Saturday Review

Changing Codes entry East India Dock cemented his position towards the forefront of the Triumph Hurdle market with a ten lengths victory in the Grade 2 Finesse Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday. Unbeaten in three starts over jumps, the Golden Horn gelding was prominent from the outset and quickened away approaching the final flight. A progressive type on the Flat for James Fanshawe last year, he has taken well to jumping and will be a major threat to market leader Lulamba at the Festival. There was a lot to like about the performance of Stencil in second. Featured in the Top 40, I contacted his jockey James Reveley afterwards and his thoughts will be included in the February Update, which is published next Friday.

Talking of the Top 40, Jagwar was included in the 2023/2024 version and the J.P.McManus owned gelding has taken his form to another level since switched to fences winning three out of four. Below par at Uttoxeter last time, the six year old produced a career best to win the two and a half miles novices' handicap chase off a mark of 132. The ex-French youngster jumped and travelled well and found plenty on the run-in to score with something in hand. A two and a half lengths victor, he will return in March for the novices' handicap chase at the Festival and is very much shortlist material. 

Kawaboomga (11/10) won a hotly contested maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse and booked his ticket for Gloucestershire in the spring in the process. Featured in the French Revolution section in OJA, the Willie Mullins' trained runner had chased home stablemate Kopek Des Bordes on his Irish debut at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day. He confirmed that promise with a good performance to reel in the well touted William Munny on the run-in. A length and a half winner, the Tunis gelding will be even more effective over further with the Turners or Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle his expected target in March. The disappointment of the race was third third Koktail Dawn who folded tamely in the homestraight. His trainer Henry De Bromhead's string continue to underperform with only 2 winners from 53 runners during January.