OJA Talking Trainers winners @ 17/2, 4/1 & 7/4

It was a disappointing day for followers of Ahead On The Flat with the two selections in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket failing to trouble the judge. Highlighted in the Autumn Update, Cock And Bull wasn't good enough and came under pressure half a mile from home, while Mountain Road was given little chance being ridden in rear from the outset. Admittedly, Jim Goldie's runner wasn't aided by his wide draw - the first six home were berthed in stalls 14, 17, 5, 1, 15 and 3 - but he was set an impossible task from an early stage. In the circumstances, the seven year old did well to finish tenth making up plenty of ground inside the final three furlongs a dozen lengths behind the winner Alphonse Le Grande. 

At York, Top 40 entry Binhareer suffered another frustrating defeat in the Sky Bet Sprint Trophy. Sixth in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and only ninth in the Ayr Gold Cup last time, William Haggas' grey came home strongly in fourth but found the winning post coming too soon, similar to his defeat at the Dante Festival over the same C&D in May. Beaten a length off a mark of 102, he holds an entry in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot next weekend (17th October) but the Listed Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster (7th November) on the final day of the turf campaign may be a more suitable option - if indeed he runs again this term.

One for the notebook is the lightly raced Nobody Knows who stayed on strongly in the ten furlongs handicap earlier in the day. Richard Hughes' three year old hadn't been seen since finishing third in the Esher Cup at Sandown in late April (169 days) and was stepping up in trip for the first time here. Quite keen early on, he drifted back from the field and was nearly lasting turning for home. Switched to the outside, the Wootton Bassett colt ran on strongly to grab fifth position around five lengths behind the winner Grey Cuban. Race IQ data shows that he was fastest through the final furlong covering it in 12.95 seconds. Very much for next season, one wonders whether his connections may be tempted to have a tilt at the November Handicap (7th November) - his finishing effort here suggested he has every chance of staying a mile and a half. The Classic generation have won 2 of the last 10 renewals of the end of season finale. 

Switching codes, the Talking Trainers section in One Jump Ahead is starting to churn out the winners with three more successes at Chepstow on Saturday. Paul Nicholls commented on page 98 re Treasure Planet: "Rated 116, he is fairly treated and is another for the four year old handicap hurdle at Chepstow (10th October)." The Footstepsinthesand gelding duly won the limited handicap at the rewarding odds of 17/2. On page 81, Olly Murphy remarked about the progressive Daylatedollarshort: "Rated 127, his first target is the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow." Given a patient ride by champion jockey Sean Bowen, he led after the last and strolled clear to win by two and a quarter lengths @ 4/1. Then, to round things off, former Irish pointer Northern Singer (4/1 into 7/4) came from last to first to win the concluding mares' bumper by a hard held four and three quarters of a length. She is one of 120 horses covered in Dan Skelton's interview. You won't find that sort of information in any other publications of its kind or on X etc. 

The season is beginning to move up a gear with some smart horses on show at Worcester and Ffos Las next week. If you haven't ordered your copy of One Jump Ahead or the Updates - we have less than 150 copies in stock - please head to the Publications section of the site.