As we continue to climb the excitement mountain of the National Hunt season, leaving behind the Cheltenham Open meeting, Betfair Day at Haydock and what I still call the Hennessy Gold Cup (Ladbrokes Trophy) at Newbury, reputations will have been as quickly extinguished as they were made.
So while the supposed next Arkle, Envoi Allen, is being regarded by many as the banker of the Cheltenham Festival next March, in all probability in the Marsh Chase, so the tank is beginning to empty on the racing careers of the mighty atom, Tiger Roll and Defi Di Seuil, while Easysland is no longer the Cross Country mammoth we thought he was.
And so we move onto a Christmas Classic, the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day followed by the lung-bursting, hero-making Welsh National at Chepstow.
The former was long the domain of the Dickinson clan (6 wins), transformed into the land of the Desert Orchid (4 breathless victories) and then moved onto the Paul Nicholls’ show (11 successes).
So can the master of Ditcheat make it a round dozen? Well it is odds-on he will reach that amazing number, with Clan des Obeaux on a hat-trick aided and abetted by the highest-rated chaser in training, Cyrname.
Denne historien er fra December 2020-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra December 2020-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
Graham Buddry pays fresh tribute to track legend Sea The Stars - surely one of the greatest ever
IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton