Another season means another set of horses to follow, and this time I have increased from ten to twenty to try and get even more winners. There is no particular order to the list and I would recommend putting them all in a tracker system, and hopefully watch the winners flow.
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| Ballyalton dotted up at Uttoxeter last week |
1) Ballyalton
(I Williams) – This big, imposing type impressed me when I saw him at Southwell
last year where he finished second to Imperial Leader, a nice type in his own
right. His seasonal reappearance at Uttoxeter last weekend was scintillating,
winning by fifteen lengths, jumping very well. He has won point to points so
should stay further in time and jump fences. He looks a very, very exciting
prospect.
2) Red
Devil Boys (J Ferguson) – Red Devil Boys hasn’t been seen since a very cosy
novice hurdle win at Doncaster just after Christmas, but is a horse I am
particularly looking forward to seeing out this term. He looks to have enormous
potential.
3) Fourjacks
(T Easterby) – This lad really impressed at Wetherby on his chase debut last
January when he beat Poole Master from the David Pipe yard. He was then beaten
in the Towton before getting back to winning ways at Market Rasen in a small
race. His season culminated at the Cheltenham Festival where he was struggling
throughout in the Rewards4Racing Novice Handicap Chase on Day 1, pulling up in
the end. I still think his mark has scope as he is still lightly raced and
there are quite a few races in the North for him.
4) Clever
Cookie (P Niven) – Unbeaten so far - a smooth win at Musselburgh on debut was
followed up under a penalty in hard fought style at Market Rasen under Jason
Maguire, spread eight months apart. The biggest question is how long he stays
with Peter Niven, which nobody knows, but if he does, then I think he will
certainly be winning northern novice hurdles and is one to keep on side.
5) Cue
To Cue (K Reveley) – Keith Reveley’s mare improved no end last season, starting
with a runaway win in a Southwell handicap hurdle when jockey James Reveley
said afterwards that he “really likes her for the future”. She was then a
pretty close second to former Champion Hurdle second Peddlers Cross at Musselburgh
but what seemed a below par effort at Doncaster. However, nothing made up much
ground in that race because of a slow pace throughout and also three miles may
just stretch her a little. If they decide to go down the mares novices chase
route, then she could do very well as the most common distance in the elite
mares novices chases historically has been 2m5f, which is her optimum. I think
she is well handicapped and one to follow over either hurdles or fences.
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| Regal Encore - My favourite horse in training by far! |
8) Regal
Encore (A Honeyball) – My favourite horse in training without a doubt. I was
lucky enough to be at Southwell when he won without turning a hair. I had to
wait quite a while to see him again but he didn’t disappoint when hosing up at
Chepstow under AP McCoy. Another pretty big gap then until his next run, which
came in the Cheltenham Festival bumper, where he travelled very strongly as
usual but couldn’t live with the gigantic stride of Briar Hill. However, he
still stayed on well to finish a clear second without having too hard a race
and now embarks on a hurdles campaign which I can’t wait for. He reminds me of Champion
Hurdle winner, Binocular and fingers crossed that by the end of the season, he
will be well up the market for the 2015 Champion Hurdle.
9) Cape
York (M Jefferson) – I was impressed by him when I saw him at Uttoxeter in November,
where he was a bit too green to do himself justice, but has steadily become
more street wise, a good fourth at Haydock before winning at Market Rasen. I
think he is one to follow hurdling at a fair level in the North.
10) Emperor
Commodos (R Mathew) – A slightly quirky one here from an unconventional yard.
The main reason why I included him are that his last run at Folkestone was
extremely eyecatching (you will see why if you watch it). I think he needs
three miles on bad ground in handicap company (needs one more run for a mark)
and I think he could develop into a fair horse for a capable, small yard.
11) Wing
Mira (V Williams) – This lad is a definite winner for this season. He shaped
with plenty of promise on deep ground at Bangor on debut in a bumper, before
another decent effort at Huntingdon when he took a bit of a tug and stayed on
at the one pace. I’m sure he’ll win over hurdles if he doesn’t mop up a bumper
first.
12) Take
The Mick (V Williams) - A very dark one
here, again from the Venetia Williams yard. I think his mark of 101 is lenient
and if upped to three miles I think he will get off the mark. He didn’t get
much room on the bends at Ludlow last time before staying on really well late
in the day for fourth. I just think he is very well handicapped and I couldn’t
leave him out.
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| O'Faolains Boy is a horse I really like |
13) O’Faolains
Boy (Rebecca Curtis) – This big, imposing lad could be my idea of the RSA Chase
winner come March. I was very impressed by him on more than one occasion last
season, from a Chepstow bumper win, and then another win there over hurdles
before a step up in trip to three miles for another win at Bangor. His final
run was superb though, fourth in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham behind At
Fishers Cross, African Gold and Inish Island. He has won a point and he is
definitely one to follow for all the big three mile novice chases.
14) Fourovakind
(H Whittington) – A flag bearer for rookie trainer Harry Whittington last
season with wins at Uttoxeter and Chepstow under Jerry McGrath before a good
second at Exeter on his final start. He could develop into a Pertemps Final
horse as he has only had four runs over hurdles and could still be improving.
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| Wingtips |
15) Wingtips (A Martin) - I think this lad could develop into the Tony Martin County Hurdle horse. He has a high cruising speed but was probably a smidgen off the top horses in novice company. He is one to watch before Cheltenham, because something like the Betfair Hurdle could fit the bill quite well.
16) Rydon
Pynes (M Hill) – Martin Hill is a trainer I follow and this horse certainly has
potential to be a leading light for the yard this winter based on his good
showings in an all weather bumper and a couple of novice hurdles. He needs one
more run for a mark and is definitely one to follow this season.
17) Ruben
Cotter (P Nicholls) – A staying chaser to follow, particularly after the way he
won at Doncaster earlier this season beating a nice horse in Vintage Star. He
fell next time and was put away after that, but could develop into a horse that
could go well in races like the Badger Ales at Wincanton or a number of races
at the Festival.
18) Marrakech
Trader (R Dobbin) – This flashy chestnut ran a very nice race on debut to be
second at Wetherby for Rose Dobbin, a young trainer just starting to build up a
nice stable of young horses with decent futures, and this horse is one of them.
He could well pick up a Northern bumper before embarking on a hurdling career,
which should also prove fruitful.
19) Urcalin
(D Arbuthnot) – Urcalin is a horse with a turn of foot, especially judged on
his win at Stratford in April. He is rated 119 over hurdles, so therefore is
eligible for plenty of handicap hurdles at places like Taunton and Ludlow, both
sharp, speedy tracks that will play to his strengths. One to follow granted two
miles and a decent pace.
20) Gone
Too Far (A King) – Gone Too Far looks a very nice type for Alan King based on
his Kempton bumper win, which has produced plenty of winners including Hannibal
The Great who also looks above average. He is a nice stamp of a horse and Alan
King has been pretty bullish about him since that win at Kempton in May and is
very much one to follow in high level novice hurdles.
I hope you have enjoyed reading these and fingers crossed for plenty of winners.
Be lucky,
Will
