The Racing Post’s James Stevens looks back at the week in Welsh racing where the country’s top trainers and jockeys unleashed some potential stars.
DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Lump Sum went close to victory at jump racing’s top level as he finished second in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle this weekend.
Trained near Cardiff by Sam Thomas, he produced a mighty effort to get within eight lengths of the highly impressive winner Sir Gino and the result opens plenty of doors for the improving six-year-old.
He was taking on the toughest test of his career and has the options of continuing in the two-mile hurdling division or returning to handicaps, where he could be a significant player.
His performance, which connections scooped £24,500 for, continues a phenomenal start to the jump season for his trainer who has enjoyed big Saturday winners with Steel Ally at Haydock and the shock Badger Beer Handicap Chase victory for Al Dancer at the start of November.
Thomas has had four winners from his last eight runners, including with his high-class prospect Celtic Dino, and the eyecatching Taunton bumper winner Doctor Blue.
He will also bid to strengthen his chances of Welsh Grand National glory when saddling Jubilee Express in Exeter’s JCB Hydrogen Handicap Chase on Friday while he also has the option of competing in the race’s registered trial race at Chepstow the following day.
Jubilee Express, who was a good winner last time out, is one of three entries in Wales’s biggest jump race on December 27. He is a 14-1 chance with Dragonbet, the shortest priced Welsh hope for success on home soil. Thomas’ former winner Iwilldoit is 20-1 and Good Risk At All is 25-1.
Championship update
Sean Bowen continues to close in on the century after another fantastic week, highlighted by victory for one of his potential Cheltenham Festival hopes Strong Leader.
The Olly Murphy-trained runner strengthened his chance for the Stayers’ Hurdle with a straightforward win on comeback at Newbury, quickening nicely clear after the last to win by three and a half lengths.
Victory means he is now 10-1 joint-second favourite for the top-level target on the Thursday, a market led by Teahupoo who shaped well on his comeback in Ireland on Sunday.
Bowen also enjoyed a double at Uttoxeter on Tuesday, success at Kempton on Wednesday before again picking up two winners at Market Rasen on Thursday
One to watch
Ben Jones also unearthed a Cheltenham Festival contender as The Jukebox Man, owned by Harry Redknapp, ran out a stylish winner at Newbury on Friday.
He is now 10-1 with DragonBet for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the meeting after powering clear to a first success over fences and it could just be the start for this bright prospect.
He was only narrowly beaten at Cheltenham in March but is already among Britain’s leading hopes at the meeting.
