Ratings Update: Present and correct, but not one to follow

Aintree

Wholestone (remains on 159) shows his form more often than not and that was enough for him to resume winning ways in a valuable conditions event after seven months off, coping better with this shorter trip under the conditions than either Agrapart (160) or Unowhatimeanharry (154). Runner-up Vision des Flos (146) was quickly back over hurdles and showed form at least as good as anything he managed as a novice, though he was receiving 4 lb from Wholestone and seemed beaten fair and square.

The following good-quality handicap chase was won emphatically by War Sound (up 8 lb to 144) who finally put everything together as he belatedly got off the mark in this sphere after seven months off, and he did it in really good style, too. His immediate future probably lies in the hands of the BHA handicapper, a case for putting him up a sizeable chunk after this, but he’s another Philip Hobbs-trained horse that has clearly started this season on a fair mark thanks to the yard’s poor season just gone. Runner-up King’s Odyssey (remains on 140) was arguably a bit unfortunate to come up against the winner; he pulled long way clear of the rest.

Wincanton

Wins for Grand Sancy (up 5 lb to 136), Capeland (up 4 lb to 131+) and If You Say Run (remains on 131) provided Paul Nicholls with three wins in the opening three races, but his day got even better with a repeat win for Present Man (up 1 lb to 148) – who fended off Sumkindofking (up 4 lb to 133) – in the Badger Ales Trophy.

It's back-to-back wins in the @Badgerales Trophy Handicap Chase for Present Man who is guided to success yet again by Bryony Frost.

It's also a four-timer for trainer @PFNicholls! 👏 pic.twitter.com/pEOkyVBVsf

— Wincanton Racecourse (@wincantonraces) November 10, 2018

That the frame was filled by a trio not out of place in the 'summer jumper' category told the tale of a below-par renewal, though, with the winner barely having to improve - if at all - in order to provide Nicholls with his second back-to-back winner of this race following Flaked Oats at the turn of the century. Present Man has plenty of good attributes, but he'll be worth taking on after this 'Cup Final'.

With a pair of highly promising novices from last season - If The Cap Fits (149p) and We Have A Dream (150p) - meeting with a smart, in-form mare in Verdana Blue (up 4 lb to 146) this was a competitive renewal of the Elite. The latter, who won well, will need to improve again when stepping into Grade One races later in the season but she is thriving/progressing this term and – if she doesn’t run in the Greatwood on Sunday – the Christmas Hurdle ought to play to her strengths. Longer term, connections are eyeing a Champion Hurdle tilt, before switching to the Flat.

Runner-up If The Cap Fits missed the spring festivals in his novice season with a setback, having created a big impression with three unbeaten starts to begin life over hurdles, and given his absence/relative inexperience this was a big comeback effort; he remains a horse to follow. Nicholls, on the other hand, is very much the trainer to follow at Wincanton – Flic Ou Voyou (up from 74 to 95) completed a five-timer on the card for the Ditcheat handler when landing the bumper.

Doncaster

Given the trainers’ and jockeys’ championships now conclude on Champions Day at Ascot, Doncaster’s final Flat meeting of the season has become more low-key. Still, the November Handicap was a fitting finale, with plenty of runners making for a thoroughly competitive, high-quality handicap.

It's a sixth November Handicap for John Gosden as Royal Line wins the feature in good style at @DoncasterRaces: pic.twitter.com/g3U8CEdxns

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 10, 2018

Royal Line (up 4 lb to 121) has been sparingly raced, this just the seventh start of his career, but he has generally made an impact when making the track and, after seven months off, produced a borderline very smart performance to defy a lofty mark; he's well worth persevering with as a five-year-old, still very low mileage and looking set for Group races on this evidence.

There was a poignant win for Donjuan Triumphant (up 1 lb to 117) in the listed Wentworth Stakes, the Andrew Balding-trained sprinter catching Hey Jonesy (up 7 lb to 118) late on secure a first win for King Power Racing since the death of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Elsewhere on the card, Company Asset (up from 97+ to 107) bounced back to form and produced a career best to win the listed Gillies Fillies’ Stakes.

Naas

There was an anti-climatic outcome to what promised to be a most informative renewal of the Grade 3 Poplar Square Chase, a couple of serious errors putting Footpad (held when falling at the last, 174p) on the back foot and Saint Calvados (remains on 157+) only needing to be kept up to his work to hold off Tycoon Prince (141). The winner was most progressive last term prior to bombing out in the Arkle, and while he will need to step up again in the Tingle Creek, his next reported target, this is a very solid platform upon which to build.

There was a small but select field for the following Fishery Lane Hurdle, and Saldier (145) and Espoir d'Allen (142) were settling down to fight out the finish when the former - who was going best at the time - came down at the last. He took a hefty blow when on the ground so may need a while to get over this. The eventual winner was successful on his first four starts over hurdles last term, including when beating Farclas (subsequent Triumph Hurdle winner) at Leopardstown in December, and is well worth a try in open Graded company.

Sunday

Navan

With favourite Quick Grabim (140p) left poorly placed and making a mistake at a crucial stage, the opening Grade 3 on Sunday’s card at Navan went the way of stablemate Aramon (129p) who put up a useful effort, but the emphasis on speed looked to play to his strengths.

Aramon picks up nicely to win the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle at @NavanRacecourse for Paul Townend, Willie Mullins and @SupremeHorseRac. Fancied pair Felix Desjy and Quick Grabim were never involved... pic.twitter.com/2Hp1gdsocw

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 11, 2018

All six of the runners in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle boasted Grade 1 wins in some form or fashion, though that was a misrepresentation of where some of them are currently in their careers and, with Apple’s Jade’s (156) main rival both in terms of the market and ratings Identity Thief tragically losing his life after an unfortunate incident two out, it’s highly unlikely that Apple’s Jade needed to better anything she’d done previously to run out an impressive winner of this race for the second year in succession.

With his only serious rival Doctor Phoenix a late non-runner, the Grade 2 Fortria Chase turned into a glorified schooling session for the prolific winner Ballyoisin (up from 160 to 162+), who dominated from the off by forcing a good gallop. He will be well worth his place in stronger graded company than this. Runner-up Ordinary World (loses + symbol, now 149) failed to build on his reappearance, proving uncharacteristically rusty in the jumping department.

Sandown

Even with only four runners, the Future Stars Intermediate Chase was a notably interesting listed event, each of them smart second-season chasers, and, although the flop of odds-on favourite Terrefort (loses p symbol, now 156) weakened it as a contest, the pair that fought out a cracking finish are still ones to view and rate positively; eventual runner-up Thomas Patrick (up 3 lb to 153p) ensured a sound pace, too, so it wasn't a muddling affair.

Elegant Escape books place in the Ladbrokes Trophy with thrilling win @Sandownpark but Terrefort disappoints.https://t.co/2A1Xo3rTFP pic.twitter.com/js5Ikdnr5D

— Racing UK (@racing_uk) November 12, 2018

Winner Elegant Escape (up 5 lb to 156)  ended last term with placed efforts in Grade 1 events at Cheltenham and Aintree, and he improved to make a winning return from seven months off (has had a wind operation), the manner of it underlining that stamina is one of his main asset. Long distances will suit and the Welsh Grand National could be an ideal race for him, although before that this former Newbury winner will go to the Ladbrokes Trophy for which he's picked up a 4-lb penalty.