|
DAVID CARR |
Weblog: What do you mean the Wi-Fi doesn't work? The life of a Racing Post reporter
Cross fires as rival disappears
Pity poor Bangor, losing out on its second 'race of the century' and we are not even a dozen years in.
Five years ago it was a February novice hurdle that got everyone excited about a small jumps track in North Wales.
Black Jack Ketchum, the swaggeringly sexy young hurdler with the world at his feet, against Denman, a stayer with such potential that some thought he might even make a Gold Cup horse one day.
A heavy morning frost could not spoil the fun, racing went ahead after three inspections and . . . . . Black Jack Ketchum was pulled out, leaving Denman to win at 1-12.
Half a decade later it was a chase that had had people talking for weeks.
Champion Hurdle runner-up Peddlers Cross, from Donald McCain's yard just up the road, and Denman's stablemate Al Ferof, winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in the spring.
The season's two most exciting 2m novice chasers taking each other on as each had his first run over fences in a beginners' chase here. The Arkle Chase in microcosm at Bangor in November.
It looked great. Until the declarations came through yesterday.
Al Ferof had been switched to Cheltenham on Sunday. So Peddlers Cross was left with a virtual walkover.
The 1-8 shot did it well though - well enough to calm the nerves of distinctly twitchy trainer Donald McCain who had not been looking forward to the archetypal nothing to win/everything to lose scenario and said: "I wanted to pull the duvet over my head this morning and go back to bed."
Movember growth: David Carr
PICTURE: David CarrThanks to former HWPA president William Hayler and his brother Phil for their Movember donations, and Betfred spokesman George Primarolo, but I got a safety warning this afternoon from Mike on the raceday staff in the weighing room.
He is one of the few men in racing with a circus-performing background and speaking from experience he said you have to take great care of your moustache if you are fire eating as it is very easy to set it aflame. I shall remember that if I am tempted to give it a go before December 1 (though his tales of lining your stomach with mile and white spirit hardly sold me on the idea).
If you have not already done so, make my efforts worthwhile and visit http://mobro.co/davidcarr. Thanks.
Comments