2017/18 Jumps Issue 17 - last day Cheltenham double for Ashers

Headlines

Mohaayed stars in County Hurdle

Le Prezien lands Grand Annual

Bite is Mitey in Gold Cup defeat

Report

We start at Cheltenham on Friday where in the 2m 1f handicap hurdle Mohaayed ( Steve), went to post, looked well, raced mid division, headway 3^rd, ridden in 5^th turning in, challenged last, soon led, ran on strongly, winning by 2 ¾ l. He gets 127.8 points.

In the 2m handicap chase, Le Prezien ( Steve), took his chance, looked well, held up, headway 9^th, hampered 3 out, closed on leaders approaching 2 out, switched left between last 2 , went 2^nd before last, stayed on to lead inside last 100 yards, winning by 4 ½ l. He gets 69.4 points.

In the 3m 2f grade 1 Gold Cup Mite Bite ( Bob, Martin, Peej, Steve), took his chance, pressed winner virtually all the way, ridden after 3 out, took narrow advantage 2 out, joined again last by winner, soon ridden kept on well but outstayed winner last 100 yards, 2^nd beaten 4 ½ l. He gets 12 points

I thought this was terrific Gold Cup, the 2 best horses in the race made all, were never challenged and fought out a tremendous finish. Mite Bite in the conditions ran a cracker and certainly went up in my estimation.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    March   Total

Steve                     312  .5        903.14

Cliff                          129.9        807

Martin                     1115.3       790.8

Tony                    256.8             699.6

Peej                    139.3             700

Cod                      102.1           536.6

Neil                      129.9          494.5

Bob                    90.4            397 (I think!)

 News

Alan King will look to get Yanworth back on track at Aintree next month after an under-par effort in the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The Barbury Castle trainer admitted to being disappointed with Yanworth's display in finishing sixth behind Penhill and would hope to have him back to his best for the Liverpool Hurdle, which he won last year.

"I was a bit disappointed, really. He finished quite distressed as well, which isn't like him," said King.

"He knew he'd had a race, but I would be a liar if I wasn't disappointed.

Ben Pauling fears Aintree may come too quickly for Willoughby Court after his star novice chaser missed the Cheltenham Festival due to a setback.

The seven-year-old was successful at the Festival last year and had been one of the leading hopes for the JLT Novices' Chase after winning two of three outings over fences this term.

However, a foot problem saw him ruled out of the Festival at the end of February and Pauling is not certain he will be ready to bid for compensation at Aintree's Grand National meeting, which kicks off on April 12.

He told The Punter: "He's in great form. It was quite a nasty infection in his foot and we'll look at him this week and see where he goes.

"He's sound and much better, but whether or not Aintree might come a bit close is a bit of a worry as we have missed a serious chunk of time now. He's all in one piece and that's just fabulous news.