2014/15 Jumps Edition 13 - the winners keep coming

Headlines

Succes for Balder at Ascot

Wood is Very Good at Navan

Champagne Fever building for Chltenham

Chapel Hall scores at Fontwell

Report

We start at Fontwell last Thursday where in the 1m 6f bumper, Chapel Hall ( Martin) took his chance, tracked leaders, squeezed up on bend after 7f , ridden to lead 2 out, stayed n to assert close home, winning by 2l. He gets 24.2 points.

At Ascot on Saturday in the 2m 5f grade 1 Ascot Chase, Balder Succes ( Peej, Steve, Tony), took his chance, held up in rear, but in touch, joined leaders 12^th, led after next 2l clear 2 out, ridden before last, driven out, winning by 3 1/4l. He gets 29 points.

He now heads to the Ryan air but has a shocking record at Cheltenham

At Gowran Park in the 2m 4f grade 2 chase Champagne Fever ( Neil, Peej, Tony) went to post, held up behind leaders, took closer order approaching 3^rd, raced keenly, led from 9^th, travelling strongly 3 out, eased clear approaching 2 out, in command when steadied last, winning easily by 4 ½ l. He gets 21.4 points.

On Sunday at Navan in the 3m grade 2 novice chase, Very Wood (Peej), took his chance, tracked leaders, disputed lead from 7^th, led from 8^th, headed 10^th, not fluent 11^th, jumped right 12^th, regained lead 2out, going beat approaching last, soon clear and kept on well run in , winning by 4 ½ l. He gets 52 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                   February     Total

Tony          123.7              544.9

Lee                                  429.8

Cliff           23.6              427.9

Neil            66.9              367.5

Peej            102.4            329.1

Steve          64                 297.1

Martin         24.2             294.7

Cod           13.3               254.5

Bob            13.5              243.7

News

Sire De Grugy is set to have a second prep run for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Chepstow on Saturday

Paul Nicholls believes he has Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Silviniaco Conti at the "top of his form".    Road To Riches is set to have a workout at the weekend as his preparation for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup reaches fever pitch.

2014/15 Jumps Edition 12 - latest

Headlines

Valtat is Vibrant at Warwick

Apache slays rivals in Ireland

Kings Palace scores at Newbury

Southfield Theatre wins at Exeter

Holywell on Gold Cup trail

Report

We start at Warwick last Saturday where in the 2m grade 2 novice chase, Vibrato Valtat (Neil)went to post, tracked leaders, going well, went 2^nd after 8^th, led on bit after 2 out, cruised clear flat, winning impressively by 4 ½ l.  He will test UnDe Sceaux in the Arkle . He gets 33 points.

At Kempton Kings Palace (Steve), took his chance in the 3m novice chase, made virtually all, jumped slowly 10^th, blundered and joined 3 out, came back on bridle and well on top run in winning cleverly by 1l. He gets 22.2 points.

On Sunday at Exeter in the 2m 3 f novice chase, Southfield Theatre (Cliff), took his chance, jumped well, made all, ridden after 2 out, ran on well, ridden out, winning by 2 ¾ l. He is a solid each way bet for the RSA. He gets 23.6 points.

At Leopardstown, in the 2m 5f grade 1 novice chase Apache Stronghold ( Tony), went to post, waited with in rear, mistake when mid field 8^th, headway from 3 out, ridden to challenge before last, led narrowly run in, kept on well to retain narrow advantage, all out winning by ½ l. He would also be a player in the RSA if taking his chance. He gets 60 points.

Today at Kelso Holywell ( Cod, Steve, Tony) went to post in the 3m 2f chase, Made all, clear before 4 out, winning easily by 25 l. He gets 13.3 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                   February     Total

Tony          73.3              494.5

Lee                                  429.8

Cliff           23.6              427.9

Neil            45.5             346.1

Martin                            270.5

Steve          35.5               268.1

Cod           13.3               254.5

Bob            13.5              243.7

Peej                                 226.7

Congratulations to Lee who was January trainer of the month

News.

Noel Meade has confirmed the JLT Novices' Chase as the intended Cheltenham Festival target for Apache Stronghold following his thrilling triumph at Leopardstown on Sunday

Shutthefrontdoor is being trained for the Crabbie's Grand National after being taken out of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup following the latest forfeit stage

Connections of More Of That will not make an immediate decision on whether Jonjo O'Neill's charge will defend his crown in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after he was found to have bled following a workout on Wednesday morning

2014/15 Jumps Edition 11 - A quiet week

Headlines

Hargam Lands Triumph Trial

Report

At Musselburgh last Sunday Hargam ( Bob, Neil), took his chance in the 2m listed hurdle, prominent., not fluent first, smooth headway to lead 2 out, quickend clear on bridle run in, winning readily by 6l. He gets 13.5 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

               January     February     Total

Lee            126.4                           429.8

Tony           61.9                           421.2

Cliff            112.8                        404.3

Neil           26.1         13.5           313.1

Martin       26.1                           270.5

Bob          103.7        13.5           243.7

Cod           72.6                           241.2

Steve          54.1                          232.6

Peej          85.6                             226.7

Congratulations to Lee who was January trainer of the month

News.

Irving will attempt to throw his hat back into the ring for the Stan James Champion Hurdle when he runs at Wincanton, a week on Saturday in the Kingwell,. If it all goes well it will then be all systems go for the Champion Hurdle."

Irving's price for the Champion Hurdle ranges from 25-1 to 40-1 with the sponsors.

The Tullow Tank will bid to redeem his reputation in Sunday's Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Josses Hill bids to further his claims for top honours at the Cheltenham Festival next month when he lines-up for the Racing UK 1 Price 3 Devices Graduation Chase at Kempton on Friday

Sign Of A Victory has been given the go ahead to carry top weight in Saturday's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, for which a full field of 24 are set to go to post

JONJO O'NEILL has ruled Betfred Gold Cup contender Holywell out of Saturday's Denman Chase, due to the unsuitability of the ground at Newbury, but has given go-ahead for fellow Cheltenham Festival winner Taquin Du Seuil to line up in the Betfair-backed Grade 2.

The punter also understands that Dynaste misses the rest of the season having sustained an injury

2014/15 Jumps Edition 10 - Half the table trying to avoid the spoon

Headlines

Saphir Sparkles at Cheltenham

UnDe Sceaux Impressive at

Clouds Clear at Cheltenham

Report

We start at Cheltenham last Saturday where in the 3m 1f grade 2 chase, Many Clouds ( Cod, Lee), took his chance, soon disputing lead, led from 14^th, ridden when challenged 2 out, stayed on very gamely from last, edged right towards finish , driven  out, winning by 1 ¼ l. He gets 29.8 points.

In the 3m grade 2 hurdle Saphir Du Rheu ( Bob, Cliff, Lee), went to post, tracked leaders, travelling well in close 2^nd after 2 out, ridden after last, led entering last 100 yards, driven out, winning by a neck. He gets 28.7 points.

At Leopardstown on Sunday Un De Sceaux ( Cod, Peej), took his chance in the 2m 1f grade 1 Arkle Novice Chase, made all 2l clear 3 out, pressed closely 2 out, still travelling well in lead approaching last, pushed clear run in , winning impressively by 15 l. He gets 26.6 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

               January      Total

Lee            126.4          429.8

Tony           61.9          421.2

Cliff            112.8         404.3

Neil           26.1           299.6

Martin       26.1          270.5

Cod           72.6          241.2

Steve          54.1         232.6

Bob          103.7        230.2

Peej          85.6           226.7

News.

Al Ferof's next planned appearance in the Betfair Ascot Chase is set to determine his Cheltenham Festival target, according to owner John Hales.

Paul Nicholls' grey still holds entries in the Gold Cup, the Ryanair Chase and the Queen Mother Champion Chase, for which he is the shortest price of all three races in the ante-post betting.

But Hales wants to assess Al Ferof's next performance before thoughts turn to the Festival in March.

He told the punter: "Al Ferof is very well and is going to Ascot on February 14.

"He's in the three races at Cheltenham, but we'll probably have a better idea about where we stand after Ascot. Circumstances can change so it's not something that we can rush into."

Salsify, the 2013 Foxhunter Chase winner, could be in line for a popular return to Cheltenham in March Rodger Sweeney's prolific 10-year-old has been sidelined since December 2013 because of injury but has been earmarked for an imminent comeback.

Salsify is due to contest the Raymond Smith Memorial Hunters Chase - a race he won between 2012-13 - at Leopardstown on Sunday week, after which he will be geared up for the Foxhunter.

Nicky Henderson can see no reason why Sprinter Sacre should not improve on his comeback effort in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot. You saw what he did at Ascot. That was all right. He's only got to come along from there, then we will be happy," said Henderson.