Jumps Update 12 - 7.2.13

Headlines

Ruby Has Rock Solid Champion claims

Europe Still a Sizeable Threat

Overturn heads foe Arkle

Frontdoor slams rivals at Carlisle

Mr Mole, puts rivals in a hole At Taunton

Report

Quite a busy week as the weather has relented a bit , we start at Musselburgh on Sunday, where in the 2m novice chase, Overturn ( John, Neil, Peej, Steve), took his chance, Jumped well, made all, clear after 8th, winning unchallenged by 29l . He gets 11.1 points and it’s next stop the Arkle chase at Cheltenham.

At Punchestown, Sizing Europe ( Cliff, Tony), went to post in the 2m grade 2 chase, Made all, clear early, reduced advantage 3rd, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly, winning by 10l, he gets 26.1 points.

At Doncaster in the 2m listed hurdle Rock On Ruby ( Cliff, Peej), took his chance, Tracked leader, challenged before 3 out, led 3 out, pressed when left clear last, kept on., winning by 3l. He gets 14.7 points.

On Wednesday at Carlisle in the 3m 1f handicap hurdle, Shutthefrontdoor ( Neil), went to post, Held up in rear, headway before 2 out, went 4th before and not fluent last, soon ridden, kept on to lead towards finish winning by ½ l. He gets 36.8 points.

At Taunton today in the 2m novice handicap hurdle Mr Mole (Cliff), went to post, Keen early, in touch, smooth headway 3 out, soon every chance, led on bit after last, winning  easily by 2 ¾ l.  He gets 23.4 points.

Table

Points

                       February   Total

Neil                  47.9         536

Steve                11.1        405.9

Tony               26.1        376.3

Bob                                 339.3

John             11.1           345.8

Martin                            331.3

Peej             25.8            298.8

Cliff            64.2              289.6

Cod                                269.9

News

Arkle favourite Simonsig will miss his intended Cheltenham prep race after being ruled out of the Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury.

Henderson told The Punter: "Simonsig's trachea wash result today was 95 per cent but we'd only run if it was 100 per cent.

Shutthefrontdoor is by no means certain to line up at the Cheltenham Festival, despite completing a hat-trick over hurdles at Carlisle on Wednesday.

The final of that staying contest is among several Cheltenham options, along with the Coral Cup, the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

We'll see how he comes out of the race and take it from there. We'll what the ground is like and see when we get to that time. He wouldn't be a definite runner in any of the races there, but we will see how things are with him nearer the time."