Talking Trainers amongst the winners again

There were 3 winners in the Talking Trainers section of One Jump Ahead, including Dear Sire's (6/4) victory in the two miles novices' chase at Sedgefield. Donald McCain's grey had won on his chasing debut at Cartmel before hitting the deck at the same track in August. Only third behind Caid Du Lin at Worcester next time, he turned the tables on Dr Richard Newland's gelding at the County Durham track on Tuesday. Six pounds better off compared to their previous meeting, Brian Hughes' mount was always travelling strongly and he scored readily by two and a quarter lengths.

Donald McCain has his team in splendid form and so, too, does Olly Murphy. Gordon Elliott's former assistant has a nice prospect on his hands in Itchy Feet (4/5). Runner-up on his debut in a bumper at Fontwell last spring, he had little trouble going one better in a similar event at Stratford last month. Making his hurdles debut at Southwell on Tuesday, Gavin Sheehan enjoyed an armchair ride as he strolled clear after the second last to win hard held by seven lengths. His trainer was keen to stress the four year old doesn't want soft ground when we spoke during the summer.

And to round off the card at Southwell, the Kim Bailey trained Commodore Barry (5/1) won the three miles conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle under Hugh Nugent. The Grand National, Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer has his string well forward and very much in form.

ValueRacingClub.co.uk were at it again at Southwell with ex-Irish gelding Settimo Milanese bolting up in the three miles novices' hurdle at the Nottinghamshire track. Bought out of Mouse Morris' yard during the summer, the Milan gelding has now won two out of three since joining Dr Newland and looks yet another shrewd purchase for his burgeoning syndicate. On this evidence he will be winning plenty more.