Autumn Update - Withhold (Advised @ 20/1) wins the Cesarewitch @ 5/1

Withhold, who was advised in the Autumn Update at 20/1, landed a substantial gamble to win the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in magnificent style under Silvestre De Sousa. Ridden positively from the outset, the former Charlie Hills trained four year old had caught the eye on his first start for Roger Charlton over twelve furlongs at Newbury last month. Sent for home a long way out by the champion jockey elect, he stayed on strongly to beat London Prize by nearly four lengths. It was a breathtaking performance by a lightly raced four year old who must have Pattern race aspirations next year. In fact, he looks a potential Ascot Gold Cup contender and it would be no surprise if his connections consider a tilt at the Melbourne Cup this time next year. Rarely is such a competitive big field handicap won in such a manner. Thank you to those clients who have emailed since - it was a terrific result for the Update. Just for good measure, Lagostovegas (advised @ 25/1) finished third at 10/1.

It was a good day for One Jump Ahead, too, with 4 winners at Chepstow on Saturday. Finian's Oscar made a winning start to his chasing career but didn't totally convince. A dual Grade 1 winning hurdler last term, he reportedly slipped going into the third and took a while to warm to his task. Left in second place when Alcala hit the deck at the end of the back straight, he readily reeled in the aggressively ridden Aintree My Dream and won by eleven lengths. Colin Tizzard indicated afterwards the former pointer may head to Cheltenham later this month to gain more experience. There is no doubt he is a horse with a big engine but he needs to step up on yesterday's performance if he is to justify ante-post favouritism for the JLT Novices' Chase at the Festival.

Rock The Kasbah (2/1) is highlighted on page 135 as a possible contender for the Welsh National and Philip Hobbs' charge looked just that when beating twelve opponents by upwards of two lengths under Richard Johnson in the three miles handicap chase. The gelding looked in trouble down the back straight but responded to the champion jockey's urgings and ran on gamely to win going away at the finish. The longer trip in the Christmas feature will suit and his trainer feels he copes with heavy ground. His form figures at the Welsh venue read 22111.

Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers continued their blistering start with Senor Lombardy (5/4) making amends for his narrow defeat at Kelso by going one better in another bumper at Hexham. Suited by the more demanding track, Keith Dalgleish's gelding handled the desperate conditions before staying on too strongly for Klare Castle to win by two and a half lengths. One would expect the gelded son of Milan to go hurdling now.