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Cheltenham 2021 - Review

The week belongs to Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore and Jack Kennedy. Minella Indo won the Gold Cup having lost the RSA on the line this time last year. Everyone loves a comeback story and this is one because following that defeat there was a fall at Leopardstown at Christmas and a very ordinary run in February. I thought he was very overrated and even though he fit the age range  (the last 3 winners of the race were 7 or 8 years old), I over looked him for Al Boum Photo. Funnily enough it had the feel of when Al Boum Photo won in 2019 because there wasn't a lot of talk about him. I still expected him to be beaten even when he flew the last but A Plus Tard couldn't run him down. He proved me and the doubters wrong today by adding the top prize in National Hunt racing to that narrow second last year and the Albert Bartlett two years ago. What a Cheltenham record! Fantastic for Jack Kennedy as well. He's had some week too - Black Tears beating the hot favourite Concertis...
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Flat To The Max has first run for GERC at Gowran Park

This time last year Flat To The Max was winning on his debut in a 7f race at Navan and that result got him sold to Gigginstown to be trained over jumps by Gordon Elliott. He disappointed when favourite on his next two outing but eventually won a 2m maiden hurdle at this course. He was in the same race as Smiling Eliza at Leopardstown on Stephens Day, finishing 6th. His last run before this ended with him being pulled up before three out.

Max has been with us for a couple of months and was due to run in hurdle race at Limerick in March but was found to be lame the day before. He was back on the flat for his first race for the club over 1m 6f. The ground was still on the soft side despite the warmer weather we've been experiencing. Declan McDonogh was doing the steering and he had him settled in about 3rd or 4th of the small field of six runners. The leader was Twilight Payment with favourite Whirling Dervish in behind. As they headed into the straight, Flat To The Max was making progress on the outside to move alongside Whirling Dervish in second. As they hit the two furlong mark it was still Twilight Payment leading with Flat To The Max along the rail. Five of the six runners were in with a shout as Brazos and Hazanabad joined the party but it was Whirling Dervish who came through to take it for Shane Foley and Jessica Harrington by a length from Twilight Payment with Flat To The Max at 20/1 only another length and a quarter further back, a neck ahead of Brazos and Hazanabad. The latter was only a few lengths behind 2018 Irish Derby winner, Latrobe, last year.

He was in receipt of 8lb from Twilight Payment and Brazos but it was a very encouraging run from Max. He was described as the "revelation" of the race by the Racing TV's Gary O'Brien while Kate Harrington said he looked like the horse he was before he went over fences. He's a big, fine looking horse and he might be another good dual purpose runner for us. Looking forward to seeing what his next race will be. Alex reported he came out of the race well and Gordon will be looking for a similar race for him to run in soon.













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