Racing Post

Autumn in Closutton. So many questions. So few answers. For now . . .

Patrick Mullins

“They never come back, do they?” “Some do, some don’t. It depends.” Monkfish walks out of the yard and across the road to the gallop, his tall chestnut frame supported by four long legs. Four good legs at the moment. So far, so good.

Allaho and Paul Roche follow him up, a great black hulk. Think Jurassic Park and those wobbling cups of water. The John Durkan is his usual season starter, has been for the past two years, and then on to Thurles. But after his Punchestown demolition over three miles going right-handed, could he go to the King George? Do you want to change Allaho’s programme? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, some guy once said. The King George is the King George, though.

Maybe Galopin Des Champs could go there? We haven’t had a novice chaser as exciting since Vautour. He went there. But he did get beaten. Hmmm. It’s a jigsaw, and the pieces don’t stay the same. Look at Monkfish.

“Who’s won the Grand Steep?” “Davy Russell did one year but for a French trainer. Fred Winter rode Mandarin to win it for Fulke Walwyn. Black and white times, though.”

Franco De Port pauses at the electric gate while Adam Connolly pushes the small green button. Who’s taking the horse to France? He is on the path less travelled this season following his heroic third in the Grand Steep at Auteuil last May. Paris in the autumn for some more experience and then attempt to emulate Mandarin next spring.

Kemboy, American mission shelved, could try to pick up Down Royal’s crown jewel, a race we haven’t won since Florida Pearl won the inaugural running, more than 20 years ago.

Big, dark, heavy Stattler walks on to the gallop beside the little white Elimay. Two of The Ten from last year. Could Stattler follow Native River and Minella Rocco and evolve into a Gold Cup horse? Or go the Tiger Roll route to the Grand National? The National Hunt Chase holds its own with its alumni. Elimay sets the standard for the chasing mares to aim at.

Billaway, still chuckling from hearing about the new stick rules in England, dwarfs Good Bye Sam but perhaps Sam could be ideal for the Aintree Foxhunters’, nimble as he is.

“Where do you reckon the decider will be?” “Hardly be the Tingle Creek. Ascot again? Maybe. I’d say it’ll be Cheltenham. Let’s hope it’s raining again . . .”

Energumene, looking like a war horse of old, tanks his way through the gallop under Imran Haidir, leading the string in the warm-up. Strange for a Champion Chase winner to have unfinished business but that’s exactly what himself and Shishkin have.

Chacun Pour Soi, warming up out the back on his own, is firmly in the veteran stage now but showed at Punchestown he can still shake up the best around. He will not go quietly into that good night.

Gentleman De Mee whizzes past wearing his hood and straining at David Casey’s reins. Doing an extra lap of Aintree the morning before he won there did him no harm. He likes things hard and fast and has similarities with a young Un De Sceaux. But people probably said Harper Lee could be Truman Capote once upon a time.

Ferny Hollow canters by in the middle of the string but finds himself in a strange no man’s land. Only one hurdle run, and then just the two chase runs, his ability ledger is offset by the inexperience column. Where does he go? To the top. Or a shrink’s couch perhaps.

“It’d be fairly cool if Sharjah could do it for a fifth time at Christmas.” “What’ll be there to stop him?”

Aimee Morrissey pulls Sharjah up and he strolls back to Willie’s Circle, head low and chilled out. Can he beat Hurricane Fly and Istabraq’s haul of four Matheson Hurdles at Christmas?

Vauban, State Man and Sir Gerhard walk in a line just behind him. Who will stand in his way? Vauban perhaps, Melbourne Cup plans on hold until he shows he isn’t a Champion Hurdle horse. Priorities please. Quick and rapid, he could be the one juvenile a decade who steps up to open company.

The other two, chasing or hurdling? School them and see I suppose. Sir Gerhard, with his big white face, has won a point-to-point. But so had Faugheen. And Honeysuckle. It’s not simple.

Klassical Dream jigjogs back out to the gallop, head down and heart rate up. There is only a good start between himself and Flooring

Porter. In Leopardstown he shot his way to the front and won; in Cheltenham he backed his way to the rear and lost.

Brandy Love jumps off with

Stephen Cahill for the first lap, pulling at her rubber bit. She won a point-topoint; do you go chasing or head for the Mares’ Hurdle?

Dysart Dynamo follows, head held awkwardly and looking like he’s never been here before. He could be interesting to school over fences. Any volunteers?

The Nice Guy surprised and surprised last year, never once finishing last. Stayers’ or Brown Advisory? National Hunt Chase? He walks off the gallop after the first lap, his work done.

Minella Cocooner jumps off for a second lap. He came from John Nallen’s famed nursery and who’s to say a fence won’t bring about even more improvement from him.

“Who is that fat little pony?” “Looks can be deceiving!”

Impulsive Dancer waddles through the stream. He doesn’t look like a racehorse, at least not a fast one, but make no mistake, he is.

Pretty little Ashroe Diamond dances out of the water, none the worse for her operation posttriumphing at Aintree.

Last one through is a tall, goodlooking youngster. His mother was a legend, Dave Porter looked after her too, and last year he wrote some of his own stories. With a long, swinging tail and ears pricked, he heads back down toward the yard. A touch of the D-word about him. Facile Vega, a Supreme athlete?

The lot walks on down, steam rising above them. So many questions, so few answers. For now . . .

THE BIG JUMP OFF ANTE-POST ADVICE

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2022-10-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-10-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://racingpost.pressreader.com/article/281582359544598

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