Events / Graham Cunningham / 06 February 2009 / 1

Will the weather abate for a minute to let us enjoy some jumps action? We're all praying for it and none less than Graham Cunningham, who looks at what might happen if the snow stays away from the London area.

It's the Aon Chase, Jim, but not as we know it. A stellar card at Newbury has been lost to the weather, but Denman has been rerouted to Kempton for his long awaited reappearance in the rearranged Levy Board Chase. Racing UK and betmaverick.com analyst Graham Cunningham has one beady eye on the weather and another on the rest of a weekend's racing when the Gold Cup winner will dominate attention.

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No sense in opposing Denman despite the negative vibes

If there has been a more frustrating week than this for racing fans in the last few years then I can't remember it.

The weather gods have been taking the mick by dumping the worst of the weather wherever racing has been due to take place and there is no guarantee that the decision to delay Kempton's Friday card by 24 hours will pay off.

Let's hope it does survive an 8am inspection on Saturday, because the debate over whether Denman retains all his destructive power ought to be fully resolved in the Levy Board Chase at 2.50.

Clearly, any horse who has been off the track for almost 11 months with treatment for a heart murmur thrown in has a question to answer.

And when you add in the fact that Paul Nicholls is making defensive comments about the suitability of going right-handed Kempton it would come as no surprise to see Denman drift.

However, I have no intention of taking him on. Some would say he needs a stiffer track, but Denman is a much faster horse than many people give him credit for and the speed he showed to punish Kauto Star and company in the middle third of last year's Gold Cup was exceptional.

In short, this jumps season needs Denman to come back firing to set up another Festival showdown with Kauto Star.

And anyone who lays him at bigger than [1.5] would do well to remember that he has a flawless nine from nine record over fences and has never been beaten first time out.

* * *

Pause can show his claws to continue Lavelle's good run

Emma Lavelle is a progressive young trainer with some progressive young hurdlers under her care.

Kangaroo Court and Amore Mio have both made a fair impression for the Andover handler this winter and Pause And Clause can do the same when he lines up for the Kempton's Calverts Carpets Novices' Hurdle at 1.40.

Hurdling winners Helpston and Frontier Dancer both loom large among the opposition, while the market should be a good guide as to what is expected from Nicky Henderson's Kiwi import The Shoe.

However, if Pause And Clause is as good as he looked at Newbury last month then all three could be playing for places here.

The Henderson-trained Mad Max came out on top that day, but Pause And Clause galloped on willingly to pull clear of the useful Shoreacres in second.

He shaped for all the world like an extra couple of furlongs will suit and, with testing ground plainly no problem, he looks bound to give his followers a fine run for their money.

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Love him or hate him, Barney refuses to go quietly

One of the first features I ever penned when betting.betfair.com first launched back in 2007 related to Barney Curley and his penchant for landing gambles with horses whose form have nosedived faster than Tom Daly from the high board.

The name over the door at his Newmarket base may have changed - as Andrew Stringer now holds the training licence - but the incorrigible Curley remains a prime cog in the wheel and Tusculum's win in his black and white silks at Kempton on Wednesday must have left him purring.

In case you missed it, Tusculum lined up for a woeful Class 7 minor event having plummeted to a mark of 45 just six runs after finishing fifth behind Sixties Icon in the 2006 St Leger.

Goodness knows why the handicapper saw fit to drop him so quickly, but the five-year-old was backed as if defeat was not an option and duly landed the gamble to reignite the debate as to whether the Curley modus operandi is healthy for the game.

Those who enjoy the craft and cunning that goes with a coup such as this smile knowingly and say "good old Barney," while those who rely on recent form rather than the market for clues merely frown in frustration.

You won't be surprised to hear I fall into the latter group. The great Barney is often heard threatening to quit racing altogether because he feels bookies are running the show to an unhealthy degree.

Somehow I suspect this great game of ours would get by without him.

What do you think?

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1. Phil Stansfield | 07 February 2009

   Characters in most forms of life are too few these days. Barney Curley most definitely fits the mould. We all know Barney's style and if he occasionaly plays the system and beats it then good luck to him. How many trainers have and still do run their horses to get the right handicap mark for their big day? However if any horse is running NOT to win then that is where racing needs to step in and severely punish the guilty party whoever they are.

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