Those of you who have followed the horses featured in Jumping Prospects since last September will be aware of the fantastic number of winners and placed horses highlighted from the stable interviews. Over 250 winners from those featured. I’m sure people will say they did not back them all! I know it is hard to try to punt every horse featured, but the strength of the book is that it gives punters the confidence during the autumn to make their own lists of those they want to follow during the autumn and winter jumps season.

The number of first time out winners during this period more than pays for the book.
There were also plenty of big priced win and placed horses and I will reveal a stunning set of results from another punters goldmine that many of you will be unaware of in the next edition of Jumping Prospects.

You have to have patience, but the winners flowed throughout October to December 2011.
The book is a fantastic guide to those you should be looking to punt, it has proved to be a goldmine over the past 20 years.

The new edition of Jumping Prospects will be available from mid September 2012.
Don’t forget, to obtain the very best value from those to be featured, place your order early in September.
It will be the best investment you will make all season!!!

John Morris
Jumping Prospects

Horse Racing is a massive risk sport, but the negativity coming out in the National Press is just typical of those who wish to focus on negativity.
Yesterday I stood in front of the Horse Welfare representative, who was spouting off about ‘what I want to see happen in future Grand Nationals.’
I STRESS THE ‘WHAT I WANT TO SEE’ comment.

There were over 80,000 people and millions watching the race. Perhaps the vast majority enjoyed the day and will look forward to returning next year.
The Welfare man has a personal agenda to make it even safer in his eyes. Perhaps this is an unattainable agenda.
I’m sorry but I’m not prepared to let them have their way.

I also think that certain pundits have been brainwashed into to doing the work of the Welfare Groups instead of defending the sport to the hilt that gives them the good living they receive from the very horses and people associated with them. Afterall I don’t recall any of those I’m pointing the finger at turning round and asking for changes to the format of the Cheltenham Festival after the death of 5 horses in March.

The Grand National is a tough race. Perhaps some of the changes already implemented have made the wrong difference, in fact perhaps some of them require reversing.
Risk will never be removed entirely.
Lets hold the positives from the seven days of Aintree and Cheltenham. It was exciting, breathtaking and superb entertainment for all associated with horse racing.

If you went on any of the days at Cheltenham and Aintree ask yourself will I be returning or watching in the future? I bet the answer is yes.

It should be an entertaining evening and it would be good to see some of the the thousands of ladies due to attend on Friday make the effort to come along and have their cards marked. After all if they were going for the waxjob, or a nail job that evening they will probably be in the area, and probably kicking their heels while waiting for the orangeglow appointment and might learn something useful to help hard pressed hubbies, who have to fork out an serious readies at Matalan for the outfits they will be parading on the catwalk during the early part of proceedings on Ladies Day. Just think what heroes these potential panel groupies will be if they can point their gaggle of fellow Lady racing enthusiasts in the direction of a couple of decent priced winners on the Friday.

It would also be wise for any male stud wanting to impress the gaggles around the course to turn up on Wednesday evening. It might just be the best fiver you spend next week.

The performance of BIG BUCKS to win his fourth World Hurdler for stayers, proved to be a glorious success that promotes jump racing in its finest light. This is a superb achievement from this sensational hurdler, who has dominated this particular branch of the jumping ranks over the past five years. He looks likely to return to become the winning most Staying Hurdler in the history of jump racing next March, providing he remains free from any mishaps. Everyone connected with the sport must be delighted with his overall contribution to jump racing. BIG BUCKS the undisputed King of the modern day staying hurdlers.

The final day was not expected to be easily solved from a punting angle. Ever since the festival went from three to four days, I’ve found the added burden of that extra day sapping my punting stamina to the limits of endurance. The 2012 Cheltenham Festival had gone almost to plan, but it went a bit pear shaped on the last day! When four of the seven races are won by a 33/1 shot and three 20/1 pokes, you know you might be in serious trouble of drawing a blank day. It was more like a bad day at Black Rock. Those put up as selections ran well to a point, but some could not find that bit extra in the closing stages up that tiring hill. It was so frustrating, but the one that certainly got away had to be BRINDISI BREEZE trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell. He was featured among the potential selections in the Festival Contender book, maybe I should have had him on as an each way selection, as I’ve been concerned with the well being of some of the Irish contenders this week. Boston Bob ran a blinder to finish second here, but I’m not sure he was quite right today. However, it was good to see some of the prizes heading north this time around.

You just can’t keep down the McCoy, O’Neill & McManus bandwagon at the festival. It rolls into town every year, with wins frm many you would not expect to be in the finish, but they win when you least expect them to.
It was a brilliant ride by McCoy to land his second Gold Cup for his connections. All good things come to an end. The racing career of Kauto Star might well be over, but what memories he leaves his adoring fans and connections of a horses lifetime at the top of his game in racing to so much glorious success.

This was a festival worthy of many a great Cheltenham. Nicky Henderson rounded off the meeting with yet another winner and romped away with the Trainers Championship at the Festival. He is now snapping at the heels of his rival Paul Nicholls, but with so many big races still to come over the next six weeks, the likelyhood of a new Kingpin at the top of the Trainers Table looks likely…or does it?

I have to say that I am over the moon with the performance of the Selections put forward on the line, text and email, but the Spring Festival Contenders Book had every race covered and the number of winners and placed horses advised to consider, went above and beyond my own expectations. 11 of the 27 races featured had the winners mentions favourably in the suggested selection summary. Looking forward to more excitement at Aintree in April.

Yes that was a 66/1 – 16/1 winner following on from a 10/1 winner from the first 7 selections. If you grabbed the 40/1 (as many did) is a minimum 45 point profit from 2 horses at the Festival…so far!

I have been banging on about the value of Jumping Prospects and not just the autumn publication, that is the goldmine of information that some recognize and others fail to understand the real value of the work, effort and toil I put in to producing this exceptional set of publications throughout the jumping season.
They say you take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.
Those two results this week make the long hours, early mornings, the travel, discussions with people around the country and the endless phone calls worth all the effort. It comes to say something when my four-year-old daughter asks her mummy. ‘Can I have a daddy who does not know phone numbers.’

Unfortunately my gorgeous little redhead, those phone numbers pays the bills!

Hope you are enjoying the Cheltenham Festival. After those two winners, I’m over the moon!!!!

I’ve done all my prep work, well sort of! There will be last minute adjustments to those likely to feature on my Telephone Updates.

The Spring Festival Contenders book has attracted enough interest from my regular book buyers. Those featured away from the Festivals have already provided a few winners, granted at shorter odds than I would have liked. However, those that have won or been placed should have recouped the cost of the SFC book. On Saturday CALL ME A STAR at an SP of 2/1 backed in from 3/1 was a welcome winner. There are others likely to run in between the Festivals during March and April that will hopefully land some good touches for those who purchased the book.

The autumn book continues to churn out winners with PAINTBALL winning the Imperial Cup at odds of 20/1!!!

On Monday at Stratford, Charlie Longsdon sent out SPIRIT OF SHANKLY for his second outing in a bumper. This highly regarded sort showed an impressive turn of foot to win easily backed from 11/8 into 11/10. They might all be winning at short odds from those featured in the Spring Festival Contenders book, but at least they are winning!

There are lots of exciting horses running this week. Enjoy the Festival racing.

It won’t be long before the talking has to stop and the action will begin.
Don’t forget you still have time to order the Spring Festival Contenders book and my own personal selections to be given out each day during Cheltenham and of course at Aintree.

Full details on the website.

The road show moves on to Heywood near Oldham & Rochdale with this evenings venue the Hopwood Unionist Club, Manchester Road, Heywood, OL10 2AP.

Start time 7.45

The panel Charlie Longsdon, Ben Pauling, George Primarolo, Keith McHugh and John Morris.

Entry cost £10 and there is a Free £2 Tote oncourse given to all who attend while stocks last!
Helps with the Tote Scoop 6 cost!

There will also be a Charity Raffle with some betting vouchers and racecourse badges to be won.

If you live in the area, please try to come along to enjoy another entertaining evening.

Tomorrow night the third of my preview evenings takes place at St Thereas’s Club in Blacon Chester CH1 5BU.

Maghull Town Hall, Liverpool, L31 7BB Monday 5th March 7.45: John Parrott, Stewart Machin, David Carr & John Morris

Heywood, Hopwood Unionist Club, Manchester Road, Heywood, OL10 2AP 6th March Tuesday 7.45: Charlie Longsdon, Ben Pauling (Nicky Henderson Assitant) Keith McHugh, George Primrolo, & John Morris

CHESTER, St Teresa’s Legends Bar, Blacon, CH1 5BU Wednesday 7th March 7.45: Warren Greatrex, Darren Owen, Andy Holding, Ken Pitterson, & John Morris

To book your place call 0151 520 0080

The Jumping Prospects SPRING FESTIVAL CONTENDERS IS NOW AVAILABLE SEE HOME PAGE OF THE WEBSITE.

It’s been hectic over the past week sending out orders for the above book along with the preparation for the above Cheltenham Festival Preview Evenings.

They will be informative and entertaining and I’m looking forward to seeing big crowds attend them.
I’ve secured some decent prizes for the Charity Raffles including free bets from the bookmakers and badges for future race meetings at Bangor, Cartmel & Haydock plus other prizes. Please come along and enjoy the evenings.

The Jumping Prospects Cheltenham Festival preview evenings, are shaping up to be the talk of the town!
They start next Monday at the Maghull Town Hall (L31 7BB) @7.45 entry £10, but please for this one definitely book in advance as already ticket sales have grown over the weekend.
If you pre order your tickets you are guaranteed a free £5 Ladbrokes Betting Voucher, only guaranteed for those who book their places in advance.
CALL 0151 520 0080 to book ASAP!

On Tuesday I’m hosting a Preview at the Hopwood Unionist Club in Heywood @745 (OL10 2AP) entry cost £10 with a £2 on course Tote voucher for the first 160 to turn up. Should be a decent night.

On Wednesday at St Theresa’s Club Blacon (CH1 5BU) will host the third evening @7.45 entry costs £10.

Don’t forget to pre-order any venue 0151 520 0080

Liverpool did their best to give away the prize yesterday. The best side landed it in the end, but all credit to Cardiff and their fans for making the occasion well worth the visit to see my reds lift their first of many future trophies. The F A Cup being next on our agenda!

The Spring Festival Contenders Book available from Tuesday!