30th winner for Top 40 in Grade 1

The Top 40 Prospects in One Jump Ahead rounded off the year in style with Captain Teague (2/1) getting back on track in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday. Paul Nicholls' runner had been beaten in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month but returned to winning ways in the highest company at the Berkshire venue. Placed in the Cheltenham Festival bumper last season, the former pointer travelled strongly but was forced to dig deep after the last fending off the late challenges of Lookaway and The Jukebox Man to record a length and a half win. Ease in the ground brings out the best in the Doyen gelding and, in all likelihood, he will head straight to Cheltenham in March for either the Ballymore or Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdles. More will be required but he has justified his inclusion and is a Grade 1 and 2 winner over timber. It was the champion trainer's sixth win in the two and a half miles event and his fourth consecutive success. It was the Top 40's 30th winner of the season.

Jeriko Du Reponet is featured in Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers section and the four year old maintained his unbeaten record with another smooth success earlier on the card. Successful over C&D earlier in the month, he only had to be pushed out to beat the useful Secret Squirrel by a length and three quarters in the introductory hurdle. It was a steadily run event (slow by nearly 30 seconds) but Nicky Henderson's gelding showed good acceleration on the run-in without James Bowen getting too serious. Back in third was the 94 rated Flat racer Paradias and the winner readily saw him off having loomed up travelling well. The winner is at the top of the antepost market for the Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle and is an exciting prospect. Owned by J.P.McManus, he is a slick jumper with speed and stamina and is a high-class prospect.

The French Revolution section also unearthed another terrific prospect in the shape of Storm Heart who made a striking impression on his hurdles debut at Punchestown on Sunday. Trained on the Flat by Philippe Sogorb, the Storm of Stars gelding sprinted away after the last to win the juvenile hurdle by 22 lengths. The further he went, the better the Gigginstown House owned runner looked and he is all set to head for the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown (3rd February).

Finally, I would like to wish all contributors and subscribers a healthy and prosperous New Year.