Friday, May 05, 2017

A brief review of the 2016/17 jumps season

Champion jockey: Richard Johnson
Champion trainer: Nicky Henderson
Winning owner: J P McManus
Champion conditional jockey: Harry Cobden

The exceptionally dry autumn meant the season was rather slow to pick up a discernible rhythm. Taquin Du Seuil mugged Village Vic to win the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham's Open meeting; a week later Cue Card beat Coneygree fifteen lengths in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

It soon became clear Cue Card wasn't the only star in Colin Tizzard's yard. Sent off favourite, Native River appeared to win the Hennessy with something in hand and then put in a monstrous effort to win the Welsh National off top weight on going that was officially described as soft but looked desperately heavy.

In the meantime Thistlecrack was cutting his teeth over the larger obstacles before going to Kempton at Christmas to beat stablemate Cue Card three and a quarter lengths in the King George showpiece. At that same meeting Might Bite was some eighteen lengths clear of his nearest pursuer when taking a crashing fall at the final flight in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase.

ITV took over terrestrial racing coverage from Channel Four on New Year's Day; their inaugural transmission fell some way short of the standard required with heavy showers causing problems for commentators and cameramen alike. Improvements followed, with innovative feature pieces proving particularly popular.

In a dramatic Cotswold Chase at the Cheltenham Trials meeting Many Clouds beat Thistlecrack a head and then in desperately sad circumstances collapsed and died, having suffered a 'severe pulmonary haemorrhage'; he was subsequently voted Jumps Horse of the Year.

Following victory in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot, Yanworth appeared to be heading for the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but plans were quickly revised a week or so later after Unowhatimeanharry, in the same ownership, won Newbury's Long Distance Hurdle.

'Harry' went into the big one unbeaten since his move from Helen Nelmes' yard in October 2015; on the day he ran a little flat, finishing third behind Nichols Canyon. Next time out Harry Fry's star reversed the form, beating his Cheltenham conqueror a head in Punchestown's Labrokes Champion Stayers' Hurdle.

Re-routed Yanworth, sent off favourite for the Champion Hurdle, was beaten some way out; Buveur D'Air claimed the title. Stepped up to three miles next time, Yanworth gained compensation, beating Supasundae a length in the Ryanair Stayers' Liverpool Hurdle.

At 1/4 Douvan couldn't be opposed in the Champion Chase on Wednesday's card but an overreach at the third effectively put paid to his chance. Special Tiara blazed a trail from the front and had just enough in reserve to hold the fast-finishing Fox Norton a neck.

Beforehand many felt the absence of Thistlecrack (and last year's winner Don Cossack) had devalued this year's Gold Cup but a new star was born in the shape of Sizing John who bounded up the hill to beat Minella Rocco and Native River with some authority. On the day Cue Card's jumping was scratchy at times with the eleven-year-old coming to grief at exactly the same fence that had caught him out when travelling so well last year.

Lizzie Kelly made history by becoming the first female professional jockey to ride in the Gold Cup. Tea For Two was particularly buzzed up in the preliminaries and the partnership lasted no further than the second fence; Kelly made amends three weeks later, pipping Cue Card a neck in Aintree's Betway Bowl.

Vieux Lion Rouge turned up for the Grand National with a win in the Becher Chase and Haydock's Grand National Trial to his name. Blaklion went off the 8/1 favourite but Warwick Classic Chase winner One For Arthur became the first Scottish-trained horse to come home in front since Rubstic in 1979. Jockey Derek Fox, only recently returned to the saddle after breaking a wrist and collarbone in March, gave the gelding a supreme hold-up ride.

Vicente, an unfortunate first fence faller in the Grand National, turned out at Ayr a fortnight later and became the first horse to record back-to-back victories in the Scottish Grand National since Androma (1984/85).

At the start of the final day, the trainers' title remained undecided. Arkle winner Altior recorded a facile victory in the Celebration Chase at Sandown, thereby ensuring Nicky Henderson claimed the prize from incumbent champion Paul Nicholls.

Across the Irish Sea, Willie Mullins had endured something of an annus horribilis for the most part but in unlikely circumstances he pinched the trainers' title from long-time leader Gordon Elliott on the final day of the Punchestown Festival.

It was a torrid season for the blog with many of the selections patently failing to live up to expectations. The one notable exception was Special Tiara whose victory in the Champion Chase at least ensured a profit was recorded at the Festival; Special Tiara is blog horse of the year.

And on Monday 1st May 11/10 favourite Bedrock, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by Harry, won the first race of the new season, Warwick's John Greasley Sportfield Contractors Novices' Hurdle.

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