Bective Abbey (8/1) another winner for Irish Pointers section

The National Hunt season in the UK comes to a close at Sandown on Saturday but Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers section in One Jump Ahead continues to churm out the winner. Bective Abbey (8/1) hadn't been seen since sustaining an injury on his Rules debut at Doncaster in December (132 days ago) but the Nicky Henderson trained six year old showed what he is capable of when taking division one of the two miles three maiden hurdle at Warwick on Thursday. A point winner for Warren Ewing prior to being bought for £150,000 in February last year, the son of Mahler will come into his own over fences in due course. A two and a quarter lengths winner here, he has only raced three times during his short career and looks set for a bright future. Decent ground appears to bring out the best in this big strapping gelding.

Despite the fact the Flat turf season has been underway for a month now, one can't help feeling the season has yet to get going. Last week's action at Newmarket and Newbury was enjoyable but this week quality has been in short supply. Epsom's Blue Riband Derby trial card has lost its lustre with the City and Suburban and Great Metropolitan Handicaps a shadow of their past, while the only Flat meetings on grass during the last couple of days have been at Catterick and Beverley. Neither of those have staged a race to get excited about. Thankfully, Sandown host an excellent card on Friday and hopefully the ground will dry out for Saturday's fixtures.