Sunday Review - 4 more winners for OJA

Kim Bailey sent out 13 winners during October and he couldn't have made a better start to November with an across the card double at Carlisle and Huntingdon on Sunday. Cheltenham Festival winner Imperial Aura won the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Chase at the latter track by two and a half lengths. Rated 157, the Kalanisi gelding was always prominent and produced a fine round of jumping before staying on too strongly for his five opponents. The Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in thirteen days time is a possible target. Runner-up Windsor Avenue ran well in second having been tapped for speed in the homestraight. On this evidence, he will stay further and may be worth a try in something like the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby over Christmas or the Skybet Chase at Doncaster in late January. The third home Sam Brown also ran well over a trip shy of his best and will be of interest over further this winter. 

Bailey completed his double courtesy of Espoir De Romay on his chase debut at Huntingdon. Rated 142 over hurdles, the striking gelded son of Kap Rock has always looked the sort to make an even better chaser. Jumping boldly in front, he only had to be shaken up to beat Senior Citizen by two and a half lengths, in receipt of ten pounds. The pair pulled nearly fifty lengths clear of the third. Along with stablemate Happygolucky, his yard have a couple of promising staying novice chasers who will come into their own over three miles later in the campaign. 

Sojourn continued Anthony Honeyball's excellent run of form with a fifteen lengths win in the Cumberland Chase at Carlisle. Having only his third start over the larger obstacles, the lightly raced seven year old jumped brilliantly (bar the second last) and made a mockery of his rating of 129. Along with stablemate Sam Brown, he looks tailormade for races such as the Welsh National at Chepstow or Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in January. There is a good prize to be won with the Getaway gelding.

The French Revolution section in One Jump Ahead has already unearthed high-class juvenile hurdlers Hell Red and Quilixios and Indiana Jones (15/8) doesn't look a bad inclusion either. A four year old by Blue Bresil, he finished runner-up on his only start over hurdles at Auteuil in September last year. Subsequently bought for €280,000 at the Arqana Sale the following month, he was given plenty of time to acclimatise by Mouse Morris. Making his Irish debut in the second division of the two miles maiden hurdle at Cork on Sunday, he impressed as he pulled away for a five and a half lengths win under Dylan Robinson. A half-brother to stablemate French Dynamite, he made all and produced a splendid round of jumping before powering away after the final flight. Unlikely to be over raced this season, he will make some chaser one day.