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."

2017/18 Jumps Issue 14 - The Cheltenham countdown continues

Headlines

Altior Lands Game Spirit Chase

Report

At Newbury on Saturday, Altior  ( Not Cod)made his reappearance in the 2m grade 2 chase , tracked leader, challenged last, pushed ahead on run in , winning comfortably by 4l. He gets 41.3 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    February   Total

Cliff                          83.9          624.4

Martin                     57.4         613.5

Peej                    118.6              560.7

Steve                     57.4           540.64

Tony                    146.1           442.8

Cod                      69.8           388.7

Neil                      83.9        364.6

Bob                    67.8             236.6

News

Henry de Bromhead expects Petit Mouchoir to improve from his fine comeback run behind Footpad at Leopardstown last weekend ahead of a likely rematch at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Petit Mouchoir beat Footpad to claim both the Ryanair Hurdle and the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last season and was also a place ahead of his rival when finishing third in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last March.

Fox Norton looks set to head straight to the Cheltenham Festival after a late setback ruled him out of an intended appearance at Newbury this weekend.

Colin Tizzard's charge chased home Altior in the Grade Two Betfair Exchange Chase last season before going on to finish second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The Dorset-based trainer was keen on a rematch on Saturday, but said: "He wasn't quite right Thursday dinner time. It was the dreaded infection in the foot.

Blaklion will face eight rivals in Saturday's Betfred Grand National Trial Handicap at Haydock.

Seven horses are set to contest Saturday's Betfair Ascot Chase after there were no withdrawals at the final declaration stage.

Nicky Henderson's Top Notch is at the head of the betting for the Grade One feature on the strength of his Peterborough Chase win. He is also a winner at Grade Two level over the same course and distance he faces this weekend.

Waiting Patiently takes his chance for Ruth Jefferson and he is unbeaten in five starts over fences, including a defeat of Tingle Creek scorer Politologue. Dual winner Cue Card, reunited with Paddy Brennan, aims to bounce back to something like his best

2017/18 Jumps Issue 13 - loads of points gained

Headlines

Game Finishes on Top at Sandown

Buveur D’Air lands Sandown Hurdle

Footpad wins Irelands Arkle Chase

Min Wins Dublin Chase

Samcro

Report

We start at Sandown on Saturday where in the 2m listed hurdle, Buveur D’Air ( Cliff, Cod, Martin, Neil, Peej, Steve), took his chance, Made all, quickened clear between last 2, 3 lengths ahead last, rider eased up run-in, shaken up and came quickly clear again final 100 yards, winning by  1 ¾ l. He gets 16.1 points.

In the 3m handicap hurdle, Topofthegame (Peej), went to post, Chased leaders on outside, 2nd going well before 2 out, led and not fluent 2 out, driven and stayed on run-in, all out, winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 61.2 points.

At Leopardstown in the 2m 1f grade 2 chase Min ( Cod, Peej, Tony), took his chance, Soon raced in moderate 3rd, progress to chase leader approaching 3 out, soon closed, travelling smoothly from before straight, led before last, stayed on well to assert run-in, winning easily by 12l . He gets 27.2 points.

On Sunday in the 2m grade 1 novice hurdle, Samcro ( Bob, Cod, Cliff, Neil), took his chance, Soon tracked leaders, 4th after 3rd, closed up travelling smoothly approaching straight, soon on terms, led approaching last, quickly asserted, stayed on well run-in, Winning impressively by 6l. He gets 26.5 points.

In the 2m 1f grade 1 Arkle Chase, Footpad (Tony), went to post, Made all, went on approaching 3 out, slight mistake last, stayed on well run-in, winning by 5l. He gets 77.6 points

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    February   Total

Cliff                          42.6          583.1

Martin                     16.1          572.2

Peej                    77.3              519.4

Steve                     16.1           499.34

Tony                    104.8           401.5

Cod                      69.8           388.7

Neil                      42.6        323.3

Bob                    26.5             195.3

News

Nicky Henderson has confirmed that Altior will make his eagerly-awaited seasonal reappearance at Newbury on Saturday.

Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Might Bite will skip Newbury on Saturday and head straight to the Festival.

Nicky Henderson had been contemplating running the King George winner in the Denman Chase and a possible clash with other Gold Cup-bound horses.

However, Might Bite's part-owner David Minton said: "As far as I was concerned he was never really going to run this weekend, it was just at the back of our minds in case Nicky felt he needed another run. Nicky has basically always been happy to go straight there with him.

Faugheen's owner Rich Ricci is keeping the faith in the 2015 champion hurdler.

Willie Mullins' 10-year-old was beaten in the Irish Champion Hurdle by Supasundae and while it was a big improvement on his effort over Christmas it was still a long way below his brilliant best.

Ricci, though, told The Punter: "I wouldn't write off Faugheen. "I think a bit of sun, better weather and he'll be all right.

"I haven't lost faith. We'll be there on Champion Hurdle day and hopefully he'll be all right."

Connections of Defi Du Seuil remain baffled by his run in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last Saturday.

Last year's leading juvenile hurdler is undergoing tests in a bid to solve the mystery but as yet no reason has been found to explain his lacklustre effort behind Supasundae.

That was his first run since he disappointed on his seasonal reappearance in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot in November when he was found not to be 100 per cent.

"We're still conducting some more tests to see how he is but he seems to be fine," said trainer Philip Hobbs.

"It is still a mystery at this stage. We can't make any plans until we see how we get on over the next few days."

Gordon Elliott is still favouring the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month for Samcro despite his impressive victory over two miles last Sunday.

The two-mile-five-furlong Ballymore had been viewed as his most likely destination, but he also holds entries in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle over three miles as well as the Supreme over two.

He impressed in winning the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last weekend, extending his unbeaten run under Rules to six in the process, but Elliott is still favouring the Ballymore above his other Festival options.

"He's good. He'll go straight to Cheltenham now anyway," Elliott. Told the Punter"Everybody probably knows that the Ballymore is where I'd say he's going to go at the moment. We'll let the horse do the talking and Cheltenham is the plan now."

2017/18 Jumps Issue 12 - loads of points up for grabs this weekend in Ireland

Headlines

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.