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| Cheltenham Gold Cup 2007 Anaylsis |
totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup 2007 - Reports
16/03/07
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NICHOLLS’ GREATEST TRIUMPH AS KAUTO STARS
After Kauto Star had overwhelmed his rivals to win the totesport
Cheltenham Gold Cup his trainer, Paul Nicholls, said the moment was the pinnacle
of his career.
Nicholls said: “What a brilliant performance. We always believed in him and he’s been awesome, different class, and he jumped so well.”
Asked about the horse’s jump at the final fence, where he once
again nudged the birch, Nicholls said: “It wasn’t a real
problem. He was going uphill and he never looked like falling, but perhaps
he just panics a little bit in front.
“It was great when See More Business won, but with all the doubters
about this horse it’s been very special today. It’s the pinnacle,
and brilliant for Ruby and all the team at home. The whole thing is just
a brilliant day.
“I’ll talk to Clive [Smith] and Ruby and see about plans. He could go to Aintree, but we’ll see. We’ve done it now and we may just look after him a bit next year.”
Winning rider Ruby Walsh said “Kauto Star is some horse! It's great - I think he's a wonderful horse. He's had his knockers, but everyone has their opinion. We thought he was a wonderful horse - he is a wonderful horse - and it's brilliant for everyone. I didn't even think about the last fence. He's a star!"
Paul Nicholls, the winning trainer, commented: "I'm thrilled. I have never in my time in racing heard so much rubbish talked about him. He's won six on the trot, in the Tingle Creek he beat the Champion Chase winner, and there's all these doubters.
"At Newbury he was half fit. We've just ticked him over since then,
work, work, work, and he was relaxed today. We had a chat this morning
and we knew what we were going to do - I said to Ruby take no notice
of what anyone says, you go out there and do what you do best. You've
got belief in the horse and I have - I said he's fitter than he's ever
been in his life, have faith in him.
"It feels brilliant, unbelievable. I cannot tell you how nerve-racking the last month has been. Everyone's had their doubts about Denman and now Kauto Star, but they are good horses and we got them right on the day."
Clive Smith, the successful owner, declared: "This has certainly been the biggest day of all and I'm so delighted, I just can't tell you how thrilled I am. I'd like to see the replay of that [last fence] of course. He just hit the top I think, but he sailed on. Paul Nicholls has been absolutely spot-on all the way through. He's a terrific man. I think we'll do some celebrating tonight!"
DREAM COMES TRUE FOR SMITH
Owner Clive Smith, who planned “a party to remember” in Wentworth last night, described the success of Kauto Star as “a dream come true”.
Smith, who watched the race from the owners’ stand, said:”I have dreamed of winning this race since I first came to Cheltenham to watch Captain Christy in 1974, and I still can’t believe that the dream is reality.
“I always hoped that one day I might have a horse good enough
to run in it, but to actually win it is beyond belief. We have 40 friends
with us from the Wentworth area, and you can rest assured that we will
have a huge celebration tonight.
“I could hardly look at the final fence, but, though he hit it,
he kept sailing along. Paul (Nicholls) has always had tremendous faith
in the horse, and he is such a fantastic trainer.
“I backed Kauto Star at 140-1, and, though it was only for £25, I have had a bit more on since, but the bet is immaterial.
“It is all down to the team at Ditcheat. Paul, Ruby, Clifford
Baker and the rest - they are simply the best. Paul is a good chap and
a real gentleman, and he deserves all the success that comes his way.
“Racing needed a superstar, and now they have one. Kauto Star has done everything we have asked of him this winter, and now I think he deserves his summer holiday. But we’ll be back next year.”
Smith had one last plea for the press. “I have spoken to the French
and the pronunciation is ‘Corto’ not ‘Kato’.
Please get it right.”
EXOTIC DANCER TEAM CHUFFED
After Exotic Dancer had finished second in the totesport Gold Cup, Barry
Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden, said: “The pace
probably wasn’t fast enough for us, and coming down the hill any
one of six or seven horses could have won.
“It hasn’t gone absolutely right for us, but it’s
always difficult with a hold-up horse. But we’ve turned an eight-lengths
defeat in the King George VI Chase at Kempton [on Boxing Day] into a
two-and-a-half-lengths defeat today, so we’re chuffed with that.
And he’s only seven, so there’s plenty to look forward to.
“We’ve been beaten by a super horse. We’ve got a very good horse, but we’re not quite as good as the winner.”
Jonjo O’Neill, Exotic Dancer’s trainer, said: “I’m delighted because our horse has run a blinder. The best horse won and that’s probably the way we foresaw it, but our horse beat the rest.
“Kauto was always going well and I could see the only way we were going to beat him was if a mistake stopped him in his tracks. We just weren’t going to get past him - but I’ll take the second-best chaser in Britain any day.”
GREEN RUNS A CRACKER - MONKERHOSTIN COULD BE NATIONAL BOUND
Turpin Green belied his 40/1 odds to run a fine race in third in the
totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, beaten five lengths behind the hugely-impressive
winner Kauto Star.
His owner Trevor Hemmings said: “I was second last year with Hedgehunter and third again this year with Turpin Green - maybe I will win it next year!
“He just got impeded by Idle Talk (the loose horse) and that may
have stopped him for 100 yards or so. He might have been a bit closer
but for that, but what a horse the winner is.
“It was unfortunate that Idle Talk was out of the race so early - he just got bumped into by Beef Or Salmon and Jason Maguire was unseated.”
The 25/1 shot Monkerhostin, sixth 12 months ago, stayed on from off
the pace to take fourth place, beaten 10 lengths in total, and his connections
were delighted.
Sarah Hobbs, wife of trainer Philip Hobbs, said: “That was great.
“We have got him going right again at last, up until now he hadn’t
been right all season.
“As he always does, he seemed to have a lull halfway through his races but then stayed on really well at the finish.”
Philip Hobbs is keen to take Monkerhostin to Aintree next month where
he could either run in three-mile Betfair Bowl or go for the John Smith’s
Grand National itself.
Hobbs said: “He will be go to Aintree next month.
“His two options there are either the three-mile conditions race
(Betfair Bowl) or the Grand National itself.
“At the moment, I would say the Grand National is the favoured
option.
“He will have a big weight in the Grand National (currently allotted 11st 6lb) but if he goes for the three-mile race he could run into a real good one. So, yes, I think we may well have a go at the Grand National.”
WILLIAMS HAILS A CHAMPION
Evan Williams was pleased with the performance of sixth-placed State
Of Play in the totesport Cheltenham Gold and was quick to pay tribute
to the winner Kauto Star.
The Welsh handler said: “I think I speak for everyone in our sport
when I say how brilliant it is to see such a true champion like Kauto
Star win today. He really is an absolute superstar.
“I’m delighted with the way State Of Play performed. He
ran his heart out.
“It was a dream just to come here today with a runner in the Gold
Cup. There are no excuses - we just weren’t good enough on the
day.
“He could maybe go to Aintree - we will keep an eye on the Grand
National. It could turn out that he has run a decent trial here today
and the handicap could be interesting if Exotic Dancer were to run.
“He is also entered in the Betfred Gold Cup or I may just turn him out. We will take him home and decide where we go from there.”
Tom Taaffe, trainer of the fifth-placed Cane Brake, simply said: “He ran a cracker. I’m delighted.”
3.15pm TOTESPORT CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP (GRADE ONE)
3m 2 1/2f New Course, £425,000 guaranteed For 5yo+ which are allotted
a rating of 130or more by the Senior BHB Jumps Handicapper following
a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run
up to and including March 9; horses which are not qualified a rating
in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered; such horses
may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s
racecourse performances up to and including March 9 would merit a rating
of 130; the decision of the Senior BHB Jumps Handicapper shall be final;
Weights 5yo 11st; 6yo+ 11st 10lb Allowances mares 7lb Entries 49 pay £475
First Forfeit 29 pay £950 Confirmed 24 pay £475 Penalty value
1st £242,335; 2nd £90,907.50; 3rd £45,517.50; 4th £22,695;
5th £11,390; 6th £5,695
1 KAUTO STAR (FR) (Clive Smith) Paul Nicholls 7-11-10t Ruby Walsh 5/4f
2 EXOTIC DANCER (FR) (Sir Robert Ogden) Jonjo O'Neill 7-11-10p Tony McCoy
9/2
3 TURPIN GREEN (IRE) (Trevor Hemmings) Nicky Richards 8-11-10b1 Tony
Dobbin 40/1
4 MONKERHOSTIN (FR) (Martin St Quinton) Philip Hobbs -11-10 Richard Johnson
25/1
5 CANE BRAKE (IRE) (Mount Temple Racing Syndicate) Tom Taaffe IRE 8-11-10p
David Casey
6 STATE OF PLAY (Mr & Mrs William Rucker) Evan Williams 7-11-10 Paul
Moloney
7 L'AMI (FR) (J P McManus) Francois Doumen FR 8-11-10 Mick Fitzgerald
8 NEPTUNE COLLONGES (FR) (John Hales) Paul Nicholls 6-11-10 Liam Heard
9 KINGSCLIFF (IRE) (Arnie Sendell) Robert Alner 10-11-10 Robert Walford
10 FORGET THE PAST (Sean Mulryan) Michael O'Brien IRE 9-11-10t Barry
Geraghty
11 THE LISTENER (IRE) (Old Moss Farm) Robert Alner 8-11-10 Daryl Jacob
12 MY WILL (FR) (The Stewart Family) Paul Nicholls 7-11-10 Sam Thomas
13 BEEF OR SALMON (IRE) (Joe Craig) Michael Hourigan IRE 11-11-10b Andrew
McNamara
14 SYBELLIUS D'ARTAIX (FR) (Fergus Wilson) Richard Chotard FR 7-11-10t
James Davies
F 17th MARBLE GARDEN (USA) (Fergus Wilson) Richard Chotard FR 6-11-10tb1
John Kington
U fifth IDLE TALK (IRE) (Trevor Hemmings) Donald McCain Jnr 8-11-10 Jason
Maguire
P BOB BOB BOBBIN (Sarah Tizzard) Colin Tizzard 8-11-10 Joe Tizzard
P HALCON GENELARDAIS (FR) (Ian Payne And Kim Franklin) Alan King 7-11-10b1
Robert Thornton
18 ran
Non-runner: 15 Racing Demon
Distances: 2 1/2, 2 1/2, 5, 3/4, 1/2, 1 1/4, sh, 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 2 1/2,
8, 8, dist
Breeder: Mme H Aubert
Breeding: b g Village Star (FR) - Kauto Relka
Totes: Win: £2.30 Places: £1.70; £2.00; £7.80
Exacta:£7.80
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