Which were top three novice chasers in 2020/21?

According to Timeform, the novice chasing division was dominated by three horses who already fall into the ‘top class’ category, but are likely to make more than ordinary improvement. Collectively, Shiskin (171p), Energumene (169p) and Monkfish (167p) won 14 of their 15 races over fences in 2020/21 and, while Monkfish misses the 2021/22 season because of a tendon injury, all three remain outstanding chasing prospects.

Winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, Shishkin made a seamless transition to the larger obstacles, winning all five starts with the minimum of fuss. He produced his best performance, so far, when easily accounting for Eldorado Allen, by 12 lengths, in the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham in March, but followed up with a second Grade 1 win, in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April. Unsurprisingly, he is currently top-priced at 7/4 to complete a Cheltenham Festival hat-trick, in the 2021 Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Trained, like Monkfish, by Willie Mullins, Energumene missed an intended engagement in the Arkle Challenge Trophy after a last-minute setback, but cantered to a 16-length victory over stable companion Janidil in the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown on his return to action in late April. That was his second, bloodless Grade 1 victory over fences, having beaten another stable companion, Franco De Port, by 10 lengths, eased down, in the Irish Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown in February, and took his career to 4-4 over the larger obstacles.

Owned by Susannah Ricci, Monkfish was the force majeure in the staying division, winning his first four starts between 2 miles 5 furlongs and 3 miles ½ furlong, including the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. His best performance of the season came in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown in February, when he easily beat the ill-fated Latest Exhibition by 11 lengths. He did, of course, lose his unbeaten record over fences when comfortably beaten by stablemate Colreevy – who had won the Liberthine Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival – in the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown on his final start. In his defence, he ‘probably didn’t run his true race’, according to his trainer, and definitely made a disastrous jumping error at a crucial stage.

Which horse was Sean Bowen’s first ride in the Grand National?

Sean Bowen is the son of Pembrokeshire trainer Peter Bowen and the elder brother of James Bowen, who, in 2017/18, became the youngest champion conditional jockey in history. In 2014, Bowen won the Wilkinson Sword Edge Novice Riders’ Point-To-Point Championship, thereby attracting the attention of Paul Nicholls. He subsequently joined the multiple champion trainer as a conditional jockey and made an immediate impact. In his first full season, 2014/15, he rode 51 winners, despite being sidelined for six weeks with a shoulder injury, and won the conditional jockeys’ title by a margin of seven winners from his nearest rival, Nico de Boinville. Indeed, he had the distinction of being the youngest champion conditional in history until usurped by his younger brother three seasons.

As far as the Grand National is concerned, Sean Bowen first lined up in the celebrated steeplechase on April 11, 2015, bidding to become the youngest winning jockey since Bruce Hobbs, who was aged 17 years and three months when he won on Battleship in 1938. His mount on that occasion was the 9-year-old Mon Parrain, trained by Paul Nicholls, on whom he had previously won a handicap chase, in first-time blinkers, at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Sent off at 33/1 in the National, Mon Parrain raced in mid-division for most of the way, but was never really a factor and, while he completed the course, eventually trailed in eleventh of 19 finishers, a respectful 56 lengths behind the winner, Many Clouds.

 

 

 

In which year was Harry Cobden champion conditional jockey?

Born on Guy Fawkes Day, 1998 and educated at Sexey’s School in Bruton, Somerset, Harry Cobden reportedly forewent his GCSE English examination in favour of riding his first winner, El Mindo, trained by Rachael Green, in the Thrusters Hunters’ at Leicester on March 6, 2015. Indeed, he made a flying start to his career, riding two winners, including one for Paul Nicholls, from just three starts towards the end of the 2014/15 National Hunt season.

In his first full season as conditional jockey at Nicholls’ Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat, Somerset, in 2015/16, Cobden rode 30 winners from 138 rides at a strike rate of 22%. The following season, 2016/17, he increased his seasonal tally to 63 winners, riding out his claim in early February and winning the conditional jockeys’ title, 24 winners ahead of his nearest rival, former champion amateur David Noonan. Cobden rode his first Grade 1 winner, Irving, trained by Nicholls, in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November, 2016.

Cobden made a seamless transition to the professional ranks, riding 76 winners in 2017/18 and, in May, 2018, still only 19, succeeded Sam Twiston-Davies as Nicholls’ stable jockey. Fast forward to the 2021/22 season and Cobden reached the career landmark of 500 winners of British soil when riding Vision Des Flos, trained by Colin Tizzard, to victory at Uttoxeter on September 21, 2021. He currently lies eleventh in the 2021 jumps jockeys’ championship with 25 winners, but has achieved that total from just 79 rides, at a strike rate of 32%.

 

 

Which year did Santa Claus win the Derby?

No, it’s not a fairy tale. In 1964, Santa Claus really did win the Derby. In fact, for his followers Christmas came early that year because he also won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby. The equine Santa Claus was bred in Warwickshire, but trained on the Curragh by Mick Rogers, son of his joint-owner, Mrs. Darby Rogers.

Having made a promising debut in the Anglesey Stakes, over six furlongs, at the Curragh – when ridden, at 5lb overweight, by stable jockey Willie Burke – in the autumn of 1963, Santa Claus subsequently trounced Chesham Stakes winner Mesopotamia by eight lengths in the National Stakes, over 7 furlongs, also at the Curragh. He was officially rated the best two-year-old in Ireland in 1963 and installed as ante-post favourite for the 1964 Derby.

Santa Claus reappeared in Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, for which he was sent off even-money favourite, with Burke once again in the saddle. He won, easily, by the three lengths from Young Christopher, thereby strengthening his position at the head of the Derby market. At Epsom, the inexperienced Burke was ‘jocked off’ by reigning champion jockey Arthur ‘Scobie’ Breasley and, at 15/8, Santa Claus was sent off the shortest-priced favourite for seven years in what was, at the time, the most valuable race in British history.

The security surrounding Santa Claus was tight. He was flown in on a chartered flight from Dublin under heavy guard and whisked away to Kempton Park, where he was stabled overnight. Mick Rogers said, ‘I’m not taking any chances. There’s a bundle riding on this horse and I want him just right Wednesday [Derby Day]. There’s always the danger of dopers in cases like this.’

Having settled Santa Claus at the rear in the early stages, Breasley switched him to the outside of the field with half a mile and produced him to lead close home and win going away. At the line, he was a length ahead of his nearest pursuer, Indiana, with Dilettante II a further two lengths behind in third place. Reflecting on his first Derby winner after twelve previous unsuccessful attempts, 50-year-old Breasley said, ‘He [Santa Claus] came down the hill to the corner [Tattenham Corner] so well that I knew he would win.’ However, Breasley was criticised, in some quarters, for making heavy weather of winning and never rode Santa Claus again.

 

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