Reaching High comes good

Top 40 entry Reaching High (100/30) finally got off the mark at the seventh attempt - on his fifth run this term - relishing the step up to a mile and six at Wolverhampton on Thursday evening. Sir Michael Stoute's three year old is out of the stable's Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate and therefore bred to stay well. The son of Sea The Stars had finished second twice earlier in the campaign but looked a different horse at the Midlands track powering clear in the homestraight to win hard held by seven and a half lengths. Racing off a mark of 81, his jockey Luke Morris was impressed and it would be no surprise to see the gelding steered towards the Melrose Stakes at York (24th August). Hopefully he is set for a productive second half of the season before developing into a useful stayer next term.

Lead Artist (9/2) is featured in the Unraced Three Year Olds section in AOTF and the John and Thady Gosden trained colt won the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood on Friday. Only third in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting last time, he reportedly found the ground too slow on that occasion. Back on a sounder surface here, the son of Dubawi was given an excellent front running ride by Kieran Shoemark to score by three parts of a length. Expect him to return to the same C&D for the Group 2 Celebration Mile (24th August).

Once again, the media went into overdrive afterwards regarding Shoemark's position as number one at Clarehaven Stables - he is a high quality rider whose chances have been restricted this year because a large number of owners within the yard have their own retained jockeys, plus the Gosden older horses haven't lived up to expectations and their three year olds lack quality. Despite that, certain press members continue to put pressure on the young jockey by repeatedly mentioning the situation. They should back off and let him show us what he is capable of.

On Friday morning, I had the pleasure of speaking to Cheltenham Festival winning trainer Ben Pauling. Nicky Henderson's former assistant has trained 80 and 76 winners during the last two campaigns and is understandably excited about the new season. The stable look particularly strong in the novice chase department, plus a potentially smart team of bumper horses. Ben kindly passed on news of two highly regarded youngsters who will be making their racecourse debuts in bumpers in the Autumn. The Naunton yard is set for another terrific winter. I have now completed seven interviews for One Jump Ahead and will be conducting more next week - keep checking the Diary for all the latest news.