Cheltenham Festival pointers after a bonanza weekend of jump racing
Gordon Elliott won seven races at Navan on Saturday and Kilcruit beat at odds of 1/14 on Sunday. The potential ramifications for the Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase and Supreme Novices Hurdle are discussed.
Greaneteen won the Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday. Bryony Frost rode him to victory. Energumene won a race at Cork on Sunday. He is 3-1 for the Champion Chase. Cheltenham Festival pointers are available. The weekend of jump racing was great. It was a bonanza for jockeys. They were at the British Horseracing Authority's headquarters. Robbie Dunne was accused of prejudicial conduct and violent and threatening behaviour towards Bryon Frost. She was cleared of all charges. Shishkin was the favourite.
The highlight of Sunday's card at Punchestown was the John Durkan Memorial Punchystown Chase. Envoi Allen won at Down Royal but he couldn't compete with Mullins battalion.
Asterion Forlonge was unshipped three fences from home. Janidil emerged as the biggest threat from the home turn, but Allaho dug deep to see off his stablemate by two lengths. Melon was best of the rest of third, with 7-4 favourite Envoi Allen disappointing in sixth.
Willie Mullins' Supreme Novices Hurdle target Kilcruit was beaten 10 lengths by Largy Debut at Cork on Sunday. The market now makes Jonbon the 11/4 favourite for the curtain-raiser in March. Nicky Henderson trains Constitution Hill, who made a winning debut at Sandown on Saturday. Dysart Dynamo was a 19-length success in his maiden hurdle at the Cork.
Gordon Elliott's horse Ginto won the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at Navan on Saturday. Ginto was bought for £470,000 by Noel and Valerie Moran. He could be entered in the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurry in January. Cheltenham Festival is coming up.
Ferny Hollow won the Punchestown jump-jumping competition on Sunday. Appreciate It is still to tackle fences for the first time. Ferny is now 5/1 for Arkle. The trainer's son Patrick Mullins was impressed with Ferns.
