2019/20 Jumps Issue 3 - We're all off and running

Headlines

Lostintranslation lands Lancashire Chase

Cyrname floors Altior At Ascot

If The Cap Fits Lands Ascot Hurdle

Laurina stars at Gowran Park

Asterion Forlonge scores at Thurles

Footpad is Foot perfect At Thurles

Report

We start last Thursday at Thurles, where in the 2m 5f listed chase, Footpad ( Tony ), went to post, Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, closer 8th, slight mistake 3 out and soon led, travelled well next and drew 4 lengths clear before last, kept on well, winning very easily by 10l. He gets 33.2 points.

In the 2m bumper Asterion Forlonge (Neil), took his chance, Mid-division, 8th halfway, headway on outer under 4f out and led entering straight, pushed along and joined over 1f out, soon ridden and led again 150 yards out, kept on well close home, winning by ¾ l. He gets 22.6 points.

At Haydock in the 3m 1f Grade 1 Lancashire Chase, Lostintranslation ( Cliff, Martin, Neil), took his chance, Jumped well, patiently ridden, held up off the pace in rear, smooth headway and jumped into 2nd 4 out, poised to challenge next, hit and shaken up after 2 out, led last, ridden out, stayed on well, winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 53.8 points.

At Ascot in the 2m 5f grade 2 chase, Cyrname (Peej, Steve, Tony), went to post, Made all, jumped well, driven 2 out, ran on well, winning by 2 ¼ l. He gets 30.8 points.

At Gowran Park in the 2m 4f novice chase, Laurina ( Bob, Cod, Tony), took her chance, Tracked leaders, jumped well, 2nd 4 out, improved to lead travelling well 3 out, went clear before last, stayed on strongly run-in, eased, winning impressively by 8l. She gets 11.2 points.

On Sunday at Navan in the 2m 4f  grade 3 novice hurdle, Fury Road (Bob), went to post, made all went on 3 out, stayed on well winning very easily by 10l. He gets 42.2 points.

Yesterday at Wetherby in the 2m novice hurdle, Ribble Valley ( Peej), went to post, Chased leaders on inside, 2nd after 4 out, led next, clear 2 out, stayed on strongly, winning by 11l. He gets 25.2 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                 November                     Total

Tony         140.8                        140.8

Steve        139.8                    139.8

Bob         127.6                           127.6

Peej         82.8                        82.8

Martin    76.4                     76.4

Neil         76.4                        76.4

Cliff          53.8                      53.8

Cod          33.8                       33.8

News

Honeysuckle will put her unbeaten record and lofty reputation on the line in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Successful on her only start in the point-to-point field, Henry de Bromhead's mare has since won each of her five starts under rules with the minimum of fuss.

Nicky Henderson has announced it will be at least a fortnight before a decision is made whether Altior will run in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The Seven Barrows trainer plans to wait and see how his brilliant two-miler recovers from his first defeat in 20 starts at Ascot on Saturday.

Cyrname took the prized scalp of the dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero in the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot.

Henderson believes it was the soft ground that found out Altior on his seasonal debut rather than the step up in distance to two miles and five furlongs.

He said: "He is 100 per cent. There will be no decision made for at least two weeks whether he comes to Kempton for the King George.

"I remember when he won the Champion Chase, and he hadn't recovered in time to go to Aintree - and that was four weeks later.

"If he is not ready for the King George then we will have to find another race for him. He will tell us what we are going to do. It is 100 per cent about him at the end of the day.

Buveur D'Air will face a maximum of six rivals when he bids for a third victory in the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Buveur D'Air's chief threat appears to be the Evan Williams-trained Silver Streak. The grey finished third in last season's Champion Hurdle - in which Buveur D'Air was an early faller - and made a winning reappearance at Kempton last month.

Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo is likely to follow the route that was so successful for him last season - and bid for another triumph in the Savills Chase at Tramore on his reappearance.

The Listed contest, over two miles five and a half furlongs on January 1, was the seven-year-old's only run before his Cheltenham glory - and trainer Willie Mullins is inclined to stick to that tried-and-tested path.

Henry de Bromhead plans to step Minella Indo up to Grade One level at Leopardstown on his next start, despite defeat on his chasing debut at Gowran Park.

A surprise winner of the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival in March, Minella Indo went on to prove that effort was no fluke when doubling his Grade One tally at Punchestown in the spring.

He made his first start over the larger obstacles on Saturday - and while he was ultimately no match for the Willie Mullins-trained mare Laurina over two and a half miles, the six-year-old was far from disgraced in finishing second.

Kemboy is eligible to race again, after Horse Racing Ireland announced it will accept entries for the Cheltenham Gold Cup contender and six other horses formerly owned by the Supreme Horse Racing Club.

HRI has agreed registrations from a new ownership syndicate, for 7 horses previously under the Supreme racing banner.