Serious giggle for Mick

13 April 2012

The mounting anticipation of a ride in a Breeders' Cup race is no longer the exclusive territory of flat jockeys Mick Kinane and Frankie Dettori.

Evergreen National Hunt rider Mick Fitzgerald will set off from home in Wantage this week for the pastoral setting of Far Hills in New Jersey and a ride in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Chase.

He will leave behind the weighing rooms of Plumpton and Fontwell for an event that is recognised as one of the last vestiges of Corinthianism in a sport increasingly publicised only by its association with high finance.

The unexpected expedition might well have a surreal edge for Fitzgerald, not only because of the surprise nature of the call-up, but the necessity to fly to the United States at a time when given the choice many might decline the offer.

Still, 'have saddle will travel' is the sepia-tinted adage by which jockeys exist and Fitzgerald will prove the point when riding It's A Giggle for trainer Jonathan Sheppard in the $250,000 race, the richest in US jump racing.

This is no point-to-point amiably fought out over the Sussex Downs.

A crowd of Cheltenham proportions will cram itself and its brie cheese and spinach dip picnics into the track. Race organisers confidently predict an attendance of 45,000. Not for nothing is Chase day billed as New Jersey's biggest social event of the fall season, the pre-publicity making it sound like a cross between Royal Ascot and a CBI conference or, as organisers will have it, a day that "brings together Garden State race enthusiasts, society, top business executives and an infield of young professionals on a day of racing, high fashion, fine food, networking, celebration and 'being seen'."

Fitzgerald said: "Mr Sheppard advised me to get there very early.

"The boss, Nicky Henderson, took a call from him asking if I would be available to go and it's obvious that anything trained by Jonathan Sheppard in the Breeders' Cup Chase is bound to warrant the utmost respect.

"I'm really looking forward to it - it's a great honour."

The Grand National-winning rider will, nonetheless, be back on duty at Plumpton on Monday.

It's A Giggle will be a first Breeders' Cup Chase ride for Fitzgerald, but his trainer is very experienced.

Sheppard has collected 22 jump trainer's titles and nearly won the 1987 Champion Hurdle when longshot Flatterer chased home See You Then.

He showed Mark Pitman and David Loder the rudiments of training and even handled a certain Storm Cat, now the world's most expensive stallion. Sheppard also has a live chance of beating Sakhee in the Breeders' Cup Turf with his runner With Anticipation.

First of all, It's A Giggle must beat the favourite and winner last year, All Gong, who once won a novice hurdle at Cheltenham ridden by Fitzgerald, who will seek advice from former jockeys Ronnie Beggan and Richard Dunwoody, who 12 years ago won the race on Highland Bud.

Sadly, the hard part may be getting there. A flight to Baltimore or Philadelphia rather than direct to New York, only 35 miles from Far Hills, is the likely travel plan. "We'll have to monitor the situation. Obviously there's a slight concern about flying," said Fitzgerald.

"On the other hand it is a big thrill for me, the first time I'll have ridden there - and it's something I've always wanted to do.

"The Flat jockeys don't realise how lucky they are. They can fly to Singapore, Barbados, Mauritius, India and other exotic locations for rides. For us it's England, Ireland and France, and maybe Sweden or Norway."

Tony Smurthwaite is a writer with the Racing Post

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Serious giggle for Mick

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