IT was once named the Saviour of the World, but only time will tell whether the equine Salvator Mundi will be that for punters at Cheltenham in March.
For those wondering what I’m talking about out, Salvator Mundi (Latin, for Saviour of the World), is a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, dated 1499-1510.
The horsey version ran in and won a Grade 2 at Punchestown on Sunday, coming from off the pace in a contest where the gallop was pathetic and Salvator Mundi failed to jump with aplomb.
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle before his latest effort, and remains favourite now at about 4-1.
Salvator Mundi would not be a normal Supreme winner.
He’s been to Cheltenham before and ran sixth in last year’s Triumph. Not many do that.
To win the Supreme he will have to do a lot better – a lot of people on social media think he has no chance and have dissed him after the labored performance.
What do I think? I’ll let you know in a moment.
Funny things happen in life. I was at the Tottenham victory over Liverpool at White Hart Lane the other night, and on the Overground train afterwards I ended up standing next to the force and main man behind KTDA Racing, the owners of Romeo Coolio.
The latter is currently 7-1 second favourite for the Supreme, and looked good in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown in December.
Connections clearly think the world of this horse judged by my discussion. As Tottenham fans they are now in my good books!
That all said, I’m in the Salvator Mundi camp. There are some horses that I forget about preparation runs because I feel they only get what they need at Cheltenham.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Punters slate nine ‘terrible rides’ as horse and jockey ‘gifted’ 30-length lead but stewards say ‘nothing to report’ ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6366110456112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]In this case a reasonable-sized field and strong gallop.
One aspect of Salvator Mundi that has been mentioned by no one is his head carriage. He stretches out like a giraffe and wants it.
I suspect you will see a different horse at Cheltenham. He’ll do for me. Paints the perfect Supreme picture.
Meawnhile… ‘no shirking’.
That’s what Nicky Henderson told me in this column a few days ago and he meant it.
The smash up Saturday between Jonbon and Energumene seems on in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase.
I’m massively in the Jonbon camp, as I just can’t believe Energumene can be as good as he once was at the age of 11.
That all said, the latter brings the best recent form into the race on the back of his victory over subsequent King George winner Banbridge at Cork last month.
Mullins trains Energumene, and of course he had to watch on as his gelding was smashed up by another Henderson runner, the sadly late Shishkin, when he landed this prize in 2022.
I believe Jonbon will be too powerful under the excellent Nico de Boinville.