Coneygree Proves ‘Fairytales Do Happen’
by Emma Berry
To an extent, National Hunt racing is now not too far removed from the Flat in that the big stables dominate and wealthy owners are so powerfully represented that it is hard for the smaller operators to figure at major events.
While there was plenty of cheer at the Cheltenham Festival for those who invest heavily in jump racing–three winners for Rich Ricci, three for JP McManus, two for Gigginstown House Stud, and a one-two in the Triumph Hurdle for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede–the result to strike at the heart of everyday jumping folk was the astonishing performance by Coneygree (GB) (Karinga Bay {GB}) in steeplechasing’s blue riband, the G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The 8-year-old hails from a stable which contains only 10 horses and he is trained by the son-in-law and daughter of one of the most cherished members of the jumps fraternity, Lord Oaksey, who died in September 2012. However, it wasn’t just Coneygree’s remarkable back-story which captivated spectators, but the manner in which he triumphed. Still classified as a novice after only nine previous starts, he put his 15 rivals to the sword from the fall of the starter’s flag after being driven to the lead by his young jockey Nico de Boinville and retaining that position at a fearsome gallop throughout. One by one, more battle-hardened chasers dropped away in surrender.
The record book will show that he beat Djakadam (Fr) (Saints Des Saints {Fr}) by 1 1/2 lengths, with a further two lengths back to Road To Riches (Ire) (Gamut {Ire}), but this in no way conveys the extraordinary courage and assured jumping display over the 22 fences and three miles, 2 1/2 furlongs of Cheltenham’s undulating and stamina-sapping New Course.
“I knew he would answer my every call,” said de Boinville, one of the less established names of the weighing-room but respected nonetheless for his role as work rider of the great Sprinter Sacre (Fr) (Network {Ger}) in his everyday employment at Nicky Henderson’s stable. “It’s the first time I’ve ridden in a top-class Grade 1 race–it’s the greatest feeling in the world and I couldn’t ask for much more.”
De Boinville rides out at trainer Mark Bradstock’s stable once a week and has developed an enviable partnership with eight-time winner Coneygree, who is ridden on a daily basis by the trainer’s wife, Sara.
The jockey added, “I’m just so grateful to Lady Oaksey and the syndicate, and to Mark and Sara for keeping the faith–there are so many good jockeys out there that I admire, respect and look up to who could have easily taken that ride.”
It’s easy to imagine that Lord Oaksey, though not there to offer his approval, would back the former amateur rider de Boinville wholeheartedly. A formidable amateur jump jockey himself, when riding as Hon. John Lawrence, Lord Oaksey was also a hugely respected racing journalist for the Daily Telegraph and Horse & Hound and popular broadcaster in the early days of Channel 4 Racing. He bred Coneygree from his mare Plaid Maid (Ire) (Executive Perk {GB}) who was bought for just £3,000 to give him some fun in retirement.
In his autobiography, Mince Pie For Starters, Oaksey recounted his narrow defeat on Carrickbeg in the 1963 Grand National, saying, “I had little time to feel the crushing disappointment of ‘so near and yet so far’ as I had to file my report for the Sunday Telegraph within minutes of weighing in. I rushed into the changing room to wipe the worst of the Aintree mud off my face, then, still in my riding colours, ran across the Ormskirk Road to file the story.”
Written in 2003, the book ends by Oaksey predicting that Plaid Maid’s newborn first foal would win the
G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup and he confided that he had struck a bet of £10 at odds of 1000/1. His aim may have been slightly off target but his ambition was true.
That foal, later named Carruthers (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB}), went on to win the G3 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in 2011 and, still in training as a 12-year-old, runs in Saturday’s Midlands Grand National. His next-door neighbour at the Bradstocks’ Old Manor Stables in Letcombe Bassett–his much bigger half-brother Coneygree–has now fulfilled that dream, and another close relative could soon join the fold as, five minutes before the off in the Gold Cup, their half-sister Maid Of Oaksey (GB) was covered by Kayf Tara (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) at Overbury Stud.
“It’s because my father was the greatest,” said Sara Bradstock as she bounced around the Cheltenham winner’s enclosure. “That’s where we’ve got this luck from; he deserved it and he’s looking down. He’s not here but he is here in spirit.”
She added, “I can’t believe it. I have been saying to people ‘When we win the Gold Cup’ in the same breath that I say ‘When we win the lottery’. It’s that amazing. It means anyone can do it. It doesn’t need hundreds of thousands of pounds. The little mare cost £3,000 and look what she’s done. Fairytales do happen.”
Counting Down to AP’s Farewell…
The jumps season doesn’t officially end until late April, but Friday marked the final appearance at the Cheltenham Festival of the sport’s most successful jockey of all time, AP McCoy, 40, who last month announced that he is to retire on the day he is set to be crowned champion jockey for the 20th consecutive time.
The final race of the Festival was renamed the AP McCoy Grand Annual Chase in his honor and, riding in the race for his boss JP McManus, McCoy had to settle for fourth place on the favourite Ned Buntline (GB) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}).
The previous day, he had recorded his 31st (and what would transpire to be his final) Festival victory on Uxizandre (Fr) (Fragrant Mix {Ire}) in the G1 Ryanair Chase. On that occasion, and on his farewell ride at jump racing’s headquarters, he was given a rousing reception by fans pressed layers-deep along the walkway and around the paddock.
With more than 4,000 winners to his credit, he has ridden 221 this season alone–almost 100 more than his nearest rival in the table, Richard Johnson. It seems unlikely that National Hunt racing will ever again witness a talent akin to AP McCoy.