Honeysuckle Blooms as Irish Champion Hurdler
Chacun Pour Soi Lands Dublin Chase
Asterion Forlange takes Chanelle Pharma hurdle
Shishkin stars in Sydney Banks hurdle
Sempo has winning Tempo at Thurles
Report
We start at Leopardstown last Saturday, where in the 2m grade 1 Irish Champion hurdle Honeysuckle ( Cliff, Tony), took her chance, Tracked leaders on outer, took keen hold early and soon 2nd, not fluent at 2nd, travelling well entering straight, led before last, ridden and joined briefly after last, rallied to lead inside final furlong, pressed close home, kept on well, winning by 2l. She gets 51.5 points.
In the 2m 1f Dublin Chase, Chacun Pour Soi ( Cod, Neil, Tony), went to post, Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd at 6th, improved to dispute lead travelling well 2 out, soon led, ridden clear before last, slight mistake at last, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, winning by 3 ¾ l. He gets 27 points.
On Sunday in the 2m Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle Asterion Forlange ( Neil), went to post, Led, jumped slightly right, joined from 3rd, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, led entering straight, clear at last, stayed on well run in, winning by 9 ½ l. He gets 59.4 points.
Today at Huntingdon in the 2m 3f listed hurdle Shishkin ( Cliff), went top post, Tracked leaders, led 2 out, clear before last, ran on strongly, winning by 11l. He gets 32.6 points.
At Thurles in the 2m 6f maiden Hurdle Sempo ( Martin) took his chance, Made virtually all, disputed lead early until led 1st where jumped right and bumped rival, slight mistake 5th, still going well before 2 out where jumped big, pushed out and in command before last, stayed on well, winning easily by 6 ½ l. He gets 23.4 points.
The John Torpey Memorial Trophy
January Feb Total
Peej 238.4 538.2
Bob 174.1 491.5
Steve 132.8 482
Tony 163.8 442.6
Cliff 140.4 32.6 441.6
Neil 220.6 397.9
Cod 204.4 324.5
Martin 116 23.4 319.9
News
Following Shishkins win at Huntingdon, Nicky Henderson told the Punter He won't run again before Tuesday (at Cheltenham) - he will run in the Supreme. Nico mentioned the Ballymore, I wasn't sure but two-mile-three here wasn't going to prove stamina, but it proved you can do anything you like as he is only in first gear to be fair.
Evan Williams is confident Silver Streak merits his place as a bona fide "Grade One contender" in this year's Unibet Champion Hurdle.The gallant grey more than justified his presence on day one of the Cheltenham Festival 12 months ago, staying on to finish third behind ill-fated champion Espoir D'Allen.But Williams insists there is much more top-level substance this time to both Silver Streak's form and his preparation to bid again for the top hurdling prize of the season."Last year, he was campaigned as a handicapper - and he won his handicaps, and ran well in defeat in some others," said the Glamorgan trainer."This year, we have campaigned him like a Grade One contender. I'm saying 'contender', because he hasn't won a Grade One - so we can't pretend that he is a Grade One horse (yet)."But there is no doubt, he's run in two Grade One races this year, very rich Champion Hurdle trials - and to my eye, and perhaps I am biased, he's run very, very well.
"So whereas last year, I didn't think he deserved to take his chance in the Champion Hurdle, I'm far more confident - in fact, I'm very confident, that he deserves to be in the field, and he's had an ideal preparation to run in a Champion Hurdle."
Fakir D'oudairies' late withdrawal at Leopardstown has left connections to work out a possible alternative route to Cheltenham for their classy novice chaser.Drying ground resulted in Fakir D'oudairies' absence from Saturday's ERSG Arkle Novice Chase - which was to have been his prep run for next month's date in the Cotswolds.With just five weeks to go to the biggest meeting in the jumps calendar, trainer Joseph O'Brien and owner JP McManus therefore have an important call to make.Nearer the time, they then appear to face another tough decision on whether to run in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy or the Marsh Novices' Chase over an extra half-mile."There are no plans for him at the minute," said McManus' racing manager Frank Berry. "We will just have to see where he goes, or he might just go straight to Cheltenham. We'll make the decision on which race to go for closer to the day."
Nicky Henderson believes the best is yet to come from Santini over fences after reporting him to be thriving in his build up towards the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Leading RSA contender Champ will bid to bounce back from a fall in a Grade Two at Cheltenham on New Year's Day when dropping down in class in the Timeform Novices' Chase at Kelso on Thursday week.
Nicky Henderson is confident multiple Grade One winner Altior can return to his brilliant best in the Win Bigger On Betfair Exchange Chase at Newbury on Saturday.The 10-year-old will warm up for the defence of his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown at the Cheltenham Festival when bidding to get his career firmly back on track with a third victory in the Grade Two better known as the Game Spirit.
And finally the Punter marks the death of Robert Alner, whose horses featured in a number of strings. Alner sent out Cool Dawn to win the 1998 renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with other star names handled by the former Dorset trainer including Gold Cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt, Betfair Chase hero Kingscliff and the Listener.
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