2016/17 Jumps Issue 12 - lots of points again

Headlines

Brave Clouds cast Gloom over Cheltenham

Dance Waltz’s Home at Leopardstown

Melon Harvests Points

Petit Mouchoir Lands Irish Champion

Un De Sceaux lands Clarence House

Mag has Just Enough Vroum at Doncaster

Report

We start at Cheltenham last Saturday where in the 2m Grade 1 Clarence House Chase, Un De Sceaux ( Cliff, Lee, Martin, Tony) went to post, tracked leaders, led 10^th, landed awkwardly 2 out, kept on well from last, ridden out to win by 5l. He gets 51.5 points

In the 3m 1f grade 2 chase Many Clouds ( Cod), went to post, jumped well, tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden when strongly challenged 2 out, stayed on very gamely from last, headed and regained lead on run in, all out, winning by a head.  He gets 63.4 points. Sadly he collapsed and died afterwards. He has been a long standing feature in these columns .

At Doncaster in the grade 2 mares hurdle, Vroum Vroum Mag ( Bob, Cod, Lee, Micky Peej, Tony), took her chance, tracked leaders effort 3 out, 2^nd between last 2 , ridden to lead narrowly last, 150 yards,  all out, winning by a head . She gets 21.2 points.

At Leopardstown on Sunday in the 2m maiden hurdle, Melon ( Micky), took his chance, chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, improved in to 2^nd 3 out, travelling well to lead approaching last, eased clear and mistake, winning easily by 10l. He gets 22.6 points

In the 2m 4f grade 2 novice hurdle, Let’s Dance ( Peej), took her chance, settled behind leader until left in front briefly at 6^th, where slightly hampered, haeded before next, led again 2 out and extended advantage travelling well before last, pushed out run in , winning easily by 6l. She gets 33 points.

In the 2m Grade 1 Irish Champion hurdle, Petit Mouchoir ( Neil), took his chance, disputed lead and led 1 st, made rest, pressed closely after 3 out, going well after 2 out, pushed out before last, where slight mistake, ridden and kept on flat, winning by 1l. He gets 103.8 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

              January       Total

Steve                 37.5              613.1

Micky              22.6                  567

Martin             51.5               528.9

Tony                103.9               519.9

Neil                 128.6                 505.4

Lee                  67.7                 499.1

Cod                 69.6                 497.6

Peej                 49.2                 462.9

Cliff                108.1                 456.6

Bob                  28.9                 437.1

Congratulations to Neil who is January trainer of the month

News

Nicky Henderson has announced Buveur D'Air is to revert to hurdles for an intended crack at the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Douvan will face a maximum of five rivals in the BoyleSports Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on Sunday

Clan Des Obeaux is set to spearhead Paul Nicholls' challenge on the Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Willie Mullins issued an upbeat bulletin on Faugheen having been forced to rule him out of the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday.

Bristol De Mai will put his Gold Cup credentials on the line in the Betfair Denman Chase on Saturday week

Yanworth has been ruled out of Saturday's Betfred-sponsored Contenders Hurdle at Sandown with a minor problem

Native River, favourite in some bookmaker lists for the Randox Health Grand National, was not among the 110 entries on Wednesday

Cue Card is the main attraction among 14 entries for the Betfair Ascot Chase on February 18

2016/17 Jumps Issue 11 - a big weekend ahead on both sides of the water

Headlines

Bristol in Winning Shape at Haydock

Yorkhill

Report

We start at Haydock last Saturday where in the 3m handicap chase Bristol De Mai ( Neil, Steve), went to post, tracked leaders, jumped well, led 8^th, headed approaching 4 out, led again before 3 out, cruised clear before last, winning easily by 12l. He gets 24.8 points.

On Sunday at Leopardstown in the 2m 3f novice chase, Yorkhill ( Bob, Cod, Lee, Peej, Tony), took his chance, held up behind leaders in 3^rd, raced keenly and took closer order from 4^th, led and mistake next, jumped left 5 out, pressed but stiil going well 2 out, not fluent last, pushed out run in, winning comfortably by 1 ¼ l. He gets 16.2 points.

At Gowran Park today in the grade 2 3m hurdle, Shaneshill ( Tony) went to post, Chased leader, left in lead 3rd, ridden after 2 out, under pressure and kept on well run-in, winning by ¾ l. He gets 36.2 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

              January       Total

Steve                 37.5              613.1

Micky              00                   544.4

Martin             00                  477.4

Tony                52.4               468.4

Lee                  16.2                 447.6

Bob                  28.9               437.1

Cod                 16.2                434.2

Peej                 16.2               429.9

Cliff                56.6                 405.1

Neil                 24.8                 401.6

News

Un De Sceaux will face six rivals in the rescheduled Spectra Cyber Security Solutions Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday

Annie Power will miss Cheltenahm, and probably the rest of the season, having picked up an injury on the gallops.

Faugheen is due to reappear  at Leopardstown on Sunday in the Irish Champion Hurdle, where he could face Ivan Grozny, Nichols Canyon, and Pettit Mouchoir

2016/17 Jumps Issue 10 - we have a winner

Headlines

Ball Rolls home at Fairyhouse

Report

At Fairyhouse last Sunday in the 2m 1f handicap chase, Ball D’Arc ( Cliff ) went to post, held up in mid division, 5^th approaching 5 out, took closer order 3 out, pushed along in 3^rd entering straight, disputed lead 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well, winning by 9l. He gets 56.6 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

              January       Total

Steve                 12.7              588.3

Micky              00                   544.4

Martin             00                  477.4

Lee                  00                  431.4

Bob                  12.7               420.9

Cod                 00                      418

Tony                00                  418

Peej                 00                   413.7

Cliff                56.6                 405.1

Neil                 00                    376.8

News

Jonjo O'Neill is eyeing a tilt at the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown with Minella Rocco. The JP McManus-owned Minella Rocco looked to be coming off second best in a battle with Grand National hero Many Clouds when falling at the final fence at Aintree last month.

But a rematch could be on the cards in the world's most famous steeplechase if he comes through his Irish assignment on February 12 unscathed.Nigel Twiston-Davies has ruled out running Ballyandy before next month's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, Un De Sceaux will face five rivals when he bids for back-to-back victories in the Berkshire Community Foundation Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday Gary Moore's Ar Mad renews rivalry from Sandown

One Track Mind will have his chasing career put on hold until next season in order for him to have a shot at the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle.

2016/17 Jumps Issue 9 - first blank week

Kempton Closure Shock

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

              January       Total

Steve                 12.7              588.3

Micky              00                   544.4

Martin             00                  477.4

Lee                  00                  431.4

Bob                  12.7               420.9

Cod                 00                      418

Tony                00                  418

Peej                 00                   413.7

Neil                 00                    376.8

Cliff                00                        348.5

News

Kempton, home of the King George VI Chase, could be closed for housing redevelopment "from 2021 at the earliest", its owners the Jockey Club announced .The planned £500million of investments to be made in the sport in a 10-year plan proposed by the Jockey Club would see Kempton proposed as a future redevelopment site, with a new all-weather venue to be built if that idea goes ahead.

The Jockey Club's land at The Links in Newmarket is the front-runner as the location for a new floodlit artificial track, with the King George switching to Sandown.

Rich Ricci is 'very hopeful' that Faugheen will make his seasonal reappearance in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle on January 29.

Nicky Henderson could give Brain Power the chance to test his Champion Hurdle credentials at Sandown on February 4.

Nicky Henderson could run Altior in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury having bypassed the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday week

CONEYGREE wil mis the Gold Cup as his recovery takes longer than expected

2016/17 Jumps Issue 8 - a more normal week

Headlines

William wins at Newbury

Air Floats home at Warwick

FillyPeppers To Hot at Punchestown

Comment makes a statement at Plumpton

Report

We start at Newbury last Friday where in the 2m introductory hurdle, William Henry ( Martin) took his chance, tracked leader, led 3 out, clear when hit last, winning easily by 7l. He gets 22.6 points.

At Warwick in the 2m novice chase Buveur D’Air ( Lee, Martin, Peej, Steve), went to post, Tracked front pair, not much room on inside entering home straight, went 2nd before 2 out, effort between last 2, upsides last, ridden to lead narrowly soon after, stayed on to assert towards finish, winning by 2 ½ l. He gets11.2 points.

At Punchestown in the 2m 2f bumper Redhotfillypeppers ( Bob, Cod), took her chance, Made all, took keen hold and ran wide off bend after 5f, pushed along entering straight, edged left final furlong, stayed on well, winning comfortably by 2 ¾ l. She gets 11.5 points.

On Monday at Plumpton in the 2m 4f novice hurdle No Comment ( Bob, Steve), took his chance Raced wide, held up tracking leaders, headway into 2nd going well before 2 out, led 2 out, edged right run-in, driven clear, winning by 2l. He gets 12.7 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

              December Jan     Total

Steve                351.5     12.7   588.3

Micky              392                   544.4

Martin             299.1               477.4

Lee                  322.5              431.4

Bob                 297.2      12.7  420.9

Cod                 362.1              418

Tony                320.2             418

Peej                 256.8             413.7

Neil                 260.8              376.8

Cliff                248.4              348.5

Congratulations to Micky who is trainer of the Monthfor December

News

Capitaine is one of 11 potential runners in the 32Red Tolworth Novices' Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday

Politologue may return to Haydock later this month in a bid to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the Altcar Novices' Chase, where Top Notch is also set to re appera on January 21.

Altior and Un De Sceaux are among just nine entries for the Clarence House Chase at Ascot.