Saturday Review

Gibbs Island (4/1) was highlighted in the November Update as a juvenile hurdler to follow having been purchased for 70,000gns at the Newmarket Horses in Training Sale. Formerly trained on the Flat by Andy Oliver in Ireland, the Iffraaj gelding won on his jumping bow at Sedgefield towards the end of last month. Tom Lacey's charge improved on that effort to win the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock in convincing fashion stretching away after the last to register a six lengths win. Entered in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, he is unlikely to take up that engagement with Aintree considered more likely. He looks a good acquisition with a bright future.

The Triumph Hurdle could be on the agenda for Blue Lemons though after he won on his first start over obstacles at Gowran Park. Featured in the Changing Codes section of One Jump Ahead, the son of Blue Point never raced beyond a mile on the Flat for Richard Hannon and hadn't been sighted since finishing down the field in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer. Transferred to Willie Mullins, he was given plenty of time to bed into his new surroundings and produced a professional performance under Paul Townend. His jumping was sound and his Flat speed came to the fore after the second last proving too quick for market rival Kool One on the run-in. A three lengths winner, it will be a different ballgame on the New course at the Festival - he appeals more for Aintree where the emphasis is on speed.

I was delighted to see Nicky Richards win the Grand National Trial at Haydock with Famous Bridge. The nine year old was still going well when unseating his rider in the three and a half miles event last season and was recording his third win at the Merseyside track. Placed in the Tommy Whittle Chase at the same track in December, the Hemmings Racing runner was fitted with cheekpieces for the first time and they had the desired effect as he stayed on strongly to beat Apple Away by three lengths. It was a terrific result for his Greystoke yard.

Jackie Hobbs (10/11), who is one of Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers, maintained her unbeaten record in the concluding bumper at Ascot. Purchased for £130,000 last spring, Harry Derham's mare won at Ludlow on her Rules debut in December and produced an even better performance under a penalty here. Always going well under Harry Cobden, the daughter of Jack Hobbs was pushed clear inside the final quarter of a mile to record a decisive comfortable success. Only five, she is a smashing long-term prospect.