@RoadCheltenham: First Weekly Review as the Jumps Season Kicks Into Gear

The jumps season cranked up another notch this week, with Graded action on both sides of the Irish Sea. There were several nice performances, with one or two potential Cheltenham Festival prospects to keep an eye on.

It didn’t take long to mention the C word – and spectators will be eagerly anticipating the first meeting of the new season at Prestbury Park this weekend. For now, let’s reflect on the standout moments over the past seven days...

We start at Market Rasen on Tuesday and UN SENS A LA VIE, a £180,000 purchase last November, got off the mark on hurdles debut with a facile success. He looks smart and I would imagine he’ll be lining up in Graded company sooner rather than later.

I was at Punchestown on Wednesday and GAMEBALL was very impressive. He didn’t stand out in the ring but he certainly knew his job on the track, putting the race to bed with the minimum of fuss. He could be one for the Grade 2 Royal Bond Novices Hurdle.

KING OF KINGSFIELD justified his place at the top of the market to claim the Grade 3 novice chase but it wasn’t completely straightforward. Trainer Gordon Elliott says that he’ll likely have a break now and come back for a spring campaign.

It was great to see HEART WOOD in the winners enclosure, having battled back to get the better of Monbeg Park. Henry de Bromhead’s horse was superior on ratings but his rival was race-fit. Without a doubt, Heart Wood is a horse with a real willingness to win.

From a Robcour horse that wants to win to one that seemingly doesn’t, QUALIMITA was one of my Irish horses to follow this season but she made me look foolish (yet again) when failing to go past Run For Mahler in the closing stages.

Veteran HEWICK claimed the 12th victory of his career at Thurles on Thursday and all roads lead to Down Royal for him. He was narrowly touched off by Envoi Allen in last year’s race but better ground could potentially swing the race in his favour.

LAURENS BAY came out on top at a short price in a two-runner race but it was great to see him get off the mark on chase debut. Jamie Snowden will be hoping that he makes into a Graded novice chaser so it’ll be interesting to see where he lines up next.

Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies have a nice team of novice hurdlers to go to war with and SHABALKO D’HERM is another to add to their arsenal. There mightn’t have been much substance to his Uttoxeter victory but he looks to have a bright future ahead.

There was a fair bit of chat about TALK THE TALK before Saturday’s race at Limerick and he justified the hype, beating the race-fit Starting Fifteen. It looked like Eric McNamara’s horse was coming to win but a great leap at the last clinched it for JJ Slevin’s mount.

Chester Williams had a superb start to life as a trainer with his first two runners coming out on top at Newton Abbot on Saturday. HAAS BOY got him off the mark in the 2m handicap chase before GREAT DANCE rounded off the perfect day in the bumper. Good luck to him and all at the yard this season.

I was disappointed to see Blueking d’Oroux get beat in the 2m5f Intermediate Chase, but credit must go to RISKINTHEGROUND. Having finished fourth to the Gavin Cromwell-trained Ballysax Hank in July, he claimed his eighth win under a savvy ride from Harry Skelton.

BLUEY produced a competent performance on chase debut, jumping well in the main and she looks versatile with regards to both ground and trip. Emma Lavelle has options on which way to go with her but she’s an exciting prospect over fences.

How about that leap at the last from BAD then, eh? Ben Pauling’s runner claimed a third win over fences at Kempton on Sunday and he jumped his rivals silly. He clearly has a liking for the track, with a 100% record in three starts around there.

Harry Cobden made the difference as RUBAUD clinched the Listed Hurdle for the third year in a row. BURDETT ROAD finished one length adrift but Cobden controlled the race and got his fractions spot on to ensure another winning day for connections.

Peter Fahey has had several nice mares at his yard over the years and he has another one in CHOSEN COMRADE. It looked a decent race on paper and she showed plenty of promise when beating Aruntothequeen, a solid yardstick herself, easily enough.

Get WALKS IN JUNE in the tracker for a big handicap in the spring. He should have a fair bit of improvement to come and Henry de Bromhead hinted that he will be busy enough to get experience under his belt. He has some nice form in the book.

Eric McNamara had the 1-2 in the Munster National and FRENCH DYNAMITE beat out market leader WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT to give the yard a day to remember. I wouldn’t say either are prospects going forward but let’s see what’s next on the agenda.

Another De Bromhead winner – in fact, the Knockeen handler had a 1-2-3 in the Mares' Beginners Chase but JULY FLOWER is the one to keep tabs on. She could be a player in the Mares Chase division; she jumps well, she’s classy and she will stay the trip.