Topweight's performance at Newbury deserves special attention, while Libberty Hunter continues to progress

Giving lumps away shouldn't put off top two-milers

The William Hill Hurdle was again a good spectacle, and while it was the winner Joyeuse who inevitably took the limelight, the performance of topweight Lump Sum in second deserves its share of attention.

Trained by Sam Thomas, Lump Sum gave loads of weight to Joyeuse but put in a great effort on just his second handicap outing.

Thomas said afterwards he felt like the seven-year-old was the forgotten horse in the race and that seems a fair stance to take. After all, it was only two runs ago that he was chasing home Sir Gino in the Fighting Fifth, while his Christmas Hurdle fourth was far from a terrible effort.

If there was one thing I would like to take out of the race it is for connections of the top two-mile hurdlers, or certainly those who can hit a frame in a Grade 1, to consider this valuable contest more closely.

There is a dearth of quality two-mile hurdlers in Britain, but a top prize of £87,218.50 is greater than that on offer to the winner of the Fighting Fifth, Christmas and International Hurdles. It feels unlikely, but I would love to see a real top-notcher try it again. A potentially excellent prize awaits for the brave.
Matt Butler

More to come from Libberty Hunter up in trip

Master Chewy returned to winning ways in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday, holding off a late challenge from the Evan Williams-trained Libberty Hunter.

Libberty Hunter achieved a career-best Racing Post Rating of 160 for this length-and-a-quarter defeat and has now produced an improved RPR in all seven starts over fences.

The nine-year-old is a general 33-1 chance for the Champion Chase, while a return to handicap company in the Grand Annual is also reported to be under consideration.

Libberty Hunter's recent form has come over two miles on soft ground, but his Game Spirit run suggested that he would benefit from a step up in trip.

He has not raced beyond the minimum distance since struggling in a 2m3½f novice hurdle at Chepstow in December 2022, but his finishing kick could be a potent weapon back up in distance, and he has the potential to take high rank in the middle-distance chase division.
Joe Eccles

David Power Jockeys’ Cup standings (ITV races)

Harry Skelton 270
Harry Cobden 234
Sam Twiston-Davies 218
Nico de Boinville 206
Sean Bowen 172

British jump jockeys’ championship

Sean Bowen 134
Harry Skelton 121
Sam Twiston-Davies 88
Harry Cobden 75
Gavin Sheehan 73

British jumps trainers’ championship

Dan Skelton £2,220,883
Paul Nicholls £1,570,030
Nicky Henderson £1,396,530
Nigel Twiston-Davies £1,153,871
Olly Murphy £1,061,922

Irish jump jockeys’ championship

Paul Townend 84
Sam Ewing 57
Keith Donoghue 56
Darragh O'Keeffe 52
Danny Mullins 40

Irish jumps trainers’ championship

Willie Mullins €3,691,950
Gordon Elliott €3,064,485
Gavin Cromwell €1,705,955
Henry de Bromhead €1,227,520
Joseph O'Brien €906,825

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