Bailey another for Talking Trainers

I have a few more interviews lined up later this week for the forthcoming edition of One Jump Ahead - I will keep subscribers informed on here. I spoke to Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National winning trainer Kim Bailey on Tuesday. The Gloucestershire based handler sent out 51 winners last winter, including four Grade 2 winners. Having spent heavily on youngsters - both stores and proven horses - during the spring/summer, his stable looks set for another lucrative campaign. He appears to have a particularly exciting team of unraced bumper horses, which are all included in the interview.

This week both the Galway Festival and Glorious Goodwood have taken centre stage. Not for the first time this summer, John Gosden and Frankie Dettori have dominated proceedings at the latter with Group 1 wins for Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup and Too Darn Hot in the Sussex Stakes. The first named is an outstanding stayer who was claiming the prize for the third successive year, while the three year old has started to recapture his juvenile form with his second Group 1 success of the summer. The Breeders' Cup Mile appears to be his ultimate goal this year.

I tipped Too Darn Hot in the St James's Palace Stakes in the Royal Ascot Update and another of my fancies from the Royal meeting, namely Sir Ron Priestley, who was disappointing in the King George V Handicap, has won two out of two since. Mark Johnston's son of Australia followed up his win at Haydock by taking another valuable prize at Goodwood on Wednesday. Franny Norton's mount stayed on too strongly for the David Simcock trained Durston who moved smoothly throughout and looked set to capture the prize until late on. The pair are two smart middle distance/staying three year olds who could clash again in the Melrose Stakes at York next month. I would be inclined to put a line through the performance of Bibury Cup winner Desert Icon. William Haggas' colt was too far back and faced a hopeless task when the pace lifted. He is much better than he showed here and remains a nice type for the future.

As regards Galway, I was impressed with Zero Ten's chasing debut on Tuesday. Trained by Emmet Mullins, the Shantou gelding was rated 142 over hurdles, he was runner-up in a Grade 2 novice at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival before winning at the Punchestown Festival. He jumped neatly on his fencing bow and will be even more effective over two and a half miles. It is early days, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he emerged as contender for the novices' handicap chase at Cheltenham in March, although his connections will have to be cute with his mark for that 0-145 event. He is a useful prospect in good hands.