#Jet Powered

PUNTERS all over could be holding onto extremely valuable betting slips - after bookies revealed which Cheltenham Festival fancies have slashed in price. The blockbuster Christmas racing period saw a surge of activity in the ante-post markets. And with 11 weeks to go until the biggest four days in the racing calendar, punters were quick to hoover…

To get my excuses in first, Newbury on New Year's Eve provided just about the worst possible conditions for anyone trying to glean meaningful observations from the paddock. Rain that was supposed to be off and on was never off, the wind was blowing and the horses were well rugged up until as late as possible. Just keeping my notes from being soggy…

A common gripe is that there is no value in ante-post markets anymore, but with so much action over the Christmas period there is always the possibility a few performances have fallen through the cracks. If it's value you're looking for then you have to be prepared to look outside the box and beyond the common line of thinking, and a few horses…

Picking up from my last column to cover the remainder of the holiday program (December 28 to January 1) in what was the busiest post-Boxing Day period for some time, the narrative seemed to me more of the same - some horses enhanced their reputations, a bigger number diminished theirs, and a standout performance to breathe new life into some…

Jet Powered was beaten at prohibitive odds at Newbury - but there appeared to be no fluke about the 66-1 success of Gary Moore's Jupiter Du Gite. Nicky Henderson's Jet Powered was sent off the 2-7 favourite having been hugely impressive on his first outing and was prominent in the ante-post betting for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Everything…

The exciting Jet Powered lost his unbeaten record in the Coral Racing Club Join For Free'Introductory' Hurdle at Newbury as Jupiter Du Gite recorded a wide margin success at 66/1. Sent off at a prohibitive price, Jet Powered tracked Jupiter Du Gite through the early stages with the field well strung out at halfway. The field closed a little on the…

Hermes Allen was a very easy winner of the Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury, to give Paul Nicholls a third successive victory in the Grade One feature. Following on from Bravemansgame and Stage Star, Hermes Allen had to prove he could handle deep ground on this occasion. On paper at least, this year's renewal looked as strong as any in…

Only Money has a fine strike-rate for Chris Gordon in two-mile handicap chases over the last couple of seasons and he began the latest campaign with another couple of wins at Plumpton and Worcester under regular jockey Tom Cannon. He's been beaten off higher marks in better races since at Aintree and Newbury but he looks potentially well…

Paisley Park is absolutely flying at the moment and he was brilliant in his win at Kempton, where I thought he might struggle. The Stayers' looks wide-open, and he's an interesting player at a double-figure price, despite his advancing years. I think that the strength of the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown was questionable. Home By The Lee, of…

Jet Powered, second in the ante-post lists for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March, continues his education at Newbury on Saturday. Nicky Henderson is keen not to ask too many questions too early of the Joe Donnelly-owned five-year-old, who was a very impressive 11-length winner on his hurdling debut at Newbury in November. He faces 10…

The free-to-play Paddy's Pick 5 returns once again on Saturday. Can you solve the five featured races from Newbury and Sandown? Get your entries in! Another three winners cracked all five legs in Paddy's Pick 5 on Thursday, bringing us up to a total of 156 total winners across each of our free-to-play games since Boxing Day. Not bad! On the final…

Hermes Allen (right): bids to deliver Paul Nicholls a record fifth win in the Challow Hurdle Paul Nicholls believes Hermes Allen has the potential to follow the trajectory of King George star Bravemansgame as he bids for Grade 1 success in Saturday's Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle (3.00). The five-year-old dazzled in Grade 2 company last month at…

A scroll through Twitter on the evening of December 26 in recent years has tended to reveal Paul Nicholls celebrating King George success with a McDonald's on the way back from Kempton. The Ditcheat maestro, who is seeking a record-extending 13th win in the race, could well be lovin' it again on Monday with Bravemansgame and Hitman among the main…

FACILE VEGA is a massive drifter in one of the Cheltenham Festival markets. The unbeaten Willie Mullins-trained superstar was matched as low as 3.5 for next March's Ballymore. But now it looks almost nailed on the son of Quevega will run in the Supreme. Facile Vega was not among the 20 entries for the 2m4f Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas hurdle next…

Champ pipped Paisley Park in a thrilling finish to the Coral Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Friday. The two 10-year-olds battled it out right to the line in the three-mile contest, with the strong-travelling, front-running Champ just getting the better of the popular former Stayers' Hurdle winner, who powered home under Aidan Coleman. Jonjo…

Champ pipped Paisley Park in a battle royal in the Coral Long Distance Hurdle. The two 10-year-olds produced a thrilling finish in the three-mile contest, with the strong-travelling, front-running Champ just getting the better of the popular former Stayers' Hurdle winner, who powered home under Aidan Coleman, and was in front a stride or two after…

Jet Powered powers home in the opening maiden hurdle Friday: Newbury It would be stretching things to say Nicky Henderson has another aeroplane on his hands, but Jet Powered had plenty of fuel left in the tank after his romp in the maiden hurdle. Buveur D'Air and Jonbon were Henderson stars to use the race as a launchpad to bigger and better…