Trainer's horses to follow continue in good form

The trainer's horse to follow in the Talking Trainers section in One Jump Ahead have been in good form during the last few weeks with Little Miss Dante (Olly Murphy), Captain Teague (Paul Nicholls) and Universal Folly (Nicky Richards) all scoring on their seasonal reappearance. The Alan King trained Helnwein added his name to the list with a workmanlike win at Warwick on Wednesday. The Walk In The Park gelding won a bumper at Ffos Las last season and is held in high regard at Barbury Castle. A strong traveller who hurdled particularly well at the Midlands track, he had to be shaken up approaching the second last. Kept up to his work, he won by a length and three quarters. Time will tell how far he can progress but the five year old strikes me as the type to win a decent handicap this term. A slick jumper, he will appreciate a well run race.

Arguably the most interesting race of the day was the three runner novices' handicap chase at Chepstow which went the way of Colonel Harry. Rated 132 over timber, the winning Irish pointer had to work hard to get the better of Out of Office before asserting after the last. Trained by the in-form Jamie Snowden, his jumping was sound and the testing conditions played to his strengths. Despite looking a non stayer over two and a half miles at Uttoxeter last season, it will be a surprise if he doesn't get further than the minimum trip. The disappointment of the race was the odds on favourite Tahmuras who never looked comfortable and was always in arrears. Paul Nicholls commented afterwards that the Grade 1 winning hurdler hasn't fired since winning the Tolworth Novices' Hurdle in January and has been well held in three subsequent starts. The champion trainer also suggested that a step up in trip is likely and don't rule out the six year old wearing some headgear in the near future either.

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