Champion points clients in the right direction

We can't say we weren't told - Paul Nicholls nominated eleven unraced bumper horses on pages 111 and 112 of One Jump Ahead describing Lime Avenue (11/4) as 'very nice' and the five year old didn't disappoint when bolting up on her racecourse debut in the mares' bumper at Chepstow on Wednesday. Half-sister to Irish National winner Rogue Angel, the Highclere owned mare raced prominently throughout before powering away inside the final quarter of a mile. A fourteen lengths winner, she reportedly hadn't worked on grass beforehand and impressed her rider Harry Cobden. There should be even more to come from her and it will be interesting to see if she contests the Listed mares' bumper at Cheltenham (12th November) next month or goes straight over hurdles.

The champion trainer also sent out Sonigino to win the two miles handicap hurdle earlier on the card. Featured in the Top 40 Prospects last season, the ex-French gelding has improved significantly this term winning off a mark of 119 over the same C&D earlier this month. A four pounds rise certainly didn't halt the five year old's progress producing an even better display stretching away to win by thirteen lengths. Entered in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham (13th November), he is a fast improving young hurdler who will make a smashing chaser one day.

There were a couple of divisions of the two mile novice hurdle with Pikar (11/4) running out a ready winner of the first one. Dan Skelton's five year old contested Grade 2 events at Cheltenham and Haydock last season before his novice status was preserved for this year. Held up, he came home strongly to win decisively by five year old. A trip to Cheltenham in November could also be on his agenda. 

Beau Balko is highlighted in the French Revolution section of OJA and the Balko gelding looked set to make a winning start to his UK career in the second division. Fitted with a hood and a shade keen early on, the four year old only got worn down late on being denied by a neck. Compensation awaits. All in all, it was another successful day for followers of OJA with three more winners.