2018 Flat - Bonus Races

2,000 GUINEAS	NEWMARKET, MAY
1,000 GUINEAS	NEWMARKET, MAY
Chester  Cup Duke of York Stakes                                                             Lockinge Stakes                                                                     OAKS	Chester  May York  May Newbury   May EPSOM, JUNE
CORONATION CUP	EPSOM   JUNE
DERBY	EPSOM    JUNE
ST JAMES PALACE STAKES	ROYAL ASCOT,  JUNE
QUEEN ANNE STAKES	ROYAL ASCOT,  JUNE
PRINCE OF WALES STAKES	ROYAL ASCOT,  JUNE
ASCOT GOLD CUP	ROYAL ASCOT,   JUNE
CORONATION STAKES	ROYAL ASCOT,  JUNE
DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES	ROYAL ASCOT,  JUNE
Kings Stand Stakes                                                                Commonwealth Cup                                                            IRISH DERBY	Royal Ascot        June Royal Ascot CURRAGH,   JUNE
ECLIPSE STAKES	SANDOWN    JULY
JULY CUP	NEWMARKET,   JULY
KING GEORGE VI & QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES	ASCOT,   JULY
SUSSEX STAKES	GOODWOOD,   JULY
NASSAU STAKES	GOODWOOD,  AUGUST
Stewards Cup                                                            INTERNATIONAL STAKES	Goodweood  August YORK,  AUGUST
NUNTHORPE STAKES	YORK,   AUGUST
Ebor                                              IRISH CHAMPION STAKES	York LEOPARDSTOWN, SEPTEMBER
ST LEGER	DONCASTER,  SEPTEMBER
Cambridgeshire PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE	Newmarket   September LONGCHAMP OCTOBER
Cesarewitch CHAMPION STAKES	Newmarket ASCOT,   OCTOBER
QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES	ASCOT,  OCTOBER

2017/18 Jumps Issue 22 - Ashers' lead is eroded

Headlines

Gumball wins at Ludlow

Un De Sceau lands PunchestownChase

Next Destination lands Novice Stayers Crown

Faugheen lands Champion Stayers

Report

On Tuesday at Ludlow in the 2m novice hurdle, Gumball (Neil), went to post, Prominent, led 2nd, drew clear 3 out, mistake next, stayed on well, winning by 6l. He gets 22.4 points.

At Punchestown in the 2m grade 1 champion chase, Un De Seaucx (Cliff, Peej, Tony), went to post, Made all, clear at halfway, pushed along and clear before 2 out, ridden and stayed on well run-in, winning by 2 ¾ l. He gets 29.3 points.

On Wednesday in the 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle, Next Destination (Tony), went to post, Soon chased leaders in 5th, closed and slight mistake 2 out, 3rd approaching straight, soon on terms, gained narrow lead run-in and stayed on well, winning by a neck. He gets 53.8 points.

Today, in the 3m grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle, Faugheen ( Cliff, Tony), took his chance, Quickly away and made all, clear at halfway, slightly reduced advantage 2 out, went clear again entering straight, ridden and stayed on run-in, winning comfortably by13l. He gets 31.1 points.

In the 2m grade 1 novice chase, Footpad (Tony), went to post, Made all, went clear before 2 out, pushed along briefly and stayed on strongly run-in, winning easily, impressively by 12 l. He gets 52.4 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    April        Total

Steve                     80            983.14

Tony                    193.2        926

Cliff                     87            894

Martin                 79.8         870.8

Peej                    160.9         860.9

Cod                      00            536.6

Neil                      22.4             516.9

Bob                    105.4           484.8

News

Samcro puts his lofty reputation on the line when he takes on talented and more experienced company in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday. Min and Melon also hold entries

2017/18 Jumps Issue 21 - The final countdown

No winners this week but 9 days left of the jumps competition, and with Ayr, Punchestown and Sandown to come, it’s not quite all over, though I think change at the bottom is more likely than at the top.

Just 16 days to the start of the flat  11 till entries close

Gigginstown House Stud supremo Michael O'Leary left the door slightly ajar for Samcro to take on the big boys in the BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday week.

The six-year-old kept his unbeaten record and huge reputation intact with victory in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and has four entries at Punchestown.

However, O'Leary revealed he will run in either the Champion Hurdle or the two-and-a-half-mile Profile Systems Champion Novice Hurdle on the same day.

A final decision on which race he will contest could come down to how trainer Gordon Elliott is faring in his battle with Willie Mullins to be crowned champion trainer.

"Generally speaking, we would want to keep the novices in the novice races," O'Leary told The Punter.

Cue Card's owner Jean Bishop has paid tribute to the popular chaser after his retirement was announced on Tuesday.

Bishop and trainer Colin Tizzard had planned to give the 12-year-old a final outing in the bet365 Oaksey Chase at Sandown on April 28, but after failing to show his usual exuberance on the gallops, the decision was taken to retire him before then.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    April        Total

Steve                     80            983.14

Martin                 79.8         870.8

Cliff                     26.6             833.6

Peej                    131.6             831.6

Tony                    26.6           759.4

Cod                      00            536.6

Neil                      00             494.5

Bob                    105.4           484.8

2017/18 Jumps Issue 20 - Steve looks to have a winning lead

Headlines

Win is an Act of Valour at Fakenham

Le Bruil lands Fakenham handicap

Finians puts in an Oscar winning performance at Aintree

Bite is too mitey in Bowl

Report

At Fakenham on Saturday in the 2m novice hurdle, Act Of Valour ( Peej), went to post. Tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 4th, led approaching and not fluent last, kept on run-in, winning by 1 ¾ l. He gets 25 points.

In the 2m 4f handicap hurdle Le Breuil ( Bob), took his chance, Led, headed briefly 3rd, headed 5th and dropped to 3rd soon after, left 2nd after next, pushed along before 3 out, led again after 3 out, kept on well run, winning by 1l. He gets 25.4 points.

Today at Aintree in the 2m 3f grade 1 Big Bucks Celebration chase, Finians Oscar ( Bob, Martin, Peej, Steve), went to post,
In touch, pushed along after 11th, soon outpaced and in rear, kept on to challenge last, led towards finish, held on winning by 2l. He gets 28.4 points.

In the 3m 1f Grade 1 Betway Bowl Mite Bite ( Bob, Martin, Peej, Steve), took his chance, With leader, mistake 4 out, led 2 out, ran on well, winning by 7l. He gets 51.6 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    April        Total

Steve                     80            983.14

Martin                 79.8         870.8

Cliff                     26.6             833.6

Peej                    131.6             831.6

Tony                    26.6           759.4

Cod                      00            536.6

Neil                      00             494.5

Bob                    105.4           484.8

Cause Of Causes, a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner and runner-up in last year's Randox Health Grand National, has been retired.

It was sad to see old friend of these columns Silviniaco Conti died recently.

Willie Mullins is set to field a strong hand in the Boylesports Champion Chase at Puncehstown with Douvan, Great Field and Un De Sceaux all in the mix.

There is even a possibility of Min being added to the list, but he holds an entry at Aintree this week and could run there instead.

The Editors 3 for the Grand National , Tiger Roll, Raz De Maree, Houblon Des Obeaux

2017/18 Jumps Issue 19 - Steve is trainer of the month

Headlines

Un De Sceaux  lands Devenish Chase

Report

At Fairyhouse on Monday in the 2m 4f grade 2 chase, Un De Sceau ( Cliff, Peej, Tony), took his chance, Led, soon clear, reduced lead from 6th, pressed 3 out, just headed when left clear 2 out, stayed on well winning by 18 l. He gets 26.6 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                    April        Total

Steve                     00            903.14

Cliff                     26.6             833.6

Martin                 00            790.8

Tony                    26.6           759.4

Peej                    26.6            726.6

Cod                      00            536.6

Neil                      00             494.5

Bob                    00           379

Congratulations to Steve who is March trainer of the month

 News

Colin Tizzard has not ruled out the prospect of giving Cue Card the chance to bounce back from his disappointing Cheltenham Festival defeat.

Although the Milborne Port handler would not be drawn on which race the multiple Grade One winner would contest, he hinted that running again remains an option.

Tizzard told the punter: "The horse is absolutely fine and he's not retired. All I'll say is that we said we were going to run him until the end of the season and nothing has changed."

As to an outing at either Aintree or Sandown, he added: "We've no preference, I can tell you that at the moment."

Ben Pauling has conceded Aintree will come too soon for Willoughby Court after his star novice chaser missed the Cheltenham Festival due to a setback.

The seven-year-old was successful at the Festival last year and had been one of the leading hopes for the JLT Novices' Chase after winning two of three outings over fences this term.

However, a foot problem saw him ruled out of the showpiece fixture at the end of February, and Pauling said: "He won't go to Aintree, as he has missed too much work.

Willie Mullins confirmed Footpad is likely to head for Aintree after being taken out out of the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

Ruth Jefferson has been forced to rule her stable star Waiting Patiently out for the rest of the season.

The unbeaten chaser, who beat Cue Card in a thrilling Grade One at Ascot in February, has not suffered a career-threatening injury but it is enough to prevent him from heading to Aintree.

Min and Douvan are part of a six-strong team for Willie Mullins in the BoyleSports Champion Chase, the feature event on the opening day of the 2018 Punchestown Festival.

Nigel Twiston-Davies reports Blacklion to be ready to shine in the Randox Health Grand National following a wind operation