We start at Leopardstown on Thursday where in the 3m grade 1 Savills chase Galopin Des Champs ( Cod, Neil, Peej), Gerri Colombe ( Bob, Cliff, Martin, Neil) took their chances.
Galopin Des Champs, Travelled strongly, raced wide, pressed leader, briefly led 9th, joined leader 2 out, switched right when led going easily towards near side before last, soon nudged along and went clear, stayed on, winning impressively by 23 l. He gets 52.1 points.
Gerri Colombe, Prominent, pressed leaders when ridden after 2 out, went second but no chance with winner approaching last, kept on, just held second, beaten 23l. He gets 13.02 points
In the 2m 7f grade 1 Christmas Hurdle Irish Point ( Neil) went to post, Travelled strongly, in touch with leaders, headway and prominent before 2 out, joined leader going easily after 2 out, led and went clear before last, pushed out, stayed on, winning easily by 11l. He gets 53.4 points
At Limerick in the 2m 31 Faugheen novice chase Gaelic Warrior (Bob), went to post, Jumped well, made all, soon clear, not fluent 3rd, reduced lead 5th, 1 length ahead halfway, went clear going easily after 2 out, eased run-in, winning impressively by 5 ½ l. He gets 52.8 points.
On Friday at Leopardstown in the 2m 4f maiden hurdle Ballyburn (Peej), went to post, Took keen hold, raced in third, disputing second after 2 out (usual 3 out), led going easily last (usual 2 out), soon went well clear, impressively by 25l. He gets 22.2 points.
In the 2m grade 1 Matheson hurdle State Man (Peej, Martin ) went to post, Travelled strongly, chased clear leader, not fluent 4th, pressed leader 3 out, led going easily after 2 out, faced challenge but going best before last, went clear when pushed out run-in, winning comfortably by 3 ½ l. Peej gets 52.8 points, Martin 26.4 points.
On Saturday at Newbury in the 2m Introductory hurdle Jeriko Du Reponet ( Steve), wen to post, Raced in second, led narrowly 2 out, shaken up run-in, soon quickened and led clearly, kept on, nudged out, winning comfortably by 1 ¾ l. He gets 22.8 points.
In the 2m 4f grade 1 Challow Hurdle Captain Teague ( Bob, Cliff, Steve), took his chance, Prominent, challenging when not fluent 2 out, pushed along and led approaching last, ridden and wandered around run-in, always doing enough, winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 28 points.
John Torpey Memorial Trophy
December Total
Peej 318.9 434.7
Steve 192.87 325.62
Martin 242.67 324.52
Cod 301.2 301.2
Cliff 249.22 275.72
Bob 177.22 263.82
Neil 215.62 215.62
Congratulations To Peej who is December trainer of the month
News
Impaire Et Passe will be entered in the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as connections consider the best route forward for last season's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle winner. The five-year-old finished second to Teahupoo on his seasonal return in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in early December before filling the same position to stablemate State Man in the Matheson Hurdle on Friday
Noble Yeats finished fourth in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup but has not been entered for a second crack in March. The 2022 Grand National winner, who went on to score in Grade 2 company back at Aintree eight months later, was beaten around 15 lengths behind Galopin Des Champs last season, but Robert Waley-Cohen's chaser was not put in the Gold Cup when entries closed on Tuesday.
"He'll be going for the Grand National," said trainer Emmet Mullins. "We've had our go at the Gold Cup and it didn't pan out."
Fastorslow could get a surprise entry over two miles and a furlong at the Dublin Racing Festival next month, but the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March remains the number-one target for the horse bookmakers believe is the biggest threat to defending champion Galopin Des Champs.
Sean and Bernardine Mulryan's dual Grade 1 winner featured among a historic low of 20 horses when entries for the Gold Cup were revealed on Tuesday, a drop of seven from the worst figure in the modern era, set in 2023.
Old Favourites Retire
Owner Paul Vogt described Frodon as “the people’s horse” when reflecting on his popular chaser’s career following the 11-year-old’s retirement on Friday. Frodon finished fifth in Tuesday’s Ladbrokes King George VI Chase – a race he won in 2020 when making all under Bryony Frost – and will now be looked after by his regular race-rider on Exmoor alongside former stablemate Black Corton. His other top-level victories came in the Ryanair Chase in 2019 and the Down Royal Champion Chase in 2021, finishing in the first three in 33 of his 52 starts including 19 wins.
Vogt, who owned Frodon with Ian Fogg for a year before becoming his outright owner in 2017, said: “We were planning on retiring him this season and the timing is right. He went out on a really good note and gave a wonderful round of jumping at Kempton. He’s been a brilliant racehorse and we’ll never find another like him. He had so much heart and ability and was a fabulous jumper.
“It’s very nice Bryony is going to have him and she’s going to do all sorts with him, including some showjumping, to keep him busy and amused. Bryony and Frodon made each other and they had such a great rapport. We kept Bryony on him after she’d lost her claim; she was very loyal to us and we were very loyal to her.”
Sceau Royal, winner of 17 races under Rules including three Grade 2 Elite Hurdles at Wincanton, has been retired. Trained by Alan King and typically ridden by Daryl Jacob, the 11-year-old had been unplaced in three starts this season having failed to get his head in front since winning a Listed event at Kempton in October 2022.
Part-owner Simon Munir posted on X: "We have decided the time has come to retire our Double Green flag bearer Sceau Royal 54 career runs winning 17 times - he has joined a family in Exmoor where he will be Show Jumping and embarking upon a ROR programme thanks Sceau & Alan King for the wonderful memories."
Jacob commented: "Well what can I say about my best friend. Your heart, ability, willingness, bravery, you had everything. You were my winning most horse (15) - I will cherish all of those wonderful days together and will really miss you. Happy retirement buddy."
Weekend Entries
Saturday
Sandown
1.50 Unexpected Party
2.25 You Wear It Well, Ilovethenightlife
3.37 Nemean Lion, Langer Dan
Wincanton
3.15 Inthewaterside, Ilovethenightlife
Sunday
Naas
1.00 Mister Policeman
2.00 An Tobar
Chepstow
2.27 Chianti Classico
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
Leg 13 Neil
Leg 14 Cliff
Leg 15 Bob
Leg 16 Bob
First winner bonus available, In the UK - Brighton, Cartmel, Perth, Southwell, , Worcester
In Ireland - Ballinrobe, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Bellewstown, Laytown, Downpatrick, Listowel, Kilbeggan
