Promising jumpers to watch in the coming week

Wednesday

Only three have been declared for the Novice Chase (14:07) on Haydock’s card, but it promises to be a fascinating contest between a trio of top yards. Beauport has turned into a smart handicap hurdler for Nigel Twiston-Davies in the last quarter and he promises to be even better over fences, judged on his successful pursuit debut in last month’s Colin Parker Memorial intermediate race from Carlisle, where he jumped hard on his way to more wins. experienced Millers Bank, who finished last season by winning the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree. Despite being nearly a stone off second place, it was a smart effort from Beauport that sets a high standard for rivals Quel Destin and Ballygriffincottage to beat.

Clever hurdler Quel Destin has another problem in the Paul Nicholls chase after not really convincing in a couple of trials at Cheltenham last year, but Ballygrifincottage looks interesting on his debut in the chase for Dan Skelton. Winner of all three of his Irish points, the long, raw-boned son of Stowaway is very much a looker. He had just three runs over hurdles last season, winning at Lingfield between two runs at Cheltenham, where he finished a promising third in the Grade 2 Bristol Novices’ Hurdle and fourth in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival.

Thursday

Telmesomethinggirl won the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival and went well until beating two in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at the last Festival. She failed to finish again at the Punchestown Festival – where she fell by four points when going well – but should prove at least as good over fences, having only won the start on points. She makes her pursuit debut in the opening two-and-a-quarter mile novice race (12:32) at Thurles on Thursday.

Quais de Paris is just a reserve in the two-mile hurdle (15:02) but watch out if he gets a run as Willie Mullins gave him a positive mention on the trainer’s stable tour. Quais de Paris was third in a newcomers race at Compiegne on his only start for Yannick Fouin and was subsequently bought for €180,000 and sent to Mullins. He wears Susannah Ricci silks.

Friday

Some promising novice hurdlers are entered in Exeter’s EBF qualifier (12:50), none more so than Lallygag for Paul Nicholls, who won the ‘Big P’ symbol after making it two from two over hurdles at the same track four weeks ago. Making all the running, jumping well and traveling strongly, Lallygag raced on to win hard-fought by nine-and-a-half lengths and six from fence debutants King of Lombardy and Hunting Brook, both also entered in the same race on Friday. Nicholls had won the same contest two years earlier, incidentally, with Bravemansgame. Lallygag, who also holds an entry at Sandown on Saturday, is bred to go on to better things as he is a full brother to smart chaser Lalor.

Nicholls could have another ‘big P’ horse in action later on the card in the Novices’ Chase (2pm), where last season’s Sefton Novices’ Hurdle winner Gelino Bello could make his second start over fences. What became a two-runner contest at a very slow pace was never going to produce a big performance from Gelino Bello, but he dominated and has the potential to put behind him the empty form of last month’s chasing debut at Wetherby.

Looks to be cut into another very small field but would have added a lot of interest if Jonjo O’Neill was coaching The Iron Bridge take a chance on this contest. He was unbeaten in a bumper and two starts over hurdles and maintained his unbeaten record when winning a Novices’ Handicap at Carlisle on his chasing debut in October. After jumping on, Iron Bridge pulled away from the next winner Harper’s Brook in a very smart staying prospect, so the step up to three miles would certainly suit. Iron Bridge also has an entry in a handicap on the card (2.35pm) and a handicap at Chepstow on Saturday.

Saturday

Shishkin, who is Timeform’s top-rated chaser in training on the back of his pulsating defeat of Energumene in the Clarence House Chase in January, could make his eagerly awaited seasonal comeback in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (2.55pm) at Sandown on Saturday if his ground saw fit. Last year’s Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen, who has race fitness on his side after winning the Haldon Gold Cup last month, and Sporting Life Arkle winner Edwardstone are also among the seven entries in what promises to be be a thrilling show.

Shishkin’s trainer Nicky Henderson could also feature in the main support race on the card, the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (1.45pm), with Jonbon who is the short-priced favorite for Sporting Life Arkle on the back of an impressive chasing debut at Warwick earlier this month.

The opening Novice Hurdle (12pm) has been won by some talented people, none more so than last year’s winner Constitution Hill. It would be fantastic if a horse in this year’s race turned out to be nearly as good, but there are some promising types with entries, including three with Timeform Large P – Authorized speed, Lallygag and Look back (declared to run at Haydock on Wednesday).

Aintree also runs a high-class book on Saturday, set up by the Becher Chase. The pick of the action on the Mildmay course is the Many Clouds Chase (1.30pm) which could feature a showdown between last season’s Grand National winner Noble Yeats and one of the top rookie chasers last season Oh, sir which came to the fore when the two met in Towton in Wetherby.

All-Ireland Grade 1 action comes from Fairyhouse on Sunday, but there could be some promising types on show on Saturday, including in the opening Novice Chase (12.07pm). Minella Crooner (who is also entered in Drinmore on Sunday) formed encouragingly when second on his recent chasing debut and is one of three entries for Gordon Elliott, while Willie Mullins has a host of possible representatives including James du Berlaiswho was a smart hurdler but missed all of last season and Allegory by Vassywho won her first two starts for the court in the last quarter before suffering a setback.

Last year’s best bumper performer Easy Vegawhose four wins have included championship events at Cheltenham and Punchestown, is already a short-priced favorite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and could start over jumps in the two-mile maiden hurdle (1.52pm).

Sunday

There’s a stellar card at Fairyhouse on Sunday, titled his return Honeysuckle who is bidding to win the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (2.30pm) for the fourth year running and extend his unbeaten run under Rules to 17. Hatton’s Grace is one of three Grade 1s on the card, along with Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and Drinmore Novice Chase.

Mullins went four into Royal Bond (13:25), incl champion Kiely who has won all three outings under the Rules and looked something out of the ordinary when landing a Grade 3 Novice Hurdle at Tipperary last month. National Navy is a fascinating challenger for Barry Connell as he has also won all three starts under rules and has looked an exciting prospect from the start.

Banbridge, winner of the Martin Pipe Conditionals Jockey Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, made a superb start over fences, winning both starts easily, including in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham a few weeks ago. He is entered in Drinmore (13:55).

The Juvenile Hurdle on the card (12.25pm) is often an informative affair – it was won by Fil Dor last year – and Lossiemouththe ante-post favorite for the Triumph Hurdle, is one of a host of possible runners for Mullins.

Favorite Champion Bumper ante-post Chapeau de Soleil he could also debut for Mullins in the final bumper (15:35).

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