Less than 200 copies of One Jump Ahead left in stock

Thank you to those clients who have purchased a copy of One Jump Ahead and the Updates during the last 48 hours. Those were posted on Thursday morning. The demand continues to be very strong - so much so that we are now down to our final 200 copies. If you haven't ordered, please head to the Publications section of the site.

My Racing TV colleague Gordon Brown was working at Ayr on Thursday and he informed me that 60 National Hunt horses are due to gallop at the Scottish venue on Friday, some of which are trained by Nicky Richards. The ground on Thursday was described as heavy, soft in places - compare that to many southern tracks which are still struggling. The likes of Exeter, Fakenham, Kempton and Ludlow have already cancelled their fixture in the coming weeks.

I am very much looking forward to working at Carlisle's first jumps meeting on Thursday 22nd October. The Cumbrian track has benefited from Kempton's cancellation with the £50,000 Listed Panoramic Hurdle being transferred there later this month. However, the decision to get rid of the two mile beginners chase - on the basis that it is unlikely to attract a large field given the current circumstances with the weather is a strange one and a backward step. I live less than 60 miles from Carlisle and we have had our fair share of rain during the last two months and it will be a surprise if the ground is quick. Trainers are itching to run their decent horses and it would surely have attracted some high quality novice chasers, especially with the addition of a conditions hurdle. Dan Skelton is more than likely to have a runner in the Panoramic Hurdle and there is every chance his horse box would have included an exciting chasing debutant, too, if that beginners chase had been retained. Instead, there is a £9,750 0-120 handicap. The jumps season is struggling to gain any momentum thus far, due to the weather, and this is a missed opportunity. Carlisle is one of the best tracks in the country for a novice going over fences for the first time.