Top 40 winner Starzand

The first two races - two and a half miles maiden hurdles - at Ffos Las on Tuesday are likely to prove informative events. The first division was won by Kalbrenner, who features in Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers section in One Jump Ahead. A point winner for Jonathan Fogarty in December last year, he was bought for £120,000 a few days later before finishing fourth in a bumper at Ayr's Scottish National meeting in the spring on his first run for Ben Pauling. Nicky Henderson's former assistant commented on page 107: "One of our better novice hurdlers, I am very sweet on him. He is a gorgeous horse with a great mind....... He is one to look forward to." The five year old raced prominently throughout before leading before the second last. Pushed out to score by a length and three quarters, he looks a useful prospect.

The second division was run in a much slower time (over five seconds slower) but it was won in convincing fashion by another promising youngster, namely Top 40 entry Starzand. An impressive winner of a bumper at the same track in March, the five year old had previously landed a point-to-point for James Doyle before going through the sales ring for £230,000. Held in high esteem by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, he was never far away racing on the inside before being asked for his effort after the third last. The Harzand gelding looks a strong stayer and once leading between the final two flights, he was never going to be headed. Johnson White indicated afterwards that Starzand could head to Ascot for another novice hurdle over two miles five (22nd November) before  a possible tilt at the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury (29th December). Stamina appears to be his strong suit and the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in the spring would seem his most likely long-term target. 

Ben Pauling was responsible for the runner-up Dig Deep who also got a favourable mention from his trainer in OJA. Ben commented on page 105: "A big rangy horse measuring 16.2 / 16.3hh, I love him. By a popular sire, I think he is a very nice horse with loads of scope. He will go novice hurdling over two and a half miles and, all being well, we will aim him at a decent target over Christmas, if he is good enough. I am very keen on him." Only four, it won't be long before the Poet's Word gelding goes one better and is unlikely to bump into such a talented rival next time. 

It's comments like those from Ben Pauling and Declan Phelan which sets One Jump Ahead apart from similar publications. We have very few copies left in stock now but, if you still haven't ordered one, please head to the Publications section of the site. Entries for the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham next month were published on Tuesday morning. The Cheltenham November Update will be published on Thursday 13th November. The Update is £12.00, along with the other four Updates, can be ordered via the Publications section, too.