The voice of racing men since 1998

Friday, 18 March 2022

2021/22 - Jumps Issue 19 - First two Festival days in the bank

Headlines

Girl Power Rules in Champion Hurdle 
Stone Rock Solid in Arkle
Sir Gerhard rules in Ballymore
Energumene lands Champion Chase

Report

We start at Cheltenham on Tuesday where in the 2m grade 1 Arkle Chase Edwardstone Cliff, Steve), went to post, jumped well, travelled strongly, in touch with leaders, swerved sharply right to avoid faller just after 4th, steady headway 4 out, went second going easily 3 out, led and bumped 2 out, ridden and went clear run-in, winning readily by 4 ¼ l. He gets 57 points.

In the 2m grade 1 Champion Hurdle Honeysuckle (Cliff, Neil, Peej, Steve), Epatante (Cliff, Steve), went to post. Honeysuckle, Travelled strongly, midfield on outer, headway and tracked leaders 3rd, close up going easily before 2 out, shaken up to lead after 2 out, ridden and good jump last, kept on strongly and went clear run-in, winning  readily by 3 ½ l. She gets 51.73 points.  Epatante, Midfield on inner, tracked leaders going easily after 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, ridden and chased winner approaching last, not fluent and stumbled last, held but kept on well run-in, no match for winner 2nd 3 ½ l. She gets 14.7 points.

On  Wednesday in the  2m 5f grade 1 Ballymore Hurdle, Sir Gerhard (Cod), took his chance, Travelled strongly and jumped well, towards rear, headway into midfield after 3rd, tracked leaders after 4th, pressed leader going easily before 2 out, pushed along to lead before last, ridden and kept on run-in, winning comfortably by 3 ½ l. He gets 53.46 points.

In the 2m grade 1 Champion Chase, Energumene ( Bob), went to post, Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 7th, headway on outer going easily before 4 out, soon tracked leaders, disputed lead 3 out, led clearly 2 out, good jump last, shaken up and went clear run-in, winning readily by 8 ½ l. He gets 82 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy 
               March                Total
Peej      76.99                 994.16                        
Steve      123.43            864.86
Cliff       123.43            720.21
Cod            53.46            622.21
Bob       82                    590.22
Neil          51.73               514.3
Martin      48            400.19             

Cheltenham Grand Slam
Cliff    123.43
Steve   123.43
Bob      82
Cod   53.46
Neil    51.73
Peej   51.73

Grand Slam 
Leg 1 Neil  
Leg 2 Tony
Leg 3 Tony
Leg 4  Cliff
Leg 5 Neil
Leg 6 Peej
Leg 7 Tony
Leg 8 Steve
Leg 9 Steve
Leg 10 ???

First winner bonus available, In the UK - Brighton, Cartmel, Perth, Southwell, Stratford, Thirsk, Worcester

In Ireland - Ballinrobe, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Bellewstown, Laytown, Downpatrick,  Listowel, Kilbeggan

News
Nicky Henderson described Shishkin's early exit from the Champion Chase after being pulled up sharply after the eighth fence, as "purely ground-related". Henderson hinted Aintree's Grand National meeting was a possibility for Shishkin, who could step up in trip for the Melling Chase.Henderson said: "The plan was to pop out and be up there over the first and settle where we saw fit, but he just couldn't get to them. He couldn't get out of the ground going to the first fence. They went quick but he can go quick too – he just couldn't get out of it."Nico was dead right in pulling him up – there was no point subjecting him to any more. You either go on it or you don't when you're into the real extremes and you never know until you run them."Shishkin appears to be perfectly okay. Most of these horses won't go to Aintree, but we might be able to consider it and try him over two and a half miles. This was purely ground-related."
 
Weekend Entries
Cheltenham Friday
2.10 I Like To Move It, Tritonic
2,50 Eric Bloodaxe
3.30 Minella Indo, Protektorat, Chantry House, Asterion Forlange, Aye Right, Galvin
4.50 Elimay, 
5.30 Langer Dan

Uttoxeter Saturday
2.25 Midnight River

Newcastle
4.50 Theocrat

Sunday Chepstow
3,35 Patroclus
4.10 Fable, Gran Luna

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