Kauto Star, pictured with regular pilot Ruby Walsh up after winning his second Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2009, is one of the five horses in line to be named the Racing Post’s People’s Champion (Picture: Turf Talk Ed)
Jumps Racing is frowned upon from afar by many, but attending a jumps meeting in Britain or Ireland and the old adage “Never judge a book by its cover” surfaces almost immediately.
A visit to a jumps meeting in Britain quickly dispels the notion that it is a cruel sport.
Jumps trainers are generally salt of the earth farmer types who are true horse people.
They love being with horses and earn their living by sending them out to race.
But to say they send them out without caring for them is so far divorced from the truth as to be laughable and without going in to too much detail this is what becomes so apparent so quickly when attending a jumps meeting.
As for the horses, the chasers are generally big, strong, magnificent beasts and it is a sight to see them approaching the first fence in a bunch with ears pricked and jumping it as if it is second nature, with some of them brushing the birch twigs, which adds to the powerful associated sounds and images.
The chief wish of trainers, owners and the adoring fans is that their horses get home safely and winning is a bonus.
Hurdlers are sometimes more athletic, like flat horses, but in fact all four of the aforementioned jumps horses made their names as chasers.
Of course the legendary Frankel needs no introduction and could beat them all to the title.
Below is a pen picture of the finalists:
DENMAN: Everyone knows about the stellar Cheltenham Gold Cup win, the two Hennessy’s under a saddle full of lead and the bloodless RSA Chase victory, but what cannot be conveyed in the form book is the manner in which Denman marched to steeple chasing’s summit. Click here to read more.
DESERT ORCHID: Looking at your nominations for the People’s Champion, what’s very apparent even at first glance is that those of you who plumped for Desert Orchid viewed him not just as an astonishing racehorse but as a part of your lives, a hero, a role model, an inspiration and even a close friend for nine unforgettable years. Click here to read more.
FRANKEL: Where to start? That’s the dilemma confronting any attempt to chronicle what made Frankel resonate with the public. The multitude of strands leaves us spoilt for choice. Click here to read more.
KAUTO STAR: Two little words do not dare to tell the whole story of Kauto Star, but, in their own strange way, offer a glimpse into the finest steeplechaser to have graced the sport since the immortal Arkle. Click here to read more.
RED RUM: Recensy bias is an accusation often hurled at polls like this one, mostly by old-timers with an axe to grind, but it is hard to dispute that they have a point. Yes, we all remember last week’s Group 1 superstar and quite possibly last season’s Gold Cup winner, but even the best horses finally fade from the memory, and the longer ago they ran the less likely we (especially those pesky, disrespectful youngsters) are to vote for them. Click here to read more.
- Having seen three of the above in action and experienced the hype around them i.e. Desert Orchid, Kauto Star Denman, my vote goes to Desert Orchid. He would probably not have been the best racer among them but he was one of those greys who was almost white so stood out from the crowd and he had bottomless courage. The public adoration for “Dessie” was astonishing. He had a fan club bigger than most football teams could boast. One article I recall reading had it that he used to receive bagful’s of letters, some of them even asking him for advice! (Turf Talk Ed).
