2019/20 Jumps Issue 4 - The season gets into full swing

Headlines

Champ looks well named at Newbury

Paisley Park lands Long Distance hurdle

Envoi Allen wins Royal Bond Hurdle

Honeysuckle blooms in Hatton Grace

Paisley Park lands Long Distance Hurdle

Floressa brushes rivals aside at Newbury

Fakir D’Oudairies  floors Samcro

Report

We start at Newbury on Friday where in the 2m 4f novice chase Champ ( Martin, Steve), went to post, Left tracking leader 1st, unsighted jumped into back of loose horse and hampered 4th, went left not fluent and lost 2nd 3 out, rallied under pressure last, led run-in and nearly ran off the course at elbow, kept on, winning by 1 ¾ l.He gets 21.6 points.

In the 3m grade 2 Long Distance hurdle Paisley Park ( Cliff, Cod, Martin, Neil, Peej, Tony), went to post, Tracked leaders in 3rd until 7th, handy 4th, challenged on outside 3 out, led before last, shaken up always doing enough run-in, winning by 1l. He gets 21.3 points.

On Saturday at Newbury in the 2m mares listed novice hurdle, Floressa ( Steve), took her chance, Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 3 out, upsides last, led early run-in, stayed on well, winning  readily 1 ¾ l. She gets 27.4 points.

At Newcastle in the 2m grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Buveur D’Air (Cod, Martin, Steve), took his chance, Held up in 3rd, went 2nd behind clear leader (winner) when shaken up after 3 out, hit next, 1 length down last, ridden and stayed on to challenge flat, just held, finishing 2^nd, beaten a short head, he gets 12 points.

On Sunday at Fairyhouse, Envoi Allen Bob, Cliff, Cod, Martin, Peej, Tony), went to post in the 2m grade 1 Royal Bond Novice hurdle, Led and disputed, led from 5th, pressed and briefly joined 2 out, ridden to lead before last, edged left after last, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 26.6 points.

In the 2m 4f Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase, Fakir D’Oudairies ( Peej), went to post, Disputed lead, led from 8th, pressed when left well clear 2 out, kept on and eased run-in, winning by 22l. He gets 54.4 points.

In the 2m 4f grade 1 Hattons Grace hurdle Honeysuckle ( Cliff, Tony), took her chance, Tracked leaders, closer in 2nd 3 out, disputed lead travelling well entering straight, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden clear, stayed on well run-in winning comfortably by 9l. She gets 51.6 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

      November     December                Total

Tony         162.1          78.2             240.3

Steve        161.4         39.4           200.8

Peej         104.1         81            184.7

Martin    119.3          38.8          157.9

Bob         127.6          26.6         154.2

Cliff          75.1       78.2             153.3

Neil         97.7                            97.7

Cod          55.1           38.8           93.7

Congratulations to Tony who is November trainer of the month

News

Nicky Henderson is hopeful Buveur D'Air will make a full recovery from the injury he picked up in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle - but whether he runs again this season is a "grey area".

The two-time Champion Hurdle winner made a bad blunder at the second-last flight in his narrow defeat to Cornerstone Lad at Newcastle on Saturday.

A piece of wood from the hurdle became wedged in his hoof, and he finished lame, with Barry Geraghty dismounting after the line.

"The injury was so freakish you'd think it was impossible to even do it," Henderson told Racing TV's Luck On Sunday programme.

"A great wedge of wood went into his coronary band, right underneath the hoof.

Joseph O'Brien has confirmed Leopardstown's Christmas Festival as the likely next target for the best of his in-form string - including Drinmore Novice Chase winner Fakir D'oudairies.

Previous winners Un De Sceaux and Politologue appear alongside Defi Du Seuil among eight entries for Saturday's Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. Janika and Sceau Royal also have entries.

Also on the card is the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase, but missing from the anticipated field is Olly Murphy's Brewin'upastorm.

Murphy tweeted: "Unfortunately Brewin'upastorm will miss his intended target Sandown park this weekend due to a small setback."

Leading Champion Hurdle fancy Saldier will miss an intended outing at Leopardstown over Christmas due to a minor setback.

Gordon Elliott has yet to decide on the next target for Samcro but he could step his star up to three miles.

The much-talked-about seven-year-old departed two fences from the finish in the Drinmore Novice Chase on Sunday, when going well upsides eventual winner Fakir D'oudairies.