2022/23 Jumps Issue 12 - A couple of winners and Frankie's last stand

Headlines

Lucky Fakir lands Thurles Chase

Sir Gerhard A class apart atThurles

Report

At Thurles on Sunday in the 2m 4f grade 2 chase Fakir D’Odairies ( Peej), went to post, Pressed leaders on outer, nudged along before 3 out, ridden and lost third when outpaced after 2 out, keeping on towards near side before last, 2 lengths down when left in lead last, ran on, winning by 6l. He gets 45 points.

Today at Thurles in the 2m beginners chase, Sir Gerhard (Cod), went to post, Raced in second, bad mistake 3rd, jumped slightly right 4th, joined leader on inner home turn, led going best from 3 out, nudged along and went clear after 2 out, winning  easily by 38l, he gets 22.2 points.

Frankie's last stand

One of flat racings greatest characters, and successful jockeys, Frankie Dettori has announced he will retire at the end of this season at the age of 52. 

Dettori has asked racing fans to make his farewell tour a huge celebration as the world's most famous jockey declared his intention to retire at the end of next year.

Frankie told The Punter"I've been facing the facts," said Dettori. "As I started to get closer to turning 52, it kind of hit me. I started asking myself, how far do you want to go?" Making the announcement is the first step – and I think it's only fair that the public knows what I'm planning because I want what comes next to be a celebration. I really want to give it one last go.

"It will be emotional, and I know there are going to be lots of tears, but it's also going to be great because I want it to be great. What did Michael Jordan say? 'Let's enjoy the last dance.' This is now my last dance." 

Dettori expects to ride in Britain for the last time at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day.

He first truly became a household name when completing his now legendary Magnificent Seven  at Ascot in 1996. Four years later he made headlines for altogether different reasons when surviving a fatal plane crash. He has also suffered tough times, On 5 December 2012, he was suspended from riding for six months after being found guilty of taking a prohibited substance, believed to be cocaine. 

Career Record

Frankie Dettori

Full name Lanfranco Dettori

Born December 15, 1970

Father Gianfranco Dettori (13-time champion jockey in Italy)

• First winner Rif, Turin, November 16, 1986
• First winner in Britain Lizzy Hare, Goodwood, June 9, 1987
• Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners (6 wins – record) Lammtarra (1995), Sakhee (2001), Marienbard (2002), Golden Horn (2015), Enable (2017, 2018)
• King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners (7 wins – joint-record) Lammtarra (1995), Swain (1998), Daylami (1999), Doyen (2004), Enable (2017, 2019, 2020)
• Derby winners Authorized (2007), Golden Horn (2015)
• Dubai World Cup winners Dubai Millennium (2000), Moon Ballad (2003), Electrocutionist (2006), Country Grammer (2022)
• Japan Cup winners Singspiel (1996), Falbrav (2002), Alkaased (2005)
• Breeders' Cup 14 wins, including Classic on Raven's Pass (2008), Turf on Daylami (1999), Fantastic Light (2001), Red Rocks (2006), Dangerous Midge (2010), Enable (2018)
• Champion Stakes winner Cracksman (2017, 2018)
• Highest-rated mounts (RPRs) 139 Dubai Millennium, 138 Daylami, 136 Mark Of Esteem, 135 Sakhee
• Most prolific Pattern winner Stradivarius (15 wins 2018-22, including 3 Ascot Gold Cups)
• Group/Grade 1 wins 282, including 21 British Classics
• Seven winners on one card Ascot, September 28, 1996
• Total wins in Britain 3,336 (best season 233 in 1994)
• Champion jockey 1994, 1995, 2004

In terms of the Punter Strings, our Statto provides the following...

We don’t have records for the first two Flat Comps so the first Frankie winner I can find is Bachir in the French 2,000 Guineas on 14 May 2000, scoring for John and me.

More importantly though we skip to May 2013 and the beginning of full records. Since then Frankie has ridden 82 winners for the Punters:

Cliff and Steve might feel his loss more than most looking at the wins for each Punter table

39 - Cliff

38 - Steve

33 - Neil

30 - Tony

29 - Martin

27 - Bob

12 - Lee

10 - Peej

5 - Cod

• His best season was 2019 when he won 17 times
• 64 of his wins have been on favourites
• Biggest price winner in this time is 12/1 on Highgarden for Martin in the Nayef Stakes at newmarket in September 2018
• Biggest points scorer is Persuasive who bagged 117.2 points for Steve in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October 2017

Frankie is known for his partnerships with successful horses. He’s ridden these to win four times or more in Punter competitions:

Stradivarius - 14 wins - 449.6 points

Enable - 11 wins - 451.8 points

Cracksman - 5 wins - 198.1 points

Palace Pier - 5 wins - 347.5 points

Golden Horn - 4 wins - 211.9 points

Statto

 The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

          January        Total

Peej      67.24            627.38

Steve      28.7                 548.93

Neil        00                 488.15

Martin     00               428.73      

Bob          50.9               408.15

Cod       22.2                 256.1

Cliff        00               211.16

News

Paul Nicholls is eyeing a return to timber for Grade 1 winner Gelino Bello in Saturday's Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham Trials Day.

Weekend Entries

Saturday

Cheltenham 

11.40 Bo Zenith,  Scriptwriter

12.10 Datsalrightgino, Stage Star

1.20 Energumene, Edwardstone

1.50 Stolen Silver, Coole Cody

2.25 Noble Yeats, Dusart, Happygolucky, Coole Cody, Protektorat

3.00 Gelino Bello, 

4.10 Barrichello, Hacker Des Places, I Like To Move It, Jungle Jack, 

Uttoxeter

2.32 Barrichello, Jungle Jack, Nickle Back

Doncaster

12.55 Sheriff Garrett, 

2.05 Epatante

3.15 Dusart

Sunday

Naas

2.20 Bob Olinger

Grand Slam 

Leg 1 Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

Leg 6 Peej 

Leg 7 Tony

Leg 8 Steve

Leg 9 Steve

Leg 10 Steve

Leg 11  Steve

Leg 12  Cliff

2022/23 Jumps Issue 11 - A winnerless week

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

          January        Total

Peej      22.24            582.38

Steve      28.7                 548.93

Neil        00                 488.15

Martin     00               428.73      

Bob          50.9               408.15

Cod       00                 233.9

Cliff        00               211.16

News

Venetia Williams has confirmed that leading Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup contender L'Homme Presse will miss this year's festival showpiece. L'Homme Presse was a general 6-1 shot for the Gold Cup before an announcement made by connections on Friday. A statement issued on behalf of connections to the PA read: "We have given L'Homme Presse some time to get over his exertions in the King George before carrying out some veterinary investigations, which have concluded today.

"Unfortunately, these have revealed that he has a couple of issues that, although temporary, mean that he will not be able to run in this year's Gold Cup. He will be given time and patience to recover fully and we will monitor his rehabilitation over the next few weeks before making a decision on any future races in the spring."

Grand National winner Noble Yeats could line up in next week's Paddy Power Cotswold Chase after being forced to miss his intended start at Lingfield on Sunday.Owner Robert Waley-Cohen on Wednesday nominated the Cheltenham race as the likeliest target for Gold Cup second favourite Noble Yeats, who was entered in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield this weekend before it emerged on Tuesday evening that he was not qualified to run due to an issue with his vaccination status. Trainer Emmet Mullins, meanwhile, said that options were open for the eight-year-old with Newbury's Denman Chase also on the table. 

Weekend Entries

Saturday

Ascot 

12.40 Bo Zenith

1.15 Danny Kirwan

3.00 Dusart, Danny Kirwan

3.35 Energumene, Edwardstone

Haydock

12.20 Stage Star, Iron Bridge

2.05 Epatante, I like To Move It, First Street, 

2.40 Dusart, Bristol De Mai

Sunday

Lingfield 

2.00 Bristol De Mai, Coole Cody, Dusart, Stolen Silver , Two For Gold

2.30 Jungle Jack, Hacker Des Places

Grand Slam 

Leg 1 Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

Leg 6 Peej 

Leg 7 Tony

Leg 8 Steve

Leg 9 Steve

Leg 10 Steve

Leg 11  Steve

Leg 12  Cliff

2022/23 Jumps Issue 10 - Three winners this week

Headlines

Rivals Flounder on Maries Rock

Kiely looks Champion at Naas

Appreciate It Lands Novice Chase

Report

Apologies to Steve as we go back to Cheltenham on New Years Day where in the 2m grade 2 hurdle Maries Rock (Steve ) took her chance, Prominent, went second home turn, shaken up to lead after last, ran on well, winning  readily by 6l. She gets 73 points.

On Sunday at Naas in the 2m novice chase, Appreciate It ( Bob), went to post, Made all, travelled strongly, jumped slightly left early, left clear 4th, not fluent 4 out, going easily 2 out, unchallenged, winning by 21 l. He gets 22.2 points.

In the 2m 4f grade 1 Lawlors of Naas hurdle Champ Kiely ( Bob, Steve), took his chance, Made all, jumped slightly right 1st, faced strong challenge but going okay home turn, ridden omitted last, kept on well towards finish, winning readily by 2 ¼ l. He gets 28.7 points.

The Missing Links

In a quiet week, I thought I would look at the strings and the horses yet to appear

Allaho  Cliff Neil, Peej, Steve

An Tobar     Neil

Blazing Khal   Bob, Peej

Buzz                  Neil

Capodanno        Cod

Danny Kirwan       Cod

Ferney Hollow     Peej, Steve

Fire Flyer             Cliff

Golden Son           Cliff

Hewick                  Cod

Leave of Absence    Cliff

Saint Palais              Bob

Sir Gerhard            Cod

Skytastic       Bob

Star Gate       Martin

Theocrat       Cod

The Carpenter  Neil

The Oggle Goggle Man   Cod

The Wicket Chicken    Cod

Two For Gold      Steve

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

          January        Total

Peej      22.24            582.38

Steve      28.7                 548.93

Neil        00                 488.15

Martin     00               428.73      

Bob          50.9               408.15

Cod       00                 233.9

Cliff        00               211.16

News

Nicky Henderson has said Shishkin will face a short spell on the sidelines after making a noise in a piece of work this week. The four-time Grade 1 winner, who made his return when third in the Tingle Creek Chase last month, had been due to step up in trip to contest the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton next weekend.However, the nine-year-old was discovered to have "flipped his palate" after making a noise during work and will now have ten days off, according to the trainer.

"After working earlier this week Nico [de Boinville] reported that Shishkin made a noise," Henderson said. "We’ve never heard any noises from him before, not even a murmur, but Nico said there was a noise and we’ve investigated it and scoped him and he’d basically flipped his palate.

"It was clear and obvious. Essentially his palate is displacing which is surprising as we’ve never heard it in a race but it’s highly like that it was indeed happening in a race. It’s a very easy fix but it’s ten days off. We’ve got to do it, we’ll get on with it and get it done. It’s a common old problem and a very easy thing to fix but, as I say, it’s got to be done."

While short-term plans are up in the air for Shishkin, he was entered this week in both the Ryanair Chase and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He is available at 8-1 for the Ryanair and 40-1 for the Gold Cup.

Emmet Mullins is committed to attempting an audacious spring double in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup and Randox Grand National with last year's Aintree hero Noble Yeats. The trainer drew comparisons between the eight-year-old and Hedgehunter, the 2005 Grand National winner for the trainer's uncle Willie Mullins who went on to finish second in the 2006 Gold Cup, and hopes Noble Yeats can go one place better in the Cheltenham Festival's headline contest.

Lingfield's Fleur De Lys Chase on January 22 will be the next step towards the spring festivals for Noble Yeats and Mullins revealed the Gold Cup has always been in his sights from the start of the season. He said: "The Gold Cup was on the agenda this season from the get-go. We had spoken with the Waley-Cohens and he was going to go for the Gold Cup and try to go back for the Grand National afterwards.

"The Gold Cup is a stayers' race. We definitely wouldn't rule him out being a Gold Cup contender. I would compare him to something like Hedgehunter who won the Grand National in 2005 and was second a year later in the Gold Cup. He'll be there or thereabouts and hopefully he will take his chance.”

Weekend Entries

Friday

Sedgefield 

3.20 Maimies Magic

Saturday 

Wetherby

12.47 Saint Palais

Kempton

12.55 Saint Palais

1.30 Danny Kirwan , Kittys Light

2.05 Coole Cody

3.15 Danny Kirwan

Warwick

12.40 Letterston Lady

1.15 Third Time Lucki

1.50 Stage Star

Grand Slam 

Leg 1 Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

Leg 6 Peej 

Leg 7 Tony

Leg 8 Steve

Leg 9 Steve

Leg 10 Steve

Leg 11  Steve

Leg 12  Cliff

2022/23 Jumps Issue 9 - Neil storms into title picture

Headlines

Maimies is Magic at Kelso

Man States Champion Hurdle Claim

Galliard De Mesnil lands Novice Chase

Iron Bridge lands Haydock Chase

Star Shines on Plumpton Stage

Report

We start at Kelso on Thursday where in the 2m 2f mares handicap hurdle Maimies Magic (Neil), took her chance, Midfield on inner, dropped to rear 4th, headway 2 out, niggled along and chased leader last, ridden run-in, ran on well, led final stride, winning by a head. She gets 89.6 points.

At Leopardstown in the 3m grade 1 novice chase, Galliard Du Mesnil (Neil), took his chance, Prominent early, towards rear but in touch with leaders 8th, headway and joined leaders towards near side 5 out, led 2 out, going best when pushed along but faced challenge approaching last, ridden and went clear when kept on strongly run-in, winning by 7 ½ l. He gets 53.4 points.

In the 2m grade 1 hurdle State Man, (Peej), went to post, Travelled strongly, raced in second, led going easily before last (usual 2 out), nudged along when went clear omitted last, winning easily by 4 ¼ l. He gets 53.2 points.

At Haydock on Friday in the 3m 1f novice limited handicap chase Iron Bridge (Cliff), went to post, Jumped well, pressed leader, led after 14th, soon left alone, jumped left from 2 out, won as the only finisher. He gets 26.26 points. 

On Monday at Plumpton in the 2m 3f novice chase, Stage Star (Peej) took his chance, Jumped well, made virtually all, going best home turn, went clear from 2 out, winning easily by 11l. He gets 22.24 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

      December    January        Total

Peej      308.75     22.24         582.38

Neil        436.9                  488.15

Steve      313.58                   447.23

Martin     324.18               428.73      

Bob          275                     357.25

Cod       156.4                 233.9

Cliff        77.36               211.16

Congratulations to Neil who is December Trainer of the month

News

The initial entries for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival are out with Shishkin in both the Ryanair Chase and Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup - but not the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Nicky Henderson stated after his Tingle Creek defeat that he felt he was ready for a step up in trip and he's kept to his word by not entering him for the two-mile chasing showpiece on Wednesday March 15.

He is amongst 27 horses in the Ryanair and 27 in the Gold Cup, with only 14 in the Champion Chase.

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (March 15). Last year's winner Energumene heads the 14 entries in the Champion Chase and he is one of four entries in the race from Willie Mullins'.Stablemates Blue Lord, Chacun Pour Soi and Gentleman De Mee make up the Closutton quartet. Sporting Life Arkle winner Edwardstone, on track for the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury next after unseating Tom Cannon at Christmas, spearheads the British challenge.

Ryanair Chase (March 16)

Mullins also dominates the Ryanair entries with his Allaho going for a hat-trick in the Thursday feature.

Allaho is joined in the Ryanair entries by six stablemates; Blue Lord, Chacun Pour Soi, Galopin Des Champs, Janidil, Royal Rendezvous and Stattler.Recent Savills Chase winner Conflated is one of two entries for Gordon Elliott along with Fury Road.Nicky Henderson's sole entry is Shishkin, while Paul Nicholls has Hitman, Pic D'Orhy and Saint Calvados.

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (March 17)

Reigning champion A Plus Tard heads 27 entries for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.Henry de Bromhead's horse has plenty to prove after he was pulled up in the Betfair Chase and missed his Savills Chase engagement over Christmas, but he was brilliant in this contest last year.

Stablemate Minella Indo is another previous winner back for more while Willie Mullins has the 7/4 favourite Galopin Des Champs to call upon. King George Winner Bravemansgame is in there for Paul Nicholls while Dan Skelton has Betfair Chase winner Protektorat., Capodan, Conflated, Eldorado Allen, L’Homme Presse, Hewick , Coole Cody are also in

Weekend Entries

Saturday

Sandown 

1.15 Peejaybee

3.35 Dr T J Eckleburg

Wincanton

3.15 Lady Adare

Newcastle

1.23 Castle Rushen, Peejaybee

Sunday

Naas 

2.20 Champ Kiely

Grand Slam

Leg 1 Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

Leg 6 Peej 

Leg 7 Tony

Leg 8 Steve

Leg 9 Steve

Leg 10 Steve

Leg 11  Steve

Leg 12  Cliff