As owners go, Clive Smith must rank among the luckiest. The man who made his fortune building golf courses is a scratch man when it comes to acquiring the right horses.
As owners go, Clive Smith must rank among the luckiest. The man who made his fortune building golf courses is a scratch man when it comes to acquiring the right horses.
With much help from Paul Nicholls, the trainer, Smith has the privilege of owning Kauto Star, who won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last year and was rated the best chaser in the business, and also owns Master Minded, the highest rated current chaser in the world.
The latter, one of a Tony McCoy four-timer at Sandown, gave an impeccable display of jumping to win the Tingle Creek Chase and looks on course to collect his second two-mile Champion Chase at the Festival next March.
Kauto Star, on the other hand, was knocked off his pedestal by Denman, his stablemate, in the Gold Cup last March and did not begin his new season in anticipated style, falling at the final fence in the Betfair Cup at Hayock.
However, while Smith, naturally, is delighted at the progress of Master Minded, he is at pains to make it clear that Kauto Star should not be considered a back number.
Smith insists Kauto is right on course in his bid to win the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton for the third successive year.
"Kauto is fine and he came out of the Betfair with no problems," said Smith, "Paul Nicholls says he's in good form and it's all systems go for the King George.
"This has always been his main aim for the start of the season and it is really the early season championship. It's a certain type of track which obviously suits him. Let's hope he can win it.
"It will then be a long lay-off and the big build-up to the Gold Cup back at Cheltenham begins again.
"I've seen a few people are doubting him, but let them doubt him, I think he will show everyone a good performance at Kempton."
Any doubts that his stablemate, Master Minded, would have trouble confirming his excellence of last term were dispelled in the Tingle Creek as he produced a top-class performance.
With the exception of Twist Magic, another Nicholls runner who fell when still in contention at the second-last fence, nothing could live with the new star, who won by 10 lengths from Tidal Bay.
Musselburgh has defied the wicked weather that put off three meetings yesterday and stages some interesting fare today.
The Scotbet.com Chase may be the most attractive spectacle, with top weight Cybora looking to have every chance of following up her Leicester win.
She has a 7lb penalty to overcome and perhaps that could give chasing debutant Benmadigan (2.50), who will have been well-schooled at his Nicky Richards stable, a chance to start with a win.
selection
Musselburgh 2.50 Benmadigan
