21st March 2012

BOB BUCKLER RACING: Cheltenham cross-country course okay

LOCAL Henley trainer Bob Buckler added to the debate as to whether last week’s Glenfarclas Handicap Chase on the cross-country course at the Cheltenham Festival should have been run after two horses were injured and had to be put down as a result writes Stuart Broom.

Critics claimed that the ground was too fast on the cross country course which is only used once during the week, and that it was dangerous.

ScotsIrish the 10/3 favourite and cross country specialist Garde Champetre who has won six times in 14 races around this course had to be put down after sustaining broken legs on the flat, not through falling.

Buckler, whose horse Double Dizzy unseated jockey Andrew Glassonbury six fences from home said: “ I walked the course before the race and there was cut in the ground all the way round. Okay it was on the faster side of good, but many of the horses prefer that.

“Any death is always sad, but it was highlighted more because it was two decent horses.

Any competitive sport, either human or animal, involves the chance of an accident; you only have to relate to the tragic situation of Fabrice Muamba this weekend, which nobody could have predicted.

“Should a human be injured there’s a lot more you can do to save them. If a footballer breaks his leg it can be repaired, unfortunately that is not possible with horses.”

ScotsIrish trainer Willie Mullins in fact had no complaints about the ground. “ScotsIrish was a fast ground specialist and this was the one race we were keen for them not to water the ground,” he said. “It was nothing to do with the ground.”

Robin Mounsey, the British Horseracing Authority’s spokesman, said: “The course, both the construction of the jumps and the ground, was inspected eight days ago and again on the day of the race, when it was found to be good to firm. On both occasions it was deemed to be fine.”

In fact the ground had nothing to do with Double Dizzy’s demise.

Buckler said: “He’s a thinker and has run at Cheltenham many times before, including the cross country on four occasions, and having worked it out, I think he wasn’t trying too hard.

“He didn’t jump as well as he can, and wasn’t so interested in going out into the country.”

Glenwood Present had to be pulled up the following day when he began choking in the Grade 1Weatherbys Champion Bumper. Having finished a close third to Nicky Henderson’s impressive Tetlami at Kempton last month.

Buckler was hoping he might go close, but having missed the break, Nathan Sweeney had to chase the leaders, and despite being fitted with a tongue tie, began choking badly and was pulled up.

“Even with the tongue tie, there appears a problem so we will stop running him now and he will have a throat operation in the summer.”

Malin Head completed a disappointing three days for Buckler when he was pulled up in the 3 mile handicap chase at Towcester in which only four of the 12 runners finished.

“It was my fault that he ran, in hindsight I should have pulled him out because the course was far too wet. It had been overwatered to the point that the mud was above their fetlocks, and a lot of the trainers complained about it for which the stewards took full blame.

“However having travelled 150 miles and with some of the syndicate members who own the horse there I ran him and the ground was far too heavy for him.”

However there was success for the stable at the beginning and end of the week.

Ready or Not had not run for 11 months whilst Buckler waited for the better ground following a leg injury, but ran a brilliant race in finishing second when just failing to get up by a short head to 7/2 fav Kirbys Glen in the London Inn At Watchet Handicap Chase over 2 miles 3 furlongs at Taunton who was receiving well over a stone.

The week ended on a good note as well with a super run from Flag Flier, another who needed the run. He finished fourth in the River Teign Handicap Hurdle over 2¾ miles at Taunton on Sunday.

“He needs a bit further really, but he didn’t make any mistakes and was staying on at the end and was close to finishing second.”