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RUBI LIGHT
He was probably the best two and a half mile chaser in Ireland during the 2010/2011 season and cemented his position as the undisputed champion over that trip last season. Rubi Light’s record over that distance in non-handicap chases on testing ground is outstanding and currently reads: 1 1 3 1 1 - his only defeat in the sequence coming when he fell at the last when well clear of Sizing Europe (he remounted to finish third). He has also ran extremely well two years running over a similar trip in the Ryanair Chase both times on unsuitably quick ground.
He ran well for a long way behind Synchronised in the 2011 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over three miles; although he appeared to be a non-stayer that day, the fact that the winner subsequently won the Cheltenham Gold Cup suggests that Rubi Light could possibly win an average Lexus Chase providing the ground was not too testing. One would have to be a little cautious regarding this supposition because the 2011 Lexus Chase was an especially slowly-run race. In his only other attempt over a longer trip Rubi Light dropped out approaching the final fence in the manner of a blatant non-stayer in the Punchestown Gold Cup which was run on very testing ground over a distance of three miles and one furlong.
As things stand, Rubi Light will hold very strong claims in races like the Grade 1 John Durkin Chase at Punchestown in the second week of December plus the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase back at Gowran Park in the middle of February. His chances in both contests will improve significantly given testing conditions. Personally, I would remain open-minded regarding his chances over three miles should he attempt the Lexus Chase again; given this scenario I would let the ground and the market dictate my decision. On testing ground I would strongly mark him down and I would still hold sufficient doubts regarding the extent of his stamina should he trade as the short priced favourite on much quicker ground. Finally, in the unlikely event of soft ground prevailing at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival Rubi Light’s winning chance in the Ryanair Chase should be seriously marked up.
SIR DES CHAMPS
He has an unblemished record of eight wins from eight over obstacles including two victories at the Cheltenham Festival. In 2011 he got up close home to win the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle over a trip of circa two and a half miles off a mark of just 134. He was outpaced, under pressure and going nowhere as the field began to race down the hill for the final time. On the basis of this performance, one would have guessed that he would need to be racing on testing ground or over three miles to be effective in top-class novice chases the following season; nevertheless, he proved this supposition to be well wide of the mark by winning the 2012 Jewson Novices' Chase with even more in hand than the four and a half-length winning margin implies.
The time for the Jewson Chase offers further encouragement for Sir Des Champs’ chances of competing against the best horses this season. He completed the final circuit in a time two seconds quicker than the Ryanair Chase winner, the 170-rated Riverside Theatre, did on the same day. The ground that day was officially described as good as it was for the previous year he won at the festival. He has also won on testing ground on more than one occasion; although, he is yet to prove himself against top-class opposition in such circumstances. Sir Des Champs is yet to race on ground quicker than good.
In his final outing of the season he proved his ability to stay an extended three miles in terrible ground conditions. The Punchestown Champion Novice Chase was an especially weakly-contested Grade 1 Chase; however, he led all the way and jumped well on the whole to come home very strongly despite a major blunder at the last fence. Sir Des Champs is proven round Cheltenham and, as mentioned earlier, he has won at the festival twice partly due to his suitability to racing off a fast pace; furthermore, with one exception his jumping has been has good as one could expect from a novice chaser learning his trade. He should have no problems with the Gold Cup trip and, more likely, will improve for the extra distance.
In recent years the top-class three-mile chases in Ireland have been won by horses like Joncol, Quel Esprit and China Gold. This season we have horses like Sir Des Champs, Flemenstar and possibly Bog Warrior coming through who may turn out to be of a much better calibre of chaser; moreover, maybe the first two named have proved that already. Unless Flemenstar proves equally effective over three miles, then Sir Des Champs appears to hold the strongest of claims for the Lexus Chase over the Christmas period and The Hennessy Gold Cup in February.
The festival in March may well conjure up a much more competitive race with top horses with good festival form in the book like Bobs Worth and First Lieutenant coming into the equation. Plenty of water will have gone under the bridge before the need to be more conclusive for the spring festivals; however, at the time of writing Sir Des Champs is clearly one of very few serious contenders on the shortlist for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
He was probably the best two and a half mile chaser in Ireland during the 2010/2011 season and cemented his position as the undisputed champion over that trip last season. Rubi Light’s record over that distance in non-handicap chases on testing ground is outstanding and currently reads: 1 1 3 1 1 - his only defeat in the sequence coming when he fell at the last when well clear of Sizing Europe (he remounted to finish third). He has also ran extremely well two years running over a similar trip in the Ryanair Chase both times on unsuitably quick ground.
He ran well for a long way behind Synchronised in the 2011 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over three miles; although he appeared to be a non-stayer that day, the fact that the winner subsequently won the Cheltenham Gold Cup suggests that Rubi Light could possibly win an average Lexus Chase providing the ground was not too testing. One would have to be a little cautious regarding this supposition because the 2011 Lexus Chase was an especially slowly-run race. In his only other attempt over a longer trip Rubi Light dropped out approaching the final fence in the manner of a blatant non-stayer in the Punchestown Gold Cup which was run on very testing ground over a distance of three miles and one furlong.
As things stand, Rubi Light will hold very strong claims in races like the Grade 1 John Durkin Chase at Punchestown in the second week of December plus the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase back at Gowran Park in the middle of February. His chances in both contests will improve significantly given testing conditions. Personally, I would remain open-minded regarding his chances over three miles should he attempt the Lexus Chase again; given this scenario I would let the ground and the market dictate my decision. On testing ground I would strongly mark him down and I would still hold sufficient doubts regarding the extent of his stamina should he trade as the short priced favourite on much quicker ground. Finally, in the unlikely event of soft ground prevailing at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival Rubi Light’s winning chance in the Ryanair Chase should be seriously marked up.
SIR DES CHAMPS
He has an unblemished record of eight wins from eight over obstacles including two victories at the Cheltenham Festival. In 2011 he got up close home to win the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle over a trip of circa two and a half miles off a mark of just 134. He was outpaced, under pressure and going nowhere as the field began to race down the hill for the final time. On the basis of this performance, one would have guessed that he would need to be racing on testing ground or over three miles to be effective in top-class novice chases the following season; nevertheless, he proved this supposition to be well wide of the mark by winning the 2012 Jewson Novices' Chase with even more in hand than the four and a half-length winning margin implies.
The time for the Jewson Chase offers further encouragement for Sir Des Champs’ chances of competing against the best horses this season. He completed the final circuit in a time two seconds quicker than the Ryanair Chase winner, the 170-rated Riverside Theatre, did on the same day. The ground that day was officially described as good as it was for the previous year he won at the festival. He has also won on testing ground on more than one occasion; although, he is yet to prove himself against top-class opposition in such circumstances. Sir Des Champs is yet to race on ground quicker than good.
In his final outing of the season he proved his ability to stay an extended three miles in terrible ground conditions. The Punchestown Champion Novice Chase was an especially weakly-contested Grade 1 Chase; however, he led all the way and jumped well on the whole to come home very strongly despite a major blunder at the last fence. Sir Des Champs is proven round Cheltenham and, as mentioned earlier, he has won at the festival twice partly due to his suitability to racing off a fast pace; furthermore, with one exception his jumping has been has good as one could expect from a novice chaser learning his trade. He should have no problems with the Gold Cup trip and, more likely, will improve for the extra distance.
In recent years the top-class three-mile chases in Ireland have been won by horses like Joncol, Quel Esprit and China Gold. This season we have horses like Sir Des Champs, Flemenstar and possibly Bog Warrior coming through who may turn out to be of a much better calibre of chaser; moreover, maybe the first two named have proved that already. Unless Flemenstar proves equally effective over three miles, then Sir Des Champs appears to hold the strongest of claims for the Lexus Chase over the Christmas period and The Hennessy Gold Cup in February.
The festival in March may well conjure up a much more competitive race with top horses with good festival form in the book like Bobs Worth and First Lieutenant coming into the equation. Plenty of water will have gone under the bridge before the need to be more conclusive for the spring festivals; however, at the time of writing Sir Des Champs is clearly one of very few serious contenders on the shortlist for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
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