12 Jun 2019
There is some cracking Jumps action at Cheltenham and Doncaster on Saturday. We look at the pick of the action as Grand National and Festival trials abound.
CHELTENHAM
12.40 JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE JUVENILE TRIAL (Grade 2)
Nine runners are set to go to post for the 2m1f event, which kicks off a superb card, comprising four Grade 2 contests.
A significant pointer to the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle itself on Friday, March 15, the field is headed by ADJALI, who has had two runs for Nicky Henderson since arriving from France. He created a favourable impression when scoring on his British debut at Market Rasen early last month, before going down a neck to the useful Quel Destin in a Grade 1 hurdle at Chepstow on deeper ground that he would not have appreciated. This race is less competitive and he would appear to hold all the aces.
OUR POWER, trained by Alan King, has won two of three over hurdles, including when staying on strongly to score at Newbury by six lengths in soft ground that he seems to prefer. He must go on the shortlist.
PROTEKTORAT was well fancied to win here in mid-December, but while he looked exciting on paper, he was far too keen early on and unseated far too far out to know how he would have fared. This half-brother to French 2m2f chase winner Protektrice has still to prove himself, but is in the right hands with Dan Skelton.
The winner of that race was NELSON RIVER and Tony Carroll’s inmate looked a different class when scoring over the same course and distance, following up his Bangor success in November.
2.25pm COTSWOLD CHASE (Grade 2)
Run over an extended 3m1f, the Cotswold Chase is considered to be a significant Gold Cup trial, yet in recent years it has been won by the likes of Grand National types such as Definitly Red, Many Clouds (twice), and Neptune Collonges.
The Grade 2 event has attracted a field of six this time, with FRODON heading the market. He steps into this company for the first time, having produced some fine weight-carrying performances in decent handicaps.
Having struck up a good partnership with Bryony Frost, Frodon landed the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup over an extended 2m4f last month, his ninth win from 21 starts over fences. While only three 7yos have won this race in the last 27 renewals (plus Cyfor Malta, who won this as a 6yo in 1999), trainer Paul Nicholls feels the time is right to step Frodon (pictured above) up in trip, having finished runner-up on his previous two attempts at 3m. He has yet to race beyond that trip.
The stats might say he is opposable, and Welsh National winner ELEGANT ESCAPE lacks nothing for stamina, as he showed when ploughing through the soft ground over and extended 2m5f at Chepstow over Christmas. He has won over 3m in both soft and heavy ground in the past and if he gets this trip, Colin Tizzard will likely allow the 7yo take his chance over an furlong further in the Magniers Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 15.
Nicky Henderson saddles TERREFORT and VALTOR. The former was runner-up here in the JLT Novices’ Chase to Shattered Love at the Festival meeting last year, yet his return at Sandown in November was far from convincing. His jumping had always been quick and accurate, but he labored badly when last of four to Elegant Escape and was subsequently found to be sore behind.
Ex-French Valtor looked a useful recruit when landing a Listed Handicap over 3m in soft ground at Ascot in December and he has been bought with the Grand National in mind. He was highly-tried in France, but he appears to need ease in the ground to show his best.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained MINELLA ROCCO may be of each-way interest. He was a fairly close-up fourth to Road To Respect in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase and, if his jumping holds up, there is every chance he could replicate last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up effort. The doubt is he may still be thinking about his tired last-fence fall when held by Edwulf in the Irish Gold Cup earlier this month.
3.00pm BALLYMORE NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 2)
With six runners, this looks a competitive renewal which offers pointers to Grade 1 races at the Festival such as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
BIRCHDALE looked a potentially smart recruit to hurdling when scoring with ease at Warwick, despite hanging left, and Nicky Henderson thinks quite a bit of him. He has the size and scope to make a 3m chaser in time, so anything he achieves this season will be a bonus.
JARVEYS PLATE has a little more experience and Fergal O’Brien’s representative has two previous runs at the track, latterly opening his account over hurdles at the third attempt in a decent Listed contest over the same extended 2m4f. He was well supported in the early exchanges on Friday.
BREWIN’UPASTORM has already been tried at the highest level, finishing four-lengths fourth to the highly-rated Champ in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury last month. He had impressed in scoring at Huntingdon prior to that and while up in trip and on much deeper ground last time, he did not run a bad race by any means. He may prove to be the value.
3.35pm CLEEVE HURDLE (Grade 2)
Emma Lavelle gained the biggest win of her career when PAISLEY PARK landed the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot before Christmas, powering home to beat West Approach by two lengths and completed a hat-trick in the process. He has strengthened up significantly this term, having finished only 13th of 20 in the Albert Bartlett in March and continues to progress. He is likely to be one of the leading candidates for the Stayers’ Hurdle if running another big race here.
Former Paul Nicholls inmate AUX PTITS SOINS is also being aimed at the big race on the third day of the Festival meeting. The 9yo struck for former Nicholls assistant Dan Skelton when winning a competitive 3m hurdle on New Year’s Day on his second start back from a 601-day absence, and he is still entitled to come on a bit for that.
BLACK OP looked a decent staying novice hurdler last term and signed off with a Grade 1 win in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April. Tom George’s runner has not looked at home in two runs over fences this season, so last season’s Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle runner-up is back in this sphere and will have plenty of support.
MIDNIGHT SHADOW is another to hold a chance in the 12-strong line-up and is on a hat-trick after scoring in a decent handicap at Aintree and backing it up in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle here. Trainer Sue Smith thinks the world of the 6yo, who is not ground-dependent and, while connections are pondering the Champion Hurdle, going back in trip is not the preferred option of the trainer, so the Stayers’ Hurdle looks a likely next step.
It would be no surprise to see SAM SPINNER run a big race. He unseated his rider on his last two runs, latterly when blinded by the sun in the Long Walk Hurdle, a race he had won the previous year, and Jedd O’Keefe’s runner has a fair strike rate over hurdles with five wins from 11. He is better than he has shown of late.
DONCASTER
1.30pm – LIGHTNING NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 2)
This extended 2m chase, which has sadly attracted just four runners, looks at the mercy of DYNAMITE DOLLARS, who bids for a hat-trick following wins in the Grade 1 Henry VII Novices’ Chase at Sandown and the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas. Paul Nicholls’ runner won’t have to be at his best to enhance his Arkle claims.
The Alan King-trained BALLYWOOD looks the only danger, having won at Taunton and over this C&D last time in a Novices’ Limited Handicap.
2.05pm RIVER DON NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 2)
There may be only four runners for this extended 3m novices’ hurdle but it more competitive than the previous race on the card.
COMMODORE BARRY has had six runs over hurdles, winning four and being placed on both other occasions. On a hat-trick after scoring at Southwell and over C&D last time, Kim Bailey’s runner may be able to dominate from the front again.
TRUCKERS LODGE was hiked up 13lb for a Chepstow win in early December, but ran another stormer in chasing home Virginia Chick at that same venue over Christmas. He is rapid improver from the Nicholls yard and may well be the one to trouble Commodore Barry.
BAILARICO was a progressive handicapper and prolific winner on the Flat (albeit at a very modest level), and has made a decent start to his hurdling career, winning two of three, including when scoring at Kempton. This is a step up in class, but he knows how to win.
2.40pm YORKSHIRE ROSE MARES’ HURDLE (Grade 2)
LADY BUTTONS bids to enhance her claims for the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham or, alternatively, the Queen Mother Champion Chase. She has entries in both, but returns to this discipline after having won two decent chases, including a Mares’ Listed contest here last month. Philip Kirby’s runner has looked better than ever this season and it will take a good one to beat her.
IRISH ROE has a bit to find with Lady Buttons on their Wetherby run in early November, but has a 4lb pull at the weights for being beaten three and a half-lengths. A hard-knocking handicapper, she disappointed at Musselburgh last time and needs to bounce back.
CHICA BUENA was runner-up in the Musselburgh contest and just denied a five-timer after a previous C&D win which was followed up by another at Aintree. She acts well in soft ground and could be the one to trouble the likely favourite.
3.15 GREAT YORKSHIRE HANDICAP CHASE
Pointers to the Grand National may be found in this valuable 3m handicap chase, where DINGO DOLLAR heads a field of 11. Alan King has stated that if the ground is unsuitable, he may not run, though. King won this race with Ziga Boy in 2016 and 2017 and he will hope that the forecast rain materializes. Third in a decent race at Newbury last month, the Scottish National appears to be his preferred target.
Aintree’s Grand Sefton winner WARRIORS TALE, beaten a head by Wakanda in last year’s renewal, looks a likely player, along with sound jumper O O SEVEN, who was having his first run since a wind operation when beating GO CONQUER by half a length over this course and distance last month.
