Abbey not the retiring type
08/04/2005 - 08:49:20County Durham trainer Howard Johnson faces a dilemma after his magnificent front-runner Grey Abbey thrilled the crowds at Aintree yesterday on his way to winning the Betfair Bowl.
All the talk before the Cheltenham Festival was about possible retirement for the popular 11-year-old, but he proved conclusively he has plenty more to give.
He has not been the easiest of horses to keep fit, however, and the trainer will be mulling over what to do next.
He could even turn out again quickly in an attempt to land back-to-back victories in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr tomorrow week.
Grey Abbey (7-2) trounced a high-class field in yesterday’s Grade Two feature.
Graham Lee soon had the grey in his customary position at the head of affairs, and going down the far side for the final time in the three-mile-one-furlong contest he had all bar First Gold in trouble.
Once in the home straight he shook off the French raider and jumping boldly, galloped relentlessly to the line on the rain-softened ground to win by 12 lengths. Crystal D’Ainay took third, another 17 lengths away.
Johnson was busy with the two-year-olds at his County Durham base and was represented by his father-in-law Ray Hawkey.
“It was wonderful, wasn’t it? I just wish Howard was here to see it,” said Hawkey.
“He jumped fantastic and people responded to him like Desert Orchid. I would say his retirement is on hold now, but that’s up to Howard. You wouldn’t know with this horse, we’ll have to see how he is in the morning.
“The Scottish National could be an alternative, ground permitting, but that would depend entirely on how the horse is, and on Howard.
“The ground was absolutely perfect for him today. It was too quick when he was fifth in the Gold Cup.”
Lee, who bounced back from a fall in the first race to take the ride, added: “What can you say? He’s brilliant and that’s it. He gallops and jumps. He’s just a joy to ride. I say it every time I ride him.
“I would have had to have had two broken legs not to ride him!”
Joint-owner Norman Furness said: “He’s going to stay in training next year and he will probably go for the Scottish National (on Saturday week), depending on how he comes out of the race.
“We were expecting a good run, but you never know what’s going to happen in a race like that.”
Grey Abbey picks up a 5lb penalty for the Ayr marathon, taking his weight to 12st 3lb.
Francois Doumen, trainer of First Gold, said: “He’s getting a bit lazy as he gets older, but you have got to respect the way he runs. We would probably have preferred the ground to be a little softer, but the winner has done it well and I’m not disappointed.”
Alan King was delighted with Crystal D’Ainay’s display on his first outing over fences in Britain, and the six-year-old is likely to stay over the bigger obstacles now.
He said: “I’m very pleased, especially after the way he ran at Cheltenham. I think he’s probably best fresh, so that will be it for the season and we will aim towards the Charlie Hall with him.”
Cheltenham Gold Cup third Sir Rembrandt was a major flop and was pulled up before the 13th fence.
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