Only in this week of the racing year can long-distance chases and classic rehearsals compete for avid attention. Yesterday, while the blueblood battalions of Newmarket were completing preparations for the Craven meeting, one of the most likeable and unsung of Britains rural jumps trainers enjoyed a momentous achievement by winning the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National.
Bob Buckler has never been shy of taking horses from his Dorset yard to Ireland but this was his biggest victory by a distance. Niche Market, owned by an Irish-born City trader in Graham Regan and ridden with striking composure by Harry Skelton, negotiated the hazards and heartaches of an eventful race to take this traditional Easter spectacular by two lengths.
The third British-trained winner since 2004, he was also the third winner in that period to start at 33-1. Moreover, Niche Market, who had been cast in his box on the eve of the race, was followed home by two 50-1 shots, both trained by Michael Hourigan, after a race in which the sundry mishaps of fancied runners included fatal falls for Wichita Lineman and Drumconvis.
For Jonjo ONeill, the trainer of Wichita Lineman, this seemed a heartlessly untimely blow. Ten days ago, his finest steeplechaser, Exotic Dancer, died of a heart attack after another valiant run at Aintree. Now, on his 57th birthday and back in his native land, ONeill lost the horse that gave him a Cheltenham Festival winner last month.
Tony McCoy was thus abruptly denied the prospect of compensation for his recurring nightmares in the Aintree National but there was much more mayhem to follow. One of the heaviest falls, that of Drumconvis with a circuit still to run, was to have a bearing on the climax of the race.
Church Island, campaigned mainly in veterans chases of late, relished his front-running role and repelled all challengers until Niche Market jumped past him at the second last. As Skelton aimed him towards the final fence, however, flags waved him around the obstacle, creating an arduous run-in on which Church Island rallied dangerously.
Skelton remained calm until passing the post with an arm-whirling salute of what he later described as the greatest feeling of my life so far. His father, the international showjumper Nick Skelton, was among the first to reach him, followed by the familiar battered trilby and tweeds of Buckler.
His yard near Crewkerne houses only a few dozen horses but Buckler maximises their talents – Niche Market, for instance, had already won a valuable Ascot chase in December at the same insulting odds – and he deserves greater patronage.
This showpiece chase was marred not only by the distinguished casualties but also by the morning withdrawal of Notre Pere due to ground conditions. The decision was not unexpected but, under Irish rules, it brought a revision of the handicap, all weights rising by 7lb.
Such a thing cannot happen in Britain, which will reassure those looking to bet on the Scottish equivalent this Saturday. No sooner had Notre Pere been scratched in Ireland than he appeared at the head of 37 acceptors for the next valuable marathon of the fading season.
By then, the ante-post classic markets may be significantly altered. Newmarkets season begins tomorrow with a meeting truncated by a day and no longer televised, yet still marked down by many as the real start of the turf season. The Nell Gwyn Stakes, feature of the opening day, has an 11-strong field including Fantasia, whose unbeaten two-year-old record was ended only by the 1,000 Guineas favourite, Rainbow View.
