“I THINK we are done here.”
Those were the first words I uttered to connections after coming back in on Coneygree at Ascot on Saturday, and it was 100pc the correct call to retire him there and then.
I felt his engine start to die on me before I pulled him up, and I pretty much knew, in my own mind at least, that his time for an easier life had come.
I think it is very important for top-class horses not be persevered with once they aren’t able to compete at somewhere near the level they operated at in their prime – it’s a matter of respect, I guess – and what a racehorse he was.
First things first, a lot of credit must go to Mattie Batchelor, who made Coneygree the horse he became. His handling of him in his bumper and novice hurdle days laid the vital groundwork.
Coneygree had a lot of time out before embarking upon his novice chase campaign in 2014, and I was lucky enough to be riding for the Bradstocks at the time, and they, and the syndicate of owners, thankfully asked me to ride him.
He duly won on his chase debut at Newbury – but that should actually have been his second start over fences.
It made a few headlines at the time when the vet pulled him out at the start at Plumpton beforehand. I am still not sure what the vet saw there – I certainly couldn’t work it out – but it almost certainly cost us the 60k bonus for winning there and at the Festival.
But, given what happened a few months down the line, perhaps we should forgive and forget now!
After his chasing debut success, we went on to win the Kauto Star by 30 lengths at Kempton, although I was absent for his subsequent victory in the Denman Chase as I had picked up a four-day ban for winning the River Don. Luckily, I got back on him for Cheltenham.
It was an inspired decision to run him in the Gold Cup as a novice – I had not long lost my claim, so I was equally naïve and inexperienced – and what a day that was.
He was brilliant that day, courageous and pretty much untouchable.
But it came at a cost as it was one hell of a gruelling Gold Cup, and I think the race left its mark on a few there.
Coneygree was never quite the same again too, though I must flag up his brilliant third to Sizing John and Djakadam at Punchestown two years later; a thrilling race to ride in, and proof that you don’t need 16 runners to have a great spectacle.
Saturday was sad in a way, but also joyous in another.
At least he went out on his own terms, with his place in history assured. Thanks to the Bradstocks and the owners for letting me be a part of the story.
Happy retirement, Coneygree. ❤
He was a brilliant winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2015 when becoming the first novice to win the race since 1974. pic.twitter.com/1xd74sqY4w
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 16, 2019
SATURDAY – KEMPTON
1.15pm
Burrows Edge
We haven’t seen him since his sixth in a decent handicap hurdle at Sandown in April, but he went well off a break last season. He progressed nicely from a good fourth on his hurdling debut here last term, winning twice, and there is a lot to like about this 6yo. Hopefully, he is on a competitive mark, for all that hasn’t been dropped for that Sandown run, and the step back up in trip promises to suit, too.
3.00pm
Angels Breath
The guv’nor has been dying to get a run into him for ages, and this will certainly tell us a lot more about where we stand with him as regards the Supreme. But we certainly think he is towards the top of the pecking order when it comes to our novice hurdlers on what he shows us at home. He was electric when I schooled him on Thursday morning. Of course, he has to go and do it on the track and to date he has only won a point and jumped four hurdles when winning at Ascot back in December. But he could have hardly impressed me more when winning there, oozing class, and I think he is pretty versatile as regards the ground. He carries a 5lb penalty here against good horses, which makes things tougher, but win or lose, let’s hope the Cheltenham dream stays alive after this run. I’d be pretty hopeful it will.
SUNDAY – FONTWELL
2.20pm
Whatswrongwithyou
This is a decent little novices’ chase but hopefully there is plenty of improvement to come from my horse. He was a progressive hurdler last season and he got off the mark on his second attempt over fences at Ffos Las last time, though he has picked up a 5lb penalty for that win in a three-runner race. The softer the better for him, and I think the slight step up in trip will suit him, too.
4.55pm
Corrany
As with so many of Mr Hemmings’ horses, he comes from good staying stock, from the family of Trabolgan no less, and apparently he goes nicely enough at home. You never know quite what you will bump into in these races, but hopefully he will run well and give us something to build on.
