Good start for Spartan Army

Those featured in the Changing Codes section of One Jump Ahead have been running well in recent weeks with Common Practice and Nusret scoring easily in Ireland. Spartan Army made a smooth transition to obstacles at Wetherby on Wednesday being pushed out to win by half a dozen lengths. Encountering heavy ground for the first time, the Highland Reel gelding jumped neatly down the backstraight and, while he got in close to the last couple of flights, he wasn't hard pressed to account for the 75 rated Flat racer Wholeofthemoon. Trainer Alan King is eyeing an introductory hurdle at Kempton (27th December) before stepping the 170,000gns purchase up in class. Stiffer tasks lie ahead, but it was a good start to his new career. Owner Max McNeill has been associated with some smart juvenile hurdlers including Grumeti, Mille Chief, Tritonic and Walkon and Spartan Army looks another.

Beau Balko justified short odds to win at the second time of asking over hurdles at Hereford. Beaten narrowly on his British debut at Chepstow last month, Paul Nicholls' gelding jumped well and made all the running under Harry Cobden. Pressed on the run-in, the Balko gelding pulled out more once challenge and was value for more than the winning margin of three parts of a length. Still only four, he will be educated over hurdles this term but will make a chaser one day. Reported to have relaxed since arriving from France, the hood is likely to be discarded next time. He was another winner for the French Revolution section in OJA.

The highlight on Thursday was Givega's facile victory in the two miles novices' hurdle at Lingfield on his Rules debut. Gary Moore's horse to follow in OJA, the six year old was returning from an absence of 550 days and was fresh early on. Despite that, he powered away in the homestraight to register a thirteen lengths victory. With the exception of the last, the gelded son of Authorized jumped superbly and clearly possesses a big engine. Soft / heavy ground is reportedly important to him and the underfoot conditions will dictate his programme. While it is possible connections will give him another run in an ordinary novice event under a penalty, it wouldn't be a major surprise he is given an entry in the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle at Sandown (7th January), which is invariably run in a bog. Either way, the former Irish pointer is a cracking prospect.