Tag Archive for: Daryl Jacob

Daryl Jacob unplaced on final ride at Leopardstown

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Daryl Jacob brought the curtain down on his illustrious riding career by finishing down the field aboard Mr Percy in the Neville Hotels Premier Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The 41-year-old announced his retirement after steering the Willie Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe to Grade One glory in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick on Saturday, confirming that his solitary ride on the fourth and final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival would be his last.

Mr Percy, who carries the familiar colours of the rider’s retaining owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, was a 15-2 shot to give him a fairytale send-off but was unable to get involved, passing the post 12th of 18 finishers.

Nevertheless, having suffered more than his fair share of injuries – only recently returning from his latest spell on the sidelines – Jacob was delighted to go out on his terms at a track where he enjoyed his first top-level triumph aboard The Listener in the Lexus Chase at this meeting 18 years ago.

“I’m feeling great. I’ve been around an awful long time and it’s very special to come to Leopardstown today,” Jacob told Racing TV earlier in the day.

“It’s the place where I had my first Grade One winner, a place that’s always been very close to my heart and one of the most beautiful tracks in the world to ride around.

“It just felt right after riding Impaire Et Passe yesterday. It’s what I’ve worked so hard for, coming back from all those shoulder injuries, especially the last one as it was a complicated one.

“I’ve worked incredibly hard in Oaksey House with all the team there and I just wanted that one opportunity to ride a Grade One winner. When I rode him yesterday and went over the line, with all those emotions, to me it just feels like the perfect ending.”

Daryl Jacob and Neptune Collonges after winning the 2012 Grand National at Aintree
Daryl Jacob and Neptune Collonges after winning the 2012 Grand National at Aintree (David Davies/PA)

Jacob has enjoyed huge success in the saddle, including a thrilling victory in the 2012 Grand National when Neptune Collonges denied Sunnyhillboy by a nose.

The Listener provided him with three Grade One wins in Ireland, with his Lexus success followed by victories in the 2007 John Durkan and the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup.

More recently he has enjoyed a fruitful association with the likes of three-time Betfair Chase winner Bristol De Mai and Sceau Royal, aboard whom he won 15 races.

Daryl Jacob kisses The Listener after he won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown
Daryl Jacob kisses The Listener after he won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Reflecting on that first Grade One win on The Listener in 2006, Jacob added: “I was only a claimer at the time and it took a huge amount of confidence from the boss Robert Alner and Sally Alner to put me on a Grade One horse coming over from England to Ireland.

“There were a lot of very good staying chasers in England at the time and it took an awful lot of courage to put me on the horse with very little experience of riding in Grade Ones.

“It’s been an extraordinary career and I never dreamed of the things that I’ve achieved. I’ve been very, very lucky. I’ve had so many people that have directed me and channelled me in the right direction. I’ve had a great team around me my whole career and I’m very grateful.

“Neptune Collonges was a special horse and the only time I ever rode him was in the Grand National. He was a Gold Cup horse and a brilliant stayer and a great jumper. He had a big heart and to win that Grand National that day he needed every bit of courage that he had.

“L’Ami Serge winning the French Champion Hurdle was a huge thrill and Bristol De Mai was an unbelievable horse. Nigel Twiston-Davies and his team did a fantastic job with him – I can’t explain how well they managed that horse’s career and I was just very lucky to be person that got to ride him.

“I loved Sceau Royal so much – I owe so much to him. He had this wonderful attitude, he was a warrior and like a little terrier. He loved to have a ding-dong with other horses.”

Jacob confirmed he will continue to work for Munir and Souede and is predicting a bright future.

He said: “I genuinely believe that I’m going out and we’re in a really good position.

“Obviously JJ (Slevin) is going to ride an awful lot of our horses now and Danny (Mullins), Brian Hayes and Ben Bromley. There’s loads of lads that are going ride plenty of these horses now.

“I think the future is really exciting for the double green. I love going into all the yards and sitting on the horses and giving my little bit of feedback to Simon and Isaac and I’ll continue to do that and represent them whenever they’d like me to represent them.

“I think the most important thing I’ll take out of it (my career) is having the support of Simon and Isaac. Eleven years is a long time and we’re closer now than we ever were, that’s something I’m very proud of.”

The Listener was Jacob’s first Christmas cracker

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Everybody loves a grey, so we are told. That is certainly true of Daryl Jacob, whose career will forever be remembered alongside that of multiple Grade One winner Bristol De Mai.

However, it was another grey who really got Jacob’s career going back in Christmas 2006.

The Listener, trained by the late Robert Alner, Jacob’s first boss, had won two Grade Twos as a novice chaser under Andrew Thornton but a defeat on his seasonal reappearance behind Star De Mohaison at Sandown prompted a change in the saddle by his owner, Lieutenant R W Humphreys.

Jacob, who rode the point-to-pointers trained by Alner’s wife, Sally, still claimed 3lb at the time but having won the Grand Sefton over the Grand National fences a month earlier on Bob Buckler’s I Hear Thunder, was entrusted with the ride.

The decision to head to what was then the Lexus Chase (now run as the Savills) was a bold one. Beef Or Salmon was bidding for a fourth win in five years, only punctuated by triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate in 2003.

A young Daryl Jacob with his Lexus Chase trophy
A young Daryl Jacob with his Lexus Chase trophy (Niall Carson/PA)

It seems strange to say now, but around that time, the best staying chasers tended to be based in the UK – but with Kauto Star, Exotic Dancer, Monkerhostin and Monet’s Garden all targeting the King George, The Listener’s need for soft ground saw Alner look further afield.

He became the trainer’s first runner at Leopardstown and with Jacob never pestered for the lead, he cruised to an eight-length win over Beef Or Salmon, with then Gold Cup holder War Of Attrition, who needed good ground to be seen at his best, back in third.

“It was brilliant but a lot of the credit has to go to Robert Alner for putting me on the horse, as I was only a claimer at the time,” said Jacob.

“He put the trust in me to ride a good horse like that, in a Grade One, in Ireland. Especially with me being from Ireland – it was a serious moment in my career.

“As a young jockey, you are always looking out for a good horse to take you to the big stage and thankfully he gave me that big day very early on.

“It was very special as a lot of my friends and family, aunties and uncles, they were all there as well to watch, so it was a brilliant day.”

The Listener was an electric jumper
The Listener was an electric jumper (Niall Carson/PA)

Having looked set to take high rank the season before among the novices, The Listener’s opening campaign over fences rather petered out with two falls, so having not quite been tested against the best, he was probably allowed a little too much rope.

Recalling the race, Jacob said: “We were taking on Beef Or Salmon, who had won it three times, and War Of Attrition had won the Gold Cup the season before.

“We knew what we were taking on, but The Listener was very, very good. A bit like Bristol De Mai, heavy ground felt like good ground to him – a bit like Beef Or Salmon, I suppose.

“They probably didn’t think The Listener was good enough to beat Beef Or Salmon that day but I remember I just got an easy lead the whole way, I was very much in my comfort zone the whole way.

“I gave him a squeeze going down to the last and he powered away to win easy.

“Horses like that are very unique, they don’t come around very often, the ones who have such power they find it easy going through heavy ground. When you are on one like that, you feel like it is good ground, they get horses off the bridle early and they can’t go with them.

“He was a beautiful jumper and we just gelled, we had a great relationship. He was a horse that I was very grateful came along at that stage of my career.”

Having fallen in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase of 2006, The Listener finished 11th in the Gold Cup the following year before a fifth to Our Vic in the Ryanair the year after, proving Cheltenham was never his track.

But he certainly loved Ireland, winning the 2007 John Durkan, the 2008 Irish Gold Cup and the 2009 JNWine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal, as well as several other placed efforts.

“The undulations of Cheltenham never really suited him,” said Jacob. “He was at his best on flat, left-handed tracks. He wasn’t as good going right-handed.

“Leopardstown, Punchestown and Haydock would have suited him but he never went for the Betfair Chase, we went for the James Nicholson at Down Royal instead for a couple of years.

“He was a very popular horse, not just in the UK but in Ireland as well. At that time, not many from the UK were going over to Ireland, but he had a spell where he ran more over there than at home and because of that, he had a big following.

“Full credit to Robert and Sally, it’s no secret how much I respect them, I owe my career to them, every decision I’ve made through my career, even joining Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede), has been with the boss and Sally, my whole career has been mapped out by them.

“To have them on my side throughout, to be trusted to ride a horse like him, was just a huge vote of confidence and I’m very lucky and very grateful that I delivered for them.”

No rest for racing folk at Christmas, but festive spirit still prevails

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While most people see Christmas as the party season or for spending time with loved ones, spare a thought for those who work in horse racing, where it is very much business as usual.

Like in any industry that involves animals, they need caring for 24/7. While most other walks of life get a couple of weeks off at the festive period, racing clicks into overdrive.

Boxing Day meetings in England and Ireland (St Stephen’s Day) are some the best-attended of the whole year, but it means life in a racing stable never stops.

“The best day Christmas can fall on for us is a Sunday, because that doesn’t dislodge the programme for the rest of the week,” said trainer Nicky Henderson.

“Of course, this year it is Wednesday! What we do is have half the staff on and half off, we want to give them as much time off as we can over Christmas.

“We tend to just do one lot on Christmas Day, which is everything that is running in the next 10 days, and then let them get away as soon as possible.

“We always have lots of part-time rider-outers who come and help us, we used to have Johnny Francome until he retired a few years ago. It’s all hands on deck, anyone who wants to ride out on Christmas Day is usually welcome, we put a Santa hat on them and off we go!

“They all have a little noggin and it’s great, we know we’ve just got to keep going, luckily all the declarations are done by then, which helps.

“It’s a lot easier now. I would normally say ‘in the good old days’, but it was the bad old days really when there were 14 meetings on Boxing Day, you wouldn’t know where you were sending them or who was riding them.”

Willie Mullins, champion trainer in Britain and Ireland last season, will have scores of runners at Leopardstown’s four-day fixture, as well as entries at Limerick and Kempton Park.

“Christmas Day is usually great fun,” he said. “We get a lot of people, ex-staff, friends of ours, to come in and ride out. People arrive in Santa suits and it’s usually a bit of fun.

“We have to get all the runners out for the week and that is usually a lot of horses.

“In racing, you are just brought up that way, it’s like if you are a farmer, you have to get up and milk the cows or whatever, it’s just part of life.

“If you are an actor or whatever doing a pantomime, you are going to miss out as well. Everyone just sets their own life and we’re lucky to be in it.

“At times like Christmas, you could think ‘I’d love to be doing what all the other guys are doing downtown enjoying Christmas for the week’, but I think it balances out hugely in our favour over the whole year. We’re all blessed to be in racing and people who are in it, love it.

“If you are not that way inclined, that is different, but we know it’s a seven-days-a-week job and we get our ups and downs.”

Dan Skelton also insisted his staff are happy to make the best of things, while still keeping busy.

He said: “All the horses go out early and then I’d say 80 per cent of the staff go home, 20 per cent stick around.

“Some of them have lunch together at the yard and one of our owners, Rachel, she lives literally just down the road, half a mile down the road, I think she’s taking in eight or 10 this year for lunch.

“So it’s a working time of year for us all, but it’s still a very special time of year. You look forward to spending time with family, opening presents, having a bit of lunch, but then I’ll be looking at the next day’s racing. It’s a great time of year and I prefer to be busy anyway.”

Weighing-room stalwart Daryl Jacob, who has ridden over 1,000 winners and is due to retire at the end of the season, said: “I’m lucky now, I used to have to go and ride out, but not anymore. Christmas is all about my kids now.

“My wife Kelly will do the dinner, it all depends on what weight I’ve got to do. Sometimes we can have Christmas dinner a day or two before, depending on what weight I have on Boxing Day.

“From 5pm, I’ll be in the gym for 40 minutes and then I’ll have over an hour in the bath and get the kids to bed before I start looking at the form.

“The last few years I’ve been over to Ireland on Boxing Day, which means a 6am flight, but these days Christmas Day revolves around the kids and my family.”

Former jockey Andrew Thornton, now a presenter on Sky Sports Racing and ITV, has fond memories of when he first worked in a yard over Christmas.

Andrew Thornton remembers working in a yard down south on Christmas morning before driving up to Northumberland for his lunch
Andrew Thornton remembers working in a yard down south on Christmas morning before driving up to Northumberland for his lunch (Simon Cooper/PA)

“When I started out at WA’s (Arthur Stephenson’s) everybody would be in Christmas Day, but we’d be finished by 10.30am and he’d have everyone into the house for a drink in his living room,” said Thornton.

“You see a few yards these days working in fancy dress on Christmas Day to make it fun. At the end of the day, working in yards is fun, you can still have fun and work.

“When I moved down to Kim Bailey’s, I’d work there Christmas morning and then travel back up north late morning to be home for Christmas Day. It didn’t matter where I was riding on Boxing Day.”

Gavin Cromwell won the 2017 delayed Welsh National with Raz De Maree, but a year earlier he had to ask one member of staff to take the same horse over to Chepstow with the prospect of him missing the cut. So not only would that be Christmas spent in a racecourse stable, you would not have even got to see your horse run.

James Bowen with Raz De Maree after their victory in the Coral Welsh National
James Bowen with Raz De Maree after their victory in the Coral Welsh National (David Davies/PA)

“It’s obviously a busy time for us, but you know it will be,” said Cromwell.

“The difficulty for us comes if we have a runner at Chepstow on the 27th. It’s only 24-hour declarations and you might have one that isn’t guaranteed a run, but you have to send someone over with the horse in any case and then they might not get in and they are away for the whole of Christmas! It’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle.”

For long-standing Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford, working Christmas Day is all he has ever known.

“Christmas Day for me entails seeing my wife and kids before heading to Kempton, seeing to the overnighters, making sure they are all OK, updating the going report and just making sure everything is OK before I go home for lunch with my family,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a Christmas Day off, I was brought up on a dairy farm before I was a jockey and then I became a clerk.

“It comes with the territory, anything that involves animals, you never get a day off. Whether it’s a dog or a horse, it makes no difference.”

Daryl Jacob all clear for Exeter return to action

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Daryl Jacob has been given the green light by the medics to resume the final season of his career at Exeter on Thursday.

Having missed several months when breaking his collarbone in March, he returned in early October and went on to ride his 1,000th winner at the start of last month.

Unfortunately, just days later, he suffered another collarbone injury in a freak accident when schooling at Henry de Bromhead’s yard in Ireland.

He has now, though, been passed fit to return as the curtain begins to fall on his career at the end of the campaign.

Jacob rides Issam for Tom Symonds in the Southwest Rail Solutions Handicap Hurdle.

“I’m delighted to be returning to action at Exeter on Thursday,” Jacob told www.sportinglife.com.

“When I first suffered my broken collarbone, I was determined to try and get back into action before Christmas and it’s a big relief to receive the all-clear having passed the medical tests on Tuesday.

“I’d like to thank Dr Jerry Hill and Angus Robertson, my surgeon, plus the team at Oaksey House for all the tireless hours of rehab they put into me.

“Obviously, it was frustrating to spend another spell on the sidelines but I’m just focusing on the season ahead now and can’t wait to get back into the swing of things.

“I have some lovely rides to look forward to on both sides of the Irish Sea over the festive period and I can’t wait to be back among the winners, hopefully starting with Issam at Exeter.

“There’s so much good racing coming up thick and fast in the next few days, so the timing of the return is perfect. I just hope for a bit of luck and a clear run through to the end of the campaign now.”

Daryl Jacob closing in on riding comeback

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Daryl Jacob will step up the recovery from his latest collarbone injury by riding out later this week.

Jacob, who joined an elite list of jockeys to have ridden 1,000 winners recently, has already announced this will be his final season in the saddle.

Having missed several months when needing surgery on a broken collarbone sustained in March, he returned to action to register his milestone victory last month only to suffer a freak injury a few days later.

He was in Ireland at Henry de Bromhead’s yard when the incident happened during a schooling session in early November.

“The recovery is going great. I’m riding out this week, I’ll probably go to Harry Derham’s in the middle of the week and go from there,” said Jacob.

“I’m hoping to further the rehab this week and we’re all happy with it.

“We’ll just see how it feels when I ride out, but I’m meeting the targets and I’m hopeful it won’t be too long before I can get back to it.

“Everything is going according to plan.”

Daryl Jacob feeling grand after landmark success

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Daryl Jacob hit a significant milestone during his final season in the saddle after riding his 1,000th winner in Europe.

The veteran jump jockey, who has a Grand National title and multiple Grade One races on his CV, has already announced that he will hang up his boots at the end of the term.

A key target for his closing campaign was to reach the 1,000 tally in Europe and at Ayr on Saturday that goal was met as Ottizzini obliged for Stuart Crawford in the United Council Of Racecourse Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.

Jacob was delighted to get that job done early in the season and he is grateful to those who have supported him in making it happen, particularly the ‘Double Green’ partnership of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede – for whom he is a long-term retained rider.

“It’s something I’ve had on my agenda for the last couple of years and I was getting closer to it, so it was nice to get there early doors in the season as well,” said Jacob.

“It’s a lovely milestone to reach, a lot of hard graft has gone into it and a lot of people have walked the walk with me all the way through my career.”

Of Munir and Souede, he added: “We’ve had a brilliant relationship and a very long one, 11 years together, it’s a huge credit to them as they’ve been very, very loyal and huge supporters of my career.

“It’s one of the things I’m most proud of, having a great relationship with them for such a long time.”

Daryl Jacob finished for the season due to injury

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Daryl Jacob will not return to action for the end of the jumps season as he continues to recover from a broken collarbone.

The jockey, who is one of the most experienced in the weighing room, fell along with Henry Daly’s Moon Hunter in late March and incurred the injury.

He has since had to sit out as horses owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, to whom he is a retained rider, have gone on to win in his absence.

That absence will last a little longer than initially thought and Jacob will not be able to return to the saddle before the season is out.

He told sportinglife.com: “Because of the nature of the break, and where it is, I need to go back (to the specialist) again in three weeks.

“The injury is healing but is going to take a little longer than I originally hoped.

“I’ve been working hard in the gym to try and get ready but now I need to have a quiet week and then get going again.

“It’s frustrating but I’m going to give it all the time it needs and will be raring to go once I’ve been given the green light.”

Daryl Jacob sidelined by broken collarbone

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Daryl Jacob will miss the ride on Intense Raffles in the Boylesports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday due to a broken collarbone.

The 40-year-old was riding Moon Hunter for Henry Daly at Newbury on Friday when he parted company with his mount at the third fence.

He is hoping to be back in time for the Punchestown Festival but will know more next week.

Jacob told SportingLife.com: “It was an unfortunate accident as Moon Hunter clipped heels with a horse in front of him coming down, taking his footing away from him, and I landed on my collarbone.

“It’s fractured in two places and I’ll know more about recovery timelines when I see Geoff Graham, a specialist, next Wednesday.

“The timing is terrible as I was looking forward to riding Intense Raffles in the Irish National and then there’s Aintree just around the corner.

“My motivation is to work hard and be back as soon as I can, hopefully for Punchestown, but I’ll know more on that score next week.”

Fun Fun Fun strikes for Mullins at Exeter

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Willie Mullins’ first ever runner at Exeter was a winner as the mare Fun Fun Fun held off the late rally of favourite Favour And Fortune in the Trustatrader Fully Vetted Tradespeople Novices’ Hurdle.

The pair had come up against each other once before in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, with Alan King’s Favour And Fortune finishing one place in front of Fun Fun Fun when 14th, giving her 7lb.

This time, 6-4 chance Fun Fun Fun was even better off at the weights, carrying 10lb less, and it was just enough to enable her to claim the valuable Listed black type win.

It looked a great bit of placing by Mullins, despite the near 700-mile round trip, as she only faced two rivals – and Paul Nicholls’ Insurrection was beaten early in the straight.

Tom Cannon made his bid approaching the final flight on the 11-8 favourite but Daryl Jacob had saved just enough on Simon Munir and Isaac Souede’s mare, winning by half a length.

“She’s not the biggest but she’s got a big heart and tries very hard,” Jacob told Racing TV.

“Patrick (Mullins) actually bred her himself and she’s been a great mare since she joined us, she’s got a very willing attitude.

“She rides bigger than she looks but she’s a scopey thing, she can jump well and will probably jump a fence as well. I just like the way she dug deep from the back of the last.

“Patrick said the one thing she loves to do is jump. I actually would have liked to have been a bit lower at the last but she was big at it, but got away from it well.

“Alan King’s horses are in great form at the moment so he was always going to be a tough nut to crack.”

Night And Day foils stablemate Brandy Love in Naas gloom

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Night And Day beat odds-on stablemate Brandy Love in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase – the only race to take place at Naas on Sunday.

The pair, who are both trained by Willie Mullins, were sent off at odds of 9-1 and 1-4 respectively, with Grade One-winning hurdler Brandy Love the heavy favourite after finishing second on her first spin over fences.

It was an unsatisfactory spectacle, with the start of the race delayed due to heavy fog at the track and extremely limited viewing on offer to spectators both on course and at home once the contest did get under way.

When they emerged from the gloom at the top of the straight Brandy Love was in front, but by the time they came into view again after the last, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned Night And Day had a healthy advantage in the hands of Daryl Jacob.

She had been well beaten in fifth on her chasing bow, but took a leap forward with a 10-length victory.

The fixture was subsequently called off due to the fog and Jacob admitted the four-runner race had proved a stern task in the circumstances.

He said: “I had Paul (Townend on Brandy Love) and J J (Slevin on Tophill Low) in front of me and I was speaking to Jack (Kennedy on Jumping Jet) as we were going around but it’s very difficult, I’m not going to lie.

“The fog is thicker down the back straight where we started off. We can see in time for the fences about 100 yards before.

“She settled and jumped well and got into the race nicely. I just got her to relax and breathe properly before getting her into the race.

“Brandy Love was in front and I took it up from the second-last going to the last. She galloped right through the line.”

Nicholls: Harry’s got to go to Ascot

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Paul Nicholls has cited a clash in meetings between Haydock and Ascot as the reasoning behind Harry Cobden missing the ride on Bravemansgame in the Betfair Chase.

The gelding, who was second in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, has only ever been ridden by Cobden in 18 starts under rules as he is the Ditcheat stable jockey.

That will change on Saturday, however, as Daryl Jacob steps in for the mount at Haydock with Cobden due to head to Ascot to partner Pic D’Orhy in the Grade Two 1965 Chase.

Cobden is also expected to partner a full book of Nicholls-trained rides on the day and the trainer cites this as the reason for the change – with Cobden also seen as more pivotal to Pic D’Orhy’s success than he is to Bravemansgame’s.

“Harry’s got to go to Ascot, he’s got six good rides there including Pic D’Orhy. It wasn’t an easy decision but it’s sometimes good to let someone else have the ride because if ever you need a reserve in the future you’ve got one,” Nicholls said on a press call hosted by the Jockey Club.

Owner Bryan Drew with Bravemansgame
Owner Bryan Drew with Bravemansgame (John Walton/PA)

“That’s the decision we’ve made and that’s what Bryan’s (Drew, owner) happy with so that’s where we’re going.

“We’ve always had Pic D’Orhy in mind going to Ascot, Johnny’s (De la Hay, owner) got 15 or 16 very nice horses in training with us and he needs looking after.

“Harry is very important to Pic D’Orhy, probably more so than the other way round with Bravemansgame. Sometimes when you’ve got big meetings on a Saturday you have to make tough decisions that are right for everybody.”

Nicholls rejected the suggestion that Cobden would not resume his partnership with last year’s King George winner, adding: “There’s no question about that, of course he would!

“Harry’s the stable jockey but he can’t be in two places on the same day. Of course he’ll ride him again.”

Shishkin won over three miles at Aintree
Shishkin won over three miles at Aintree (David Davies/PA)

Bravemansgame is one of six confirmations for the first Grade One of the UK season.

Nicky Henderson had spoken all summer of targeting Shishkin at the race, with the King George VI Chase his main aim in the first half of the season, although he now also has the 1965 Chase at Ascot as an alternative option.

Last year’s winner Protektorat has had the race as his big target and will attempt to join the likes of Kauto Star and Cue Card as a multiple Betfair Chase winner.

Grand National hero Corach Rambler has been left in by Lucinda Russell but he will need to take a huge step forward from his seasonal reappearance at Kelso.

Royale Pagaille (Venetia Williams) and Minella Drama (Donald McCain) may also run.

Jacob booked to ride Bravemansgame in Betfair Chase

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Daryl Jacob has been handed the plum spare ride aboard Bravemansgame in the Betfair Chase, with Paul Nicholls confirming his Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up is likely to line up at Haydock on Saturday.

Nicholls had indicated the Grade One contest was a possibility for his star stayer following his reappearance second in the Charlie Hall and if conditions are suitably dry throughout the week, it appears the eight-year-old will travel to Merseyside en route to the King George at Kempton.

With Bravemansgame’s usual rider Harry Cobden set to be in action at Ascot, it is an opportunity for Jacob to add to the three Betfair Chase victories he secured aboard Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Bristol De Mai.

Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls
Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls (Adam Davy/PA)

It also represents a return to the fold at Ditcheat for the 40-year-old, with Jacob once stable jockey to the champion trainer, riding Cheltenham Festival winners aboard Zarkandar and Lac Fontana.

Speaking to Betfair, Nicholls said: “An update for everybody. He schooled this morning nicely. Daryl Jacob rode him. He runs on Saturday.

“Daryl’s going to ride him, you know. He’s got all the experience in the world. He rides out a little bit here, so he got on great with him this morning.

“We’ve confirmed him this morning, and we’re just going to monitor the ground during the week. If it was heavy, he definitely won’t run, but I’m encouraged by the weather forecast. Looks like it’s drying up.”

Shishkin won over three miles at Aintree
Shishkin won over three miles at Aintree (David Davies/PA)

Bravemansgame is one of six confirmations for the first Grade One of the UK season.

Nicky Henderson had spoken all summer of targeting Shishkin at the race, with the King George VI Chase his main aim in the first half of the season, although he now has an alternative option in the 1965 Chase at Ascot.

Last year’s winner Protektorat has had the race as his big target and will attempt to join the likes of Kauto Star and Cue Card as a multiple Betfair Chase winner.

Grand National hero Corach Rambler has been left in by Lucinda Russell but he will need to take a huge step forward from his seasonal reappearance at Kelso.

Royale Pagaille (Venetia Williams) and Minella Drama (Donald McCain) may also run.

Impulsive One another winner for in-form Souede and Munir colours

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Daryl Jacob delivered Impulsive One with a perfectly-timed run to win the Frank Dawn 90th Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby.

Jacob and his bosses, owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, have been enjoying a fine season with the likes of El Fabiolo and Blue Lord with Willie Mullins in Ireland, but they are still having a steady stream of winners in the UK.

Old favourite Messire Des Obeaux was another to benefit from a well-judged Jacob ride at Warwick on Saturday and Nicky Henderson’s Impulsive One (6-1) relished the longer trip, getting up deep inside the final furlong to beat pace-setting Progressive by a head.

“He picked up well. It was a middling race and we went no gallop, I was hoping today we’d go a good pace but we went no gallop,” said Jacob.

“You have to ride him that way, be patient and deliver him as late as possible.

“I missed the last but fair play to him, he picked up well.”

Another ride worthy of note was that of Patrick Cowley who made all the running on Whistleinthedark (evens) in the Racing TV In Stunning HD Novices’ Chase.

A promising type for Laura Morgan, he looked in control for much of the race – bar the two fences down the back straight when Cowley lost his irons.

Thankfully it was not for long and he easily saw off Donald McCain’s Since Day One, with the beaten trainer believing the market leader was possibly running too soon after finishing third in the Grade Two Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster.

Patrick Cowley survived a potentially embarrassing mishap
Patrick Cowley survived a potentially embarrassing mishap (Nick Potts/PA)

“It was a bad bit of riding on my behalf. It wasn’t as if he made a mistake or anything my foot just fell out really,” said Cowley.

“It was a bit hair-raising for the next couple of fences but once I got the irons back it was fine, he stayed straight.

“The saddle slipped a little as well but all credit to the horse, he stayed straight.

“First time out he made a few novicey mistakes but he’s done nothing but improve since then, he’s settling much better and with that he’s seeing out his races much better. I think he’s a horse on the improve.”

Solar Sovereign and Brian Hughes (right) on their way to victory
Solar Sovereign and Brian Hughes (right) on their way to victory (Nick Robson/PA)

Brian Hughes had his customary winner but trainer Toby Bulgin is not a normal source of his success with the Norfolk-based handler celebrating his first winner of his career through Solar Sovereign (9-4) in the wetherbyracing.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle.

Hughes said: “Two runs ago he had quite a good run around here. I suppose he’s a point-to-point winner.

“I didn’t go overly quick, he had a good look around in front but he picked up well when the others came to him. He could be a nice horse over fences.”

Lucinda Russell’s Bois Guillbert (7-2) maintained her excellent start to the week in the Visit Irish Bloodstock Sales With ITM Junior ‘National Hunt’ Hurdle.

A treble at Ayr on Tuesday ensured Russell continues to operate at a very healthy strike-rate for the month.

Jonjo O’Neill is another trainer going well and Prince Escalus (4-1) enjoyed the drop in class in the Racing TV Handicap Chase when scoring under his son and namesake.

El Fabiolo just fabulous under Daryl Jacob in Irish Arkle.

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Daryl Jacob gave El Fabiolo a perfect ride to win the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown for Willie Mullins.

Mullins held an enviable hand in race with Appreciate It, Dysart Dynamo, Flame Bearer and Saint Roi giving the champion trainer a stranglehold on the Grade One.

The Mullins camp all seemed to side with Appreciate It, with Paul Townend making him his selection after two faultless victories over fences.

But the nine-year-old, who has missed so much time with various injuries, found younger legs too much to handle in a contest that was run at a ferocious pace.

That was set by Danny Mullins on Dysart Dynamo and after only four fences good horses like Fil Dor and Visionarian were a long way behind.

El Fabiolo (9-2) did make a bad mistake three from home, but Jacob allowed him time to get back into his rhythm and by the second-last he was in pole position.

As he began to pull away, Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge began to stay on strongly and he eventually got by Appreciate It and Dysart Dynamo to finish second, but some 10 lengths away.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned winner went down narrowly to Jonbon over hurdles at Aintree last season and those two now dominate the betting for the Arkle at Cheltenham next month, with Betfair making Jonbon their 13-8 favourite ahead of El Fabiolo at 2-1 (from 7s).

“He’s just improving all the time. At the start of the year we were thinking maybe we should go out to two and a half (miles), but what he did at Christmas and again today it’s definitely the Arkle,” said Mullins.

El Fabiolo was still full of beans on returning to the paddock
El Fabiolo was still full of beans on returning to the paddock (Donall Farmer/PA)

“You could see every horse had a chance at different stages of the race. The one negative (was) when we made the mistake, but Daryl blamed himself for that, he said it wasn’t the horse’s fault.

“Then he came back on the bridle again and I thought ‘this horse is travelling’ and he just did everything right.

“Some very good horses were second, third and fourth so to win 10 lengths in that type of a race, he’s goes to Cheltenham with a real good chance.”

Simon Munir greets Daryl Jacob
Simon Munir greets Daryl Jacob (Gary Carson/PA)

On the owners he added: “They both (Munir and Souede) have a great appetite for the game and enjoy it. They both travelled a long way to be here at the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend so it’s fantastic that they’ve had a Grade One winner.”

Munir said: “I was very impressed. It’s only the sixth run of his life, so we don’t really know how good he is.

“We’re on a roll at the moment, but it’s still a long long season.”

Souede said: “We were very excited and we actually think the best is yet to come with this horse because he’s not that experienced.”

O’Toole proves the class act on chasing bow at Newcastle

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Punters did not have to look too far back in the form book to see O’Toole looked well treated ahead of the Best Odds Guaranteed At Vickers.Bet Everyday Handicap Chase at Newcastle – and he rewarded favourite-backers in style.

Trainer Stuart Crawford is a regular visitor to the northern UK tracks from his base in County Antrim and is supported by major owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Their retained rider Daryl Jacob no doubt looks forward to Crawford sending over his raiding parties and with a strike-rate of around 30 per cent when teaming up with the trainer this year, it is no wonder.

O’Toole (13-8 favourite) was a very promising horse in his bumper season, splitting Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard at the Punchestown Festival, but having won on his hurdling debut he failed to progress in two further outings.

Nevertheless, allotted a handicap mark of 130 he jumped satisfactorily for Jacob, who kept him wide, and he had the race won when King Of May came down at the last. Castle Rushen came through for second, beaten three and three-quarter lengths.

“The way it has turned out I could have run him over two miles as the ground is hard work today,” said Crawford.

“I’m well pleased with that, he jumped well and he’s beaten some solid handicappers.

“We’ve always thought there was a big day in this horse, his bumper form is there for all to see. To be honest, when he was running over hurdles he grew a lot and now he’s levelled off again, hopefully.

“He’ll know he’s had a race, I don’t think any horse will like that ground, but it was good experience for him.”

He went on: “We’ll try to pick a sensible target. I know when he ran in the Punchestown bumper that was good ground so he’ll probably handle better ground when he’s got more experience.

“Something like the (Future Champions Novices’ Chase) at Ayr would be ideal further down the line, but there’ll be plenty for him before then.”

They say weight stops trains and that was certainly true in the case of Tommy’s Oscar who found the concession of 19lb too much to Since Day One in the Download The Vickers.Bet App Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

It speaks volumes for Tommy’s Oscar that he was having to give so much weight away to Donald McCain’s seven-year-old, who has now won six of his 10 starts under rules.

A winner on his chasing debut at Ayr, Since Day One (85-40) was arguably an unlucky loser last time out at Gosforth Park when a mistake at the last cost him.

Bounced out under champion jockey Brian Hughes, he jumped assuredly in first time cheekpieces, with his only semblance of a mistake when he stumbled on landing after jumping the second-last.

Tommy’s Oscar had a tendency to jump marginally right at his fences and could never quite get on terms with the leader, eventually going down by four and a half lengths.

Brian Hughes explains to Donald McCain how Since Day One won
Brian Hughes explains to Donald McCain how Since Day One won (Nick Robson/PA0

“He should have won the last day here, he threw it away with a bad jump at the last,” said McCain.

“That’s why we put the cheekpieces on today. He’s a bit gormless so they’ve really sharpened him up.

“We were a little bit out of the weights so it was chancy enough coming ,but we got away wit it.

“He’s a handy horse, he keeps winning. We lost April (Strang Steel) his owner last year and she was the nicest woman in the world. Colin (son) is here today so it’s lovely the colours have carried on.”