Changing Codes off to a flying start

The Changing Codes section is always a popular article in One Jump Ahead. As the name suggests, it highlights a selection of Flat horses who are embarking on a hurdling career. During the last two editions, the winner of the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, namely Lark In The Mornin (9/1) and Puturhandstogether (17/2), have been featured. Time will tell whether we can make it a hat-trick next spring.

However, Changing Codes has certainly made a positive start to the 2025/2026 campaign with Ammes, Bibe Mus (11/4) and Kate O'Riley all winning on their jumping bows within the last few days. The last named was found a good opportunity at Ludlow on Wednesday and the James Owen trained filly made no mistakes readily brushing aside five rivals by upwards of four lengths. Rated 85 on the level, the daughter of Sea The Moon warmed to her task jumping wise and the Gredley Family owned filly was very good over the last three obstacles. It is early days but the Listed fillies' juvenile hurdle at Newbury (28th November) looks an obvious first half of the season target - the same connections won the £40,000 event with Opec last year. 

James Owen excelled with his juvenile hurdlers last winter and he has a select team of three year olds for this time around and has made a bright start. The head of Green Ridge Stables in Newmarket kindly ran through the pick of these during August and OJA readers are set to benefit in the coming weeks.