A Cyrname to remember
Dissenters silenced as Nicholls-trained winner leaves Altior standing
‘THERE WAS NO POINT IN DUCKING AND DIVING. THIS WAS PERFECT’
THERE were plenty of dissenting voices when Cyrname was rated the best steeplechaser in training after two eye-popping performances last season.
Those sceptics diminished considerably after the Paul Nichollstrained seven-year-old ended the 19-race unbeaten run of the brilliant Altior with a two-and-a-quarter length win in the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot yesterday.
The only other runner, Solomon Grey, was 63 lengths further back in third.
The relentless, front-running performance saw Cyrname promoted to 2-1 favourite for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day and left Altior so drained that his jockey Nico de Boinville dismounted before he returned to the runners-up berth.
It was a first defeat for Nicky Henderson’s stable star since he was beaten in the Champion Bumper at the Punchestown Festival in April 2015, something scarcely believable for supporters who had sent him off as the 1-3 favourite, with Cyrname allowed to start at 5-2.
Billed as one of the biggest races, the Christy Chase certainly lived up to expectations. But, staged on draining soft ground, it did not produce definitive conclusions that many had anticipated.
Altior, pushed out to 7-1 from 5-2 favourite for the King George, looked to be beaten more by fatigue than a failure to stay, on his first attempt at a distance of two miles and five furlongs.
While a rematch with Cyrname in the King George will be a bold and brave call by Henderson, the trainer did not rule it out. Nicholls, who won a 10th King George with Clan Des Obeaux last year, expects it.
Maturity has transformed the former tearaway Cyrname, and Nicholls said: ‘You’re proud your horse has won, but Altior has been an amazing horse for the game. They all get beat some time and these are two very special horses. Cyrname is a proper racehorse and it shows the two wins in the spring were not flukes.
‘It is good for racing to have races like this. There was no point ducking and diving and other races were too close to Kempton.
‘This was perfect for us and Nicky didn’t have any option if he was going to go further.
‘I expect he will go to Kempton and, on a flat track and on different ground, things could be different.’
Cobden will have a tough decision to make ahead of the King George. He will have to make a choice between Cyrname or staying loyal to that 2018 King George winner Clan Des Obeaux. It is a headache that the jockey will put off for the time being.
Cobden, who again underlined his coolness under pressure, said: ‘It was just in the back of my mind Altior’s speed might kick in, but we went a decent enough gallop the whole way so I half knew that he wasn’t going to fly past us.’
Mild distress signals were emanating from Altior half a mile out, but he clung on to his conqueror.
Taking defeat on the chin, Henderson said: ‘That’s as tired as I have ever seen him. You can’t judge the trip. I know the question will be what are you going to do next, but I have no idea. It was a great front-running performance (by Cyrname). He was fitter and better on the day but there will be other days.’
Cyrname is not favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup however, with that honour held by the Colin Tizzard-trained Lostintranslation after he denied Bristol De Mai a third victory in Haydock’s Betfair Chase by a length and a half.
Held up by jockey Robbie Power, Lostintranslation ultimately had to battle hard to come out on top after travelling well and he will now be a formidable obstacle for Cyrname, starting in the King George.
Power has already ridden one