3 winners for November Update @ 11/4, 3/1 & 5/1

It proved an excellent afternoon for followers of the OJA November Update with three winners, namely Transmission (11/4), Doyen Quest (advised @ 3/1) and Hamsiyann (advised @ 5/1), plus Ga Law (advised @ 7/1), Lets Go Champ (advised @ 14/1) and Siog Geal (7/1) were all placed. 

Both Doyen Quest and Hamsiyann made a mockery of their marks of 125 and 111 respectively in the middle distance and staying handicap hurdles. The former was confidently ridden by Harry Skelton and, with the exception of the second hurdle when making a bad mistake, the Doyen gelding never looked like getting beaten. Runner-up in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow last time, that race has worked out particularly well and he relished the step up to three miles for the first time here. The latter had run a cracker in the Chester Cup consolation in the spring and appeared to have been let in lightly here. Similar to Doyen Quest, the four year old was given a patient ride and only had to be pushed out to score by a hard held two and a half lengths. One could envisage the ex-French Flat racer contesting the Coral Cup one day.

Rising star James Owen featured in the Update, too, and East India Dock, who is included in the Changing Codes section of OJA, made it two out of two in the opening Grade 2 juvenile hurdle. The ex-James Fanshawe trained gelding had won at Wincanton last month and was even more at home on this stiffer track. Jumping soundly throughout, he powered away in the homestraight to win by eighteen lengths. Connections believe the New course in March will suit him even more.

His odds were prohibitive and the race lacked depth but it was hard not to be impressed by Top 40 Prospects winner Kingston Pride at Uttoxeter. Nicky Henderson's gelding was making his hurdles debut in a two and a half miles maiden and, having jumped soundly, he showed a good turn of foot to settle the issue between the final two obstacles. Eased down on the run-in, the winning margin of three and a quarter miles flattered those in behind. The five year old looks smart.

Switching codes, Top 40 entry Night Raider is finally beginning to realise his potential and has beneficial greatly by dropping back to sprint trips. Karl Burke's colt contested the 2000 Guineas in the spring but was much too free. A winner over six furlongs at Kempton last month, the son of Dark Angel produced an even better display to land a Listed contest at Newcastle on Saturday. Showing blistering pace from the outset, he had his rivals in trouble by halfway before staying on powerfully to win by nearly four lengths. One could envisage him contesting something like the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock next spring - he looks fast enough for the minimum trip. His victory crowns a superb season for the Top 40 in Ahead On The Flat.