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Thursday, 7 February 2019

2018/19 Jumps Issue 12 - Quite a shake-up in the table

Headlines

Buveur D’Air lands Contenders hurdle
Defi runs rivals Scilly at Sandown
Bellshill lands Irish Gold Cup
Fleet Footed Commander to quick for Rivals
Min lands Dublin Chase

Report

We start at Sandown on Saturday where in the 2m listed hurdle Buveur D’Air ( Not Cliff), went to post, Tracked leader 1st, left in lead on long run before 3rd, steadied into 2nd place 3 out, led on bit 2 out, quickened clear from the last, not extended, winning by 2l. He gets 16.1 points.

In the 2m 4f grade 1 Scilly Isle novice chase, Defi Du Seul ( Bob) took his chance, Tracked leading pair, went 2nd approaching 7th, over-jumped 12th, travelling well approaching 2 out, upsides last, ridden to lead run-in, driven and stayed on, winning by ¾ l. He gets 83.6 points.


At Leopardstown in the 2m grade 1 novice hurdle, Commander of Fleet ( Bob, Cliff, Peej, Tony), went to post, Waited with, 10th after 6th, soon progress to chase leaders, slight mistake 8th, challenged from before final hurdle, soon on terms, led inside final furlong and kept on well winning by ½ l. He gets 32.5 points.

In the 3m grade 1 Irish Gold Cup Bellshill ( Tony), Road To Respect ( Tony), took their chances.

Bellshill, Led, mistake 7th, headed 9th, disputed briefly again next, disputed lead 3 out, headed entering straight, pushed along in 2nd approaching last, ridden at last, improved to dispute lead close home, led last strides, winning by a short head . He gets 79.2 points

Road To Respect Tracked leader in 2nd, jumped left at 1st, mistake at 7th, led 9th, mistake next and joined briefly next, joined 3 out, pushed along and led entering straight, ridden at last, strongly pressed and joined close home, headed and no extra last strides, beaten a short head. He gets 24 points.

In the 2m 1f grade 1 Dublin Chase Min ( Peej, Tony), took his chance, Raced in 4th, left in 3rd approaching 1st where left 2nd and slightly impeded, closed travelling smoothly from final fence, led over 1f out, quickly asserted, stayed on well, winning easily by 6l. He gets 26.3 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 February              Total
Bob            132.2                             641.4
Steve         16.1                                 593.4
Peej           74.9                                528.8
Cliff          32.5                                527.2
Cod         16.1                               472.5
Tony      178.1                                          433.5
Neil         16.1                                420.8
Martin      16.1                            341.6

News
 Willie Mullins is at a loss to explain Melon's two disappointing runs this season.Beaten just a neck in the Champion Hurdle by Buveur D'Air last March, he was only fourth on his comeback behind stablemate Sharjah at Christmas but was over 20 lengths behind Apple's Jade at Leopardstown on Saturday."He was disappointing. He was never going and I can't find anything wrong with him. That's two bad runs now for no apparent reason," said Mullins.
"We've changed a lot of things with him at home and worked him differently."I wonder at this stage does he need to go out in trip or is he looking for a fence."I think he's still not in form. His homework looks good but his racetrack work doesn't. Maybe it's ground, maybe he's better on much softer, we'll see.

Paul Nicholls believes Clan Des Obeaux will improve for his run in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday. Speaking to the Punter Paul said He schooled this morning and jumped well, I'm looking forward to running him," . "I didn't really want to get into a scrap with Native River, but there are not many options for him. Paul also told The Punter "Topofthegame will go straight to the RSA. His form is red hot now. He finished second to Defi Du Seuil giving him the best part of 30 lengths at Exeter. Harry (Cobden) said he half-committed soon enough at Kempton and he fell apart.

"He is a smart horse and he will go straight there. I will keep him fresh and well and give him a couple of gallops and he will be fine. I think he does want to be fresh and he is a big, rangy horse that doesn't want a hard race beforehand.

Kalashnikov is on course for the Agetur UK Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick on Saturday with eight entries were revealed after the race was reopened.

Un De Sceaux heads 11 entries for the Betfair Exchange Chase at Newbury on Saturday. Waiting Patiently also holds an entry

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