2014/15 Jumps Edition 1 - off and running

Headlines

Corks Pop as Champagne wins at Cheltenham

Baltazhar is Cross Country King Again

Shaneshill in Fairyhouse Stroll

Dan is no Deputy

Report

Martin may have picked up the spoon on the flat but it took just 3 races for him to get off the mark this time as Champagene West went to post in the 2m 4f novice chase, Held up in touch, headway into 2nd 2 out (usual 4 out), led after last (usual 3 out), ridden over 1f out, kept on well , winning by 3 ¼ l. He gets 31.4 points.

In the 3m 7f Cross Country chase, Baltazhar King (Neil, Tony), went to post, In touch led 2nd to 4th, mistake next, led again 15th, mistake 19th, headed 6 out, in touch, regained lead 3 out, ridden last, stayed on gamely flat, winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 16.6 points.

On Saturday at Cheltenham in the 3m novice chase, Kings Palace (Steve), took his chance,

Jumped well , tracked leader led 8^th, clear and going best after 3 out, stayed on well, ridden out run in , winning by 4l . He gets 28.6 points.

In the 2m 4f handicap chase, Johns Spirit (Cliff), went to post, held up towards rear, headway in to mid field after 10^th, went 4^th entering straight, ridden to lead last, caught final strides, finishing 2^nd beaten a head. He gets 24 points.

On Monday at Plumpton in the 2m 4f novice chase, Deputy Dan (Cod), took his chance, Jumped right at times, disputed lead until led 8th, made rest, ridden clear approaching 2 out, kept on flat, winning by 2 ¼ l. He gets 22.8 points

Yesterday at Fairyhouse in the 2m 4f maiden hurdle, Shaneshill ( Bob, Cod, Tony), went to post, Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, 5th after 5th, not fluent 4 out and slight mistake next, 3rd approaching straight, led 2 out, slight mistake last, stayed on well to assert run-in, winning  easily by 4l, he gets 11.4 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

               November        Total

Cod             34.2              34.2

Martin       31.4                31.4

Tony         27.8               27.8

Steve          28.6               28.6

Cliff            24                  24

Neil           16.6                16.6

Bob          11.4                 11.4

News

Gary Moore reports Sire De Grugy to be suffering from a hip problem following a bone scan of the two-mile star  which will keep him on the sidelines for at least the remainder of 2014, ruling out a defence of his Tingle Creek crown.The trainer said: "He's not fractured his pelvis or suffered a stress fracture or anything, but he does have a hot area in his hip.

"He's done some damage to his hip and I don't know if that's good or bad really."What happens now is that he spends the next month on the walker and then he will be rescanned.

Barry Geraghty rides Taquin du Seuil after all nine six-day acceptors were declared in the final field for Saturday's Betfair Chase at Haydock. Both Taquin Du Seuil and Silviniaco Conti will wear cheekpieces for the first time in a bid to aid their concentration.

Last year's winner Cue Card (Daryl Jacob) is towards the head of the market along with Dynaste who chased him home in 2013 and subsequently won the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Willie Mullins is ready to unleash some of his big guns this weekend as the jumps season continues to get into full swing.

The trainer's hopes are headed by Faugheen as the Cheltenham and Punchestown winner makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday

Vautour, another who was successful in novice hurdles at Cheltenham and Punchestown, is to make his fencing debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase at Navan on Sunday.