Famous Clermont is unlikely to line up in the St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham despite an impressive victory at Wincanton on Thursday.
The eight-year-old (pictured above winning at Buckfastleigh last season) proved too good for three rivals, including solid yardstick Shantou Flyer, but his jumping raised questions and trainer Chris Barber believes the horse needs more lessons and another year before lining up in a big field at the Festival. Multiple champion Will Biddick gave a masterclass in the saddle, sitting quietly and allowing Famous Clermont to sort himself out at the fences, but while the horse clearly has a big engine there is more to learn.
Asked if he was happy with the outcome, Barber said: “Yes and no. There’s a running joke between myself and Will because I always say the horse has improved from his previous run. Going to Larkhill [for the horse’s first run this season] I said we had a better horse and I think he’s improved again. Wincanton was his best performance to date, but the jumping needs brushing up.
“We’re going to try a few bits and bobs, and jump him over some coloured poles. The horse has the ability, but he cannot jump like that at Cheltenham.”
Famous Clermont was bred in France, but was sent as a three-year-old store horse to Goffs’ Land Rover Sale where he was knocked down for €42,000 to Donnchadh Doyle, one of Ireland’s leading point-to-point handlers. As a four-year-old the horse showed little in four runs, before being sent to Goffs UK’s Spring Sale where he was bought by Barber for £5,000. On his first run in Britain he looked set to win a maiden race at Larkhill, only to unseat Martin McIntyre at the final fence, but he subsequently won at the same track before joining Kayley Woollacott for a spell of novice hurdling.
After a couple of placed efforts – and a run-out on a bend at Wincanton – he rejoined Barber and picked up a couple more wins before making a statement at the start of last season when a close second to hunter chaser Marcle Ridge. Three wins followed, including in an Exeter hunters’ chase, but he pulled up at Cheltenham’s evening meeting.
Barber said: “He was far too keen to run off when he was a young horse and it’s taken a long time to channel his energy in the right way. He was a big, weak frame of a horse when he was with Donnchadh. At Cheltenham he just didn’t jump. Head butting the fences knocked the stuffing out of him.
“Will is an unbelievable rider, he knows the horse well and he gave him a lovely ride at Wincanton. You could kick the horse into the fences and ask him to go long, and he has the scope to do that, but he would land running a bit too keen.
“We’ll give the horse as much experience as we can, but I think we’ll give Cheltenham a swerve this year. I’m very lucky to have a horse like him and he’s still only eight, so there is lots to look forward to. ”