Will Djakadam end Willie Mullins’ Gold Cup torment?
GIVEN what we’ve been used to, it’s a below par string heading to the Cotswold’s next week for Team Mullins. Missing are high class names like Faugheen and Annie Power who have dominated the hurdling division in recent years. But I’d wager that Willie would privately sacrifice a bumper list of winners this time around just to get his hands on the Gold Cup - a race famously won by his father Paddy with Dawn Run in 1986. previous Gold Cups, would it be enough to win him this year’s race given the way it’s shaping? Probably so.
Djakadam is now 8 which brings him bang into contention in terms of the correct profile. It also reminds us of just how amazingly competitive Djakadam has been in the race up to now. Chasing home a very good horse in Coneygree aged 6 was no dent in his reputation. Neither was chasing a horse the quality of Don Cossack up the hill 12 months ago a slight against him.
But Cheltenham is an unforgiving place that waits for no horse. Yes, it’s true, Djakadam may finally have weathered enough storm to go one better in 2017; but there’s always the worry an unknown star is lurking somewhere in the field.
Close observers will have noted Mullins kept Djakadam at home when Sizing John, Empire of Dirt and Don Poli were slugging it out in the mud during last month’s Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown. This had been his traditional prep run in the lead up to the 2015 and 2016 attempts. Who knows, perhaps ‘fresh will be best’ this time around?
But the ground is going to play a crucial factor in Djakadam’s chances. His 7 career wins to date read as follows: 3 on Soft, 3 on Heavy and 1 Yielding. The going in last year’s Gold Cup Cup day. Expect every Child of Prague figure within a twomile radius of Closutton to be promptly removed from window sills for fear of provoking a sunny day that might undo another Gold Cup attempt! The more rain the better for Djakadam, basically.
But herein lies another dilemma. If the heavens should suddenly open on the day, soft or heavy ground would bring other horses into contention.
The likes of Don Poli, Sizing John, Champagne West, Native River, Outlander would all take a cut in the ground, while Cue Card might equally appreciate a softer surface against some of his younger rivals.
However, one thing we’re guaranteed of is knowing Djakadam is in the best hands possible. In a recent interview with The Racing Post, Willie didn’t hide what it would mean should Djakadam win: “Winning the Gold Cup would be one of my greatest ambitions. I think he’s a better horse this year and I was very taken with his run in the Lexus Chase when he finished third. Djakadam is old enough, man enough and ready to run the race of his life,” he said.
It never rains but it pours for Willie Mullins in his Gold Cup crusades which, ironically enough, might be just what he’s praying for this year.
Djakadam is a best priced 5/1 for the Gold Cup.