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Order of Merit – The Contenders
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| Master Minded
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Still only a six year old, this horse has a big future ahead of him. Beaten only once since unseating his rider on his debut outing in England, Master Minded continues to impress with his emphatic victories. In 2008 he became the youngest horse to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase, defeating the previous year’s winner Voy Por Ustedes. His 2008/2009 seasonal reappearance produced a seemingly effortless victory in the Seasons Holidays Tingle Creek at Sandown and he has since gone on to win the Victor Chandler Chase, before retaining his Queen Mother Champion Chase title at Cheltenham. Clive Smith, no stranger to winning the Order of Merit having done so for the last two seasons with Kauto Star, has chosen to split any winnings he may receive between the Animal Health Trust and Greatwood, a charity for retired racehorses. |
| Mahogany Blaze
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As a young horse Mahogany Blaze has time on his side to continue with the successful start he has made to his chasing career. He finished runner-up in the William Hill Gold Cup at Exeter at the start of the season and has gone on to finish third and fourth in two Grade 1 chases, beaten both times by the impressive Master Minded, which is no disgrace. Owner, Mrs Lorna Berryman, has nominated the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust to benefit should Mahogany Blaze pick up any prize money. |
| Chomba Womba
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Chomba Womba is in a great position to contend the title, having won the Elite Hurdle and the Coral Ascot Hurdle, as well as finishing in third place in a Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham in December. Mr and Mrs R. Kelvin Hughes have chosen three charities to share 20% of any winnings: Starlight, the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Lambourn Valley Housing Trust. |
| Snoopy Loopy
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Order of Merit races have been the main objective for Peter Bowen’s popular gelding, and this focus is proving successful as Snoopy Loopy is currently flying high in the leaderboard. Perhaps a surprise package at the start of the season, he has gone on to impress many racegoers by winning the Betfair Chase, before finishing third in the Hennessy and second in the Peterborough Chase. He is now likely to head for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and also holds an entry in the John Smith’s Grand National. Owners Walter Plant Hire Ltd and Egan Waste Ltd have nominated the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust as the lucky charities to receive a share of any winnings. |
| Kauto Star
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With Denman out until Christmas, the way is potentially clear for Kauto Star to rack up some valuable points in the early part of the season.
The key to Kauto Star’s success has been his astonishing consistency at the highest level – even when he’s deemed to have run ‘below par’ he still finishes in the frame, and picks up points.
It remains to be seen if he has quite as many runs this season as in the past, but he has to have an outstanding chance of making it three Order of Merit titles in a row. |
| Voy Por Ustedes
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Third in the Order of Merit last year, Voy Por Ustedes is tough, consistent and classy – the three essential qualities when looking for a potential Order of Merit Champion. He has NEVER finished out of the first two in all his completed starts over fences, an astonishing record.
He’s likely to be stepped up in trip this year, and this could ensure that he picks up plenty of points whilst avoiding the likes of Master Minded over the minimum trip.
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