Festive Highlights From Across The Water The majority of the country have spent the past couple of weeks in the midst of a turkey and mince pie haze but for jumps racing fans they have also had to have at least one eye on the TV. The festive period is one of the highlights of the winter when it comes to National Hunt Racing in the UK, and that was the case once again as the stars of the sport strutted their stuff up and down the country. The main spotlight shone on Kempton Park with their two-day Christmas fixture highlighted by the historic victory of Thistlecrack in the King George VI Chase. The World Hurdle hero became the first novice to win the contest on Boxing Day as he dispatched his illustrious stable-mate Cue card with the minimum of fuss. It was the first big test for Thistlecrack over fences and he passed it with flying colours as he jumped with enthusiasm before pulling clear of the field, and in truth he won with plenty in hand. Tom Scudamore was close to tears at the finish line and with Thistlecrack now hovering around the even money mark for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the story looks set to continue. The result has also had an impact on the beaten horse with Cue Card potentially now set to be re-routed to the Ryanair Chase, which is a race he won back in 2013. The drama continued elsewhere on the Kempton card with Yanworth proving his metal over 2m to win the Christmas Hurdle. Having originally been aimed towards the Stayer’s Hurdle, the JP McManus owned horse has been dropped back in trip, and he proved himself among the best of the British with this win which means all roads now lead to the Champion Hurdle. It is hard to imagine Yanworth having the speed to lay-up with an Annie Power or a Faugheen but he is clearly a classy animal, and maybe he might be the best of the rest on the opening day of the Festival. Altior - Kempton©Healy Racing PhotosSupreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Altior made the next step towards the Arkle over Christmas as he sauntered to victory in the Wayward Lad at Kempton and it is becoming increasingly difficult to pick holes in this horse. The seven Barrows trained in-mate looks a natural over his fences and he remains on course for a re-match with Min at the Festival, which could well prove to be the highlight of the entire week. As well as Altior, we also saw another Nicky Henderson novice chaser in the winners’ enclosure over Christmas with Buveur D’Air making it 2-2 over fences at Wetherby. It was a solid, rather than spectacular, performance from the horse as he brushed through several obstacles but he remains a player in the division and could yet be stepped up in trip this term. Colin Tizzard was certainly the main man at Kempton over Christmas and that success continued across the Severn Bridge as Native River claimed the Welsh Grand National. Carrying 11st 12lbs, Native River once again produced a fine front running performance to follow up his Hennessy win in stunning style. A Hennessy/Welsh National double is a remarkable achievement for any horse, especially for a 6YO, and he has every right to take his chance in the Gold Cup as a result. He wouldn’t have the class of a Thistlecrack but he stays and gallops as well as any horse in training and adds a nice each-way perspective to the ante-post market. www.jumpsracing.co.uk Sponsored Content
