2016/17 Jumps Issue 19 - The power of Mullins boosts Tony

Headlines

Fire Burns off Rivals at Cheltenham

Cultivator grows Martins Total

Clan Des Obeaux wins at Exeter

Report

We start at Cheltenham last Friday where in the 2m 1f handicap hurdle, Arctic Fire (Tony), went to post held up towards rear, came wide on home turn, good headway on stands side rails approaching last, ran on strongly to lead close home, driven out, winning by a neck. He gets 151.8 points.

In the 3m 2f grade 1 Gold Cup Chase Minella Rocco ( Peej), took his chance, held up , out paced 3 out, headway between last 2, went 4^th after last, finished strongly and snatched 2^nd close home, beaten 2¾ l. He gets 24 points.

On Saturday at Kempton in the 2m 5f novice hurdle, Cultivator ( Martin), went to post, took keen hold, held up in touch, tracked leaders after 4^th, went 2^nd 3 out, upsides leader 2 out, led last, soon ridden, kept on and just held on, winning by a head, he gets 22.8 points.

At Exeter on Tuesday in the 2m 3f novice chase, Clan Des Obeaux ( Steve) took his chance, Tracked leader, challenged 4 out, shaken after 3 out, ridden to lead before last, edged left and went clear flat, winning by 11l. He gets 22.6 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

              March          Total

Lee                  191.2                 928.4

Tony                328.2             864.2

Micky              80.5                 852.9

Martin             186.6               838.5

Steve                 130.3               829.7

Peej                 287.1             826.9

Cod                 166.7            697.1

Cliff                113                694

Neil                 51.2                652.8

Bob                  78.6              569.3

News

"Ante-post favourite Minella Rocco was ruled out of the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree at Tuesday's forfeit stage but trainer Jonjo O'Neill is looking forward to running More Of That.

Kim Bailey has told the punter that Charbel is none the worse for his heavy fall two fences from the finish in last week’s Racing Post Arkle. The trainer said “I’m happy with Charbel, he’s been cantering all week. We haven’t schooled him yet, we’ll do that next week, and then we’ll make a decision where to go with him next.

“The horse has taken the race remarkably well, he looks fantastically well, I’m happy, but it was an unlucky day really.

Yorkhill is the headline act among 24 entries for the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on April 16. Other contenders include the Gordon Elliott-trained Ball D’Arc, Paul Nicholls has entered Frodon

Enda Bolger is hoping a return to the Aintree fences will help On The Fringe bounce back to winning form after he was beaten at Cheltenham last week. He has won Aintree's Randox Health Foxhunters' Chase for the past two seasons and his trainer is looking forward to him returning to Merseyside, for which he is one of 38 entries.