Potts promised jumping class

AS you become involved in following racing, certain sets of colours inevitably become linked with success. Arkle’s yellow with the black hoop, Dawn Run carried a black hoop also, was it a lucky omen? The Durkan blue colours, the O’Leary red colours, the Kauto Star colours, all instantly recognised in the winter game. On the flat, the first set of colours that I associated with greatness were those of Charles Engelhard, carried by the great Nijinsky.

The colours carried by the Ann and Alan Potts-owned horses were different combinations of the green, yellow and red. They too came to represent class over jumps.

Alan paid big money to fulfil his big dreams and enjoyed a huge amount of success. It was fitting that Ann and Alan did get that elusive Holy Grail winner in the Gold Cup with Sizing John this year.

He will be very much missed for his contribution to both sides of the industry, as a buyer and to us race fans who cheered the performances of his horses. Hopefully his colours will not be lost to the winter game.

Holding Court

IN these days where the sport in dominated by a handful of leading players, we are becoming increasingly accustomed to an owner or trainer having two or three winners on a card.

It’s not often though that a sire can dominate the day. We had such a case last week when Boardsmill Stud sire Court Cave was responsible for three winners at the Dromahane point-to-point meeting on Sunday. Queens Cave, Court Master and Hilary View all duly obliged for the son of Sadler’s Wells.

Slow horses

GORDON Elliott’s post-race comments that he was thinking of going point-to-pointing with Navan Grade 2 winner Clarcam, added to the same owner’s 1-2-3 in the Clonmel Oil Chase, puts the power of the Gigginstown string into light. The comment after Woods Well won at Fairyhouse during the week was “he might not be a graded horse.” However, if last year is anything to go by, we might just need to find the worst novice hurdler that Michael O’Leary owns and back him for the Martin Pipe.

Soldier’s army

SOLDIER Of Fortune was one of the young sires to have success with his foals at Tattersalls Ireland this week, with lots selling for €72,000, €70,000, €55,000 and €50,000. The Return of Mares for 2017 showed that he had covered 341 mares this year. Many more baby soldiers are on the way.