3 minute read
Trainer Keiran Burke unveiled his stable star Hunt Ball today at his yard in Ash, Somerset, ahead of the seven-year-old's appearance in Saturday's £160,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup, the highlight of The Open at Cheltenham which runs from Friday, November 16 through to Sunday, November 18.
Hunt Ball was one of the most remarkable success stories of last season, racking up seven victories including the Listed Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase at The Festival. Hunt Ball's mark rose from 69 to 157 during the 2011/12 campaign - a remarkable improvement of 88lb. His last appearance came in the Grade One Betfred Bowl at Aintree in April, when he finished a fine third.
Paddy Power makes Hunt Ball its 11/2 second favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, which takes place over an extended two and a half miles.
Speaking at a media event organised by Cheltenham Racecourse and Paddy Power, Keiran Burke said: "I'm a bit nervous but I've done all my work now and it's down to the horse and jockey on the day.
"He did his last serious piece of work yesterday over 15 furlongs down at Richard Barber's place. We just now have to keep him fresh until Saturday.
"Hunt Ball is a very laid back horse and you have to make him work. He has been back in a while following his summer break, as we didn't want to get him fit too quickly.
"The Paddy Power Gold Cup is a hot handicap chase and you have to be ready for a race like that. He has had a racecourse gallop and lots of schooling. He is a bigger and stronger horse this year, having grown a little bit over the summer. Hopefully, he has improved too!
"Hunt Ball is usually a slick jumper but can put in a dodgy one. His jumping did improve throughout last season and when Nick (Scholfield, Hunt Ball's jockey) schooled him at Wincanton after their first meeting this season, he was over the moon."
When asked when he knew Hunt Ball might be something special, Burke said: "We worked him one day with Holmwood Legend (who won the 2011 Byrne Group Plate at The Festival) and he galloped all over him so he was quite well-fancied first time out last season!
"He is a massive horse and was all skin and bones when we first got him. He was still weak and needed to grow. I think we got him at the right time. If you look at him now, he has a real neck on him and has really filled out. When I saw Mick Easterby (Hunt Ball's original trainer) at Aintree last season, he said what have you been feeding him!
"Even when saddling him up at the races, Hunt Ball is a very laid back horse. He saves all his energy for his races. In his work, you have to push him and be quite hard on him."
Reflecting on Hunt Ball's third in last season's Grade One Betfred Bowl at Aintree, Burke added: "Aintree came quickly after Cheltenham. It was the end of a long season and I think he was just a bit tired.
"We won't know if last season has left its mark until he runs on Saturday. I don't think it has - he feels brilliant."
Burke only has 10 horses in training at his yard, plus four in pre-training but believes this may have proved beneficial to Hunt Ball. The trainer continued: "I am not sure Hunt Ball would manage in a bigger yard. He is happy here, which makes our job a bit easier.
"We only have 10 horses here and struggle with facilities in that we have to box horses up to the gallops. However, we have had two winners at The Festival in the last two years, which many bigger yards haven't managed.
"All the staff here work bloody hard. We are a small, quirky yard but there is something about the place."
Hunt Ball is owned by colourful Sturminster Newton-based dairy farmer Anthony Knott, who provided Keiran Burke with his first winner as a jockey (the Colin Tizzard-trained Icare D'Oudaires at Cheltenham in 2003).
Burke continued: "I think Anthony is brilliant for racing, he has brought fun to the game.
"I rode my first winner for Anthony and he is a mate as much as an owner to me."
Anthony Knott was also in attendance today and said: "When he worked one day and was not far behind Sparky May we knew we had a horse to do something with.
"We lumped on when he won first time at Folkestone and he duly obliged. We had entered him in three races soon after that and we thought that might be it but he just carried on improving."
Knott, who estimates to have won £700,000 backing Hunt Ball last season, continued: "The more I look at the Paddy Power Gold Cup, the more I see him winning the race.
"I've always told people to lump on Hunt Ball. I say to people, if you've got pension problems or anything like that, just lump on Hunt Ball.
"We are living the dream. I say living the dream but we will be living a reality come Saturday. When Nick lets him loose three out, I can't see anything staying with him.
"I have had £20,000 on Hunt Ball at 10s and 9s for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, plus there is £90,000 to the winner. I have also back him at 50/1 to win a million for the Gold Cup.
"We have his season mapped around four races and if we can land one of those we will be doing all right. I think realistically his best chances of success this season are in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the King George, as his best performance last season was at Kempton. The Gold Cup may be a step too far, but we will find out.
"I am not worried about the other horses on Saturday, as I know what we have, although I do think Nicky Henderson's horse (Triolo d'Alene) could be lingering on a nice weight.
"I just hope they all stay up and we have a proper race."
Paying tribute to Keiran Burke, Knott added: "Keiran is a very underrated trainer and his both ridden and trained winners at the Cheltenham Festival.
"I think if Ginger McCain were to come back, he would be very happy to see what Keiran has done with Hunt Ball."
Summing up his philosophy, Knott concluded: "I only buy cheap horses and it just shows that anyone can do it.
"I would not get any pleasure spending huge amounts. I love going out and taking on the £100,000 or £200,000 horses with what I have."