November Update winner Gibbs Island (100/30)

It has been a tough Autumn and the first half of winter for Tom Lacey with only 4 winners from September through to the end of December. Thankfully, following a slow start to the New Year, too, the stable ended a barren run with two winners in as many days over the weekend. Gibbs Island (100/30) was rated 84 on the Flat when trained by Andy Slattery in Ireland and was bought for 70,000gns at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in late October. Highlighted in the November Update, the gelded son of Iffraaj made a successful start to his jumping career with Lacey winning the two miles one maiden hurdle at Sedgefield on Sunday. Despite showing his inexperience in the jumping department, he got the better of the mare Surrey Belle prevailing by half a length with sixteen lengths back to the third. A half-sister to smart Flat horse Live Your Dream who was placed in the Ebor Handicap, she holds an entry in the Triumph Hurdle but isn't ready for such a stern test. She will hopefully work her way through the ranks.

Willie Mullins dominated proceedings at Naas with Anzadam and Dancing City enhancing their Cheltenham Festival credentials with impressive performances. Charlus (10/11), featured in the French Revolution section in OJA, won three of his four starts on the Flat for Jean-Claude Rouget in France before being purchased for €315,000 last summer. The Churchill gelding also made a winning start to his National Hunt career without setting the world alight in the four year old maiden hurdle. Racing handily and positioned on the inside, the ex-French racer jumped the final two flights well before staying on dourly to score by a length and a quarter. Like Gibbs Island, he is entered in the Triumph Hurdle but needs to improve significantly to trouble the likes of Lulamba and East India Dock.

I am continuing to work on the February Update, which will be emailed to clients on Friday evening (31st January). If you haven't ordered a copy, please head to the Publications section of the site. The Update includes a full analysis of the William Hill Newbury Handicap Hurdle (8th February) - the Betfair Hurdle to you and me - plus some suggestions for the Cheltenham Festival, including the handicaps. There are other horses to follow for February and a rundown on the Top 40 Prospects and a few others from the various sections in One Jump Ahead.