Humans are naturally fascinated by untoward events. We’re drawn to anything that disturbs the linear narrative of daily life. The occurrence of a ‘gamble’ in racing peaks strong interest, as it did on Saturday.
The County Kildare based Cormac Farrell had four horses all well supported into favouritism on Saturday, two for owner Douglas Taylor who famously landed a coup with D For Dave in 2010. The gamble failed at the first hurdle, as Calm The Jets was beaten 25 lengths in a Southwell selling handicap. The BHA’s integrity department themselves had approached Farrell prior to racing to provide information and expectations regarding his mounts.
I’ve always found the discourse around landing a touch intriguing. In this instance, there didn’t appear to be anything untoward regarding ‘stopping’ each of the horses. Nor did there earlier this week, when Ivan Furtado’s Alfa Blueburd won at 2-1 from 33-1 on debut. We do tend to celebrate the success of those getting one over the bookies. But in most cases, there is a fine line between playing the system and breaking the rules.
The handicapping system is indirectly designed for participants to exploit it: Three runs out the back in maiden/novice company before winning on nursery debut. The old Sir Mark Prescott trick of running over inadequate distances before stepping up in trip, gelded, and going on a winning streak. Finding ‘trouble’ consistently in races, thus lowering a mark into the 50s and having it off in classified company.
As punters, how much can we be aggrieved if we’re on a horse where today is ‘not the day?’ Can we really be frustrated it wasn’t ridden to obtain a best possible finishing position, or is it our fault for not factoring in the possibility that that specific race might not have been the ‘plan’?
Coolmore superlatives: Should we buy into the ‘Triple Crown’ hype with Darkness Falls?
Not since Nijinsky in 1970 has the Triple Crown of the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger been achieved. Camelot came the closest in 2012, having just failed to land the third and final leg when second to Encke in the St Leger.
His son, Darkness Falls, has been set the task following his Dewhurst success on Saturday. He looked to be a staying three-year-old for next season when producing a smart performance over nine furlongs in the Group 1 Golden Fleece Stakes last month. However, he proved he has the speed along with evident stamina when successfully dropping back to seven furlongs to beat the favourite, Champagne Stakes scorer Desert Castle, by a neck.
Naturally, the Coolmore superlatives followed, and he’s been set the task of a Triple Crown campaign. From a pedigree perspective, he ticks all the boxes. His dam is by No Nay Never, and was a winner over five furlongs. She’s out of the Woodman mare Hula Angel, who won the 1998 Rockfel Stakes prior to the Irish 1000 Guineas. She’s a half-sister to four individual winners, all of whom plied their trade at differing distances from seven furlongs to two miles, including the ex-150 rated hurdler Tigris River.
While it is undoubtedly exciting that Coolmore has come out and said he is the calibre of a Triple Crown horse, we do have to take such superlatives lightly at times. I think at times, we forget they are a powerful breeding outfit and naturally they are going to hype up their stock, particularly if they have stallion potential.
Constitution River was supposedly the best horse Ryan Moore has sat on. Auguste Rodin was described as ‘probably the most exciting horse’ they’ve ever had. Albert Einstein was a ‘total freak’. Those sentiments may have been sincere, but after all there are no guarantees in horse racing.
That said, it would be monumental for the sport and the Coolmore operation should Darkness Falls complete the heralded achievement next season.
Is it time to stage Chepstow a month later?
The horse racing fixture list doesn’t do itself much favours. The Lincoln meeting is often flagged as the official opening of the flat. However, everyone still appears to be in jumps mode, flat racing then seemingly disappears, and all of a sudden the Dante’s on and the 2000 Guineas is around here.
Chepstow’s Persian War meeting is the National Hunt equivalent to the Lincoln meeting, but it doesn’t do the code much justice in terms of unveiling the beginning of the season. On Friday, there were two flat meetings at two of the biggest tracks in the country, Newmarket and York.
The former staged the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile, where Musical Times cemented her Classic bid for next season. On Saturday it was also Newmarket and York, the former again holding Group 1 contests.
From a geological viewpoint, this likely wouldn’t affect Chepstow’s attendance which last year was significantly up. But, it feels as if the media coverage is sparse in comparison to the other flat meetings. Not only that, but there were no chase contests staged across the card due to the recent dry weather.
So, we had the opening day of the jumps racing staged with no chases and playing third fiddle to the flat. We have Champions Day this weekend alongside three jumps meetings. Again, I’d suspect all the coverage will be predominantly focused on Ascot. Would it not make sense to simply stage Chepstow two weeks later?
Eyecatcher of the week – Kocktail Bleu Saturday 4:02 Chepstow
It paid to come from off the pace in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on Saturday, as the jockeys appeared to kick early enough after Nick Slatter attempted to steal a march on the field early on.
We can upgrade the effort from Kocktail Bleu, who led the field until the second final flight and stayed on for fourth having looked to blow up late on account of fitness. That was a solid reappearance, and I’m hopeful he can have a big season.
He’s been behind the likes of Idaho Sun, Baron Noir and Klub De Reve, and finished his campaign with a fourth in the valuable EBF Novices’ Championship Final at Sandown. He looks well handicapped of 125, and given he showed promise in points, I do hope they go chasing with him this season as he could be seriously thrown in.