So close...........Again

The Autumn Update has done well since published towards the end of September but it could have been even better but for a series of close shaves.

In Swoop was advised at 33/1 for the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp last month and missed out by a neck behind Sottass in Paris. Lucander ran a cracker to fill the same position in the Cambridgeshire twenty four hours earlier having been advised at 16/1. Then, to complete the hat-trick, Tiger Moth was denied by half a length in the Melbourne Cup. Aidan O'Brien's fast improving three year old was perfectly positioned throughout overcoming a wide draw in the process but couldn't reel in the front running Joseph O'Brien trained Twilight Payment. Fair play to the winner who maintained a sound gallop throughout and wasn't for passing. It was frustrating nevertheless. Despite his narrow loss, the runner-up is a tremendous prospect for staying events next year.

Hopefully our luck will change this month with the November Update pending. I am currently organising an interview with a leading trainer for the Update who will hopefully be well represented at Cheltenham's big three day meeting. I received news on Monday of an exciting new recruit from France who will be trained by Gordon Elliott. He will be included in the Update.

With lockdown looming this is an ideal time to order a copy of the Updates (£34.00 for all 5), including the November one which will be emailed to clients on Thursday week (12th November). Please head to the Publications section if you haven't already ordered one.

One Jump Ahead had another successful day on Tuesday with 4 more winners at Exeter. Greaneteen (15/8) provided Paul Nicholls with his seventh win in the Haldon Gold Cup at the West country venue. Having only his fifth run over fences, he stayed on well after the last to win a shade cosily by a neck. Still lightly raced and open to plenty of improvement, he is a young horse going places and one capable of making a big impact in the two mile chasing division this winter. 

Stablemate Enrilo was a comfortable winner of the staying novice chase. Highlighted as Harry Derham's horse to follow in OJA, the six year old went one better than on his chasing debut at Chepstow last month. Jumping well, he only had to be pushed out to beat Darlac by a length and three quarters. The Buck's Boum gelding is effective racing right-handed and it will be interesting to see if he is tried in something like the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. More will be required but he was a Grade 2 winning hurdler and has always been viewed as a chaser in the making. 

Other winners in OJA included Bobhopeornohope (17/2) in division one of the two miles five novice hurdle. A winning Irish pointer who was acquired for £105,000 in April last year, he shaped with promise on his Rules debut in a bumper at the same track on New Year's Day before getting bogged down in testing conditions at Warwick. Given a break, he provided Kim Bailey with his ninth winner in the last 14 days when beating Ask A Honey Bee by a length and three quarters. The Westerner gelding is a stout stayer who will relish a step up to three miles in time. This time next year, he will be jumping fences.