2017/18 Jumps Issue 15 - very tight at the top

Headlines

Patiently Does It Ascot

Elgin Lands Kingwell Hurdle

Our Duke Lands Red Mills Chase

Report

We start at Ascot on Saturday where in the 2m 5f grade 1 Ascot Chase, Waiting Patiently ( Bob, Cliff), went to post, Patiently ridden in last pair, not fluent 6th, headway into 2nd 3 out, rider delayed challenge until produced to lead approaching and hit last, clear when hung right and idled run-in, stayed on, winning by 2 ¾ l. He gets 52.7 points.

At Wincanton in the 2m grade 2 hurdle Elgin (Martin), took his chance, Held up off the pace, went 3rd after 3rd, closed on leader after 3 out, led before next, clear when jumped right and not fluent last, edged left flat, driven out, ran on winning by 2 ½ l. He gets 62 points.

At Gowran Park, Our Duke ( Cod), went to post, Led and disputed, bad mistake in lead 4 out, pressed 3 out and soon ridden, jumped slightly left 2 out and joined, kept on best from last and edged ahead run-in, winning by 1l. He gets 45.8 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    February   Total

Cliff                          136.6          677.1

Martin                     119.4         675.5

Peej                    118.6              560.7

Steve                     57.4           540.64

Tony                    146.1           442.8

Cod                      115.6           434.5

Neil                      83.9            364.6

Bob                    120.5             289.3

News

Ruth Jefferson reiterated Waiting Patiently is far from certain to line up at next month's Cheltenham Festival the morning after his emotional success in the Ascot Chase. "It was only the ninth run of his life on Saturday and he's only seven, which is why we're probably the only ones not that bothered about Cheltenham,"  Ruth Jefferson told the punter "We're not going to tie ourselves down to anything at the moment. We'll see how he is and what the ground is like at the confirmation stage and go from there.

"He only ran three times last season and he's not a horse who puts on weight quickly after he runs.

"There's also just a slight suspicion that he's better on flatter tracks and there's no hiding place at Cheltenham. I'm not saying we'll never go there, but if we're not 100 per cent happy we won't go."

Nigel Twiston-Davies reports Blaklion to be none the worse for his exhausting run at Haydock and to be heading straight for the Randox Health Grand National.

Bristol De Mai will bid to get his season back on track in the Premier Chase at Kelso on Saturday week.

Gary Moore has decided against running Benatar this weekend and will instead send his exciting novice chaser straight to next month's Cheltenham Festival. Moore told the punter: "We've decided we're going to go straight to Cheltenham. He's a horse who likes a bit of time between his races and we just felt it was getting a bit close. That (JLT Novices' Chase) is the plan."