Saturday Review

Baaeed was unable to go out in a blaze of glory and extend his unbeaten record to 11 races when only finishing fourth in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. The six times Group 1 winner made smooth headway rounding the hometurn but it soon became apparent that Jim Crowley's mount was in trouble soon afterwards with his trade mark turn of foot being blunted in the rain softenend conditions. Despite staying on, the son of Sea The Stars was a length and three quarters in arrears of Bay Bridge. His defeat left a feeling of deflation with his jockey blaming the ground for Baaeed's first and only loss. The soft going may not have been ideal but I am convinced that was the sole reason. Perhaps he was feeling the effects of contesting four Group 1 races earlier in the season and the four year old endured a harder race than appeared to be the case at York last time. Either way, he may have lost his 100% record and the fact remains he is the best horse ever to be housed at Somerville Lodge.

Indeed, it proved a very frustrating afternoon for the Haggas team with My Prospero failing by a nose to reel in Adayar for second position in the same event. If the Haggas runner had managed to secure the runners-up berth, it would have also certainly ensured Haggas claimed his first trainer's title. Then, to add insult to injury, Sweet Believer was nailed late on in the Balmoral Handicap by an 80/1 outsider. That summed up the day for his trainer and team.

While I was firmly keeping my fingers crossed that Baaeed won win, the outcome of the Champions Stakes wasn't the worse in the world for followers of the Top 40 Prospects in Ahead On The Flat. Bay Bridge (10/1) looked a top-class colt when winning the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May before finding the ground too quick at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and Eclipse at Sandown. Given a break of 105 days, the New Bay colt relished the underfoot conditions before staying on too strongly for the aforementioned Adayar to win by half a length. As stated in the Autumn Update, the ground is the key to Sir Michael Stoute's four year old. Despite both his wins over ten furlongs this term, I still maintain Bay Bridge could be even better over a mile and a half one day. He is bred to stay and, assuming he remains in training, the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe could be his ultimate target next year. Sir Michael Stoute will spearhead the challenge on the top middle distance prizes next year with Bay Bridge and Epsom Derby winner Desert Crown. 

As discussed, One Jump Ahead had a terrific afternoon with 9 winners. Declan Phelan included expensive purchase Hermes Allen in his Irish Pointers article and the five year old made an instant impression on his Rules debut when taking the staying maiden hurdle at Stratford by 27 lengths. Bought for £350,000, the Poliglote gelding showed a tendency to jump to his right in his point-to-point and that was evident once again here as he made all under Bryony Frost. However, he it didn't matter in this company as he outclassed his four opponents. Time will tell whether it will become a trait throughout his career and how much it impacts on his chances when stepped up in grade. There is no doubt he is a horse of considerable potential though. 

It was pleasing to see Harry Fry amongst the winners at Newton Abbot including Boothill who ran out an impressive winner of the two miles novices' handicap chase. Fourth on his fencing bow at Exeter last term, the Presenting gelding was found to have a problem afterwards which has been addressed since. Back in action, he jumped particularly well and was firmly in control when left clear at the final fence. Eased down, the winning margin of three parts of a length grossly flattered the runner-up. The seven year old remains lightly raced and ought to have a bright future over fences, provided his trainer can get a clear run with him.

While Alan King was witnessing stable star Trueshan winning the Group 2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot for a third successive year, the Barbury Castle trainer also sent out Harbour Lake to score on his reappearance in a competitive two and a half miles handicap hurdle at Market Rasen. Racing off a mark of 130, the Shantou gelding won three of his four races over timber last term and has always been viewed as a smart young prospect. Tom Cannon's mount didn't get the clearest of runs in the homestraight but stayed on strongly to lead after the last. A three parts of a length winner, the handicapper is unlikely to over react which means the six year old could stay ahead of the assessor for some time. Speaking to Brian Hughes (won on him at Wetherby last season) last spring, he felt Harbour Lake was still raw and can only improve with more racing. 

Juvenile hurdler Admiralty House (7/2) was another winner for King's interview in OJA when taking the opening event at Kempton on Sunday. The Sea The Stars gelding was much too keen early on but it didn't prevent him from beating the more experienced Age of Sail by a couple of lengths. A 79 rated maiden on the Flat, the three year old has clearly got an engine but needs to learn to relax in his races. There are few better trainers of juvenile hurdlers than Alan King and he has already introduced Tuddenham Green and Admiralty House this Autumn. If the reports are correct, his best three year old hurdler is featured on page 137 of One Jump Ahead. 

If you haven't ordered your copy of One Jump Ahead and the Updates, please head to the Publications section of the site, while stocks last. Cheltenham hosts its Showcase meeting on Friday and Saturday before Aintree takes centre stage next Sunday with the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase providing the highlight.