2014/15 Jumps Edition 1 - off and running

Headlines

Corks Pop as Champagne wins at Cheltenham

Baltazhar is Cross Country King Again

Shaneshill in Fairyhouse Stroll

Dan is no Deputy

Report

Martin may have picked up the spoon on the flat but it took just 3 races for him to get off the mark this time as Champagene West went to post in the 2m 4f novice chase, Held up in touch, headway into 2nd 2 out (usual 4 out), led after last (usual 3 out), ridden over 1f out, kept on well , winning by 3 ¼ l. He gets 31.4 points.

In the 3m 7f Cross Country chase, Baltazhar King (Neil, Tony), went to post, In touch led 2nd to 4th, mistake next, led again 15th, mistake 19th, headed 6 out, in touch, regained lead 3 out, ridden last, stayed on gamely flat, winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 16.6 points.

On Saturday at Cheltenham in the 3m novice chase, Kings Palace (Steve), took his chance,

Jumped well , tracked leader led 8^th, clear and going best after 3 out, stayed on well, ridden out run in , winning by 4l . He gets 28.6 points.

In the 2m 4f handicap chase, Johns Spirit (Cliff), went to post, held up towards rear, headway in to mid field after 10^th, went 4^th entering straight, ridden to lead last, caught final strides, finishing 2^nd beaten a head. He gets 24 points.

On Monday at Plumpton in the 2m 4f novice chase, Deputy Dan (Cod), took his chance, Jumped right at times, disputed lead until led 8th, made rest, ridden clear approaching 2 out, kept on flat, winning by 2 ¼ l. He gets 22.8 points

Yesterday at Fairyhouse in the 2m 4f maiden hurdle, Shaneshill ( Bob, Cod, Tony), went to post, Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, 5th after 5th, not fluent 4 out and slight mistake next, 3rd approaching straight, led 2 out, slight mistake last, stayed on well to assert run-in, winning  easily by 4l, he gets 11.4 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

               November        Total

Cod             34.2              34.2

Martin       31.4                31.4

Tony         27.8               27.8

Steve          28.6               28.6

Cliff            24                  24

Neil           16.6                16.6

Bob          11.4                 11.4

News

Gary Moore reports Sire De Grugy to be suffering from a hip problem following a bone scan of the two-mile star  which will keep him on the sidelines for at least the remainder of 2014, ruling out a defence of his Tingle Creek crown.The trainer said: "He's not fractured his pelvis or suffered a stress fracture or anything, but he does have a hot area in his hip.

"He's done some damage to his hip and I don't know if that's good or bad really."What happens now is that he spends the next month on the walker and then he will be rescanned.

Barry Geraghty rides Taquin du Seuil after all nine six-day acceptors were declared in the final field for Saturday's Betfair Chase at Haydock. Both Taquin Du Seuil and Silviniaco Conti will wear cheekpieces for the first time in a bid to aid their concentration.

Last year's winner Cue Card (Daryl Jacob) is towards the head of the market along with Dynaste who chased him home in 2013 and subsequently won the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Willie Mullins is ready to unleash some of his big guns this weekend as the jumps season continues to get into full swing.

The trainer's hopes are headed by Faugheen as the Cheltenham and Punchestown winner makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday

Vautour, another who was successful in novice hurdles at Cheltenham and Punchestown, is to make his fencing debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase at Navan on Sunday.

2014/15 Jumps Profile - Whisper

Whisper 6 y  bg Astrabad- Belle Yepa  (Peej, Steve

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
NHF	1	1	0	0	£1,848	£1,848	90	120	—
Hurdle	11	6	1	2	£140,840	£158,573	137	159	164
Rules Races	12	7	1	2	£142,688	£160,421

High class hurdler who now goes novice chasing, he made  his debut at Ffos Las in April 2012, winning a 2m bumper by 15 l from Cheat The Cheater, and returned in December to win a 2m 4f novice hurdle by 6l from The Jugopolist. He then disappointed at Cheltenham in a 2m 4f grade 2 hurdle when 20l 4^th to At Fishers Cross, but resumed winning ways back at Ffos Las in February, winning a 2m 4f novice hurdle by 18 l from Rydon Pynes.He was then 4^th in a 2m 4f novice handicap hurdle at Sandown, 13 l behind stable mate Close Touch and finished the season with victory in April at Cheltenham, taking a 2m 4f novice hurdle by 1 ½  l from Valdez. He returned at Cheltenham last November in a 2m 4f handicap hurdle, finishing 3 ¼ l 3^rd to Thomas Crapper, then was third in a 2m 6f handicap hurdle at Sandown, 9 ¼ l behind Saphir Du Rheu ( received 10lb). He then won a 2m 5f handicap hurdle at Newbury in December beating Pateese 7l, and was second at Ffos Las in February in  a 2m 4f limited handicap hurdle, beaten a head by Saphir Du Rheu, this time getting 7lb from the winner. He then won the Coral cup at the Festival beating Get Me out of Here a head, and finished the season with victory at Aintree, winning the 3m grade 1 Liverpool hurdle by 1l from At Fishers Cross. He goes novice chasing and will be aimed at the RSA in March no doubt.

Trainer: N.Henderson

2014/15 Jumps Profile - Vautour

Vautour 5 y bg Robin Des Champs- Gazelle De Mai (Bob, Cliff, Cod, Peej)

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
Hurdle	7	5	2	0	£184,096	£200,261	150	158	158
Rules Races	7	5	2	0	£184,096	£200,261

Very smart French bred hurdler, he was second twice in France before joining Willie Mullins for whom he is unbeaten. He made his debut at Pau in a 2m 1f hurdle in December 2012, finishing second to Vizir Destruval, then in March 2013 was second to Black River at Auteil , in a 2m 4 y conditions hurdle.

It is interesting that Vizir Destruval has now won 3 more times in France and has £99000 in prize money and Black River who is now with Paul Nicholls, has failed to win in 3 starts for him.

Vautour made his Irish debut at Navan in December 2013 in a 2m maiden hurdle, beating Lieutenant Colonel 5 ½ L, and followed up at Punchestown in January this year beating Western Boy ¾ l in a 2m novice hurdle. He then took the 2m 2f Grad1 Deloitte hurdle at Leopradstown in February, beating the Tullow Tank 3l before taking the 2m Grade 1 Supreme Novice hurdle in taking style by 6l from Josses Hill. He finished off by winning the 2m 4f Grade 1 Champion Novice hurdle at Punchestown  He broke Istabraq’s track record at Cheltenham, and with the stable full of classy 2 mile hurdlers, this fellow goes over fences and looks unstoppable if he jumps round. He will be an exciting or scary ride !

Trainer W.Mullins

2014/15 Jumps Profile - Un De Sceaux

Un De Sceaux  6 y bg Denham Red – Hotesse De Sceaux                                  Cod, Peej

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
NHF	2	2	0	0	£8,333	£8,333	—	—	—
Hurdle	7	7	0	0	£173,543	£173,543	140	164	161
Rules Races	9	9	0	0	£181,876	£181,876

Cleverly campaigned so far, you would normally say a Willie Mullins horse unbeaten in 9 starts was top class, but so far this one has been kept away from the top level. Surely this has to be the season he is pitched in to all the top class races, at present it seems he stays over hurdles. He started his career in France, winning a 1m 4f bumper at Macheoul, then at Saint- brieuc, in a similar event. He made his Irish debut at Punchestown in February 2013, beating Sammy Black in a 2m maiden hurdle by 6l, and followed up over course and distance in April in a novice hurdle, beating Moscow Mannon 13l. He reappeared in December 2013, at Thurles, winning a 2m conditions hurdle by 29 l from Rory O’Moore, then followed up at Navan in January, beating Akatara 53 in another conditions hurdle.He then stepped up in class to a grde 2 , 2m hurdle at Gowran park, beating stable mate Midnight Game 16l, then in March this year went to Auteuil, and won the 2m 3f grade 3 hurdle by a short neck from Gemix, and finished the season over course and distance, winning a grade 2 hurdle by 2 ½ l from  Le Grand Luce. Reportedly highly strung it will be interesting to see if he can step and it will interesting to see how he copes  with the hurly burly of the big festivals.

Trainer W.Mullins 

2014/15 Jumps Profile - Ulzana's Raid

Ulzana’s Raid  5 ch g Bach – Peace Time Beauty (Steve)

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
NHF	2	1	0	0	£1,560	£1,560	81	101	—
Hurdle	4	3	0	1	£18,554	£19,107	93	140	143
Rules Races	6	4	0	1	£20,113	£20,667

Progressive sort who has won 4 of his 6 startsincludiong his last 3, he made a winning debut at Towcester in May 2013, taking a 2m bumper by 3 ¼ l from Knight of Noir. He reappeared at Wincanton in November the same year, finishing 6^th in another 2m bumper, beaten 23 1`/2 l behind Zulu Oscar, then was third at Warwick in December , beaten 23 l behind Champagne West in a 2m 5f maiden hurdle. He then won a similar event over course and distance in March 2014, beating the useful Java Rose 2 1/4l, and the finished the season at Ayr in April winning a 3m novice  handicap hurdle by a neck, giving 13 lb to Quickasyoucan. He reappeared at Cheltenham in October , winning a 2m 5f handicap hurdle by ½ l giving 17 lb to Dragons Den and will stay over hurdles for the time being, but looks due for a step up in class now.

Trainer A. King

2014/15 Jumps Profile - Taquin De Seuil

Taquin Du Seuil 7 y br g Voix Du Nord – Sweet Lally ( Cliff, Martin

LIFETIME RECORD	STARTS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	BEST TS	BEST RPR	OR†
Flat Turf	8	1	2	2	£11,947	£29,740	91	91	—
Hurdle	5	3	1	0	£31,986	£35,812	118	151	147
Chase	6	4	1	1	£103,312	£114,431

Another top class chaser, bred in France, he started off on the flat, making his debut at Lyon Parailly in December 2010, winning a 1m 3f event, then was second in a similar 1m 2f race at Fontainbleau in April 2011. He was placed 3 more times overall  in a conditions event and twice in handicaps between 1m 5 and 1m 7f before moving across the water in the summer of 2012. He made his British debut at Uttoxeter in October  2012, beating No No Charlie 15 l in a 2m maiden hurdle, then was 1 ¾ l second at Ascot in a 2m novice hurdle, then resumed winning ways at Sandown in December, taking the 2m 4f grade 2 novice hurdle by 6l from Le Bec. He followed up at Newbury, taking the 2m 5f grade 1 Challow hurdle by 9l from Easter Day, then ran 6^th in the 2m 5f Neptune hurdle at Cheltenham in March, finishing 17 l behind the New One.

He reappeared at Ffos Las in October 2013. taking a 2m novice chase by 2l from Bob Ford, then beat Oscar Whiskey at Cheltenham in November in a 2m 4f novice chase. He was third over 2m in the Grade 1 Henry V111 novice chase at  Sandown in December 8 ¾ l behind Hinterland, then was second to Oscar Whiskey back at Cheltenham over 2m 5f on New Years day, beaten ¾ l. He then went to Haydock and beat Coverholder 17l in a 2m 5f novice chase and finished the season with victory at the Cheltenham Festival, taking the 2m 4f JLT novice chase by ¾ l from Uxizandre. Very tough he will win his share of races between 2m 4f and 3 miles. If he stays further, the Gold Cup brigade need to watch out.

Trainer J J O’Neill