NOW THE JUMPERS ARE BACK

Karl Hedley has spotted some early jumps horses who can improve their form over the coming months

- Karl Hedley

Summer is now fading fast, and the focus rightly begins to shine on the national hunt season proper in Ireland. I have previewed some notable types who have run over the last couple of weeks and who should be progressing for their respective yards as the winter draws in and the jumps season gets into full swing.

Annie Agnew is the first of those and she got the better of a threeway battle on the run-in under Simon Torrens in a two-mile, three-year-old hurdle at Down Royal.

The daughter of Sir Percy, who was runner-up on her debut at Ballinrobe last month, was always prominent and took over in front at the thirdlast where Spinning Web disputing at the time, blundered. The latter came again, though, and was only half-alength adrift at the line with Doctor Nightingale who thought about running out when improving on the inner two out, just a neck further away in third.

Gerald Quinn, who trains the winner said: "We always thought a lot of her. We thought the last day she would improve from the run. Simon says she wasn't doing a wild lot there in doing the donkey work in front. I was sort of a bit worried that the ground had gone good to yielding, she would prefer it a bit quicker. She has flat pace in her pedigree. Listen she is exciting and one to look forward to, I've never had one like her."

In the following race over two miles, Air Drop went one place better in the Mares' Maiden Hurdle.

The daughter of Al Namix, trained by Gordon Elliott, was prominent throughout and went on after the third-last. After fluent leaps at the last two flights, she stayed on well to account for Dame Rapide by threeand-a-half lengths.