Kasbah Bliss - one of Doumen's chances (Getty).
KEEP AN EYE ON DOUMEN
By Carl Llewellyn
Royal Emperor put up a really good performance to win the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock Park but the ground was very soft and you would have to say his chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup would be slim unless it came up similar conditions. Patriarch Express was unfortunate to come down at the last and now heads for the World Hurdle in what remains an open race this year. Quite a few of the main players have been disappointing so you are looking at horses like Baracouda to take the prize again. So it would not take a lot for Patriarch Express to go well - at his best he could be placed. Connections have tried all sorts with Crystal D'Ainay to try and rekindle his enthusiasm but he seems to have lost interest. He probably is not enjoying racing at the moment and would have to have a complete turnaround in form at the Festival. Francois Doumen's L'Ami finshed second to Innox in the Racing Post Chase and he is a horse I like a lot. The trainer looks to be getting his horses spot-on for the Festival and he could be one to follow at Cheltenham. I think he was a little bit cautious about their fitness but I don't think they were lacking much on the day. Kasbah Bliss won the juvenile hurdle on the card at Sandown but there has to be a little bit of a worry over him if he encounters different ground in March. The French horses are normally very well schooled and are excellent jumpers but it could well be a change of conditions for him. It probably comes soon enough for him as well after a tough race for a young horse. The Cheltenham trials are normally finished a week earlier so he is up against it in terms of time although he won well. I rode Baron Windrush to finish fourth in the Eider Chase at Newcastle and I was very pleased with him under a big weight. It was very sticky ground and he possibly hit the front a little too soon. He was not really going on the first circuit but then he came back on the bridle and took off. I was in two minds whether to drop him back in or let him stride on while he was enjoying himself. In hindsight maybe he was in front too soon under that weight but overall I was very pleased. He is in at the Festival - I don't know what plans are - and also the Midlands National and Grand National at Aintree. I won aboard Nikola in the finale at Newcastle but it was not a great race. He ran well first time at Leicester then went to Carlisle and was disappointing for no real reason. But he has done it well this time and does have some entries at the Festival. I think he would have to improve to get placed at Cheltenham but could do on better ground as he has only raced on soft so far.
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