Hi all,

Inside today’s piece I’m looking back at the highlights of the final day of the UK jumps season.

The Curtain Comes Down

The curtain came down on the NH season on what was a historic day at Sandown. Willie Mullins became first Irish based trainer to be crowned British jumps champion trainer since the days of Vincent O'Brien back in the 1950s.  It probably won’t be his last one either. There’s a good chance he’ll target the British jumps trainers championship next season which is bad news for the home based trainers.

Mullins also landed a third successive big Saturday handicap chase with Minella Cocooner. Minella Cocooner was following in the hoofprints of I Am Maximus in the Grand National and Macdermott in the Scottish Grand National.  For the second successive week it wasn’t Paul Townend in the saddle but Danny Mullins who is having some end to the season.

In Wednesday’s race preview I said the following:

“If Mullins is to gain a third successive big Saturday handicap chase after the Grand National and Scottish Grand National, then I think Minella Cocooner is the one who can do it.  He proved his stamina for the trip last time and I think he’s capable of better on a sounder surface. Nick Rockett might do better on quicker ground and can’t be discounted either, but I just prefer his stablemate”.

Cobden Claims Jump Jockey Championship After Fierce Battle with Bowen:

On the jump jockey’s front, Harry Cobden clinched victory over Sean Bowen by seven after a fierce battle for the championship. One might speculate that Sean could have emerged victorious had he not missed the entirety of January due to an injury sustained on Boxing Day. However, such is the nature of National Hunt racing; akin to the equine stars, jockeys must also maintain soundness during a long season.

It seems inevitable that Bowen will eventually claim the jockey's title. His hunger for victory will likely drive him to do it next season. Will Cobden's desire to retain the title be as powerful next season. Additionally, former Champion Brian Hughes looms as another significant rival to Sean's ambitions for next season.

Sandown

Fantastic Oaksey Success

The Grade 2 Oaksey Chase cut up badly at final declarations with just seven runners. This made it a very winnable race, and so it proved.

Fantastic Lady, who finished third in last year's Oaksey Chase, caused a mild surprise by winning this year's renewal. The two out of form market leaders Hitman and The Real Whacker both disappointed.

Hitman, racing in blinkers for the first time, finished third but didn't jump well and faded coming to the last. I wonder if he will be subject to a fifth bout of wind surgery.  If he is I doubt it will make much difference to a talented horse who just doesn’t seem to win.

The Real Whacker never found his jumping rhythm and was beaten three out.

Fantastic Lady appreciated the better ground and jumped fluently under Nico De Boinville's skillful ride, securing victory after pinging the final two fences.

Taking nothing way from the winner but for a Grade 2 contest it was a very poor quality renewal.

Jonbon Celebration

Nico De Boinville and trainer Nicky Henderson celebrated as Jonbon clinched victory in the Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase, marking his second consecutive win in the race. The 8-year-old remains unbeaten in four starts at Sandown. De Boinville's assertive ride kept Jonbon focused on the task at hand, resulting in a dominant performance.

Odds on favorite, El Fabiolo struggled with jumping and was a bit keen during the race. Although he rallied to secure second place ahead of Edwardstone, his jumping issues will continue to hinder his prospects against top two-mile chasers. Edwardstone probably ran close to his very best in third.

Coming to the Pond fence I thought that Boothill had a chance of getting into the places, but they probably hadn’t gone hard enough in the early stages, and he could only plug on into fourth.

Will Jonbon’s win here tempt connections to keep him at too miles next season? After he proved his stamina for 2m 4f at Aintree last time it has seemed like he would target the Ryanair Chase next year.  Now I’m not so sure. Surely, it’s the Champion Chase connections really want to win not the Ryanair.

Minella Cocooner Triumphs in bet365 Gold Cup

Any fears that Minella Cocooner might have had a hard race when third in the Irish Grand National were brushed aside as the 8-year-old got the better of the front running Annual Invictus to land Saturday’s big betting race the bet365 Gold Cup.

Minella Cocooner was given a confident ride by Danny Mullins to hit the front after the last, but he still had to battle to hold off the runner-up whose effort couldn’t be faulted. However, its worth noting the race wasn’t strongly run. That means you can mark up the winners effort given the position he came from. The winner is a real stayer who improved for better ground and could be a Grand National horse nest season.

To some extent Annual Invictus got the run of the race but he’s hardy battler who is suited to a sound surface. You would expect connections to have this race in mind nest year.

It was a 1-3 for winning trainer Willie Mullins as Nick Rockett stayed on to take third on the run in. Nick Rockett was having just his fifth start over the larger obstacles and remains capable of better over fences.

Of the rest

Besides the winner nothing travelled better than the well fancied Amirite. For the first time this season Amirite got the good ground he prefers. Two out, I thought he was going to win but his stamina ran out on the run in, and ultimately had to settle for fifth.

The first time cheekpieces had the desired effect on Sandown specialist Certainly Red. He jumped much better than he had done on recent starts and probably produced close to a personal best in fourth.

Le Milos ran well for a long way but probably didn’t stay 3m 4f. Meanwhile last year’s winner Kitty’s Light was probably still feeling the effects of hard race in the Grand National.

Sandown's Finale Day Ends Season on High Note; Punchestown Festival Next Up

Sandown's Finale Day was a resounding success, featuring a strong card and sizable fields. The event appears to improve with each passing year, providing a fitting conclusion to the season on a high note. The flat racing season could take a cue from Finale Day instead of quietly slipping away after Champions Day.

Jonbon secured victory in the Celebration Chase, while Minella Cocooner demonstrated class in the bet365 Gold Cup, offering a satisfying conclusion to the season for me, given I haven’t had the best of luck in valuable handicap chases this winter.

While the British jumps season has concluded, the Punchestown Festival in Ireland offers five more days of thrilling racing, starting on Tuesday.

Monday Preview

Monday kicks off on a quiet note, typical for a Monday. However, excitement builds tomorrow with the start of the Punchestown Festival, culminating in the first Classics of the new season at Newmarket.

We’re entering arguably the busiest period of the year. From now until the end of the Royal Ascot its pretty much wall to wall big race action. It’s a tremendous period but also an energy sapping one for punters.

This side of the Irish Sea If you're a fan of lower-grade races, you’re in for a treat. If you’re not, then you will be holding on for the better quality racing later in the week.

Monday's highlight is the teatime flat card at Naas, featuring the Listed Woodlands Stakes (6:20). I've had a quick glance at the race.

Naas

6:20 – Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes (Listed Race) – 5f

Aesop's Fables improved back at 5f last autumn finishing a length 3^rd of 18 in the Group 1 third in Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp and occupying the same position in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Hard to know how fit he’ll be on his seasonal return, but he’s does get a handy 5lb from Moss Tucker and drying ground is a positive.

Moss Tucker gained a breakthrough Group 1 success when landing the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh last September. He’s another making his belated seasonal reappearance, so fitness must be taken on trust, but this does represent a drop in class for the 6-year-old.

If there are questions mark over fitness regarding Aesop's Fables and Moss Tucker, it shouldn’t be an issue with Ocean Quest. The filly’s form figures off a 121-day + lay off are 131 and she’s yet to finish outside of the first three on all her three starts at Naas. A winner of a Listed race at Navan (5 ½ f) 12 months ago, she also won a Group 3 here (6f) in August. Back down to the minimum trip on her return to action but provided the ground continues to dry out I think she can go close.

There won’t be a ‘future winners’ segment in tomorrow’s column as I will be concentrating on day one of the Punchestown Festival. If you want my Punchestown previews and selections, you can get them here.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John