We are right in the sweet spot for the big Cheltenham Festival debate – namely, whether we should be looking furtively forward, or chastising those we catch doing so.
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Joe’s BloGG
There is nuance to this debate far beyond the basics of the jumps season’s scheduling.
As a year-round sport, racing can pick and choose highlights in more months than not: March has the Cheltenham Festival, April the Grand National, June the Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot, August Glorious Goodwood, October the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, November the Breeders’ Cup, and December the King George. Placing all of these on an equal pedestal is easy for those who watch horse racing every week, because it is natural to get excited about the championship days.
However, were we to claim that all of these events were worth of everyone’s equally undivided attention, would the trickle down outweigh the current situation whereby Cheltenham lives and breathes of its own accord? From an advertising perspective, it is worth heeding an old racing adage: if you have seven Derby horses, do you even have one?
There is reasonable caution looking inwardly that the behemoth that is Prestbury Park casts a shadow so great that even the biggest races between October and February fail to glisten as they should. The four days in March now determine the entire path of a championship horse’s season, with assignments missed readily if fitness is better gathered elsewhere.
Sometimes, the desire to race at Cheltenham, only Cheltenham and ignorance of all but Cheltenham can infuriate. Constitution Hill is a great horse, and there is no doubt from all following that he has been ill, injured and everything in between since his last race nearly 12 months ago. However, because the Champion Hurdle, coupled with his unblemished record, bore such superlative significance to his connections, the media frenzy has only whirlpooled into uproar every time he has been ruled out of his latest appearance.
Yet, horse racing cannot compare itself to football, and hope to reverse the media narrative. Whether we dream otherwise, Cheltenham is our Olympics, our Ashes, our major championships.
Football exists on another plane so that the Premier League, Champions League, and even occasionally the international breaks, can always entice and entertain. Horse racing needs its pinnacles, and in the Cheltenham Festival, we should be thrilled that, if anything, we have something even the Olympics, Ashes, and major championships cannot begin to compete with.
In terms of the first two, the regularity and consistency of four historic racing days occurring every year ensures at least one week a year, as opposed to every two or four, in the public consciousness. Golf’s majors may be multiple, but are available in the UK only to those with Sky Sports subscriptions.
Its berth on ITV is never to be underestimated. I am excited by the prospect of a thrilling King George, of Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs facing off at Leopardstown, of Grand National trials and Festival preps, and Nicky Henderson printing out half-filled word documents. But not everyone can be.
Let Cheltenham be racing’s Zeus, its Roman Empire. Looking forward to the main event is what sport is about. It’s why boxing has title fights and headline acts, and why darts only enters the chat in December when Luke Littler is on stage.
We can still enjoy everything along the way. Cheltenham is the picture postcard though, so let us keep sending it out to all.
GG Jumps Journal – Welcome to the GG Index of Genuine Greatness
Sometimes we must counter traditional measurements with new thinking. Hence – welcome to the GG Index – or the Genuine Greatness index. Joe’s BloGG There are two videos which do the rounds at this time of the racing calendar. The first is Denman’s second “Hennessy” triumph (more on that sponsor later), through which “The Tank”…
Wed 04 Dec 2024Fascinations & Irritations
I was at Sandown at the weekend, and one winner was particularly eye-catching.
Fascination – Not Disguising Your Handicap Mark
No, not Jonbon. He was great, maybe more impressive than ever before, but it was Henri The Second who delivered a greater knockout to his rivals.
What was most delightful as he sauntered effortlessly further and further clear of his toiling rivals was that Freddie Gingell had no mind to leave anything in reserve. There was no messing about trying to shield his winning margin from the handicappers’ binoculars; he simply let Henri The Second gallop remorselessly on to an 18-length triumph.
Life will become trickier for him next time out, but only to the tune of 8lb according to the assessor. Had he won by half the margin, he would probably have incurred a similar penalty.
Is there a lesson here? Maybe not based on a one-off scenario, but it was certainly a joy to watch a horse win by the length of Esher high street.
Irritation – Savills Chase Entries
While there is a clamour of expectation about which of the Irish-trained powerhouses will ultimately be supplemented for the King George, British trainers do not look likely to reciprocate for the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown two days later.
There may be less historic significance attached to Ireland’s post-Christmas staying showpiece, but in recent years it has been a stronger race. And yet, not one British-trained horse appeared among 21 entries for the contest.
True, they would have to face the two Gold Cup favourites in Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs, but given how often there are calls for our Irish counterparts to bolster Britain’s top races, there is barely an afterthought tempted towards our own equine talent crossing them on the reverse ferry.
Not to single out Venetia Williams, as every British yard is responsible, but L’Homme Presse is a horse who has always jumped out to his left. Surely Leopardstown would be more suitable than Kempton? If you are harbouring any hope of downing these foes at Cheltenham, why choose a less convenient contest to prepare your star for battle?
L’Homme Presse is 10/1 for the King George by the way. He’ll almost certainly prove me wrong now.
GG Jumps Journal – British Jumps Racing is a Relic Competing Against Reality
The 2.25 at Punchestown on Sunday was a classic. Let’s have more of that please. News Flash A shameless plug for my tipping ability first off – last week’s tip for the weekend won, as Lucky Place claimed the Ascot Hurdle, advised at 12/1 the Wednesday before. Joe’s BloGG Comparatively, though the bravery of the…
Wed 27 Nov 2024Tip for the Weekend
Instead of focusing on the ante-post certainties that will have my trousers down, here is one for Saturday who will hopefully keep them snugly round my waist. After a non runner last week, let us hope Fergal O’Brien will at least oblige us by declaring my chosen fancy.
It comes at Cheltenham of all places too! After 584 days off, Third Time Lucki ran a race full of promise on his stable debut, in what was a strong handicap for a four-runner event. It came over course and distance, and he finished ahead of a winner over the track and trip last time out. Down another 2lb, he is back to his last winning mark, should strip much fitter for the outing, and is still in very good hands to make the most of his talent. 14/1 is available in places for the 2.25pm on Saturday.