Positive signals as Black Op and Summerville Boy start on road to chase stardom

With the jumps season swinging into top winter action, four winners already this month are an early sign Tom George will again be a major player for some of the big prizes over the next six months.

While there was not an 11th Grade 1 success for the stable last term, after three the previous season, the fact that George had 12 runners at the Cheltenham Festival and nine at Aintree's big meeting confirms the depth of quality in the yard, which helped him to a clear tenth in the trainers’ standings.

Last week's first successes over fences for his Grade 1 hurdlers Black Op and Summerville Boy have led the early charge this season and George has more horses rated above 140 than ever before.