2017/18 Jumps Issue 10 - 52 days to Cheltenham

Headlines

Henry Stars in Lanzarote

Patience is rewarded at Kempton

Report

At Kempton on Saturday in the 2m 4f listed chase, Waiting Patiently, (Bob, Cliff), went to post, Waited with in 5th place, smooth headway on inside before 3 out, 2nd going well before 2 out, led 2 out, quickened clear before last, winning  impressively by 8l. He gets 17.2 points

In the 2m listed handicap hurdle, William Henry ( Steve), took his chance, Chased leaders on inside led and went right last, stayed on strongly run-in, ridden out, won with bit in hand by 9l. He gets 74.4 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    January    Total

Martin                       83           513.1

Cliff                          17.2         456.7

Steve                     91.4              451.04

Peej                                          390.7

Cod                                          318.9

Neil                      17               280.7

Tony                    52.8             246.5

Bob                    56.6              168.8

News

Gordon Elliott's exciting prospect Samcro is set to be kept to novice company this season despite being entered in the BHP Irish Champion Hurdle.

The unbeaten six-year-old will instead run in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival, taking place at Leopardstown on February 3 and 4.

Samcro took part in a public gallop at the track on Tuesday morning. 

"I was speaking to Gordon this morning and he said he was leaning toward this race (Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle) with Samcro," said Davy Condon, Elliott's assistant. "He did a nice bit of work this morning over a mile and a half and he seems in really good form.

Buveur D'Air and Defi Du Seuil are possible opponents for Faugheen, in the Irish Champion hurdle, although Nicky Henderson has indicated Sandown's Contenders Hurdle is a more likely target for the current champion Buveur D'Air.

Douvan is back in light training but Willie Mullins believes it is too early to say whether the star two-mile chaser will run this season.

William Henry is likely to run in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, said his owner Dai Walters.

Nicky Henderson's eight-year-old was a fine winner of the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday, for which he has gone up 6lb in the handicap.

Walters won the Coral Cup with Whisper in 2014 and is happy to try for a repeat success with William Henry.

He told The Punter: "He did really well in the Lanzarote and we were very happy with him. "We'll probably keep him hurdling this season and go back chasing next year. I've not really had chance to speak to Nicky, but he will most probably go down the same road as Whisper at Cheltenham."