Jumps Edition 2 - 23.11.12

Headlines

Paddy Powers Al Ferof

Rivals Fail to Dodge Bullets

Fly wins but looks a Tame Wind

Champagne Fever Starts to Bubble

Report

There is one change to scoring I had not noticed. Tote points are now awarded to all winners as exactly declares, so Al Ferof gets 9.1 points for a £9.10 return, etc . Scoreboard will be good !

Well it didn’t take long for the first points to go the board as on Friday in just third race of the competition, Dodging Bullets ( Neil), went to post in the 2m grade 2 novice hurdle.  Set steady pace, quickened before last, hit last, driven and stayed on run-in, winning by 1 ½ l he gets 14.1 points.

On Saturday in the 2m 4f grade 3 handicap chase, Al Ferof ( Martin, Neil, Steve), went to post, Took keen hold in touch, headway to chase leaders 9th, went 2nd 4 out, challenged on bit 3 out, soon led, ridden and stayed on strongly run in winning by 3l. He gets 59.1 points

At Cork  on Sunday Champagne Fever ( Bob, Cliff), took his chance in the 2m maiden

Hurdle, Soon led and jumped well, going best up the straight, eased clear run-in, winning by 5l, he gets 11.3 points.

At Punchestown in the 2m grade 1 hurdle, Hurricane Fly ( Neil, Tony) went to post, Made all, ridden before last, 1 length up when left clear last, eased home run-in, winning by 12l, he gets 26.1 points.

Points

                    November       Total

Neil                   99.3            99.3

Martin               59.1           59.1

Steve                  59.1          59.1

Tony                  26.1          26.1

 Bob                  11.3          11.3

Cliff                  11.3          11.3

Donkey of the Week

Hunt Ball and Grand Crus both pulled up put in a claim but I think anything finishing 3^rd of 4 when 1 – 4 f  is worth the vote, so Shutthefront door gets it for his performance at Fontwell.

News

Victor Dartnall’s stable is in quarantine and will not send out any runners for a while after a vicious virus was discovered.

Dual Grade One bumper winner Champagne Fever will now try to win at the top level over jumps following his maiden hurdle success last weekend. The Cheltenham and Punchestown Festival hero made a triumphant debut over obstacles at Cork on Sunday.

His trainer Willie Mullins will now choose between the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 2 and the Navan Novice Hurdle two weeks later for his talented grey.

·Profiles

"He's come out of his race well. He's entered in the Royal Bond and the hurdle at Navan," Mullins told The Punter.

"He'll go for one of the two, but the two and a half (mile) race at Navan would be the more obvious one.

Willie Mullins may give the hugely exciting Boston Bob a little more time before letting him embark on a chasing career.

The seven-year-old showed top-class form over timber last season but was beaten by the ill-fated Brindisi Breeze on his final start in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

·Profiles

He holds entries in a beginners chase at Gowran Park on Saturday and a race Navan on Sunday, but Mullins feels the Grade One winner might benefit from a another week before making his reappearance.

"Ruby (Walsh) rode a bit of work on him yesterday and was very pleased with him. He's entered at the weekend but I might just take another week with him," the County Carlow trainer told The Punter

Jumps Profile - Trifolium

Trifolium 5 y bg Goldneyev – Opium Des Mottes (Peej

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
NHF	6	2	2	1	£19,591	£29,671	3	—	—
Hurdle	10	3	4	2	£38,831	£71,946	146	147	147
Rules Races	16	5	6	3	£58,422	£101,618

A French import who ran 7 times in France before moving to Ireland. In those 7 races, he started on the flat , he won over 1m 6 in a conditions race at Argentan in October 2010, and Fointainbleau in May 2011 over 1m4f.  He appeared in Ireland for the first time at Cork in a 2m maiden hurdle in October 2011, finishing 2^nd, beaten 2 ½ l behind Pink Coat, then was third at Thurles in a similar event, 2 ¼ l behind Turban. Stepped up in trip to 2m 5f he won his maiden hurdle at Cork in December, beating Firebird Flyer 24 l , followed up at Limerick over 2 miles , beating Plan A 8 ½ l, then was second to So Yopung, beaten 7 ½ l at Navan. Stepped up to grade 2 class, he beat Simeon 9l over 2 miles at Punchestown in February, was 1 ¼ l third to Cinders and Ashes at the Cheltenham festival over 2m in the grade 1 Supreme novice hurdle, and finished the  season at Punchestown, with 1 ½ l second to Alderwood in the 2m grade 1 Champion Novice hurdle.. He reappeared in October, in a 2m grade 3 hurdle , beaten 32 l behind Miley Shah, giving 13lb to the winner in heavy ground.

He should win his share of races.

Trainer C. Byrne

Jumps Profile - Sprinter Sacre

Sprinter Sacre 6 y bg Network – Fatima III (All)

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
NHF	2	2	0	0	£9,758	£9,758	108	131	—
Hurdle	4	2	1	1	£8,864	£21,054	149	151	149
Chase	5	5	0	0	£164,160	£164,160	165	176	169
Rules Races	11	9	1	1	£182,782	£194,972

Very high class young chaser, who has won 9 of his 11 starts. He made a winning debut at Ascot in February2010, taking a 2m bumper by a nose from King of The Night, then followed up at Ayr in April, taking a similar event by 4l from Yes Tom. He reappeared the following season in November at Ascot, in a 2m 3f novice hurdle, finishing 1 ¾ l second to Frascati Park, then won a 2m novice hurdle at Ffos Las by 10l from Sorcillera. He followed up at Ascot by 7l, beating Polisky, then finished the season by finishing third in  grade 1 2m Supreme novice hurdle at the festival beaten 3 ¼ l behind Al Ferof.. He reappeared at Doncaster in November 2011 in a 2m novice chase, beating Lightening Rod 24 l, followed up at Kempton, in a grade 2 novice chase, beating Peddlers Cross 16l, then took a grade 2 chase at Newbury over 2m 1f, beating French Opera 6l. He then won the 2m grade 1 Arkle chase at the festival by an easy 7l from Cue Card, and finished off at Aintree taking the grade 1 John Smiths novice chase by 13l from Toubad.

Trainer N. Henderson

Jumps Profile - Sir Des Champs

Sir Des Champs 6 y bg Robin Des Champs – Liste En Tete (,Bob, Cod,  John, Neil, Tony)

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
Flat Turf	4	0	0	1	£0	£1,311	—	—	—
Hurdle	3	3	0	0	£54,602	£54,602	141	143	143
Chase	5	5	0	0	£142,406	£142,406	155	168	162
Rules Races	12	8	0	1	£197,008	£198,318

AA very high class horse who is unbeaten over obstacles in 8 attempts. He hade 4 unsuccessful runs on the flat around the French provinces before making his hurdling debut at Auteil on 14 March 2010, where he beat Satou (now with Philip Hobbs ) by 1 ½ l . He then moved to Willie Mullins and made his debut in Ireland on 25^th January 2011, in a 2m hurdle beating White Star Line 2 ½ l.  He then won the 2m 4f conditional jockeys hurdle at the Cheltenham festival in March off just 11-3 , beating Son Of Flicka ½ l, and was put away for the season. He reappeared at Fairy hose on 3 December last year, beating Gran Torino 8 ½ l in a 2m 5f beginners chase, followed up at Limerick in a 2m 3f novice chase beating Four Commanders 7l, and then on 26^th January took a 2m 5f  grade 2 novice chase at Leopardstown beating Fists Of  Fury ½ L.

He came to Cheltenham for the 2m 4f Jewson Novice Chase, going off 2^nd favourite and beat Champion Court by 4 ½ l. He finished off at Punchestown over 3m 1f in the grade 1 Champion novice chase beating Shop DJ 36 l, and will be on the list of many as a potential Gold Cup winner this season.

Trainer W. Mullins.

Jumps Profile - Simonsig

Simonsig 6y gr g Fair Mix – Dusty Too  ( Bob, Cod, John , Martin, Neil, Peej, Steve, Tony)

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
NHF	1	1	0	0	£25,647	£25,647	—	126	—
Hurdle	5	4	1	0	£100,177	£104,707	155	162	160
PTP	3	2	0	0	£0	£0	—	102	—
Rules Races	6	5	1	0	£125,823	£130,354

Very smart performer who has won 7 of his career starts. He made his debut at Kikistown on 12 February 2011, in a 3m point, winning by ¾ l from Ballywatt, then fell next time out but won another 3m point at Limavady by 20l next time out. He then appeared at Fairyhouse in a 2nm 2f bumper, beating Kandinski 13l, in April. He moved across the water during the summer and next appeared for Nicky Henderson at Ascot in November last year, in a 2m 3f novice hurdle, beating Brass Tax 11l.  He then ran at sandown in a 2m 4f grade 2 nocive hurdle, finishing 2 ¾ l 2^nd to Fingal Bay, then returned to winning ways at Kelso in February this year in a 2m 2f conditions hurdle beating Knockara Beau 2 ¼ l. He then went to Cheltenham for the 2m 5f Grade 1 Neptune hurdle, winning by an impressive 7l from Felix Yonger, and rounded off at Aintree taking the 2m 4f grade 2 hurdle by 15 l from Super Duty. The decision now seems to be that he goes chasing this season, and he is an exciting prospect.

Trainer N.Henderson

Jumps Profile - Shuttthefrontdoor

Shutthefrontdoor 5 y br g Accordion – Hurricane Girl (Neil)

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
NHF	3	3	0	0	£14,490	£14,490	120	125	—
Rules Races	3	3	0	0	£14,490	£14,490

Unbeaten so far after 3 starts he obviously has loads of potential.  His debut came at Ffos Las in November last year, in a 2m bumper, where he came home a 16l winner from Laflammedeglorie. He followed up At Ascot in December in a similar event, beating Claret Cloak 2 ¼ l and finished the season with a neck victory at Newbury in a 2m listed bumper, beating Village Vic a neck.  I would imagine that hopes are pretty high for this one at Jackdaws Castle as well as in Mintey !

Trainer J.J O’Neill

Jumps Profile - Puffin Billy

Puffin Billy 4 y br g Heron Island – Downtown Train  (Tony

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
NHF	2	2	0	0	£4,493	£4,493	66	128	—
Rules Races	2	2	0	0	£4,493	£4,493

Very cleverly named and certainly a dark horse, unbeaten in his 2 starts so far, he made his debut in March at Fontwell in a 2m 2f bumper, beating Seebright 17l, then followed up at Ascot in 2 m bumper at the beginning of November, beating Lord Protector 9l . He is certainly an intriguing prospect.

Trainer O. Sherwood