3 more exciting ones for Top 40

It was a big day for the Top 40 Prospects on Saturday and Sir Gino, Jade De Grugy and Gidleigh Park were Graded winners and will head to the Cheltenham Festival in March with leading claims. The first two, in particular, were impressive with Sir Gino maintaining his unbeaten record in the Grade 2 Finesse Juvenile Hurdle at Prestbury Park. The ex-French four year old proved in a different league to the much touted Burdett Road with Nicky Henderson's runner putting the Royal Ascot winner firmly in his place with a ten lengths success. The Triumph Hurdle is next and, while the Irish will send over a formidable team, it will take a top-class juvenile to beat the It's Gino gelding.

Jade De Grugy looks another star in the making for owner Kenny Alexander with the Doctor Dino mare making it two out of two in the Grade 3 Solerina Mares' Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. A wide margin winner of a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, the five year old took the step up in class in her stride providing Willie Mullins with his ninth win in the two miles two event. Despite racing keenly early on, Brian Hayes' mount was always in control jumping superbly throughout. Leading early in the homestraight, she pulled clear to register a six and a half lengths win. Once again, it will take a very good horse to beat her in the Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Festival. Well done to those clients who took the 33/1 and 50/1 about the French bumper winner before her Irish debut. 

Gidleigh Park was forced to dig deeper to win the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham to maintain his unbeaten record. A wide margin winner at Exeter and Newbury earlier in the campaign, the Walk In The Park gelding looked in a spot of bother before the last having raced prominently. However, Harry Fry's charge rallied once headed before edging out Lucky Place by half a length with plenty of distance back to the third. It will be interesting to see whether the six year old will line up in either the Baring Bingham or Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Festival. 

I am continuing to work on the February Update, which is published next week, and there will be more detailed write ups on the Top 40 inside. If you haven't ordered your copy, please head to the Publications section of the site.