Best racing season in recent years

Conrad Clancy reviews the horse racing season just gone by.

From the time the season begun in earnest last October every racing fan had an eye on the forthcoming clash of Kauto Star and Denman, two of the greats of recent seasons, in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Denman began his season with question marks about his ability following a scare of a heart condition in 2008, but when he won his second Hennessy Gold cup under top weight in impressive fashion one could not help but be impressed. Kauto Star took his third Betfair Chase en route to his fourth consecutive King George VI Chase at Kempton (the only horse ever to achieve that feat) which he won by a distance. When the two superstars did meet in March they were eclipsed by an impressive Imperial Commander who had been only a nose behind Kauto in the Betfair. Kauto crashed out and Denman was a gallant second. Suddenly the two stars are in the twilight of their careers and next season may be the last big hurrah for the duo.

Here in Ireland, Dunguib was touted as the next big thing, he destroyed small fields on soft ground in Ireland but when things happened a little faster in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival the seven year old could not reach Menorah and finished a disappointing third.

Big Bucks (left), the most impressive horse of the season

I am sceptical as to whether he will be a major force in next year’s top hurdle races as he is seven years old already and Irish rivals Hurricane Fly (impressive when returning from injury) and Solwhit (a major contender in top hurdles for two seasons now) are both still only six and Dunguib was well behind the duo at Punchestown in April when stepping out of novice company for the first time. Reigning champion hurdler Binocular and other grade one primaries are open to more improvement than Dunguib.

Paul Nicholls was crowned champion trainer in Britain yet again unsurprising since his stable houses a plethora of superstars. Big Bucks was the most impressive horse of the season, remaining unbeaten. Nothing came close to matching him in four facile wins. With the apparent impending demise of stable mates Kauto Star and Denman many are suggesting the six year old will be aimed at the Cheltenham Gold Cup next year. Should he stick to hurdling there may be a few horses capable of challenging next year. Peddler’s Cross, also unbeaten over hurdles and impressive in novice races through the season, and Quevega who was impressive when successful in her first attempt at three miles at Punchestown. Their presence would provide a welcome challenge to Big Bucks from a spectator view point.

Weapon’s Amnesty and Sizing Europe, both Irish trained took the novice chasing features at Cheltenham. Both are open to plenty of improvement and are exciting prospects for next season having beaten high quality fields in their respective festival races. The Cheltenham festival was a near wipe-out for favourite backers with only four obliging from the 26 races in what was an exciting weeks racing, the addition of new races did not appear to diminish the quality in any way which suggests there a plenty of decent horses in training.

The Aintree Grand National went the way of Don’t Push It, ridden by the great AP McCoy who finally won the great race at the 15^th attempt, Don’t Push It started 10-1 joint favourite having been supported from 20-1. McCoy also won his 15^th champion jockey title in succession with just short of 200 winners and also rode his 3000^th career winner in February.

It would be fair to say that the season just passed was one of the best of recent years with plenty of competitive races, more than a handful of superstars and plenty of good prospects for next season and beyond. I will return next October to preview the 2010-11 season, until then enjoy the Flat!

by Conrad Clancy