OJA winner Sarsons Risk (7/2)

The dreadful run of the Top 40 Prospects in One Jump Ahead continues to show no signs of stopping with another couple of losers this week. Queens Gamble lost her unbeaten record in the rescheduled Listed Alan Swinbank Mares' bumper at Market Rasen on Tuesday with Oliver Sherwood's runner being reeled in close home. Connections indicated afterwards that the Cheltenham Festival bumper remains the plan and, while the return to a track which she has proved so effective at is a plus, the five year old needs to improve on her latest effort to trouble the other market leaders. 

Spanish Harlem produced a laboured effort at Thurles on Thursday even though Willie Mullins' French import was only beaten half a length. The gelding's jumping was sloppy and Paul Townend never looked at ease aboard the five year old. The fact he could beat the 125 rated winner conceding four pounds speaks for itself and, having thought he was ideal for the Martin Pipe Conditional Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham next month, he doesn't deserve a place on the boat, let alone being involved in the shake-up. 

On a happier note, the Changing Codes section in OJA has unearthed some interesting juvenile hurdlers and Sarsons Risk (7/2) scored on his jumping bow at Doncaster on Thursday. Rated 82 on the Flat, the Caravaggio jumped well and made all to register a five lengths victory and, in doing so, providing rookie handler Ben Brookhouse with his first victory. He looks capable of defying a penalty and ought to enjoy a productive Autumn. 

Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers continue in fantastic form with Nick Rockett (9/4) taking the concluding bumper at Thurles. Absent for 68 days following an underwhelming Rules debut at Fairyhouse in December, the Walk In The Park gelding was always to the fore and he stayed on strongly under young Charlie Mullins, nephew of winning trainer Willie, to prevail by four and a half lengths. The only surprise was the price having been much shorter during the morning's trading.

Next week, I am heading south to conduct a number of interviews for the forthcoming edition of Ahead On The Flat. I will announce news of these on my return.