Cruising nicely under the radar

RACING:Trainer Philip Fenton tells BRIAN O'CONNORhe has always retained faith in his eight-year-old despite last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle letdown

DUNGUIB IS a box walker, that curious mannerism which sees equine nervousness manifest itself in endless laps of the stable. Last year his odds-on defeat as the festival’s Irish banker had thousands walking their box too. In fact the reverberations of the subsequent blame-game shuddered throughout the rest of Cheltenham 2010. It is little wonder then that his trainer, Philip Fenton, appreciates approaching Cheltenham 2011 comparatively under the radar.

In a vintage renewal of the Stan James Champion Hurdle, Dunguib is not front-page news anymore. Instead it is Hurricane Fly who will carry most Irish hopes in Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle against a vintage group including Binocular, Menorah and Peddlers Cross. For many Dunguib’s defeat last year removed the sheen of invincibility that had started to gleam so enticingly around him.

Another defeat at the Punchestown Festival only seemed to confirm that. And then the horse described by some professionals as the best bumper champion they’ve ever seen seemed to disappear off racing’s radar screen. Tales of setbacks only reinforced a view that Dunguib’s best was behind him.

However, when he finally re-emerged at Gowran three weeks ago, some hasty recalculations had to be made. Yes, it was a small field and yes his jumping was untidy in the early stages. But when Luska Lad quickened four from home there was a fluency to the way Dunguib overhauled him that renewed faith in the elegant eight-year-old. Fenton, though, has never lost the faith.

“He is a forgotten horse. That’s why he is the price he is. But I have great meas in this horse and still have the same time for him as I’ve always had,” says the former champion amateur jockey whose quiet demeanour is a polar opposite to Dunguib’s.

Even at the height of last year’s furore, when hindsight wasn’t available to show how finishing third to Menorah was hardly the end of the world, Fenton was the epitome of restraint. And when the world and his mother appeared set to string Brian O’Connell up for an uninspired ride, the trainer quietly but firmly backed up his jockey.

“It’s like this; in this game we’re used to getting beaten. There was no point crying. Of course we were disappointed. But from the top of the hill that day we knew there was a mountain to climb. There wasn’t the normal pace and when they quickened down the back our horse was switched off,” he remembers.

Pace remains key to Dunguib and his remarkable cruising speed. It was noticeable how his jumping improved at Gowran when the tempo increased.

“It was highlighted last year how he is not a particularly natural jumper,” Fenton says. “We haven’t over-schooled him since then. He did jump baby fences early last month and he was good. He had a bit more respect for them. And at Gowran he was brave, and quick over the second last. I’m sure he is best off a strong pace.”

Presumptions about pace came back to haunt the Dunguib team last year but the odds favour a red-hot tempo in the Champion. There is also no colossal burden of expectation this time. And most importantly of all, the horse is providing all the right signals when it counts most.

“Ideally we wanted to give him two races before Cheltenham but there were problems with his blood so we only got the one. But he is in terrific shape,” Fenton says. “We are well aware he has to improve on ratings to be up with the very best but we could not be happier with him.”

And just because the levels of public expectations aren’t at the same levels doesn’t mean an awful lot isn’t being invested in Dunguib’s chance.

“You’d always be anxious. It was different if we had four or five top horses here. But with the one fella you’re always a bit on tenterhooks,” Fenton smiles.

“But we didn’t change our routine last year because of the hype and it is the same now. Put it likes this, I have no problem sleeping!”

Dunguib shouldn’t have either. Staying at the racecourse stables is not an option for such a nervous individual and he will stay away from the track at Jim Wilson’s yard nearby, just as he did last year.

A win was expected then: it might just happen now.