Trading places

Amazing the way the shape of these races can change. There we were a week ago, thinking that the King George was going to be a Christmas cracker, as much turkey and stuffing as you could fit on your plate, and that the Lexus Chase was going to be a custard cream. Not so any more.

The first thing that happened was that Cooldine was a King George scratching. He didn’t make it on time for his intended seasonal reappearance in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown two and a half weeks ago, so it appears that Willie Mullins wasn’t happy to send him over to take on Kauto Star in the King George on his seasonal debut. Rightly so. He’s staying at home now and going for the Lexus instead, all things being equal.

Then Alan King said that Voy Por Ustedes may not run in the King George either, he may not bid to improve on his third placing last year after all. Fair enough, it is probable that he didn’t have the stamina for it last year, he is probably better sticking to two and a half miles. But read on. He may now go for the Lexus! I don’t fully get that one. If he didn’t fully stay three miles around Kempton, it is unlikely that he will stay three miles around Leopardstown, with its probable softer ground and its uphill finish, and its standard time that is five seconds slower than Kempton’s. Perhaps connections don’t fully believe that he didn’t stay, perhaps they want to give him one more chance at the distance, perhaps owner Sir Robert Ogden is remembering Exotic Dancer’s maiden Grade 1 win in the race last year. Whatever the reason, it looks like Voy Por is voying por Leopardstown.

Joncol and Notre Pere are standing their ground, ceding nothing, Nicky Richards has decided to allow Money Trix take his chance, and Dessie Hughes is set to run In Compliance and Schindlers Hunt, the latter a King George possible until yesterday. The flow from the King George to the Lexus is only going one way. Semi-permeable. And just to add further fuel, Paul Nicholls thought that it might be a good idea to persuade Sir Alex Ferguson to come up with the requisite funds (a half a striker’s weekly wage) to supplement What A Friend. It makes sense. What A Friend was a gallant runner-up behind Denman in the Hennessy on his latest start, indeed he might have beaten him if he hadn’t cocked his jaw on the run to the last, albeit in receipt of 20lb, and Nicholls has all the other staying chasing bases covered.

How are the races looking now? At Kempton it’s 4/6 that Kauto Star will confirm Betfair Chase form with Imperial Commander (just) and Madison Du Berlais, and see off whipper-snapping Deep Purple and Barbers Shop and their ilk to land his fourth King George on the spin. Betting aside, it would be great to see it happen. Not even Dessie (Orchid, not Hughes) could win four on the spin.

Two days later at Leopardstown, all going well, we will have an absorbing contest: Joncol, Notre Pere, What A Friend, Cooldine, Money Trix, In Compliance, Schindlers Hunt, Voy Por Ustedes, maybe Aran Concerto, maybe Cloudy Lane. Can you call it? Not as easy as it looked like it was going to be seven days ago, that’s for sure.

* For more of Donn’s thoughts, visit www.donnmcclean.com.

Categories: Horse racing