Tag Archive for: Christmas Hurdle

Home By The Lee takes Christmas crown at Leopardstown

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Home By The Lee proved his surprise victory at Navan last month was no fluke with a battling success in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge was a widely unconsidered 28-1 shot for the Grade Two Lismullen Hurdle in mid-November, but knuckled down to see off the strong-travelling Bob Olinger, with Ashdale Bob and dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter back in third and fourth.

All four were again in action in this three-mile Grade One, with Bob Olinger the marginal favourite to provide Henry de Bromhead with victory in a race named in memory of his late son, just ahead of Flooring Porter at 2-1.

The latter adopted his customary pacesetting role under Danny Mullins, while Bob Olinger was given a more patient ride under Rachael Blackmore.

But it became clear leaving the back straight that both of the market principals were in trouble, with Flooring Porter picked up by both 7-1 shot Home By The Lee and Ashdale Bob, while Bob Olinger found little once push came to shove.

Ashdale Bob looked to be travelling best of all on the approach to the final flight, but it was Home By The Lee who saw out the distance best under JJ Slevin to score by three lengths.

Paddy Power cut the winner to 6-1 from 20-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle, a race in which he finished sixth last season.

O’Brien said: “I was actually worried how well he was travelling through the race because he never does travel well. I thought he was going to waste too much energy travelling and jumping well but he’s a really good stayer.

Joseph O'Brien trains Home By The Lee
Joseph O’Brien trains Home By The Lee (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He keeps finding and even when he got to the front, he pricked his ears again.

“I was surprised he beat Bob Olinger in Navan but he really was going well. He was discounted in the betting but we hoped he’d be placed and then come here.

“He’s always been a fairly good horse. He was a good novice chaser and then lost his confidence jumping fences and we came back hurdling.

“He’ll probably go straight to Cheltenham now for the Stayers’. He likes getting into a nice rhythm and wasn’t beaten a million miles in it last year. He looks a better horse this year.”

Flooring Porter was edged out by Meet And Greet for third, with Mullins banned for five days and forfeiting his riding fee after the stewards judged he had not obtained the best possible placing.

Flooring Porter sights set on Christmas crown

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Dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter bids to get back on the winning trail in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

Gavin Cromwell’s stable star filled the runner-up spot in the Grade One contest 12 months ago behind Klassical Dream, who this year misses out after suffering a setback.

Flooring Porter took his revenge when successfully defending his Stayers’ Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival in March and is expected to improve on his fourth-placed finish in last month’s Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.

He will need to up his game, however, with the first three finishers – Home By The Lee, Bob Olinger and Ashdale Bob – taking him on once more.

Cromwell said: “Flooring Porter is in good form and has come out of his run at Navan fine.

“We are meeting those horses off level weights now, fitness wise he will have improved a lot for it and the extra half-mile suits him well.

“We’re basically replicating what we did last year and we’re looking forward to getting him out.”

Bob Olinger winning at last season's Cheltenham Festival
Bob Olinger winning at last season’s Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

Bob Olinger would certainly be a poignant winner for Henry de Bromhead, whose late son is honoured in the title of this year’s renewal.

In Klassical Dream’s absence champion trainer Willie Mullins launches a twin assault, although both Saldier and Mr Adjudicator appear to have their work cut out.

Zanahiyr appears the pick of three runners for Gordon Elliott ahead of Sire Du Berlais and Commander Of Fleet, while Noel Meade’s Beacon Edge and Meet And Greet from Oliver McKiernan’s yard also feature.

Christmas Hurdle proves cruise control for Constitution Hill

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Constitution Hill once again made winning a top-level race look easy as he breezed to a 17-length success in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

National Hunt racing’s new star had beaten stablemate Epatante – herself a previous dual Christmas Hurdle winner – by 12 lengths at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth and the two met again, much to Nicky Henderson’s chagrin.

Briefly the mare looked to be in with a chance on this occasion, as Nico de Boinville just had to slightly niggle on the 1-7 favourite to go forward as they turned into the straight.

But just as at Newcastle, once Constitution Hill was asked a question he responded in kind, and gradually drew further and further clear.

A spring-heeled leap at the last sealed matters and he remains Paddy Power and Betfair’s 4-11 favourite for the Champion Hurdle in March, with Coral unchanged at 2-7.

Henderson said “That was only his fifth race and again it was everything you’d hoped for.

“You just have to pray it all goes right, it’s not that easy, it’s not just a matter of going out there and coming back, you’ve got to jump hurdles and be in good shape – which he is – but so was Epatante, I haven’t seen her look better.

“Aidan (Coleman) said she’s probably run better than when she won this on the bridle last year, but he said he was only chasing shadows so it shows you what he is achieving – it’s frightening really.”

Regarding the future he said: “They’ve taken away my favourite race, the Contenders at Sandown, which was only worth two and six but was the perfect Champion Hurdle trial. I can’t think we really want to go to Haydock, Nico said Ireland (Irish Champion Hurdle) but let’s just have a look and see. It’s either that or nothing I would say.

“The one good thing this year is that we have four weeks between Cheltenham and Aintree so we could step him up to two and a half at Aintree.

“I know everybody wants to see him, but where can you go? I don’t think Wincanton is the right place for him and Haydock certainly isn’t in my opinion – but he doesn’t need to and there’s no point doing something you don’t need to do.

“He can go there (Cheltenham) fresh no problem, but we’ll get today over with and it’s the one we needed in the bag. Nico said turning in that he was actually dossing and then he pressed the button and off he went. He was having a nice time – he’s quick and fast and accurate and at the moment there’s no chinks in that armour because he’s got such a great mind.

“He was on his toes today actually which was more than I’ve seen before, but he’s so relaxed at home and Shauna who rides him every day has done a brilliant job with him. The horse is just cool and that’s the only word you can call him – he’s cool and talented!

“You’d have to think about Ireland, but it’s nothing to do with ducking and diving – which is becoming a stupid phrase which I wish they’d ban! My gut feeling was always that we’d go straight there, I don’t think we’d achieve anything by going to Haydock. If the Contenders was still here I’d go there, but Cheltenham and Aintree is what it’s all about now. It’s a very truncated season with four runs, but that’s what its come down to unless we travel and Punchestown is too close to Aintree to go there.”

Nico de Boinville celebrates on Constitution Hill
Nico de Boinville celebrates on Constitution Hill (John Walton/PA)

“Sensational” was how De Boinville described the winner.

“Horses like him don’t come around very often – he is just sensational,” he said. “He can do it any way and I don’t think you can beat him how he is at moment.”

Coleman said of Epatante: “She is running her races. She ran great, travelled and jumped but just couldn’t go with the winner. That is four or five goes in a row he has done that so credit where credit is due. His performances are freakish but my mare ran really well.

“I suppose the Mares’ Hurdle has always been talked about. She is a fantastic mare in her own right and has run another great race. Her last 13 races have all been in Grade Ones and she has been a fantastic mare. What she does now I’m not sure, but hopefully we are not done yet.

“I think her performances are similar to last season and she won three Grade Ones last season. I don’t think she has always got the credit she deserves. She has been around a long time and won a lot of Grade Ones. She has been a very good mare, unfortunately she has now just got him to contend with.”

Kempton team poised for ‘sensational’ Boxing Day card

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The stage is set for a Boxing Day spectacular at Kempton, with clerk of the course Barney Clifford anticipating a “sensational” afternoon’s racing.

Following a spate of abandoned fixtures during the recent cold snap, a welcome rise in temperatures this week means a full programme is set to go ahead for one of the biggest days in the sport, with 11 meetings scheduled to take place across Britain and Ireland.

Kempton is very much the focus of attention on British soil, with the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase the centrepiece of a card enhanced by the Long Walk Hurdle, which was saved and rescheduled from last weekend’s abandoned card at Ascot.

Clifford has been the man in charge of the ground at the Sunbury track for over two decades – and after enjoying his usual course walk on Christmas Day morning, the former National Hunt jockey can hardly wait for the action to begin.

He said: “I’ve been here since 1999 and to have four Grade Ones on Boxing Day is sensational really.

“Sadly Ascot lost out with the Long Walk, but at least we’ve been able to stage and reschedule it, which has not happened here before in my time.

“We were all disappointed for all the other racecourses that lost key fixtures and revenue streams. We’re delighted it’s mild anyway.”

Clifford is expecting racegoers to flood through the Kempton gates both on Boxing Day and the following afternoon for another quality card, despite ongoing travel disruption.

He added: “There are tickets available, albeit limited. I wouldn’t put anyone off turning up.

Barney Clifford (right) at Kempton
Barney Clifford (right) at Kempton (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“We’re expecting a good crowd both days with both days being Bank Holidays. The only thing that doesn’t help is us the fact there are no trains because of the strikes.

“Touch wood people will arrive early to enjoy the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival.”

In years gone by Clifford has taken the track on Christmas morning on horseback, with the top-class hurdler Harchibald among the Irish stars he has put through their paces.

He stays on the ground these days, but likes what he has seen from this year’s Irish King George challenger Envoi Allen, who is trained by Henry de Bromhead and will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore.

Clifford added: “It was fun back in the day. I used to ride Willie Mullins’ horses, Francois Doumen’s horses and Harchibald for Noel Meade, but I had to retire properly sometime!

Rachael Blackmore and Envoi Allen after winning at Down Royal
Rachael Blackmore and Envoi Allen after winning at Down Royal (PA)

“Envoi Allen arrived on Friday evening, cantered on Saturday morning and cantered again this morning.

“He looks amazing and has an amazing skin on him. Hopefully they’ll have a good trip.

“I think Envoi Allen might be the value of the race. When I last looked he was 7-1 or 8-1 and you think to yourself if he hadn’t had a little hiccup along the way he’d be 2-1.”

Assessing the King George field overall, he said: “The one thing you need around here is speed. I’ve always said Bravemansgame is my A horse so to speak, but in saying that I think the ground might have come for Envoi.

“It will be a hell of a race. There are other horses in there and at a big price I wouldn’t rule out Royale Pagaille. He’s got form around here and needs a dig in the ground.”

As far as the all important going is concerned, Clifford views it as perfect jumping ground.

He added: “It’s lovely ground really. I’ll keep it at soft, but there is better ground around there is no question about that. It walks better than it will probably ride, but we’ll see what the jockeys say.

“The sky looks full of rain but it’s not raining at the moment. There’s heavy showers forecast today, but hopefully Boxing Day will be a dry day with a bit of luck.

“We had 20 millimetres of rain on Friday in the end. We had 18mm in an hour and a half and then a heavy shower in the afternoon giving us another two millimetres.

“Obviously a lot of people out there have been doing a rain dance – I wanted them to stop at about 10am on Friday! We had a dry day on Saturday and then a bit of dampness overnight, but nothing measurable.”

Henderson hoping for Christmas masterclass from Constitution Hill

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Nicky Henderson is feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement as the brilliant Constitution Hill prepares to strut his stuff once more in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

The five-year-old looked a star in the making last season, with 14 and 12-length Sandown wins followed by a scarcely believable 22-length romp in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

And having seen his charge pick up where he left off in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last month, Henderson recognises anything less than fireworks on Boxing Day will leave many underwhelmed.

“He seems to be absolutely fine. He did a bit of work last week, Nico (de Boinville) rode him then and Sean who rides him all the time is very happy with him,” the Seven Barrows handler told Unibet.

“It’s difficult because everybody is getting to the point where only one thing will satisfy everybody, so he’s going to have to keep producing these ridiculous performances. Let’s hope he can.

“You are very lucky to find horses like these. It was the same with Sprinter Sacre and Altior so there is no point bemoaning the fact people want to know about them, I’m enjoying it and I hope Michael (Buckley, owner) is too.

“The trouble is these horses are so fickle, everything has got to keep going the right way. His last three performances were pretty amazing by any standards and he’s got to keep at that level and keep in one piece too – that’s where we come in.

“There’s a certain amount of responsibility and a certain amount of trepidation about it.”

The biggest threat to Constitution Hill appears to be his stablemate Epatante, who is no slouch herself as a Champion Hurdle heroine and dual Christmas Hurdle winner.

Epatante winning last year's Christmas Hurdle
Epatante winning last year’s Christmas Hurdle (Steven Paston/PA)

But she was 12 lengths behind Constitution Hill when bidding for a third Fighting Fifth last month – and after an intended tilt at Cheltenham’s International Hurdle was scuppered by the weather, Henderson has little option but to let them lock horns once more.

He added: “Epatante is in very good form herself. She won this last year by miles and is a very good mare.

“Having missed the International, we are almost forced to run her – there’s nowhere else to go.

“I was quite keen to try her over further, but they (owner JP McManus’ team) were quite keen to run again and the prize-money is good, so they’ll take each other on.

“At least they can’t say we are ducking and diving!”

Metier winning the November Handicap at Doncaster
Metier winning the November Handicap at Doncaster (Nigel French/PA)

Alan King saddles stable stalwart Sceau Royal, while Harry Fry’s Metier reverts to the jumping game after winning the November Handicap on the Flat at Doncaster.

“We were delighted with that run back on the Flat at Doncaster and we’ve been waiting for his conditions,” Fry told Sky Sports Racing.

“Like so many others, plans A, B and C have gone out the window. We were training him for Ascot last weekend and he was in at Lingfield on Monday, which was sadly lost to the weather as well.

“This was not necessarily high up on our list of races, but he’s ready to run and needs to run. We’re taking our chance and with a clear round, hopefully we can pick up a bit of prize-money.

“He won so well at Lingfield last year on their valuable Winter Million card and we’re hoping to go back there with him.”

Chris Gordon’s outsider Highway One O Two completes the line-up.