Ruby Walsh: We really shouldn’t be aspiring to be like the UK

Galopin Des Champs bounced out and dragged his rivals around Punchestown's glorious chase course to make the race what it was. Fastorslow eventually sat on his tail, and the second-season novices, or the heirs to the throne, Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower, followed along, waiting for their turn to dethrone the kings.

The even, relentless tempo meant there was no sudden injection of speed or pace, but it was tempo that forced those who were not in this league to fold their hand long before the business decisions were made, and so only four out of the eight faced down to the second-last with a chance of winning.

Fastorslow cracked first, and Galopin jumped to the moon two out, which handed his sharper, younger rivals the initiative. They didn’t need to be asked twice as Fact To File repelled the surge of Spillane’s Tower on the rush to the winning post.

We got a delightful showdown that leaves you wanting more and more because this was round one, over a trip that you could argue was short for them all, but therein lies the beauty. Round two will come at Christmas, but the spring will bring rounds three, four, and maybe even five before one of them exerts dominance to make himself the king.

It’s a rare time for Irish racing and a time I never believed I would see because not only do we have the best chaser or a live Gold Cup horse, but we also have all the opposition. We are in a place where one or maybe two of our chasers will go to the King George on St Stephen’s Day to avoid what they might face in the Savill’s Chase at Leopardstown. We are the Premier League.

We have to make our league bigger, stronger, and better, and with the calibre of human talent we have, there should be no reason we can’t achieve that. Attempts to dumb our product down to spread the wealth will see us follow the UK into decline because, in the best divisions of every sport the world over, everyone is not a winner.

Catering for everyone dilutes your product, so how we strategise to move forward is essential because the UK has gotten it all wrong. It altered its novice chase programme, where stars learn their trade and emerge to reach the top.

Small fields were the reason for the alterations, but now the UK has very few rising stars. Yet, it caters so much for the bottom tier that they all win. The problem there is when the bottom gets too big, it does drag the top down, and we really shouldn’t be aspiring to be the UK when it comes to National Hunt racing right now.

The ugly in change is definitely what HRI has done to the Christmas novice chase schedule. Still, there is a whole column in that, so I won’t waste a rant here because State Man and Brighterdaysahead gave us a riveting Morgiana last Saturday, too.

The match-ups at Newcastle today and Fairyhouse tomorrow will add spice to a Champion Hurdle picture that looks competitive with or without Constitution Hill. With him would be the preference, but only time will tell if he makes it to a racecourse this season.

Today, Mystical Power and Sir Gino will bid to make themselves Champion Hurdle candidates when they face off in the Fighting Fifth. Sir Gino wrapped his season up in tidy style with an impressive win at Aintree last April but takes the giant leap out of the company confined to his age group today, and he faces a rapid improver in Mystical Power.

The first son of champion Annie Power improved with every start last year, from a Ballinrobe bumper win in May of 2023 to his victories in two Grade Ones in April and May of this year. Physically, he looks to have strengthened and grown during his summer holidays, so there is every chance he could have improved ability-wise, too.

The English motto of providing chances for everyone bites itself in the backside today, with the Coral Gold Cup and Rehearsal Chase clashing again. Half the Newcastle field should only have the option of Newbury, and nobody seems to be setting the programme to cater for the current horse population across the pond.

Broadway Boy is my selection to bag the Newbury feature, based on what he achieved this time last year as a five-year-old, and one would hope he is capable of better as a six-year-old.

Fairyhouse hosts two great days of racing this weekend to keep the trend of exciting racing going, but there is no doubt Sunday towers above Saturday. The Royal Bond, now a Grade Two, is the same race as it was as a Grade One last year in terms of competition. More change, but it probably was the correct decision.

Romeo Coolio sets the standard but faces some useful Willie Mullins opposition that will make him work. Firefox will be the one to beat in the Drinmore, but Heart Wood's experience should not be underestimated, and he will stretch Gordon Elliott's charge.

I did like what I saw from Firefox at Down Royal on his chasing debut, but like I Am Maximus 12 months ago, I am not sure he or Heart Wood should have retained their novice status after winning the handicaps in the spring. Novice does mean new-to and inexperienced, so I am not sure how an Irish National or Leopardstown Chase winner equates to that.

The Hatton’s Grace is the feature event, and it will see Lossiemouth fire her hat in the ring for a Champion Hurdle bid. Granted, she faces the staying champion in Teahupoo, so the exact relevance of what happens at Fairyhouse will need interpretation.

However, I believe Paul Townend will follow Jack Kennedy down the straight for as long as he can before mounting his challenge.