Happy New Year

Everyone at Mark Howard Publications Limited would like to wish all clients and contributors a happy and healthy New Year and thank you for your continued support of our books and Updates during 2024.

Sainte Lucie, featured in the French Revolution section of One Jump Ahead, looked a smart juvenile hurdle when scoring readily on her first start for Willie Mullins at Punchestown on Tuesday. Placed at Auteuil when trained by Robert Collet, the daughter of Great Pretender was returning from a break of 259 days. Ridden handily, Paul Townend's mount asserted approaching the second last before pulling away in the homestraight to record an eleven lengths win. Owned by Rich and Susannah Ricci, she ironically made her Irish debut in the same three year old hurdle in which the subsequent Triumph Hurdle winner Vauban finished runner-up three years ago. One would expect to be fast tracked into Graded company and head to Leopardstown for the DRF in early February.

I was hoping the Top 40 would end 2024 with a winner courtesy of Keops Des Bordes in the concluding bumper at Warwick. Well supported, the Dan Skelton trained four year old travelled strongly and looked the most likely winner turning for home. However, the former Irish pointer couldn't match the Paul Nicholls trained No Drama This End in the final couple of furlongs and was beaten fair and square in second. The runner-up flashed his tail when asked for his effort which is slightly disconcerting for the future but should have no trouble going one better in the New Year. The winner, who was a wide margin winner of an UK point for Will Biddick, looks an exciting addition to Team Ditcheat. Never write off Paul Nicholls.

I am away for a few days and will therefore update the Diary early in the New Year.