Up The Manor has the potential to become a real standard-bearer for Newmarket handler Jack Jones when he returns from a slight setback.
The two-year-old made a blistering start to his on-track career when scoring at Doncaster on debut in May and followed that up by finishing a creditable fourth in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, a performance that saw him have only the winner Big Evs ahead on his section of the track.
However, his trip to the Royal meeting left a slight mark which has seen him on the sidelines ever since, with the son of Soldier’s Call just beginning to build himself back up to full fitness.
“He was a bit sore after Ascot so we gave him a few quiet weeks and he’s just back doing a few steady canters at the moment,” said Jones.
“He won’t be running in the very near future, but we were really pleased with his run at Ascot obviously.”
Following his respectable performance in Listed company, Jones is keen to keep Up The Manor at a good level and was left frustrated the Stephen Boorman-owned youngster had to miss Newbury when one of his Windsor Castle rivals waltzed away with a prize he had his eye on.
Jones added: “Straight after Ascot I did have the Rose Bowl in mind. Archie Watson’s horse (Action Point) was behind us at Ascot so that was quite frustrating that we had to miss that, but we’re just doing what is right by the horse and taking our time and hopefully he will be one who is around for a few years. He’s been a star.
“I’ve never been one for throwing them in at the deep end, so I think he will bob away at Listed and Group Three and if he tells us he’s ready to go up from there, then that would be the plan.”
Jones has registered eight winners at the halfway stage of his second season with a training licence, but the dual-purpose handler is also beginning to make his mark over jumps where Our Scholar has won three of his four races this summer.
Having brought up a hat-trick at Southwell when making his handicap bow, the four-year-old will now be aimed at the £70,000 Download Vickers.Bet App Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Worcester on September 29.
“His end-of-season Gold Cup is the Worcester fixed brush series final and he qualified for that when finishing third there earlier in the season,” said Jones.
“He’s now won his maiden, his novice hurdle and his handicap and that will now be his Gold Cup. Most likely he will have a spin on the Flat towards the end of August and he will go into the Worcester race rated around 120 and he will definitely get a run.
“We go there on the back of three hurdle wins and he has won over two-mile-three at Warwick, so I think the step back up to two and a a half should be right up his street really. He’s been a legend.”
