TALKING dogs & horses
Wednesday February 17 2010
FENCES are there to be jumped. Stating the obvious, isn't it? But you wouldn't dare point it out to those who played at odds-on in last Saturday's Aon Chase, or to Tony McCoy for that matter.
At 1/6 Denman was expected to have little more than a racecourse gallop around Newbury in his final prep run before the Gold Cup.
He hadn't shaken off his pursuers by the time of a dreadful blunder four out which effectively ended the gelding's chances of victory. Yet what happened at the next obstacle was a shock to those watching from the stands and at home.
Denman ploughed through the fence, leaving a huge hole in the birch before depositing his jockey on the ground.
It all made for a dramatic afternoon at the Berkshire track.
Some commentators expressed a doubt about McCoy being a suitable partner for Denman, yet there were more saying it was nonsense to have such a view.
There was plenty of sympathy for the rider in Sunday's papers, sympathy that may not have been extended to Sam Thomas had he been on board.
He got no end of criticism for a previous fall from Denman and for coming off Big Buck's at the last in the 2008 Hennessy.
It seems almost certain McCoy will keep the ride in the Gold Cup for which Denman is a best-priced 7/2, while stablemate Kauto Star is oddson across the board.
Two races after the Aon Master Minded showed he is right back to his best in the Game Spirit but only after a dreadful error at the last when Ruby Walsh performed a minor miracle to keep the partnership intact.
The jockey's luck was in on Saturday alright as he went on to complete a four-timer in the concluding bumper having earlier ridden Alfie Sherrin to victory and taken the incident-packed Aon on Tricky Trickster with as good a display in the saddle as you will see anywhere.
In fifty years' time no one will recall the mistakes of Denman and Master Minded.
However, the mysterious slip of Devon Loch in the 1956 Grand National is still talked about, and will be back in the news this week following the death on Sunday of his jockey on that fateful day, Dick Francis.
Devon Loch had the big race at his mercy until performing the splits on the run to the line which handed all the glory to ESB.
Francis retired from race-riding the following year and went on to have a distinguished career as a writer of thrillers.
On the subject of the Grand National, the weights for the 2010 renewal came out on Tuesday.
Tricky Trickster is clear favourite for the Aintree spectacular, a contest that 2006 Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition could also be aimed at after he made it two hurdles wins on the bounce at Navan on Sunday.
- Francis CARROLL
