When reviewing the festival last night I concluded that the Champion Chase was probably the worst championship race that I can every remember.
Then my thoughts turned to probably the best 2 mile chaser never to have won the QMCC, VENN OTTERY (NAP). In 2004 he was hacking all over Azertyuiop, Nicholls had been allowed to train him properly he would have won and landed a huge gamble.
Mark Johnston roared as he was charging down the Hill "the dream lives on"...
I think that the owner dreamt that the horse would win the Queen Mother...that's why he went for it...as well as improving by about 42 pounds...
Mark Johnston roared as he was charging down the Hill "the dream lives on"...I think that the owner dreamt that the horse would win the Queen Mother...that's why he went for it...as well as improving by about 42 pounds...
It's a great shame he wasn't born 7 years later, although he would probably have been odds on last week. The only negative was that unless he won the Arkle the stats would say that he was a negative.
It's a great shame he wasn't born 7 years later, although he would probably have been odds on last week. The only negative was that unless he won the Arkle the stats would say that he was a negative.
Going back to VENN OTTERY (NAP). I remember when a group of 7 a-side boys lumped on him to win a hunter Chase over 3 miles at Ludlow, he should have been 1-5 that day but started at something stupid (about 7-1). THEY knew that day.
Going back to VENN OTTERY (NAP). I remember when a group of 7 a-side boys lumped on him to win a hunter Chase over 3 miles at Ludlow, he should have been 1-5 that day but started at something stupid (about 7-1).THEY knew that day.
Ven Ottery rated 110 in the Champion Chase to Azertyioup at 170 says it all really. Nicholls did improve his rating from 80 to as high as 117 training the horse to all four of his wins under rules, but winning the Champion Chase would have indeed been a real fairy tale.
Ven Ottery rated 110 in the Champion Chase to Azertyioup at 170 says it all really. Nicholls did improve his rating from 80 to as high as 117 training the horse to all four of his wins under rules, but winning the Champion Chase would have indeed bee
On a sad note, did they ever get to the bottom of the horses death? The trainer Sue Gardner said at the time that the horse should not have run but Carter who even at the age of 88 held a licence to train, insisted that it ran. Very sad.
On a sad note, did they ever get to the bottom of the horses death? The trainer Sue Gardner said at the time that the horse should not have run but Carter who even at the age of 88 held a licence to train, insisted that it ran. Very sad.