3 minute read

Three of Timeform's writers pick out their favourite memories from the annual festive racing diet...

2003 Welsh National: Keith Melrose

The Christmas of 2003 wasn't a good time for punters at large: on Boxing Day, Edredon Bleu sprung a 25/1 surprise when unexpectedly staying three miles and duly winning the King George. Hopes of recouping losses in the Welsh National were also scuppered when heavily-supported favourite Sir Rembrandt went down by half a length to Bindaree.

Had it finished the other way around, you suspect that the 2003 Welsh National would already be seen as a classic. Other than the SPs of the protagonists it had everything: familiar names, others who would leave their mark in later years and, most importantly, a slowly-unfolding drama that built up to a grandstand finish.

After thumping former Grand National winner Bindaree to win the Rehearsal Chase, Sir Rembrandt was sent off at 2/1 under a 4-lb penalty in the Welsh National- a strong statement considering his rivals also included the previous year's runner-up (Chives), the most recent winner of the Summer National (Jurancon II), third (Take Control) and fourth (Hedgehunter) from the recent Hennessy and four other last-time winners besides.

Jeremy Spider set the early pace, before King's Mistral joined in around halfway and gradually upped the pace down the back. As they turned in, a select bunch of six had gathered to fight it out: King's Mistral still led, though Sir Rembrandt, Bindaree, Akarus, Hedgehunter and Take The Stand now stalked him.

Five out, the favourite was upsides but made a terrible mistake there to hand initiative to King's Mistral and Akarus. The face of the race changed again at the next, the leading duo falling in almost perfect synchronicity to complete Hedgehunter's move from last to first. He himself soon gave way though, with Sir Rembrandt and Bindaree holding a narrow advantage three out.

From there it was a straight shoot-out: the strapping Sir Rembrandt versus the more modestly-proportioned Bindaree. Nothing could separate them at the last two fences; it was only in the final 100 yards that Bindaree's tremendous stamina, plus an 8-lb turnaround from the Rehearsal, just told, Carl Llewellyn driving him half a length clear of Andrew Thornton on the favourite.

The race had a legacy which arguably outstrips even its worth as a contest. Hedgehunter came home a tired and distant third, but would clearly find long trips within his reach in time as he went on to amass one of the finest Grand National records since Red Rum. Sir Rembrandt came within half a length of denying Best Mate a third Gold Cup the following spring, while Take The Stand, fourth on the day, would finish second to Kicking King in the 2005 renewal. Bindaree's glory days would end with that race, a fifth-placed finish in the 2004 Welsh National the closest he'd come to another win, but he'd already repaid his own backers in spades.

2007 Christmas Hurdle: Matt Gardner

Perhaps using the term "fought out" to describe Harchibald's finishing effort in the 2007 Christmas Hurdle is being rather generous. In fact, it's downright inaccurate and deserves no place in this article.

The race looked, on form at least, a straightforward task for the Noel Meade-trained Harchibald, winner of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle earlier in the month and widely expected to notch another Grade 1 success at Kempton.

Regrettably matters were seldom straightforward when Harchibald was involved and he duly turned it in under regular pilot Paul Carberry, who attracted some criticism for his ride but there is no doubt that the principal fault for his defeat lies with Harchibald himself.

A renowned strong-traveller who found little at this business end of his races, Harchibald met with the Nick Gifford-trained Straw Bear, partnered by AP McCoy, who produced a game display having been headed two out to nose ahead again close to the line.

In truth it was a combination of Straw Bear responding to pressure and Harchibald curling underneath it, two converse performances that went close to cancelling themselves out in a dead heat. The margin was just a nose at the line in favour of Straw Bear, who would never again enter the winners' enclosure or produce a performance of that calibre.

Harchibald would go on to win the following year's Christmas Hurdle but his career took a dramatic downturn after that, mixing it between hurdles, the Flat and even a brief crack at fences.

Although not the best two mile hurdler we've seen in recent years Harchibald was arguably one of the most fascinating, and what made him so is summed up perfectly by his performance in this race.

2011 King George: Joe Rendall

For any jumps racing fan, recent memories of the festive period are inextricably linked with Kauto Star. Clive Smith's exceptional chaser took the King George VI chase a record-breaking five times; there's even a bar named in his honour at Kempton (although from what I'm told it's a tad overpriced).

From a form perspective his 2009 victory sits head-and-shoulders above the rest, sauntering home to beat Madison du Berlais (rated 170 by Timeform going in to the race) by a monstrous 36 lengths. It was allotted a performance figure of 191 by Timeform, the best since the days of Arkle and Flyingbolt some 40 years earlier.

However, it was his fifth and final victory in 2011 which remains my favourite Christmas racing memory. It was a performance which was in its own way every bit as spectacular as his routing of a top-class field two years previously. Kauto Star travelled powerfully and jumped faultlessly, wining the tactical battle against a top-notch opponent in Long Run thanks to a more positive ride than he had received previously. Kauto looked every bit as good as his Betfair Chase win which had brought the house down at Haydock a month earlier and he received a similarly rapturous reception at Kempton on what was an extraordinary day for racing.

The race would effectively prove to be Kauto Star's swansong, as he was pulled up in following spring's Gold Cup- he had almost not made it at all having suffered a serious schooling fall a few weeks prior- and was retired the following October. It was fitting his final crowning glory came at Kempton, a course which had always suited him better than the galloping, undulating test of Prestbury Park, and it was an astounding training performance by Paul Nicholls to have him in such good shape nearing 12. However what made it stand out for me was the sheer joy of watching it unfold; and I didn't even back him.