ONE of Paul Nicholls’s big owners, Sir Alex Ferguson was a master on the mic when it came to pre- and post-match gamesmanship and it often seems like the now 12-time champion trainer likes a mind game of his own.
He admitted to “a bit of gamesmanship” after Politologue bounded away to win this season’s Tingle Creek Chase, from which Altior was a last-minute absentee, before adding: “It would have been one hell of a good race, but now it’ll be ‘Oh Altior wasn’t there so…’ but to win races they’ve got to run and they’ve got to perform.
“There were no excuses for us, we did our job. They (Altior camp) must have had a few niggly problems because the ground was as soft if not softer when he won here two years ago. We might get a crack at him another day but I certainly wouldn’t be scared of him.”
It was typical Nicholls, bullish and combative, and any sports fan loves to see that. The Ditcheat camp will get a crack at Altior today – if indeed he does make it to the start line – but with the younger Greaneteen, who finished an excellent fourth despite odds of 50/1 in the Champion Chase, and Dolos.
Speaking yesterday, Nicholls was looking forward to the bet365 Celebration Chase (3:05), and said: “I think it’s a very open race, we’ve obviously got a champion chaser to beat but Altior’s got questions to answer really as he’s not getting any younger.
“Greaneteen came out of Cheltenham and appears to be really well. He ran well in the Tingle Creek on ground that appeared to be soft enough for him, so he’ll be better here on better ground and seems in really good shape.
“If you go on Champion Chase form he was beaten two lengths, he ran a really good race and surprised a few but we’ve always held him in high regard.”
Altior, having his first run as an 11-year-old, and only his second start of the season, is bidding to win this Grade 1 for the fourth time in a row. Ruled out of the Champion Chase because of coughing, it will be fascinating to see how he fares today, not least with first-time cheekpieces added.
On his chances, Nicky Henderson said: “He’s enjoyed this race in the past and enjoyed Sandown so it’ll suit him on Saturday.
“The competition is top-class and I think it tells you enough when Dan Skelton is going over to Ireland (with Nube Negra) because the other horse (Put The Kettle On) is coming to England!
“All is good so far and hopefully nothing thwarts us as the last minute this time.”
Indeed Put The Kettle On has unsurprisingly been installed favourite for another Grade 1 success, but must do so away from her beloved Cheltenham.
Also at Sandown, rather fittingly, the two champions elect, Nicholls and Harry Skelton combine with Enrilo in the Bet365 Gold Cup (3:40) and Pic D’Orhy in the Select Hurdle (4:15).
It will be a first title for Skelton, who once rode just eight winners in a season. Nicholls however, will be recording his 12th championship and will be very hopeful of signing off with a win. His best chance of doing so is with Frodon, odds-on for the Oaksey Chase (2:35) with regular partner Bryony Frost on board.
“He seems well after the Gold Cup,” Nicholls said. “He’s had a nice rest and we’ve built him up again and he seems really well. It’s a good race and it’s a race we’ve always wanted to run in as it’s ideal for him.”
SUCH is the fixation of the Gold Cup within the gates of Ballydoyle, tomorrow’s Vintage Crop Stakes (4:20) has long been an important contest for Aidan O’Brien.
Yeats (twice), Fame And Glory and Leading Light set themselves up for successful Gold Cup bids with a win in this 14-furlong Group 3. The influence of Galileo in Ballydoyle means the Coolmore partners are spoiled for choice with regard to their Gold Cup challenge but it is a son of Authorized in Santiago, the Irish Derby winner, who appears to be their strongest chance at challenging the superstar that is Stradivarius.
The four-year-old will get his season up and running in Co Meath tomorrow and given he was most impressive on his seasonal debut last season, winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, it will be disappointing if he doesn’t begin with a win this term. Indeed it was after that Queen’s Vase win that O’Brien first mooted the Gold Cup as a long-term target.
Santiago has had a go at Stradivarius already, having finished third to him in a tactical Goodwood Cup last season. He was in receipt of a 15lbs age allowance then so will need to have progressed sufficiently from three to four to tackle the current king of stayers.
Elsewhere at Navan, O’Brien runs Willow, the most napped horse of the weekend in the adjacent table, in the Listed Salsabil Stakes (3:50). The daughter of American Pharoah and Peeping Fawn is a full sister to September, who was among a quartet of top-class Ballydoyle fillies who came through the ranks in 2017 (alongside Clemmie, Magical and Happily). September, who was an unlucky loser to Laurens in the Fillies’ Mile, was unplaced on her only start the following season.
Willow was given plenty of time last term but won her maiden in fine style at Leopardstown late in the season, clocking a good time in the process. She is a general 14/1 shot to go one better than her dam in the Oaks (second to Light Shift in 2007). Her well-hyped stablemate Santa Barbara (7/2) currently tops that market.