I WAS delighted to get our first winner back since jumps racing resumed - thanks to American Sniper winning the valuable handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot on Saturday under Rian Corcoran.

This was our 12th winner of the season and took us over the £100,000 mark in prize money for the campaign so far.

As we know, racing is a great leveller and with the highs comes some lows as well. Mancero was disappointing at Worcester last week but I do not think he gave his true running. Ras Kassar ran another cracker to be second at Worcester on Sunday.

We had hoped for better from Thetype Istitle, Savanna Storm and Ocean Heights at Worcester but it was not meant to be. Harry finished the day on a better note, finishing fourth on his stable debut in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.

Our first runner of this week is Affection on the flat at Kempton on Wednesday and she will be partnered by up and coming young jockey Harry Vigors.

We have entries at Newton Abbot on Thursday but I hope we have some rain before then. There is some forecast but like us, they need it at the track. Final Entry is our most likely runner there; he is a course and distance winner, like American Sniper earlier in the summer. The rest may wait for another day.

Martin’s Denuo is a new recruit from France and he is entered at Fontwell on Friday. Best Night also has an entry at Fontwell on Friday, so keep checking the Daily News on the website for the latest information on the stable runners.

Horses in training - ETON MES: A dual winner over hurdles last season when he got his handicap mark. A lovely big horse he loves soft ground and he stays 2m4f well and will probably get further. He has enough size and scope to jump a fence one day.

FINAL ENTRY: A lightly raced five-year-old who is the winner of two hurdle races. He won as a juvenile and then returned from injury to win at Newton Abbot this summer. He is the full-brother to Mr Tambourine Man who we used to train; he won several races and he is very similar to him in a lot of ways.

FOLLOW THE PLAN: Placed in an Irish point to point in just two starts, she has shown promise in three hurdle starts for us. She is for sale and is qualified for the GBB Bonus scheme, so could be a great purchase. Please get in touch for more details.

GENTLEMAN TOBOOT: A gorgeous big son of Harzand who won his first two novice hurdles (to add to his bumper wins) last season beating some useful rivals. Disappointed when finishing third at Leicester at Christmas time but he did not run his race that day. He has undergone wind surgery over the summer and he loves soft ground and will run in races from 2m to 2m5f.

GERICAULT ROQUE: Very lightly raced in recent times and after a quiet run at Windsor on his comeback last season he ran a cracker to be second in a valuable handicap chase at Ascot after this. Shows plenty of ability and enthusiasm at home and his first season target is the veterans chase at Aintree in October.

Dave Pipe was talking to Richard Walsh