2013/14 Jumps Edition 9 - 23.1.14

Headlines

Un De Sceaux romps in at Naas

Melodic Rendevous in Tune at Haydock

Report

At Naas in the 2m hurdle, Un De Sceaux ( Bob, Martin, Tony) went to post , made all not fluent 4^th, 2l clear ½ way extended advantage from ½ way travelling well distance clear when mistake last, winning very easily by 53l. He gets 13.1 points.

At Haydock in the grade 2 hurdle, Melodic Rendezvous ( Bob, Cliff, Tony), took his chance, chased leaders, prominent 6^th, hit 2 out, led run in stayed on well to win by 4 ½ l. He gets 27.5 points.

Points

John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                          January         Total

Tony                      40.6              464.3

Peej                      32.8              435.3   

Neil                        00                332.6

Martin                    35.9              288

Cliff                       27.5                273.2

Cod                        16.4              228.3

Bob                            57           178.3

Steve                         00             149.6

News

Unioniste heads a field of 15 for Saturday's Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster and is 9/2 favourite with the sponsors

Champagne Fever has entries in three novice chases at the Cheltenham Festival as trainer Willie Mullins keeps his options open.The grey is bidding for a third successive victory at the showcase having landed the 2012 Weatherbys Champion Bumper and last year'sSky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

This season he has entries in the Racing PostArkle, JLT Novices' Chase and RSA Chase.

There are 34 initial entries for the Arkle and he is joined by stablemate Felix Yonger, Leopardstown Grade One scorer Defy Logic and the Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Dodging Bullets and Hinterland. The 2012 Stan JamesChampion Hurdle victor Rock On Ruby is also engaged.

The £120,000 JLT Novices' Chase over two and a half miles on St Patrick's Thursday, March 13, is a Grade One contest for the first time this year and has a new sponsor.It has attracted 53 entries. Oscar Whisky is entered for Nicky Hendersonfollowing two course wins, while Wonderful Charm (Paul Nicholls), Taquin Du Seuil (Jonjo O'Neill) and French import Vukovar (Harry Fry) are other significant entries.

2013/14 Jumps Edition 8 - 16.1.14

Headline

King Is a Diamond

Report

At Doncaster Diamond King ( Martin) went to post in the 2m novice hurdle, made all, stayed on well from 3 out, reminders and clear between last 2, eased run in winning easily by 3 ½ l. He gets 22. 8 points.

Points

John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                          January         Total

Peej                      32.8              435.3   

Tony                      00               423.7

Neil                        00                332.6

Martin                    22.8              274.9

Cliff                       00                245.7

Cod                        16.4              228.3

Steve                         00             149.6

Bob                            16.4          147.7

Preview

Looking at some of the festival races , the Arkle has a couple of interesting ones at present., Champagne Fever is plenty short enough at 4/1 and Dodging Bullets at 7/1 is next best. Defy Logic is a decent each way shout at 10/1, as is Hinterland, whilst Rock on Ruby will be the stand out price at 10/1 currently if he wins at Doncaster next week. He is the class act amongst these., and is currently my fancy, whilst our man in Ladbrokes goes for the Bullet.

2013/14 Jumps Edition 7 - 9.1.14

Headline

Annie Powers Home At Cheltenham

Report

We start at Cheltenham on New Years Day where Annie Power ( Bob, Peej), took her chance in the 2m 4f hurdle, tracked leader challenged 2 out, and soon led, not fluent last, shaken up and ran on well winning easily by 8l She gets 16.4 points.

On Sunday at Naas, Briar Hill ( Cod, Peej), took his chance in the 2m 4f grade 2 hurdle, tracked leader in 2^nd, niggled along 3 out, and soon closed on leader, to get on terms, led narrowly between last 2, not fluent last, kept on well under pressure run in, winning by 2 ¼ l. He gets 16.4 points.

Cheltenham big race preview

With something of a lull in proccedings I thought I would look at the season so far and ahead to some of the big festival races and see if any debate ensues !!

Firstly the Stayers Hurdle. We are obviously guessing at Big Bucks return but he heads the market and 5/ 2 would look very big .if he wins on his come vback. Annie Power is 5/1 along with Solwhit, Reve De Siviola is a good each way price at 14/1, along with Celestial Halo.

Annie Power is the interesting one as she holds entries in the Champion as well, but she looks a strong stayer and could shake Big Bucks up if taking her chance.

The Queen Mother chase is lop sided with Sprinter Sacre at ½ , but that is ridiculous given his current situation. Arvila Liegionairre at 9/1 and Sizing Europe at 14/1 are decent each way shouts.

The Gold Cup is falling apart, and after Bob’s Worth fine win in Ireland he looks a solid favourite at 2/1. Silviniaco Conti at 3/1 is short enough and it’s 7/1 bar those. That brings in Al Ferof, who won’t stay , and Cue Card, same applies, and I doubt either of those will run in it. Boston Bob, at 25/1 is a big each way price in a thin looking race.

The Champion Hurdle looks very open, Hurricane Fly at 3/1 is short enough on his Cheltenham form, with the same price on the New one and 7/2 My Tent or Yours and 7/1 Jezki and 8/1 Our Connor. I would probably just side with My Tent or Yours currently.

Cue Card heads the Ryan Air betting at 2/1 and again injuries leave this looking weaker than usual. First Lieutenat is 5/1, Al Ferof 7/1 Arvika Liegionaire 10/1 and Sizing Europe  an interesting 16/1, but it is hard to look beyond Cue Card.

I  will look at the novice events next week

Points

John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                          January         Total

Peej                      32.8              435.3   

Tony                      00               423.7

Neil                        00                332.6

Martin                    00               252.1

Cliff                       00                245.7

Cod                        16.4              228.3

Steve                         00             149.6

Bob                            00            147.7

News

Irving is to miss the rearranged williamhill.com Levy Board Tolworth Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday and instead wait for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on February 8

Ruby Walsh feels the 7lb allowance Annie Power has against her male counterparts will make her very hard to beat - whether she runs over two miles or three at the Cheltenham Festival

2013/14 Jumps Edition 6 - 2.1.14

Headlines

Conti Is Kempton King

Tent out pegs New One

Irving Scores At Ascot

Reve De Sivola on Long Walk to Cheltenham

Logic Defied at Leopardstown

Hurricane Flies in at Leopardstown

Report

We start at Ascot on 20^th December, where in the 2m grade 2 novice hurdle, Irving (Peej), went to post, held up, hit 2^nd, last after  3 out, but close up, shaken up and progress 2 out, took narrow lead last, left clear, ran on well, winning by 6l. He gets 38. 6 points.

On Saturday in the 3m 1f Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle, Reve De Sivola (Tony), went to post, made all, jumped well generally, not fluent 8^th, clear 3 out, repelled brief challenge 2 out, stayed on well to draw clear approaching last, winning by 10 l. He gets 55.6 points.

At Thurles on Sunday Un De Sceaux ( Bob, Martin, Tony), took his chance in the 2m hurdle, made all, extended advantage and travelling well 4 out, well clear and taking keen hold when mistake last, winning very easily by 28 l. He gets 13.1 points.

On Boxing Day at Kempton, My Tent Or Yours, ( Cod, Martin, Peej, Steve, Tony) went to post in the 2m grade 1 Christmas Hurdle Took keen hold in rear, headway 3 out, soon chasing leader, stayed on well to lead after last, driven out, winning by ½ l. He gets 27.2 points.

In the 3m grade 1 King George V1 Chase, Silviniaco Conti ( Cliff, Peej, Tony), Cue Card ( Martin, Neil, Peej) went to post.

Silviniaco Conti ,Always prominent, hard driven 3 after 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on strongly, winning by 3 ½ l. He gets 55.9 points.

Cue Card, Led, hard driven when strongly challenged after 3 out, headed before last, kept on under pressure, finishing 2^nd beaten 3 ½ l. He gets 12 points.

At Leopardstown, in the 2m 1f grade 1 Novice chase, Defy Logic ( Tony), took his chance, led till headed 5^th, soon back on terms, not fluent 3 out, took lead next and stayed on well from before last, winning by 3 ½ l. He gets 58.4 points.

At Newbury on Saturday, Whisper (Steve), went to post in the 2m 5f handicap hurdle, tracked leader, driven to challenge 2 out, soon led, hit last, , ridden and stayed on strongly run in , winning by 7l, he gets 28.6 points.

At Leopardstown, Bob’s Worh ( All), took his chance in the 3m grade 1 Lexus Chase, tracked leaders, 3rs at ½ way, not fluent 11^th, mistake 3 out, niggled to make headway in to straight, stayed on strogly approaching last, to join issue, ran on well under pressure to lead close home winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 28.4 points.

On Sunday at Leopardstown, Hurricane Fly (Neil, Tony), went to post in the 2m grade 1 Ryanair hurdle, held up at modest early pace, last at ½ way, closed before 2 out, and travelling best to lead narrowly at last, ridden clear and kept on well, winning by 2 ½ l. He gets 26.8 points.

At Punchestown on Tuesday Boston Bob ( Cod), went to post in the 2m 4f hurdle, Tracked leaders, went 3rd 4 out, improved into 2nd travelling well entering straight, led at last, stayed on strongly run-in, winning  comfortably by 10 l , he gets 27.4 points.

Points

John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                          December         Total

Tony                      347.4          423.7

Peej                      268               402.5   

Neil                   130.4                332.6

Martin                  145.6             252.1

Cliff                       139.3           245.7

Cod                        162.51           211.9

Steve                         111          149.6

Bob                            68.3          131.3

  So congratulations to Tony on an outstanding month

News

Flemenstar will not run again this season because of a tendon injury, but connections expect him to return to action next term

Katenko is set to attempt to get his season back on track in the 32Red.com HBLB Handicap Chase on Saturday.