Update On My 10 To Follow
With it being midway through the jumps season, I thought I would do an update on how my 10 to follow have done so far.
It’s safe to say Beakstown has been a bit of a disappointment, he started his novice chase career at Wetherby in October where he finished 2nd to Sam Spinner, the form of that race didn’t look to bad as Sam Spinner has gone on to win twice more over the bigger obstacles before picking up and injury ruling him out of the season. Next time out he finished he finished a disappointing 4th at Newbury behind the highly regarded Champ, he was going alright before making a mistake at the 4th last and eventually lost 3rd before the last. His most recent start was in the Ryman novices chase at Cheltenham, he finished 3rd of the 6th runners, 15 lengths behind the 2nd. It will interesting to see if Dan Skelton can get any improvement out of him, with many people seeing him being aimed at one of the handicaps at Cheltenham come March.
Was really looking forward to seeing this horse over a hurdle, but unfortunately he was once again ruled out for the season due to the same knee injury that kept ruled him out last year. He’s a horse that has a lot of ability as he showed in bumpers, so I will still be looking forward to seeing him next season all being well.
She has continued where she left of last season, she was first out at Fairyhouse in November where she easily dispatched the Mullins pair in Easy Game and Mister Blue Sky. That’s not bad form in itself with Easy Game since coming out and beating Allaho on chase debut. But her most impressive performance was her last one where she won the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace hurdle at Fairyhouse, beating Bacardys by 9 lengths, with 3 times winner Apples Jade in 3rd. It was just impressive at the ease in which she travelled before taking up the lead 2 out. The sky is certainly the limit for her with connections now having the choice of sending her to the mares hurdle where she’s the 2/1 favourite or taking her place in the Champion hurdle where she’s best priced 10/1, can think of worse decisions to have to make.
She was another horse I was looking forward to seeing this season, but she like Malone Road has unfortunately been hit with a set back, she was reported to be working well but has picked up a small fracture on her hind leg. With her only being 5 years old she should have plenty enough time to recover all being well and will no doubt be winning races once she has.
Fusil Raffles got his season off to a flying start winning the Grade 2 Elite hurdle beating Grand Sancy by 3/4 of a length, it wasn’t the most impressive performance but in the end he got the job done, this in turn shot him right up with the top horses for the Champion hurdle. This also saw him go off joint favourite with stablemate Epatante for the Christmas hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, Epatante eventually won really impressively, with Fusil Raffles being pulled up in a disappointing run, after the race he was checked over by the vet to which they couldn’t find a reason to his lack lustre showing. His best price now for the Champion hurdle is 25/1 I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him at that price but I’d want to see him out again and back to winning ways before I’d back him.
Unfortunately Dickie Diver hasn’t been seen this season, he wasn’t seen till mid January last season where he made his hurdling debut at Chepstow. He’s still a horse I’m really looking forward to seeing over a fence so will be keeping my eyes peeled to see when he’s got his first run pencilled in. 25/1 is currently available for him in the RSA which will look big should be come out an run well on chase debut.
Getaway Trump started his novice chase career at Cheltenham where he finished an eventual disappointing 3rd, he travelled powerfully and disputed the lead turning in but made a mistake 2 from home and had nothing more to offer on the run in where he was passed for 2nd. His 2nd chase was a similar story once again at Cheltenham, he tracked the leaders travelling powerfully where he came to make his challenge 2 out and again made a mistake pecking on landing which cost him all momentum eventually finishing 3rd again. The plan was to then run him in the Grade 2 Wayward lad at Kempton on the 27th but Nicholls had other ideas and thought that because the Champion hurdle division looked wide open to give him a chance back over hurdles in the Christmas hurdle. He didn’t look out of place travelling well before being shaken up by Harry Cobden and eventually dropping back before being pulled up. After the race it was reported that Harry heard him making a wheezing noise, he has since had a wind op before being aimed at the spring meetings.
He got his hurdles campaign off to a good start winning a Maiden hurdle he didn’t win by far and had to be pushed out to keep his lead, but it was a good return to action. His was next appearance was in the Grade 1 Future Champion novice hurdle where he was sent off 2nd favourite behind Abacadabras, he was travelling well and disputing before fading and finishing a disappointing 4th of 4. After the race it was reported that he was blowing hard. It will be interesting to see if Mullins can get him back to the horse that finished 2nd in the Champion Bumper last season.
Lostintranslation couldn’t of been anymore impressive on chase debut as he jumped around Carlisle for fun putting in some spectacular jumps throughout. His next race was the Grade 1 Betfair Chase where he was taking on the course specialist in Bristol De Mai. In a change of tactics Lostintranslation was held up with out the back before making headway 4 from home jumping his way into 2nd spot, taking up the lead 2 from home and eventually winning well by 1 1/2 lengths. This result saw him head to the top of the market for the Gold Cup, seen as he was the only horse left in with a chance of winning the Million pound bonus they then decided to send him to the King George at Kempton. He was sent off 2nd favourite, in the race that was eventually won by the previous years winner Clan Des Obeaux, he was dropped off out the back but never seemed to be travelling like he can. Making a mistake at the 13th and 15th before being pulled up 3 from home. The Tizzards have reported that they will check his wind before seeing if he required an op, with the Denman chase a Newbury a possible target before going to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup where he’d still remain a big player.
Dynamite Dollars hasn’t been seen this season so far, he’s back in training and working well, with Nicholls reportedly happy with the work he is doing at home. He once again mentioned that the Grade 2 Game Spirit chase at Newbury in February his likely starting point all being well. If he’s progressed well i feel he could still offer something in a Champion Chase with a best price of 40/1 out there.
thanks for reading.
Shame about some of them....Trump, Gypsey Island etc. Still some strong contenders going forward. :-)
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