Closutton’s hopes ride with ‘Vega’ – and write him off at your peril

Facile Vega, with Paul Townend up, were victorious in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle in Leopardstown over Christmas. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Patrick Mullins

March 14 2023 02:30 AM

If you haven’t stood in the Cheltenham crowd in March and been surrounded by the roar that sends the Supreme Novices careering off toward the first flight of hurdles, then ask yourself, why?

It’s a moment that makes you proud to be part of this sport of ours and one that should be experienced at least once in a lifetime.

Facile Vega will be leading the Closutton team onto the course this year, hoping to follow the likes of Douvan, Vautour, Appreciate It, Klassical Dream and Champagne Fever into glorious victory instead of Melon, Getabird, Dysart Dyanmo and Min into honourable defeat.

He blew out last time but he was pressured by a Group-level flat horse (who ended up unseating) into setting fractions that were too fast.

So, in seven runs he’s had six wins and one blow-out.

Forgive every horse one bad run, a wise man once told me. He has worked and schooled well since and he is back to form.

Barry Connell has had a fabulous season and deserves huge credit for his handling of Marine Nationale.

It’s always good to hear people talk freely in interviews but I was surprised with Barry’s comment that he “isn’t concerned about Facile Vega”.

He should be. Very concerned.

For me, Facile’s win at Christmas is the best novice form on offer, where he beat Il Etait Temps and Ashroe Diamond easily.

Marine Nationale’s Royal Bond form is excellent, but I think Facile could beat Champ Kiely, Irish Point and Ashroe Diamond further than he did.

Il Etait Temps is a super-sub, should Facile prove me wrong.

He is improving all the time, and clearly needs a strong pace in order to bring out the best in him.

I ride Diverge, who I give a decent each-way shout. He needs to settle but he jumps well and has plenty of ability.

Frankel appears to be brilliant at everything, so why not as a jumps sire too? He could sneak into a place at a big price.

The Arkle should be dynamite. Dysart Dynamo will rock’n’roll, as is his want, and the tighter track here, with more jumping, will suit his style.

We have a proper England-versus-Ireland shoot-out (albeit with French horses) in behind him.

Jonbon, brother to the mighty Douvan, beat El Fabiolo at Aintree last year by a neck, but our horse was hampered at the third-last and missed the last on what was only his second start for us.

Watch his demolition last time at Leopardstown and tell me he’ll get beaten. Yes, he made a mistake – but he knew how to survive it and shrugged it off.

Honeysuckle is quite simply the bet of the meeting. Her two runs this year are lightyears ahead of any other form on offer and she has always had the measure of Epatante and Echoes in Rain.

Odds against is a gift and expect her to ignite the Cheltenham crowd.

I ride Gaillard Du Mesnil in the National Hunt Chase. He has the best form in the race and an abundance of experience, a luxury Willie doesn’t usually offer me in this race. He is my best chance of the week.

The Champion Hurdle looks between Constitution Hill for England and State Man for Ireland.

In truth however, it resembles Tom fighting with Jerry.

I rode in last year’s Supreme Novices and he left me absolutely wonderstruck. I felt they were going so fast they had to come back.

Dysart Dynamo hit the turf, Jonbon came back but Constitution Hill disappeared over the horizon. It appears, like Tiger Woods as a young man, only two things can stand in his way. Injury or a bad marriage.

Patrick’s Picks

1.30: Facile Vega

2.10: El Fabiolo

4.50: Tekao