The voice of racing men since 1998

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

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 3rd 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.
"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.
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

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