As a long time Annual Member at Cheltenham, December has always brought a visit to the follow up chase to the Paddy Power. Most recently known as the Boylesports Chase, this year under the sponsorship of the tremendous Stewart family in support of their inspirational son Paul, the Spinal Research Handicap Chase was the big Saturday Betting Race.
Our tremendous novice chaser Mad Moose, crept in at the bottom of the weights and even though the presence of the Paul Nicholls trained Woolcome Folly kept the weight down for his well fancied stablemate, we were only 3 lb out of the handicap and to our mind, in with a much better chance than our 50/1 outsider tag.
The perpetually ebullient Sam Twiston-Davies, told us that he was going to sit handy and then see if he was in touch coming into the straight and see what happened. Moose looked tremendous going round the paddock in the winter sunshine and the team moved round to the grandstand to get a good view of the race.
Blocked out at the first two fences, Moose was soon at the rear and Sam brought him wide up the straight and got him jumping better than a lot of his much more experienced rivals. As the frenetic pace began to tell. Moose's jumping took him right through the field down the back straight and coming down the famous hill he moved into second challenging the long time leader. He hit the second last and as the hold up horses started to finish up the hill, Moose paid the price for chasing the pace so early and stumbled over the last to weaken into 8th position.
Sam Twiston-Davies returned to unsaddle, grinning from ear to ear from the great ride he had had on our young novice in this top handicap chase at the home of Steeplechasing. Sam, being ever honest, admitted that he couldn't believe how well Moose had been travelling and knew he had got there too quickly. Given his time again, he would have crept through the field and came with his run up the final hill. He may get that chance on Jan 1st back at Cheltenham, before Moose gets a well deserved break as he has been on the go since the summer without a break.
I feel very lucky to be involved in owning such a tough genuine and talented young horse and such a brilliant team as Nigel, Carl and Sam. Lots to look forward to with Moosie!!!
MAD MOOSE
Our tremendous novice chaser Mad Moose, crept in at the bottom of the weights and even though the presence of the Paul Nicholls trained Woolcome Folly kept the weight down for his well fancied stablemate, we were only 3 lb out of the handicap and to our mind, in with a much better chance than our 50/1 outsider tag.
The perpetually ebullient Sam Twiston-Davies, told us that he was going to sit handy and then see if he was in touch coming into the straight and see what happened. Moose looked tremendous going round the paddock in the winter sunshine and the team moved round to the grandstand to get a good view of the race.
Blocked out at the first two fences, Moose was soon at the rear and Sam brought him wide up the straight and got him jumping better than a lot of his much more experienced rivals. As the frenetic pace began to tell. Moose's jumping took him right through the field down the back straight and coming down the famous hill he moved into second challenging the long time leader. He hit the second last and as the hold up horses started to finish up the hill, Moose paid the price for chasing the pace so early and stumbled over the last to weaken into 8th position.
Sam Twiston-Davies returned to unsaddle, grinning from ear to ear from the great ride he had had on our young novice in this top handicap chase at the home of Steeplechasing. Sam, being ever honest, admitted that he couldn't believe how well Moose had been travelling and knew he had got there too quickly. Given his time again, he would have crept through the field and came with his run up the final hill. He may get that chance on Jan 1st back at Cheltenham, before Moose gets a well deserved break as he has been on the go since the summer without a break.
I feel very lucky to be involved in owning such a tough genuine and talented young horse and such a brilliant team as Nigel, Carl and Sam. Lots to look forward to with Moosie!!!
