2018/19 Jumps Issue 11 - Fingers crossed for the weather

Headlines

Frodon Stars in Cotswold Chase

Pym wins at Kempton

Report

We start at Cheltenham on Saturday where in the 3m 1f grade 2 chase Frodon ( Cod), went to post, Jumped well, made all, 3 lengths clear 2 out, reduced lead towards finish, held on gamely, winning by ¾ l. He gets 80.4 points.

At Kempton on Monday in the 2m 5f novice hurdle Pym (Martin, Steve), took his chance, Raced keenly, tracked leaders, led before 2 out, joined 2 out, pressed last, all out, winning by a neck. He gets

11.4 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 January               Total

Steve         96.9                                   577.3

Bob            87                                   509.2

Cliff          169.6                                494.7

Cod         144.6                                  456.4

Peej           73.9                                 453.9

Neil         144.9                                404.7

Martin      152.3                               325.5

Tony          87                                  255.1

The Editor is trainer of the month

News

 Buveur D'Air is firmly on course to bid for a third successive victory in the 888Sport Contenders Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday. Speaking to the punter Nicky Henderson said: "He is going to Sandown on Saturday. Barry (Geraghty) rode him work last Saturday and thought he was great."It's tried and tested route. I don't know who is going to turn up (against him).

Let's just hope the weather holds out."

.Daryl Jacob also spoke to the punter, after Cheltenham on Saturday It was nice to be among the winners at Cheltenham on Saturday but my personal highlight was Terrefort’s run in the BetBright Cotswold Chase.

It’s great to have him back and I loved the way he travelled and jumped through the race. He took me into it very easily and jumping the second last I thought I’d win. He just got a little bit tired from there but realistically it was his first run of the season and he was entitled to need it.

Brewin'Upastorm will head straight to the Cheltenham Festival after emerging unscathed from his final-flight fall at Prestbury Park on Saturday.Olly Murphy's charge made a big impression on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon in December, before finishing fourth behind Champ in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury later in the month.He was a hot favourite to bounce back to winning ways in a trial for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham over the weekend, and was upsides eventual winner Birchdale when he crashed out at the last obstacle.Murphy is pleased to report Brewin'Upastorm is none the worse - and he was encouraged enough by the Milan gelding's performance before his tumble to aim him at the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle itself, for which he is a general 14-1 shot

Kemboy and Road To Respect are among 13 horses still in contention for the Unibet Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday, Bellshill also holds an entry.

In Saturdays Irish Champion hurdle Farclas, Suoersundae and Melon hold entries.

Kim Bailey has reported he is very happy with Vinndication ahead of the 888Sport Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park on Saturday. Lostintranslation and Defi Du Seuil, also hold entries.

Connections of Zhenya tell me she is due to travel over to Ayr next Wednesday where a big run is expected. She made a pleasing debut recently in Ireland, the form of that race looks strong and connections hopes were boosted when her work companion ran very well a few days ago. A small investment at the right price will hopefully pay dividends.

2018/19 Jumps Issue 10 - Three more winners

Headlines

Citizen Rules at Haydock

Altior lands Clarence House chase

Percy lands Galmoy Hurdle

Report

We start at Haydock on Saturday where in the 2m grade 2 hurdle Global Citizen (Cliff), took his chance, Raced keenly, tracked leaders, led after 3rd, made rest, shaken up after 2 out, clear last, ridden out, stayed on well, winning by 3l. He gets 82 points.

At Ascot in the 2m grade 1 Clarence House chase Altior (All) went to post, Tended to jump left, made all, quickened pace from 7th, clear next, went markedly left 4 out, Winning  unchallenged by 9l. He gets 51.1 points.

Today at Gowran Park in the 3m grade 2 hurdle Presenting Percy (Bob, Cliff, Peej, Tony), went to post, Mid-division on outer, 6th halfway, headway 3 out and progress to lead next, pushed along approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in, winning by 1 ¼ l.             He gets 22.8 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 January               Total

Steve         85.5                                   565.9

Bob            87                                   509.2

Cliff          169.6                                494.7

Peej           73.9                                 453.9

Neil         144.9                                404.7

Cod         64.2                                  376

Martin      140.9                               314.1

Tony          87                                  255.1

News

 Silver Streak will try to gain Grade Two honours in the Betway Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on February 16 following a second good run at that level on Saturday.

2018/19 Jumps Issue 9 - Crawling towards Cheltenham

Headlines

Notch Proves He’s still Tops at Kempton

Report

At Kempton on Saturday in the 2m 4f listed chase Top Notch ( Steve), went to post, held up in last pair, closed to go prominent after 9^th, tracked leader 11^th, ridden to lead 2 out, asserted going to last, ran on strongly flat, winning by 5l. He gets 34.4 points

John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 January               Total

Steve         34.4                                   514.8

Bob            13.1                                435.3

Peej           00                                   380

Neil         93.8                                353.6

Cliff          13.1                                338.8

Cod         13.1                                   324.9

Martin      89.8                               263

Tony          13.1                              181.2

News

 Grade Two winner Global Citizen is "70 per cent likely" to take his chance in The New One Unibet Hurdle at Haydock. Speaking to the Punter Ben Pauling said, Saturday's two-mile Grade Two contest, better known as the Champion Hurdle trial, is the ideal test for his seven-year-old - last sighted finishing fourth to Verdana Blue in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. Pauling said: "He hung very badly at Kempton for the last mile. He has never really had that problem before in his life - and he also didn't jump with his usual fluency. "Given that, he ran an absolutely massive race to be only beaten 13 lengths - and I was chuffed to pieces. "We found a little reason why he hung that day, and I hope we have now righted that wrong. "Global Citizen remains at the top of his form. "He did a very smart piece of work this morning, and there is a good possibility we will see him this weekend," added Pauling

Olly Murphy has earmarked the Ballymore Classic Novices' Hurdle on Trials Day at Cheltenham as the next port of call for Brewin'Upastorm.  Murphy told the Punter, He'll go to the Grade Two race over two and a half miles on Trials Day at Cheltenham," said Murphy. "He's in very good form, I think he's come on for his run at Newbury and we're really looking forward to running him."I think you'll see a really improved performance the next time you see him."He came home really strongly and the race wasn't run to suit him at all. I think a truly-run championship race is what he really wants. "I wouldn't be swapping him for too much. I thought, considering it was his second run over hurdles, it was very good."

Road To Respect is set to make a guest appearance with a Leopardstown gallop on Wednesday, before his intended tilt at next month's Unibet Irish Gold Cup.

Altior is one of only four five-day acceptors for the Matchbook Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday. Un De Sceaux will take him on again as well.

Buveur D'Air may yet head straight to Cheltenham without another run as he bids for a third successive victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

2018/19 Jumps Issue 8 - Slow going

Headlines

Neils Nutz Score Again

Laurina trots to Sandown victory

Report

We start at Sandown on Saturday in the 2m 3f mares listed hurdle, where Laurina ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Tony), took her chance, Made all, allowed to stride clear before 4th, hit 6th and reduced lead, went easily clear again before 2 out, winning  hard held by 48l. She gets 13.1 points.

In the 2m grade 1 Tolworth novice hurdle Elixr De Nutz ( Neil) went to post, Mostly jumped slickly, made all, hit 5th, ridden between last 2, driven and stayed on strongly run-in, winning by ½ l He gets 67 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 January               Total

Steve         00                                   480.2

Bob            13.1                                435.3

Peej           00                                   380

Neil         93.8                                353.6

Cliff          13.1                                338.8

Cod         13.1                                   324.9

Martin      89.8                               263

Tony          13.1                              181.2

News

Cheltenham Festival scorer Mister Whitaker is among 37 entries for the Listed Sky Bet Chase (3.15pm) at Doncaster on Saturday, January 26.

Samcro will be given a Unibet Champion Hurdle entry next week but remains "very, very, very doubtful" to turn up at the Festival. Tests were carried out after he failed to fire for the third time this season at Leopardstown over Christmas, but nothing untoward has shown up.

While he is unlikely to run again this season, Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old is set to be given the Festival option just in case. "He'll be kept in the Champion Hurdle in case things go real well. But we're looking at the longer picture," said owner Gigginstown House Stud's racing manager Eddie O'Leary in the Irish Times.

"He is very, very, very doubtful for Cheltenham. He won't be rushed. He'll come back in his own sweet time - and if he doesn't this season, he'll be let off. He was always going to go chasing next season regardless."

White Moon has Warwick novice chase target On Saturday

Waiting Patiently could return to Kempton on Saturday - provided ground conditions are deemed suitable.

2018/19 Jumps Issue 7 - Steve takes trainer of the month honours

Headlines

Kemboy Stars in Savills Chase

Editors Choice Vinndicated

Moon Rises at Exeter

Jarveys Plate wins at Cheltenham

Lost in Translation lands Dipper Chase

Report

We start back at Ascot on 21 st December where Vinndication ( Cliff), went  to post in the 2m 5f novice chase, Reached for 1st, tracked leader, led 7th and mostly jumped well after, headed 12th, led again 4 out, shaken up to assert 2 out, ridden and stayed on stoutly from last, winning  readily by 1 ½ l . He gets 32.8 points.

At Leopardstown on Friday, Kemboy ( Peej) went to post in the 3m grade 1 Savills chase,  held up in mid division, rapid headway near side to lead before 8^th, slight mistake 10^th, joined briefly 2 out, travelling well and narrow advantage last, quickend clear run in , winning by 7 ½ l. He gets 92.6 points.

At Cheltenham on Tuesday, Jarveys Plate ( Martin), went to post in the 2m 4f listed novice hurdle, Held up, headway 3 out, led next, clear last, stayed on strongly, winning impressively by 13l. He gets 52.2 points.

In the 2m 4f grade 2 novice chase, Lostintranslation ( Martin), took his chance, Led until 2 out, switched right on landing last, stayed on well, led again towards finish, winning by 1 ¼ l. He gets 37.6 points.

At Exeter in the 2m 1f beginners chase, White Moon ( Neil), went to post, Made all, slightly hampered by loose horse 4 out, clear after next, winning unchallenged by 4l . He gets 26.8 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

            December     January   Total

Steve         384.9                               480.2

Bob            298.7                              442.2

Peej        317.3                                 380

Cliff          236.4                              325.7

Cod         275.6                                311.8

Neil          153.3             26.8         286.6

Martin         146.4          89.8         263

Tony          156.1                          168.1

Congratulations to Steve who is December trainer of the month

News

Tornado Flyer is likely to head Willie Mullins' assault on the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle as he bids for an eighth win in the Grade One at the County Kildare course on Sunday. Commandr of Fleet also holds an entry

Nicky Henderson is still at a loss to explain Might Bite's lacklustre effort in the King George VI Chase at Kempton. Henderson said: "He is fine and I can't tell you any more as I don't know any more. He had an exercise on Monday and Toby (Lawes, assistant trainer) rode him out.

"We can't find anything and they (results) were all right. We are considering dozens of things as there is something not right, that is fair to say. Where we find it, goodness only knows.

Altior will face a maximum of eight rivals if taking up his entry in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 19.