20 Jumpers To Follow for the 2014-15 season

The nights are drawing in, the leaves are turning orange and falling off the trees which can only mean one thing, top quality jump racing is on the horizon and as ever, I can't wait.
As regular readers of the blog will be aware, I compile a list of jumpers to follow which mainly comprises horses in my tracker or ones which caught my eye last season. There were six horses who just missed the cut and those six are:
Regal Encore (A Honeyball)
Merlin's Wish (M Keighley)
Kelvingrove (Jonjo O'Neill)
Goodwood Mirage (Jonjo O'Neill)
Clever Cookie (P Niven)
Jimmy The Jetplane (K Bailey)

It isn't that I think these horses won't be winning races (excluding Clever Cookie who doesn't look as though he will run this winter after a busy summer on the level), but maybe their targets were unclear to me or they are not particularly trustworthy.

However, let's move on to the list itself (in no particular order), I hope you enjoy reading it, pop them in your NagMe tracker (other trackers are available!) and hopefully make a few pounds from them as the season progresses.

1) Ballyalton - Ian Williams

Ballyalton - Gears to burn and a novice chaser of immense potential

As any of my twitter followers will testify, I love Ballyalton to bits and unfortunately for him, he bumped into Faugheen in the Neptune at the Cheltenham Festival which stopped him gaining a really big prize. He needs good to soft ground ideally so his run behind Aubusson at New Year can be excused and after seeing him in the flesh at Newcastle and Southwell in the past, he will definitely jump a fence as he has plenty of scope and size. He has won a bad ground PTP (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKX3UoH_yOk) so should stay three miles no problem and I cannot wait to see him over larger obstacles.

2) O'Faolains Boy - Rebecca Curtis

O'Faolains Boy a real Gold Cup contender

O'Faolains Boy was a highlight of my Cheltenham Festival as my ante post wager on him landed in the RSA Chase under a great ride by Barry Geraghty. He reminds me of a classier Synchronised in the Gold Cup the way he went through that race, having to be nudged and pushed along at regular intervals but always finding generously for his partner although his jumping wasn't always great. He ran badly at Aintree after that but he had a very hard race at Cheltenham and at Ascot prior to that, and I think he was also unsuited by the speedy nature of the track at Aintree. Tracks such as Cheltenham suit him better, and it'll be interesting to see where he starts off this season, with races like the Charlie Hall and Betfair Chase obvious starting points. Hopefully, he will develop into a live Gold Cup contender come March.

3) Buywise - Evan Williams

For me he chucked away the Rewards4Racing Novice Handicap Chase at the Festival with bad errors at important times, but he made amends by returning to the jumping holy grail that is Cheltenham by taking the Silver Trophy with any amount in hand despite getting out of his ground with errors. His current BHA mark would get him into the Paddy Power Gold Cup off a weight of around 10st 8lb in recent years, which would be extremely tempting for connections, who were slightly favouring a Hennessy bid instead, although personally I think he could be a real player in both races. He's only had eight rules races and could feasibly stilll improve plenty this season which makes him very exciting indeed. As a long term target, a race like the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown could be right up his street.

4) No More Heroes - Gordon Elliott

I don't think I've seen a more impressive bumper victory than No More Heroes destroying his field by 39 lengths at Leopardstown last Christmas, and if you haven't seen it before, then I would definitely advise you to take a look. That was a two and a half mile bumper and he followed up in a hot race at Naas in early February. He has had a run over hurdles (a respectable fourth before the NHF race victories) and is a PTP winner, so he will definitely have a big future. He is hurdling this season and there are some very bullish noises coming out of the Elliott camp about him. He looks an Albert Bartlett type.

5) Mr Grey - Ben Case

This a very dark one for you. Mr Grey has only had one rules start for the upwardly mobile yard of Ben Case, and that came at Kempton at November behind subsequent Challow Hurdle winner Captain Cutter where he travelled like a dream and led turning in before folding tamely and finishing fifth. I'm not sure whether he sustained an injury in the race itself but he showed plenty of promise regardless. He finished eight lengths behind Persian War winner Timesremembered in an Irish PTP before winning one in April 2013 before moving to the Case yard. Hopefully he makes it to the track this season, and if he does, then I'd be sure he would pick up a race or two for us.

6) Red Devil Boys - John Ferguson

John Ferguson has exciting times ahead with Red Devil Boys

This lad is a machine! I have waited a long time for him to reappear and this season could be one that really propels both this horse and his trainer, who has a very nice set of horses, into the upper echelons of the jumps game. He has been so impressive on all his runs, even when he was beaten in his first bumper to the very tough Kaysersburg, before slamming a fair field again at Doncaster, prior to winning with any amount in hand again at Town Moor on his hurdles debut in December 2012. I asked Denis O'Regan how this horse was one day at Southwell and he replied "He had an op but I effing hope he's ok as we like him an awful lot". That to me spoke volumes and whether it be hurdling or chasing, I can't wait for him to run again.

7) Kudu Shine - Richard Woollacott

Kudu Shine is 3-5 in the point sphere and caught a few eyes on his first hurdle start at Exeter before disappointing when favourite at the same venue on bottomless ground next time. He then ran respectably at Wincanton before running a belter at a big price at Cheltenham on good ground at the April meeting. If there is any good in the going description, then Kudu Shine is well handicapped off 114, but he looks one to ignore on deep ground.

8) Rydon Pynes - Martin Hill

Rydon Pynes did us proud last year in the jumpers to follow list with two wins, a second and a third from five starts. Whether he stays hurdling or goes over the larger obstacles this season I'm not sure, but whichever they decide to do, he will acquit himself well whatever. He needs three miles and acts on all ground, although proper good to soft probably suits him ideally. He has a mark of 131 now which is fair enough given his achievements thus far and he will remain very competitive off that.

9) The Ramblin Kid - Micky Hammond

The Ramblin Kid is closely related to former top chaser Master Of The Hall, who is also now trained by Micky Hammond and enjoying a mini revival this summer over hurdles. Anyway, as for The Ramblin Kid, he had five starts in Irish bumpers for Charlie Swan before moving across the Irish Sea, where his first run over timber came at Wetherby where he was flattered to finish six lengths behind Red Sherlock, but then got a masterful tactical front running ride by Jason Maguire to win at Newcastle on Eider Chase day to win by seven lengths. He then struggled to give weight away to a couple of smart northern horses when fourth at Hexham and could be one to watch this season, again either over hurdles or fences.

10) Trustan Times - Tim Easterby

Trustan Times carrying top weight to win the Fixed Brush at Haydock

Trustan Times is my idea of a long range Grand National fancy after two fantastic runs in the Spring, a very close fourth at Cheltenham in the Pertemps Final, finishing a neck behind Pineau De Re giving him 4lbs. He followed that up with a great third in the Scottish National after making a terrible error at the first fence. He excels in big fields and races such as the Welsh National and the English equivalent could be on his radar this term, although a third try in the Fixed Brush hurdle on Betfair Chase day at Haydock may be a starting point.

11) Modus - Robert Stephens

Modus was one of the leading English fancies for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham after easy wins at Exeter on debut and then at Prestbury Park subsequently, but after being posted wide and pulling hard the whole way, he didn't get home and it was a similar story at Aintree after that. There could be a school of thought that he doesn't quite see out two miles, but the way he finished in his Cheltenham win on New Year's Day suggests he certainly wasn't stopping at the end despite bottomless ground. He could develop into a very good novice hurdler if he does learn to settle and jump well and looks to have gears.

12) Celtic Agent - Phil Kirby

Celtic Agent was a very easy winner of a Southwell bumper in early March after having had eighteen months off the course and a stable move from David O'Meara to Phil Kirby. The six year old son of Kayf Tara was then taken to Aintree for another bumper and he failed to give away 6lbs to Echo Springs who won for trainer John Quinn, but he was only beaten a shade over two lengths. There could be lots more to come over timber from this horse and I, alongside some good judges I have spoken to think he could be quite decent.

13) Martello Tower - Margaret Mullins

Martello Tower successful at Killarney last time

Martello Tower is an exciting horse for owner Barry Connell in Ireland. He was a huge eyecatcher when fourth in a Listed Novice Hurdle which his first run in that sphere, when flying home from a long way off the pace. He then reverted back to bumpers again regained the winning thread under Robbie McNamara before waiting for the new season to start before winning a hurdle under Danny Mullins at Killarney. He isn't flashy and will never win by too far, but he is very talented and will remain a novice for this season.

14) No Deal - Lucinda Russell

No Deal is a proper, old fashioned National Hunt horse who, if retaining his ability after an injury lay-off, could be a flagship horse for Lucinda Russell this season. A friend of mine and a very good judge Mark Rowntree (@uptheirons007 on Twitter) has this horse on the top of his jumpers to follow list (http://markrowntree07.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/scotland-north-national-hunt-10-to-follow-201415/) and I completely agree with him. He is held in high regard by the team at Arlary and is certainly one to keep on side in Northern novice chases on bad ground.

15) Heronshaw - Henry Daly

Hopefully Heronshaw will make it to the track this season at some point because if he does, then he is yet another to look forward to. He had no idea what he was doing in the preliminaries at Uttoxeter on debut, and was green in the race itself but showed a turn of foot on deep ground to win well. The over-riding impression seeing him beforehand was that he needed time and a fence to be seen at his best. He has a mark of 125 over hurdles, and he would still be very competitive off that mark, but he may well go chasing. Either way, if he runs, then he should pick up a prize or two this season.

16) Blakemount - Sue Smith

Blakemount should be a horse that goes right to the top of the staying novice chase division this year, hopefully avoiding Ballyalton!! I saw him run behind Ballyalton at Newcastle where he performed very well, before winning at the same course just before Christmas and then narrowly beaten in a terrific dual with Urban Hymn up the Doncaster home straight in a Grade 2 on Skybet Chase day. He jumps and stays really well and acts on all ground, so what's not to like?! He reminds me of Royal Emperor a few years ago from the same yard in that sense, a horse who was second in the RSA to Rule Supreme.

17) Baradari - Venetia Williams

Unlike a few horses I have spoken about so far in this post, Baradari probably is better with plenty of juice in the ground. He ran very well in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham, flying up the hill for a close fifth after being badly outpaced. He was then creeping into contention at Aintree before falling four out and Sandown I think was a bit of an afterthought and he was down the field off top weight. The Greatwood Hurdle on deep ground could be a target but he is a nice horse who should continue to pay his way.

18) Saints And Sinners - Mick Easterby

Saints And Sinners really caught my eye at the end of last season in a contest won by Streams Of Whiskey when finishing fifth. After being well backed prior to the off and travelling particularly well throughout in the rear division, before picking runners off all the way up the straight without threatening the places. I'm convinced he is thrown in off a mark of 113 over fences, and remains a novice for this season. I would be baffled if he couldn't win at least one off that mark.

19) Alcala - Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls likes Alcala an awful lot

Alcala was a big eyecatcher in the Adonis hurdle when Paul Nicholls warned that this horse owned by Andrea and Graham Wylie may come on for the run, and it certainly appeared that way in the race itself when after travelling powerfully, he struggled to quicken initially before keeping on to be fourth behind Activial. This is a quote from Nicholls in the Guardian a week or so ago about him "We decided to keep him as a novice for this season and he’s definitely a horse to follow. We like him a lot."
That'll be enough for me!

20) Henrybrowneyes - Ian Williams

A very dark one to end with.This huge son of Goldmark caught the eye when fifth in a jumpers bumper at Kempton on debut before a laboured effort at Stratford. He then ran a bit better at Chepstow on his final run last season behind Simon Squirrel, who is now with Paul Nicholls and I think this lad looks like a handicap hurdle prospect so a bit of patience would be advised initially, before hopefully he rewards us once he gets a mark in due course.

I hope you have enjoyed the preview, and if you have any feedback, good or bad, either fill in the box below or tweet me @willbowler2k12.

Be lucky,
Will