Defi Du Seuil brushes aside Chepstow rivals

Report: Chepstow, Tuesday / Coral.co.uk Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle | 2m11y | 3yo

DEFI DU SEUIL overcame a few untidy jumps in the home straight to power away from his four rivals at Chepstow and justify odds of 4-5. Stretching his unbeaten record with Philip Hobbs to four, the leading Triumph Hurdle hopeful gave his supporters a few nervous moments as he jumped the final three flights but was never threatened otherwise.

In the end, the winning margin was a yawning 13 lengths, with the highly regarded Evening Hush the best of the rest in second, having been sent off at odds of 5-2. Winning jockey Richard Johnson said: « He’s very good and I was pleasantly shocked at the way he picked up turning in. If we had a wet spring he would take a lot of beating against the top juveniles.

« I lit him up and got him there to soon, but down the back straight his jumping was really good. He was a bit clumsy and green up the straight but he’s a very good jumper and has done it really well. » Hobbs added: « He was very impressive and the only minus was his jumping up the home straight, which was appalling and he is usually brilliant. Maybe he was in front for a bit too long.

« The Triumph is his aim so we will work back from that – going straight there is a possibility but he is very, very tough so maybe we will look at the four-year-old hurdle on Trials Day at Cheltenham at the end of January. »

‘He’s brilliant’

Evan Williams, trainer of the runner-up, had high praise for the winner and said: « Our’s is a good one and he destroyed us. No complaints, he beat us fair and square. We’ve run a blinder but this one is a machine, no mistake. He’s brilliant, we’re just very good. « We’ll look at Cheltenham in January or the Adonis. She’s good enough to win a Grade 2. » Paddy Power responded to the win by shortening Defi Du Seuil from 6-1 into 3-1 favouritism for March’s Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

http://www.racingpost.com

10 dec. 2016 – THOUGH he was landing cramped odds of 4-6, so taking was Defi Du Seuil in landing the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham on Saturday that he moved up to challenge Landofhopeandglory at the very top of the betting for the real thing in March.

Paddy Power and Betfair were most impressed by Defi Du Seuil, both making him their 6-1 joint-favourite with Landofhopeandglory, another McManus hopeful in the care of Joseph O’Brien.

The race was the sort of muddling affair that so many similar races descend into, with only Candy Burg’s pulling himself to the front lifting the tempo to any serious degree. All five were still in contention approaching two out, but a mistake by Domperignon Du Lys ended his challenge and by the last it was clear that the winner and Coeur De Lion had it between themselves. The runner-up pulled nine lengths away from the third, impressive in itself, but Barry Geraghty on Defi Du Seuil obviously had him covered and just rode out his mount after a check under his other arm.

« What impressed Barry most was how he met the last, ‘on springs’ was the term he used, » said winning trainer Philip Hobbs. He added: « We’re thinking about the Triumph and working backwards. He wouldn’t need any more races before the festival but he’s tough and would take it. »

Owner holds the best hand

Defi De Seuil is one of several JP McManus-owned contenders for the Triumph, but Hobbs said: « We usually get to run the [McManus] horses where we think they have the best chance and JP loves a winner at the festival, so I don’t think he’ll have a problem running a few against each other. »

Defi Du Seuil might get another opportunity to strut his stuff sooner than we may have hoped. « The Finale is only a fortnight away but I wouldn’t rule it out, » said Hobbs. « He wouldn’t mind soft ground at Chepstow, either. »

www.racingpost.com

3 dec. 2016 – Vieux Lion Rouge puts down Grand National marker with Becher Chase win (n°9 above, in the green red and gold colors of Professor Caroline TISDALL)

Tom Scudamore said he felt his late grandfather Michael was with him as he snatched victory on the line over the Grand National fences aboard David Pipe’s Vieux Lion Rouge in the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree. And now Scudamore and the seven-year-old’s connections are dreaming of glory in the Randox Health-sponsored Grand National back at Aintree Racecourse in the spring.

Everton FC fan Scudamore, who is yet to win the Grand National, was scoring for a second time over the big Aintree obstacles having landed the Grand Sefton Chase aboard Pipe’s Poole Master two years ago. Scudamore’s grandfather Michael, who died two years ago, did win the world’s greatest steeplechase aboard Oxo in 1959 and it was emotional success for the leading rider back at Aintree.

And after an typically action-packed contest the current rider in the Scudamore dynasty managed to get 8-1 favourite Vieux Lion Rouge up on the line by a short head to deny Jimmy Moffatt’s Highland Lodge (20-1) back-to-back victories in the 3m2f feature race. Under Henry Brooke Highland Lodge was always prominent but was just denied by the fast-finishing Pipe charge, who had been seventh to Rule The World in the National back in April. This year’s Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri (9-1) was a length back in third place, with Gordon Elliott’s Ucello Conti (10-1) fourth.

Scudamore said: « All the way through he has done it nicely. I had a great ride off him. A couple of times I thought he wasn’t going to find more. He hasn’t been the strongest in a finish in the past, but I think he’s just a stronger horse now. He has seen that out fantastic. « I’ve won the Grand Sefton before so to win another over these fences is a tremendous thrill, it’s always emotional for us as a family because of granddad and Oxo. I watched the National with him and I felt he was helping me all the round today. » He added: « We are long way off, but April (and the Grand National) has got to be part of the plan. »

Now Vieux Lion Rouge will bid to give Pipe a second Grand National victory after Comply Or Die’s success in 2008. Having run well in last season’s race and landed the Becher, Pipe is already planning for a return to Merseyside on April 8 in the new year. He was pushed in to 20-1 joint favourite alongside The Last Samuri and Empire Of Dirt by William Hill. 32 Red were offering 33-1, while The Last Samuri is as low as 14-1 favourite with bet365 for the National. The Pond House handler Pipe said: « This has obviously been the plan for a while, but I wasn’t sure he was going to get there.

« Once Scu bagged the rail at the elbow then I felt like he’d get up and he responded well. « He ran a brilliant race in the National (seventh) but he’s only seven and he didn’t quite get home, he’s a stronger horse now.

Full article on : http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/other-sport/horse-racing/vieux-lion-rouge-puts-down-12268175

30 nov. 2016 – The 4 years old Laissez Dire wins first time out in the UK on Catterick racecourse, for his new owner JP Mc Manus and trainer Alan King. He won easily a beginner’s chase facing older horses. Laissez Dire is a purchase advised by HRA to the Mc Manus team after 2 wins at Pau last winter for French trainer Guy Cherel.

Brelan d’As was an impressive winner at Wincanton on November 17th, an other purchase advised by HRA for the McManus team at the French Arqana Automn sales 2015.

DEFI DU SEUIL won a Group 2 in Cheltenham and remains unbeaten in the UK for his new colors of Mr. JP McManus. He is a  purchase advised by HRA for the McManus Team.

MARYPOP does not stop improving and won her Listed Race on April 3rd, very easily by a comfortable 3 lengths in Saint Cloud (FR) over a mile and 2,5 furlongs.

The style of the victory is very pleasant and full of promesses for the future. MARYPOP was purchased privately last year for Wood Hall Stud.

SLOWMOTION won easily a Group 2 for the second time out in the UK wearing her new colors of Mr. JP McManus (March 28th). A purchase advised by HRA for the McManus Team.

BLOODY MARY impressed and won yesterday at Taunton over hurdles for her first time out in the UK and for her new green and yellow colors. This was the first runner, and first winner (!), of a purchase advised by HRA for the McManus Team.

Article from the www.dailymail.co.uk

Bloody Mary impresses with win on debut at Taunton ahead of tilt at Cheltenham’s first Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

• JP McManus bought Bloody Mary after six wins in seven starts in France
• Five-year-old won at Taunton on Tuesday in the Openbet Novices’ Hurdle
• She’s been cut in the betting for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham
• Paddy Power has shortened Bloody Mary to 10-1 from 14s for the race

PUBLISHED: 22:30 GMT, 2 February 2016 | UPDATED: 22:31 GMT, 2 February 2016

Nicky Henderson’s Bloody Mary was cut in the betting for the inaugural Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham after winning on her British debut at Taunton.

Bought by JP McManus after winning six of her seven races in France, she began her career in Britain in the Openbet Novices’ Hurdle.

Starting her career at a fairly lowly level in Britain, the five-year-old nevertheless came up against a decent opponent in Philip Hobbs’ Banyu, who had won at Ludlow in November. But having travelled through the race very strongly in the hands of Barry Geraghty, everything looked to be going to plan for the 4-6 favourite. However, Banyu looked a big threat running between the final two flights and Geraghty had to get pretty serious before Bloody Mary exerted her influence to win by two and a quarter lengths.

McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said: ‘It was nice to see her continue her winning run, it can only help her confidence. ‘She was workmanlike, but she likes that soft ground. ‘The pleasing thing was how well she jumped British hurdles on her first run over them as sometimes it can catch the French types out. ‘She’s got a lovely way about her. She was very game and she’s an interesting type going forward.’

Paddy Power cut Bloody Mary to 10-1 from 14s for the new Festival race.

FIXE LE KAP was selected by Horse Racing Advisory at Arqana Automn sales for 12.000€.

Article from the Racing Post 

Fixe Le Kap throws hat into the ring for Triumph

BY PETER SCARGILL2:03PM 28 JAN 2016

WHILE Ivanovich Gorbatov may be the buzz horse for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival a live challenger threw his hat into the ring on Thursday in the form of effortless Warwick winner Fixe Le Kap.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, who has won a record six Triumph Hurdles, Fixe Le Kap races in the two-tone green colours of owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede which were carried to victory at Cheltenham by Soldatino in 2010 and Peace And Co last year.

Having made a winning start for Henderson and the owners at Newbury last month, Fixe Le Kap carried a penalty in the 2m juvenile hurdle at Warwick but was well-supported in the market returning the 300-100 favourite.

The winning distance over second Three Colours Red was a yawning 28 lengths, and the manner in which the four-year-old nimbly and accurately cleared his hurdles before powering away under a motionless Daryl Jacob would no doubt have pleased connections.

Something better

Fixe Le Kap was cut to 10-1 (from 16) for the Triumph Hurdle by BetVictor and BoyleSports with Ivanovich Gorbatov the favourite for the race at a general 3-1.

Henderson said: « We’ll look for something better now, but I wouldn’t think Kempton [for the Adonis] would be his track so we might think about the Victor Ludorum at Haydock where at least he’d likely get his ground.

« You wouldn’t run him on fast ground, but good ground’s a different ball game so we’d have to see. »

Jacob, who is contracted to ride for Munir and Souede, may have a tricky choice to make in the Triumph Hurdle with the owners also having Sceau Royal and Footpad in the race.