Top 40 entry Convergent wins Group 2

Top 40 entry Convergent produced a career best effort to win the Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at Longchamp on Sunday. Beaten a short head in the Group 1 German Derby at Hamburg in July, Karl Burke's charge was a comfortable winner of a Group 3 at Leopardstown last month. Ridden by Clifford Lee, the Fascinating Rock colt took his form to another level when defeating four times Group 1 winner Dubai Honour by a short neck. Travelling strongly throughout, he was still on the bridle entering the final couple of furlongs. Shaken up, he picked up well to wear down the front running and previously unbeaten Yellow Jersey and William Haggas' runner. Likely to be put away now, he is an exciting prospect for the top middle distance prizes next year. Given his preference for some ease in the ground, it would be no surprise to see him campaigned across the continent with races such as the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud and Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe figuring in his plans. Improving all the time, the three year old has been superbly trained and given plenty of time to develop.

The Talking Trainers section in One Jump Ahead was amongst the winners at Kempton's first meeting of the season. They included Bad (6/4) who jumped brilliantly before beating four rivals by upwards of three and a half lengths in the two miles two handicap chase off a mark of 138. The six year old was making it three out of three at the Sunbury track and, having led soon after the third last, he moved away before one more flamboyant leap at the final fence. He was value for more than the winning margin and can hopefully bag a good handicap chase this term. One wonders whether his connections may consider dropping him back to the minimum trip and target him at the Desert Orchid Chase at the same venue over Christmas (27th December), which is now a handicap. Only six, he appears to be still improving on this evidence.

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