Frustrating afternoon at Carlisle

Carlisle staged their second meeting of the National Hunt season and it proved a frustrating afternoon for followers of One Jump Ahead. When speaking to Donald McCain during the summer, the Grand National winning trainer felt Grain D'Oudairies was a well handicapped hurdler off an opening mark of 110. Partnered by Brian Hughes in the two miles one handicap hurdle, everything appeared to be going to plan turning for home. The whole complexion of the race changed at the second though when Voix Du Reve jumped across him and the J.P.McManus owned gelding lost his footing on landing. While back on an even keel by the time he approached the final flight, one can't help thinking that incident cost him the race finding outsider Russian Virtue a neck too good. Despite the defeat, the handicapper is likely to raise him a few pounds but hopefully he can gain consolation soon. It is possible the Kapgarde gelding will be better suited by a flatter track because he is a strong traveller.

The most interesting race on the card was the two and a half miles novices' chase which saw Top 40 entry Giovinco making his fencing debut. A Listed winner over hurdles at Perth in the spring, Lucinda Russell's former Irish pointer jumped well and was still to play his hand when unseating Stephen Mulqueen at the third last. The incident was reminiscent of stablemate Ahoy Senor's mistake at the second last in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase over the same C&D two years ago. It is impossible to predict whether he would have won because Good Risk At All was still going well, too. Hopefully, this was just a blip and he remains a smart prospect. 

Talking of Lucinda Russell, Giovinco's stable companion Clovis Boy finished with a rattle in the two and a half miles handicap hurdle. Only a four year old and running off a mark of 90, he had undergone wind surgery since his last run at Hexham in April. Stepping up in trip for the first time, he looked a forlorn hope before the homestraight but made up a considerable amount of ground after the third last. Beaten five lengths, he will stay three miles eventually and it will be a surprise if he can take advantage of his lowly mark this winter.

We have less than 20 copies of One Jump Ahead in stock - therefore please order as soon as possible, if you would like a copy.