Irish Pointers winner Crystal Island (3/1)

Ascot hosted an excellent pre-Christmas six race card on Friday and it was another profitable afternoon for followers of One Jump Ahead. Crystal Island (3/1) is featured in Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers section and the four year old beat some useful rivals on his Rules debut in the two miles five maiden hurdle. A winning pointer for Eamonn Doyle in April, the Crystal Ocean gelding was subsequently bought for 205,000gns. Reported to have worked well in recent weeks, he was strong in the market and produced a fine performance to beat another expensive purchase and 131 rated Off The Jury (£250,000) by four lengths. Sporting the same colours as stablemate and King George bound Jango Baie, he looks to have a bright future. Top 40 entry Big Ticket, who pulled up before the hometurn, was found to be suffering with an over reach, which at least explains his poor round of jumping and tame effort overall. 

Ben Pauling nominated Vanderpoel (5/1) as his horse to follow in OJA and the dual hurdles winner came good at the third time of asking over fences when running away with the two miles one novices' handicap chase off a mark of 126. Well beaten on his previous two runs over the larger obstacles at Uttoxeter and Lingfield, the Sholokhov gelding got his act together here pulling away after the second last. Hopefully, he will progress from this and develop into a useful two miles handicap chaser. It is worth noting that, while he won an Irish point racing left-handed, his record under Rules on right handed tracks is 111.

As discussed, Sam Thomas features in the Christmas Special and the Welsh based handler enjoyed more big success when Steel Ally made it two from two over fences in the Grade 2 Noel Novices' Chase. The Doctor Dino gelding, who was runner-up in the Grade 2 National Spirit and Welsh Champion Hurdles last season, had won impressively on his fencing bow at Carlisle last month. He produced an even better display here making all and staying on strongly to win by nine lengths. His spectacular jumping was the highlight and it would be no surprise to see him aimed at the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown in late January. Alternatively, he could drop back in trip and line up in the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick (7th February) the following week - the seven year old could take some pegging back at the Midlands track with the five fences down the backstraight playing to his strengths.

Talking of the Christmas Special, I am working at Haydock Park on Saturday and hope to speak to a few trainers re running plans over the Festive period. If you haven't already ordered your copy, please head to the Publications section of the site.