Just to confirm, the Christmas Special will be emailed to clients on Sunday pm, once I have received Irish expert Declan Phelan's article. I have been in touch with leading bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley and high profile owner Rich Ricci and asked the pair for the horse they are most looking forward to seeing over the Festive period. These have been included in the Update, plus there is an interview with Grade 1 winning trainer Evan Williams who has a fine team of youngsters and is expected to field three runners in the Welsh National on Friday.
There is still time to order a copy of the Update - please go to the Publications section of the site. The Update is £6.00.
Brian Hughes was once again very much the man to follow on Saturday with 4 winners at Newcastle. The Irishman has now ridden 9 winners from 15 rides since last Sunday with another four timer at Carlisle last weekend. One of those winner at Gosforth Park was the James Ewart trained Ettila De Sivola (11/8), who is featured in the Handicap Snips section of One Jump Ahead. The lightly raced five year old had proved disappointing on his first two starts over fences this term but he finally got his act together with a plucky display in the two miles handicap chase. He attempted to make all but was headed after the fourth last. However, he rallied well and stayed on dourly on the run-in to prevail by three parts of a length off a mark of 113. The fitting of first time blinkers appeared to do the trick but it remains to be seen whether they have the same influence next time.
The testing conditions at Ascot prevented us from seeing Paisley Park in the Long Walk Hurdle but the star of the show at the Berkshire track was undoubtedly Riders Onthestorm in the Graduation chase. Ruled out of the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham a week earlier, due to a clerical error, the Scorpion gelding made it two out of two since joining Nigel Twiston-Davies. An easy winner at Aintree last month, he was subsequently raised thirteen pounds but produced an even better display here. His trainer suggested the Grade 1 Ascot Chase over the same C&D in February before a tilt at the Ryanair Chase in March. He looks very well bought at £50,000.
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