Today signals the end of the jumps season, a season that has captured a lot of minds, for various different reasons. Cheltenham was superb, a typical blend of class, determination, characters, successful gambles and a lot of British trained winners. From that, we really saw some incredible displays, notably from the slick, smooth and beautiful Sprinter Sacre, who demolished an above average Arkle field without turning a hair. Also, stablemate Simonsig, the long striding grey who was very impressive in the Neptune Novices Hurdle, clearly has an outstanding future, either over hurdles or the larger obstacles. The gamble of Son Of Flicka (50/1 into 17/2), Synchronised dethroning Long Run, Hunt Ball's meteoric rise through the weights, there has been so many of these stories or displays that keep the sport fresh, but with some of the older horses, Kauto Star, Neptune Collonges etc, who people adhere to year after year coming back, just add to the excitement and spice of the Jumps every season. Aintree was also very good, personally I felt two displays shone out, apart from Neptune Collonges' late thrust in the National, breaking the heart of Sunnyhillboy and connections, who of course had the circumstances of Gold Cup winner Synchronised having to be put down to worry about most.
Firstly, Malcolm Jefferson's training feat with not one but two Cheltenham winners, going to Aintree with top weight and winning again was outstanding, a monumental effort, who didn't deserve to lose his According To Pete in the National, the only sour note to a great season for this small Northern yard.
Secondly, I feel the way Nicky Henderson managed to calm down Finian's Rainbow, who was a very exuberent, chaotic novice chaser was oustanding. Not only did he win the Queen Mother, albeit with a little controversy, but to step back up to 2 and a half miles in the Melling Chase, beating a rejuvenated Wishfull Thinking cosily was very good.
Punchestown has been rather odd this week, with the horses slooshing their way through the mud and puddles, but again we saw Quevega win again, this wonder mare who I just pray faces Big Buck's somewhere next season, Hurricane Fly win yesterday, showing no effects of his Cheltenham flop, and the likes of Oscara Dara, Sir Des Champs (apart from the last fence blunder) and Sizing Europe all winning and looking good to come back next season and potentially dominate on both sides of the Irish Sea. They still have racing today, Quel Esprit favourite for the Punchestown Gold Cup.
That's it for the 2012 season, I can't wait for 2013!
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