Rockforce ready to race again

13 April 2012

The lame will walk, gallop and jump at Newbury this Saturday when courageous Rockforce makes a return to action few racegoers would have thought possible this time two years ago.

Trainer Paul Nicholls deems his fragile chaser "a modern miracle" after nursing him back to contest Saturday's Game Spirit Chase from a leg injury that had placed both his career and life in jeopardy.

Rockforce was last seen bravely holding on to victory in the Mitsubishi Shogun Ascot Chase in February 2000, despite breaking down in the closing stages.

His ample superiority over runner-up Celibate was reduced to a length-and-a-quarter at the line and he could only hobble into the unsaddling enclosure. "There was a consensus of opinion that he might have to be put down after Ascot," admitted Nicholls.

"We gave him lots of time and rest. Remarkably, he is fully recovered. Then it was just a case of getting him fit and seeing whether he'd stand training.

"He came back to work last July and we've not had a problem since. He's still eight kilos heavier than his ideal racing weight - it takes a run to get rid of that. He may need the race on Saturday, but looks wonderful."

The ten-year-old is one of six Nicholls-trained Queen Mother Champion Chase entries - a race his Manor Farm Stables won with Call Equiname in 1999.

A 50-1 shot in 2002, Rockforce was once considered a serious challenger for the Cheltenham Festival's two-mile crown after winning seven of his last eight starts.

Nicholls adds: "Two years on, we can only hope he retains his old ability."

Nicholls ranks stablemate Fadalko - who holds entries in Saturday's same Newbury event but also at Wincanton this Thursday - as his best Champion Chase candidate. "He's always a better horse in the Spring and has really turned the corner in his training since the New Year - he's blooming," the handler reported.

Nicholls completed a treble at the Cheltenham Festival three seasons ago - Call Equiname's success supplemented by Gold Cup triumph for See More Business and Flagship Uberalles's Arkle Chase victory.

In 2002, Armaturk has emerged as Nicholls' chief 'Arkle' representative, although Silence Reigns and - given a sound surface - Kadarann are also in the running. Whether another Gold Cup or retirement awaits See More Business hinges on his next run in Wincanton's Jim Ford Chase on 21 February.

From a sextet of Martell Grand National entries, Nicholls described Ad Hoc as "without a doubt, far and away my best shot". He hopes to be allocated between 10st 10lb and 11 stone.

Rockforce ready to race again

Read More