Pride Before A Call?

Imperial Call

Race Record

Run: 24 times.

Won: 12.

Second: 3.

Third: 4.

Prizemoney: £285,368.

Breeding: (Age 9 by Callernish-Princess Menelek) - Callernish was by Lord Gayle and was a half brother to the English and Irish Oaks winner Blue Wind. A winner of a couple of minor races when trained by John Oxx Snr, Callernish stood at the Garryrichard Stud in Wexford where he also sired Mulligan and Addington Boy before he died, aged 12. Princess Menelek was a point-to-point winner and is a half sister to five winners.

"It's a typical old-fashioned chasing family into which Callernish injected a bit of class. Imperial Call is the best produce," says Goffs breeding expert Leo Powell.

Greatest Triumph:

The 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup proved Imperial Call to be a supremely talented steeplechaser. On ground faster than ideal, he jumped superbly to lead at the top of the hill and then exhibited his proven stamina up the punishing hill to win with Conor O'Dwyer using his whip only once. Subsequent events have shown that the favourite that day, One Man, has several chinks in his armour but the runnerup Rough Quest subsequently won the Grand National. On March 14th 1996, Imperial Call looked as fine a talent as there has been this decade.

Greatest Weapon: Jumping: The last time Imperial Call hit the ground, at Punchestown in November 1996, appeared to affect the rest of his season. Niggly injuries plagued him from then on but this term has seen a return to the old springheeled Imperial Call who can demoralise opponents with the speed with which he negotiates obstacles. If tomorrow's race comes down to a jumping contest, there is likely to be only one winner.

Dorans Pride

RACE RECORD

Run: 31 times.

Won: 20.

Second: 6.

Third: 1.

Prizemoney: £330,201.

Breeding: (Age 9 by Orchestra-Marians Pride) - Orchestra was by Tudor Music and was one of the toughest racehorses of his generation in Ireland. A Group winner at two, three, four and five including winning the Beresford and John Porter Stakes when also trained by John Oxx Snr, he died in 1996, aged 22. From the Boardsmill Stud in Meath, he also sired the Irish Grand National winner Vanton. Marians Pride won a point to point and three races over fences and has produced a winning full brother to Dorans Pride in Scarvagh.

"Another old-fashioned jumping pedigree. On breeding there's nothing between the two and if you were drawing up a shopping list, both would be on it," says Powell.

Greatest Triumph: Third in the Gold Cup last year as a novice, Dorans Pride's most memorable performance though was when winning Cheltenham's Stayers Hurdle on March 16th, 1995. Only exceptional horses can turn into the straight at the festival with their rider motionless but that was Shane Broderick's happy experience and Dorans Pride went clear to land a gamble by five lengths. The top class Cyborgo was made to look slow by Dorans Pride on that occasion, now rendered particularly poignant due to Broderick's subsequent career-ending injury.

Greatest Weapon: Speed: As in the cruising variety. Dorans Pride has never had astonishing acceleration but particularly on soft ground, he has the ability to maintain a gallop that most others find difficult to cope with. It was never better illustrated than when he carried 12st to victory in the Kerry National and given a competent round of jumping, it will always make him an ultra-dangerous opponent.