Racing: First Gold is ready to take on Best Mate, says Doumen

It is the house of unpredictability and anyone who thinks they have a firm line to tomorrow's Grand National would have received thought food here at Liverpool yesterday.

The first of the meeting's landmark races, the Martell Cognac Cup, went not to Valley Henry or Commanche Court, the fourth and sixth horses from the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but a horse who had not even managed to complete at Prestbury Park. For yesterday's was the afternoon when the debased metal that had been First Gold regained its lustre.

The French horse finally started to repay the estimated £500,000 he cost JP McManus in a package with the crack hurdler Baracouda and he did it most blithely, skipping over the Merseyside fences from start to finish.

"He has been very tight in his muscles and ligaments, particularly around his shoulders," François Doumen, the trainer, reported, "but today he was like the horse who won this race two years ago and the King George. When you have a horse who disappears so far it's so nice to see him back as he was."

The victory was another nail for those who believe Thierry Doumen, the trainer's son, has no place riding racehorses. Yet it was another nail which seemed to augur badly for his mount's prospects.

First Gold had to be reshod at the start and began the race as if the hammer was still being banged on his backside. He flew into the lead, an isolated and ignored figure as those behind doubtlessly considered this would be little more than a glimmer.

However, as the 10-year-old's jumping improved those in behind became considerably more ragged. When it started to hurt, Valley Henry and Commanche Court, the first two in the betting, began to shrink. Cheltenham, it proved, had eroded rather than contributed to their chances. First Gold, a 14-1 shot, won with neat symmetry by 14 lengths. It was not to be the last coincidence. Lady Cricket, who had been the first struggling, stayed on to head the tired posse.

Thierry Doumen was roaring away to the crowd on the way back in. He is beginning to do vindication rather well. It seems de rigueur these days to berate the French, and Doumen fils has known the feeling for some time now. Tomorrow, he tests his nation's much questioned bravery on Djeddah in the National itself.

"When I looked round at the end of the back line I thought they would be somewhere close, but I couldn't hear anything," the jockey said. "Then I said goodbye to them. He just went off again.

"It was good fun because the horse felt great. He was getting his marks back at Cheltenham but he wasn't too sure of himself on the up and down. Today he loved it.

"I know him. I've been riding him for five years. He's getting like the horse he was and with a bit more strength as well."

Suitably emboldened, Doumen is now looking forward to another race, at the other end of the year. There was fighting talk already about the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. "He could beat Best Mate," Doumen said. "I'd be happy to take him on."

Golden Alpha had a debt to repay Tony McCoy and he did so in some style to win the Red Rum Chase, passing the post with 10 lengths to spare over Dark'n Sharp.

McCoy broke a collar-bone when the Martin Pipe-trained Golden Alpha fell at Cheltenham and was sidelined for three weeks. The jockey said yesterday: "I never thought I was going out on anything but a good jumper today."