10 Horses to Follow

 

With Chepstow just around the corner and the winter jumps horses starting to make their seasonal appearances again, now seems like the time to pick out a few horses to follow for the upcoming season. Last season we managed to pick out a few Grade 1 winners, those being Chantry House who won the Marsh Novices’ Chase and Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham and Aintree. Allmankind who picked up The Henry VIII Novices’ Chase as well as 2 Grade 2s. Finally Thyme Hill who took the Stayers Hurdle at Aintree and the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.

Hopefully this years selections can prove to be just as good in graded company, as usual you can click on the horses name where you’ll be redirected to their profile on the Racing Post.

My Drogo: Rated 155, Form: 21111 (Dan Skelton)

Beaten in just 1 of his 5 starts, which came in his only bumper run, where he finished 2nd at 50/1 to another horse to follow in I Am Maximus. He was then switched to hurdling, where he remained unbeaten, taking The Grade 2 Kennel Gate (Ascot) and Premier Novices’ Hurdle (Kelso), before rounding off his season by easily winning The Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Aintree) during the Grand National meeting. He is one that really excites me now going novice chasing. He’s shown to be versatile ground wise, winning on surfaces from good out to soft, trip will also not be a problem having won over the minimum trip up to 2m4f. I’d probably expect him to start off over 2m before moving up in distance for possibly The Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown, before heading to The Marsh Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. 

Elle Est Belle: Rated 1132, Form: 1132 (Dan Skelton)

She was 2 from 4 in bumpers last season, winning 2 Mares bumpers at Aintree and Cheltenham. She was then given a break of 4 months before going up against the boys in The Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, finishing 3rd behind the 2 fancied Irish horses in Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit. She had her final run of the season back at Aintree in The Mares Bumper where she finished 2nd. Going forward and into novice hurdling, I’d expect her to be up there with the best of them in the UK. She would have the option of staying against her own sex, but she showed in The Champion Bumper that she can mix it with the boys. She will probably be best suited to 2m on decent ground having won on soft and good to soft.

Jonbon: Form: 1 (Nicky Henderson)

He is one that all eyes are sure to be on this season being the full brother to 8 times Grade 1 winner Douvan. He caught everyone’s attention when winning his point to point by 15 lengths. It was then that he went to auction where he was sold to JP McManus for £570,000 and sent into training with Nicky Henderson. He only appeared once during the season, comfortably winning a bumper at Newbury. He really is one that fits into the “could be anything” category this season, plus we’ve seen it before with the likes of Flinteur Sacre (brother of Sprinter Sacre) who won a bumper then hasn't even managed to place in his 4 hurdles starts. He will no doubt be towards the top the The Supreme Hurdle betting market come March or even before then if he impresses on hurdles debut. Judging on his brother Douvan you’d expect him to get 2m and further in time and be versatile when it comes to ground conditions.

I Am Maximus: Form: 1 (Nicky Henderson)

He is another from the Henderson yard that has only been seen once in a bumper, where he beat the previously mentioned My Drogo. Judging on what My Drogo has gone on to do over hurdles we can only hope I Am Maximus can be just as good. I expect him to be kept to the 2m division possibly getting further in time. Based on his pedigree I cant see him wanting ground better than good to soft, ideally having a bit of cut in it, with this in mind, depending on how he goes over his hurdles, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in The Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January, a race that Henderson has a decent record in (4 wins in the last 10) before possibly going for The Supreme at Cheltenham, where he could meet stablemate Jonbon as they will likely be kept apart for the early stages of the season.

Knappers Hill: Rated 124, Form: 111 (Paul Nicholls)

He is 3 from 3 in his bumpers, with wins at Chepstow and then Ascot where he finished in front of stablemate Stage Star, he then went on the win Grade 2 bumper at Aintree franking the form with Stage Star (3rd). He is a nice individual who doesn't lack pace which is why I can see him racing around 2m and getting 2m4f in time. He is versatile ground wise having won on good and soft ground. It wouldn't surprise me if we see him or Stage Star at Chepstow in a couple of weeks if they are both ready to go, he ran at the meeting last season winning his first bumper, plus the Chepstow meeting is one Paul likes to target and does well at. I can see him being one of the higher rated Novice Hurdlers come the end of the season.

Monmiral: Rated 153, Form: 1111 (Paul Nicholls)

He ended his season as the highest rated juvenile hurdler in the UK and Ireland recording a perfect 4 from 4 and a combined winning distance of just under 32 lengths. Paul and connections decided to skip Cheltenham with him and send him to Aintree instead, which is where his most notable win came, when he won the Grade 1 4-Y-O Juvenile Anniversary Hurdle beating Adagio, although a mistake at the last from Adagio made his task easier he always appeared to be in control. He will probably be kept around 2m this season with ground being no issue. I'm not 100% sure what Paul will do with him this year, when asked about it, he said staying hurdling is a possibility, and could possibly start him off in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, where he will then know what they are doing with him from there. For me, I'd love to see him go chasing as he looks every inch a chaser, but it doesn't always work out that way. So who knows come March, we could see him in The Arkle or even The Champion Hurdle.

Energumene: Rated 169, Form: 1111  (Willie Mullins)

The least exposed of all my horses to follow and probably one of the most exciting currently in training, he remains unbeaten over obstacles, winning once over hurdles and 4 times over fences. Fences really have been the making of him though, Winning 2 Grade 1 races out of his 4 wins, jumping brilliantly and not coming of the bridle once. We was all unfortunately denied the match up we wanted in The Arkle at Cheltenham between him and Shishkin, as he was reported lame a few days beforehand. I really hope Willie decides to keep him racing at 2m so we could possibly see him versus the likes of Shishkin, Nube Negra and Chacun Pour Soi in The Champion Chase or even The Tingle Creek. It wouldn't surprise me though if he was stepped up to around 2m4f (previously won a Novice chase at this distance) and ends up in the Ryanair. Either way he is one I'm really looking forward to seeing again now he will be in open company.

Shewearsitwell: Form: 111 (Willie Mullins)

She is unbeaten in 3 starts, recording 1 bumper win and twice scoring by 8 lengths in hurdles, the last of which came in The Grade 3 Joe Mac Novice Hurdle, which she won decisively, quickening clear and settling the race before the last hurdle. Unfortunately after this she had a set back which forced her to miss out on The Royal Bond and in turn leaving her not fit enough for Cheltenham. The fact that she was even being considered for The Grade 1 Royal Bond shows me how much regard Willie has for her. I think she will prefer decent ground, although she was recently a non runner on the flat due to unsuitable ground (good) which over 1m4f and not her usual 2m I can understand. She will probably be kept around 2m for the start of the season before possibly stepping up in trip, with The Mares Hurdle hopefully being the end goal picking up some other decent races along the way.  

O’Toole: Form: 12 (Stuart Crawford)

Only seen in 2 bumpers last season, winning his first easily by 15 lengths, he was then seen running at Punchestown in their Champion Bumper, where he ran a brilliant race to finish 2nd, finishing in front of The Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard and also splitting the 1-2 from that race. Going into this season I would expect him to possibly start off at around 2m, he probably will get further in time judging on how he stayed on last time out. He should be versatile ground wise having won on soft and placed on yielding. I feel he will be deserving of his place in the big spring festivals and with his current price for The Supreme and The Ballymore being 20/1 and upwards, he could represent a nice bit of early season value.

Bear Ghylls: Rated 147, Form: 1114  (Nicky Martin)

He was unbeaten over hurdles in 3 starts going into The Grade 1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, where he wasn't at all disgraced finishing 4th. He was no match for the run away winner Bob Olinger, but managed to only finish 1/2 a length behind the highly rated Bravemansgame who he could possibly be meeting again chasing this season. He clearly needs ground with cut in it, as all his wins have came on soft, he will probably be raced around 2m4f as 2m for me seems too sharp for him. He's an interesting one going into this season where as previously mentioned he will be going novice chasing, as when you watch his races back he does leave a lot to be desired when jumping a hurdle, so hopefully going over the bigger obstacles will make him respect them more, and not just fiddle his way over them like he did his hurdles. If he does take to jumping, I feel he could go under the radar and land a decent race during the season.

As always thank you for taking the time to read through my 10 to follow, hopefully I've mentioned a few winners above, here's to another great National Hunt season.

Aaron