After one of the busiest weekends of racing across the globe, Matty Sutcliffe is back with his weekly column. He follows up his criticism of British staying chasers with significant praise for Haiti Couleurs at Down Royal, ponders ho to find Dan Skelton’s winners this season, and discusses jockeys’ faith in their favourites after Benvenuto Cellini and Ryan Moore won the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Haiti Couleurs – life in the British chasers yet?
I said last week that the Charlie Hall was a fairly damning indictment of the British staying chasers, and I saw little on Saturday to suggest that was inaccurate. The 162-rated veteran Pic D’Orhy saw the Skeltons benefit from another of the de la Hey horses removed from Paul Nicholls, who saw one of his two runners in the race beaten 30 lengths and the other pull up.
Handstands made a pleasing return to action on the eye, but you’d have to be concerned that he was just two lengths ahead of Riskintheground, who wasn’t given a strenuous ride throughout. I’d say Robbie Dunne was amazed at how well he was still travelling four out. Dan Skelton collected just over £68,000 from the contest, courtesy of the winner, who was making his debut for the yard having arrived from Skelton’s former boss, and the third, who was likely lobbing around in rear to loosen the grip of the handicapper. Not a bad day’s work.
Immediately after on the ITV card was the Remembering Envoi Allen Champion Chase at Down Royal, which, prior to the off, had promised to be a thrilling renewal. However, the omission of four fences and the withdrawal of Affordable Fury, along with Heart Wood, significantly lessened the ‘Grade 1’ feel of the contest.
Nevertheless, in spite of me stating we are miles behind the Irish chasers, Haiti Couleurs bounced out early and made all in game fashion. It was Paul Townend’s first win in the race, and another reminder of what Rebecca Curtis can do with a proper one. He’s undoubtedly becoming a people’s horse, Haiti Couleurs: a winner at Aintree, twice at Cheltenham including the Festival, a Welsh and an Irish National, a Denman Chase and now a Champion Chase. He’s reminiscent of the gritty British chaser of yesteryear.
Skelton success – do we know our fate immediately?
Two things that have been notable with the Skeltons so far this season are the SPs and the riding tactics. Of their last 18 runners, seven made all, five raced prominently, and there were only two who were notably held up, in Here Comes Georgie and Paddockwood. Eleven of them were favourites, and the highest winning SP was Paddockwood’s 8/1. Remarkably, the second-highest winning SP was Here Comes Georgie’s 3/1. Both were held up, and Dan Skelton said neither instilled all that much faith either.
The general consensus is that this operation has a strong inkling of what to expect from its runners, and punters arguably know their fate before the first obstacle. There were a few potentially smart types in there too. Keops Des Bordes made all despite some indifferent jumping at Carlisle to make a winning hurdling debut. He beat the yard’s Fortune De Mer in a point-to-point, was second to No Drama This End on his rules debut and finished behind the potentially very smart Skerry Hill on his sole start last season. If the yard have him right this season, he’ll be one to keep onside.
The Sketcher also made all to make a winning hurdling debut at Ayr. He added to last year’s success there and proved his tenth in the Champion Bumper was no fluke. Rattling Home, who beat the Champion Bumper winner in a point-to-point, looked a smart gelding when winning comfortably at Bangor.
Moore’s faith in Benvenuto Cellini repaid
It’s been a mixed season for Aidan O’Brien, who’s had remarkable success as ever, but got plenty wrong too. Benvenuto Cellini made a promising return to action when winning the Chester Vase, following in the footsteps of last year’s winner Lambourn, who went on to land the Derby.
Then, after being deemed a non-runner in the stalls at Epsom, he proved the narrative surrounding him was correct when beating the Derby winner in the Irish equivalent. Thereafter, however, he dropped way off it and failed to go on as most Ballydoyle Derby winners do.
Aidan O’Brien came out in September to suggest the stable had been suffering with a low-grade infection, which perhaps explains Benvenuto Cellini’s drop in form. Notably, Ryan Moore has stuck with him throughout the season, and his patience was rewarded as the colt displayed a devastating turn of foot to take the Breeders’ Cup Turf. It was the second winner of the weekend for part-owner Peter Brant, whose Ballydoyle horses have generally fallen just shy of being top class. I thought little of Haffner’s form having seen him in the Acomb, but he’s won a Royal Lodge and a Breeders’ Cup contest since.
I was pleasantly surprised by Haffner. I wonder whether they’ll have a crack at the Triple Crown with him? He’s got the gears to win over a mile, but by Justify out of a Zoffany mare from the family of Order Of St George, he’s undoubtedly bred to improve for further.