Tag Archive for: Henry VIII Novices’ Chase

Soul Icon connections considering Sandown target

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Sandown’s Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase is a possible option for Soul Icon following his agonising near-miss in the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton.

Although still a maiden over the larger obstacles, the seven-year-old has finished second on his last five starts and after rattling the crossbar in Market Rasen’s Summer Plate in July, he produced arguably a career best when edged out by a neck by Dan Skelton’s Boombawn.

With conditions forecast to remain dry for the coming weeks, trainer Keiran Burke is now toying with stepping up to Grade One company at Sandown on December 7, where his sure-footed jumping from the front could be a sight to behold.

“Yet again he was second, he keeps knocking on the door and it’s not that he’s ungenuine or anything like that, he just keeps bumping into one, which is frustrating,” said Burke.

“He’s not out of place in that grade, especially on that ground, and Wincanton was definitely the right race to go for.”

He went on: “I’ve been having a chat with Tom Bellamy (jockey) and the long-range forecast looks quite dry still. We did think about entering him in the Henry VIII at Sandown, the Grade One.

“It would be frustrating to finish second in a Grade One, but I would take it. That might be a plan, but nothing is set in stone at the minute, that’s just our initial thoughts.

“When the rain comes, it will probably come, so that’s when he can have a break again.”



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Powell backing JPR for Grade One glory

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Brendan Powell is backing JPR One to make amends for a final-fence blunder last time out when he returns for the Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park on Saturday.

The Joe Tizzard-trained gelding looked to be en route to Grade Two success in the Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham last month, but made an error at the last and unseated his rider.

Connections will regroup at the weekend for the Henry VIII, success in which would be a first at the Grade One level for Powell after multiple placings throughout his career.

“I’m really looking forward to riding JPR One again as he looked like he was going to be an impressive winner at Cheltenham before making a mistake and getting rid of me at the last fence,” he said.

“This is a race that will take a bit of winning, but I wouldn’t want to be on any other horse and hopefully I can make up for what happened at Cheltenham on Saturday.

“I think I’ve been second in seven or eight Grade Ones, but I don’t think I’ve ridden in a Grade One where I’ve had a proper live chance, but this weekend I do and that makes it even more exciting.

“It is something I want to get on my CV, and it is something I want to achieve before I finish my career.

“To win a Grade One for Joe would mean just as much to me as winning a Grade One for myself. I think Joe was a big influence on me riding for the Tizzard team again.

“I’ll always be grateful to him for that and to repay him with a Grade One win would be amazing.”

Though the Cheltenham mishap was costly, the six-year-old otherwise ran a pleasing race and has taken to chasing well after a successful hurdling career.

JPR One at Joe Tizzard's yard
JPR One at Joe Tizzard’s yard (David Davies/PA)

“That was the frustrating thing as he didn’t put a foot wrong the whole way around at Cheltenham,” Powell said.

“He jumped and travelled and quickened well turning in. He has got all the attributes to be a good horse.

“He gave me a good spin at Newton Abbot on his debut over fences and I was quite surprised the price he was that day as well. He was seriously well handicapped that day if he came back to form over fences.

“The most important thing for our novice chasers is that they have a nice time and a good experience first time over fences. He did that and managed to win as well, which was a bonus.

“Hopefully on Saturday he should be good enough to be there, or thereabouts, at the back end of the race, then I suppose it will be then when we find out if he is good enough.”



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