Exciting prospects in Ahead On The Flat

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As discussed, I worked at Ayr's Scottish National meeting on Friday and Saturday and one of the highlights was Tuppence's victory in the opening two miles handicap hurdle. Her owner Ray Green has been a tremendous supporter of my publications purchasing One Jump Ahead every year since its inception in 1993. I spoke to Ray before the race and he was very much looking to seeing his grandson Lucas Murphy have his first ride against professionals. Aged 16, Lucas is the son of the legendary Timmy Murphy and has ridden 10 point to point winners. Despite still being at school, he rides out for Richard Hannon (Timmy is chief workrider there, too), Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls. Ray expressed his concern that Tuppence had been racing too keenly and needed to relax. However, such worries soon disappeared with Lucas doing a superb job to settle the ex-French trained filly. Having travelled well, she led three out before sauntering clear to win by eleven lengths. A homebred, Tuppence was the last horse Ray's late wife Anita named before her passing and,understandably, he was emotional afterwards. The fact he had £25 each-way at 33/1 on the Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore trained winner provided the icing on the cake. It was a great way to start the meeting.

There were plenty of other noteworthy performances over the two days, including the Gordon Elliott trained double on Saturday. One eyecatcher from Friday was Lirion in the two miles maiden hurdle. The five year old, who was previously trained by Tom Weston, had been absent for 358 days prior to finishing a close second in a bumper over C&D in February. Sent hurdling, his jumping was sticky early on before making good headway towards the end of the backstraight. In contrast to his ride on Pleasington earlier in the day, Sean Bowen was sympathetic on Olly Murphy's charge in the homestraight before running on into fourth position less than ten lengths behind the winner Dropematthestation. Expect him to improve for the experience and it shouldn't be long before he breaks his duck over timber. He is a winner waiting to happen. 

Ahead On The Flat has made a pleasing start to the 2026 turf campaign with some exciting prospects being unearthed last week. Double Rush set the ball rolling at Newmarket on Wednesday winning the six furlongs handicap on the Rowley Mile by nearly five lengths. Formerly trained by Charlie Hills, the four year old was transferred to Andrew Balding during the winter and couldn't have been more impressive under Oisin Murphy. Backed as though defeat was out of the question, the son of Blue Point raced prominently throughout before pushed clear inside the final furlong. Racing off 90, he looked every inch a Pattern horse in the making. Despite incurring a five pounds penalty, he looks an attractive proposition for the heritage handicap over the same C&D at the Guineas meeting (2nd May) early next month. 

The unraced Synchronicity was highlighted in the One Jump Ahead Cheltenham Festival Update and also features in the Top 40. Ed Walker has never hidden his regard for the beautifully bred filly who cost 900,000gns as a yearling. A full-sister to the top-class Ombudsman, she made a winning start to her career in the Bridget Fillies' Maiden Stakes at Newbury on Friday. The seven furlongs event is restricted to unraced fillies and she looked professional throughout before quickening away in the closing stages. A two lengths victor, her trainer nominated the Listed Michael Seely Stakes at York (15th May) as her most likely target and feels she will be even better over a mile.

Less than forty minutes later, I'm The One made a spectacular start to her career when trouncing thirteen rivals by upwards of six lengths in the ten furlongs fillies' maiden at the Berkshire track. Featured in the Unraced Three Year Olds section of AOTF, the Sea The Stars filly had missed an engagement at Yarmouth a few days earlier and saved for this instead - a race her stable had won seven years earlier with subsequent Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher. Well touted beforehand, she overcame a wide draw under William Buick and soon found herself just in behind the leaders. Given the office entering the final quarter of a mile, the John & Thady Gosden trained filly powered away and propelled herself to the head of the ante-post market for the Epsom Oaks. She looked a high-class three year old in the making and is likely to contest the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York (13th May) - the Clarehaven team invariably target their number one Oaks contender at the Knavesmire trial. Neither Synchronicity or I'm The One will feature in any other horses to follow publications.

The Epsom Oaks could also be on the agenda for the unbeaten Gilded Prize who extended her winning run to three when scoring by three and a half lengths in the Group 3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud on Friday. Featured in the Classic Contenders section of the Appendix (page 147), the Francois Henri Graffard trained filly made all the running under Colin Keane quickening away inside the latter stages. The daughter of Frankel is expected to contest the Group 2 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp (10th May) next and her performance there will dictate future plans. At this stage, the Juddmonte owned filly looks a terrific prospect.