What’s in a name? Well in the horse racing world that’s certainly a valid question to ask, as the sport is no stranger to horse names that range from mad to marvelous. Who can forget the likes of Passing Wind and Hoof Hearted, or names designed to give the commentators a hard time, like Wear the Fox Hat (careful!) and AARRRRRRR.

It’s pleasing to know that the art of giving horses wacky names isn’t something that started in the more recent history of racing. Wikipedia informs us that as far back as the 18th century unusual horse names were making an appearance. One of the most amusing ones is none other than a horse named Potoooooooo.

This thoroughbred race horse foaled all the way back in 1773 actually gained his unusual name as result of a misunderstanding. He was initially called Potatoes (which isn’t much better to be honest!), but in a ‘lost in translation’ moment, a stable lad thought his name was pot-eight-o’s, as in literally the word Pot followed by eight o’s. The owner, Willoughby Bertie, found the mix up so funny that he kept the name. Consequently, we’re still talking about the humour of the moment and the amusing story of Potoooooooo in 2019!

 

“I would have,” answered the jockey, “but I didn’t want to leave the horse behind.”

 

It would have been a photo finish, but by the time my horse finished, it was too dark to take a picture.

 

My riding instructor said to me during my lesson, “Your horse is suffering from Equine Thrombosis”.
I was puzzled so I asked, “What causes that?”
He replied very dryly, “It’s caused by a clot in the saddle!”

 

Horse sense: that innate sense that keeps horses from betting on people.

 

 

Did you find my horse well behaved?
Indeed, whenever we came to a fence he let me over first!

 

 

Horse walks into a bar, barman asks, “why the long face?”

 

 

A horse walks into a bar. The barman confuses idioms with jokes and offers him a glass of water, but can’t make him drink

 

 

What’s a horse’s favourite TV show? Neighbours.

Riding the favourite at Cheltenham, the jockey is well ahead of the field. Suddenly he’’s hit on the head by a turkey and a string of sausages. He manages to keep control of his mount and pulls back into the lead, only to be struck by a box of Christmas crackers and a dozen mince pies as he goes over the last fence. With great skill he manages to steer the horse to the front of the field once more when, on the run in, he’s struck on the head by a bottle of sherry and a Christmas pudding. Thus distracted, he succeeds in coming only second. He immediately goes to the stewards to complain that he has been seriously hampered.

 

What’s the difference between praying in church and at the track?
At the track you really mean it!

 

You may never heard of the ‘poverty line’, but don’t worry, it’s nothing to do with destitution. What it is, in fact, is a centuries-old term used to describe an indentation, or groove, which runs between two large muscles – technically known as the biceps femoris and semitendinosus – in the rear thigh of a horse. In the same was as the poverty line is especially noticeable in extremely malnourished horses, so it is in extremely fit horses, such as racehorses. Of course, racehorses enjoy first-rate care and nutrition but, when ready to race, are maintained in lean condition.

Recent performances usually indicate when a horse is at, or approaching, peak fitness, but, if a horse has been absent for a while because of injury, unsuitable going or any other reason, the formbook student has no chance to assess its level of fitness. It’s not unusual for a horse returning from a break to carry a little extra weight, or ‘condition’, and lack muscle definition, such that it is unable to perform to the best of its ability. Put simply, unfit horses cannot win races. Nevertheless, while the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has strict ‘non-trier’ rules, which forbid trainers running their horses down the field, for the purposes of conditioning or schooling, plenty of horses incapable of winning appear on British racecourses every day.

However, with pictures of horses in the paddock shown regularly on terrestrial, cable and satellite television, including in betting shops, the off-course punter can, at least, gain an inkling into the fitness of each horse. During your paddock review, look for a shiny coat – if it’s glistening with a little sweat, that’s fine – together with a pronounced poverty line and tight, rippling muscles in the rear thighs. These are all signs that a horse is ‘hard fit’ and capable of a flat-out effort against its rivals.

Generally, Gold Cup winners tend to be around to 7 to 9-years-old. There is the odd exception, such as with 6-year-old Long Run winning back in 2011. However, for the older horses, those pushing towards their teenage years, the slog of the long distance tends to rule them out. Even the great Kauto Star could only manage a 3^rd place finish as an 11-year-old (also in 2011).

 

 

In fact, it’s been 50 years since a horse older than 10 has won the big one at Cheltenham. However, there is a certain 11-year-old who could give it a good crack (excuse the pun) this year – Thistlecrack. If you don’t know the Colin Tizzard-trained Thistlecrack, the best way to describe him is a very good horse who could have become a great horse. His glory years were in 2015 and 2016, when he won nine consecutive races, including some crackers (sorry), like the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the 2016 King George VI Chase.

 

Injury thwarted 2017 Gold Cup

 

It was early 2017 when Thistlecrack was predicted to take that step to true greatness. He was the ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2017, but injury struck a few weeks before the Festival, and he has yet to win since. Hardly what you would call ‘Gold Cup form’ then, but there is a bit more to the tale of Thistlecrack than just a horse who has his best years behind him.

Those injuries took their toll on Thistlecrack. As a result, you shouldn’t put too much stock in those poor performances in his comeback races towards the back-end of 2017. Instead, you should look at the performances this season: A solid 3^rd in Betfair Chase in November was good after a lay-off of nearly a year, but Thistlecrack came within a whisker of winning the King George VI Chase in late-December. A 2^nd place finish wasn’t bad for the old boy.

 

Gold Cup betting markets intriguing in 2019

 

Of course, the majority of those runners in the King George are also going to be in the Gold Cup, so Colin Tizzard should have a lot of confidence for the Cheltenham showdown. The latest Cheltenham Festival betting offer for the Gold Cup has him at 16/1 with Betfair, but some bookies, like Bet365, have him down at 8/1, right among the favourites.

 

 

Who are those favourites? Presenting Percy leads the way at 3/1 (Bet365), He has been wrapped in cotton wool over the past year and did not appear in the King George VI Chase. However, last year’s Gold Cup winner, Native River, was 12 lengths behind Thistlecrack in the King George, and he is given odds of 11/2 (Betfair) to retain. Others of note include King George winner Clan Des Obeaux (10/1) and, of course, Might Bite, who is given odds of 20/1 from Unibet.

 

Can he do it?

 

Has Thistlecrack the stamina to upset the history books? Normally, you would shy away from backing an older horse to win such a prestigious long-distance chase. However, there have been several issues with the other candidates. Might Bite – the ante-post favourite for most of 2018 – has been awful. Native River hasn’t exactly being ripping it up either.

 

A lot of money and faith is going on Presenting Percy, with many feeling his time has come. But don’t rule out Thistlecrack. Two years ago, he was meant to take his place at the top of the Gold Cup table, perhaps he can provide one of the greatest comebacks of all in 2019?