Love the Jumps

  With the Betfair Chase taking centre stage this weekend it seems like Haydock is the right place to start, we will start with the Graduation Chase which saw Master Tommytucker record his 2nd win over fences this season. He made all and jumped really well throughout never looking in any trouble at all and going on to win by 15 lengths from Good Boy Bobby , the funny thing is for a horse that falls a fair bit he’s a pretty good jumper, could this season be the one that we finally see the best of him?. Next the Stayers Handicap Hurdle, this went the way of the David Pipe trained Main Fact who in winning this made it 9 wins on the bounce, he won it really well being held up towards the start before making smooth headway only to lead in the final stages but ultimately winning going away. His record on soft and heavy going speaks for itself so he will be one to keep an eye on if the ground is testing on next appearance. Two that I think ran decent races were West To The Bridge who came

  The 3 day November meeting got underway on the Friday and the performance of the day was without a doubt that of  Protektorat for the Skeltons in the Novices' chase, he made all and delivered a spectacular round of jumping. At one stage in the race before turning for home it looked like Southfield Stone was travelling the better of the two, but as soon as Harry Skelton asked him to kick on the race was over, it was just a matter of getting over the last 2 fences. He's being quoted at 25/1 for the Marsh Chase back at Cheltenham in March, stranger things have happened and course form is key, so I will be looking forward to seeing if he can back this race up again when put up in grade although if he does that 25/1 won’t last long. Also on the Friday there was the Cross Country chase and the rematch from March of Easysland and Tiger Roll , unfortunately it wasn't what we was all hoping for with them both being beat,  Tiger Roll being the bigger disappointment, he never we

  There was some terrific racing this weekend from here and over in Ireland, we will start with a look back at the 2 day meeting from Down Royal which started on the Friday. As usual it was a great meeting for Gordon Elliot who managed to win 8 of the races across the 2 days, his first one being Farouk D'alene who won in easy fashion as he was entitled to, unfortunately his next 2 runners couldn't get their heads in front. the first one was Queens Brook in the mares novice hurdle, who was beat a head by Skyace , Queens Brook travelled well and took the lead over the last, but Skyace just managed to do her close to home. The next race was the Grade 2 WKD hurdle which saw Abacadabras sent off the odds on favourite as he started his Champion Hurdle campaign, he travelled well and came there with every chance with 2 hurdles to jump, but had nothing to offer when really asked for his effort to go and catch the all the way winner who was Aspire Tower . I'd say that Gordon wi