Jumping Jack cracks it

A scopey grey is learning to be quick” anda broodmare makes up for lost time

- SARAH RADFORD

JONATHAN DIXON and the ever-improving Jack JL claimed their second big win in a month when they set the lead from first to jump in the 1.40m winter grand prix.

Seven combinations survived a “strong but fair” first round from John Bedford, before Jonathan set a quick jump-off standard on the big and scopey 10-year-old grey.

“I could have gone quicker – the first line was seven strides and I could have gone on six, but I thought I’d play it safe,” Cumbria-based Jonathan said. “When the courses suit him, I think he’s unbeatable.

“He’s careful – there was a turnback to a double and I didn’t need to protect him there and then a tall vertical into the last line where I could turn tighter than anyone else did.”

It was just last-to-go Miles O’Donnell and nine-year-old Jackpot DS – who had only jumped his first 1.40m on the Friday – who managed to pip their time, but they lowered the second part of the double three from home to collect third.

The runner-up spot went to the only other double clear, from Nigel Coupe with Peter Grayson’s eight-year-old Air Queen II, who also finished second to Jonathan in the young horse grand prix at Aintree last month.

Jonathan has patiently produced the Quasimodo Z x Astrello gelding from a threeyear-old and has seen him really find his form this year.

“He was always a bit of a big, slow, powerful jumper but he’s learning to be quick,” said Jonathan, who sold him to owners Michael and Candice Reilly after Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). “There are big things to come from him.”

TACTICS FOR TRIUMPH

ALISTAIR HIPPISLEY GATHERUM collected the top ticket in the Unibed High Performance Bedding winter grade B&C qualifier with nineyear-old Kyrusa H.