RACING

Ryan McElligott

Another memorable week in the middle of what has been an outstanding season for Henry de Bromhead reached its crescendo for the trainer with a Grade 1 double at Leopardstown last Sunday.

On Thursday de Bromhead’s Champagne West put himself into the Gold Cup picture with a tremendous weight carrying effort that saw him dominate the Thyestes Chase. Even better was to follow at Leopardstown where the trainer’s Petit Mouchoir landed the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle.

When Faugheen was ruled out due to a late setback, this race looked destined to fall to Petit Mouchoir’s way and he delivered a performance that contained its share of style and conviction. Unlike at Christmas, the grey had to contend with stern resistance from Nichols Canyon and it was only the run to the last that he subdued that rival before holding on well from the oncoming Footpat.

The bare form of this race prompted some bookmakers to lengthen Petit Mouchoir’s odds for the Champion Hurdle, but that ignores the searing pace he set from early on and the way he kept going from the last to make sure of victory.

ROCK SOLID

With Annie Power ruled out of Cheltenham and Faugheen heading straight there off an absence of 14 months, Petit Mouchoir’s claims are rock solid. Expect him to give a good account of himself next month.

Elsewhere at Leopardstown, the Arkle looked to provide de Bromhead’s Identity Thief with a golden opportunity to get his season back on track, but he spurned this opening by exiting at the first. This was only the start of the drama as the de Bromhead-trained Some Plan was the only one of the four runners to complete the course.

The aforementioned news concerning Annie Power and Faugheen, the late setback that ruled Min out of the Arkle and Royal Caviar’s last fence fall when holding the lead in the Arkle meant last week was one where Willie Mullins had to endure his share of tribulations.

However, there were some high points for the trainer too and the admirable Un De Sceaux made it two Grade 1 wins from as many starts this season with a dominant display in Cheltenham’s Clarence House Chase. The presence of Douvan in the Mullins yard would indicate that the Ryanair Chase is a likely option for Un De Sceaux and he is a very solid favourite for that contest.

Despite performing way below her best at Doncaster, Mullins’ Vroum Vroum Mag was still able to notch up her 10th Grade 2 triumph and it says much about her that she was able to dig out this victory despite being some way below form.

Furthermore, the trainer’s Melon is now favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle in some quarters following his tour de force in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday. This wasn’t the strongest of maidens but Melon’s performance suggested that he could be relied upon to hold his own in much more exalted company.

The picture for various novice hurdles at Cheltenham remains decidedly unclear but Mullins has another legitimate candidate for them in Let’s Dance whose smooth Grade 2 win last Sunday was her fourth straight win of the season. Her stablemate Kemboy really caught the eye in second and he will be worth following whatever direction he now takes.

MANY CLOUDS

Mention of last weekend’s action cannot pass without the titanic battle at Cheltenham in which Many Clouds bested Thistlecrack before then passing away of a pulmonary hemorrhage. This terrific spectacle was understandably totally overshadowed by the passing of the former Grand National winner whose courage and tenacity in besting his stellar rival epitomised all that is great about the very best staying chasers.

The admirable Many Clouds also showed that Thistlecrack is not invincible. This defeat didn’t damage Thistlecrack’s Gold Cup claims to any great extent and he will unquestionably be the horse to beat come March. However, this outcome could embolden many to take their chance in the Gold Cup which would in turn make chasing’s most coveted prize quite a spectacle.

By his standards, it was a relatively low-key week for Gordon Elliott, but he did take the wraps off a huge talent in Sutton Place at Naas last Saturday. A high-class novice hurdler last season, this son of Mahler hadn’t run since March and was wrong at the weights with a couple of useful rivals.

In truth, he looked up against it, but he turned in the most commanding of performances and one which would indicate that he is a Grade 1 winner waiting to happen. It will be fascinating to see where he lines up next.