Irish Pointers winner Taurus Bay (15/8) impresses

There was some competitive action at Stratford on Thursday and it was a productive afternoon for followers of One Jump Ahead. Declan Phelan highlighted Taurus Bay (15/8) in his Irish Pointers section and the Poets Word gelding made a smooth start to his career under Rules. Previously trained by Denis Murphy, the four year old was acquired for £155,000 in February and his new handler Ben Pauling was very complimentary about him on page 110 of One Jump Ahead saying: "A very nice horse who has a lovely way of going. He is a very good jumper and will be running in novice hurdles over two miles. All being well, he will be contesting one of the better novice hurdles at Christmas." Strong in the market in the second division of the two miles maiden hurdle, Ben Jones' mount was handy throughout before being produced on the hometurn. Leading soon afterwards, he pulled clear to win hard held by eight and a half lengths. He promises to be even better on a more galloping track and possibly over further. I would view him as a potential Challow Novices' Hurdle horse at Newbury over Christmas.

Other winners on the day included in OJA were A Path To Ronda (Evens), Wandering Ego (6/5) and Be Aware (5/4). The last named made a winning start to his chasing career when shoulding top weight of 11st 12lb in the two mile three handicap chase. Dan Skelton's grey gelding, who was runner-up in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last term, jumped accurately throughout and, whilst he had to be pushed out on the run-in, the Martaline gelding always appeared in control. A strongly run two miles may suit him even better in future.

I am working at Wetherby on Saturday with six runners declared for the Charlie Hall Chase at 2.57. Elsewhere, Cheltenham Festival winner Myretown will have a racecourse gallop at Ayr during the same afternoon. Lucinda Russell's Ultima Handicap Chase winner, who is rated 142, is set to contest the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury (29th November). 

Ascot stages its first National Hunt meeting of the season and it concludes with a ten runner bumper (4.20). I can pass on a favour word for debutant Governers Island who is trained by Harry Fry. A four year old by Poets Word, he cost €40,000 as a store and was in training with Colin Bowe last season but didn't run in a point-to-point. If the reports are correct, he is considered above average. He is also entered in a similar event at Chepstow next Wednesday (5th November).