FINISH LINE Cheltenham & Three Counties Race Club Magazine
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APRIL 2016 FINISH LINE Cheltenham & Three Counties Race Club magazine DAVID MULLINS WE SALUTE YOU CONTENTS WELCOME Editors Introduction 3 Richard Davis award 21 What’s in a name? Well if you’re a Clinton, for just under two weeks. It was a great sight Kim Bailey column 4-7 Jo Collinson column 22-25 Bush or Trudeau, chances are you might therefore to see Liam back in the saddle in time John Pinfold guest column 8-10 Adam Hurley column 26-27 become leader of a North American for the Cheltenham April meeting. country. Closer to home, if you’re a Pipe, At the same meeting and with Liam in mind, the John Hales column 11 Members jury 28-29 Scudamore, Carberry or Mullins then a club were proud to donate a cheque for £2000 Aintree Festival review 12-17 Tipster competition update 29 successful life in National Hunt racing may to Lisa Hancock, IJF Chief Executive, to continue Sophia Dale column 18-19 Injured Jockeys Fund 30 await you. to help provide support to the brave jockeys Club News 20 Of these racing dynasties 2016 will be who bring us the pleasure we enjoy in the sport remembered as the year when the Mullins we follow. family carried all before them. Aintree proved Our Club has a strong literary theme this The media centre at Aintree has been the defining weekend, as, with the Irish month as we’re pleased to introduce our guest renamed in honour of Alan Lee Championship secured, Willie Mullins brought columnist John Pinfold, the author of a new his horses over the Irish Sea in sufficient book “Aintree The History of the Racecourse” numbers to give himself a clear advantage in the on pages 8 to 10. In addition to learning about UK Championship by the close of the three day John’s book, we also have a super club night Festival. But it was another Mullins who carved to look forward to on April 20 where authors his name into Grand National folklore, as Willie’s Alastair Down, Richard Austen and Jamie Reid 19 year old nephew David gave a sublime ride will be signing copies of their latest books as our on 33/1 shot Rule The World to win the race in club night guests, do try and join us if you can. Wishfull Thinking joins Somersby and fine style. Balthazar King in retirement Our attention now turns to Punchestown Our magazine this month provides many of and the mouth-watering prospect of Vautour the back stories to the big race. We give special locking horns again with Don Cossack and Cue coverage to Kim Bailey on pages 4 to 7 as he Card in the Irish Gold Cup, surely that’s worth a reveals his mixture of pride versus “what if” for Ryanair flight of £9.99 alone? the valiant The Last Samuri who jumped the last in front, only to be overtaken on the run in As those three look set to create a memorable to finish second. John Hales shares his thoughts spectacle we also offer our thanks and fond on his horse Unioniste’s game effort in coming farewells this month to Balthazar King, Somersby tenth, while Jo Collinson tells the story of the and Wishfull Thinking, three horses who have National through the eyes of the grooms who brought real joy to all who watched them over love the horses in their care. their long and successful careers – may they enjoy a We would normally have had a fourth long and happy retirement. contribution from our columnist Liam Treadwell on his scheduled ride on Katenko but Liam Enjoy the racing suffered a bad fall at Bangor-On-Dee on March Steve Ennis 31 which temporarily knocked him unconscious. The fall resulted in Liam being stood down 2 3 TLS and I posed for what seemed hundreds KIM BAILEY of pictures ahead of the Grand National COLUMN As most of you are aware Kim Bailey has arrive? It all started back in February when been our longest serving contributor the weights were announced. Things went to our club magazine, for which we are quiet due to the pressures of The Cheltenham hugely indebted. This month it seems Festival and no sooner had the last race been only fitting we give Kim centre stage to run on Gold Cup day than the phone started recount the drama of the Grand National ringing. It was a media frenzy like nothing I where his horse, The Last Samuri, (TLS) have seen before. The Last Samuri was fancied came tantalisingly close to capturing the and the whole press core seemed to want to most famous race in the world. Kim picks be part of him. I was not complaining as I have up the story for us; missed that sort of treatment while without horses good enough to even be mentioned. I can only say I was exhausted by Sunday Enjoy and be helpful was the motto from night.. and I did not win. here. What a very long week. The build up for this weren’t even born. I think many had done a Aintree is a fabulous racecourse and Liverpool I think all of the TV channels were down years Crabbie’s Grand National just seemed bit of swatting up to ask the right questions. I is a fabulous city. Both make you feel welcome here filming from every conceivable angle to go on and on, was the day ever going to felt like a male model by the time I set off for and this year it all seemed brighter and better. and all trying to find that illusive story. It has Aintree last week. Radio interviews and more media and so it been 26 years since I last won the race and went on. No chance to relax and enjoy? Really! TLS, just right of centre sets off as they got away Thursday was the last first time in the National most of those who were here to talk to me time I was to see TLS The big day arrived and until Saturday and time Aintree is a fabulous still we were on course. to put the saddle on. He Phone calls from Matt exercised on Thursday racecourse and Nicholls my assistant morning and frankly Liverpool is a were like receiving a call after seeing him nearly fabulous city from your doctor after a run into three deer who medical. Answered with had decided to join the dread. Morning Line string while galloping up our all weather I with Alice Plunkett were I was able to see TLS knew it was time to leave. Praying for any form arrive.. he was filmed coming down the ramp of luck that might remain to keep him from without falling. treading on a stone, shy from a bleating lamb A course walk with friends, followed by lunch. or just remaining calm while turned out in his Then it rained and by then I felt the world was paddock every afternoon.. routine. against me - why now after such a bright start 4 5 to the day? jockeys arrived, pretend to give instruction TLS seems to be enjoying himself as does his Clare hugging each other saying what a (already done well before the race). Time to jockey David Bass and somehow seems to great race he had run and how proud, what Time to saddle and I decided to saddle in the relax and enjoy the proceedings - like hell. have been able to see strides so far away from we really said was something completely stables as he used to become very wound the fences that you wonder if he has some different but most of what came out of our up and sweaty when he first arrived with us. Leg up the jockey and then that's my part electronic guidance on him… always in the mouths was not printable. He saddled like an done. Twenty fore we head down to The Chair and he sails old sheep with his minutes to the The winner came in with all the head down. I say Three from home I started end of the race fanfare expected .. no TLS. Panic that an old sheep as TLS to shout (quietly) and then and somebody he had collapsed. My phone would felt tiny putting that has to win it, we all not connect and I ran (not good at saddle on his back. two from home I thought wonder. that) as fast as I could to the vets area Blackening his feet and there he was just exhausted my God we could win this I watch from the to show him off having given his all. He was fine. parade ring with and then out of the Relief. Clare and family. stable yard into the parade ring. Bloody awful place to watch a big race. TV Back for further interviews with Clare Time for the public side of the race. Owners screens too small and the race too far away Balding. Yes pleased and pleased being interviewed by Clare Balding and every from the grandstands. They’re off. Cigarettes, for his owners - try and sound like body smiling and wishing each other luck, mints, nails whatever takes your fancy. Down you are, difficult. I needed space and the only time of the year when they possibly to the first and when they jump that you feel found it in the Suny Bay room for a mean it. Last minute details and then the better.