Poor run continues

Its fair to say the New Year couldn't have started much worse for the Top 40 Prospects in OJA. Three more losers on Saturday have compounded what has already been a poor month. Stay Away Fay did run well in the Grade 2 River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster on only his second run over timber. Absent since winning at Newbury in late November, Paul Nicholls' runner was off the bridle along way from home but responded well to pressure. Holding every chance at the last, he found the more experienced Maximilian a length too strong. Ironically, Donald McCain's winner looked the first beaten down the backstraight but he rallied well under the champion jockey Brian Hughes. I suspect the runner-up's lack of experience cost him victory in such a gruelling contest. 

The biggest disappointment of the day though was the defeat of Parmenion in the two miles maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse. Fitted with a tongue tie for the first time, Willie Mullins' gelding had reportedly worked well beforehand and was fully expected to account for the opposition with ease before stepping up in class. However, Bryan Cooper's body language suggested the Soldier Hollow gelding was in trouble before the hometurn and was beaten by the time he reached the last. The front running Found A Fifty (4/1) beat him fair and square and the runner-up evidently isn't as good as connections hoped. The Gordon Elliott trained winner is featured in Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers article in OJA.

It has been a tough week for Lucinda Russell following the sad loss of her father Peter but stable star Ahoy Senor will have put a smile on the Kinross based handler's face when winning the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham. A dual Grade 1 winner, he looked in trouble before the hometurn but responded well and outstayed Sounds Russian on the run-in. I suspect if Sean Quinlan could ride the race again, he wouldn't have committed Ruth Jefferson's runner so soon but the winner displayed a likeable attitude. Ahoy Senor is a thorough stayer but he still has jumping issues and needs to brush up in that department if he is to trouble the likes of Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup in March.

I am continuing to work on the February Update, which will be emailed to clients on Wednesday (1st February). It is possible to order the Update via the Publications section of the site.