One Jump Ahead winners 33/1, 15/2 & 5/4

Rated 150 over hurdles, La Bague Au Roi made the perfect start to her chasing career at Newbury on Newbury with a length and a half win in the two miles six beginners' chase. Warren Greatrex's mare claimed some notable scalps in the process, including the Colin Tizzard trained Lostintranslation. The winner and runner-up matched strides along way from home but it was the mare, who was receives seven pounds, who got the better of things on the run-in. The seven year old jumped beautifully and, given the fact she stays three miles, something like the Grade 1 Kauto Star NC at Kempton (1 from 1 at the track) on Boxing Day could be on her agenda. It won't be long before the runner-up goes one better but it was surprising to see him start the season over such a trip given the fact he contested Grade 1 novice hurdles over two and two and a half miles at Cheltenham and Aintree respectively during the spring. The third home Talkischeap also acquitted himself very well. Alan King's charge jumped well and held every chance from three out. He stays three miles and it would be no surprise to see him stepped up in trip again in due course. A three times winning pointer, plus three over hurdles, the Getaway gelding could develop into a contender for something like the National Hunt Chase at the Festival next March.

It was a good day for One Jump Ahead with Ecu De La Noverie (33/1), Our Power (5/4) and Outofthisworld (15/2) all winning. The first names was having his first start for Philip Hobbs having won over fences in France. Rated 130, the four year old showed a willing attitude to get the better of Mister Fisher to prevail by a short head. In the same event, I thought Bold Plan shaped with distinct promise back in third position. Evan Williams' charge, who is featured in Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers, was making his hurdles debut and he wasn't subjected to a hard time of it in the latter stages. Very much one for the future, he was only beaten two and a half lengths and will be hard to beat in a similar event at somewhere like Ffos Las or Ludlow. He is a promising sort.

There are few better than Alan King when it comes to juvenile hurdlers and the 81 rated Flat racer Our Power made a winning start to his jumping career in the opening juvenile hurdle at Market Rasen. A gelded son of Power, he only raced a handful of times on the level and still looked inexperienced. Despite that, his jumping was very good and he looked a strong stayer in the process as he got the better of the penalised Idilico to win by a handful of lengths.