I was planning to write a blog that presented the cases for the prosecution and defence of Chosen Comrade in the Mares Novice. In fact, I did write that blog, but it probably makes sense to leave that until after declarations, so I don’t waste time discussing horses that don’t run (I'm looking at you, Highland Crystal and Selma De Vary, and glancing at you, Place De La Nation). Instead, I have some random thoughts loosely connected with race.
Let me start at the beginning: we are in the Mares Novice. Sounds straightforward, and Peter never had a doubt, but for me, it has been weeks of following running plans and updating my own private ratings. There had been 47 entries, and only 22 could take part. I initially used Racing Post Ratings (RPR) and Timeform ratings to rank the entries, but both were overly negative toward Chosen Comrade. I then devised my own ratings, which, while more positive, still had her at number 29.
One horse was injured, another ran poorly, and others became less likely to run as the attractiveness of alternative races increased. It was starting to look good, and yesterday morning it came good, with only 25 confirmed for the race. My ranking had us at a handicap mark of 123, with two horses at 110 or less and another likely in that region. Even I, forever paranoid at these times, was confident enough to let everyone know that we were guaranteed a run.
After a succession of WhatsApp messages, I turned to the important matter of booking lunch in Owners and Trainers on Thursday. Apparently, I should have received a brochure and two car parking badges when Chosen Comrade was entered; I did not. Closer inspection revealed that Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) had not updated my US address, so it was still showing Boston, MA. Right now, there is probably some bemused person at my old address wondering why they have parking badges for Cheltenham, Pennsylvania.
I must admit that my mind did drift to thinking of J P McManus, who must have had over 100 entries; that’s 200 parking badges. I am not sure what the exact conversion is, but I am guessing they equate to one helicopter space per day
We don’t need parking badges anyway so no big deal. I am delighted to say that we will have the Sandown six back again; the same guys who attended when Surprise Package won the Imperial Cup back in 2022. This can only be a good omen.
I had two choices of where to have lunch: the Paddock Pavilion or Owners and Trainer Bar and Bistro on the 2nd Floor (3rd floor for my American friends) of the Princess Royal Stand. The Paddock Pavilion, while very nice, is for people who don’t care if they see a horse all day; Owners and Trainers, on the other hand, offers a wonderful view from an outside terrace; it was an easy decision.
I was then presented with two options for dining: a first sitting from 12.00 – 1.30pm or a second sitting starting at 1.45 (have to be seated by 2.15pm). With our race at 1.20 pm and no certainty about how my stomach would be feeling, it had to be second sitting. Of course, we might be late after all of the celebrations, the trophy presentation, and the congratulatory champagne for winning connections, but we will deal with that later!! Oh, to be a dreamer, eh?
After letting the family we stay with in Cheltenham know that they would have to put up with us for an extra night, I called Peter, who was on the Curragh, as she was about to have her final school. That went very well, Sam (Ewing) was delighted with her and maintained his conviction that he can’t see her being out of the first three. In fairness, he has always loved her and, on Tuesday, she had done what was probably her best piece of work ever, so he was feeling ever more bullish.
It's all systems go, and she will be on the boat on Monday morning and will arrive at the racecourse stables on Monday night. She will have a hack around the inside of the track on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and do a slightly stronger canter on Wednesday; Sam will be there to ride her, and Chloe will be looking after her.
Next I wanted to check how much her price had changed now that only 25 of the 47 entries remained. She had been 40/1 with William Hill, so I was thinking 33/1 or maybe even less. When I saw that she had actually gone out to 50/1, I was a strange combination of shock, delight (might have to wade back in and place another bet), and irritation (why are my horses always under-rated).
I was due down the pub for some pre-Cheltenham stamina building, but made a detour to William Hill, where I smiled and took the 50/1. Earlier in the week, I had placed a bet at 40/1 for myself. Even, my hairdresser in Naples, Florida had given me £200 to place a £100 e/w bet. He is English, knows little about racing but is incredibly supportive and ‘just happened’ to have £200 in sterling when I had my pre-Cheltenham ‘winners cut’. I will invest it wisely! I also put a £10 e/w bet on for my mother, who now stands to win £500 without risking a penny of her own money.
I then remembered a discussion from the TAP podcast about where she might run after Cheltenham. It is crazy to be thinking about that when I am just relieved to get a run next week. However, due to the craziness of the Irish race planning, we have no choice. Let me explain:
There is one Grade 1 Mares Novice in Ireland all year, and it takes place at Fairyhouse at Easter (even next week is ‘only’ a Grade 2). Next week’s race will provide the best guide yet to the relative merits of the novice Mares, so it makes sense to see how Chosen Comrade goes at Cheltenham before deciding if it is worth even thinking about Fairyhouse. If only that were an option! No, due to bureaucratic stupidity, entries for Fairyhouse are on March 11th; one day BEFORE the Cheltenham race. It would be crazy to run well next week and not be entered, so, just in case, I am probably going to have to pod out €700. What is the point of entries being on Wednesday? It’s not as if anyone gives an “Eartha Kitt” about Fairyhouse in the middle of Festival week- crazy! I guess I could wait and see how Thursday goes, and if she wins or runs well, we do have the option of supplementing her at a fee five days before the Fairyhouse race; a fee of €10000!!
To put that in perspective, the supplementary fee for the Stayers Hurdle on Thursday is €15000 for a race worth four times as much as the Fairyhouse race.
Editor’s note: Before my American readers Google who Eartha Kitt was, it is only fair to inform you that this is Cockney rhyming slang. I will let you figure it out.
Peter is running some tests on her today, but we are as confident as we can be. Although when you see that horses like Marine Nationale and Galopin Des Champs have been ruled out by injury in the last two days, it does remind you how fragile the thoroughbred is and how lucky we are to actually get to the starting line.
Tune back in for the Declarations blog on Tuesday when I find the weak spots of all the other horses and none in Chosen Comrade!