Weekend Review

There were a few disappointments over the weekend for followers of One Jump Ahead and the November Update with a couple of Dan Skelton trained handicap hurdlers coming unstuck, while Might I pulled away his chance at Haydock and didn't give himself a chance of staying three miles on Saturday. 

L'eau Du Sud looked set to play a leading role in the two miles three handicap hurdle at the Merseyside track on his UK debut turning for home but faded tamely after the second last and could only finish fourth. That was disappointing to say the least but there were no excuses for stablemate Hartur D'Oudairies who had the misfortune to bump into an even better handicapped rival who also began his career in France at Exeter on Sunday. Any information I gather regarding the pair, I shall pass on in the Christmas Special. 

That was the bad news but there was also plenty of good news, too. Fontaine Collonges (7/2) provided the Top 40 Prospects with another winner in the staying handicap chase at Haydock. The seven year old hadn't been seen since January (302 days) but fitness wasn't an issue as she got the better of old favourite The Big Breakaway by a head. The longer distance played to her strengths and one could envisage the mare returning to the track in January for something like the Peter Marsh Chase. 

Hitman, advised at 25/1 for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day in OJA, booked his place in the Christmas showpiece with a comfortable eleven lengths win in the Graduation Chase. Making all, the six year old had finished runner-up in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month and had reportedly come forward since. He was in control throughout and could improve again when tackling three miles for the first time. 

The 89 rated Flat performer Nusret (5/2) is featured in the Changing Codes section of One Jump Ahead and the Joseph O'Brien trained colt made a smooth transition to obstacles by winning the juvenile hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday by six lengths. Sixth in the Melrose Handicap at York in August, he quickened up between the final two flights before producing a fine jump at the last and then pulled away on the run-in. A three year old with a turn of foot, he could be a potent force on decent ground in the spring.

The French Revolution section in OJA has been slow to hit form but it produced a couple of winners over the weekend. Irish Point was a Grade 1 winning bumper performer in his home country before purchased by agent Alex Elliott on behalf of Robcour. The Joshua Tree gelding had his first run for Gordon Elliott at Cork on Sunday and made all the running to win by five lengths. Entered in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse (4th December), he made an error at the third last but soon quickened away to win easily. It was a good start to his jumping career.

Djelo (11/2) made his British debut in the competitive two miles two handicap hurdle at Exeter and accounted for the aforementioned Hartur D'Oudairies without coming off the bridle. Racing off a mark of 114, the Montmartre gelding had won his sole start over hurdles at Nancy a year ago and was prominent throughout. The runners only jumped five hurdles (due to the low sun) and Charlie Deutsch's mount went on after the third last and sauntered clear. The handicapper will take his revenge but his connections have nearly two weeks to enter him to run under a penalty. Bought for €140,000, he is clearly a horse with a bright future. 

Finally, Jamie Snowden suggested the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury next month could be on the agenda for Passing Well (7/2) in the November Update. Bought for £185,000 out of Robert Tyner's yard, the Coastal Path gelding won the two and a half miles novice hurdle at Uttoxeter on his first run for his new connections by a length and a quarter. Jumping well, he stayed on strongly to fend off the well regarded Issuing Authority with fifteen lengths back to the third.