Top 40 Prospects winner Forever Popular (16/1)

Apologies for not updating the Diary for a while – I have started work on the forthcoming edition of One Jump Ahead (published in early September). I conducted my first interview with Philip Hobbs yesterday and hope to do some more later this week. It seems strange to be discussing the jumpers on a day when temperatures were hovering around and above and beyond 30 degrees. Once again, Philip has an excellent team for the winter ahead. I will keep readers informed who I have interviewed.

Switching codes, it was good to see Forever Popular (16/1) win for the second time this year when capturing a Listed event at Newmarket on Saturday. Featured in the Top 40 Prospects, she was Maureen Haggas’ horse to follow in AOTF and she put behind her a below par effort on the all-weather at Chelmsford last time. Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, the four year old stayed on strongly under Dane O’Neill to wear down Twitch and win going away. Fast ground is essential to her according to William Haggas.