, 8/1 and 5/1. His winning sequence began in a novice chase at Fontwell where he made all and he followed up by defying a raise in the weights of 13 lbs to win a Huntingdon handicap. Another 9 lbs hike in the weights didn’t stop this improver at Ascot in December where he recorded his 3rd win from only 4 starts over fences. Best on good or good to soft Master Medic (pictured below) was ridden by Robert Walford in each of his 3 winning runs.
Master Minded (P Nicholls) – Not quite the imperious form of the previous season but he still won 4 from 4. He took in The Tingle Creek and the Victor Chandler Chase on his way to Cheltenham. His success in the Champion Chase where he had to be ridden right out to account for Well Chief, coming back after a 2 year absence was more workmanlike than brilliant and he was pushed all the way by Big Zeb in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown. He remains top class and it would be no surprise if he were to dominate the 2 mile chase division again next season.
Max Bygraves (K Bailey) – Max Bygraves is quite cleverly named as he is by Midnight Legend out of an Orchestra mare, Smokey Diva. Kim Bailey’s gelding proved a profitable horse to follow winning on his first and last starts at Kelso and Ludlow respectively. He also finished 3rd in big field handicaps at Kempton and Cheltenham either side of Christmas. His wins came at 4/1 and 13/2.
Merigo (A Parker) – I had quite a successful season following long distance handicap chasers and Merigo certainly did well for me. He won in determined fashion at Doncaster over 3 miles in December and went on to take the Eider Chase at Newcastle. In both races he looked unlikely to collect until rallying and he certainly doesn’t lack for resolution. A relentless galloper he is best suited by soft ground.
Niche Market (B Buckler) – Without doubt my biggest success of the season. He had looked a progressive chaser when winning a tremendous battle with Monkerhostin under a great ride by young Harry Skelton in the week before Christmas at Ascot. There were excuses for his two subsequent defeats and I was quietly hopeful when he went for the Irish National and tipped him on my web write up along with Wichita Lineman and Drumconvis. Sadly the other two both fell and had to be put down but Niche Market dug deep on the run in for Harry Skelton to record a notable win at 33/1.
Nicto de Beauchene (R & S Alner) – His jumping was pretty sketchy at times but he chalked up a couple of wins over fences at nice prices. Won at Wincanton by 15 lengths in December and then took a 9 runner event at Uttoxeter. Daryl Jacob was on board both times and the winning odds were 12s and 14s.
Noble Alan (N Richards) – By his standards Nicky Richards had a disappointing season but he did enjoy a big race success thanks to Noble Alan in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. Noble Alan had won a Perth maiden at the beginning of the season at 6/1 but after a couple more runs he was put away for the middle of the winter as he needs decent ground. Held up at the back he came through strongly under Davy Condon to win comfortably at 17/2 (and I tipped him!). He should make a nice chaser next season. Richards and Condon have since parted company after just one season.
Oh Crick (A King) – Remarkably Alan King had to wait until the final race of the meeting to get a Cheltenham Festival winner on the board courtesy of Oh Crick in the Grand Annual in game style at 7/1 under Wayne Hutchinson who was riding his first Festival winner. The horse went on to complete a notable double winning the Red Rum handicap at Aintree again at 7/1 and he looks a progressive 2 miler.
Or D’Oudairies (JJ Quinn) – Only 1 win from 7 outings but a profitable horse to follow nonetheless as the success came at 12/1 in a novice handicap chase at Bangor.
Punchestowns (N Henderson) – A couple of well fancied runners in Duc de Regniere and Pettifour were firmly put in their place in Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle by an emerging talent in the shape of Punchestowns who stormed clear to win by 11 lengths. He had previously hosed up in a handicap at Cheltenham where the runner up, Ballydub, won subsequently. Not surprisingly Punchestowns became a popular fancy for the World Hurdle.
The next big trial was the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham where he was unable to concede weight to the Paul Nicholls trained Big Bucks and went down by 4 lengths. The pair met again in the World Hurdle where Big Bucks was able to confirm the form by a length and three quarters with the rest well beaten off. Punchestowns went from strength to strength during the season and will no doubt eventually make a smashing chaser. It will be fascinating to see which route connections take with him next season.
Punjabi (N Henderson) – Since finishing 3rd behind Katchit and Osana in the 2008 Champion Hurdle Punjabi had won at Punchestown as well as scoring twice on the flat. He returned to action in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in early December where he got the better of Sublimity in a driving finish. In the Stan James Christmas Hurdle Punjabi was a well fancied 11/8 favourite but he suffered a heavy fall 2 out allowing the enigmatic Harchibald to triumph in typical fashion ahead of Snap Tie.
Punjabi’s next outing was in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton in February. A badly cut leg had held up his preparation and trainer Nicky Henderson warned that his horse would come on for the run. On the day he was in contention coming to the last but was no match for the first two, Ashkazar and the mare Whiteoak in the run in. When they lined up for the Champion Hurdle on March 10 Binocular was a warm order despite having been off the track since 20 December. He travelled well in the race under Tony McCoy but in a desperate finish was edged out by his unfancied stable companion Punjabi going down by a neck and a head with the pair split by Celestial Halo. Punjabi finished his campaign with a narrow defeat in the Irish Champion Hurdle behind Solwhit. (Punjabi is pictured below)
Quevega (WP Mullins) – An impressive winner of a minor event at Punchestown she slammed her rivals in the David Nicholson Mare’s Hurdles beating United by 14 lengths. Not disgraced when 3rd behind Solwhit and Punjabi at Punchestown subsequently.
Russian Trigger (V Dartnall) – Another of my staying chaser successes. He had the distinction of winning two “Nationals” the Kent version at Folkestone and the Midlands National at Uttoxeter. He doesn’t always travel well or indeed jump fluently in his races but he certainly stays and with his wins coming at 12/1 and 8/1 he was a most profitable choice for my list to follow.
Sangfroid (N Williams) – I had quite a few successful tips in handicap hurdles and Sangfroid won for my list to follow on the final day of the jumps season. My write up for the handicap at Sandown went like this – “Callisto Moon hasn’t won since November 2007 and as a result his handicap rating has come down. He handles fast ground and is fit from runs on the flat. He could be a live outsider in the 2.05. Another to consider is Sangfroid who fell last time out when holding every chance. Before that he had been runner up to Silk Affair who went on to win the Fred Winter at Cheltenham.” Sangfroid won at 12/1 with Callisto Moon second at 33s. Not bad eh?
Serabad (P Bowen) – Serabad goes well with cut in the ground as he showed when winning at Aintree in testing conditions in November and he again had ground to suit him in a valuable Ascot handicap in mid February where he got the better of the ultra tough Loch Derg at odds of 16/1. Dave’s Dream and American Trilogy were both down the field in the Ascot race.
Shalone (A King) – Proved to be the ideal horse for a list to follow as he ran twice winning both times. The wins came in novice hurdles at Exeter and Kempton. He didn’t run after November so I hope he is OK as he looked to have scope to improve having been a smart bumper performer.
Solwhit (C Byrnes) – Won 5 of his 6 starts. The most impressive were the last two. In the Grade 1 John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle he got the better of Fiveforthree in an exciting finish and then just caught Punjabi on the line to land the Irish Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
Tartak (T George) – Front running novice chase. Started his season off with an all the way win at Huntingdon and after creditable efforts in 3 Grade races picked up his second success in a graduation chase at Kempton. After finishing 5th in the Arkle he completed his 3rd win of the season in a Grade 2 chase at Aintree.
Tazbar (K Reveley) – Tazbar had been one of my fancies for the World Hurdle but although he put in a couple of placed efforts in races at Haydock he had an inconsistent season and was well down the field in the big race in March. He is a horse with bags of ability though and I was pleased that he rounded off his season with a win in a conditions hurdle at Cheltenham.
The Polomoche (N Henderson) – I followed The Polomoche and Tazbar for much of the season but neither lived up to their undoubted potential until late on. The Polomoche had caught my eye a couple of years ago when fighting out a tight finish in a bumper with Calgary Bay that rounded off an evening card at Ludlow. The Polomoche, a winner at Stratford in October was my fancy for the Coral Cup and plenty agreed with me as he was sent off 6/1 favourite. He could only finish 10th and then went to Aintree where he was pulled up and he seemed to have lost his way somewhat. However he atoned for disappointing efforts at Cheltenham and Aintree under an inspired Tony McCoy ride at Ayr at the Scottish National meeting at 15/2.
Voy Por Ustedes (King) – A wonderfully consistent chaser at the highest level he once again acquitted himself well. With Master Minded ruling the roost over 2 miles Voy Por looked to the longer distances and was 3rd to Kauto Star in the King George at Kempton. A win at Ascot on unsuitably heavy ground was followed by a creditable effort in the Ryanair Chase where he found the Imperial Commander just too good. An exceptionally tough individual he ended the season with a particularly game win at Aintree in the Grade 1 Melling Chase. A thoroughly genuine and likeable individual. (Pictured below)
Wichita Lineman (JJ O’Neill) – The story of Wichita Lineman’s season was a remarkable one but did not have a happy ending. He won a couple of times over fences before Christmas, both at Chepstow but his big win came in the William Hill Chase at The Festival. As so often was the case with him he raced lazily through the contest and made several blunders. Running in snatches he never looked like winning until his stamina came into play late on and under the ride of the season AP McCoy got him up on the run in to collar Maljimar.
Sadly he fell at the first in the Irish National and had to be put down.
Best of the rest
Denman
One thing that the “fifty” have in common is that they all won at least once. I must mention a horse that failed to win a race but certainly endeared himself to the jumping fans. Denman, such a dominant force when storming home to win the 2008 Gold Cup, started the new season under a cloud. After his well publicised heart problem he only returned to the track in February for the Levy Board Chase at Kempton where he was beaten a long way by Madison Du Berlais. A shadow of his former self in the Kempton race the pundits were undecided about his chance in the Gold Cup and he was allowed to start at 7/1. Although Sam Thomas never tried to dominate from the front as he had dome the year before Denman ran well without ever really looking like getting to grips with Kauto Star. The latter became the first horse ever to regain the Gold Cup title but in the winner’s enclosure Denman (pictured below) got every bit as enthusiastic a reception as his rival.
Rather surprisingly Denman headed next for Aintree and the Totesport Bowl. On ground that was probably too lively and a track too sharp he battled bravely with Madision Du Berlais without ever really travelling as smoothly as we know he can and he fell heavily 2 out. Hopefully he will come back next season back to his best and renew the rivalry with Kauto Star.
David Pipe
David Pipe endured a disappointing first half to the season despite some big race success thanks to Lough Derg and Madison Du Berlais. I included a few Pipe inmates on my list to follow so didn’t enjoy much success with them initially. The quartet of Ashkazar, Quaddick Lake, Qulinton and Another Display were worth waiting for however and recouped some losses in the latter part of the season. Ashkazar, the classiest of the 4 was an outside fancy for the Champion Hurdle and while not managing to scale those heights he was at his best when winning the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.
The other 3 all came in at decent odds. Quaddick Lake came in twice in quick succession in the spring at Exeter and Taunton at odds of 9/1 and 3/1. Qulinton ran away with a handicap hurdle at Chepstow at 14/1 under an enterprising ride from the front by Danny Cook while Another Display, a dual Irish points winner came in at 10/1 in a novice hurdle at Taunton.
Hurdlers
Three runners from my list to follow won top hurdles prizes in the early part of the season, Pettifour , Duc de Regniere and Snap Tie. Inglis Drever had long bossed the stayers hurdle scene but he was pulled up on his reappearance in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and the injury he sustained there eventually led to his retirement. The winner that day at Newbury was Duc de Regniere at 9/1 following up an earlier success in handicap company at Kempton while Pettifour, a winner of a Grade 2 at Wetherby on November 1 was 3rd. Snap Tie had always been held in high regard by Philip Hobbs and he was the next to put himself in the Champion Hurdle picture getting the better of the reigning champion Katchit (pictured below) at Kempton.
The ladies
Henrietta Knight endured a lean spell during the season but Calgary Bay and Somersby both gave her something to smile about. Calgary Bay beat Kicks for Free and Tartak in the Dipper Novices Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Somersby won a novice hurdle at Kempton but reserved his best performance for the Cheltenham Festival where he ran a cracker in 3rd behind Go Native in the Supreme Novices. He looks an exciting prospect for fences next season.
Female trainers traditionally do well at National Hunt racing. The star in Emma Lavelle’s yard is Crack Away Jack. He put down an early marker winning a limited handicap at Chepstow beating Alan King’s Squadron despite giving away more than a stone. This performance earned him a 12/1 quote for the Champion Hurdle. Crack Away Jack and Chomba Womba went head to head in the Coral Ascot Hurdle next. Emma Lavelles’s charge was let down by some sloppy jumps and on the day was unable to reel in the mare who added to her success at Wincanton by a length with Crack Away Jack running on well after the last. Crack Away Jack lost nothing in defeat when fourth in the Champion Hurdle.
Sue Smith had a better season with both Coe and Daldini adding to her winning tally. Coe won a handicap chase at Haydock Park at 7/1 and put up a solid effort back at the Lancashire track when 2nd to Rambling Minster in the Blue Square Gold Cup. Daldini won handicap chases at Wetherby (6/1) and Newcastle (13/2).
Another Sue Smith runner that deserves a mention is Cloudy Times. Fourth in the Aintree Champion Bumper of 2008 Cloudy Times looked a fine national hunt prospect. The grey gelding had earlier won a bumper at Sandown and again started the new season in that sphere winning at Aintree in October. He made a promising hurdles debut when 2nd at Haydock but sadly suffered a fatal injury when returning to the Lancashire track in January.
Open de L’Isle won a handicap at Carlisle for trainer James Ewart in March at 13/2. What was unusual about his victory was that he was the only winner on the card trained by a male!
Multiple winners
My list to follow threw up some multiple winners not mentioned already. Notably Cape Tribulation, Riverside Theatre and Doeslessthanme who each won 3 times, while Merrydown, Planet of Sound, Glencree, Pterodactyl and Knockara Beau were all dual winners.
Some popular winners
Don McCain enjoyed another successful season and his popular chaser Cloudy Lane won the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock and his Rightway Star also gave my list to follow a nice winner at 14/1.
There was no more popular winner during the season than Carruthers who jumped for fun and galloped his rivals into the ground to win the Reynoldstown at Ascot in heavy ground in February. He is owned by Lord Oaksey who must be just about the most respected gentleman in the sport and who is now an octogenarian. Carruthers attempted to make all in the RSA Chase but he ploughed through the 3rd from home and tired, eventually finishing a most respectable 4th.
After the serious injury suffered by trainer Robert Alner there was a good deal of public sympathy for the family and I was particularly pleased when the Alners had an across the card televised double in January thanks to Vodka Brook and Miss Mitch (pictured below)
My write up on Miss Mitch the night before went as follows “In the 3.25 I am going for a bit of an outsider in the mare Miss Mitch. A decent hurdler she has taken some time to get the hang of fences but posted her best effort to date behind Gwanako over course and distance before Christmas.” But I am afraid I chickened out of tipping Vodka Brook; “Vodka Brook perhaps has a bit of a squeak but I don’t have enough confidence to tip him.”
A sad footnote
The first day of the Grand National meeting proved to be a depressing one with the sad loss of Exotic Dancer (pictured below) in the Totesport Bowl.
Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding has been a terrific horse for his connections winning any number of good prizes including this race a couple of years ago. However, having run his usual gallant race in second, he suffered a heart attack. He will be sadly missed.
Acknowledgements.
Binocular, Denman and Exotic Dancer by kind permission of the artist Sarah Clegg.
Katchit courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.
Imperial Commander, Master Medic and Miss Mitch courtesy of Turfpix.
Kalahari King, Punjabi and Vor Por Ustedes courtesy of Kate Tann.
ahorse 