Mike Cattermole column with an ante-post Cheltenham Gold Cup fancy
Mike Cattermole looks at all the big racing stories and has an ante-post fancy for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup in his latest column.
AL SHAQAB EMBARRASSED AT UNPAID TRAINING BILLS
Mark Souster had huge boots to fill when taking over the responsibility of writing about horse racing in The Times following the sad and untimely passing of the legendary Alan Lee.
No doubt Alan would have approved of his successor’s “exclusive” last week which revealed the huge debt in training fees run up by Al Shaqab Racing of around £1m. This is a shocking situation and not good at all.
If Al Shaqab was an operation owned by some businessmen who had suddenly run into some unexpected financial difficulty in these uncertain economic times, then perhaps we might be more understanding about how it had come about.
But when the organisation is so closely linked to the ruling family of one of the richest nations in the world, then you have to wonder what is going on.
It was reported in the Racing Post that Harry Herbert, Al Shaqab’s British agent, had dug into his own pockets to try and help out. With his own position in doubt, given Al Shaqab’s desire to focus more on France in the future, he deserves some kudos for that. But even with such a reorganisation in process, there is no excuse for allowing this size of debt to have built up.
Owning racehorses is one of life’s luxury items and you simply have to be able to pay your bills, otherwise it puts huge pressure on the trainer to run his or her business.
I am sure we all have been in the position of being owed money and if, like me, you hate having to ask for it again and again - even though it is rightly yours - then maybe the time has come to get a third party involved to eradicate bad payers in racing through the BHA or, better still, Weatherbys.
An agency could be set up to collect all training fees and if they are not paid within a certain time, then that owner’s horses are not allowed to run.
I am sure in this instance that all of the debts will be sorted out with Al Shaqab and the sooner, the better. The money must be within close reach somewhere, no? I am imagining it is the organisation behind it that must be to blame for this sorry mess.
However, if the racing coffers are indeed bare, the participation of their horse Toast Of New York in the $16 million dollar Pegasus World Cup on January 27 takes on an added significance.
Just entering the race costs an advertised $1million dollars of course but there are rumours that Toast Of New York’s entry money has been met by other parties who have decided to take the gamble.
BRILLIANT BOWEN
James Bowen wasn’t the first Welshman to ride the Welsh National winner but he is in illustrious company with the other two, in relatively recent times, being Dick Francis and Carl Llewellyn.
There was something a bit special and “AP McCoy’ish” about the way the 16-year-old kept on galvanising Raz De Maree who had got outpaced coming out of the back straight.
Very strong, stylish and focused, Bowen has it all to go to the top and, in the meantime, must have a great chance of emulating his elder brother Sean by winning the conditional jockeys title this season.
13-year-old Raz De Maree wins the Welsh Grand National at @Chepstow_Racing 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/7RI1fTa6IH
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 6, 2018
TONIC FOR MALCOLM JEFFERSON
It is no secret that Malcolm Jefferson has been battling ill health for some time and it was great to hear that he was delighted with Mount Mews’s chasing debut at Doncaster on Tuesday.
The Malton trainer was watching at home as the Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding showed a degree of flair and athleticism to come home a comfortable winner in a virtual match against the more experienced but useful Sam Red.
Given the record he has got at the Aintree Grand National meeting, you would imagine that Jefferson will be considering working back from the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase which starts off the card on the opening day.
Meanwhile, it looks as though the yard’s Waiting Patiently will be lining up for the 32Red Casino Chase at Kempton on Saturday and give southern racegoers, who have indeed been waiting patiently, an overdue chance to appreciate his talents.
Unbeaten in four chase starts, I can’t wait to see how he gets on against the likes of Josses Hill, Smad Place and company.
MINELLA ROCCO THE FORGOTTEN GOLD CUP CONTENDER?
I mentioned last week how impressed Coney Island had been at Ascot as he makes his way towards the Gold Cup, for which 38 were left in this week. But of course his owner JP McManus went fairly close last year when Minella Rocco chased home Sizing John.
Minella Rocco has not had much publicity since or, if he has, it has been negative following two below-par runs this season.
However, his staying-on fourth in the Christmas Chase at Leopardstown was so much more like it and the charismatic giant chaser – he is well over 17 hands - seemed on good terms with himself when I popped into Jackdaws Castle this week.
Jonjo O’Neill is considering either the Irish Gold Cup or the Denman Chase at Newbury for Rocco’s next outing as a prep for the blue riband and I then wonder whether the Grand National will be a consideration.
Let’s just say that Jonjo did mention that quietly, so we shall see.
Road To Chelteham exclusive: Minella Rocco 20/1 NRNB Cheltenham Gold Cup
JIMMY SCOTT BACK AT THE TRACK
It was good to see Jimmy Scott at Lingfield on Wednesday.
The man who spent just shy of 40 years with Sir Michael Stoute, mostly as his travelling head lad, retired a few years ago and was back to help out George Margason on the day.
Looking still very fit at 72, it was clear that it was giving him loads of pleasure being back on the track.
Jimmy has a well-earned reputation for being a fine judge so it was fascinating to hear that he rated Harbinger as the best horse he had dealt with at the yard. That is some compliment to the runaway King George winner of 2010 when you consider all of the superstars he had seen at close quarters over the years.
He also felt that Shahrastani never got the credit he deserved, either.
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