Too bad to be true

Olly Murphy, fresh from a personal best campaign last season, has his team in tremendous form with four winners at Perth on Tuesday and two more at Worcester on Wednesday. Wade Out had plenty to find on hurdles ratings in the opening beginners' chase but he made a fine start to his fencing career when getting the better of Wendigo on the run-in. Sixteen pounds inferior over the smaller obstacles compared to Jamie Snowden's runner, the Shantou gelding warmed to his task having come off the bridle before the fourth last. Responding to Sean Bowen's urgings, the six year old stayed on strongly after the final fence to prevail by a head with a dozen lengths back to the third. One can't thinking the result may have been different had the runner-up been sent for home sooner. The champion jockey is full of confidence at present and he was the difference between winning and losing. Both horses look promising types.

No Tricks At All (18/1) features in Murphy's interview in the Talking Trainers section of One Jump Ahead and she improved from her debut run in a bumper at Southwell in May to win the first division of the mares' novices' hurdle. An expensive store, the daughter of No Risk At All raced handily under Bowen before leading inside the final furlong. A length and a quarter victor, the four year old belied her lack of experience and can only improve. She provided Gordon Elliott's former assistant with his tenth winner from his last nineteen runners.

The big disappointment of the race was Top 40 entry Heron In The Park who could only finish sixth. A point and bumper winner, she looked a smart mare in both those races but raced much too keenly on her hurdles bow here. Anchored in rear and detached, Harry Cobden's mount still hadn't settled leaving the back straight and it wasn't a surprise to see her shortlived effort peter out late on. The steady early gallop didn't help - the winning time was nearly six seconds slower than division two - but even allowing for that, this was too bad to be true. The five year old needs to learn to settle if she is going to fulfil her potential. Perhaps she will be fitted with a hood next time. I had one reservation about including her in the Top 40 and that remains. Hopefully she will show what she is capable of next time because she looked a future star at Newbury in the spring.

Orders received for OJA before 11am on Wednesday have been posted. Those which have arrived since will be sent out on Thursday morning.