Round Up

The ground was testing at Carlisle on Monday and it was pleasing to see Jagwar get off the mark in the two miles three novice hurdle. The ex-French gelding had disappointed on his handicap debut at Haydock over Christmas, jumping poorly in the process. Stepping back up in trip, the five year old wasn't foot perfect at the Cumbrian track either but showed a willing attitude to get the better of Clovis Island in the closing stages. Ridden by Jonjo O'Neill jnr, the J.P.McManus owned runner cruised into contention approaching the second last but came under pressure soon afterwards. Shaken up, he got in tight to the last handing the initiative to Nicky Richards' runner but found plenty when asked for maximum effort. A head winner, he is still learning and can only improve with experience. Not entered at the Cheltenham Festival, he is likely to head to Aintree's Grand National meeting in the spring. Jagwar provided the Top 40 Prospects in One Jump Ahead with its 42nd winner of the season.

Jet Legs (11/4) was highlighted as a novice chaser to follow in the November Update and the youngster recorded his second win over the larger obstacles in the staying handicap chase. Trained by Martin Todhunter, the seven year old had finished runner-up to the prolific winning Special Rate at Kelso on his previous start. Contesting the three miles handicap chase against more experienced rivals and racing off a mark of 115, the Jet Away gelding jumped superbly and sealed his win with another bold leap at the final fence before recording a length and three quarters win. While the valuable novices' handicap chase at Ayr's Scottish National meeting is a possibility in the spring, his trainer is already eyeing races such as the Borders National at Kelso and Eider Chase at Newcastle next term. Effective on good and heavy ground, he is a promising staying capable of bagging a decent prize one day.

On Tuesday, Kado De Joie (4/1) supplied the French Revolution section with another winner when taking the juvenile maiden hurdle at Market Rasen. No match for the well regarded Kalif Du Berlais at Kempton last time, Nicky Henderson's four year old appreciated the drop in class here and was always travelling smoothly under Nico De Boinville. Bought for €105,000 last summer, he looks the sort to win a nice handicap in the spring. 

Value Racing Club have taken charge of recent winner The Lord Maid who scored impressively in a mares' novice hurdle at Clonmel this month. The six year old had shaped with promise in a couple of bumpers and confirmed that view with an eight lengths success in the two miles three event. A daughter of Mount Nelson, she was prominent throughout before readily pulling away. A proven mudlark, she joins Tom Lacey and is another exciting prospect for the syndicate.

Those subscribers who purchased the February Update will be aware of those horses suggested for some of the handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival. The entries for those events were revealed on Tuesday and they include a couple of Willie Mullins trained runners who were suggested at much bigger prices than what they are currently trading at. Those selected for the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle look the pick and I know plenty of clients snapped up the attractive odds a few weeks ago.

Finally, the Grand National weights were alo published on the same day and the ante-post selection in the February Update has been allocated the ideal weight. However, his connections and supporters face an anxious wait with him needing a double figure number of horses to come out to ensure his place in the line up. Frustratingly, there at least 8 or 10 entries above him in the weights who have next to no chance of winning the race. It is very much a case of fingers crossed he gets the opportunity to run.