Headlines
Jukeboxman is King of Kempton
Numberfive is Boxing Day Number one
Narciso Has The winning attitude
Thistle Asks to big a Question of Kempton Rivals
Sir Gino lands Christmas Hurdle
Haitis Coloeurs Fly high at Chepstow
Tea Up at Leopardstown
Final Demand rakes in Limerick Points
No Drama with easy Newbury winner
It’s A Wodhoo for Bob at Leopardstown
Lossiemouth Lands December Hurdle
Report
We start at Kempton on Boxing Day where in the 2m grade 1 Christmas Hurdle Sir Gino ( Bob, Steve), went to post, Took keen hold, pressed leader, led 3rd, not fluent 4th, went clear before last, winning readily by 6l. He gets 26.58 points.
In the 3m grade King George V1 chase, The Jukeboxman (Steve), Banbridge ( Steve), took their chances.
Thejukeboxman, Prominent, led narrowly on turn before 3 out, headed last, rallied and led again final strides wining gamely by a nose. He gets 91 points.
Banbridge, Took keen hold, in touch with leaders, not fluent 8th, not fluent 5 out, headway 3 out, led narrowly last, kept on well but headed final strides, 2nd beaten a nose. He gets 18.4 points.
At Leopardstown in the 2m grade 2 Juvenile hurdle, Narciso Has ( Bob), went to post, Led, headed but prominent after 2nd, led again 3 out, pushed along and went clear after 2 out, ridden and ran on well run-in, winning by 1l. He gets 44.2 points.
On Saturday at Chepstow in the 3m 6f Welsh National Premier handicap Chase, Haiti Coloeurs ( Peej, Steve, Neil), went to post, Prominent, led after 7th, hit 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well winning by 3l. He gets 56 points.
At Kempton in the 2m grade 2 novice chase Mambonumberfive (Cliff), went to post, Held up in rear, mistake 7th, not fluent 8th, cajoled along 4 out, rapid headway 3 out, led 2 out, pushed along and went clear approaching last, kept on well run-in, winning readily by 7l. He gets 46.26 points.
In the 2m grade 2 limited handicap chase, Thistle Ask ( Cliff, Steve), took his chance, Travelled strongly, led, headed 3rd, led again 5th, went clear 4 out, went further clear 2 out, not fluent last, eased final 110yds, winning impressively by 10 l. He gets 12.88 points.
At Leopardstown on Sunday in the 2m 7f Grade 1 Christmas hurdle Teauphoo (Peej, Steve), went to post, in touch with leaders, not fluent 8th, headway 3 out, led just after 2 out, pushed along and went clear approaching last, kept on well, winning comfortably by 7l. Peej gets 57 points, Steve 28.5
At Limerick in the 2m 5f Grade 1 Faugheen novice chase Final Demand (Cod Martin, Neil, Peej), went to post, Jumped well, made all, clear 5 out, reduced lead after 3 out, went clear again 2 out, not fluent last, kept on well, winning easily by 8l. He gets 26.34 points.
Apologies to Bob as I missed Upon Tweed earlier in the month, in a 2m novice hurdle at Ayr, Prominent, mistake 5th, led before 3 out, not fluent last, pushed out and kept on run-in, winni9ng by 2 n1/2 l. He gets 22.5 points.
At Newbury on Monday in the 2m 4f grade 1 Challow Hurdle No Drama This End ( Neil), went to post, Soon led, not fluent 4 out, ridden briefly after last, nudged along and kept on well final 110yds, winning comfortably by 1 ¼ l. He gets 52.9 points.
At Leopardstown in the 2m 4f grade 3 mares hurdle Wodhooh (Bob), took her chance in touch with leaders, went second 3 out, ridden to lead when bandage came loose last, ran on well run-in, winning by 2 ¼ l. She gets 27.08 points.
In the 2m grade 1 December hurdle Lossiemouth ( Neil), took her chance, Prominent, chased clear leader after 4 out, headway 2 out, pushed along to lead approaching last, ridden and edged right run-in, ran on well, winning by 1l. She gets 53.34 points.
The John Torpey Memorial Trophy
December Total
Neil 284.61 487,29
Steve 229.75 391.93
Bob 158.13 291.59
Peej 188.27 253.16
Martin 87.01 197.97
Cliff 118.48 156.97
Cod 26.34 37,63
Stats Per String
Runs Wins
Martin 22 8
Bob 23 10
Cliff 22 6
Neil 29 13
Peej 22 7
Cod 22 2
Steve 26 12
The Weeks Losers
Mydaddypaddy, Wendigo, Celtic Dino, Banbridge, Gaelic Warrior, Jango Baie, Fact To File, Il Est Francais, Doctor Du Mesnil, Lump Sum, Marine Nationale, Majborough, Captain Cody, Ballyburn, I Am Maximus, Galopin Des Champs, Fast Or Slow, Lecky Watson, Inothewayurthinkin, Jordans, Jimmy Du Seuil, Juracon, Tiptoptim, Brighterdays ahead, Irancy, Anzadam, Bud Fox, Innamorato
Weekend Runners
Friday
Ayr
1.05 Wilstar
Saturday
Sandown
12.05 Loaded and Locked, Wilstar
3.35 Hot Fuss
Sunday
Chepstow
1.15 Baron Noir
News
Britain's two-mile chasing division has an unlikely new pretender as Thistle Ask followed up his rout in the Haldon Gold Cup with a Desert Orchid Chase demolition. A new calibre of opposition will lie in wait – including last year's winner Jonbon – when Thistle Ask steps up to Grade 1 company for his next start in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 17, but Skelton is not shying away from the challenge.
He said: "He's going to go up against different types of horses now, but we'll welcome all-comers and we'll give it our best shot. It's very tempting to have a go at a Champion Chase, but if you want all ticks in your boxes, then he's got to go right-handed. If he wins a Clarence House he’d have to go for it, but if he didn’t and still ran well, then you’d have to keep him super fresh for the Celebration Chase.”
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