I LOVE a good curry, but in many ways I am a curry lover’s worst nightmare.
You see, for all that I adore India’s subcontinent national dish, I never go super spicy. And spice is often what turns the curry lover on.
In just two weeks, providing Coronavirus has not decimated the world, the Cheltenham Festival will be done and dusted.
For a racing fan it’s the equivalent of the curry of all curries. There’s flavour to die for in every race.
So let’s take a food lover’s look at what might happen at jumps racing’s greatest extravaganza.
My curry night out always starts with poppadoms and crispy onion bhajis.
In Festival terms the crunch of the poppadom is the tape going up for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
That roar. The expectation. The knowledge that this is it. The time to do battle – as punters we go in hard, but leave enough room for what else is still to come.
Shishkin is the one most punters will be cheering for. He looks good for Nicky Henderson in the colours of last year’s Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo.
On Day 1 of course the bhaji is the Champion Hurdle. It still looks wide open, and even more so now that the up-and-coming Epatante has thrown a cough or two.
I’m not sure if that matters, but hey a cough is a cough. Epatante needs to stop coughing and soon. Presumably he’s stocked up with Benylin. But if he is, is that legal? Oh my…
The fate of Epatante doesn’t worry me though. I’m just hoping Pentland Hills and Sharjah get there safe and sound.
The others can cough and splutter as much as they like. That said Sharjah might as well not bother unless it comes up good.
Fine weather is forecast for Cheltenham right now. Problem is those that predict these things often get it wrong when there’s only twenty four hours to go let alone half a month!
Now, having tucked that lot away I’m on to my pilau rice plus butter and Malayan chicken.
Those delicious dishes are without doubt the Champion Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle snuggled up together.
The 2020 Queen Mother Champion Chase could be race of the meeting, with Altior v Defi du Seuil v Chacun Pour Soi looking an absolute belter.
I’m all over Altior once again as you probably all know by now, but let’s face it this battle could go many ways. It’s that turbo Altior has at the end of his races I love for Henderson.
If the Champion Chase is the pineapple in the Malayan joy, then no doubt the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle is buttered up by the presence of Paisley Park.
Emma Lavelle’s stable star is now odds-on, at about 8-11, but I can’t believe how long he’s been odds against, something that has been hard to fathom.
Quite simply he looks in a class of his own, and I’d have him in at about 1-2.
His rating is not clear of his rivals, but that is just down to running style, in a similar vein to Sea The Stars who was never given a mark as high as he deserved on the Flat.
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to curry I never think of dessert, but if forced a tangy sorbet would not go amiss. Lemon ideally.
The Gold Cup of course is the Festival highlight for many, but in terms of a meal brings up the closing tangy mouthfuls of joyous morsels.
Santini is favourite, but I’m still taking him on with the dour stayer Delta Work and speedster Clan Des Obeaux.
Both have claims for Gordon Elliott and Nicholls, and I’m sure Delta Work would have beaten Santini in the 2019 RSA bar a crucial slow leap late on.
Clan Des Obeaux is not a strong stayer at the Gold Cup trip. But he has class and will be ridden from off the pace this time, having faded last year behind Al Boum Photo. He jumps well and his King George success was impressive.
One horse who will not be at Cheltenham next month is Un De Sceaux, who was retired yesterday at the age of 12.
He won 23 of his 34 starts, but suffered a suspensory ligament injury on Thursday while he prepared for the Champion Chase.
I was lucky enough to be on hand for many of his Irish and British wins, and he was just a joy to behold. So enthusiastic.
In curry terms Un De Sceaux was without doubt a vindaloo. So often on fire.
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