I experienced two extremes of emotion whilst watching events unfold from Cheltenham on Gold Cup day. Emptiness and elation. They came in sudden bursts throughout this superb afternoon of the Sport of Kings at its very finest.
On the one hand I was Jack the gambler – a fool of the greatest magnitude who had been sent on a wild goose chase by the bookies and his own last minute change of hearts.
On the other I was Jack the horse racing lover who was not so much sent on a wild goose chase but more on a journey to the centre of what this and every other sport is all about.
Jack the gambler spent the late hours of Thursday 17th March and the early ones of Friday 18th poring over the form. I had been at the meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday and had perhaps suffered from listening to too many opinions, not least every trainer, jockey, owner and tipster with an interest in the race. This had proved unsuccessful although I did come perilously close to decent wins on a number of occasions.
So, I spent a very enjoyable few hours doing it my own way and promising to myself that I would not be drawn away from my chosen path. I emerged with a bet of great potential: an each-way treble on Zarkandar (7/1 in the Triumph Hurdle), Mossley (12/1 in the Albert Bartlett) and either Final Approach or Notus De La Tour (10/1 and 16/1 respectively in the County Hurdle). If all three of these won then I was looking at a massive win certain to contain four figures. If they all came in the places then I was still looking at the biggest win of my life.
I bounced down to the bookies early doors. I had one decision to make and that was either Final Approach or Notus in the second race? I plumped for Notus as he looked sure to run his race while I felt Final Approach was either capable of winning or coming way back but not much in between. I played it safe for once and went with Notus.
Zarkandar, as predicted, ran a blinder in the opener and obliged at 7s. A hell of a good start. Then it was Notus’ turn. He looked for all the world like he was on for a big run up the final hill. He then may as well have stopped and was going backwards by the end. That was the bet over. Another punt of great potential fallen by the wayside. Annoyed as I was happy with it and the research was solid but this is Cheltenham after all – the most competitive racing in the world. However, it was the winner that really niggled at me – you guessed it – Final Approach.
Then came another kick in the proverbials. Mossley came surging up the hill in the three miler and claimed a valiant second. That means that had I backed Final Approach and not Notus I would have left Billy Hill with a rather large wad in my pocket.
Jack the gambler was upset.
Then came the Gold Cup. This is what racing is all about – the best staying chasers in the business going at it hammer and tong to see who will be crowned king for the year.
This was no ordinary Gold Cup either with three previous winners saddling up not to mention the first six-year-old winner of the King George since 1951 plus a myriad of other up-and-comers hungry for their moment of glory.
The race ended up living up to and surpassing all expectations. Alistair Down and the Channel Four team, who have seen dozens and dozens of Gold Cups, called it one of the best horse races they have ever seen.
It was not a classic because of the closeness of the finish, Long Run won and won well, but because of the romance.
Long Run is the youngest winner of the race since the legendary Mill House in 1963. He is ridden by an amateur, Sam Waley-Cohen, who became the first winning amateur of the race in thirty years. He is owned by Sam’s father, Robert, who had the faith and belief in his son to keep him on board despite calls for a so-called pro to take the ride. This was a great Gold Cup story.
However, it was not all about Long Run. Kauto Star, a two-time winner in 2007 and 2009 and the only horse in history to regain the Gold Cup, ran a blinder to finish third after leading for a long time. Denman, a winner in 2008 and along with Kauto the most popular horse in training, also ran another super race to finish second for the third time in this blue riband race.
They were expected to go quite well but it was the manner in which they ran which took one’s breath away. The emotion with which they were greeted in the winner’s enclosure will not be forgotten by connections who must be delighted to have been involved with horses who have transcended their sport over the past five years. Their many wins will always be in the record books but surely the love held for these two legends by the public is the greatest gift for respective owners Clive Smith and Paul Barber.
I must admit that I had a tear in my eye. It was what this wonderful sport is all about. In fact, it is what sport in general is all about. Great stories unraveling in front of us and dreams being lived around us.
Jack the horse racing lover was ecstatic.
Of the two feelings experienced throughout the day, elation certainly overcame emptiness as I realized that gambling is just a part of the sport and although having an interest is certainly enjoyable, it is not everything, not by a long chalk.
Emptiness did come in another form though. I had that sinking feeling similar to that when you have finished reading a great book and have no idea what to do now that it is over, or that feeling of despair as a weekend that you have enjoyed so much draws to a close. Cheltenham is over for another year and for a while I did not really know what to do.
However, although I felt a little empty now that it is over, I am elated at the prospect of similar emotions next year in what is fast becoming my favourite sporting event of the year.
Jack Travers' Blog 