2017/18 Jumps Issue 3 - Martin's bid for the double continues

Headlines

Benatar Lands Plumpton Chase

Bristol Stars at Haydock

Notch is Top class at Ascot

Sharjah

Min

Samcro

La Bague Roi

Report

We start at Plumpton where in the 2m 3f novice chase, Benatar ( Neil , Peej), went to post, left in lead 1^st, made rest, mistake 8^th, in command from 3out, idling and kept up to work between last 2, eased near finish wining by 9l, he gets 11.3 points.

At Ascot on Saturday in the 2m 5f grade 2 chase, Top Notch ( Martin, Steve), went to post, close up , tracked leaders, led well before 2 out, , soon clear, fine jump at last, winning impressively by 8l. He gets 27.6 points

At Haydock in the 3m 1f Lancashire chase, Bristol De Mai ( Neil, Peej, Steve) took his chance, wore ear plugs, made all went clear before 4 out, well in command when mistake 2 out , won very easily by 57 l . He gets 26.8 points

At Gowran Park in the 2m novice hurdle Sharjah ( Martin), took his chance, led and disputed lead at slow pace, settled in 2^nd before 2^nd, lost place briefly after 3^rd, slight mistake 3 out headway and going best to challenge 2 out, pushed out to lead run in, soon asserted winning comfortably by 4l. He gets 26 points.

In the 2m 4f chase Min ( Cod, Peej Tony), went to post, close up, led 1^st, jumped big, made rest, raced keenly, extended advantage from 5 out, winning very easily by 36l. He gets 13.1 points.

On Sunday at Navan in the 2m 4f grade 2 novice hurdle Samcro ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil) went to post, chased leaders, 4^th ½ way, headway and travelling well 3 out, led next, eased clear on bit between last 2, in command and won easily by 12l. He gets 16.3 points.

In the 3m mares hurdle at Kempton on Monday La Bague Au Roi ( Martin) took her chance, Tracked leading pair, led 6th, stretched on from 3 out, hard pressed when fumbled last, headed briefly flat but soon rallied to lead again, driven out winning by ½ l She gets 31 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 November       Total

Martin           179                  176

Cliff                127.7                127.7

Cod                 119.4                 119.4

Steve              104.8               104.8

Peej                 94.4                94.4

Neil               54.4                   54.4

Tony               39.3               39.3

Bob                 32.9              32.9

News

Thistlecrack is due to make his reappearance on Friday at Newbury where Wholestone and Uknowhatimeanharry also have entries.

Cloudy Dream could try to get back on the winning trail in the Betfred Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Sunday week.

Willie Mullins is responsible for three of the seven remaining entries in the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Stayers' Hurdle hero Nichols Canyon, smart novice Cilaos Emery and the mare Augusta Kate could attempt to give the champion trainer a fourth win in the Grade One feature.

"Nichols Canyon is in the Hatton's Grace over two and a half miles," said assistant trainer Patrick Mullins. "He's a Stayers' Hurdle winner and we didn't go back to two miles because we don't want to be revving him up, as we are making a stayer out of him."

Last year's winner Apple's Jade - who is also in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday - could be joined by her Gordon Elliott-trained stablemate Mick Jazz.

Annamix, one of Willie Mullins' exciting French recruits, is out for the season.