ONCE the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has been run, it’s time to start thinking seriously about the jumps.

Not that the twig-hoppers ever went away during the summer but, with the recent rain, the good horses are starting to come out now and it seems to step up a notch every week from this point.

With perfect timing, the latest edition of Mark Howard’s One Jump Ahead has just been published and we’re delighted to report it’s up to its usual very high standard.

Yes, there are lots of horses-to-follow books on the market but what marks One Jump Ahead out from the others is the author’s research. Rather than just spew out a list of promising novices or expensive point-to-pointers, Mark actually picks up the phone and asks the owners and trainers for the latest update on their current and potential stars.

The book kicks off with Mark’s top 40 prospects. He’s doing all the hard work for you here and condensing all his months of research into a list of 40 horses you simply have to track this season.

Next comes a feature on Rich Ricci and latest news on 25 of his horses. Interestingly both Rich and his racing manager Joe Chambers agree on their horse to follow and it is not Vauban.

Now we’re on to the trainer interviews - 13 of them - and it is not unusual for a trainer to tell Mark the specific day and race they are targeting with one of their young horses.

There are nuggets to be found everywhere in this book - French imports highlighted by champion jockey James Reveley, point-to-pointers to note from Declan Phelan, and even a list of 13 unraced bumper horses who Mark believes will prove themselves well above average.

Quite simply, this book has been on the go for 30 years and it must be pretty good to still be in demand today. Mark is a contributor to Racing TV and, sometimes, to The Irish Field. He told us last weekend he was flat out handling orders for the new book and we can see why.

One Jump Ahead by Mark Howard is priced at £10.99 plus £5 postage for overseas orders.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY NOW