El Puerto 16/08/2015 – Bulls Various Ganaderias – Castella Solitario

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

Jandilla, Fuente Ymbro and Cuvillo bulls for Sebastián Castella en solitario

Sebastián Castella is shaping to be this season’s triunfador. His excellent performances in Madrid of course stand out but we must not forget a dignified outing in Sevilla, a minor triumph in Pamplona and an excellent faena in Valencia. In such a context, this encerrona makes perfect sense. Facing six bulls in one afternoon is a mammoth challenge that can only be confronted by a matador in prime form. All too often we see encerronas as a desperate effort by a matador that needs to give added impetus to his career, El Cid in Madrid to give a recent example. These are generally doomed to failure. When a corrida en solitario is viewed as a compliment to an otherwise triumphant campaign, the chance of success is increased. That is not to say that Castella is destined to triumph, just that he is currently in excellent form and looking to add a signature afternoon to a leading season. Let us see whether he would be able to do so.

The corrida started with a sluggish Jandilla bull. It took one light, but long, pic where it pushed out of frustration rather than vigour. The animal proved a tricky customer for the muelta; not conveying any emotion, but with a tendency to cut in on the right side. On the basis of good timing Castella was able to fashion two good series of naturales, but the bull would not yield much more. Sebastián was above the level of the bull, but it did not give him much of an opportunity to triumph.  

The second bull, a finer, more offensive looking Fuente Ymbro, had a disconcerting early charge, measuring the torero with each spurt at his capote. It took a long, hard, but very well placed vara, pushing with vigour at the horse. The bull retained its nerve and strength after the pic, but displayed a lack of focus. Nevertheless, its charge conveyed emotion, which is, of course, the key ingredient for a toro bravo. Castella needed to show a firm hand with the bull, and gave it a series of pleasing doblones to open. The bull retained its certain reticence to charge; when it did so it came on strong. However, it to took too many pauses between passes to allow Sebastián to construct a pleasingly linked faena. Castella managed the odd emotive series on the basis of a strong toque and firm attitude – but his good toreo was intermittent due to the bull’s condition.

In third place came a mansito Cuvillo bull. It gave a poor impression over the first tercio, entirely rejecting the horse and only receiving a slight glance of a pic. The banderillas, however, seemed to put a spring in the bull’s gait, as it pursued the banderilleros with speed and desire after each pair – could it be a manso encastado and allow for a faena? Castella’s start was excellent and vibrant. A series of estatuarios given with utter stillness and concluded with some remates por bajo. Castella’s faena was an exercise in determination. The bull’s charge was mobile but lacked class. Nevertheless, Castella was able to get the measure of it and construct a solid faena of toreo fundamental on either hand, culminating in an excellently still series of derechazos. His inconsistent arrimón was the obligatory coda. A well-delivered full sword did not suffice to topple the bull, but the generous El Puerto crowd saw past the two descabellos to petition for the afternoon’s first ear, which was duly granted.

The opening three bulls each carried a series of problems and Castella had been up to the challenge. Only the third granted the chance of a minor triumph, but each helped show the Castella's rich vein of form. He had stood up to each bull and solved their problems, now if only one could break and offer the chance of a great faena.

The second Jandilla carried the Vegahermosa brand and continued the problematic tone of its three predecessors. It received two pics, but retained its unfocussed mobility. The animal proved to be complicated to banderillear and impossible to torear. The bull called for a faena de aliño and a sword thrust, but Castella sought to torear en redondo. It required Spartan valour to try to perform naturales and derechazos, but Sebastián was undeterred. Ultimately, clean, linked toreo was impossible, Castella nonetheless reminded us of the bravery required to face up to a tough bull.

The fifth bull, another Fuente Ymbro, was the first that allowed Castella to torear with the capote. It had been a tough afternoon, Castella deserved even the slightest hint at a smooth charge. Sebastián followed his recibo with a bright, nicely linked galleo by chicuelinas. The bull received a light pic, Castella no doubt seeking to preserve its sweet mobility. Castella began his faena de muleta with statuesque estatuarios, a pleasing start, but perhaps not ideal given the bull's edge of weakness. However, we were soon into the meat of the faena, with Castella giving us two excellent series of derechazos, slow, long and beautifully linked. The first naturales were accompanied by Nerva’s beautiful solo, the music’s emotion supplementing the bull’s failing vigour. Back on the right side Castella managed the odd pleasing pass, but the bull’s charge was finished. A pity that a bull with such a charge of such quality could only last a couple of series. Sebastián finished the faena with a number of tight bernadinas. The estocada was brilliantly executed and the crowd was moved to petition for two ears which the president, no doubt feeling generous, awarded.  

The corrida closed with a Cuvillo bull. The animal took an average pic and remained with an undefined charge over the first couple of tercios. Castella began with his typical passes cambiados in the centre of the ring, tightly executed, as ever, and serving to grip the crowd. The bull was mobile, but lacked class; however, Sebastián found the depth of its casta and built a long faena of toreo fundamental of increasing intensity. The early series were vibrantly linked and moving and culminated in a profound series of naturales. The animal was better on the right side, so Sebastián completed his toreo fundmental with a couple of deep series on that horn. The faena concluded with a short burst of figure of eight toreo that was underpinned by a wonderfully long, slow and languid natural rather than an arrimón. Another good, full estocada finished the bull as the plaza rang with palmas por bulerías. Not even some clumsy work from the puntillero could prevent the torero from Beziers completing his afternoon with another couple of ears.

Beyond the five oreja triumph, this was mission accomplished by Castella, from a taurine perspective. Above all the aficionado was able to enjoy his ability to give each toro its lidia and not be overwhelmed by the problems posed by this tough lot. No bull gave a complete performance to allow Castella to give a great, rounded faena, but each improved with his handling. The principal disappointment is bound to be the relatively poor attendance of about two thirds of the ring (which, nonetheless, being El Puerto means that the fiesta congregated several throusand people) that, serves to show, how the wider, casual taurine audience is not entirely up to date with the season. The casual viewier will no doubt recognise and attend the corridas involving the likes of Morante or Manzanares. But are unmoved by the names of Castella and Talavante who, nonetheless, are arguably the two figuras in the best form, or even Perera, last season’s prime triunfador.

Pamplona 10/07/2015 – Bulls Escolar: Marco, Paulita & Ureña

 

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

José Escolar bulls for Francisco Marco, Antonio Gaspar Paulita & Paco Ureña.

The opener injured itself with its first remate en tablas; thankfully the first sobrero was an Escolar bull so the accident did not rob us of seeing an Albaserrada bull. The sobrero took a couple of well-placed pics but displayed no interest in pushing the horse, moreover it was reticent to go in for the second pic. The bull charged at Marco’s muleta the same way that it attacked the horse, that is, at mid-height and without any vigour. It was unlikely to be a bull that would yield a triumph. Nevertheless, it was noble, and it may have repeated its charges with more ease had Marco displayed the wherewithal to stay still between each pass and keep the cloth ready to take the next charge. Instead Marco betrayed his lack of form shifting backwards between each pass and retreating the muleta. Francisco has few contracts, Pamplona is his provincial ring and first corrida of the season; consequently he is likely be in poor nick.

Marco was unable to give a performance of note with the fourth bull either. It was a complicated animal that soon discovered where the torero stood and did not give a complete charge. The bull was barely through the pass before it would quickly shift back on itself and head for the torero. Francisco tried to torear with either hand, but the animal’s behaviour was the same. Marco’s afternoon was therefore a non-entity. True, his lot was average, but he gave no impression that he was ready to overcome the bulls’ difficulties and try to solve the problems posed by their charges. It was his first contract of the season and raises the question of whether it is wise to sign a torero for a top plaza with tough and serious bulls purely by accident of birth.

Paulita’s opening bull received a couple of very trasero pics, two disastrously placed varas that would not have done the animal any good. Even so, its charge was exceedingly tough. The bull sized up the torero with each charge, it would not commit to a charge and not go through the pass. Paulita did not attempt toreo en redondo, instead opting for a couple of doblones and a short faena of chop passes. Conceptually this was an acceptable tactic – however Paulita did not execute these correctly and rather than reduce the bull, his toreo gave it confidence to charge stronger. The bull became a nightmare to kill, and Paulita gave a couple of pinchazos that earned him jeers from the crowd. Antonio managed to bury the sword at the third time of asking with a risky estocada al encuentro, receiving a bronca for his trouble.

The fifth would surely signal an upturn in fortune for Paulita and, indeed, it pushed low and hard in its first meeting with the picador. The animal was reticent to charge for a second time to the horse, but, when it did, he pushed hard once again and received a long, tough pic. The animal posed difficulties to the lidiadores throughout the first two tercios, its charge was strong and it had a tendency to cut it, therefore leaving more than one without a capote. By the time the bull reached the muleta, it was difficult to predict how the bull would develop; it retained a strong but problematic charge. Paulita’s first job would be try and dominate it, so we could see whether the bull would develop for the better. However, Antonio did not have the confidence to stay still and try to extract charges from it. It was a pity because, as the faena developed, the bull showed positive qualities that might have been channelled into a good performance. Paulita received another bronca. Once again we were left wondering whether contracting Paulita, who has built his limited cartel on the basis of stylish toreo, for a José Escolar corrida was the best idea. Especially with the likes of Rafaelillo, a specialist of the corrida dura, having being left on the subs bench this feria.     

Paco Ureña’s first bull showed its positive intention to charge from the moment it entered the ring, immediately giving Paco classy and repetitive charges which he duly moulded into a clean and pleasing series of veronicas. The bull pushed hard during the first pic and unseated the picador for the second, although it showed some reticence to face the horse a third time, the animal gave promising signs throughout the opening two tercios. By the muleta we could see that the bull was classy and had a long charge, but it needed a sweet and smooth muleta to tease it through the pass. If Ureña presented the muleta softly and did not let the bull touch the cloth, the animal rewarded him with its long charge. As soon as there was a brusque move or an enganchón the bull stopped in its tracks. The faena had an inconsistent beginning, Ureña combining a smooth passes with enganchones. However, as the performance developed, Paco got the measure of the bull and began linking series effortlessly, even sprinkling the odd creative pass. With an edge more repetition the bull would have been excellent, and if Paco had got the air of the bull sooner, we might have had an emphatic faena. Nonetheless, Ureña gave us a worthy piece that, at its best, was moving. His estocada allowed him to cut an ear.

Ureña once again greeted the sixth bull with a series of low veronicas, this bull charging even lower and with more committment that his first. It continued its low and strong charge to the picador; thus far it seemed that Ureña had drawn the best lot. It was probably for the best, he was the most likely of the terna to be able to make something of his animals. Paco began his faena with obliging and well timed doblones, a series of excellent long passes controlling the bull to perfection. The bull was noble, committed and classy, an excellent bull for the muleta – that had also displayed its bravery at the horse. Ureña’s faena was up to the quality of the bull. His toreo fundamental was wonderfully linked on either hand, full of dreamily long passes given with depth and respose. The bull tended to come out of the pass looking slightly distracted, but Paco kept in the correct terrain ready to give it the next pass en redondo. The bull readily accepted the long faena, and Paco was able to maintain the emotional intensity throughout. He concluded with some manoletinas before securing an estocada casi entera that earned him an ear – the crowd petitioned strongly for a second ear that, had it been granted, would have been deserved.

It was good to see Paco Ureña triumph, he was unlucky enough to meet an extremely brave and tough Fuente Ymbro in San Isidro that he was unable to dominate. That bull might have cost him, but today he showed once again that he is a solid, sober torero that deserves a place in some ferias alongside the crop of emerging toreros (although, had he been able to cuajar that Fuente Ymbro his prospects would be much higher).

A thoroughly entertaining corrida from José Escolar, providing variety from the Domecq fare we had been served so far. Paco Ureña’s lot was good, Marco’s lot and Paulita’s second were average and only Paulita’s first was nigh on impossible. Even though we could find faults with the corrida it kept my interest throughout. It was also a short afternoon, barely over two hours. One of my bug bears is long faenas to bull’s where success is impossible. These faenas are usually given to dull and bland bulls that let the torero feel at ease; today the bulls would not allow Marco or Paulita feel at ease, they therefore sought to get rid as soon as possible, saving a goodly amount of time.

Pamplona 10/07/2015 – Bulls Fuente Ymbro: Abellán, Perera & Fandiño

 

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

Fuente Ymbro bulls for Miguel Abellán, Miguel Ángel Perera & Iván Fandiño

Abellán welcomed the first bull in emphatic fashion with three larga cambiadas de rodillas. Miguel Abellán will never be an exquisite torero, his forte is bravery, determination, dominance and spectacle – his opening gambit of the afternoon checked most of these boxes. Miguel was active in quites, performing an acceptable series of chicuelinas capped with a serpentina. The quite was bookended by a couple of light pics, the second especially so. The bull seemed very noble, but lacking in strength and desire. Perera closed the first tercio with a wonderful quite by saltilleras, it was calm, controlled and smooth toreo. I once heard a good aficionado, who never misses San Fermín, say that in order to triumph in Pamplona a torero needs to start and end his performance in spectacular style in order to hook the peñas. The focus the intervening toreo can drop a level or two, the peñas will focus on the spectacle. Miguel therefore started with a pase cambiado, followed by toreo on his knees and he ended the faena on his knees once again. It was typical, engaging Abellán. However, the toreo fundamental, although clean and correct, felt cold. The bull compliantly followed the lures, but did so with an air of disinterest; therefore Miguel was able to give a number of well linked series en redondo, none of which was truly moving. Nevertheless, given the effective structure of his faena, Abellán’s full estocada was enough to earn him an ear by numbers.

Miguel Abellán completed his triumphant afternoon by cutting an ear from the fourth bull with a vibrant performance. If he was fortunate to cut an ear from the first bull, he might count himself unlucky not to have received two from this one. The bull was a nervy manso, it threatened to rajarse throughout the lidia, but possessed just the amount of nerve to stay, charge and to do so with emotion. Abellán gave a clean and well linked faena en redondo with either hand. His naturales, particularly, were slow, long and given with repose. It was shaping to be a solid faena, better and more emotive than his first, which would serve him to cut the ear needed to exit on shoulders. However, Abellán wanted more, he wanted to show his own nerve and desire to please and thus opted to end the faena on his knees. A series of linked chest passes on his knees, redondos on his knees and even some manoletinas on his knees. Precisely the taurine recipe that the peñas would lap up with as much gusto as their merienda. An estocada gave way to a strong petition for two ears that the president rejected. From a strictly taurine perspective, this was correct; although the faena had been exciting, it was perhaps too cheap to merit two ears. However, playing devil’s advocate, Abellán had succeeded in stirring the sol into a frenzy with his exciting, bright toreo and they were moved enough to petition for the second. The two vueltas al ruedo that he gave were probably the ideal compromise.  

Perera’s first bull seemed a nervy manso, it spent the first two tercios showing reticence to charge and only doing so in short bursts. A couple of those bursts happened to be in the direction of a horse for two pics during which it showed no bravura or desire to charge. This continued through the tercio de muleta but Miguel Ángel was determined to impose his toreo. On the basis of excellent temple, keeping the lure in the bull’s face and standing firm, he managed a long faena teasing clean passes from a completely reticent bull. The performance was not attractive, it could not be before such an animal, but it has its merit.

The fifth bull of the afternoon displayed a promising gallop during the opening tercios, which led to Perera dedicating his faena to the crowd. However, when left on his own with the torero during the tercio de muleta its charge became dull and listless. It was noble, but un-emotive; a bull that seemingly poses no problem to the torero but, in fact, is the most problematic of all. If a bull is tough, nervy and difficult, brilliant toreo may not be possible, but a torero can still shine by facing up to it: an overtly dangerous bull provides its own emotion to proceedings. However, with a noble, bland bull, creating emotion is nigh on impossible. A torero may give a technically correct performance (as Perera did today with both bulls), but his work will ultimately bore the crowd.

Perera seemed focussed all afternoon, which bodes well for his second corrida of the feria, Monday with the Garcigrande’s, he will need to triumph because that windy afternoon in Valencia this March, his only first class triumph this season, seems a long time ago. It might have seemed a good idea at the time to skip Sevilla, but being absent at a first class feria merely increases the pressure to triumph at the other top class plazas – it is all well and good to give good afternoon’s in second class plazas, indeed, it helps flesh out a season, however, the history of toreo is written in the leading plazas. If he fails on Monday, Miguel Ángel’s next opportunity to do so will come in Bilbao, in a month’s time, as the summer draws to a close.

Iván Fandiño’s opener was tricky. It wanted to charge low, and indeed pushed low at the horse during its two pics, especially the second, but was too weak to sustain this charge. Fandiño was never quite able to get the measure of the bull with his muleta and the faena dissipated into nothing. If he did not dominate the bull, its charge was mid-height and rough, when he did try to lower his hand, the bull’s charge seemed profound but it invariably fell to the sand.

Fandiño’s second bull was the bravest of a poor corrida, true to its nature it gave the best performance in the first tercio – the whole corrida received light treatment from the horse, but at least the sixth bull attempted to push. It took a while for Fandiño to get the measure of the bull and even half way through the faena I was wondering whether he was cashing in the credit he had earned he day before. Thankfully, after some sparring, Iván was able to determine the correct distance and treatment, subsequently managing three well linked series of derechazos. Good, linked toreo that gave meaning to his performance. These came at a price, the bull was not dull and one misstep earned Fandiño a serious looking voltereta that left him looking groggy – as always, toreo’s concussion protocol is a squirt of water down the back of the neck. Water administered, Fandiño returned to the bull and concluded his work with more well linked and deep toreo. Had Iván managed his sword correctly he would have certainly earned an ear. As it was, Fandiño completed his feria with a dignified showing. It was not the emphatic triumph that he needed to move close to his objective of achieving figura status, but his solid performance keeps him firmly in the second tier – after his underwhelming spring, and with a rising crop of emerging toreros, a poor San Fermín might have pushed him even further down the pecking order.

Pamplona 09/07/2015 – Bulls Victoriano del Río: Castella, Fandiño & Talavante

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

Victoriano del Río bulls for Sebastián Castella,  Iván Fandiño & Alejandro Talavante

This is the first figura cartel of the feria. Castella will open proceedings, looking to consolidate in Pamplona his position as the in-form figura of the summer and set up a month that will culminate in his mid-August encerrona in El Puerto de Santa María. Aside from his triumphs, the most notable development in Castella’s toreo this spring has been the qualitative improvement of his toreo en redondo. He has always been a supremely brave torero, who would work as close to the bull as the next torero; however, his toreo en redondo has gained depth over the last year culminating in his wonderful faena this San Isidro.

Talavante, gave us a wonderfully creative faena in Madrid, but was unable to complete his work with the sword; he will no doubt be looking to continue his current streak of two ear faeans based on his improvised toreo. Alicante and Algeciras were able to enjoy Alejandro in June. Will Pamplona follow?

Fandiño’s position this season is entirely different from his two colleagues on the cartel. He has suffered through a dark few months, marked, above all, by his failed encerrona in Madrid. An unfortunate afternoon that has seemingly affected him on each of his following outings. Iván has been on the bubble of becoming a figura for a number of years, this summer, he will need to triumph to at least retain his position of “leading prospect” – a number of emerging toreros have given us strong performances during the first half of the season, Fandiño needs to keep up.

Castella’s opened the afternoon with an archetypal twenty-first century faena. The bull defined itself during the opening tercios as classy but fragile – what some might term an archetypal twenty-first century bull. In the circumstances, Fandiño’s untidy quite by tafalleras was unnecessary and unhelpful; both for the lidia and the torero, a failed quite never looks good. Happily, the bull found a depth of bravery and strength during the tercio de muleta, sustaining itself during a long faena, charging with class and acceptable vigour. Castella began his muleta work with a couple of passes cambiados, followed by some low remates. After the dramatic beginning, t the faena’s crux was based on series of toreo fundamental, principally on the right hand, of decreasing intensity. Castella’s toreo was long, smooth and well linked. His good timing and soft manner, presenting the muleta with barely a toque, helping the bull when its strength might have failed. Sebastián took the left hand too late in the performance to be able to link a full series, nevertheless, the naturales, given de uno en uno, were well executed and signalled the start of his arrimón and figure of eight toreo – the de rigueur conclusion for the archetypal twenty-first century faena. Castella completed his performance with series of manoletinas after taking the real sword, and a beautifully executed and effective volapíe. The ear granted was deserved.

The fourth bull was strong, but charged with less class and, once it felt dominated, lost interest in charging. Castella gave a long faena, which faded significantly as it wore on and the bull’s initial vigour waned. He would have needed a signature and emphatic series to re-engage the crowd, but this was not forthcoming. Castella began with a series of sober doblones, with the intention of tempering and dominating the bull’s charge. The opening series of derechazos were well linked and characterised by the length of the individual passes, giving us hope for the faena. They lacked repose because of bull’s nature, rather than Castella’s failing. However, when we needed the faena to kick on, the bull lost interest. Castella was able to continue toreando, but the bull’s dwindling desire rested emotion from the faena. He might have cut a cheap ear with an effective estocada, but any chance was lost with a couple of pinchazos; the first of which was low and the second of which cost Sebastián a pitonazo on his left hand.

The afternoon’s other minor triumph was secured by Iván Fandiño to the second bull. He gave us a serious, sober faena based almost exclusively around toreo fundamental – there were no concessions to the gallery today. The bull was good, giving Iván a succession of repetitive, emotive charges. Fandiño channelled these into a number of well linked series of nicely timed and long muletazos. There was no need for any pyro, the toreo fundamental sufficed, but, this being Pamplona, Iván gave a series of kneeling manoletinas before the swrod thrust. Fandiño capped his performance with an emotively executed estocada, with tardy effects, and cut an ear that will do his morale the world of good. This was not a vintage showing by Fandiño, but it certainly showed an upturn in form from his previous showings this year. The Madrid encerrona on Palm Sunday seemingly cost Fandiño his sitio, this ear might have helped him regain it. He has a second afternoon this feria, tomorrow, with the Fuente Ymbros, to show whether this is the case.

The fifth bull barely moved and a faena of note was scarcely possible. Iván spent too long trying in vain to extract passes from this dry well of a bull. Given that I wrote about archetypal twenty-first century faenas in repect of Castella’s first bull, I would say that spending too long in front of bulls that offer no possibility of success is one of the maladies of the twenty-first century lidia. Faenas today take too long, I know that the crowd jeers if they perceive that the torero has cut shorst a faena. However, we are deceiving ourselves if we think that just by spending time in front of a bull the torero will miraculous make it charge (Ponce excepted, of course).

Alejandro Talavante faced two bulls today but had no material whatsoever to be able to express his toreo. Two lacklustre animals that came and went with little desire to charge and wound up boring the crowd and the torero. Two of the three worst bulls from a pretty poor corrida. The most notable part of his afternoon was that the band struck a pasodoble towards the end of his first non-entity of a faena, after he had taken the real sword. I know is Pamplona, but the conductor should really be paying more attention.

Victoriano del Río has displayed excellent consistency over the past few years. However, this season he has given us a succession of poor lots, it is always a pity when a previously successful ganadería goes through a poor patch. The first couple of toros were acceptable, but their behaviour would only have been encouraging within the context of a more successful season.

Pamplona 08/07/2015 – Bulls El Tajo y La Reina: Urdiales, Morenito de Aranda & Jiménez Fortes

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

El Tajo y La Reina bulls for Diego Urdiales, Morenito de Aranda & Saúl Jiménez Fortes

This afternoon’s cartel was conceptually similar to yesterday’s: a veteran opener with two young guns to follow. If we were to stretch the comparison, we could point out that while Tuesday’s corrida included a southern torero with a northern concept, today’s had a northern torero with a southern concept. Diego Urdiales has been forced into the circuit of the corrida dura, but his toreo is classy and not at all suited to the belligerent nature of tough bulls. Morenito’s elegant, artful nature and wonderful capote. Morenito has performed one of the best three faenas this year in Madrid, he deserves the chance to repeat this performance. Besides, his capote can be excellent. Juxtaposed to Morenito’s elegance is Jiménez Fortes’ old school tremendismo; his toreo is marked by his remarkable valour and desire to push the envelope. While his toreo en redondo is improving, he seems to hark to an age when a determined torero with precarious technique held a place in the fiesta. As an aside, the afición has got a bit precious, we all want technical precise toreo accompanied by a baroque aesthetic concept, as if we have forgotten that toreo may still validly have a significant element of blood and thunder – both concepts are entirely valid and necessary.

The corrida opened with a disconcerting bull. Despite its class and willingness to charge, the animal’s manifest weakness made toreo en redondo difficult. The bull needed a soft touch, with mid-height toreo to accompany it through the charge. Urdiales was inconsistent. Diego managed some individual passes of note, characterised by his natural elegance, but all too often he mistimed the bull and sent it to the ground. It can be a pleasure to see a torero with his good taste, but frustrating to watch technical missteps undermine his toreo.

Urdiales’s fourth bull was entirely mediocre. It moved, somewhat, but without much verve. It would repeat its charges, but without any gusto. It did not convey danger, but its charge was not particularly classy. The bull allowed Urdiales to perform a long faena, because the torero was able to be at ease before the bull, but the performance was lacklustre. Yes, Urdiales was able to give a number of excellent isolated muletazos; he is a classy torero, so a long faena is bound to have some worthwhile passes. However, there were too many enganchones, and, ultimately, one never got the feeling that the performance was ever going to take off. As a whole, a subdued afternoon for Urdiales who was able to show a few flashes, but these were too few and far between.

The second bull gave a burst of nervy, repetitive charges as it came into the ring. Morenito once again showed us his excellent capote, channelling the bull’s mobility into an emotive series of low, dominant veronicas. Following the second pic, Fortes opted for an untidy quite by gaoneras. Morenito began the faena toreando en redondo on his knees in the centre of the ring. The type of spectacular start that the Pamplona peñas love. The following series en redondo built on this promising start. It was short, but well linked, Morenito managing the bull’s short charges through the series. However, what looked to be heading towards a worthwhile performance faded as the bull’s short charges turned rough and its strength began to wane. Time to end the faena unfortunately.

One of the charms of watching Javier Castaño over the past few seasons has been his wonderful cuadrilla; the dream team split this season and one of the banderilleros, David Adalid, is now with Morenito de Aranda. True to form, he placed a couple of elegant, close and pure pairs of banderillas and was obliged to saludar from the tercio. Unfortunately, this proved to be the highlight of the lidia to the fifth bull. Its charge to the muleta was dull and listless, a bland nobility that conspired with a lack of strength to render toreo impossible.  Morenito calmly controlled the bull throughout the faena, but to no avail. He tried to ignite the crowd with an arrimón, but this coda lacked importance given the nature of the bull and the faena. I, for one, would have preferred him to take the sword and save us all five minutes.  Morenito had already shown that he was able to cope with the bull; it is a real pity that he did not have the bulls before him to consolidate his position following his triumph in Madrid.

Fortes met his first bull with uneven veronicas that improved during the series and were capped with an excellent media, while Diego Urdiales showed his class with three tastefully executed chicuelinas during the tercio de quites. The bull was noble, but did not define itself for better or worse during the opening tercios; would it break into a classy charge or fade to dull nobility? Fortes began his faena in the centre of the ring and the bull charged beautifully during a couple of linked series of derechazos. The bull was classy and repetitive, but it lacked an edge of desire to follow the muleta to the very end of the pass. Fortes was correct, although cold. Perhaps he needs a bull with a greater edge of piquancy. Saul knew that the faena was getting away from him so he opted for some pyro. A few arrucinas, which were well linked into a series en redondo and then, toreo on his knees. He worked very close to the bull, kneeled firm as it displayed reticence to charge and was able to extract a number of worthy passes, both en redondo and by naturales and cambiados. Both of his series on his knees ended with Fortes losing his muleta and being at the mercy of the bull. Saúl concluded with an arrimón and might have cut an ear had a pinchazo not preceded his effective estocada, his prize was therefore reduced to a vuelta al ruedo.

I feel that Fortes might have made more of the bull’s class with deeper toreo fundamental. However, not all toreros are blessed with the ability to perform cadenced toreo, nevertheless, it is a torero’s obligation to find a way of imposing their toreo on the bull. Fortes’ concept is brave tremendismo and he was able to give this to the crowd. This type of toreo is necessary for the fiesta’s variety, I therefore take my hat off to Fortes’ bravery. Chapeau.   

The final bull followed the pattern set by its brothers – an anodyne charge that, without being disastrous, fell below the level needed to perform a worthy faena. Fortes gave us a long performance, which included some deep and well timed passes, but was ultimately unfulfilling because of the bull’s lack of vigour. He concluded with an arrimón and some very closely worked manoletinas. A dignified performance from Fortes. It is always refreshing to see a torero with his desire to please. 

Pamplona 07/07/2015 – Bulls Jandilla: Padilla, Pepe Moral & López Simón

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

Jandilla bulls for Juan José Padilla, Pepe Moral & Alberto López Simón

Today’s cartel is Pamplona in a nutshell. Padilla is revered in Navarra; if we were to subscribe to geographical stereotypes in toreo, we would say that Juan José is more northern bravery than southern art. Moreover, his jovial (some might say uncouth) tremendismo strikes a particular chord with Pamplona’s equally jovial, or, again, as some might say, uncouth, peñas. Regardless, the plaza was full of pirate flags, ready to cheer their hero with the now familiar “illa, illa, illa, Padilla maravilla” chant. Padilla, I feel, loses his inhibitions in Pamplona, he is able to rip lose as the Ciclón de Jerez and display his spectacular concept of toreo. Although the other two toreros have little, or no, cartel in Pamplona, they are precisely the type of emerging toreros for whom Pamplona always finds a space in a cartel. With contracts in most of the summer’s ferias being almost exclusively limited to the roster of seven or eight figuras that have been sitting pretty for eight years, Pamplona has given an opportunity to Moral – who impressed in Sevilla and Madrid this spring – and López Simón – who has opened the Puerta Grande of Las Ventas twice already this season.

Padilla’s opening bull was a disconcerting opponent. It displayed an ungainly charge during the opening tercios that betrayed a lack of strength. By the muleta, its charge was completely inconsistent. On the positive side the bull was willing to charge and repeated with certain class. However, its charge was erratic, hampered by its clumsiness and edge of masedumbre, underscored by weakness. None of these defects were strong enough in themselves to negate the bull’s encouraging elements, but they greatly hampered Padilla. He was never quite able to get the correct rhythm and the faena dissipated without any pass of note. The highlight of the lidia were two sober, cleanly executed pair of banderillas de poder a poder, Juan José tried to close the tercio with the fireworks of a par al violin, but this pair fell too low.

The fourth bull was a lacklustre animal; it displayed no danger or nerve and lacked any class or verve. Padilla, who did not place banderillas on this occasion, tried to perform an orthodox faena with little success. Juan José was unable to display any of his bright tremendismo today; no doubt affected by his lot’s dull manner, the Ciclón was barely able to muster a stiff breeze.

Pepe Moral’s opening bull was demanding but grateful. It needed a strong muleta to take it low and temper its strong charge; when the torero was able to do so, it repaid him with long, emotive and repetitive charges. However, as soon as the torero showed any doubt or let the bull catch the cloth, its charge turned sour and violent. Moral’s faena ebbed and flowed as he managed to link a few passes, before an inevitable enganchón collapsed the emotion he had previously built. He tried to offer variety with artistic remates, but these were initially out of step with the bull’s violent charge. As the faena developed, and the bull’s charge tempered, Moral’s toreo improved. He was able to link his series completely, and showed his pure concept of low, long muletazos; he continued to intersperse creative remates, but a belmontine molinete is at odds with his stripped down, powerful concept. The faena was long, and might have yielded an ear but for disastrous work with sword and descabello; I lingered on what might have been had Pepe been able to dominate the bull from the beginning of the faena.

Moral’s faena to the fifth bull opened with emotively linked estatuarios. He gave the bull distance when calling it for the first series of derechazos, these were clean, but the bull displayed a short and disinterested charge making it difficult to link an entire series with emotion. Moral tried the bull’s left side, but this horn was impossible; it added a rough nature to its already short charge. Despite its difficulties, Pepe Moral displayed assuredness and was above the level offered by the bull; he felt at ease with the bull, to such an extent that the faena was a great deal longer than it should have been. This afternoon showed, once again, that in toreo it is sometimes easier to show dominance when the bull seems poor and reticent to charge than when it is quick and brave. As always, the real difficulty in toreo is tempering the charges of a mobile and brave bull. Pepe Moral was superior to the immobile, choppy animal, but could not quite channel the charges of the nervy, mobile, animal into consistent toreo. Nonetheless, he maintains credit in the bank from his promising outings earlier this year.

López Simón has given us an excellent afternoon – his performance earned him three ears, but the most meritorious aspect of both of his faena was his consistent ability to link passes en redondo. His first bull simply had no choice but to follow the muleta after each pass, Alberto stayed still and was placed in precisely the correct position to link each pass. On this technical foundation he built a deeply moving faena based on his ability to create emotion throughout each series through his incessantly linked toreo. He displayed a creative streak too, peppering his faena with arrucinas and pases de las flores amongst the fundamental toreo. López Simón had secured an ear, but he was determined for more and gave us a kitchen sink of a conclusion comprising of an arrimón, toreo de rodillas and bernadinas. Conceptually, they muddied the structure of the faena, but, from a purely emotive perspective it was an ending worthy of Pamplona.  His full estocada al encuentro fell slight low, therefore despite its effectiveness the petition for the second ear was declined.   

Alberto sensed that the mobile nerve of the sixth bull might serve him well and dedicated his performance to the crowd. His opening estatuarios were cold, but he concluded this series with three derechazos that certainly spiced up the crowd. López Simón continued with three stirring, well linked series of derechazos – once again, the key was positioning himself perfectly between each pass to force the bull to repeat its charge. By the time he took the left hand the animal’s charge was waning and he resorted to a circular to save the series – as we know, a good remate is key to preserving the emotion built during a tanda. Back on the right hand, with the bull losing mobility, he finished with an arrimón; individual derechazos, combined with circulares and figure of eight toreo to excite the crowd in readiness to petition for the triumph he needed for the Puerta Grande. After taking the real sword he finished with some electric manoletinas that were, nevertheless, concluded with a deep chest pass. A clean, smooth and effective estocada gave way to another frenzied petition for two ears which, on this occasion were granted. Three well earned ears that position López Simón among the leading emerging toreros; although given the way the ferias are shaping, his only way in will probably be through substitution.   

Pamplona 05/07/2015 –Novillos El Parralejo: Posada, Varea & Roca Rey

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

El Parralejo novillos for Posada de Maravillas, Varea & Andrés Roca Rey

The opening novillo had allowed Posada to perform a series of aesthetically pleasing veronicas as it came into the arena. However, its classy demeanour was undermined by its lack of strength and motor. Posada began his faena with superficial derechazos, so as not to put too much strain on the novillo, but was unable to perform a rounded series on that side. The story was similar on the left, with the novillo developing an ever shorter charge. Posada tried to continue his faena on the right side again, but it was impossible with this bull. He managed the odd elegant muletazo but these were lost in a sea of dull, superficial flaps – he might have concluded the faena a few series earlier and saved us five minutes.

Posada began his second faena with a cartucho de pescao in the centre of the ring – it is always impressive to see a brave animal charge from the boards, and refreshing to see a variation from the typical pase cambiado – the ensuing naturales were clean, but rapid. The novillo was very good, repetitive and classy, the type of animal that had made El Parralejo novillos so desirable heading into this season. Posada succeeded in linking very good series en redondo with either hand, underscored by his elegant, unique, aesthetic concept of toreo. It was a long faena, based almost solely on toreo fundamental, with the odd sober remate to add variety to proceedings. Although, taken as a whole, the faena was well conceived, correctly executed and pleasingly constructed, it lacked consistency and an element of repose that marks the difference between good and great toreo. I have seen great faenas from Posada in the past (in Olivenza, this March, for example), it is a pity he was not able to perform to this level today. Nevertheless, given his artistic edge and passed performances, I continue to value Posada’s toreo and look forward to the next time I meet him on a cartel.

Varea got himself into a pickle on twitter this afternoon. The twitendido picked up a comment he made about encastes minoritarios being in a minority because they do not charge; needless to say this was not well received by twitter’s afición. While I am not about to vilify the kid for some comments without understanding the context in which they were made, I would hope that if he does make it in the senior escalafón he remains open to a variety of encastes (I am hopelessly naïve, I know) – if he does not make it, he may nonetheless find himself forced into facing minority encastes as the only route to contracts. The main problem with these comments is that one needs to back them up in the ring. Unfortunately, Varea was not quite up to task today. His first novillo was very classy, with a long, profound charge on the right side that, nevertheless, lacked an element of nerve to make it truly great. Varea was able to link his toreo en redondo pleasingly and accompanied his muletazos with the deep elegance that characterises his toreo. However, each muletazo lacked closeness giving his work a superficial air. The novillo called for emphatic toreo, Varea’s reply was half hearted. A pinchazo and estocada delantera gave way to a minority petition that was correctly dismissed by the president.

Matters improved with his quite to Posada’s second novillo, three artistic chicuelinas and a slow, emphatic media that had more than a nod to Manzanares padre. His faena to the fifth novillo also left a better impression. The ease with which he can perform clean, well linked toreo fundamental with either hand is certainly admirable. However, in order to fully develop his toreo he must ally this with greater closeness, purity and emphasis – he worked closer to this second animal, but when compared to Roca Rey he was still miles away. Varea concluded with poncinas, it is telling that he is the only torero to have tried to recreate Ponce’s invention; this would suggest that it is a difficult pass, credit therefore to Varea for performing them and doing so cleanly. However, his sub-par performance should not be readily dismissed. Here is a novillero who I have seen perform admirably on occasions this season, he must be held to this standard because he has shown potential to develop into a worthwhile torero.

Roca Rey left his calling card with a varied and nicely worked quite by tafalleras and salterillas to Varea’s opening novillo. His first opponent was mobile and nervy, with enough movement to create emotion and sufficient nerve to make toreo difficult. Nevertheless, Roca Rey was firm and determined to create a faena; moreover, he displayed the ability to impose his will on the animal and dominate it throughout a long, well worked faena. He received his opponent with a larga cambiada de rodillas. Executed with one hand it reminded me of Paquirri; calling the bull with ne hand, controlling it through the lance with the other. The key to Roza Rey’s performance was his calm, striking toreo – the novillo would not give away a clean charge, but Andrés controlled him throughout the faena with a low, powerful muleta. He concluded with an emotive arrimón and might have cut an ear with better sword work. However, over and above the lost prize, the importance of the performance was that it showed Roca Rey’s rich vein of form and precocious talent.

Andrés gave us another quite to remember to the fifth novillo – a long series of very tight gaoneras that, despite their closeness, once again displayed Roca Rey’s assured nature.  

The final novillo was underwhelming, it was reticent charging and lacked class. Nevertheless, Roca Rey stood firm and teased a very meritorious faena from his opponent. Once again, his work was underscored by his wherewithal and firm disposition. The toreo en redondo could not be brilliant because the novillo would not allow for such. However, it was closely worked, technically proficient and emotive. He sprinkled some pases cambiados and arrucinas into his performance as he continued to showcase his dominance over the scene and the novillo. His well-executed estocada allowed Andrés to cut an ear. However, the overwhelming impression, and one that hopefully will outlast the ear, is that we have a well formed torero that can give us a good tarde de toros. His alternative has been announced for later this year; he has shown enough ability for me to harbour hopes that will leave a mark on the senior escalafón. Whether he does or not will come down to a myriad of factors, however, I, for one will be cheering him on, having a top non-Spanish torero can only be good for the fiesta and would be further evidence of its universal appeal.

Alicante 24/06/2015 –Bulls Bohorquez & Cuvillo: Manolo Manzanares, Enrique Ponce and José María Manzanares

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

Fermín Bohorquez rejones bulls for Manuel Manzanares and Nuñez del Cuvillo bulls for Enrique Ponce and José María Manzanares

The first Cuvillo showed early signs of weakness. It would usually be a cause for concern, but, given that it would be treated by Ponce’s medicinal muleta (it cures every bull’s ill), I retained hope that we would experience a meaningful lidia. Happily, and without wanting to sound too boastful, I was correct. Ponce spent the early part of the faena coaxing the bull through each series, giving it mid-height passes, without obliging it during the charge. This superficial, but attractive, tact kept the crowd entertained, even managing to get the music to strike up. More importantly, however, it helped the bull find its feet, thereby allowing for a second part of faena composed of demanding, better linked toreo. The faena was on a continuous upward curve, and concluded with populist, but exciting, circulares. This was a technically impeccable showing, which would ordinarily have been remarkable had we not been used to Ponce regaling us with these faenas for twenty five years. An excellent estocada, with swift effects, was the final piece of the jigsaw to allow Ponce to cut two ears.

Ponce’s lidia to his second bull was founded on a different technical base, but the result was still the same – an excellent faena from the Valencian. Our cuvillo had acceptable condition, but lacked nerve; it came and went with ease, but lacking the ultimate desire to transmit emotion. Ponce was relaxed and able to torear with ease, methodically teasing a long faena from the bull. The series of muletazos, performed with either hand, were smooth, and well linked, increasing in intensity as the faena progressed. The toques were as gentle as possible, adding to the clinical cleanliness of Ponce’s performance. Before the bull knew it, he had swallowed a long faena and Ponce was ready garnish the toreo fundamental with his very personal poncinas - a circular genuflected doblon incorporating a cambio de mano. Poor execution with the sword prevented him from capping his afternoon with another two ears.

Enrique Ponce may be celebrating his twenty sixth season on the circuit, but afternoons like today serve as a reminder that, on his day, he remains a fresh and intriguing torero. I have always enjoyed Ponce, a couple of faenas like today keep me believing that he still can delight us with moving performances.   

If Ponce’s faenas were marked by their variety, Manzanares produced two performances that were facsimiles of each other. While I admire a torero’s consistency if he produces toreo of note on a regular basis, a great part of toreo’s joy lies in improvisation and a matador’s capacity to mould each bull into a truly unique performance. Therefore, while the ease with which Manzanares can produce his faena has its merit, I cannot help but be left increasingly cold by his toreo.

Both faenas were built around the right hand and consisted of very well linked toreo en redondo underscored by José Mari’s emphatic elegance. The remates and cambios de mano were, as always, excellent, smooth and emotive. As per usual, Manzanares’ sure sword was the final ingredient for the two ears. The ease with which José Mari can roll out this faena is admirable and welcome, especially given toreo’s inherent inconsistency. However, his toreo is fundamentally a triumph of style over substance. Let us rewind to the start of Manzanares’ career to help us arrive at the crux of this issue.

After a couple of rocky seasons following his alternativa, José Mari Manzanares began to rise to the top of the escalafón during the 2006 season, his rise was confirmed with an excellent faena in Sevilla during 2007’s historic Feria de Abril. However, there were still a number of fundamental shortcomings in Manzanares’ toreo. His series en redondo were too short and his toreo tended to be slightly rapid - although all of these was overcome by his brilliant remates and imperial elegance. It was not until he solved these two faults that he was able to give us his absolutely historic 2011 campaign – the indulto to Arrojado was a clinic in slow toreo. Unfortunately, it seems that Manzanares has regressed to his pre-2011 style – his series en redondo are terribly short, rarely exceeding four muletazos and his toreo tends to quickness. Manzanares remedies all of this with his remates, these help extend the series without the pressure of toreo en redondo, and are given with emotive and relaxed elegance.   

His elegance and consistency, not to mention his sure sword, will no doubt keep Manzanares in the leading pack of figuras. I hope that he can re-focus his tore so he can once again deliver the high quality toreo he gave us for a couple of seasons at the start of this decade.

Manuel Manzanares opened proceedings. While I enjoy toreo a caballo, I feel underqualified to be able to write a meaningful commentary on it. Suffice to say he cut two ears from a lacklustre Bohorquez lot to join his colleagues on their exit by the Puerta Grande.

Alicante 23/06/2015 –Bulls Daniel Ruíz: Morante de la Puebla, El Juli & Talavante

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

Daniel Ruíz bulls for Morante de la Puebla, El Juli & Alejando Talavante

The corrida opened with a whimper. Morante’s first bull lacked class and strength; the typical bull that we recognise, and exasperate at, as soon as it charges at the lures. Morante’s veronicas were acceptable, greeted with token oles, concluded with a delicate media. Muleta in hand, José Antonio gave the animal a series on either side, which confirmed the bull was not up to much. The public jeered, but I was grateful. I am sick and tired of toreros artificially elongating lidias when it is plain that the bull offers no chance at toreo. We should thank Morante for not wasting our time and stoically accepting a bronca to save exhausting our patience. Today, he even killed well, what more could we want? Oh, yes, a bull that showed even the slightest evidence of its brave heritage would have been nice.

Morante was able to display his creative verve with the fourth bull. The opening capote work was variedly attractive rather than profound, nevertheless, his farol, tijerillas, chicuelinas and serpentina had a wonderful baroque air. With the muleta, José Antonio was focussed on the quality of individual passes, giving them extra length and depth which necessitated him to readjust his footing between each pass. Morante’s performance was a collection of quality passes rather than intense series – he did manage to bookend his work with a very good series at the start and at the end of the faena. The bull was average, it did not have a particularly emotive manner, but it would follow the lowers intently when these were presented correctly. Morante’s faena was intermittent, like his isolated passes, but sufficient to have deserved an ear had his sword work been effective.

The second bull’s entry into the arena was promising, it charged with nerve allowing El Juli to perform a smooth and soft cluster of veronicas. By the muleta third the bull’s charge had further improved into a strong, nervy and emotive mobility – it followed the lures as long as they would take him and did so with desire and a low head. It was the ideal bull for El Juli’s dominant muleta. El Juli stood up to the animal to torear wonderfully with the right hand, linking the bull’s charges precisely into long and deeply moving series. The first three series were excellent, the bull charging with a rarely seen impetus and El Juli able to control its course en redondo at his pleasure (he had mistakenly started by estatuarios during which he was nearly caught by the bull – this was a bull to be dominated, not accompanied). It was natural that the bull’s charge would wane as the faena progressed, but it still retained the commitment to charge and El Juli, in turn, shortened the distance, concluding the faena with a very closely worked arrimón and some luquesinas. Notwithstanding the pinchazo, I would have petitioned for two earsthe crowd, however, only asked for one, which the president duly granted. I was critical of the first bull, it is only fair that I take might hat off to the ganadero for producing a bull as emotive as this second one – I would not have objected at all had it been granted a vuelta al ruedo.

El Juli’s second bull was sweeter than his opener, also possessing the mobility to allow for another excellent faena. Julián was active in quites and gave an open stanced series of lopecinas, rematadas low. El Juli could see that the bull was good, though slightly weak. He therefore began the faena with mid-height derechazos, linked into a number of emotive series – gently and smoothly linked, caressing the bull, giving it the confidence to continue its charge. After this prodding start, Julián felt the confidence to challenge the bull with low naturales; the animal accepted this proposition and El Juli was able to explore and display his low, long concept of toreo. The faena concluded with a long and very closely worked arrimón, completing El Juli’s dominance over proceedings. A very good faena to a completely different bull. The pinchazo was no obstacle to the crowd petitioning for the second ear, but the president only saw fit to grant one.

Talavante began his faena to the third bull with estatuarios. These were pleasingly executed, but the bull charged in fits and starts resting emotion from proceedings. He began toreo en redondo with the left hand, with a long series of naturales. This is one of Talavante’s fortes, he links toreo en redondo wonderfully; he is conscious that a series needs to be long and always seeks to link as many passes as possible. His series of derechazos followed a similar pattern; he liked six redondos, a natural and a chest pass seamlessly – a series that started discreetly increased in emotion as he built pass upon pass. He allied his well-conceived toreo en redondo with his genial, creative remates – a talavantina here, trincherazo there and a pase de las flores to finish. The bull’s charge was inconsistent and lacked class – but Talavante’s fresh toreo kept the crowd’s interest throughout. He finished with manoletinas in the centre of the ring followed by a slow and sure sword thrust, also performed in the centre of the ring, which allowed him to cut an ear.

The sixth bull also gave Alejandro the opportunity to perform a creative and meandering lidia. He took a leaf out of the early El Juli cook book managing a pleasing quite by escobinas. Talavante’s sui generis faena began with a pedresina on his knees in the centre of the ring. The performance that followed was unique. Talavante combining fundamental toreo with his own take on various types of remates, recortes and cambios. He incorporated a series of bernadinas in among his concluding arrimón (rather than as the typical pre-determined encore following the sword change). His estocada was slowly executed and gave him the chance to cut the second ear he needed to join El Juli on shoulders.

Alicante 22/06/2015 –Novillos Fuente Ymbro: Borja Álvarez, Ginés Marín & Varea

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

Fuente Ymbro novillos for Borja Álvarez, Ginés Marín & Varea

I would hazard the guess that Borja Álvarez had been watching San Isidro; no doubt inspired by many a matador at the world’s premier feria, he welcomed the first novillo with a larga cambiada a porta gayola. It is a pity that the frequency of this suerte is reducing its effect on crowds. I can scarcely imagine the valour its takes to wait for a novillo to come into the light from its dark pen while waiting on one’s knees. However, people’s reaction to this lance seems to be a cold, premeditated ole. Borja looked to be involved with the capote throughout the lidia, but his work, although mostly clean (there was the odd enganchón), was cold. The novillo galloped with a jovial manner, it keenly followed the lures and repeated its charges. It was the type of excellent novillo one has come to expect from Fuente Ymbro. Borja was able to build a faena that was well linked, based on toreo en redondo, emotive and exciting. On the plus side, he stood up to the novillo’s strong charges and linked long series en redondo. On the minus, the performance lacked profoundness and he might have passed the novillo closer to him. I did not like the concluding toreo I figure of eight, it was performed with too much distance to the novillo and the novillo’s charges might have been better employed towards toreo en redondo. Ultimately, Álvarez’s faena was below the level of the novillo’s possibilities, but, taking into account his limited experience as a novillero, he at least managed to give a dignified performance. He cut a deserved ear, when another might have cut two.

Borja was varied with the capote with his second novillo, opting for genuflected veronicas and chicuelinas in the saludo, and tafalleras for the quite. The novillo was mobile, but distracted which detracted from Álvarez’s toreo. Borja’s variety and desire to please continued with his muleta work, starting his faena with a farol and circulares on his knees, which nearly cost him a tossing. The novillo was tough. Although mobile and nervy, it did not readily give up its charges and lacked class – underpinning its behaviour was more than an edge of mansedumbre. However, when Álvarez stayed still kept the lure in its face he was able to link emotive toreo en redondo. On this basis, Borja managed a couple of series of naturales and circulares with the right hand. His estocada was emotively executed and although trasera, was effective enough for Álvarez to cut another ear. Borja’s overall performance was solid, full of desire and variety, just what one would ask of a novillero. However, fundamentally, I felt his work lacked the overall control, repose and profoundness that would hold him in good stead as he takes the step to the senior escalafón.  

Ginés Marín also headed to the puerta de chiqueros to greet the second novillo of the afternoon and gave another larga cambiada a porta gayola. Exciting as it was, I preferred the low, deep veronicas he gave once on his feet – Ginés reminding us of his excellent capote. He concluded the recibo with some pyro, another larga cambiada de rodillas. The start of the faena de muleta was excellent; the novillo charged like a freight train, but Marín calmly called it from the boards to the centre of the ring with his left hand. Despite the strength of the novillo’s charge Marín’s work was marked by its calm. The novillo proved nervy, with a depth of class if the Marín could tease it out of him. In order to do so Ginés had to take the novillo long through the pass, if there was an edge of doubt in the muletazo the novillo would prey on this, cut short and seek the man. The faena was slightly inconsistent, though at its best consisted of Ginés passing the novillo long, slow and profoundly through well linked series of muletazos. Marín kept the faena fresh with colourful remates and a concluding series of manoletinas. There would have been at least an ear in it for Ginés had he been surer with the sword.

The fifth novillo was met with slow, low and languid veronicas – a pleasing start. The novillo was distracted, Ginés’ quite was therefore limited to a gentle media. The capote work was not particularly exciting, but Marín showed the ease with which he is able to torear in the early tercios. The novillo was proving to lack class and have a surplus of mansedumbre. Its defects were accentuated when it reached the muleta third and Marín was unable to create a faena. Ginés was in control and managed the odd pass of note, but further work was impossible when faced with such a novillo.

Varea did not opt for the porta gayola. However, his saludo capotero was elegant, controlled and emphatic. Four excellent veronicas, a couple of cheery chicuelinas and an aesthetically pleasing revolera moved the crowd more than an isolated lance a porta gayola could have. José Manuel Montoliú performed a moving tercio de banderillas, evoking his late, great, father with his reposed style. The novillo was another vibrant animal, and Varea’s opening gambit was equally bright, passes naturales and cambiados on his knees. His opponent’s charge, although long and smooth, lacked repetition. Therefore, although the early series en redondo were silky and reposed, they lacked an edge of continuity that would have elevated the faena. As the performance developed Varea was looking to build towards a crescendo in the form of two determinedly linked series which necessitated keeping the lure in the novillo’s face between each pass. He concluded with some delightful doblones, nearly managing a Poncina, but not before he suffered an inconsequential voltereta while trying to torear en redondo. Unfortunately, like Marín, his sword handling was poor. The conviction and clarity he displayed with the capote and muleta was lost as soon as he took the espada. Notwithstanding the pinchazo and bajonazo the crowd petitioned for an ear that the president was bound to concede – although the faena deserved a prize, the sword work did not.  

As the only novillero who had not yet welcomed an animal on his knees, Varea put this right with two opening faroles de rodillas in his recibo capotero to the sixth novillo. However, the truly important and moving part of his recibo were the excellently linked, smooth veronicas he gave once on his feet. Excellent work from the young novillero. The fresh capoteo continued during the quite with an aesthetically pleasing, almost baroque, chicuelina, a genuflected veronica and creative remate. After the previous couple of class-less novillos, Varea could see that this animal offered real possibilities with the muleta and dedicated the faena to the crowd. Varea began the faena with low doblones, dominant but gentle passes to teach the classy animal to take its classy charge long through each muletazo. His early toreo en redondo was gentle and sweet, a perfect match for the noble novillo. The slow and well timed series of derechazos were among the most profound of the novillada. Isolated passes with the left hand were equally good, the bull was more reticent on this side and the passes were not as well linked. As the faena progressed, some ugly enganchones and a desarme muddied the performance. These came towards the end of the faena and Varea opted to conclude with forcibly linked derechazos and a concluding populist arrimón on his knees. These served to excite a crowd whose emotion had waned after the excellent start to the faena.  His sword work, once again, was poor, he crowd was sufficiently taken to petition for an ear that the president granted.   Nevertheless, Varea confirmed the excellent impression he caused in Valencia, positioning himself as one of the season’s leading novilleros.