Colin Phillips
At the Start
From the Guardian site:
Chris Cook at Ditcheat
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 4 September 2011 18.17 BST
When the well-heeled country set climbed out of their Mercedes for owners' day here at Paul Nicholls' Somerset yard on Sunday, it is possible that some were expecting no more than a quick tour of the stable's stars followed by lunch. "Here's Kauto, here's Denman, here's Big Buck's and over there is the smoked salmon and champagne."
But this is a day for the serious followers of jump racing and such an approach would have done scant justice to the quantity of talent housed here.
Instead, before the buffet was broached, Nicholls paraded no fewer than 82 horses before his invited audience, giving a detailed description of the hopes held for each. Only one of his guests lacked the stamina to cope, having to be helped indoors after 90 minutes in the glare of an unseasonably strong sun.
This is almost certainly the last such occasion to be graced by either Denman or Kauto Star. Gold Cup winners in years gone by, both are now 11 and their trainer is clear about the need to look after them. It will take very little in the way of negative signs for retirement to be announced in either case.
"While they're in good shape, we'll see," Nicholls said before the parade. "They're not going to get abused or overrun and if they tell us they've had enough at any stage, either at home or on the track, that'll be it."
Both horses were given an extra three weeks of rest through the summer, compared to their stablemates, and have now been cantering for just 10 days. Kauto Star will run first, as his target is a clash with Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on 19 November.
"He did really well last season, despite what some journalists say," the trainer told his approving listeners. "You can forgive him one bad run," he added in reference to the race at Punchestown in May when Kauto Star was pulled up for the first time in his career. The trainer believes now that it is a mistake to ask any horse to run again in the weeks after taking part in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Allowing for the oft-repeated caveat that "nothing is set in stone", the plan for Denman extends to two more runs, in Ireland's Lexus after Christmas and a final tilt at the Cheltenham race. "I haven't discussed with [the owner, Paul Barber] yet whether he'll have an entry in the Hennessy but I don't think he will because he's not going to win the Hennessy off top weight again.
"It wouldn't be a great surprise if they both won their [first] races. And when Kauto runs at Haydock, he will be bang on. There'll be no point going there thinking, he needs a run. No excuses, sort of thing. And you never know."
Both may end up in the Gold Cup once more but Master Minded is currently the yard's most obvious contender for Kempton's King George, a race that Kauto Star won four times in a row to 2009. Even if Master Minded wins on Boxing Day, however, Nicholls is minded to postpone a Gold Cup bid for another year, with the Ryanair a more likely Festival target.
Big Buck's, meanwhile, will follow the same route as last season as he tries to extend his unbeaten run to 13. Zarkandar gives Nicholls a live chance of a first Champion Hurdle.
The trainer has more than 50 new charges, mostly from the Irish point-to-point background that produced Denman but with a smattering of ex-French racers like Kauto Star. It will surely be worth watching for the hurdles debut of Dildar, fourth behind Pour Moi on the Flat in France four months ago.
Kauto Stone, a half-brother to Kauto Star, is smaller than his sibling but Nicholls says "we like what we're seeing" and will send him for a valuable race at Down Royal in November. Italian Master seems an exciting novice hurdler while Cedre Bleu will carry high hopes over fences.
The enigmatic Tidal Bay is one of seven horses recently arrived from the yard of Howard Johnson, who lost his licence for breach of the rules on horse welfare. Tidal Bay has been given a wind operation and Nicholls seems the right man to coax another big win out of him.
At the end of the programme handed out at yesterday's event, the trainer noted: "We all wish Howard all the best for the future …"
Chris Cook at Ditcheat
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 4 September 2011 18.17 BST
When the well-heeled country set climbed out of their Mercedes for owners' day here at Paul Nicholls' Somerset yard on Sunday, it is possible that some were expecting no more than a quick tour of the stable's stars followed by lunch. "Here's Kauto, here's Denman, here's Big Buck's and over there is the smoked salmon and champagne."
But this is a day for the serious followers of jump racing and such an approach would have done scant justice to the quantity of talent housed here.
Instead, before the buffet was broached, Nicholls paraded no fewer than 82 horses before his invited audience, giving a detailed description of the hopes held for each. Only one of his guests lacked the stamina to cope, having to be helped indoors after 90 minutes in the glare of an unseasonably strong sun.
This is almost certainly the last such occasion to be graced by either Denman or Kauto Star. Gold Cup winners in years gone by, both are now 11 and their trainer is clear about the need to look after them. It will take very little in the way of negative signs for retirement to be announced in either case.
"While they're in good shape, we'll see," Nicholls said before the parade. "They're not going to get abused or overrun and if they tell us they've had enough at any stage, either at home or on the track, that'll be it."
Both horses were given an extra three weeks of rest through the summer, compared to their stablemates, and have now been cantering for just 10 days. Kauto Star will run first, as his target is a clash with Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on 19 November.
"He did really well last season, despite what some journalists say," the trainer told his approving listeners. "You can forgive him one bad run," he added in reference to the race at Punchestown in May when Kauto Star was pulled up for the first time in his career. The trainer believes now that it is a mistake to ask any horse to run again in the weeks after taking part in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Allowing for the oft-repeated caveat that "nothing is set in stone", the plan for Denman extends to two more runs, in Ireland's Lexus after Christmas and a final tilt at the Cheltenham race. "I haven't discussed with [the owner, Paul Barber] yet whether he'll have an entry in the Hennessy but I don't think he will because he's not going to win the Hennessy off top weight again.
"It wouldn't be a great surprise if they both won their [first] races. And when Kauto runs at Haydock, he will be bang on. There'll be no point going there thinking, he needs a run. No excuses, sort of thing. And you never know."
Both may end up in the Gold Cup once more but Master Minded is currently the yard's most obvious contender for Kempton's King George, a race that Kauto Star won four times in a row to 2009. Even if Master Minded wins on Boxing Day, however, Nicholls is minded to postpone a Gold Cup bid for another year, with the Ryanair a more likely Festival target.
Big Buck's, meanwhile, will follow the same route as last season as he tries to extend his unbeaten run to 13. Zarkandar gives Nicholls a live chance of a first Champion Hurdle.
The trainer has more than 50 new charges, mostly from the Irish point-to-point background that produced Denman but with a smattering of ex-French racers like Kauto Star. It will surely be worth watching for the hurdles debut of Dildar, fourth behind Pour Moi on the Flat in France four months ago.
Kauto Stone, a half-brother to Kauto Star, is smaller than his sibling but Nicholls says "we like what we're seeing" and will send him for a valuable race at Down Royal in November. Italian Master seems an exciting novice hurdler while Cedre Bleu will carry high hopes over fences.
The enigmatic Tidal Bay is one of seven horses recently arrived from the yard of Howard Johnson, who lost his licence for breach of the rules on horse welfare. Tidal Bay has been given a wind operation and Nicholls seems the right man to coax another big win out of him.
At the end of the programme handed out at yesterday's event, the trainer noted: "We all wish Howard all the best for the future …"
