IN the fields of sport, there are many individual moments in the build up to the final crescendo of victory.
Think that moment of anticipation before Salah connects with a dropping cross, the ball leaving Sexton or Clifford’s boot, goalward, straight and true. The knock-out punch connecting before the combatant drops to the canvas, the Formula 1 driver spotting how he can cut that corner for the lead. Those are the “the mare is beginning to get up.” moments, when you realise, yes, it’s going to happen, just before the final cheers of release before victory is actually sealed.
And in those moments, the pressure is on the participants. These are some of those, it’s going to happen moments from this year. And not to forget when what happen changed lives.
Marine Nationale/Michael O’Sullivan
Cheltenham March
Pressure is for tyres. It’s a phrase thrown about by sportsmen for ages. But while the likes of Barry Geraghty and Jim Bolger may have earned that been there/done shrug, it’s a bit different if you are a 23-year-old still claiming rider going into racing’s biggest festival, and on a horse whose trainer has said is the best he has had anything to do with.
Throw in the first day Cheltenham roar, the Mullins hyped horse as favourite. For Michael O’Sullivan - the moment of destiny?
It arrives over the second last. Townend is ready to commit the favourite. Marine Nationale is on his outside, but poised. Townend goes for it running to the last. He is briefly two lengths clear. Still O’Sullivan holds on to his ace. Over the last, Facile fumbles it. Now O’Sullivan commits... “And Marine Nationale sweeps on by…” goes the commentary. Cool, calm, collected. Race won before the final salute at the line.
Honeysuckle/
Rachael Blackmore
Cheltenham March
Rachael Blackmore knows all about Cheltenham pressure. She and Honeysuckle had come out on top three times on this big day. But this was different, this was the final one. And with what had preceded for her trainer in the previous eight months – there was more than the usual emotion in the air before the Mares’ Hurdle.
Two out, Johnny Burke hadn’t missed a beat in front on Love Envoi. The two mares duelled to the last but Love Envoi was slicker. “Love Envoi was just in front there,” calls Ian Bartlett in commentary. For a few brief strides it looked like the dream finale would not happen. But then, half way up the run-in, Honeysuckle dug in as she had for all her career and the dream end was in sight.
Galopin Des Champs/Paul Townend
Cheltenham March
Paul Townend and Willie Mullins had been there and done that. It had taken Willie some time, mind, but he and Townend had twice returned with the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Galopin Des Champs was favourite but still had to get this distance.
There were five still in there fighting on the final bend. Galopin and Townend were fifth and waiting. Still waiting over the second last as Bravemansgame was produced to go for his race. Townend waited, just letting his horse travel. But you sensed he had his rival’s measure. And over the last, he fully committed, and the Gold Cup was his. Harry Cobden rode a great race on the second, but Townend’s was even better.
I Am Maximus/Paul Townend
Fairyhouse April
It takes a lot for Ruby Walsh to go into raptures so when he does, you look again. This was a race where any plans went out the window. It was a battle all the way, with your own mount as well as 27 rivals.
Townend set off on the inner, well back but his horse didn’t jump the first two very well. “I Am Maximus got a reminder on landing,” Jerry Hannon called after the sixth fence.
By the last in the straight first time round he was last, every fence looking an effort. Over the far side, Townend switched him outside but the jumping was still awkward. With eight fences left, he was still out the back and impossible to see him being involved. Even over the third and second last, it was still an outside chance. But cometh the hour… on the run-in he suddenly swooped. Ride of the year.
City Of Troy/Ryan Moore
Newmarket July
Come mid-summer, one eye is on the now established flat stars. The main classics are over. One eye then turns to the next generation – where will the new star emerge from?
City Of Troy had gained plenty of attention on his Curragh debut when he has won by two and a half lengths. But the trip to the Newmarket July meeting would reveal more. Pushed along near the lead two out, the time was to deliver. And that he did. Just after the furlong pole the gap widened, yes – this is a good one. And away he went “worthy of all the superlatives” commentator Simon Holt called as the flaxen-tailed colt raced away announcing himself a new star.
Mostahdaf/Frankie Dettori
York August
You never lose it? The clock in the head? York’s Juddmonte International was billed as the clash of the big two – the three-year-old Paddington on a roll of four Group 1 wins, Mostahdaf, the late maturing five-year-old and a dominant winner of the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot
Frankie Detttori had earlier raised a few eyebrows in going off fast on Gregory in the Great Voltiguer but he committed from the off here, rolling along with a few sub 12sec furlongs to give him a three-length advantage turning in to the straight.
A look at the final half mile sectionals tells us that Paddington actually ran the three furlongs from four out to the furlong pole faster than Mostahdaf. But the damage was done. The older horse had cracked the younger and was faster again through the final furlong. A master class in controlling the pace.
Tahiyra/Chris Hayes
Leopardstown September
There was pressure on Chris Hayes on Saturday, September 9th. Home town, Group 1, odds-on favourite, big field on a fast-turning mile.
At the bend, the camera angle moves to side-on, commentator Jerry Hannon calls “poised on the outside is Tahiyra”. Hayes had placed his filly in the perfect position and he waits to the furlong pole to call for all. With the turn of foot that characterised her three previous Group 1 wins, she left no doubt on her star quality.
Auguste Rodin/Ryan Moore
Santa Anita November
Auguste Rodin was almost born with a big reputation. As the son of Japan’s star racehorse Deep Impact, a grandson of one of Europe’s greatest sire, Galileo, from a Group 1-winning dam. There’s racing royalty to preserve.
Triple Crown talk was lost in a soggy Newmarket. There was redemption in the Derby but another inexplicable failure in the King George. Despite restablishing himself at Leopardstown, there was a risk going to America.
You couldn’t find two more different tracks than Epsom in June and Santa Anita in November.
One of the moments of the year came on that final bend. Moore in on the rail. You don’t get second chances on US tracks – gap opens, you gotta be gone. And Auguste Rodin cornered like a velodrome cyclist, quick as a flash, on the right leg to accelerate on the bend, answering Moore’s alertness with a surge of speed. Race won by horse and rider in perfect tune.
Corah Rambler/Derek Fox
Ultima Handicap Chase - Cheltenham
Fool me once, fool me twice... It takes a bit of skill to win a competitive handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. What is now run as the Ultima has thrown up two of the best rides of the Festivals in Ruby on Dun Doire and AP on Wichita Lineman. But to win it twice on a quirky horse is a notable feat. Corach Rambler needs to be produced late, and stops when he hits the front. To get him home up the Cheltenham hill is worthy of praise. When Fox kept him covered up and then put him into space between horses at the last, you knew it was going to be a repeat of last year.
Irish Derby/ Wayne Lordan
Curragh July
But away from those moments of glory, our sport, more than most, lives with a huge element of danger.
You don’t expect sport to throw up life changing incidents. Wayne Lordan went to work with an outside chance in a flat classic on Irish Derby day. But he didn’t come home for months. But he was lucky. Graham Lee went to work on Friday, November 10th. He hasn’t come home yet. Pressure yeah, but it’s all just a horse race.