The sigh of relief could be heard from East Kent to West Sussex last Tuesday when Guignol du Cochet ran out an easy winner of the Two Mile Chase at Folkestone.

It was the first jumping winner of the season for Funtington, Chichester, trainer Lydia Richards and the nature of the enormous 17 hand gelding's win promised further success to come.

"We have not had many runners, but it was a satisfying moment to welcome a winner, especially as we have had five finish second in the last couple of months," said Lydia.

French-bred Guignol du Cochet - his name is a loose French equivalent of the traditional Punch and Judy - has been in Lynch Farm stables for over a year.

He is a horse to keep in mind whenever he runs, but several of his 14 stable companions are poised to do their thing over the Christmas week and now that the yard has struck form they will all be worth a look.

Eau de Cologne runs at Wincanton on Boxing Day, Turtle Soup has various engagements and at Lingfield on Thursday, Double M could score on the flat.

News of stable star Brilliant Red who has had a good holiday since disappointing last time out is that he starts serious work this week in the build-up to the Lingfield Winter Derby in March.

When due to run in that race nine months ago, Brilliant Red twisted a shoe coming out of the horse box and was unable to run. He has amassed more than £150,000 in prize money and numbers Running Stag among his victims. Although he will be eight years old in just over a week, Brilliant Red is no back number.

- Robin Gray