Ratings Update: This could be a break-out campaign for Andy Dufresne

With Irish racing on a high following some significant international successes, including for True Self and Magic Wand at Flemington on Saturday, it seems only fitting that we begin this week’s ratings review in the Emerald Isle.

Gordon Elliott has his team in tip-top form at the moment (22 winners since the 15^th of October) and he brought up his 100^th jumps winner of season between Britain and Ireland courtesy of Abacadabras (138P), who maintained his unbeaten start over timber with a very smooth success in the For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan on Sunday. Ridden by the very much in vogue Robbie Power, Abacadabras cruised clear from two out to account for Latest Exhibition (130) by a very easy three lengths. Four of the last five winners of this contest have gone on to win at the top level and it will come as a surprise if Abacadabras fails to follow suit.

Just an hour later and Elliott was welcoming yet another potential top-notcher into the winner’s enclosure after Andy Dufresne (129P) had routed the opposition in a big-field maiden hurdle. Unbeaten in a point and a bumper, J. P. McManus’s son of Doyen tanked along at the head of affairs, had the vast majority of his rivals in trouble turning for home and skipped clear under a hands-and-heels ride from the last. With Fury Road (132p) and Envoi Allen (128P) having impressed on their respective hurdling debuts, and with the likes of Malone Road still to come, Elliott’s biggest problem in the coming weeks may be trying to keep all his star novices apart.

£330,000 purchase ANDY DUFRESNE puts in a professional round of jumping on his debut over hurdles and wins well at @NavanRacecourse for @gelliott_racing!

How far can this lad go? 🤔

📽️ @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/jobrqcbvKp

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) November 10, 2019

It wasn’t all plain sailing for team Elliott at Navan, however, as Apple’s Jade (162) was turned over at very short odds in the Lismullen Hurdle. Bidding to win the race for the third year in a row, Apple’s Jade lacked her usual fluency and was brushed aside by Bacardys (153) before the last. The winner, who was ending a losing run that stretched all the way back to his novice hurdle days, confirmed he is still a borderline very smart hurdler and will merit plenty of respect wherever he turns up next.

Ballyoisin (168) bounced back to his very best in the Fortria Chase to readily account for the Cheltenham Festival winner A Plus Tard (157), with last season’s Arkle winner Duc de Genievres (161) – who went as if better for the run and was eased once his chance had gone - a remote fourth.

Ballyoisin’s jockey, Mark Walsh, also recorded a double at Naas on Saturday courtesy of Kilfenora (146) and Elixir d’Ainay (130p). Kilfenora proved better than ever to hold off the well fancied Rock de Baune (131) in the Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle, while Elixir d’Ainay found plenty for pressure to hold off the promising Longhouse Poet (128p) in a maiden hurdle that should throw up its fair share of winners.

Blackbow (120p), one of the top bumper performers in the 2017/18 season, was all the rage in the market in the opening maiden hurdle but having raced freely at the head of affairs he was unable to hold off the Joseph O’Brien-trained Embittered (121p), who himself brought some smart bumper form to the table.

Surin (139) had too many gears for Gardens of Babylon (141p) in the Fishery Lane Hurdle, while Cilaos Emery (155p) maintained his unbeaten start over fences in decisive fashion, albeit in a race where he was receiving plenty of weight from the runner-up Ornua (151).

The pick of the British action this weekend was probably at Wincanton where Fusil Raffles (147p) didn’t need to advance his form to get the better of Grand Sancy (144) in the Elite Hurdle. A mistake two out from the latter looked decisive on the day but, given Nicky Henderson’s worries over how short a time Fusil Raffles had been in work this autumn, it seems safe to assume that the winner remains capable of a good deal better under the right circumstances.

FUSIL RAFFLES gets the job done on his reappearance in the (Grade 2) Elite hurdle at @wincantonraces, battling gamely to fend off the game Grand Sancy!

📽️ @itvracing pic.twitter.com/VFcRkpBM3J

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) November 9, 2019

The connections of Fusil Raffles were also on the mark at Aintree when the admirable Top Notch (143) showed a very willing attitude to come out on top in a tight finish from Roksana (149) and Vision des Flos (151). All three look set for productive campaigns.

On the novice front, Silver Forever (131p) maintained her unbeaten start over timber when just denying the year younger Floressa (132p) at Newbury on Thursday, while the likes of Sir Valentine (124p), Mossy Fen (126p) and Sporting John (124P) all deserve favourable mentions.