stodge

Tuesday 29th April Punchestown Festival, Ireland The final big jump festival of the spring took place at Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare. The meeting saw the final test of the season form with the Cheltenham and Aintree form under the microscope. A strong British raiding party came to take on the might of the Mullins and Elliott battallions in their own back yard. The opening day saw the ground Yielding but improving under dry conditions. Supreme winner KOPEK DES BORDES went off 3/10 to follow up in the KPMG Novices Hurdle over 3250m ina race where Willie Mullins trained four of the six runners. You know how it is, if your top horse flops, one of the others steps up and that's what happened as IRANCY took full advantage of an uncharacteristically lacklustre effort by KOPEK DES BORDES to lead home a 1-2-3-4 for the master of Clonsutton. The small matter of a form reversal of over 40 lengths from Cheltenham raised a few eyebrows but IRANCY had won at Fairyhouse after failing at Cheltenham and is clearly on a steep upward curve. Mullins has a stranglehold over the novice hurdlers and it will be interesting to see where the likes of SALVATOR MUNDI and KARBAU go next season - will they stay over hurdles or switch to fences? BALLYBURN had cost me serious money when failing in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and went off 11/8 for the Champion Novice Chase over 5000m. He faced a strong opponent in IMPAIRE ET PASSE who he had beaten ten lengths at Leopardstown at Christmas. However, the latter had won the Manifesto over 4000m at Aintree last time and came into the race in fine form. Mullins had five of the eight runners. The race changed at the fifth when IMPAIRE ET PASSE was brought down by his falling stablemate LECKY WATSON. You might have thought this would give BALLYBURN a real chance to atone for his Cheltenham failure but once again his jumping failed to convince and he was decisively outpointed by another stable companion, CHAMP KIELY, who scored at 22s and secured a 28 length form reversal from Christmas running with BALLYBURN. The feature of the opening day was the Champion Chase over 3250m which saw the Champion Chase winner from Cheltenham MARINE NATIONALE, up against Ryanair winner FACT OR FILE and the 2023 Arkle winner EL FABIOLO. Supporters of IL ETAIT TEMPS may disagree and they'd have a valid argument but MARINE NATIONALE has been the top speed chaser of the 2024-25 season and followed up his Cheltenham win but his success was facilitated by EL FABIOLO's departure at the second last. EL FABIOLO has now fallen in three of his last four runs so there's a problem. This was a brutal race and the only one on the card run faster than standard. MARINE NATIONALE jumps and travels at that speed and there are few speed chasers who can do that and he was far too good for CAPTAIN GUINNESS and SOLNESS.

We have the final declarations for Friday's card at York and just five go in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup over 2800m. Two stand out on the figures - REBEL'S ROMANCE is rated 123 and is a serious global racehorse. On his last run in Britain, he was third in the King George at Ascot last July behind GOLIATH. He won the Breeders Cup Turf, the Amir Trophy in Bahrain and last time was fourth in the Sheema Classic on World Cup night at Meydan. He has won over £10.5 million in win and place money which I don't imagine Godolphin or Sheikh Mohammed need but like to have. Here he is in a Group 2 over a new trip of 2800m - I think it may be they don't think he can quite cut it at 2400m with the very best but as there are only five and it's likely to be a steady gallop it may not matter. SWEET WILLIAM is from the other side of the fence - a confirmed stayer who was third in last year's Ascot Gold Cup, second in the Goodwood Cup and won the Doncaster Cup. The further basically the better for this one and I can't see him having the tactical speed to cope with REBEL'S ROMANCE at this trip. CONTINUOUS represents the hugely in-form Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O'Brien and this one won the 2023 Leger but hasn't really lived at the top table since. The trip is probably his optimum and they have put blinkers on for the first time which could spark improvement but they'll have to. We'll get the final runners for the Group 1 Lockinge tomorrow but it looks like a field of nine or ten with ROSALLION and NOTABLE SPEECH hugely interesting on their seasonal debuts as 4-y-o.

Starting the wash up from the racing which took place while Mrs Stodge and I were cruising the Med. Saturday April 26th - Sandown - British Jumps Finale The end of the long winter season and the crowning of champions with JP McManus the top Owner and Sean Bowen the top Jockey but the top Trainer title went down to this final meeting. The day started with Dan Skelton holding a £58k lead over Willie Mullins but with the latter sending 21 runners to the Esher track it seemed improbable Skelton could hold on. And so it proved. The final nail in the Skelton coffin came in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase over 3150m where Mullins ran ENERGUMENE and IL ETAIT TEMPS but Skelton must have still hoped the near £100k winning prize would elude the Master of Clonsutton as Nicky Henderson had the race favourite in JONBON, a past winner of the race and unbeaten in five round Sandown. The changing of the speed chaser division which began with MARINE NATIONALE's decisive defeat of JONBON at Cheltenham continued here as IL ETAIT TEMPS returned from nearly a year off to decisively defeat the Henderson favourite who had made most and jumped well albeit a tad to the left but in the end IL ETAIT TEMPS under Danny Mullins was just too good. I suspect we'll see JONBON run over further next season - could he be a King George contender? As for IL ETAIT TEMPS he had run third to GAELIC WARRIOR (of whom more in a moment) in the 2024 Arkle but had reversed places in the Barberstown at Punchestown but a knee problem had kept him off the track. To me, he's a horse who prefers better ground while MARINE NATIONALE looks like the one who would prefer it soft or heavy. I suspect IL ETAIT TEMPS will be back at Sandown for the Tingle Creek while MARINE NATIONALE heads to Leopardstown at Christmas via the Hilly Way. ENERGUMENE and EDWARDSTONE have been championship level in the past but both are eleven and are probably past their peak. The win of IL ETAIT TEMPS secured the trainer's championship for Willie Mullins who won it for a second year. Skelton went down with all guns blazing but in the end he was about 10-15 quality horses short. Mullins had the first and second in the supporting Grade 2 Oaksey Chase over 4450m with GAELIC WARRIOR following up his fine Aintree success seeing off APPRECIATE IT who ran his best race for a while. The winner could be Gold Cup standard but will be see out the full 5200m at Prestbury Park? I have my doubts. The Grade 2 Select Hurdle over 4250m saw Paul Nicholls remind us he is still a force to be reckoned with and the 2023-24 champion Harry Cobden illustrate what a fine rider he is with an all the way success on BLUEKING D'OROUX who improved on his fourth in this race in 2024. The winner has been tried at 4800m over hurdles and found wanting and this is his optimum trip though opportunities at this distance are few and far between.

Yes, very controversial finish. When I get a chance to have a proper look at the race, I'll offer my thoughts. Mick Fitzgerald did a very good analysis on Sky Sports Racing which can be found on YouTube and it will no doubt be discussed at length on today's York coverage. You have to remember the rules in France aren't the same as in the UK and Ireland - interference which would be considered minor here is treated much more seriously there. Race outcomes which wouldn't be reversed in the UK or Ireland can be reversed in France even if the interference is deemed not to have affected the result. It's an anomaly but if you go to France you play by their rules . I'll come back to you.

We have Thursday's final declarations for the second day of the York Dante meeting. Two Group 2 races - both over 2050m. The Middleton is for the older fillies and mares. Eight go to post but four seem to dominate according to the betting and the ratings. Joint top rated are SEA OF FIRE and BEAUTIFUL LOVE. The former ran okay when fifth in the Gordon Richards at Sandown three weeks ago - she needed the run and should be a lot fitter though I think she's a 2400m type. BEAUTIFUL LOVE runs for Godolphin and turns out quickly after running third in the Dahlia at Newmarket. Her stable companion CINDERELLA'S DREAM looked very good winning that race but the quick turnround worries me. Ralph Beckett runs DOHA who seems completely indifferent to the ground. She won a decent handicap on quick turf at the Royal meeting but won in Listed company in France on very soft ground. She was fifth in the Nassau but well held on Champions Day when the 2100m on very soft ground might have been too much. I can't have her first time up for all I think she's a decent filly. NAKHEEL won the Park Hill at Doncaster over 2850m so this is a big drop in trip for her first run so I'll let her go as well. Of the others, ROYAL DRESS and SIOUX LIFE are two others whose form is all on much slower turf. It's a race, like a bad wine, to lay down and avoid, but if you force me to take $20 from @scooby3051's hand, I'd put it on SEA OF FIRE. The Dante is the credential Derby trial - the record of winners has been very strong though the record of placed horses not so good. Eleven go to post and the field is headed by the current English Derby favourite THE LION IN WINTER who is 4/5. He only ran twice as a juvenile but his second run was a win in the Acomb over 1400m of the Knavesmire. Course and ground look fine - whether he's an Epsom type is a question for three weeks time and were it not for the strength of the Ballydoyle runners in the recent trials, I'd consider 4/5 a big lay. He faces the horse he beat in the Acomb, WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE, who has mixed it at the top table both as a juvenile and this campaign. He won the Royal Lodge at Newmarket before running third in the Futurity at Doncaster. This season, he was second to FIELD OF GOLD in the Craven and then fifth in the 2000 Guineas where he suffered interference at the start but ran home well. The step up to 2050m will help - whether he can overturn the Acomb form with THE LION IN WINTER is another question. Godolphin run the unbeaten ALPINE HILLS who has looked decent in wins at Yarmouth and in Listed company at Newmarket last time - this is another step forward in class. TUSCAN HILLS run for the north (DANTE was the last northern trained Derby winner just after WW2) and while he looked good on soft ground at Pontefract last autumn, this is entirely different. Ralph Beckett runs PRIDE OF ARRAS who won his maiden impressively at Sandown last summer and could be anything while the Gosdens set us a poser by running three. I like DAMYSUS who was a decent third at Sandown last month - he's my each way pick at 14s. Races like this make or break reputations - IF THE LION IN WINTER wins well, he'll be a strong favourite for Epsom but I like WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE against him, I respect ALPINE HILLS and PRIDE OF ARRAS who are both unexposed but the each way play is DAMYSUS.

I'll do a look back on what happened while I was away in the upcoming threads as the Guineas races in particular are of relevance for the rest of the season. Thunderstorms in London this afternoon but it's been incredibly dry in Britain since February - the Dante meeting at York starts on Wednesday on ground described as Good to Firm, Good in places. The opening day final declarations came through this afternoon - the Group 2 Duke of York over 1200m has eight runners and Karl Burke sets us a bit of a poser. He's put Ryan Moore on INISHERIN who has had wind surgery since flopping in the Sprint Trophy at Haydock last September. He won the Sandy Lane at Haydock and followed up in the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot beating the useful LAKE FOREST who won the Golden Eagle last November. On his best form, he takes a lot of beating but the wind surgery and an eight month absence leaves questions. His stable companion ELITE STATUS beat LAKE FOREST in the Hackwood at newbury but failed twice after in Group 1 company and is another about whom I have doubts. The money has come for NIGHT RAIDER who has it to do on the figures - he was tenth in the 2000 Guineas last year and last in the Jersey but returned to form last autumn with two wins on the synthetic surfaces at Kempton and Newcastle. FLORA OF BERMUDA has done all her best running on softer ground, MARSHMAN is another Karl Burke runner but he was twelfth in this last year and doesn't seem to have improved. The one I like at a price is KERDOS who has been running over 1000m but has some form at this trip and loves fast ground. He won the Temple last year and was fourth in the Flying Five - the latter is Group 1 form and I'm jhust hoping with another winter on his back and the ground he loves and a flat track he'll see it out and he's my each way play if they all stand. The Group 3 Musidora over 2000m for the 3-y-o fillies is often considered an Oaks trial but just six go to post. Aidan O'Brien's team has been ominously strong in the trials in both Britain and Ireland and he runs WHIRL who I'm sure will have come on a lot from her sixth in the Park Express at the Curragh in mid April. MISS TONNERRE has probably the best piece of form when fourth in the May Hill at Doncaster to subsequent 1000 Guineas winner DESERT FLOWER. Ralph Beckett runs two and while SMOKEN is unbeaten her form is on soft and heavy turf and I'm much more interested in TATTYCORAM who went into the Stodge notebook after a promising third at Ascot on debut. I backed her on her seasonal debut at Yarmouth but she needed the run and got my cash back at Sandown last time. Thursday will see the Group 2 Middleton for the older fillies and the Dante for the 3-y-o colts, one of the significant Derby trials. Last year's winner, AMBIENTE FRIENDLY, was runner up at Epsom. On Friday we have the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup over 2800m. Saturday sees the Group 1 Lockinge over the straight mile at Newbury for which ten have been entered and it's a strong field with the first two from the 2024 2000 Guineas both lining up. NOTABLE SPEECH won at Newmarket beating ROSALLION but the latter won the Irish 2000 Guineas and followed up in the St James's Palace. Both are rated 122 and are seriously good horses. DANCING GEMINI was impressive at Sandown but will struggle with the other two if they are on song. More as the week goes on.

On the day Grand National and Gold Cup winning jockey Rachael Blackmore announced her retirement: Ladies team removed and replaced by new side in changes made to this year's Shergar Cup at Ascot | Racing Post Interesting to note the changes and perhaps we can get a Kiwi jockey over to ride.

Thanks for the responses to my initial points. The synthetic surfaces weren't brought in just for the benefit of the owners, trainers and jockeys but really for the bookmakers to provide an income stream for betting shops when turf racing was impossible due to the weather. The concept was for synthetic surface meetings to run alongside jump races in December, January and February to provide that income stream and to provide a source of income for middle and lower level participants. It has evolved from that. I recognise in NZ you can and do run on grass in June, July and August and accepting the likelihood of soft or heavy turf means you can have winter gallopers who have their time while the turf is to their liking. If you have young or inexperienced horses, however, isn't there a niche for them to gain that experience on less arduous surfaces? That's how I would be marketing synthetic racing - as an opportunity for your decent ground performer or for your inexperienced horse to race without having to endure bad ground. Ireland has Dundalk which races twice a week in winter for decent money including under floodlights - perhaps another area for consideration? The likes of Aidan O'Brien and Dermot Weld run horses on the Polytrack and to be blunt if it's good enough for them it's good enough for everyone else. The core issue seems to be one of trust - not enough people in the NZ racing community, it seems to me from 12,000 miles away, have enough trust, faith, confidence, whatever word you want to use, in the ability of the clubs and those managing the synthetic surfaces to provide a consistent, safe surface for their horses. I said in my earlier Polytrack can be tailored to provide different kinds of surface - it can. IF you want summer type ground, it can be harrowed shallow but if you want winter type ground, it can be power harrowed to produce a softer like surface. That information needs to be communicated and different surfaces can be provided if that's what is needed. There's an old adage - money talks, men walk. If you want horses to run on synthetic surfaces and you have competition from turf venues, you have to up the ante on prize money.

Just found my comment from last July about RULING COURT on his debut at Sandown. I see he's 4/1 for the Derby and 6/1 for the St James's Palace.

I can't speak to that, my friend. Apart from fog or high winds, which can cancel meetings irrespective of the surface, synthetic surfaces should be able to deal with rain, frost, snow or whatever. The truth is synthetic surfaces need harrowing and other maintenance and can be tailored to provide a Standard or a Standard to Slow or even Slow surface if required.

Without wishing to put my gonads in a pond full of piranhas, all I can tell you from up here is the synthetic (NOT all weather) surfaces have been an absolute godsend to UK, Irish and French racing and betting. They provide an income stream for, let's be honest, the middle and lower ranking owners, trainers and jockeys during the winter months when we can't race on grass and, as other have mentioned, some very good horses have started their career on them. Have there been problems? Undoubtedly - in the early days (1990s), surfaces like Equitrack and Fibresand had their issues but nowadays, the main complaint is more about the prize money but that's another matter. That begs the question - what are the UK, Ireland and France doing right or what is NZ doing wrong? There was cultural resistance up here in the early days but when it became clear the synthetic surfaces provided a safe place for horses to run in midwinter when grass racing was impossible, that faded. A synthetic surface should be useable 120-150 days a year if properly maintained and laid - is that the problem?

Bonjour from near Toulon in southern France where I have finally got some Internet. Wonderful weekend for Godolphin in both Britain and America. I saw RULING COURT on debut at Sandown last summer and he looked a real prospect. The second ran a huge Derby trial. DESERT FLOWER was dominant in the 1000 Guineas. Ollie Sangster will be thrilled with second and third and I look forward to seeing LAKE VICTORIA over further.

Not where I am normally as Mrs Stodge told me I needed a holiday so will miss Punchestown, Newmarket and Chester. Craven winner FIELD OF GOLD is 7/4 favourite for Saturday’s 2000 Guineas over the mile. 17 have been entered. The 1000 Guineas Is on Sunday.

The Sandown Park Finale meeting kicked off with a card on flat racing on Friday afternoon. The ground was Good, Good to Soft in places. The feature was the Group 2 Sandown Mile and this saw DANCING GEMINI continue his advance through the older mile division with a convincing success. He was always just off the pace and quickened well from 400m down to win by a length and three quarters. TAMFANA ran a huge race on her return with a 5 lb Group 1 penalty for her win in the Sun Chariot last autumn. With this run under her belt and absent the penalty, you'd fancy her chances of reversing the places with DANCING GEMINI. CICERO'S GIFT, a confirmed soft ground performer, kept on well for third just in front of ALCANTOR. HAATEM raced well with the pace but tired in the slow ground and I'm sure he will come on a lot but LEAD ARTIST hated the slow ground and post race connections confirmed he will only run on quick turf in the future (America perhaps?). DANCING GEMINI is 7/2 and TAMFANA 7s for the Lockinge but both sets of conncections after the race suggested the Ispahan at Longchamp over 1800m at the end of May as a more likely target. DANCING GEMINI ran really well in the Poulains last year and we know TAMFANA gets 2000m so this throws Lockinge calculations into the air a little. The Group 3 Gordon Richards over 2000m went to the 8-y-o AL AASY who was finessed into the race under a canny Jim Crowley ride and mugged them all in the final 100m. He's a proven Group 3 performer but hasn't shown up on his first outing but the Haggas yard are in tremendous form. ANCIENT WISDOM, the choice of William Buick and a 12/1 shot, ran a fine re-appearance in second. He was second in last year's Dante and eighth in the Derby after which his season was disappointing. The one to take from the race, however, was ALMAQAM from the Ed Walker, who, as they often say of me, was carrying plenty of condition but ran on really well for third. He's another who will improve a lot for the run as will SEA OF FIRE. The Classic Trial over 2000m saw a rare April winner in the UK for Aidan O'Brien as SWAGMAN cut down favourite WINDLORD in the final 100m. The eyecatcher was the Gosden trained DAMYSUS who was a close third. I doubt we've seen the Derby winner in all honesty but it wouldn't surprise me if we've seen three nice types for races like the Jockey Club or the King Edward VII at the Royal Ascot meeting. More success at Perth on Friday for Dan Skelton who extended his lead over Willie Mullins to nearly £60k but with Mullins bringing a huge raiding party of 21 runners to Sandown for the Saturday Jumps Finale meeting, it might have bene too little to stop the Clonsutton juggernaut.

Six go in Sunday's Ganay at Longchamp where thr ground is Very Soft after a lot of rain in France. MAP OF STARS has gone the traditional French route to this - via the Exbury (Gr.3) and the Harcourt (Gr.2) and looked particularly good in the latter which was run on decent ground. Whether he's as effective on very soft turf might be the question but he's fit and improving which at this time of year counts for a lot. We know 2000m on soft ground works well for AL RIFFA and on his close second to City of Troy in last year's Eclipse he would be right in this. They tried him at 2400m and he looked very good winning a German Group 1 but was well beaten in the Arc. His last run was third to SHIN EMPEROR in the Group 2 at the Saudi Cup meeting - the winner didn't do much for that form last time. The other Irish runner is the filly HIGHER LEAVES and for all she won the Group 3 Fille de l'Air at the back end in style, that's a fair way short of this level. The British raider is ROYAL RHYME from the Karl Burke yard and he's a serious threat. He won the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard on soft ground at Sandown and his last three wuns were in the Juddmonte, the Irish Champion and the British Champion last season so certainly dining at the top table. It's no surprise he was well held in the Juddmonte (plenty of good horses were including an Arc winner) and he ran okay in Ireland but his third at Ascot on soft ground is a decent bit of form in this company. The Burke horses are in good form - five individual 2-y-o winners already suggesting he has a decent crop of young horses. HORIZON DORE is a mainstay in this kind of race - he was well held in fifth last year but ran well in defeat in both the Ispahan and the Prince of Wales. He looks held by MAP OF STARS on Harcourt form and he's another who might prefer better ground. SOSIE is an intriguing runner. He was third in the Jockey Club and then won the Grand Prix de Paris and the Niel before going off 4/1 favourite for the Arc and finishing a decent fourth to Bluestocking. I'm not convinced a tactical 2000m works for him first time out and I can't help but think his main objectives this year will be at the longer trip leading to a return to the Arc in five and a bit months. MAP OF STARS looks the one thought for me he is lacking Group 1 form and the ground may not be ideal. AL RIFFA would go close if on song but I prefer ROYAL RHYME to provide a British winner. INTERNAUTE, who was four and a half lengths behind SOSIE in the Grand Prix de Paris, goes for the Group 3 Barbeville over 3100m, the first significant French staying race of the year. The most interesting horse on Sunday's card is AVENTURE who goes in the Group 3 Allez France for the fillies and mares over 2000m rather than the Group 1. AVENTURE chased home Bluestocking in both the Vermeille and the Arc and I imagine a strong 2400m campaign is being planned for this filly who will probably need the run but is one to take very seriously. Back to domestic matters and going into the final two days of the jumping season, Dan Skelton retains a lead of £58k in the Trainers Championship thanks to an across the card treble at Perth and Warwick yesterday.

We have the final declarations for the two day Sandown Finale Meeting tomorrow and Saturday. It used to be a Mixed card of flat and jump races but now Friday is Flat racing and Saturday the official finale of the jumps season. The ground on the Flat course is Good, Good to Soft in places and the feature Group 2 Sandown Mile has drawn eight runners. Five are rated between 114 and 117 and it looks to concern them - the other three look to have a lot to do on the ratings. LEAD ARTIST is top rated but he's never run in a Group 1. He was second in the Park at Doncaster over 1400m to KINROSS but last time was second in Bahrain over 2000m so what his optimum trip is I'm not sure. Overnight favourite is DANCING GEMINI who I thought would win the Derby last year (which explains my usual skill at tipping racehorses). He didn't see out the 2400m at Epsom but back this season after a break he looked very good at Doncaster on the first day of the season. If he wins this, he'll be a serious player for races like the Lockinge and the Queen Anne but he has it to prove at this level. ALCANTOR comes over from France having won the Group 3 Edmond Blanc at Saint Cloud. He's been here before and was well held behind HAATEM in the Craven last year but Andre Fabre knows his onions (both French and English) and presumably thinks with another year on his back, ALCANTOR will relish the quicker ground. TAMFANA represents French-born but Englsish-based handler David Menuisier. She was third in the Diane and fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris, both over further. Brought back to a mile after a summer break, she won the Group 3 Atalanta over the course and distance and then won the Group 1 Sun Chariot beating the useful INSPIRAL. Her final reason was a decent third to CHARYN in the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot on Champions Day and the balance of her form puts her right in this. HAATEM is with Richard Hannon and after a convincing win in the Craven went to the 2000 Guineas and finished third to NOTABLE SPEECH and his stable companion ROSALLION (also kept in training and a very exciting prospect). He was a head behind ROSALLION when they were first and second in the Irish 2000 Guineas and then won the Jersey at Ascot over 1400m. He wasn't seen after that but Hannon has asserted he is more than ready to do himself justice. It's not an easy one to call - DANCING GEMINI might be the improver but on the balance of form I'm with TAMFANA - the Menuisier horses are starting to hit form with three winners this week. I'm really worried about HAATEM who for me is the one with the potential to blow the race apart. The Group 3 Gordon Richards over 2000m has seven runners - the question is whether ALMAQAM will be forward enough on this ground. He mixed it with the likes of ECONOMICS last season. However, SEE THE FIRE also ran at a high level last year and the Balding horses are looking good so far. The Group 3 Classic Trial over 2000m looks fascinating with the form of WINDLORD and SWAGMAN against the potential of the once raced winners DAMYSUS and I AM I SAID. If he handles the quicker ground, I AM I SAID may be the one. Saturday sees the climax to the jumping season with the battle for the Trainers' Championship supposedly going to the last race - I suspect it won't. Seven go in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase over 3150m. JONBON is 8/13 and his record tells you all you need to know. He's run 22 times and won 18 - his four defeats have all been at Cheltenham including in the Arkle and two renewals of the Champion Chase. Elsewhere, he is undefeated including at Sandown where he won this race in 2023 and 2024 as well as the Henry VIII in 2022 and the Tingle Creek in 2023 and 2024. It's hard to argue against that level of form and while both IL ETAIT TEMPS and ENERGUMENE will be worthy opponents, he's beaten them before and this isn't Cheltenham. The Grade 2 Oaksey Chase over 4460m may be where the Trainers' Championship starts to slip away from Skelton. Mullins has four while Skelton's representative, BOOMBAWN, has place chances at best. GAELIC WARRIOR, winner of the Golden Miller at Liverpool, is favourite at 7/4 and will take plenty of beating. PIC D'ORHY doesn't have a great record at Sandown unlike Ascot where he's very good. To be fair, he's had a much lighter season than usual and looked at this best when winning the Ascot Chase in mid February. GENTLEMEN DU MEE was once second in a Champion Chase but his form in Graded races this year has been poor - he did win the Topham over the Aintree fences last time but that's a handicap. I think Paul Nicholls might help his former Assistant by having the winner in PIC D'ORHY. Skelton has two and Mullins one in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle over 4240m. KITZBUHEL was well fancied for Mullins at Aintree but didn't quite see out an end to end gallop in the Liverpool Hurdle. In what is a poor renewal, the first time hood might help him settle a little better and he might account for the Henderson trained LUCKY STRIKE who was beaten a long way in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. Mullins has entered ten in the 5600m handicap chase which carries a first prize of just under £100k - that might be where Skelton has to give way. We'll have the final declarations for Sunday's Ganay tomorrow.

A quick look back at the Easter Monday racing. At Fairyhouse, HAITI COULEURS followed up his Cheltenham win with an all-the-way success in the Irish National and is already being strongly touted for the English National next spring. ANY SECOND NOW was a gallant second and this wonderful horse was promptly retired by trainer Ted Walsh. ANY SECOND NOW was third in the 2021 English National, second in the 2022 English National and second in both the 2024 and 2025 Irish Nationals. He won seven out of forty one and while only amassing £144k in win prize money, that was significantly boosted by over £500k in place money. BLUE LEMONS atoned for a poor run in the Triumph at Cheltenham with a strong win in the Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle and he looks a decent prospect for next season. That was one for Willie Mullins but Gordon Elliott took the other Group 2 with FOUND A FIFTY for whom the step up in trip to 4000m was a big help. He'd won the Maghull at Aintree last year and many saw him as a Champion Chase possible but he's never quite had the speed to mix it with the very best and was well held behind MARINE NATIONALE at Cheltenham. If he can raise his game next season at 4000m, he could be a big player in that division. The British Jump Trainers' Championship battle between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton continued and Skelton pushed the lead out further with four winners, two at Chepstow and two at Plumpton whereas Mullins had just the one success at Plumpton. Tuesday saw Epsom's first Flat meeting of the year and the Classic Trial over the last 2000m of the Derby course saw 40/1 outsider SEA SCOUT get a 33/1 quote fir the Derby after a narrow success over the Ballydoyle raider TRINITY COLLEGE who, you;d think, wouldn't be in the front row of the pecking order at Aidan O'Brien's yard. The Mullins-Skelton battle has continued and as of this morning (Thursday), Skelton's lead is £24,500 with Mullins having two winners at Perth yesterday compared with a winner at Perth and one at Ludlow for Skelton. The interest in this struggle has seen Sandown change its timings on Saturday to allow ITV to show the last six races on its free to air broadcast just in case the battle goes down to the very last race of the season.

Yes, if you had documents like that for every top race at your fingertips, you wouldn't need my pre-race bletherings. I hope Nick Smith and Ascot take note - the problem up here is we have 48 hour final declarations, HK seem to work much further in advance.

Indeed and the connections of HEAVENLY HEATHER at Newcastle last Friday were probably just going to "enjoy the fun and the experience" but she goes in at 200/1. They said after the race they'd "had a couple of quid" on the filly (connections do, don't they?). I'm going to gently disagree with you again and say it's about the dream of winning, the hope rather than the expectation. It is also about the fun and the experience of course. I wish EL VENCEADOR and connections nothing but good fortune - the main thing is he comes back safe and sound, anything else is a bonus. As an advertisement for NZ racing in the wider racing world, it's also a big positive.

I understand and when I was in NZ I saw him win both the Herbie Dyke and the Otaki-Maori Classic so I know he's a very good horse and well worth his place in this field. From an overall global form perspective, it's a very positive development - I want to see how he goes against some very good Japanese and European horses and I suspect the gap will not be what some might imagine it to be. It's also good to see NZ connections not just running off to Australia but being prepared to go to other jurisdictions and taking a chance. I'd love to see the two who beat him in the Zabeel Classic - LA CRIQUE and SNAZZYTAVI - run elsewhere, yes, even Ascot, why not? They would, I think, be competitive in a race like the Duke of Cambridge over a mile and then go on to the Falmouth at Newmarket.

No, I won't. Saturday sees the official end of the jumps season up here with a meeting at Sandown Park (ground currently Good, Good to Firm in places). The card features the Grade 1 Celebration Chase over 3100m. 17 have been entered with Willie Mullins entering four and Dan Skelton six but Skelton's six look inferior to M|ullins' four. The latter has the likes of IMPAIRE ET PASSE, IL ETAIT TEMPS, ENERGUMENE and GAELIC WARRIOR - all Grade 1 winners. The favourite however is JONBON from the Henderson yard who is 4/7 and will likely be partnered by Harry Cobden as regular jockey Nico de Boinville took a heavy fall at Plumpton yesterday and may be sidelined for a fortnight. The Grade 2 Oaksey Chase over the 4450m trip has seven Mullins entries and five from the Skelton yard but again the quality edge sits strongly with Mullins. There are double declarations with the above Celebration Chase so we'll see how that works out later in the week. Mullins has four and Skelton three among the twelve for the Grade 2 Select Hurdle over 4250m. Mullins has entered LOSSIEMOUTH and if she turns up she could pick these up and carry them. There's a strong entry for the Vintage Crop at Navan including KYPRIOS and ILLINOIS and an interesting Group 3 Salsabil over 2000m. We have the first French Group 1 of the year on Sunday, the Ganay at Longchamp over 2000m. 14 entries including the likes of ILLINOIS and LOS ANGELES from Ballydoyle while Joseph O'Brien has entered AL RIFFA and Charlie Appleby has put in ANCIENT WISDOM. The local challenge looks pretty strong with IRESINE, MAP OF STARS and SOSIE all in the preliminary list. More on all of this later in the week.

Looking back to the Easter weekend just gone (well, some ot it anyway). The jumps scene over here has been enlivened by the ongoing struggle for the Trainers' Championship between Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins. Skelton had a good Saturday with a coup,e of winners and some places but Mullins hit back at Plumpton on Sunday when ABSURDE won the Sussex Champion Hurdle. Yes, it's the same ABSURDE who was fifth in the Melbourne Cup last year and is probably the best dual purpose horse up here currently. He's in both the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown and the Yorkshire Cup (at York, not surprisingly) next month and he's 8s for them both. Skelton's advantage, which had increased from just £1,500 after Aintree to over £70k by the start of Easter was reduced to £28k by the close of Sunday's racing. Fairyhouse lost their Saturday meeting after 30mm of rain hit the track but a dry day allowed Sunday's card to go ahead albeit on ground described as Soft to Heavy. The Fairyhouse Easter Festival isn't quite the meeting it was thirty years ago but it still has a couple of Grade 1 Championship races. First, the WillowWarm Gold Cup over 4000m. Willie Mullins had three of th six contenders and while all were fancied, you could argue it was the "third string" SPINDLEBERRY who got the job done. ILE ATLANTIQUE departed early and CHAMP KIELY jumped too often to the left leaving himself vulnerale to SPINDLEBERRY and FIREFOX in the straight. The former did it very well and is a fast improving filly with surprisingly few miles on the clock - that was just her seventh race. FIREFOX ran well on ground which might not have been ideal. Second, the Honeysuckle Mares Hurdle over 4000 Another for Mullins and Paul Townend though the winner was, as with SPINDLEBERRY, probably only the third beat of the Mullins entries but with jockey retainers in place, Townend was on the right one and AURORA VEGA atoned for a disappointing run in the Mares Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham racing prominently from the start, taking over at halfway and just having enough in reverse to hold the late challenge of THATLLDOMOSS, the English raider, who outran her 50/1 odds. A poor race for the Henry de Bromhead yard with AIR OF ENTITLEMENT failing to follow up her Cheltenham win and beaten a long way and Albert Bartlett runner up THE BIG WESTERNER stopping very quickly from three out and pulling up. Both were tested post race and found to be normal - perhaps the stress of the Prestbury races coupled with the markedly different ground, had an impact. The winner is bred in the jumping purple being out of the brilliant Quevega and a full sister to FACILE VEGA. The concluding Bumper went for as much as the Grade 1 races - it was for unraced 4-y-o so all manner of future talent on display. The winner was I'M SLIPPY, a gelded son of Maxios and a half to a winner over hurdles. Any number of the runners in this could go on to much better things over hurdles next winter. I'll pick up the Easter Monday highlights in my next.

Just had a look at the likely field - no DUBAI HONOUR and the field headed by last year's King George winner GOLIATH. That day, GOLIATH beat the future Arc winner BLUESTOCKING at the Ascot showpiece midsummer event over 2400m. From there, GOLIATH won the Conseil de Paris on heavy ground before a decent sixth in the Japan Cup. I can't see how this sharp 2000m works for GOLIATH given his form is over 2400m on galloping tracks but I could be wrong. The Japanese challengers PROGNOSIS and LIBERTY ISLAND are to be respected but PROGNOSIS was left trailing by VIA SISTINA in the Cox Plate - she'd have been a fascinating runner in this by the way while LIBERTY ISLAND should do better back at this trip and this way round but was moderate in Meydan to be honest. I can't see EL VENCEADOR beating an in-form LIBERTY ISLAND to be blunt but you have to excuse the latter's last effort and you could probably argue TASTIERA will beat them both.

Yes that makes a lot of sense. He's going to be considered as an older horse - the Greenlands is for 4-y-o and upwards (not sure if there is a specific clause mentioning Southern Hemisphere 3-y-o and whether he would get any kind of weight allowance). The very useful REGIONAL was second in the Greenlands last year. From there, the logical path would be the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee at Ascot followed by the July Cup at Newmarket.

This coming Friday sees the first Group 2 of the British season with the Mile at Sandown. The ground is currently Good and ten have been entered. Early favourite is DANCING GEMINI who looked very good at Doncaster on the first day of the season. This looks a strong renewal of this race and we have three others rated above 115 (which is basically Group 1 class up here). ALCANTOR comes over from France and trainer Andre Fabre had SAJIR win at Newmarket last week. ALCANTOR has come to the UK before when sixth in last year's Craven after which he ran third in the Poulains and sixth in the Jockey Club. He won a Group 3 at Saint Cloud on seasonal return at the end of March and I presume Fabre thinks he will enjoy some decent ground. You'd think the stiff mile would be ideal. TAMFANA mixed it at the highest level last year. She was fourth, beaten barely a length, in the English 1000 Guineas and ran another fine race when third in the Diane. She didn't get home when fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris over 2400m but put up her best effort when beating INSPIRAL to win the Sun Chariot at Newmarket. That puts her right in this. Top rated on 117 however is LEAD ARTIST representing the in-form Juddmonte and Gosden combination though oddly enough he's never run in a Group 1. He's also probably better known over a touch further and last time was runner up in the Bahrain International Trophy. Nine have been entered for the Group 3 Gordon Richards over 2000m for the older horses. REGAL RHYME is a course and distance winner, albeit on soft ground and mixed it with the likes of AUGUSTE RODIN in the Prince of Wales at Ascot and CITY OF TROY in the Juddmonte at York. He was a close seventh in the Irish Champion and third in the British version of the same race but will the ground soften enough for him? The Classic Trial over 2000m is a credential race for the English Derby. WINDLORD is early favourite having run a decent third to subsequent Futurity winner HOTAZHELL in the Beresford. Aidan O'Brien has entered SWAGMAN who was also behind HOTAZHELL but in the Tyros at Leopardstown. Ralph Beckett runs I AM I SAID who won on his only start as a juvenile at Newmarket but the horse he beat that day, BYBLOS, disappointed in a handicap last week. More on these races in the middle of the week.