The turf

Few jumpers have a better record at Ascot than the Paul Nicholls-trained Cyrname. He triumphed in the Betfair Chase at the Berkshire course in February 2019 by 17 lengths with three Grade One winners behind him. It was at Ascot in November, in an enthralling duel, that he ended the mighty Altior’s record of 19 successive victories over jumps and Cyrname was a short-priced favourite last Saturday to take a second Betfair Chase with only three horses daring to join the highest-rated chaser in Britain. But it was not to be. On rain-soaked turf, soon officially changed from soft to heavy, Cyrname was never going with quite his usual zest.

I was once at a racing dinner in York where a distinguished clergyman in attendance was invited to say grace. ‘I won’t, if you don’t mind,’ he told our hosts. ‘I would rather not draw the Almighty’s attention to my presence here.’ There is a slight whiff of rascality about the racing scene which deters some from participation, although even that can have its plus side. When one trainer friend found himself, through no fault of his own, involved in a scandal story, I asked him if it was affecting the number of owners sending him horses. If anything, he told me, it was putting his numbers up. ‘Some people want to demonstrate their faith in my integrity. Others rather hope that there is something a bit dodgy about me.

Racing’s New Year began well with the award of OBEs to both Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls, showing that they do get some things right at No. 10 and the palace. It would have been monstrous for either of our two best jumps trainers to have been left out when the other was honoured. We owe them both a lot, not just because of the great horses such as Kauto Star and Sprinter Sacre whose careers they have handled so adeptly but because of the impressive training talent they have nurtured. Nicky’s assistants have included Tom Symonds, Charlie Longsdon, Jamie Snowden and Ben Pauling while Paul has launched the careers of Dan Skelton and Harry Fry. For once, though, Ascot’s card last Saturday was not dominated by the big two.