Saturday Review

Constitution Hill and L'Homme Presse produced tremendous performances to win the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Rehearsal Chase respectively at Newcastle, while Le Milos supplied Dan Skelton with more big race glory when winning the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. The David Pipe pair Remastered and Gerault Roque ran mighty races in second and third. 

The head of Pond House Stables sent out his 50th winner of the campaign though when Only The Bold routed the opposition on his first start for the yard at Bangor. Bought by Value Racing Club for £30,000 in May, the former Evan Williams trained seven year old is a half-brother to the exciting Jet Powered and he produced a fine display to win the three miles handicap chase by nine lengths off a mark of 117 on his fencing bow. He looks another shrewd acquistion for the syndicate and one to look forward to. Value Racing Club are currently eleventh in the jumps owners championship with 11 winners from 46 runners and total prize-money of £94,495 which is an excellent achievement.

Luccia, featured in the Top 40 Prospects, couldn't have made a better start to her jumping career when taking the Listed mares' novice hurdle at Newbury. The daughter of The Gurkha won both her races in bumpers last term on soft ground but had no issue with the sounder surface at her local track. Jumping with aplomb, James Bowen's mount took over at the second last before pulling away to win by five and a half lengths. A filly with speed, she looks set to play a leading role in the Grade 2 Jack De Bromhead Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. She is another exciting novice based at Seven Barrows.

The saddest news of the came later on the card at Newbury when Grade 1 winner Porticello suffered a fatal injury when crashing to the floor at the last in the two and a half miles handicap hurdle. An expensive purchase from France, the former Finale Hurdle winner had a big future, especially over fences, and will be sorely missed by owner Olly Harris and the Moore team. 

Kalanisi Star (2/1) produced a gutsy display to win on his hurdles debut at Gowran Park. One of Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers in OJA, the five year old was never far off the pace and handled the testing conditions before staying on dourly to win the two miles maiden hurdle by two and a quarter lengths. Oliver McKiernan's charge will stay further in time and has a bright future.