Royal Strikes in Lightning Chase,
Apple still unblemished
after Cheltenham win
Report
At Cheltenham on Saturday in the 2m juvenile
hurdle Apples Shakira ( Steve),
took her chance, Held up in touch, tracked
leaders after 2nd, went 2nd before 2 out, driven to challenge approaching last,
led flat, ridden clear final 150 yards, stayed on well, winning by 8l. She gets 32.2
points.
At Doncaster in the 2m novice chase, Sceau Royal ( Cliff_) went to post, Tracked leaders in 3rd, headway before 3 out, chased
leader before 2 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on well run-in, winning
by 2l. He gets 32.6 points.
The John Torpey Memorial Trophy
January Total
Martin 126 556.1
Cliff 101 540.5
Steve 123.6 483.24
Peej
51.2 441.9
Cod
318.9
Tony 104
297.7
Neil
17 280.7
Bob
56.6
168.8
Congratulations to Martin who is trainer of the month
News
Nicky
Henderson was left purring after Altior reportedly dazzled in a
workout in Lambourn at the weekend.
The brilliant eight-year-old has not
raced this season after having undergone breathing surgery in December.
But his trainer is now considering
running him in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday week as he builds
up towards a potential assault on the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham
Festival
Henderson told the Punter: "He
was very, very impressive - brilliant. He moved sweetly, didn't take a blow and
he didn't make any noises. I was very pleased. It was absolutely excellent - as
good as ever.
"If it was very soft at Newbury,
he'd be very unlikely to run in the Game Spirit, but if it was very good,
there's a distinct possibility that he will."
Nigel
Twiston-Davies will give Bristol De Mai a thorough check-up after his
disappointing display at Cheltenham on Saturday.
The grey could still end up running
in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Festival in March, but his trainer will also
consider the Grand National at Aintree in April.
Twiston-Davies told the Punter:
"He was very disappointing. We'll do some tests on him but he could still
run in the Gold Cup, and he'll get an entry in the National."
Leading
owner Rich Ricci is leaning towards retiring his brilliant racemare Vroum Vroum Mag.
The Willie Mullins-trained
nine-year-old has won 14 of her 21 starts under rules, enjoying top-level
triumphs in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Punchestown Champion Hurdle
and the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in 2016.
However, she as not been seen in
competitive action since finishing outside the first three for the first time
when bidding for a second Punchestown Champion Hurdle success last April and
Ricci does not want to jeopardise her future career as a broodmare.
Ricci told the punter: "She is
still in training. She got hurt last year at Punchestown and she has been off
for a while.
"She is nine and we keep talking
about whether we should run her or put her in foal and retire her. I'm in two
minds and we will probably just keep her on the go and see what happens.
"If the Mares' Hurdle was to
shake up and a few fell away we might consider it, but at the moment I'm
leaning towards retiring her.
Faugheen will
face seven rivals in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at
Leopardstown on Saturday.
Faugheen is joined in the field by stablemates Melon and Bapaume.
British hopes rest with Philip Hobbs' Defi Du Seuil
Randox Health Grand National favourite Blaklion is
set to bypass the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup in favour of a prep run at
Haydock.
Footpad is the
potential star among just five runners in Saturday's Frank Ward Solicitors
Irish Arkle at Leopardstown.
Just behind the very best hurdlers on
a number of occasions last season, Willie Mullins' six-year-old has not put a
foot wrong in two outings over fences this term and is already a strong
favourite for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March.
He faces Henry de Bromhead's Petit Mouchoir, winner of
last year's Irish Champion Hurdle and a victor on his chasing debut in
October, although he has been off the track with a problem since that outing.
Gordon Elliott rates Samcro as
his best chance of a winner at the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival at
Leopardstown this weekend.
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