Saturday Review: Autumn Update 3rd (25/1) & 4th (Advised @ 20/1) in the Cesarewitch

The two selections in the Autumn Update for the Cesarewitch at Newmarket acquitted themselves very well finishing third and fourth. Cleonte (Advised @ 16/1) and Vis A Vis (Advised @ 20/1) ran crackers holding every chance in the closing stages. It was the Willie Mullins trained pair, Low Sun and Uradel who fought out the finish with a neck separating the duo. It was a further one and a quarter lengths back to Andrew Balding's runner. Both selections would have appreciated more ease underfoot but there are no complains, we got a good run for our money.

While Friday was a poor day for the Update, Saturday was much better with French raider Persian King (6/5) making it three wins from four starts in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes on the Rowley Mile. The son of Kingman had to be pushed out to beat the promising Magna Grecia by a neck with three lengths back to the third. The one mile event has been won by the likes of Nashwan (1988), Dr Fong (1997), Nayef (2000) and Kingston Hill (2013) and it would be no surprise to see Andre Fabre's charge develop into a top-class three year old. It will be interesting to see what proves to be his optimum trip next year. He looks more of a staying type than speedsters.

Over jumps, Chepstow staged an excellent card on Saturday and Paul Nicholls was amongst the winners with Posh Trish (7/2) and Grand Sancy (11/2). The former champion spoke favourably about the pair in OJA, especially the latter who has taken time to come to hand and clearly benefited from a wind operation. Master Tommytucker may well have provided the stable with a treble had he not fallen at the fourth last in the two miles three novices' chase. The seven year old had jumped beautifully until that point and had looked a natural. Fingers crossed he is none the worse because he looks a smart prospect.

Philip Hobbs sent out a treble at Worcester on Thursday but with the exception of Festival Dawn in the mares' novices' hurdle, his team ran poorly on Saturday. Indeed, his nine runners produced form figures of 446200056. Fingers crossed the Minehead trainer has a more productive afternoon at Chepstow on Sunday.