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10 Jan 12
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05 Jan 10
The jury still out on Esprit
Mullins' grey needs stiffer test than Thurles to convince he's a real Gold Cup contender
By Niall Cronin
Tuesday January 10 2012
WHEN it comes to horse racing, there isn't a whole lot Ireland lacks. But at the moment there appears to be a big void in potential Gold Cup candidates.
Jonjo O'Neill's Synchronised winning the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown was a big blow to the seemingly leading candidates Rubi Light and Quito De La Roque. However, the latter appears set to get another chance in the Hennessy at the same venue next month.
Over the last year or so, social network site Twitter has become a very popular forum of discussion and one of the racing topics to ignite over the weekend was the possibility of Quel Esprit making the Gold Cup frame.
Willie Mullins' grey didn't sway bookmakers either way after a facile, yet expected, success at Thurles on Saturday and he remained a general 40/1 for the Cheltenham showpiece.
However, since then, a steady, albeit not bank-breaking stream of money has seen him cut into a general 25/1 shot and now, along with the yet to be seen this season Jessies Dream, Quel Esprit is the shortest-priced Irish horse in the betting for the Gold Cup.
Throughout bookmakers' shops and Twitter accounts, Quel Esprit's Thurles win split opinion on Saturday.
Personally, I felt the 40/1 on offer after his Thurles win was in fact still too short on the evidence of what we have seen so far. So needless to say, I wouldn't be rushing to take the 25/1 on offer, although 40/1 can still be sourced with William Hill.
Quel Esprit has now enjoyed two immense and well-timed confidence boosters either side of the Christmas period. He needed them, having failed to complete on his last three starts over fences.
The fact remains that he is unbeaten when completing over fences, but although unlucky to be brought down at Punchestown at the Festival, he did fall twice in Grade Ones as a novice when the revs were up and the race was on.
It would appear the tendency to do that is probably gone now. However, we cannot really judge that until he is thrown into another Grade One when taking on classier opposition at a brisker pace.
Punters who have invested in the eight-year-old for Cheltenham glory should be hoping that Mullins now targets the Hennessy next month rather than the Kinloch Brae at the end of the month to give them a guide where their investment lies.
The Kinloch Brae would be a step up in class, but it is unlikely to be on the best of ground and it wouldn't be a strong enough test to answer if he's up to previous Gold Cup winners Long Run and Kauto Star.
But running in the Hennessy may not be the sternest of tests either. There will be no Kauto Star, Long Run or Grand Crus and they are the three to beat in the Gold Cup.
Being trained by a certain Willie Mullins means that nothing would surprise me as regards to just how high up the ladder he could go, though, and if I were to stand in the parade ring after this year's Gold Cup waiting for Quel Esprit to return to the number-one spot, it wouldn't be a major shock, owing to the fact that his trainer has proven to be a bit of a genius.
However, I do feel those who have backed him at 40/1 have done so prematurely, as his hurdling form wasn't exactly that inspiring to suggest that he can go to Cheltenham and topple a 12-year-old, in-form Kauto Star or even a seemingly out-of-form reigning champion Long Run.
Hopefully, Quel Esprit or Jessies Dream will fill that void of an Irish Gold Cup candidate. Next month's Hennessy could hold a lot of relevant answers
Mullins' grey needs stiffer test than Thurles to convince he's a real Gold Cup contender
By Niall Cronin
Tuesday January 10 2012
WHEN it comes to horse racing, there isn't a whole lot Ireland lacks. But at the moment there appears to be a big void in potential Gold Cup candidates.
Jonjo O'Neill's Synchronised winning the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown was a big blow to the seemingly leading candidates Rubi Light and Quito De La Roque. However, the latter appears set to get another chance in the Hennessy at the same venue next month.
Over the last year or so, social network site Twitter has become a very popular forum of discussion and one of the racing topics to ignite over the weekend was the possibility of Quel Esprit making the Gold Cup frame.
Willie Mullins' grey didn't sway bookmakers either way after a facile, yet expected, success at Thurles on Saturday and he remained a general 40/1 for the Cheltenham showpiece.
However, since then, a steady, albeit not bank-breaking stream of money has seen him cut into a general 25/1 shot and now, along with the yet to be seen this season Jessies Dream, Quel Esprit is the shortest-priced Irish horse in the betting for the Gold Cup.
Throughout bookmakers' shops and Twitter accounts, Quel Esprit's Thurles win split opinion on Saturday.
Personally, I felt the 40/1 on offer after his Thurles win was in fact still too short on the evidence of what we have seen so far. So needless to say, I wouldn't be rushing to take the 25/1 on offer, although 40/1 can still be sourced with William Hill.
Quel Esprit has now enjoyed two immense and well-timed confidence boosters either side of the Christmas period. He needed them, having failed to complete on his last three starts over fences.
The fact remains that he is unbeaten when completing over fences, but although unlucky to be brought down at Punchestown at the Festival, he did fall twice in Grade Ones as a novice when the revs were up and the race was on.
It would appear the tendency to do that is probably gone now. However, we cannot really judge that until he is thrown into another Grade One when taking on classier opposition at a brisker pace.
Punters who have invested in the eight-year-old for Cheltenham glory should be hoping that Mullins now targets the Hennessy next month rather than the Kinloch Brae at the end of the month to give them a guide where their investment lies.
The Kinloch Brae would be a step up in class, but it is unlikely to be on the best of ground and it wouldn't be a strong enough test to answer if he's up to previous Gold Cup winners Long Run and Kauto Star.
But running in the Hennessy may not be the sternest of tests either. There will be no Kauto Star, Long Run or Grand Crus and they are the three to beat in the Gold Cup.
Being trained by a certain Willie Mullins means that nothing would surprise me as regards to just how high up the ladder he could go, though, and if I were to stand in the parade ring after this year's Gold Cup waiting for Quel Esprit to return to the number-one spot, it wouldn't be a major shock, owing to the fact that his trainer has proven to be a bit of a genius.
However, I do feel those who have backed him at 40/1 have done so prematurely, as his hurdling form wasn't exactly that inspiring to suggest that he can go to Cheltenham and topple a 12-year-old, in-form Kauto Star or even a seemingly out-of-form reigning champion Long Run.
Hopefully, Quel Esprit or Jessies Dream will fill that void of an Irish Gold Cup candidate. Next month's Hennessy could hold a lot of relevant answers
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i'm interested in seeing Bostons Angel again.Cannot believe the sandown run is anywhere near what hes capable of.
Quel Esprit would be their strongest candidate for me although its interesting what Gordon Elliot is doing with Jessie's
Don't write off Quito De La Roque yet. The Lexus wasn't run to suit him as he needs a proper test and I think we'll see a better horse in the Irish Hennessy. The Cheltenham Gold Cup will bring out all his strengths and at 33/1, I think he deserves a massive shout!
I would have a decent bet on Quel Esprit if i knew he was definately an intended runner
Unless Quel Esprit proves himself over 3m, then Ireland do not have any Gold Cup horses this year.
I haven't completely lost faith in Bostons Angel yet although he's been very disappointing in his two runs this season. First run wasn't too bad and he unseated before the race fully took shape. Sandown was not the performance of a potential Gold Cup winner but he was giving weight to a decent horse who flopped nto in the King George but still has lots to offer.
The 3 big things I'm counting on are his outstanding record as a novice (inc. Chelts) with form consistently franked, the possible improvement to come with blinkers (worked well in training) and the impeccable record Jessie has of training her stable stars to peak for 1 day in March. Her string have been very quiet by her standards this season and they may just be starting to turn the corner. Worth a small poke ew at 50/1 as a backup to your main selection. Gl whatever you back
The 3 big things I'm counting on are his outstanding record as a novice (inc. Chelts) with form consistently franked, the possible improvement to come with blinkers (worked well in training) and the impeccable record Jessie has of training her stable stars to peak for 1 day in March. Her string have been very quiet by her standards this season and they may just be starting to turn the corner. Worth a small poke ew at 50/1 as a backup to your main selection. Gl whatever you back
Plot thickens in Gold Cup puzzle
Richard Forristal
Thursday January 12 2012
Yesterday saw 34 horses entered for this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup -- a contest that promises to fully live up to expectations as the latest thrilling instalment in what has been a golden era for jump racing's marquee event.
Even now, over two months in advance, interest is growing apace. Sure, the most fascinating dimension remains that of Kauto Star and Long Run's enthralling rivalry, but there are a myriad of immensely intriguing subplots to boot.
From an Irish perspective, eight horses have been nominated for the three-and-a-quarter-mile Grade One. The Gordon Elliott-trained Jessies Dream, yet to reappear this term and seemingly being prepared especially for the race, is the shortest priced of those at 25/1.
Elliott was clearly encouraged by the way the horse ran when just denied by Bostons Angel in the 2011 RSA Chase at Prestbury Park. The worry is that Jessies Dream, having cantered into the straight that day, failed to drive home the advantage after leading over the last.
His Cotswolds conqueror Bostons Angel also has questions to answer, and the application of blinkers for next month's Hennessy Gold Cup does little to advance his claims.
If you allow that Quito De La Roque's recent eclipse at Leopardstown can be attributed to him simply not being right, he would certainly have some appeal at up to 40/1.
Colm Murphy, who has already won both the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase, is simply exquisite at priming horses for the big day. Should he return to his best, Quito De La Roque could win the Hennessy, and few will relish the Cheltenham climb more.
The danger at Leopardstown may be Quel Esprit. Willie Mullins' grey fenced immaculately in the RSA last March, jumping to the front as they rose out of the back straight the last time.
Sure, he then crashed out at the third-last, but that tumble might have finally taught him a lesson. He could do nothing about being brought down at Punchestown subsequently, and he has never looked like falling in either of his two facile triumphs this term.
Given that Ruby Walsh will be on Kauto Star come Gold Cup day, it might be prudent for Mullins to allow Paul Townend continue to build up his rapport with Quel Esprit next time, especially if Mullins decides to up him in class at Leopardstown.
Of course, it is not the Irish-based horses that are generating the heightened level of anticipation in the race at this early stage.
No sooner had the timeless exchanges between Kauto Star and Denman come to an end than another compelling struggle for heavyweight supremacy emerged between Kauto and Long Run. Notwithstanding that -- for whichever reason you prefer -- the two-time holder Kauto Star was operating below his best last term, Long Run was a worthy successor to the crown.
However, just as so many Epsom Derby winners fail to ever reach the same heights again, horses that win a Cheltenham Gold Cup traditionally leave their best days behind them. Best Mate won three and was an exceptional athlete, but he competed at a time when there was little in the way of meaningful opposition, allowing Henrietta Knight to wrap him up in as much cotton wool as she liked and prime him once a year come March.
Previously, L'Escargot had been the most recent repeat winner in 1971, while Kauto Star is simply the horse of a lifetime and you don't apply conventional logic to an immortal.
Right now, all the evidence suggests that Long Run is less divine. The bookies fancy that he will regain supremacy over his 12-year-old nemesis when faced with a more thorough test of stamina at Cheltenham, a notion that his connections are likewise clinging to.
Maybe that will be decisive, but the same connections were of the view after his devastating King George success just over a year ago that Kempton's speed emphasis brought out the best in him.
Besides, does anyone really expect the Cheltenham hill to be the rock on which Kauto Star perishes, especially now that Denman won't be there to bust his gut?
Ruby Walsh is too wily a fox to allow that to happen, while there is also a confidence issue in relation to Sam Waley-Cohen, who has endured a trying time since his moment of glory last year. He hasn't ridden a winner on the track since, has struggled to get Long Run fencing fluently and is picking up suspensions for sport.
When you factor in the reticent manner in which the jockey handled the media attention arising out of the bans, it does begin to look as though he may not be coping too well with the expectation that comes with such high-profile success.
Denman's jockey Sam Thomas, remember, suffered similarly in the aftermath of his Gold Cup victory.
The other captivating element to the countdown is that of Grands Crus' possible participation in the race. Novices have a pretty deplorable Gold Cup record, with Michael Hourigan's Doran's Pride's third in 1997 the pick of 20 attempts since Captain Christy took the honours in 1974.
David Pipe's charge was incredibly impressive at Kempton last time, but it was noticeable how he tended to go markedly to his left when putting himself right at fences. With time and space at a premium in a Gold Cup, that is a luxury he won't have come March 16.
Still, there is no denying that his presence would add even more spice to proceedings.
- Richard Forristal
Richard Forristal
Thursday January 12 2012
Yesterday saw 34 horses entered for this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup -- a contest that promises to fully live up to expectations as the latest thrilling instalment in what has been a golden era for jump racing's marquee event.
Even now, over two months in advance, interest is growing apace. Sure, the most fascinating dimension remains that of Kauto Star and Long Run's enthralling rivalry, but there are a myriad of immensely intriguing subplots to boot.
From an Irish perspective, eight horses have been nominated for the three-and-a-quarter-mile Grade One. The Gordon Elliott-trained Jessies Dream, yet to reappear this term and seemingly being prepared especially for the race, is the shortest priced of those at 25/1.
Elliott was clearly encouraged by the way the horse ran when just denied by Bostons Angel in the 2011 RSA Chase at Prestbury Park. The worry is that Jessies Dream, having cantered into the straight that day, failed to drive home the advantage after leading over the last.
His Cotswolds conqueror Bostons Angel also has questions to answer, and the application of blinkers for next month's Hennessy Gold Cup does little to advance his claims.
If you allow that Quito De La Roque's recent eclipse at Leopardstown can be attributed to him simply not being right, he would certainly have some appeal at up to 40/1.
Colm Murphy, who has already won both the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase, is simply exquisite at priming horses for the big day. Should he return to his best, Quito De La Roque could win the Hennessy, and few will relish the Cheltenham climb more.
The danger at Leopardstown may be Quel Esprit. Willie Mullins' grey fenced immaculately in the RSA last March, jumping to the front as they rose out of the back straight the last time.
Sure, he then crashed out at the third-last, but that tumble might have finally taught him a lesson. He could do nothing about being brought down at Punchestown subsequently, and he has never looked like falling in either of his two facile triumphs this term.
Given that Ruby Walsh will be on Kauto Star come Gold Cup day, it might be prudent for Mullins to allow Paul Townend continue to build up his rapport with Quel Esprit next time, especially if Mullins decides to up him in class at Leopardstown.
Of course, it is not the Irish-based horses that are generating the heightened level of anticipation in the race at this early stage.
No sooner had the timeless exchanges between Kauto Star and Denman come to an end than another compelling struggle for heavyweight supremacy emerged between Kauto and Long Run. Notwithstanding that -- for whichever reason you prefer -- the two-time holder Kauto Star was operating below his best last term, Long Run was a worthy successor to the crown.
However, just as so many Epsom Derby winners fail to ever reach the same heights again, horses that win a Cheltenham Gold Cup traditionally leave their best days behind them. Best Mate won three and was an exceptional athlete, but he competed at a time when there was little in the way of meaningful opposition, allowing Henrietta Knight to wrap him up in as much cotton wool as she liked and prime him once a year come March.
Previously, L'Escargot had been the most recent repeat winner in 1971, while Kauto Star is simply the horse of a lifetime and you don't apply conventional logic to an immortal.
Right now, all the evidence suggests that Long Run is less divine. The bookies fancy that he will regain supremacy over his 12-year-old nemesis when faced with a more thorough test of stamina at Cheltenham, a notion that his connections are likewise clinging to.
Maybe that will be decisive, but the same connections were of the view after his devastating King George success just over a year ago that Kempton's speed emphasis brought out the best in him.
Besides, does anyone really expect the Cheltenham hill to be the rock on which Kauto Star perishes, especially now that Denman won't be there to bust his gut?
Ruby Walsh is too wily a fox to allow that to happen, while there is also a confidence issue in relation to Sam Waley-Cohen, who has endured a trying time since his moment of glory last year. He hasn't ridden a winner on the track since, has struggled to get Long Run fencing fluently and is picking up suspensions for sport.
When you factor in the reticent manner in which the jockey handled the media attention arising out of the bans, it does begin to look as though he may not be coping too well with the expectation that comes with such high-profile success.
Denman's jockey Sam Thomas, remember, suffered similarly in the aftermath of his Gold Cup victory.
The other captivating element to the countdown is that of Grands Crus' possible participation in the race. Novices have a pretty deplorable Gold Cup record, with Michael Hourigan's Doran's Pride's third in 1997 the pick of 20 attempts since Captain Christy took the honours in 1974.
David Pipe's charge was incredibly impressive at Kempton last time, but it was noticeable how he tended to go markedly to his left when putting himself right at fences. With time and space at a premium in a Gold Cup, that is a luxury he won't have come March 16.
Still, there is no denying that his presence would add even more spice to proceedings.
- Richard Forristal
WHILE a Long Run partnered by Barry Geraghty or AP McCoy rather than Sam Waley-Cohen might be better equipped to force Kauto Star out of his comfort zone, there is far more to the two-time holder's renewed dominance than the gentleman amateur rider's limitations in the saddle.
Long Run had to go to the pit of his reserves to collect last March, and whether he has the stomach to do so again is a moot point. Kauto Star certainly doesn't deserve to be 4/1 to his 5/2, and strikes as an each-way bet to nothing at that.
On reflection, the notion that Quel Esprit, still unbeaten in completed starts over the bigger obstacles, might well be a genuine Gold Cup prospect is not as fanciful as it first sounded.
Were he to sluice up in the Hennessy, the 33/1 currently available about him would look huge.
Long Run had to go to the pit of his reserves to collect last March, and whether he has the stomach to do so again is a moot point. Kauto Star certainly doesn't deserve to be 4/1 to his 5/2, and strikes as an each-way bet to nothing at that.
On reflection, the notion that Quel Esprit, still unbeaten in completed starts over the bigger obstacles, might well be a genuine Gold Cup prospect is not as fanciful as it first sounded.
Were he to sluice up in the Hennessy, the 33/1 currently available about him would look huge.
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