Love the Jumps

With it being midway through the jumps season, I thought I would do an update on how my 10 to follow have done so far.  Beakstown (Dan Skelton) It’s safe to say Beakstown has been a bit of a disappointment, he started his novice chase career at Wetherby in October where he finished 2nd to Sam Spinner, the form of that race didn’t look to bad as Sam Spinner has gone on to win twice more over the bigger obstacles before picking up and injury ruling him out of the season. Next time out he finished he finished a disappointing 4th at Newbury behind the highly regarded Champ, he was going alright before making a mistake at the 4th last and eventually lost 3rd before the last. His most recent start was in the Ryman novices chase at Cheltenham, he finished 3rd of the 6th runners, 15 lengths behind the 2nd. It will interesting to see if Dan Skelton can get any improvement out of him, with many people seeing him being aimed at one of the handicaps at Cheltenham come March. ...

The racing over the festive period looked good on paper and it didn’t disappoint with some brilliant performances at Kempton, Chepstow and over in Ireland at Punchestown.  We will start at Kempton and the start of what was a good day for Nicky Henderson, he saddled two in the opening with Vegas Blue going off a short priced favourite on her hurdles debut, but it was his other runner, Fred that won. 3rd on his two previous start over hurdles in the UK he finally came good under the guidance of Barry Geragthy. Travelled and jumped well before taking the lead over the last and keeping on very well. The first Grade 1 on the card was the Kauto Star novices chase, this looked an intriguing race, Master Tommytucker was upped in trip to 3m for the first time and was travelling well in front before falling at the 15th fence and hampering Jarveys Plate , this left Black Op in front with the powerfully travelling Slate House in 2nd. Slate House then took up the lead with Bl...

This weekend wasn’t as good as some we have already experienced this season but there was still some interesting performances over the two days at Ascot. We will start with the first at Ascot which was a match race between Angels Breath and Mont Des Avaloirs , it eventually went the way of Angels Breath . He made all and won easily by 23 lengths, but unfortunately it wasn’t all good news as it came out after the race that he cut his leg resulting in in a severed tendon meaning he will miss the remainder of the season.  The 2:30 at Ascot was the Sky Bet Supreme Trial, there as just the four runners with Ribble Valley being sent off the odds on fav he was looking to keep his unbeaten record over hurdles. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be his day as he was beat by Colin Tizzard trained Master Debonair , he made all with a slight mistake 2 from home but when he was asked kept on well to eventually win by 8 lengths. It was an impressive performance considering he was giving the ...

A weekends racing at Cheltenham never disappoints and the international meeting was no exception, we had some great finishes across the Friday and the Saturday. We start with the first race on the Friday, this was the start of a good couple of days for Nicky Henderson at Cheltenham, the winner on hurdles debut was Chantry House , he came into this race with a lofty reputation after winning well on his debut in a National Hunt flat race the form of which has been franked a few times. He was kept just behind the leaders throughout the race jumped well and made swift headway to challenge at the last where he was shaken up in the run into win well. it was an impressive performance debut and the way he won gave me the feeling that Barry Geraghty hadn't even fully asked him, so for me there is plenty to come from this exciting horse. The next race was another success for Nicky Henderson this time with Nico de Boinville the horse being Pym who made it 2 from 3 over the bigger ...

It was good to have racing back at my favourite track Sandown this weekend and it was even better to be there and witness a truly great race, but we will start things off with the Friday of the meeting. There was one stand out performance for the Friday and that was the Gary Moore trained  Goshen  who made it 2/2 over hurdles and it was as easy as he liked. He made all only putting in a couple of mistakes at the 3rd and 2nd last but was in no danger of ever being caught, going on to win by 34 lengths. After this he was shortened to 6/1 for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham come March and he’s definitely one to keep and eye on. Away from Sandown on the Friday and there was another impressive winner,  Sporting John  for Phillip Hobbs. He jumped well tracking the leaders then easily put the race to bed between the last two flights for Barry Geraghty. It’s early stages in his career but he’s already being quoted at 20/1 for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, but I’d l...

With the temperatures dropping and winter well and truly here the meetings at Newbury and Fairyhouse provided us all with an early Christmas treat.  No place better to start than the 1:50 at Newbury on the Friday, this handicap chase saw Kalashnikov go off a really warm favourite (13/8) and it looked like he was gonna justify that, he travelled and jumped brilliantly throughout the race, going 2 1/2 lengths clear after the last fence, only for him to be denied in the final stride by Oldgrangewood , who flew home from the last to claim the race that he once won in 2017. Kalashnikov was giving him 20lbs which is possibly what cost him, he no doubt has a big race in him as he jumps and travels well throughout his races it’s just where Amy Murphy will place him now before heading to Cheltenham in March all being well.  Next on the card was the 2m3f novice chase, this one went to the well fancied favourite, the Henderson trained Champ , it was an eventful race for hi...