One to avoid

Only 34 runners contested the seven races for Wetherby's first meeting of the season on Wednesday - rain is badly needed ahead of the track's showcase meeting, the Charlie Hall Chase two day fixture (31st October & 1st November). Sadly, Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore lost their French recruit Anaconda who fell at the last in the juvenile hurdle when in an unassailable lead. Successful in a claiming hurdle at Compiegne in late May, the three year old had outclassed his four opponents on his British debut when paying the ultimate price at the final flight. It was a sickener for his new connections.

The most interesting race of the day was the opening two miles maiden hurdle at Punchestown. It was won in convincing fashion by Gameball who was having his first run for Henry De Bromhead. An impressive winner of a bumper at Ballinrobe when trained by Andy Slattery during the summer, the Yeats gelding was bought privately soon afterwards and made an excellent start to his hurdles career here. Leading approaching the final hurdle, he stretched away to score by six lengths. Both his victories have been gained on decent ground and he is a well related sort being a half-brother to Grade 1 and Cheltenham Festival winner Marie's Rock and the 146 rated hurdler Arcadian Sunrise. The Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse (30th November) could be an option. The disappointment of the race was the warm favourite Vitorio Piel, who faded tamely in the homestraight before finishing a remote sixth. 

As many clients will have noticed, a few of the bookmakers have priced up the Cheltenham Festival bumper. Although he doesn't feature in One Jump Ahead, winning point-to-point Katkoriko is 20/1 with three firms. Expert Declan Phelan emailed the following on Wednesday morning: "A few readers have contacted me enquiring about a horse documented in the dossier, namely Katkoriko. Other publications seems to be stating he is in training with Willie Mullins - obviously no proper research. The horse damaged a tendon winning his point and is out in a field up in Ballymena with Ger Quinn, unlikely to run again for upwards of 18 months or more." That's why Declan Phelan is the best in the business when it comes to Irish pointers and OJA clients are the beneficiaries. 

I am working for Racing TV at Carlisle's first jumps meeting of the Autumn on Thursday followed by a trip to Haydock Park for their final Flat meeting of 2025 twenty four hours later. I will therefore be back to update the Diary over the weekend.

Orders received for One Jump Ahead prior to noon on Wednesday have been posted. If you haven't ordered your copy, plus the Updates, please head to the Publications section of the site.