No sooner had Ruby Walsh resolved one very public dilemma than another presented itself. Walsh, having announced his predictable choice of Gold Cup ride, now faces more soul-searching over the Queen Mother Champion Chase. It would have been risking ridicule for Walsh to desert Kauto Star in favour of Denman, whose demolition of inferiors in the Aon Chase on Saturday brought no second thoughts. However, Master Minded’s victory over Voy Por Ustedes in the Game Spirit Chase produced a quandary for the jockey.
Just as bookmakers varied, some promoting Master Minded to favouritism for Cheltenham while others retained Twist Magic, so Walsh must now weigh up their different virtues. Like Kauto Star and Denman, both are trained by Paul Nicholls, who reiterated yesterday that they will target the same race at the Festival.
Nicholls may yet make the decision himself, especially as Master Minded runs in the same colours as Kauto Star, but Walsh remains split. “I couldn’t possibly have got off the Gold Cup winner, even though Denman is well capable of winning it,” he said yesterday. “But this is a tough one and I’m not sure which way I’ll go.
“Master Minded had to win from the front, which is tough for a virtual novice. But he impressed me, and his jumping got better through the race. Twist Magic is some traveller, though, and he’s unlikely to get the bottomless ground that beat him last time.”
After the Game Spirit, the black mood of Alan King told of his frustrations at losing out yet again to the champion trainer, who took the first four races on a stellar card. King recorded a treble of his own at Exeter yesterday but may fear Voy Por Ustedes has lost a little of his former zest.
Advertisement
Denman’s Gold Cup price was unlikely to shorten on Saturday. His facile victory, though, brought a bravura performance from his co-owner, Harry Findlay. Comparing his horse to a bulldozer and a tank, he declared of the Gold Cup duel: “It’s on now. But I think the tank will knock Kauto out of the way if he gets too close.”