2022/23 Jumps Issue 17 - One winner and some Festival plans

Headlines

Kitty Lights up Newcastle

Report

On Saturday at Newcastle in the 4m 1f handicap chase, Kitty’s Light ( Cod) took his chance, Didn't jump with fluency, held up in rear, hit 18th, headway and in touch with leaders 19th, pushed along and outpaced after 5 out, ridden and rallied before 3 out, led after last, stayed on, winning by 2 ½ l. He gets 55.5 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

          February        Total

Peej      205.28            873.66

Steve      135.5                 740.39

Neil        129.7              688.05

Martin     74.56               516.79      

Bob          85.1               493.25

Cod       106.7            362.8

Cliff        81               292.16

News

Paul Nicholls reckons Bravemansgame is his best chance of a record-equalling fifth triumph in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup next month since he slipped a saddle on the phenomenal Kauto Star. The champion trainer told The Punter: "I didn't make the same mistake running him between Kempton and Cheltenham like I did last year as he's brilliant fresh and brilliant very fit.

"He's twice the horse he was. He looks great this year, look at him – he looks a picture. Last year he was very light behind and just didn't look right in the spring.

An eyecatching piece of work from Epatante at Kempton on Tuesday might mean Marie's Rock is re-routed to the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Nicky Henderson has suggested.

Marie's Rock won the Mares' Hurdle last year and is 3-1 to double up in the Close Brothers-backed event but Epatante, the 2020 Champion Hurdle winner, was well on top of her stablemate in a two-mile-one-furlong gallop on Kempton's all-weather track.  Henderson also told the Punter Buzz is not ready for Cheltenham.

Flooring Porter is “on target” for a Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle hat-trick bid, according to trainer Gavin Cromwell. connections are now happy with their charge, who returns to his beloved Cheltenham as the 6-1 joint-fourth favourite with the race sponsor. “We’re happy now and we’re on target to run,” said Cromwell.

“Obviously he missed a bit of work and that isn’t ideal, but we’re happy with him nonetheless. He’s in good form and hopefully now we can get him over there in one piece.

 

Weekend Entries

Friday

Doncaster 

3.45 Ilovethenightlife

Newbury

3.25 Fable, Skytastic

Saturday 

Doncaster

1.30 Third Time Lucki

3.15 Sporting John

Kelso

1.15 Castle Rushen

Navan

3.10 Maimie’s Magic

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 Steve

Leg 11  Steve

Leg 12  Cliff