Jemima P has Emma Lavelle browsing the Programme Book to find mares chases after her 7 year old Irish bred mare reeled off a fourth novice handicap chase since March from just five runs at Worcester yesterday. The mare has risen 27lb since winning her first chase at Exeter in early Spring.
No-one will pretend that novice handicaps at Exeter, Worcester and Ffos Las are among the best of the best, but since she undertook wind surgery over the winter, Jemima P has found her metier. And top conditional Ben Jones will be angling to keep the ride in pursuit of winners to keep pace with rival Liam Harrison.
The programme for mares has improved out of all recognition in recent years, even to the extent of the three mares only races at the Cheltenham Festival. There's no intimation as yet the novice chase at the Festival will be a long term target, but if Jemima P keeps on stretching the handicapper, she may have fewer alternatives.
The Lavelle yard has started the autumn well after a quieter summer than 2020, when there was catching up to do post Covid shutdown. Nevertheless, the 9 winners to date from just 39 runners augur well. As always with middle sized yards, keeping the number of horses rated 140lb+ up is a challenge; these are the horses that keep a trainer in the public eye for Saturday races.
Last season, the Lavelle yard housed 7 rated 140 or above, led by stable star Paisley Park. However, maintaining and enhancing that number is key, and Hang In There, already a winner at Stratford earlier this month, is one such example, now rated 151. He'll be aimed at some of the bigger handicap hurdles.
With prominent owners like Andrew Gemmell, Tim Syder, Trevor Hemmings and Axom Group, there should be plenty of firepower from Ogbourne Maizey to loose off in the coming months, illustrating the strength in depth around Marlborough for the winter game.
Meanwhile, stable conditional Ben Jones will be searching his phone book for additional rides after arch rival for the Conditional Riders' Championship Liam Harrison, loosed off a double courtesy of trainer Ian Williams at Worcester yesterday. Jones' only ride trailed in 120l behind the winner in the closing race.
Time enough yet for this to be an interesting tussle.
Jemima P has Emma Lavelle browsing the Programme Book to find mares chases after her 7 year old Irish bred mare reeled off a fourth novice handicap chase since March from just five runs at Worcester yesterday. The mare has risen 27lb since winning her first chase at Exeter in early Spring.
No-one will pretend that novice handicaps at Exeter, Worcester and Ffos Las are among the best of the best, but since she undertook wind surgery over the winter, Jemima P has found her metier. And top conditional Ben Jones will be angling to keep the ride in pursuit of winners to keep pace with rival Liam Harrison.
The programme for mares has improved out of all recognition in recent years, even to the extent of the three mares only races at the Cheltenham Festival. There's no intimation as yet the novice chase at the Festival will be a long term target, but if Jemima P keeps on stretching the handicapper, she may have fewer alternatives.
The Lavelle yard has started the autumn well after a quieter summer than 2020, when there was catching up to do post Covid shutdown. Nevertheless, the 9 winners to date from just 39 runners augur well. As always with middle sized yards, keeping the number of horses rated 140lb+ up is a challenge; these are the horses that keep a trainer in the public eye for Saturday races.
Last season, the Lavelle yard housed 7 rated 140 or above, led by stable star Paisley Park. However, maintaining and enhancing that number is key, and Hang In There, already a winner at Stratford earlier this month, is one such example, now rated 151. He'll be aimed at some of the bigger handicap hurdles.
With prominent owners like Andrew Gemmell, Tim Syder, Trevor Hemmings and Axom Group, there should be plenty of firepower from Ogbourne Maizey to loose off in the coming months, illustrating the strength in depth around Marlborough for the winter game.
Meanwhile, stable conditional Ben Jones will be searching his phone book for additional rides after arch rival for the Conditional Riders' Championship Liam Harrison, loosed off a double courtesy of trainer Ian Williams at Worcester yesterday. Jones' only ride trailed in 120l behind the winner in the closing race.
Time enough yet for this to be an interesting tussle.
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