Another potential chase star for JP McManus - plus a Welsh trainer who continues a fine festival record

Jagwar looks a Grade 1 performer

Jagwar claimed Thursday’s TrustATrader Plate for the training partnership of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old impressed when scoring on Trials day in January and defied a 7lb higher mark at the festival to take his record over fences to four wins from five starts.

He was sent off the 3-1 favourite for the Plate, ahead of Gavin Cromwell’s 4-1 shot Thecompanysergeant, and the market principals jumped the last fence almost in unison before Jagwar found extra on the run-in to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

The winner, who stands at an impressive 18 hands, won with his ears pricked, but there is room for improvement in his jumping.

McManus’s Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin won last year’s Kim Muir before following up in a Grade 1 novice contest at Aintree’s Grand National meeting, and Jagwar could follow a similar path next month.

The son of Karaktar is yet to race beyond 2m5½f, but he appeared to have plenty in reserve at the end of the Plate and looks the sort to make up into a top staying chaser next season.
Joe Eccles

It can pay to follow Triumph Hurdle form

Poniros caused a 100-1 upset in Friday’s JCB Triumph Hurdle, providing Willie Mullins with a fourth straight win in the Grade 1, and it looks like a race worth following.

A useful handicapper on the Flat for Ralph Beckett, Poniros had been last seen finishing down the field when sent off 6-1 favourite for the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in October.

He is set to take in a Grade 1 at Punchestown next before reverting to the Flat, with Royal Ascot and the Melbourne Cup nominated as mid to long-term targets.

Nicky Henderson's Lulamba finished a neck behind in second and strikes as another with plenty more to offer.

100-1 shot Poniros and Jonjo O'Neill Jr (blue silks) jumping the last behind the leaders when winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle

Triumph Hurdle: looked a hot running of the raceCredit: Patrick McCann

He created a good impression when winning on his British debut at Ascot in January and stepped up on that form under Nico de Boinville, just lacking the pace of the winner on what was only his third start.

East India Dock and Lady Vega Allen kept on for third and fourth place respectively, having got racing a fair way out. East India Dock looks set to mix it over hurdles and on the Flat, while Lady Vega Allen shaped as though she would appreciate a step up in trip. Next year’s Mares’ Hurdle, for which she is a 16-1 chance, looks a possible target.

The previously unbeaten Hello Neighbour travelled powerfully and was still in contention when sprawling on landing after the last. He did well to be beaten less than six lengths in the circumstances and could renew rivalry with Poniros at Punchestown.
Joe Eccles

Lecky Watson continues to be underestimated

If Ballyburn had won the Brown Advisory in the same fashion as Lecky Watson did, he would be favourite for the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup, yet you can get 33-1 about Lecky Watson winning next year's feature and that just seems wrong.

Despite his name perhaps suggesting otherwise, there was no luck involved in Lecky Watson's win, despite him going off 20-1. He jumped, he travelled and he stayed better than all of his opposition, just as he did when winning his two previous chase starts, when slamming Supreme winner Slade Steel and the talented Down Memory Lane.

The form stacks up, Lecky Watson is a top-class novice chaser and yet he's priced for next year's Gold Cup as if he's just ordinary. If he reopposes Ballyburn this season, I would imagine Paul Townend would stick with last year's festival winner, but I know who I'd be backing.
Tom Park

Curtis delivers on big stage with Haiti

Haiti Couleurs’ victory in the National Hunt Chase proved that, with the right horse, Rebecca Curtis can still shine on the biggest stage.

There were nerves beforehand for Curtis, who had not enjoyed a win at the Cheltenham Festival since Lisnagar Oscar landed the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2020.

However, Haiti Couleurs put that right in great style when he stormed home by four and a half lengths to justify 7-2 joint-favouritism under Ben Jones.

It was the culmination of a long-term plan for the progressive eight-year-old, who was having just his fourth start over fences and had won at Cheltenham in December.

Haiti Couleurs comes home clear in the National Hunt ChaseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

It was also a second victory in the race for Curtis after Teaforthree, who went on to finish second in the Welsh Grand National and third in the Grand National following his festival success in 2012.

Races such as the Scottish Grand National and the Aintree spectacular must be in Curtis’s thoughts for Haiti Couleurs now.

The Pembrokeshire-based trainer is on course for her best season since 2019-20 after the festival hero became her 15th winner of the campaign from 85 runners at a strike-rate of 18 per cent.
Andrew Pennington

David Power Jockeys' Cup standings (ITV races)

Harry Skelton 378 points
Harry Cobden 300
Nico de Boinville 278
Sam Twiston-Davies 256
Sean Bowen 212

British jump jockeys' championship

Sean Bowen 152
Harry Skelton 129
Sam Twiston-Davies 98
Harry Cobden 94
Gavin Sheehan 86

British jumps trainers' championship

Dan Skelton £2,695,250
Paul Nicholls £1,955,841
Nicky Henderson £1,868,060
Willie Mullins £1,423,688
Olly Murphy £1,352,077

Irish jump jockeys' championship

Paul Townend 96
Sam Ewing 64
Keith Donoghue 59
Darragh O'Keeffe 54
Danny Mullins 42

Irish jumps trainers' championship

Willie Mullins €4,040,200
Gordon Elliott €3,350,610
Gavin Cromwell €1,827,070
Henry de Bromhead €1,346,280
Joseph O'Brien €950,525

Inothewayurthinkin up there with the best Gold Cup winners of the last decade