Two-mile chases are, for me, the most exhilarating, and the courage needed from horse and rider is unmatched in any other division.
On the edge of full speed, fast jumping is a must, no time to steady and carefully adjust your stride. You go at those fences hard and aggressive come what may. There's no place in a jockeys mind for getting it wrong. If you’re thinking that way, you’re done. Likewise, the horse has to attack, be brave, nigh on reckless.
Paul Townend and Kopek Des Bordes is the partnership with those exact credentials. At a Timeform rating of 163p, he is the top rated novice chaser in Ireland and the UK, despite only winning a beginners' chase. An unlucky fall at the last in the Arkle at Cheltenham when in command suggested he was about to put in a career best. Hopefully this likely improver can be seen to his best in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.
The senior equivalent on Tuesday was won by stablemate Il Etait Temps, who has had an outstanding season, yet there is more wow factor about his younger colleague. I'm fully aware that I’m getting carried away with a horse who has had just two runs over fences, in one of which he fell, but he could be special. Kopek Des Bordes conjures images of the fantastic Sprinter Sacre. That horse could fly, and his soaring jumps destroyed opposition.
At Cheltenham, Kopek (pictured) was held up in third place through the race, not wanting to get into a frantic battle with keen-running stablemate and eventual winner Kargesse. Sure, he was going to win anyway before his misstep at the back of the last, but I think these are the wrong tactics. In taking a lead, he ran strong in Townend's hands, dragging down to the first, then running too deep at the second and making a mistake. Down the back straight, he put in some fantastic jumps, again the hints of Sprinter Sacre. Each time gaining through the air on both Kargesse and Lulamba, each time Townend would settle him back to third, not using those jumps to pressure rivals. Perhaps Townend, having the best season a jump jockey has ever had, knows best. I though, would love to see him jump out in front, let Kopek stride out, winging fences. I don’t think any horse in training could go with him.
Three-mile hurdles are a different kettle altogether. They are all about stamina, conserving energy, and even laziness can be an advantage. Think Big Bucks wandering all over, waiting for a rival to encourage him.
The Robcour-owned duo of Teahupoo and Bob Olinger have been to the fore in staying hurdle division for a couple of seasons. Brian Acheson of Robcour has been all too happy to let the pair take each other on. Trading blows, there has been little between them. At eleven, Bob, affectionately called by Acheson, has fewer games to play. A close third at Cheltenham shows he ain’t done with yet. Teahupoo, favourite on that occasion, could only manage sixth, with the six-year-old Honesty Policy in fifth.
Kawaboomga, in the same McManus silks as Honesty Policy, is another six-year-old, lightly raced and on the up. While the novice chase is all about one horse should it go to plan, the Champion Stayers is a wide open event for whoever is grittiest on the day.
The Punchestown banks course is a spectacle steeped in a long tradition, going back to the 1850s. Its unique challenges bring out the very best in some. No horse encapsulates that more so than Vital Island, who will line up once more for the La Touche at 14 years young. Amazingly, at 13, he took last year’s renewal, with a list of younger horses filling the minor placings that would have been far his superior over park fences. There are a few more specialists in the line-up, and previous course winners Vanillier, Busselton and Desertmore House probably have more to offer.
Watch the Punchestown Festival from Tuesday to Thursday at 3.30pm and 4pm on Friday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, with more live coverage on Saturday from 3pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
