BOB WAS A BIG BOOST

Robert Cooper finds a Way to follow up this season on last year's jumps money-spinners

- By Robert Cooper

We have arrived at the time of year when I go delving for some horses to follow through the approaching winter months; some of them so far beneath the radar that hibernating moles should watch their snouts.

It's uncertain where the proper jumping season begins, the tweed brigade will probably say Cheltenham but with no official blastoff, it's wherever you fancy. I set sail down the M5 to Chepstow for the opening day of their three-day Welsh Racing Festival that has turned out to be one of racing's brighter initiatives; excellent prize money and despite the lack of rain, good quality fields, although a few trainers found the chase course on the quick side.

Enough of the weather, let's find a few winners. I was checking last year's list and although the number of successes was less than I hoped for, the winning SPs nearly made up for it. We nearly hit the big time when Gary Hanmer's MINELLA RESCUE (50/1) was second in a Grade 1 hurdle at Aintree - my sneaky brother was on at 100/1. Other highlights were Emma Lavelle's CLASSIC KING winning at 11/2 and 9/1 but pride of place goes to Sean Bowen for his magnificent ride on board BOOSTER BOB (16/1) to win the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury last March - at one point tailed off 'look at him come, he was miles behind' cried course commentator Ian Bartlett. Champion jockey Sean Bowen is a man to have on your side as witnessed at Chepstow on STICKTOTHEPLAN, delivered with a perfectly-timed challenge to win the Grade 2 Persian War Hurdle, and again he was brilliant aboard RAMBO T to grab the Silver Trophy, getting his head in front virtually on the line.