Jingko Blue
I am backing Jingko Blue in the BetMGM Cup. He has lots in his favour, and it looks like this has been the plan for a while for Nicky Henderson’s horse.
A progressive novice hurdler two seasons ago, he won his first two chases last season, the Grade 2 Hampton Chase among them, before unseating in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot.
He didn’t run again last season, and he went back over hurdles this term. He ran well for a long way, despite not jumping well, in the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in November, and he stepped up on that last time when he finished second to the highly progressive Stayers’ Hurdle aspirant Kabral Du Mathan in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Again, his jumping wasn’t great, but he proved that he could operate over hurdles at the track. He should come on for that again and, if he can jump just a little more fluently, he could take a significant step forward. He gets to race off a hurdles mark of 144 today, 7lb lower than his chase mark, and that gives him lots of leeway. He is only seven, there should be more to come from him.
Nico de Boinville rides Iberico Lord, and he is a player for sure, but he was raised by 8lb for winning the Lanzarote Hurdle last time, and that may have been the plan more than this. Also, James Bowen is a good rider who rode Holloway Queen to victory in the National Hunt Chase yesterday for Nicky Henderson, in a race in which Nico de Boinville didn’t have a ride. He rode Jingko Blue last time too in the Relkeel Hurdle.
Storm Heart was high on my list, he should appreciate the step up in trip, but he is not a big horse so big weights may not be his thing. Also, he performed below expectations when he was sent off as favourite for the Triumph Hurdle two years ago on his only run to date at Cheltenham.
Back