Allysson Monterg 6-y-o

Sire:- Network   Dam:- Mellyssa    Trainer:- Richard Hobson

This 6 year old gelding has a ran a total of 4 times over the smaller obstacles, winning once. His best effort to date would be whenhe just lost out to the very consistent Champers On Ice on New Year’s Day, going down by a Nk. His latest run was very creditable when coming 6th in the Albert Bartlett where he weakened after the last but not beaten by that far. He boasts plenty of scope for fences and I expect that will be the route connections go down. However if I was them I would exploit his mark of 138 and go for the fixed brush hurdle at Haydock in November, which will be a good introduction to chasing.

Capeland 4-y-o

Sire:- Poliglote    Dam:- Neiland    Trainer: Paul Nicholls

The son of Poliglote only ran once last season but provided a very good impression when landing the NHF listed event at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He showed great battling qualities for his first run when fending off the strongly traveling jam session. That was over 1m6f and the way he finished that race you would expect further improvement when stepped up in trip to 2mile+. Trainer thinks a lot of him and I fully expect him to makes his presence felt over hurdles. Due to being so inexperienced it wouldn’t surprise me if Paul finds a couple of weak novice hurdles to gradually bring him a long before stepping up in class.

Coo Star Sivola 4-y-o

Sire:- Assessor    Dam:- Santorine    Trainer:- Nick Williams

Despite still being a maiden after 3 runs this gelding has shown solid consistent form with his latest run being the best when only being beat a length in the Fred winter at the Cheltenham festival. In his three runs he has proven he’s not ground dependent having ran on good and heavy ground, which is always a bonus. For his latest run he went up 2lbs in the ratings and now sits on a mark of 134. In my opinion that rating makes him chucked in and I fully expect him to capitalise with such a low mark. I expect him to be running in all the top 2mile handicaps, with the greatwood being a good starting point, having already proven course form.

Death Duty 5-y-o

Sire:- Shantou    Dam:- Midnight Gift    Trainer: Gordon Elliot

The son of Shantou boasts an RPR of 132 which shows just how much of an impression he has shown in his 4 bumpers. This 5 year old ran three times this season winning 2 and only finding the subsequent grade 1 winner Blow By Blow too good on his latest outing. However I don’t feel the race suited him as he had to make his own running and blow by blow just showed a better turn of foot in the straight. This gelding is one of my favourite horses in training and when stepped up in trip I fully expect him to be even better. He’s got all the credentials to be a top class 3miler. The only slight concern would be how he copes with quicker ground in the spring at the big festivals having only ran on soft or worse ground. However that won’t stop me taking the 33/1 for the Albert Bartlett. I imagine he will take a similar route to the likes of Don Cossack and No More Heroes.

Definitly Red 7-y-o

Sire:- Definite Article   Dam:- The Red Wench   Trainer:- Brian Ellison

The Brian Ellison trained gelding is definitely a handicapper worth following as his current mark of 142 could look very lenient when he gets his conditions. This second season chaser boasts plenty of top class form having not been disgraced by subsequent RSA & JLT winner Blaklion & Black Hercules in separate starts. To put his mark into perspective he was beat 2 3/4 lengths by Black Hercules but if they were to meet in a handicap there would be 16lbs difference in weights. I would say he’s definitely ground dependant if he’s going to be at his best. With that being the case I’m sure he will be aimed for a big handicap when the ground is most likely testing. The Hennessy would be my main aim as 3m2f on testing ground will be right up his street.

Forge Meadow 4-y-o

Sire:- Beneficial    Dam:- Ballys Baby    Trainer:- Mrs John Harrington

This 4 year old filly won a very competitive sales bumper in fairyhouse, which normally produces a few very good horses. She shows a great turn of foot and ran out a very comfortable winner, winning by over 5 lengths. She went off favourite next time out but only found the more battled hardened Augusta Kate too good for her. The fact she’s only 4 bodes well for her with plenty of improvement to come. The obvious main target would be the new mares novice hurdle race at Cheltenham in March. However it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in another bumper before she’s goes hurdling to give her more experience, with the listed mares bumper at Cheltenham in November a high possibility. If they decide to stick to bumpers for another season due to this filly only being 4 then she would have no problem running in such races like the Champion bumper.

Free Expression 7-y-o

Sire:- Germany    Dam:- Create A Storm    Trainer:- Gordon Elliot

This unexposed gelding has yet to taste success over fences in his three runs to date having bumped into Outlander and No More Heroes. However with improvement to come with experience his mark of 142 looks very workable having already achieved a very good standard of form. A race that could be targeted with this gelding would be the Paddy Power chase around Xmas time as connections seem to like that race. I definitely feel we’ve not seen the best of this horse yet and I’m fully convinced he can become a very good horse over 3mile.

Garo De Juilley 4-y-o

Sire:- Ungaro    Dam:- Lucy De Juilley    Trainer:- Paul Nicholls

This French import has won his last 4 runs to date on the flat and has since been purchased by champion trainer Paul Nicholls. The son of Ungaro has plenty of scope for the switch to this code and is highly regarded by connections. I’m sure the plan for this gelding will be to ease him in with a couple of low key events to ensure he gets plenty of experience in the jumping department. He has been winning over 12f on the flat so I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned out to be a Neptune horse if he turns out to be that sort of level, which is anybody’s guess at this stage but he’s showing the right signs.

Give Me A Copper 6-y-o

Sire:- Presenting    Dam:- Copper Supreme    Trainer:- Paul Nicholls

This sole PTP winner has only ran once under rules but produced a commanding performance running out an easy winner of a Cork bumper. Throughout the whole race he travelled like a very good horse and was able to clear right away from his rivals without breaking a sweat. This 6 year old gelding is very highly regarded and is fully expected to be near the top when tackling the smaller obstacles. The fact he’s already a point winner bodes well with the jumping department although I’m sure the trainer will take his time with him.

Invitation Only 5-y-o

Sire:- Flemensfirth    Dam:- Norabelle    Trainer:- W P Mullins

This son of Flemensfirth is without doubt the horse I’m most looking forward to in the up coming season. In his two runs under rules he has shown great qualities in winning both. The form of his wins are very solid also having beat Sunni May by further then subsequent grade one winner blow by blow and the highly regarded Death Duty. This 5 year old is rumoured to be the best bumper horse from last season in the Mullins yard and I thoroughly agree with this. I fully expect him to go right to the top of the hurdle division and I think the Neptune will be perfect for him as it will accommodate his speed but also the stamina he has on breeding, very similar to his stablemate Yorkhill. I would imagine he will run in a maiden hurdle over 2mile then once upped in class he simultaneously be upped in trip.

Jenkins 4-y-o

Sire:- Azamour    Dam:- Aladiyna    Trainer:- Nicky Henderson

This very exciting gelding couldn’t have looked any more impressive on debut, he traveled like an exceptional horse throughout the race and put the contest to bed in the matter of strides. He quickened away with minimal fuss from a competitive field. It was so impressive that it was a big shock to see him just get touched off next time out at the punchestown festival albeit in a good race. However despite that defeat he is one of the most exciting novice hurdlers this season. The trainer holds him in very high regard and I think he will be his best. There was plenty of discussion after his two races in which the end of season target would be next season and I’m in the opinion that the supreme would be the perfect race for him and I know Nicky always like to start well. I’d imagine races like the Tolworth will be on the agenda for this gelding.

Killultagh Vic 7-y-o

Sire:- Old Vic    Dam:- Killultagh Dawn    Trainer:- W P Mullins

The Son of Old Vic ran only twice last season due to injury but was unbeaten in both runs. His most notable run was his latest when he made a devastating error at the last fence handing the race to his rivals, although that’s what should of happened but despite losing his irons Ruby Walsh somehow managed to get Killultagh Vic back up to win on the run in. He was made a short price fav for the JLT after the race and I’m certain he would have gone very close but unfortunately injury scuppered his chance. I remember Mullins saying if they didn’t have Douvan then this fella would be going for the arkle so that alone shows how much speed he has. With that comment in mind I’m wary of what his target could be. Whatever they do I really hope they exploit the mark he has of 149 as he is sure to make that look a mockery. I would be aiming him for the bet victor gold cup in November and then up in class after that. I would imagine the Ryanair or the Gold cup will be his end of season target.

Melon 4-y-o

Sire:- Medicean    Dam:- Night Teeny    Trainer:- W P Mullins

Looking at this geldings bare form you would think he’s nothing special, but the same could have been said about this fellas stablemate Min last season, who subsequently finished 2nd in the supreme. I get the feeling this horse could be a similar type who is going to improve considerable with the switch to the Mullins yard. He has ran 4 times on the flat so far, winning only one but he’s got plenty of scope and the switch to hurdling could be just what he needs. He’s definitely one for chasing in time but that doesn’t mean he can’t go to the top over hurdles to start with. I’m sure he will start off in a maiden hurdle but from then onwards its anybody guess when it comes to planning Mullins horses.

Outspoken 4-y-o

Sire:- Galileo    Dam:- Riskaverse    Trainer:- Joseph Obrien

The very well bred 4 year old ran only once over timber last season where he finished 2nd 1 3/4 lengths behind Allblak Des Places. However without making a mistake at the last hurdle I believe that form would have been different as outspoken was getting the better of his rival until the mistake. Taking away the mistake it was a good introduction to jumping for this son of Galileo. He wasn’t seen again after this due to injury and Joseph immediately said they would save this horse till next season to save his novice status, which could end up being a very wise decision. Whatever this gelding does over the winter time he will only improve for the return of good spring ground. Having only ran 5 times over both codes there is still loads of improvement to come and I would be very surprised if this horse hasn’t won a graded event by the end of the season.
Sutton Place 5-y-o

Sire:- Mahler    Dam:- Glebe Beauty    Trainer:- Gordon Elliot

This 5 year old gelding was a big improver having been beat on debut in third behind the well regarded Anibale fly to then go unbeaten in his next three runs, winning a grade 2 in his latest outing. On his latest run he just got the better of Royal Cavier by 1/2 a length. Although the winning margin was small a mistake at the last was the reason as it halted the momentum allowing the Mullins trained horse to get this head in front before Sutton place rallied late on to get the win. The son of Mahler is definitely one I’m looking forward to seeing jumping a fence and I’m really hoping this is the route they go down. He looks to have plenty of scope and should go close to the top over fences. The way he finishes his races you would expect a step up in trip will bring out more improvement. An early season target for this horse could be the grade 1 Drinmore novice chase in November.

Vigil 7-y-o

Sire:- Dansili    Dam:- Magnolia Lane    Trainer:- D K Weld

This lightly raced gelding has only ran 8 times despite turning 8 at the turn of the year, which shows he’s perhaps a tough horse to train. Despite that he has plenty of class about him. The son of Dansili has come 5th in two champion bumpers and last season ran a creditable race coming 6th in the Neptune, which was won by Yorkhill. Despite that only being his third run over hurdles he was only beaten by 12 lengths. For a horse so inexperienced over the obstacles that was a good performance. With this in mind his mark of 139 looks very workable. With improvement likely with more experience this mark looks exploitable and I fully expect him to be contesting top handicaps with the Coral Cup/County Hurdle possibly being the main aim.

Willoughby Court 5-y-o

Sire:- Court Cave    Dam:- Willoughby Sue    Trainer:- Ben Pauling

This two time bumper winner has an RPR of 131 and to put that in perspective Barters Hill had a rating of 132 after his bumper season. Only beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Bacardys shows he’s well up to tackling the top level. He is a big backward type, which is why it’s even more impressive to see what he has done already, so I expect big improvement from him now he’s had another summer at grass. This is an exact quote from the trainer himself: ‘I expect people will start taking notice of him quite quickly’. The trainer has said there is a possibility that he will start off in the same race Barters Hill did at Huntingdon. I could also see him taking that exact route Barters took throughout the season although the Neptune would perhaps be more appropriate or the Martin Pipe if he doesn’t make the class of grade 1.

Willows Saviour 9-y-o

Sire:- Septieme Ciel    Dam:- Willow Gate    Trainer:- Dan Skelton

This 9 year old gelding has won 5 of his last 7 starts and was running a massive race when coming down late on in his latest run at the Cheltenham festival. With only 4 chase starts to date there is sure to be more improvement to come with more experience, which makes his mark of 138 look very workable. I’d imagine the minute the horse fell in his latest run they would have planned to keep him for the Betvictor Gold cup for an early season target, well that would have been my thoughts anyway. There is definitely a big handicap chase in him and as long as his jumping holds up he will deliver.

Without Limites 4-y-o

Sire:- Martaline    Dam:- Sans Limites    Trainer:- Miss Elizabeth Doyle

Another two time winning bumper has also recorded a high RPR with it standing at 128. His latest outing producing such a mark as he thumped 3 other rivals in a listed event by a wide margin. This gelding has only tasted defeat once, which was on debut where he found the well regarded Aspen Colarado too good. Since that defeat he has without doubt improved considerably and I fully believe if the two met again the outcome would be different. This horse is definitely in the category of ‘could be anything’.

Wotzizname 6-y-o

Sire:- Fruits of Love    Dam:- Native Beau    Trainer:- Harry Fry

Despite having only ran twice this gelding is one of the horses I’m most looking forward to jumping a fence. He has been deadly on his two outings winning by 15 & 13 lengths without coming out of gear 1. The fact the trainer has been very quiet with this horse would be a bonus as he looks a chaser all day and there’s no point running too many times over hurdles. He looks tailor made for staying races and when I think of this horse I instantly think of the 4 miler at Cheltenham and he’s currently 50/1 for that race, which makes it a very tempting bet. He has plenty of scope and I’m sure Harry Fry has been schooling him plenty over fences so jumping ought to be no problem for this exciting gelding. I’d imagine he will stick to 3 mile races and then hopefully step up in trip at the festival.

Antepost:-

Jenkins 25/1 Supreme Novices Hurdle

Invitation Only 16/1 Neptune Novices Hurdle

Death Duty 33/1 Albert Bartlett

Wotzizname 50/1 National Hunt Chase

Killultagh Vic 20/1 Ryanair