Talking Trainers winners at Cheltenham 14/1, 6/1, 9/4

Cheltenham staged their first meeting of the season and it proved to be an excellent day for followers of the Talking Trainers section in One Jump Ahead. French Ship (6/1), Alnilam (9/4) and Fortune De Mer (14/1) all scored at Prestbury Park on Friday. The first named was still going well when falling at the third last in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow earlier this month and the five year old made amends with a convincing success in the opening two and a half miles handicap hurdle. Prominent throughout, the 128 rated gelding led approaching the final flight before staying on strongly on the run-in to win by nearly four lengths. Progressive and unexposed, the Philip Hobbs and Johnson White trained runner is capable of winning an even bigger prize this prize this term.

Readers of OJA will be aware that Dan Skelton nominated a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter in early October followed by the Grade 2 Sharp Novices' Hurdle as the plan for Fortune De Mer on page 128. Fresh and keen on his reappearance at the Staffordshire track, he improved on that effort to narrowly prevail here and gain his second course win. Fitted with a hood and held up, Harry Skelton's mount crept into contention before being produced going to the last. Battling on gamely, the Doyen gelding just got the better of the well supported Doctor Blue winning by a short head. His trainer indicated the County Hurdle is the long-term plan. The disappointment of the race was Un Sens A La Vie who could only finish seventh. Weak in the market beforehand, this almost certainly came too soon after his win at Market Rasen ten days earlier. The ex-pointer didn't jump with any fluency and couldn't dominate from the outset. Provided he is given to time mature and develop, he remains a promising type.