Welsh National 1st & 2nd in Christmas Special

Thank you very much to those clients who have emailed following the Welsh National, it is greatly appreciated. Nassalam (advised @ 8/1) beat Iron Bridge (advised @ 10/1) by 34 lengths in a demolition job at Chepstow - rarely is such a competitive handicap won in such convincing fashion. Indeed, it evoked memories of Carvill's Hill who blitzed his opponents by 20 lengths in the 1991 version under Peter Scudamore. It was a terrific result for subscribers of the Christmas Special. Given a positive ride by Caoilin Quinn, he jumped superbly and had the race in safe keeping by the time he negotiated the fifth last completing a superb afternoon for his trainer Gary Moore who also won the Grade 2 Finale Hurdle at the same venue and the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton.

Well done to Declan Phelan who nominated Henn's Tooth (11/8 into 4/9) as his nap of the Festive period in the concluding bumper at Limerick. Jodie Townend did the steering and never had an anxious moment aboard the former Irish pointer winning by ten lengths. Rich Ricci was also on the mark suggested another ex-pointer Joystick (11/8) was one of the two horses he was most looking forward to in the Update and the grey battled on courageously to win the two and a half miles bumper at Leopardstown.

It was also a productive afternoon for One Jump Ahead with Sir Gino looking another first rate prospect for the Top 40 Prospects. Successful on his sole start over jumps at Auteuil, he joined Nicky Henderson during the spring/summer and didn't disappoint on his British debut at Kempton. Strongly supported before the introductory hurdle, the three year old quickened away impressively after the second last to prevail by 14 lengths. Bigger tests lie ahead but he looks a proper one for the future. 

Talking of juvenile hurdlers, Intellotto (10/1) is featured in the Changing Codes section of OJA and the Joseph O'Brien runner stayed on well to win on his jumping bow at Leopardstown. A maiden on the Flat rated 87, the Lope De Vega gelding defied an absence of 250 days to beat Lucy Wang by four and a half lengths. Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, he looks a nice prospect.

Queensbury Boy (6/5) was highlighted as one of Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers and the four year old made the ideal start to his career under Rules by winning the concluding bumper at Chepstow. Purchased for £130,000, the form of his point win has worked out well and the Doyen gelding travelled smoothly throughout for his owner/jockey David Maxwell. A length and a quarter too good for previous winner Rocking Man, the pair pulled twenty lengths clear and the Harry Derham trained winner is very much one for the future.