2015/16 Jumps Issue 6 - pre-Christmas situation

Headlines

Mercurey rises to top at Ascot

Vic rubs it in zat Fairyhouse

Allblak flattens rivals

Vroum Vroum roars home at Clonmel

Report

We start at Ascot last Friday where in the 2m 5f novice chase Le Mercurey ( Lee), went to post, held up in close touch, not fluent 11^th, progress to chase leader next, ridden after 3 out, keeping on but 2l down when left in lead last, driven out flat winning by 6l. He gets 37 points.

At Fairyhouse on Saturday, Killultagh Vic (Peej), took his chance in the 2m beginners chase, chased leaders, jumped left 5^th, led narrowly next, extended advantage before 4 out, still travelling well and eased clear before 2 out, winning easily by 15 l . He gets 23.2 points.

In the 2m3y  maiden hurdle, Allblak Des Places ( Neil), went to post, tracked leader in 2^nd, till led narrowly 1^st, slight mistake 4^th, still going best when joined briefly before last, where left in front, kept on well run in to win by 1 ¾ l. He gets 22.6 points.

At Clonmel on Tuesday in the 2 m mares hurdle Vroum Vroum Mag ( Cod), took her chance, Chased leader, 3rd halfway, improved to lead after 3 out, eased clear before last, not extended, winning by 3l. She gets 26.2 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                      December       Total

Neil                   103.4             356.2

Bob                   77.5              229

Peej                   99.5              161.2

Cliff                   22.4             148.1

Cod                    53.1             145.1

Lee                     65.4            141.2

Tony                 33                  140.3

Martin                00                87.8

Steve                  00                66.6

News

Faugheen will try to repair his reputation in the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day

The New One was narrowly beaten in this race two years ago by My Tent Or Yours but will be without regular partner Sam Twiston-Davies.

Despite the horse being trained by his father, Nigel, the jockey rides Old Guard for his boss, Paul Nicholls.

"It was an impossible situation for Sam, really," said Twiston-Davies, who has booked Noel Fehily

Douvan stars in a small but select field for the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Unbeaten since arriving at Willie Mullins' yard from France, the five-year-old struck twice at the top table during his novice hurdle campaign and gave every indication he can rise to that sort of level over the larger obstacles when successful on his first crack at fences at Navan.

Henry de Bromhead's Sizing John heads the opposition and arguably sets the standard over fences thanks to last month's triumph in the Craddockstown Novice Chase, but he was put firmly in his place by Douvan on no less than three occasions last term

I wish you all a happy Christmas and lucky boxing day