At The Races

Geraghty's Festival Blog

We’ve finally come to the big one and although I’m going to be part of it I think there’s only one winner, Kauto Star, the banker of the meeting.

I’d say he is a better horse this year and Paul Nicholls has minded him a bit more, looked after him if you like.

Whereas last season he had three races before the Gold Cup and four the year before when he was beaten by Denman, he’s two from two this season and on the last of them he was mighty impressive in the King George on Boxing Day.

He’s been kept fresh and well and the vibes for him are very good. The ground will be perfect for him.

I’ve seen some very good horses win the Gold Cup and been on one, Kicking King, but the one thing Kauto Star has done that they haven’t is stood the test of time. Remember, this horse was a top class two miler and won the Tingle Creek twice, not many Gold Cup winners can do that and stay three and a quarter miles so well. He’s just top class.

Denman has been a very good horse but hasn’t looked the same since he won the Hennessy in November.

But — and it’s a big one — he didn’t have any form going into last year’s Gold Cup, probably worse than he is now,  and he put in a great run to be second to Kauto Star. He might close the gap but I get no real vibe that he will.

I’d say it is very, very hard to see Kauto Star beaten, but I don’t want to sound negative about my ride, Tricky Trickster who won Denman’s race at Newbury, I’m just being realistic.

I’ll be going for some place money alright but it won’t be easy to get past Cooldine and Imperial Commander.

I’d say Cooldine will have improved a lot for his second to Joncol at Leopardstown in early February when he was plenty keen but it still shouldn’t be enough.

It’ll be a race in itself to see who gets third out of my horse, Cooldine and Imperial Commander.

Last year my banker for the meeting was Zaynar in the Triumph and I have a very big shout this time on Soldatino.

He gave me a very good feel at Kempton and he was a good way off being fully fit. He’d been very keen at home beforehand and Nicky hadn’t revved him up.

So he’s improved a lot and Zaynar had only had one more run than him so I’m not worried about experience.

The other thing to consider is that the Irish juvenile form wasn’t up held in the Fred Winter so carrying on that thought I think Advisor is the one we have to beat. His trainer, Paul Nicholls, won the juvenile handicap with Sanctuaire who destroyed the field by nine lengths so they’ll know exactly how they stand.

There will be plenty who will be with Edward O’Grady’s horse, Alaivan, but all his best form  on the flat was on heavy ground and he was beaten on yielding by Carlito Brigante. He’d need it to rain a lot.

I have a live chance in a very hard race on Bellvano in the in the County Hurdle. He’s only a novice and the only horse to beat him in three runs is Menorah who won the first on Tuesday. But you’d have to take notice that AP has opted to ride JP’s  Rock Noir, who’s unbeaten in his last five novice runs in France. He has a very big reputation and time might show he was well treated on his handicap debut with 152.

Nicky always tries to win his father's race which finishes the meeting, the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual and I think I’m on the right one of his three runners, You’re The Top.

It’s simple really, the better the ground, the better his chance and he wouldn’t want it to go soft. It’s possible that French Opera, who was third off 138 last year is exposed off 154 having won his last three and I would be more frightened of Pepsyrock.

Best of luck to everyone who has been reading my blog this week; I hope you've all had a great Cheltenham and look forward to catching up again later in the spring.

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18 March 2010

GOOD GROUND WILL BE A DREAM FOR DAVE

Wednesday was a fantastic day for me, but as always we start with a clean sheet on Thursday and in the opener I have a really live chance with Dave’s Dream in the Jewson Novices Handicap Chase —  I like this one a lot.

The key to this horse is the ground. I rode him at Newbury in December when he was well behind Take The Breeze but it was far too soft for him and the same again when Felix De Giles was on him at Doncaster last month.

On this good ground he has a big shout and I was very pleased with him when  we schooled last week — in fact he’s been schooling over fences for as long as I’ve been going to Nicky’s.

A lot of horses will have been mapped out for this but he came right at this time last year when he won the Imperial Cup off 130 and he’s off 138 today which is fine and he’s a horse that goes well fresh.

I’m down to pretty near my minimum for Erzen in the Pertemps Final but I would think one of Nicky’s other runners, Ainama, would be a stronger chance. He had very good novice form last season and he will have improved a lot from his only run at Newbury in November. A first four finish for my horse would be very acceptable and the decent ground will help him.

I think the Ryanair is a very open race in which Barbers Shop has a sound chance but Poquelin is definitely the one to beat. Hacked up in the Boylesports Gold Cup and really wants this better ground.

But this is definitely the right distance for Barbers Shop — he was second to Imperial Commander at this trip trying to give him 3lb in November 2008 — and I do expect a big run.

Of Nicky’s other two runners I’d be more frightened of Petit Robin, who is rated 9lb better than my fellow, than Jack The Giant who is coming back after a long time off.

The ground is ideal for Sentry Duty in the World Hurdle but I would say we are only playing for places because I reckon Big Buck's is the best staying hurdler I’ve seen so that includes Baracuda and Inglis Drever.

We’ll be seeing what we can grab but you can be sure I’ll be coming late, it’s the only way on this horse as we showed when we beat Katchit at Cheltenham on New Years Day.

My Petra is right back to herself for the Byrne Group Plate after running over hurdles, I worked with her last week and she went very well.  But my concern is the very competitive nature of the race with 24 runners and I feel a smaller field would suit her better. Apart from that, ground and distance are fine and if she copes with the traffic I expect a solid run.

 

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17 March 2010

RAINBOW CAN SHINE ON SECOND DAY

There’s never an easy race at the Festival but there are some very, very hard ones on Wednesday. However, my first ride of the day is one that I’ve been looking forward to for the last week, Finian’s Rainbow in the Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle.

I really love this horse. Despite him getting beaten at Newbury in December by Reve De Sivola he gave me a great feel that day but wasn’t fully wound up and got tired. He hacked up at Ascot last time and I’m keen on him alright.

This is a very tough race but the ground will be perfect for him and I’d like to think he can turn the form over with Reve De Sivola. I think the biggest threat is likely to come from Quel Esprit. I beat him on Coole River at Leopardstown in January but his blood wasn’t right and there’s been a lot of money for him. He’s much better than that form.

Right Of Passage was third in the bumper last year and is now a decent flat horse and has won his last two hurdles. But nine lengths covered the field when he won at Punchestown in February and I didn’t think he won with as much in hand as it might have looked. Quel Esprit looks the bigger threat but I think they’ll have to be good to beat my horse.

The problem for Punchestowns is that he has had a bit of an interrupted preparation for the RSA Chase with his foot problem and the stablemate Long Run has had a clear go and everyone in the yard is raving about him. And in any normal year I’d be happy to be on Nicky’s other runner in the race, Burton Port who’s unbeaten in four chases and second in a brush hurdle to Diamond Harry.

But I feel my horse will make it very interesting. He schooled and felt well last week but it’s just not ideal having a problem.

Of the Irish runners I’d be favouring Citizen Vic who’s won over two five and two miles but should stay alright but on the bare form you’d like to think that Punchestowns and Long Run would have it between them.

I know one thing, I’m pleased Punchestowns made that bad mistake at Sandown and came back to win well. That was an education in itself and I’d be more worried going into Cheltenham if he’d never made a mistake in his life!

In the Champion Chase I reckon Big Zeb has a big chance of turning over Master Minded. People say that this horse might not travel well to England but he was going fine when he fell four out in last year’s race — and I’ve no doubt that he would have beaten Master Minded but for making a bad mistake at the last at Punchestown in April. He lost two lengths and was beaten a head and the ground at Cheltenham will not be a problem.

You could question his jumping but, touch wood, he’s jumped well this season and he wasn’t right when he was beaten at Sandown. I schooled him at Leopardstown last week and he jumped well and felt well, in very good form.

The Coral Cup is an extremely competitive handicap and although I have a solid chance on Spirit River, any one of Nicky’s other three runners could be right in at the finish, Andytown, who is extremely well at the moment, Quantitativeeasing and Gold Award.

I know one thing, my horse would have gone close but for blundering three out in the Totesport Hurdle at Newbury and stays on 141 over a longer trip that is perfect. But in a race like this he is only a chance. A first four finish would be good.

John Kiely, the man who trains Frawley, my ride in the bumper, is a very shrewd man and he wouldn’t bring a horse over just to get the entry badges. This horse was only beaten two and three quarter lengths by the likely favourite, Elegant Concord, at Leopardstown on Boxing Day and he’s won his bumper since then.

 

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16 March 2010

A GREAT WEEK BECKONS

The main event is here and, as they say before the big fights — Lets get ready to rumble!

Since I rode my first winner on Moscow Flyer in 2002 I’ve always managed at least one success at the meeting and was leading rider once with five in 2003.

However, this year is different as I don’t think I’ve ever gone in with such a good spread of rides — not one of them is a “no-hoper.”

Sure, Ruby Walsh is rightly at the top of the bookies' lists with some great rides and plenty of favourites, but as we all know, all the favourites don’t win.

When I finished top in 2003 I didn’t have a star book of rides apart from Moscow Flyer but did have plenty of decent chances and it is just a case of how things fall for you.

Last year I rode two winners on the first day and thought “we’re in for a big haul here” and I had to wait until the last day with Zaynar to get the third — not that I was complaining. Two of them won a short head and a neck and you can lose those finishes at any stage.

Apart from the horses, one of the most important things is being settled once the racing is finished.

I’ll go straight for Cheltenham after riding in the first at Stratford and head for the apartment that I’ve taken with my wife, Paula. I’m not a big fan of staying in hotels, I don’t sleep well and there’s always too much going on and you can’t get away from it. I need to switch off. Your mental state is almost as important as your physical one.

The other thing is that I’ve nothing light all week which means we can slip away for a quiet meal with no sweating at the back of my mind.

I also haven’t got any early mornings riding out on the track — I haven’t even bought my riding out gear. A man of leisure — up to a point! Arriving at 11 o’clock is early enough.

 

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12 March 2010

A TOUGH CHOICE - BUT PUNJABI'S THE ONE FOR ME

After a lot of hard thinking I’m going to stay loyal and ride Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle. It was not an easy decision to make because Zaynar is a very talented horse that any jockey would want to ride, but I couldn’t get off the reigning Champion Hurdler when he’s in such good form.

He’s a horse that’s done it on the big stage and he knows what to expect on the big day. But more important still, he just gave me the most unbelievable feel at Kempton, when he really picked up impressively.

I’m sure he is simply a spring horse and just comes to himself at this time of year, it was just a much better feel at Kempton to the one he gave me the time before at Haydock.

My decision should not reflect at all on Zaynar as I’m sure he’ll run a big race.

And it is a tribute to the team that Binocular is now back in the picture. I got the impression that Nicky was buzzing after he schooled last week. It’s great that Nicky and owners are letting Andrew Tinkler ride Zaynar in the Champion and I really am delighted about that because he deserves the chance on a well fancied ride in a championship race. He gave him a terrific ride when they won at Ascot early in the season.

I actually came in for an unscheduled schooling session on Wednesday. I was meant to be at Fontwell in the afternoon but mine didn’t run so I went from the airport and got to Seven Barrows for second lot schooling.

I was glad I did because I got a really good feel from Punchestowns, Riverside Theatre and Soldatino amongst several others — it was worth the trip.

In fact, my book of rides for Cheltenham is looking very strong and we’ll be going through them in more detail each day next week but I have to say that Nicky and his owners have been extremely helpful, particularly owner Paul Murphy who let me off Carole’s Legacy to ride Voler La Vedette in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle. She’s pretty good and impressed me when we beat Go Native 13 lengths at Down Royal in November.

 

 

LIFESTYLE MY CHOICE AT SANDOWN

Cheltenham and Aintree are still to come and there are some important races at Sandown on Saturday and although Nicky might win the first race, the EBF Novices Handicap Hurdle, I might not be on it.

Ranjobaie won well for our conditional jockey David Bass at  Market Rasen last time and it’s only right that as the horse has gone up 9lb that David takes the 7lb off again.

My ride for Nicky, Larks Lad, certainly isn’t without a chance. He was better on decent ground when he was second at Doncaster last time and this much stiffer two and a half miles will suit him, too.

The best thing about that first race was the weight going up 7lb putting Larks Lad on 10st 13lb. It makes Friday night more bareable with some food, which will make me more bareable.

I ride El Dancer for Lucy Wadham in the Imperial Cup and the last time I rode him a year ago we won on the Monday before Cheltenham at Plumpton.

He hasn’t done what was expected over fences and he looked a bit more at home over hurdles last time but didn’t seem to get two and a half at Ascot.

The main thing for him is the decent ground he’s going to get, the stiff two miles and a 2lb drop in the weights. Like Punjabi, this is his time of year but a first four finish would be a good performance.

My best chance of the day is without doubt Lifestyle in the mares' bumper. Nicky was very keen for me to do 10st 5lb when she made her debut at Ffos Las in late January. He thought she’d win and he was right.

I like this filly a lot, she gave me a great feel when she won, and she’s done some good things since and will be very hard to beat.

Boomshakalaka hasn’t run since October but he’s been doing well at home. David Bass schooled him the other day and he went very nicely, looked well in himself and caught my eye. He’ll go ok and I know Nicky is keen to have another crack at the Topham at Aintree in which he unseated last year.
I felt honoured that they’d named at race after my column on attheraces.com at Dundalk on Friday night but unfortunately I’ve absolutely no idea what’ll win it!

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5 March 2010

PUNJABI PEAKING FOR TITLE DEFENCE

First things first. I was very, very pleased with Punjabi at Kempton last Saturday, in fact he gave me the best feel since he won the Champion last year.

It wasn’t what he beat but just the way that he did it. When I asked him to quicken up the straight it was electric, really impressive.

I think the main thing was that he felt much sharper, physically but just as important, mentally, really switched on.

It’s very possible that he is a spring horse and this is his time of the season.

I haven’t finalised In my own mind whether I’ll ride him or Zaynar in the Champion simply because I haven’t got to. There’s still a lot can happen in two weeks but last year Punjabi did a real good bit of work before the Champion and I really fancied him after that. And Kempton gave me the same feel so at the moment I’d have to be leaning towards him.

But they both need to get a clear run between now and Cheltenham and I’m sure to be on both of them again on the run up to the Festival.

I’ll tell you one thing, I think this year’s Champion is more competitive than last season's. I still think Go Native is the one we all have to beat and he wasn’t in the 2009 field and neither was Solwhit. Zaynar wasn’t there either and although Starluck was only fourth to him in the Triumph I was very impressed watching him win on the Flat at Kempton this week — and I’ve already said that I have the utmost respect for Medermit, who was just beaten by Go Native in the Supreme and then there’s Khyber Kim. And they were buzzing about Binocular yesterday morning — I’m making this sound very hard for myself!

Looking towards Cheltenham, I was very pleased with Soldatino’s debut at Kempton, jumped well and showed a good turn of pace. He’s now on my shortlist.

 

 

TRABOLGAN CAN ROLL BACK YEARS AT NEWBURY

I always look forward to Newbury meetings, Nicky sends decent horses there because it’s fair and not far to travel.

On Saturday I have a good spread of rides and I can see my opening mount, Osric, fairing much better now he’s had experience and is in a handicap for the first time. The only thing that worries me about him is that he is still very keen and will need to be dropped out. He does have ability, though.

I don’t think there’ll be a dry eye in the house if Trabolgan wins the veterans chase. Newbury suits him as we know from when he won the Hennessy in 2005. He was going OK when he unseated me at Doncaster last time and I’m expecting a very big run because the old horse is in great shape.

I ride Big Fella Thanks for Paul Nicholls in the two and a half mile chase and although Ruby’s chosen Pasco it couldn’t have been easy on form because my horse was staying on in second last time at Kempton and was just unlucky to sprawl on touching down and unseat behind myself and Duc De Regnier who is more than handy on his day.

I gave Be There In Five a blow out on Friday morning when we couldn’t school and he felt real good. I wouldn’t be too concerned that he was beaten at Bangor last time. He could never get into a rhythm round there and it wasn’t his running finishing third to Silver Kate. A galloping track like Newbury is what he wants and you’ll see a different horse in the three mile novice hurdle.

You won’t need to know my colours in the bumper because The White Admiral is an albino, white as a ghost. He’s not bad but it looks as though young J P Magnier is on the right one in Blue Monster.

I’ll be back for work later next week on the run up to the big Sandown meeting and we’ll get a few more clues then.

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25 Feb 2010

PUNJABI PREP WILL BE IDEAL

The main event on Saturday is the Champion Hurdle Trial. It’s greatly appreciated that this race has been put on after we lost the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last week and gives us a chance to get another run into Punjabi.

He’s hard to evaluate this year compared to last when he was much more in need of the Wincanton run before he won the Champion. But the places he’s run haven’t been ideal even though he ran OK at Haydock when he was second to Medermit. I’d have to say that I think Medermit has been seriously under-rated for the Champion and has a massive chance in my opinion and for what it’s worth the other one I reckon they all have to beat is Go Native. 

They both have pace and that’s why Medermit beat my horse, although we were giving him 4lbs.

Cheltenham suits Punjabi much better because he travels off a strong pace and stays very well off it, very similar to Zaynar.

I don’t see Kempton being a problem to Punjabi. There’s nothing of Medermit’s class in the race and he won the Adonis Hurdle there as a four-year-old and was going well when he fell two out in the 2008 Christmas Hurdle. 

I would have no concerns about ground and I would be pretty confident that the horse is still as good as he was.

At some stage I will have to choose between Punjabi and Zaynar for the Champion Hurdle. 

When Zaynar was beaten at Kelso last time, Quwetwo put him to the sword very early and we couldn’t get him back. I would be sure that it was fitness caught my horse out and if he’d had a run before Kelso he’d have won no worry and there wouldn’t have been any problem. There were reasons for the defeat and I was never thinking of throwing myself in the river.

He hasn’t had cheekpieces on yet this season and they definitely made the difference when he won the Triumph last year. Having said that, time will show that Quwetwo is a very smart horse — especially when he goes over fences.

I’m going to leave it as long as possible before I make my decision for the Champion because a lot can happen in three weeks.

 

 

NOVICES OF INTEREST ON KEMPTON CARD

Back at Kempton, Ghimaar might make his debut in the Dovecote Novices Hurdle at Kempton. He was a 100-plus middle distance flat horse for Dermot Weld and although I didn’t school him on Thursday, he did the job well.

One I did school that pleased me was Viking Rebel who has done well enough in his last two runs after coming back from 18 months  off. He’ll go very will in the Pendil Novice Chase.

I was very pleased with Soldatino who was useful on the flat in France and jumps well. At the moment I ride him in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday and I’d expect him to go very well. Super Kenny is also in that race and I was impressed with what he did. Both are in the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival., but I’m hopeful the former will shape up into a very smart juvenile hurdler.

Wogan used to be very hairy over fences but he’s a reformed character now and jumped sound enough when he won at Doncaster last time. He carried that though to the schooling ground and I’d expect a very good performance in the two and a half mile chase. What I would say, though is that the better the ground, the better his chance.

Although Nicky has Oedipe running in the Racing Post Chase I won’t be on him as he’s got ten stone and my absolute minimum is ten four.

I ride Morcambe in the bumper and I have to be honest and say that I haven't ever sat on her. But I do know she is quite highly thought of and was doing good things towards the end of last season. And the boss usually runs something nice in this race.

I'll be back with my thoughts on the outcome of the weekend's action next week.