Autumn Update 2016

The Autumn Update has been emailed to clients (5.32pm). If anyone hasn't received it, please let me know as soon as possible. A slightly smaller version compared to previous ones, there is full analysis of Saturday's Cambridgeshire and Cheveley Park Stakes, plus the Cesarewitch and Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe. There is still time to order a copy - please go to the Publications section of the site.

Frontiersman, who is featured in the Unraced section of Ahead On The Flat, was an impressive winner of the twelve furlongs handicap at Newmarket. Partially blind in one eye, he didn't perform to his best at Sandown last time but he relished the step up in trip on the Rowley Mile and won by four and a half lengths off a mark of 90. Impeccably bred being a son of Dubawi out of the brilliant Ouija Board, he looks a Group horse in the making and could be a very good four year old in 2017.

There was a terrific early season novice hurdle at Perth with the last two winners of the Cheltenham Festival bumper crossing swords. It was Moon Racer who gained the spoils over Ballyandy with three parts of a length separating the pair in a pulsating clash. There was twenty lengths back to the third. One wonders whether there will be a rematch at Cheltenham's November meeting in the Grade 2 Sharp Novices' Hurdle. They are clearly two smart novices, although one suspects the runner-up will prove to be the better long-term prospect because he has more time on his side.

Ballyandy's stablemate Flying Angel made a smooth start to his chasing career on the same card at the Scottish track. Last season's Imperial Cup winner and Cheltenham Festival runner-up jumped well before firmly putting some inferior rivals in their place. He, too, is likely to be heading to Prestbury Park sooner rather than later with their first meeting next month a strong possibility. The two and a half miles novice chase at Perth has been won by some useful horses over the years, including Bindaree, Fundamentalist and Cyrus Darius.