2016/17 Jumps Issue 21 - Extra congratulations to Neil

Headlines

Our ValentinaWins at Navan

Ballycasey Lands Fairyhouse chase

Report

We start at Navan on Saturday where in the 2m mares maiden hurdle, Our Valentina (Neil), took her chance, chased leaders, not fluent 3^rd, risen in 4^th after 2 out, not much room on inner behind leaders in 3^rd approaching last, stayed on well to lead close home, winning by ½ l. She gets 27 points.

And extra congratulations as Neil has a share in this mare.

On Sunday at Fairyhouse in the 2m 1f grade 2 chase, Ballycasey ( Neil), went to post, led for most, till joined after 7^th, briefly headed , regained advantage 5 out, still going well 2 out, ridden and reduced advantage run in, held on well winning by ½ l. He gets 35 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

              April          Total

Lee                  00                 928.4

Micky              00                 852.9

Martin             00               838.5

Steve                 00               829.7

Peej                 00               826.9

Tony                00              814.2

Neil                 62              760.6

Cod                 00               697.1

Cliff                00                694

Bob                  00              569.3

Congratulations to Peej who was March trainer of the month

News

Last year's winner Cue Card heads a field of seven declared for the Betway Bowl at Aintree on Thursday.

The Colin Tizzard-trained 11-year-old bids for a 10th Grade One win on the back of a fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He came down at the third-last, just as he had done 12 months previously.

He bounced back that time to beat Don Poli by nine lengths at Liverpool and will try to do the same again.

His rivals include the Paul Nicholls-trained Silviniaco Conti, who will attempt to land this prize for a third time after coming out on top in 2014 and 2015.

Other Gold Cup also rans seeking redemption are Nigel Twiston-Davies's Bristol De Mai (seventh), Alan King's Smad Place (eighth) and Tea For Two, who unseated Lizzie Kelly at the second fence.

Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D'Air will face just five rivals when he bids to follow up in the Betway Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

Already a course winner having landed the Top Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago, Nicky Henderson's six-year-old kicked off this season over fences, winning at Haydock and Warwick.

However, Henderson saw an opening in the two-mile hurdling division and after a warm-up victory at Sandown, the JP McManus-owned gelding provided his trainer with a record sixth victory in the Champion Hurdle with a tremendous display at Cheltenham just over three weeks ago.

He steps up to two and a half miles on his return to Merseyside and is reopposed by his stable companion and fellow McManus runner My Tent Or Yours