Not many horse racing fans would have predicted a jumps season like the one we’ve seen so far. Just a year ago, the country was still unsure how long it would be until normality resumed, deep into the third national lockdown with plans of a government covid roadmap as treacherous as Aintree on a rainy afternoon. However, last summer’s flat racing gave us reasons to be optimistic, and with the jumps in full swing, it’s fair to say some races have been a pleasure to watch.
As the dust settles on the Cheltenham Festival and we gear up for the Grand National, there’s still plenty to digest over the last few months of action, with plenty of talking points and plenty to look forward to for those that bet on horses. Read on, as we look at the biggest stories of the jumps racing season so far.
Tornado Flyer wins the King George
We all love an underdog story. There’s something special about a horse defying all the odds to reign supreme and that was exactly the case for Willie Mullins-trained Tornado Flyer, who won the King George VI Chase over the festive period. The nine-year-old, who had Mullins’ nephew Danny aboard as jockey, shocked everyone at Kempton to beat the likes of Clan Des Obeaux and Paul Nicholls-trained Saint Calvados in an entertaining Boxing Day race that entertained a trainer even as experienced as Mullins.
“I was totally surprised. I thought he might run a good race, but I couldn’t see him in the first four. Danny gave him a very cute ride and he was awesome on him,” he said “Every season he promises to run a race like that, but every season he tapers off. This year we changed the way we do things with him at home and it’s obviously working.”
Shishkin vs Energumene
The Clarence House Chase at Ascot stole all the headlines back in January when it held perhaps the race of the season. Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin just edged past Energumene, but there was little between them in their first encounter. Both horses possessed fantastic records and it set up a highly anticipated rematch at Cheltenham which saw Mullins trained-Energumene gain a measure of revenge as Shishkin pulled up. The scores are level and it will be interesting to see if we get a third encounter between these two that settles things for good.
Tiger Roll’s last dance
It was emotional. It was hard to watch. Alas, Tiger Roll rides out of a rainy Cheltenham with his head held high having just come up short to Jack Kennedy and Delta Work in his final race. After pulling out of the National due to disagreements over his weight, it was the last time Gordon Elliott got to race the diminutive gelding. Even aged 12 now, Tiger Roll gave a good account of himself in the Glenfarclas Chase, but the two-time National winner was denied a sixth Cheltenham victory and dream end to his career by stablemate Delta Work, with Kennedy receiving boos from a hostile Cheltenham crowd.
“Tiger went down on his sword today,” said his jockey, Davy Russell. “I always knew Delta Work was going to be his biggest danger and he was breathing down my neck the whole way – unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be for us today.”
