Cheltenham's notorious second-last fence, which claimed the life of Granit Jack in Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup, will not have any changes made to it despite the obstacle accounting for two more fallers in the opening novice chase here yesterday. Fortunately, both Tramantano and Papini emerged unscathed.
Willyanwoody, a stable companion of Granit Jack, also fell on Saturday with fatal consequences, this time at the third-last fence. A wholesale review of safety procedures at Cheltenham was conducted after nine horses died at the 2006 Festival, the worst since 10 horses were killed at jump racing's showpiece meeting in 1996.
"We do everything we can to minimise risk to horse and rider," said Cheltenham's clerk of the course Simon Claisse yesterday. "There is nothing we can do about the positioning of the second last fence, but it's not actually a downhill obstacle. Two seasons ago we altered the levels on the landing side, where there is a slight depression, and since then the faller rate at that fence has lessened. Like Granit Jack, the two horses that came down today seemed to jump it fine, but I will talk to Richard Linley [chief inspector of courses] to see if there is anything we should note."
Mick Fitzgerald, who fell on Papini, believes there is no inherent problem with the penultimate fence. "It's part and parcel of Cheltenham and has been like it for years," he said. "My horse made a silly mistake and paid the price. If there was anything wrong I'd be the first to say."
Ruby Walsh's injury in his crashing fall on Willyanwoody means that Sam Thomas, acting stable jockey for Paul Nicholls, will very likely take the ride on Kauto Star in Saturday's Betfair Chase at Haydock. "Sam is our stable jockey and he has schooled Kauto Star regularly," said Nicholls. However, the Gold Cup winner's owner, Clive Smith, is known to be considering Mick Fitzgerald for the ride.
Fitzgerald, who won the 2005 Tingle Creek Chase on Kauto Star, said: "I'm flattered to be considered. But Paul has said Sam will ride. Paul and I have been friends for a long time. He's an honourable man."
Neither the second-last fence, nor any of the other obstacles, proved a problem yesterday for Voy Por Ustedes who turned in a series of superb leaps in the paddypower.com Handicap Chase before being worn down close home by Kalca Mome, who received 26lb.
"As they ran to the last I thought 'oh, shit' he's going to get mugged," said Alan King, the trainer of Voy Por Ustedes. "It would have been lovely to win, but I always said it wouldn't be the end of the world if he got beaten here. The two races we want are the Tingle Creek and the Queen Mother and I would hope this has put him spot-on for Sandown next month."
Voy Por Ustedes, winner of last season's Queen Mother Champion Chase, remains 4-1 favourite to make a successful defence of his crown in March. Sizing Europe earned Champion Hurdle quotes - a first-show 25-1 with Ladbrokes - after landing the Greatwood Hurdle. In worsening conditions, Razor Royale ran away with the novice hurdle before the bumper race was abandoned owing to unsafe ground.
Source: guardian.co.uk
