Dear All
I'm not having it that Darlan is not a superstar in waiting...
Perfectly accept that his performance at Cheltenham didn't scream out championship class but he did win when perhaps he shouldn't have done!
Most telling of all though is the beast's breeding! A son of Milan whose progeny run frequently in bumpers and from a delicious Aga Khan bloodline, he will improve immeasurably for a step up in trip. Milan's progeny do not appear blessed with lightning acceleration (though not devoid of pace) so the Baring Bingham or perhaps the Albert Bartlett race will see the Nicky Henderson inmate in better light!
The lack of certainly about in which contest he will strut his undeniably potent stuff is all that prevents this blogger from emptying his piggy bank completely...
You mark my words!
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Happy retirements are coming thick and fast in the sporting world none so more than us equine lovers! Denman, The Tank, to his many devout disciples, is the latest to enter into honourable old age with slippers and pipe under his arm...
I'm not convinced that his record of 10 wins from 17 starts allows him the status of superstar. Nevertheless his legacy will be long lived and some of his performances were utterly formidable. He was a fearsome brute of a horse that frequently pulverised his opponents into total submission; Joe Frazier to Kauto's silkier, more eloquent Cassius Clay! His outstanding performances in two Hennessy Gold Cups are etched in the memory forever!
Long live the Tank!
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Three to catch the eye recently.
For Non Stop - always been a useful sort but somehow success of any significance has escaped him; now seemingly established as a chaser he has any amount of scope and is destined to achieve some impressive results in the coming months (Nick Williams).
Oscargo - oozed class in a, perhaps less than competitive, handicap hurdle at Cheltenham's December Friday. For one so inexperienced (only his third start), he travelled supremely in behind first the Evan Williams-trained Di Kaprio, and then, as that one tired and faded,others such as Kayf Aramis and Los Nadis; he looks a real stayer; could be anything over fences (Paul Nicholls)...
A less obvious contender is Badger Foot, from the ever-improving Lucinda Russell yard. Shrewd Lucinda's string regularly flirt with the more sophisticated entries at the Southern tracks and in this stoutly bred Beneficial gelding she has a prospect with time on its side; the distance over which he travelled last Friday was patently lacking the true stamina test he needs and, stepped up to three miles and beyond, he will win races... he was spotted running on with immense purpose , under useful conditional Grant Cockburn, behind winner Night Alliance...
Happy punting!
Rm(Mark)
