The Will To Win 20 Horses to Follow for the 2013-14 Jumps season

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. 

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.

6) It’s A Steal (E Williams) – It’s A Steal basically looked a bit immature last season in a couple of novice hurdle defeats at Sedgefield, not an easy track for an immature horse with its undulations. He has won a point to point and fences will be the making of him, it’s just a question of when they try them - this season or next. If it is the 14/15 season, then he will definitely win hurdle races this season, but I will be really encouraged if he does go chasing. Regardless of which option they choose, he is one to watch very closely.

7) Just Popsy (H Main) – Clearly not the easiest based on her antics at Lingfield on debut where she drifted violently left and lost a lot of ground straight away. She then pulled fiercely hard but ran well all the same to be fifth. She then ran in a much classier bumper at Warwick next time which has produced plenty of winners, finishing seventh and shaping in a much more professional manner. She is a seven year old but I think she is quite interesting to watch in the 13/14 season. 

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. 

 

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. 

 

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