Gitche Gumme looks a smart one for King

Alan King has his team of jumpers in good nick at present with Harbour Lake landing a decent handicap hurdle at Market Rasen, Admiralty House and Sceau winning at Kempton and Betterforeveryone scoring at Bangor this week. The once raced Gitche Gumme made an impressive start to his hurdles career at Stratford on Thursday when pulling away to win by 13 lengths. A bumper winner at Kempton last season - the second and third from that contest have won since - the four year old was well supported beforehand and his backers were on good terms with themselves so way from home. Taking over after the second last, the J.P.McManus owned gelding readily pulled away to win with any amount in hand. Bred to stay further, he didn't look short of speed here and it will be interesting to see if he is given more experience before stepping up in class. 

While it is an exciting time of year with the jumps season gradually stepping up a gear or two, it is also quite a nervous one with trainer's upping their horses workload. Inevitably, there will be injuries and a number of high profile horses will be ruled out for the season - Ireland's champion trainer Willie Mullins has already announced that James's Gate, Redemption Day and The Nice Guy will be sidelined this winter. Henry Daly's Grade 2 winning novice hurdler Hillcrest is another who will remain in his box this campaign, while Dan Skelton's horse to follow in One Jump Ahead, namely Nurse Susan, won't be in action this term either, which is a real shame. Fingers crossed there aren't too many more in the coming weeks. 

We may be in the dying embers of the Flat season but Modaara (5/6) provided the Top 40 Prospects in Ahead On The Flat with another winner at Chelmsford. A beautifully bred filly by Dubawi, she didn't make her racecourse debut until last month when shaping encourgingly at Yarmouth. She improved on that effort with an impressive three and a half lengths victory under a confident ride by Jack Mitchell. Out of a Group 1 winner and a full sister to Group 1 winner Benbatl, it remains to be seen whether she is kept in training next year or is retired to the breeding sheds because she is already a valuable commodity.