What promised to be a fantastic day's racing ahead of the Cheltenham Festival next month, turned to tragedy with the mysterious death of two horses (Fenix Two and Marching Song) in the paddock at Newbury yesterday, that led to the abandonment of one of racing's biggest jumps meetings of the year.
An investigation has been launched amid fears the horses were electrocuted by underground cabling and although the first race was run, a decision to call off racing was made at the 104-year-old course.
Trainer Nicky Henderson described yesterday's events as "horrific". Henderson, who saddled his 2,000th British jumps winner at Kempton on Friday and has been training for 33 years, added: "It was one of the most traumatic five minutes I think one can ever go through. This game we are in, is all about horses and everybody loves them."
The only race that took place at Newbury was a Novices' Hurdle won by Al Ferof by 15-lengths from the newcomer Oasis Knight. Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "We didn't learn any more about him from that but I was pleased. I'll have a chat to John Hales (owner) about targets."
Hales added: "It's a dilemma as to whether we go two miles or two and a half at Cheltenham."
The six-year-old was cut to as short as 12/1 for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (although still available at best-price 20/1 at the time of writing) and is also currently best-price 25/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle leading contender best-price odds:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
Supreme Novices' Hurdle leading contender best-price odds:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
While a number of trainers, including Paul Nicholls, Alan King and Philip Hobbs, urged Newbury to re-arrange the abandoned six races with the Festival fast approaching, at Warwick Finian's Rainbow notched an important win.
However it wasn't the most impressive performance from leading Arkle Chase fancy, despite the official winning distance of 11 lengths. He was keen early on and made a slight mistake at the second fence, before a more serious one at the third. He winged the next but then fiddled the next and it's that pattern which won't instil confidence into those who already hold vouchers for the Arkle.
Despite the unconvincing nature of this victory, winning rider Andrew Tinkler was more than happy with his mount's effort:
"He learnt an awful lot," he said. "It probably wasn't the tidiest round, but the objective with Cheltenham in mind was to drop him in and not be so gung-ho."
Finian's Rainbow will attempt to become the third horse in the last 12 years to complete the Kingmaker/Arkle double next month, seeking to follow in the footsteps of Flagship Uberalles (1999) and Voy Por Ustedes (2006) and most bookmakers left the Arkle favourite unchanged in ante-post markets, for which he is as short as 7/2, although the Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old is only second-favourite with Ladbrokes who currently offer a standout 5/1.
Arkle Chase leader contender best-price odds:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
Meanwhile, in Ireland, at least two winners on yesterday's Leopardstown card emerged as a significant challengers for Cheltenham next month.
With its four Grade One events, this meeting always marks the moment when Irish punters start to crystallise their betting strategies for Cheltenham, and sift possible bankers from mere hopefuls.
In the first race Unaccompanied comfortably took the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle on her second start over hurdles, to advance to joint-favouritism for the Triumph Hurdle with some bookies.
The way that this strapping four-year-old filly cantered into contention before the last flight, and then ran on well to the line, reeked of class. She wasn't 100% fluent at all of her hurdles but she jumped fairly well in the main. However, it is worth noting that fillies haven't fared too well in the Triumph Hurdle since Mysilv and Snow Drop in the 90's.
The daughter of Danehill Dancer is now a best-price 8/1 for the extended two-mile novice contest and impressed trainer Dermot Weld, who is more accustomed to success at the highest level on the flat: "The Punchestown race she won was weak and she had to do what she did today. I told Paul to go and see if she stayed, he kicked on before the last as planned and she ran all the way to the line. She's got to be Triumph Hurdle bound after that."
The filly was lightly raced on the flat as a three-year-old, and after winning two modest contests at Galway and Killarney the horse ran a respectable race in the Irish Cambridgeshire, before embarking on a National Hunt career. Only Grandouet, at best-price 6/1, is a shorter price for the JCB sponsored contest, and in what looks a fairly weak renewal Unaccompanied is likely to go off much shorter than his current price on the day of the race.
Triumph Hurdle leader contender best-price odds:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
Oscars Well was equally impressive in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle. This race has fallen to the subsequent Festival winners Like-A-Butterfly and Brave Inca in the last 10 years, and also to the beaten "bankers" Aran Concerto and Dunguib. Willie Mullins's Zaidpour, sent off favourite at even-money, was expected to get his season back on track after defeat at 1/4 last time out, but he was starting to struggle after the second-last flight, and had no answer when Oscars Well cruised into contention on the turn for home.
"The market never seems to fancy mine, but it didn't matter," Jessica Harrington, Oscars Well's trainer, said. "We've always fancied him, quietly. He travelled really well, jumped well the whole way, and I couldn't believe how well he was travelling when Robbie [Power] pulled him out just before the last. He just went away under hands and heels."
Oscars Well was cut to best-price 7/1 for the Neptune, while Zaidpour is now as big as 14/1 the Supreme Novices' (see odds tables above).
Harrington was completing a Grade One double after Bostons Angel beat Magnanimity and another Mullins-trained favourite, Mikael D'Haguenet, in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase.
It was certainly a race of incident, with Quel Esprit taking a crashing fall three fences from home. Having been front rank throughout, he was the first of the leading trio to come under pressure and although proven over further, and certainly capable of rallying, it's fair to say that he was starting to look vulnerable.
His fall had a secondary impact on the race however, as he interrupted Mikael D'Haguenet's progress. Having been deliberate at the first few fences, he continued to jump out to his right throughout the race but to his credit he managed to drag himself back into contention turning for home. However he looked a tired horse late on and once again a poor jump at the last (when out of contention) was always on the cards, especially after losing several lengths when his stablemate fell.
Back to the horses who dominated the finish however, and it was a terrific battle. Both had been prominent throughout, but a good jump at the last fence from Bostons Angel saw him back in-front and he ran on all the way to the line. It appeared with 50 yards to run that he might get overhauled on the line by Magnanimity, but he deserved this win and looks a major player for the RSA at Cheltenham. The runner-up falls into that bracket as well, and his sturdy and sure-footed jumping is a major asset. He wouldn't be the flashiest, but he looks as solid as a rock and he boosts the claim of Jessies Dream (who he beat last time) for similar targets.
Bostons Angels is now as short as 10/1 for the RSA Chase, although available at a standout 25/1 with Victor Chandler at the time of writing, whilst Mikael D'Haguenet, a former Festival winner over hurdles, is still as short as 12/1 for the same race despite having failed to win in three starts over fences to date - although Stan James currently offer a standout 20/1.
RSA Chase leading contender best-price odds:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
Mullins rescued his afternoon when Kempes took the Hennessy Gold Cup, and while he is a best-price 16/1 outsider for next month's Gold Cup, there was enough in this display to suggest that a place in the first three is not beyond him.
Ground was not expected to suit Kempes, but he travelled easily in mid-division and made smooth progress towards the leaders after jumping the third-last. He had too much speed for his rivals after the last, and should probably do better still if the going at Cheltenham is good.
"The surprises are the best ones, aren't they?" Mullins said. "I'm delighted for the owner [JP McManus] and especially for David Casey, he gave it a terrific ride. I just asked him to go out and get him jumping around and if he had any chance after that, to take it.
"David knew that if he got around he would have more speed than any of the rest, so tactically he said to me he even got there too soon. I'd imagine now that we have to go across for the Gold Cup. That will be the next plan and the better ground over there will suit him too.
Cheltenham Gold Cup leading contender best-price odds:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
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