Tomorrow he tests his nation’s much questioned bravery on Djeddah in the

Tomorrow, he tests his nation’s much questioned bravery on Djeddah in the National itself.”When I looked round at the end of the back line I thought they would be somewhere close, but I couldn’t hear anything,” the jockey said “Then I said goodbye to them. It seems de rigueur these days to berate the French, and Doumen fils has known the feeling for some time now. Lady Cricket, who had been the first struggling, stayed on to head the tired posse.Thierry Doumen was roaring away to the crowd on the way back in He is beginning to do vindication rather well. First Gold, a 14-1 shot, won with neat symmetry by 14 lengths It was not to be the last coincidence. Cheltenham, it proved, had eroded rather than contributed to their chances.

When it started to hurt, Valley Henry and Commanche Court, the first two in the betting, began to shrink. He flew into the lead, an isolated and ignored figure as those behind doubtlessly considered this would be little more than a glimmer.However, as the 10-year-old’s jumping improved those in behind became considerably more ragged. Yet it was another nail which seemed to augur badly for his mount’s prospects.First Gold had to be reshod at the start and began the race as if the hammer was still being banged on his backside. When you have a horse who disappears so far it’s so nice to see him back as he was.”The victory was another nail for those who believe Thierry Doumen, the trainer’s son, has no place riding racehorses.

For yesterday’s was the afternoon when the debased metal that had been First Gold regained its lustre.The French horse finally started to repay the estimated £500,000 he cost JP McManus in a package with the crack hurdler Baracouda and he did it most blithely, skipping over the Merseyside fences from start to finish.”He has been very tight in his muscles and ligaments, particularly around his shoulders,” Fran?s Doumen, the trainer, reported, “but today he was like the horse who won this race two years ago and the King George. It is the house of unpredictability and anyone who thinks they have a firm line to tomorrow’s Grand National would have received thought food here at Liverpool yesterday.
The first of the meeting’s landmark races, the Martell Cognac Cup, went not to Valley Henry or Commanche Court, the fourth and sixth horses from the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but a horse who had not even managed to complete at Prestbury Park. With jumping like that, experienced handicap company would not be a worry next season.”. This was the plan for the moment, but he could possibly go to Ayr. He liked the ground, he’s a much better horse on good ground. It’s nice for Mr Hemmings – it’s wonderful for him as he deserves a winner here.”Michael Meagher, Hemmings’s racing manager, added: “I think the change in tactics helped.

Henrietta Knight will have three runners in tomorrow’s Grand National and she was off to a flying start on the first day of the meeting yesterday, taking the Martell Novices’ Handicap Chase with Midland Flame, who carried the colours of Trevor Hemmings.
Jim Culloty, who rides Maximize tomorrow, made all on the eight-year-old, who had only a loose horse for company from two out before finishing two-and- a-half lengths clear of the field.Miss Knight said: “He’s a wonderful jumper, but I was a bit worried about the loose horse as he’s a bit of a quirky fellow and I thought he might follow him out. On Wednesday he swapped over Kleinz and Coventry to achieve a more integrated pair in the bow and bring the rangy Coventry to the middle of the boat. They are a good bunch of guys, and there is a good relationship with the coaches.”Meanwhile, Williams is still tweaking. “The 2003 was easy to integrate, well balanced people who enjoy each other’s company. “The 2001 was a crew of big egos, internationals and Olympic medallists,” he says. Everyone is really driven, and everybody has raced quite a bit, so it’s helpful to have all those different types of races to come together.”The impression is that Wooge has done his part pretty well.