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Pattern Race Review: Nicholls strengthens Gold Cup Grip
/ Rory Delargy / 02 February 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet
On a day of surprises and renaissances at Cheltenham on Saturday, the net result was a further tightening of the Ditcheat stranglehold on the Blue Riband itself, and memories of 1983 begin to seep into the collective consciousness. Could Paul Nicholls really emulate the achievement of Michael Dickinson by saddling the first five home in the Gold Cup?
The signs were there as early as the first race when the only person not left in shock by the win of Baccalaureate in the Juvenile Hurdle was his ever-optimistic trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies. Most observers were scrabbling for the form book which he cited as a reason why the SP of 100/1 was an insult to his runner. In reality, there weren't many falling over themselves to grab the 420 available on Betfair at the off, and he was matched at 1000 several times, including in-running. He undoubtedly has talent, as he was a winner for Nicolas Clement in France at ten furlongs, but he doesn't appeal as a likely Triumph Hurdle winner.
Runner-up Pistolet Noir is better than the form looks but looked either very green or decidedly wayward, shaping to run out on one occasion and looking awkward on others; he still has plenty of scope to improve but it's worth reiterating the poor record of horses sold out of the Nick Williams yard in the past. Neither Beshabar nor Dom D'Orgeval have done anything of note since leaving Devon for big bucks (excuse the pun) and I'd be wary of backing the latest transfer too. George Nympton is now qualified for handicaps and is confirmed as being on target for the Fred Winter where he makes plenty of appeal on earlier form with the promise of more to come despite his lacklustre performance. His rating of 123 will leave connections sweating on whether he will get in, but this year's hurdlers look weaker than usual and I'd be fairly confident he will make the cut.
The Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase isn't a pattern race but has a history of throwing up graded performers and this year's winner Hey Big Spender was the most promising individual on display in my opinion, certainly in terms of the future. He gave weight away here with the minimum of fuss and jumped superbly all round. He's been touted as an RSA Chase possible but would make significant appeal in either the Jewson or the Festival Plate. He's been raised 9lb to 147 but in my opinion that in itself won't be enough to stop him should he go the handicap route in March.
It was a case of deja vu in the next as The Sawyer won the Betfair Trophy Chase for the second consecutive year, as usual jumping boldly in front and keeping on most determinedly. No Festival clues here, in truth, but it was heartwarming to see the winner and veteran Mister McGoldrick giving such an exhibition of jumping through the race and the crown were most appreciative.
Taranis bounced back from a massive lay off to land the Argento Chase and now heads to the Gold Cup where trainer Paul Nicholls has a strong hand. He saddles six of the current entries and five have been cited as likely runners. Surprisingly, very few bookmakers are offereing odds on the champion landing another 1-2-3, let alone emulating the legendary Michael Dickinson by providing the first five but it's a very real possibility, and for all he claims that such a feat doesn't concern him, Nicholls would clearly love to have his name so indelibly writ in racing lore.
Restless Harry provided a rare big race win for Robin Dickin when landing the Classic Novices' Hurdle and he looks likely to be suited by a step up to the three miles of the Albert Bartlett next month. It's possible that the second and third were non stayers and I'd particularly like to see General Miller dropped back to the minimum, but it would be churlish to crab the performance of the winner who had so nearly landed a Grade 1 a few weeks earlier. A line through Reve De Sivola still suggests that Tell Massini is the top staying novice hurdler in this country.
Last year's Cleeve Hurdle gave us the World Hurdle winner Big Buck's but the latest renewal was weaker overall, if more competitive. The winner, Tidal Bay has become one of jump racing's great enigmas and winning trainer Howard Johnson claimed to have run him over hurdles rather than in the Argento Chase "in order to save £500". Whatever the motivation, the return to hurdling saw him return to his best to win decisively while still maintaining his ugly head carriage. He'll most likely take on Big Buck's now but can hardly be guaranteed to reproduce this effort, let alone improve on it. Favourite Lie Forrit was very ring rusty and will head to the Rendlesham Hurdle before another trip to Gloucestershire, this time in the Pertemps Final for which he would make some appeal, even with top weight.
