Another season is fast approaching and it’s that time of year again where we see all the horses to follow lists appear. Once again I’m really looking forward to the new season and can’t wait to see the potential new stars.
Last seasons horses to follow hit once again over a thousand views and thankfully the list produced plenty of winners, with the following being the key highlights:
- Samcro winning the Neptune Novices Hurdle, tipped at 14/1
- Grade 1 winner Death Duty
- 14/1 Handicap Winner Last Goodbye
- Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle Winner William Henry
- JLT Third Benatar
Now for the new list…..
Any Second Now – 6yo
Sire: Oscar Dam: Pretty Neat
Trainer: T M Walsh Owner: John P McManus
Official Rating: 142C Expected Rating: 155C
Ideal Distance: 3m+ Form: 2238
Target: Paddy Power Chase Festival Target: Ultima Handicap Chase
Only 2 horses have stayed on the list from last season and this son of Oscar is one of them. If you follow me on twitter you would have known how much I fancied this horse at Cheltenham, however it wasn’t meant to be with the gelding running an adequate race in 8th. I’m still certain he has a big race in him off his mark of 142 and once stepped up to 3 mile I think he can capitalise
Benatar – 6yo
Sire: Beneficial Dam: Carrigeen Lily
Trainer: Gary Moore Owner: Ashley Head
Official Rating: 149C Expected Rating: 162C
Ideal Distance: 2m4f+ Form: 1113
Target: BetVictor Gold Cup Festival Target: Ryanair
This son of Beneficial is one of the 2nd season chasers I’m most looking forward to. He showed high class form last season with his 3rd in the JLT being his best run to date. However the result doesn’t tell the full story as the gelding pulled very hard for most of the race and finished lame so for him to finish 3rd under those circumstances shows he has plenty of class. His current mark of 149 looks ready to be blown out of the water and if he turns up for the BetVictor Gold Cup or any handicap that is I see him very hard to beat.
Black Op – 7yo
Sire: Sandmason Dam: Afar Story
Trainer: Tom George Owner: R S Brookhouse
Official Rating: 152H Expected Rating: 158C
Ideal Distance: 3m Form: 1221
Target: Feltham Festival Target: RSA
Barring Samcro this gelding is the one I’m most looking forward to going over fences this season. He showed a very high standard of form over the smaller obstacles last season only being denied by Samcro for festival glory. He looks to be crying out for 3mile and if he adapts to the new code then I think he will go right to the top. 16/1 looks a great price for the RSA and I’ll definitely be taking it.
Commander Of Fleet – 4yo
Sire: Fame And Glory Dam: Coonagh Cross
Trainer: Gordon Elliot Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
Official Rating: N/A Expected Rating: 155H
Ideal Distance: 2m4f Form: 11
Target: Lawlors Hotel Novice Hurdle Festival Target: Neptune Novices Hurdle
This 4yo gelding made a big impression on rules debut when making light work of the Goffs Land Rover bumper at the punchestown festival where he scored by an impressive 8 1/2 lengths. As expected he has a high reputation and if they decide to send him over hurdles then I think he could go straight to the top. However it is possible with him only being a 4yo they might keep the gelding to bumpers for another season, which will make me hold fire on backing the 16s for the Neptune…. just yet.
Delta Work – 5yo
Sire: Network Dam: Robbe
Trainer: Gordon Elliot Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
Official Rating: 152H Expected Rating: 167H
Ideal Distance: 3m Form: 4312
Target: Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle Festival Target: Stayers Hurdle
The best way to describe this 5yo gelding would be progressive, as with every run his form kept on improving, with his last run being his best where he was only just denied in Grade 1 company at Punchestown. Always a chance this horse goes novice chasing but the fact he’s only 5 and the stayers division over hurdles is always questionable I don’t see why they wouldn’t try this route. The 33/1 on offer for him is worth taking the gamble with.
Diamond Guy – 5yo
Sire: Konig Turf Dam: Unique Chance
Trainer: Paul Nicholls Owner: Executors & Trustees Of C G Roach Estate
Official Rating: 133H Expected Rating: 146C
Ideal Distance: 2m4f+ Form: 4211
Target: Ascot Underwriting Chase Handicap Festival Target: Close Brothers Novice
For me this is a typical Paul Nicholls horse with the fact he’s definitely a chaser in the making. He had a light campaign last season only having 3 runs over hurdles but I’m hoping that’s been the plan all along allowing some pounds to play with in the handicap before the festival come March. The Close Brothers Novice is always a notable handicap plot by many of the training ranks with Paul included and I think this could be another one.
Didtheyleaveuoutto – 5yo
Sire: Presenting Dam: Pretty Puttens
Trainer: Nick Gifford Owner: John P McManus
Official Rating: N/A Expected Rating: 145H
Ideal Distance: 2m-2m4f Form: 110
Target: Betfair Hurdle Festival Target: Supreme Novices Hurdle
I strongly fancied this horse for the champion bumper last season but unfortunately the ground went against him that day as good ground is key to him being at this best. Previous to that outing he looked very good when beating a very good field at Ascot including the highly regarded Bullionaire. As stated before ground is key to him so the betfair might be ambitious with the fact its normally run on soft ground. The spring festivals will be where this horse shines, so I fully expect him to start the season early and then have a break mid winter to return in spring.
Downtown Getaway – 5yo
Sire: Getaway Dam: Shang A Lang
Trainer: Nicky Henderson Owner:
Official Rating: N/A Expected Rating: 148H
Ideal Distance: 2m4f+ Form: 1
Target: Navan Novice Hurdle Festival Target: Neptune Novices Hurdle
Not much to go on with this gelding having only ran the once, however the son of Getaway made a deep impression when destroying a competitive bumper by 12 lengths. He’s obviously not the easiest of horses to train the fact we haven’t seen him since, but if nothing too serious has kept him from the track then I could easily see him make his presence felt over timber.
Feel My Pulse – 4yo
Sire: Stowaway Dam: Zenaide
Trainer: Gordon Elliot Owner:
Official Rating: N/A Expected Rating: N/A
Ideal Distance: 2m Form: 1
Target: Goffs Future Stars Flat Race Festival Target: N/A
This son of Stowaway hasn’t ran under rules yet but was oh so impressive in his only PTP where he despatched a field easily by 15 lengths, with the third subsequently winning next time out. He will most likely have a season in bumpers this time around and I fully expect him to race in the top grade but perhaps leave Cheltenham for another year.
Hawthorn Cottage – 5yo
Sire: Gold Well Dam: Miss Kikeel
Trainer: Amy Murphy Owner: Melbourne 10 Racing
Official Rating: N/A Expected Rating: 144H
Ideal Distance: 2m4f+ Form: 1321
Target: Novice Hurdle Festival Target: Martin Pipe
This 5yo gelding got off the mark on his third time of asking under rules winning a 19 runner bumper at the back end of the season at Cheltenham. The form looks of a good standard beating several previous winners. Amy Murphy enjoyed a brilliant season last year with Kalashnikov being the star name and she will be hoping this fella can follow suit over timber, however the son of Gold Well looks much more of a stayer than his stable mate.
If The Cap Fits – 6yo
Sire: Milan Dam: Derravaragh Sayra
Trainer: Harry Fry Owner: Paul & Claire Rooney
Official Rating: 147 Expected Rating: 160C
Ideal Distance: 2m Form: 4111
Target: Wayward Lad Novices Chase Festival Target: Arkle
Unfortunately this son of Milan picked up and injury at crucial time last season ruling him out of all the spring festivals. That injury was a muscle tear, so nothing too serious but no need to rush a horse with this potential back. I’m excited to see this gelding over fences and to continue his progression to the top. His form over timber before the injury looks very strong with numerous of subsequent winners coming out from his races including the highly regarded Diese Des Bieffes. The 20/1 available for the Arkle is to tempting to miss.
Rockpoint – 5yo
Sire: Shirocco Dam: Tinagoodnight
Trainer: Colin Tizzard Owner: John and Heather Snook
Official Rating: 121 Expected Rating: 135H
Ideal Distance: 2m4f+ Form: 3272
Target: Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle Festival Target: Coral Cup
This 7 race maiden may seem a strange inclusion to my list however parts of this geldings form looks strong enough to suggest that a handicap off this mark is workable. The improvement that I’m expecting from the horse will be when he starts to tackle longer trips as he lacks the speed for the minimum trip to get his head in front.
Smaoineamh Alainn – 6yo
Sire: Shantou Dam: Dathuil
Trainer: Robert Walford Owner: Yeo Racing Partnership
Official Rating: 135H Expected Rating: 145H/C
Ideal Distance: 2m+ Form: 111P
Target: Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle Festival Target: County Hurdle
Before pulling up in the county hurdle this gelding was unbeaten over timber showing solid form including a handicap win beating the resilient Remiluc who subsequently went on to win and come 2nd in the county hurdle. With that in mind the son of Shantou most likely didn’t run his race at Cheltenham having being off the track since December. His unchanged mark of 135 looks still very workable and I fully expect him to take advantage of it.
Tower Bridge – 5yo
Sire: High Chaparral Dam: Walkamia
Trainer: Joseph P O’Brien Owner: John P McManus
Official Rating: 143 Expected Rating: 152C
Ideal Distance: 3m+ Form: 4153
Target: Neville Hotels Novice Festival Target: National Hunt Challenge Cup
Despite winning a grade 1 this gelding was perhaps underestimated in the spring festival and despite not winning he ran with huge credit, with his latest outing when 3rd to Santini at Aintree being his best. This Joseph O’Brien trained gelding looks to be crying out for the 4miler and looks tailor made for it.
Umndeni – 4yo
Sire: Balko Dam: Marie Royale
Trainer: Philip Hobbs Owner: St Quinton, D L Whateley & Syder
Official Rating: N/A Expected Rating: 140H
Ideal Distance: 2m4f+ Form: 1
Target: EBF Final Festival Target: N/A
This Philip Hobbs trained gelding is closely rated to the 2018 Ryanair winner Balko Des Flo and made a very good impression on debut when winning readily at Warwick beating a good yard stick in Morning Vicar who already held some good form. Philip Hobbs had a torrid time of it last season never really getting going and I’m sure he’s hoping for better luck this time around and I fully expect the son of Balko to help towards a better season.
Well Set Up – 5yo
Sire: Gold Well Dam: Such A Set Up
Trainer: Mark Fahey Owner: Ms Jean Corrigan
Official Rating: N/A Expected Rating: 145H
Ideal Distance: 2m4f+ Form: 1
Target: Leopardstown 2m6f Grade 1 Festival Target: Albert Bartlett
Another son of Gold Well to make the list and another very promising gelding for the new season. Despite only running the once last season he made a good start to his career under rules when scooting clear at Down Royal winning by 11 lengths. The form of that race looks to be questionable but he couldn’t have won any easier. I fully expect him to turn into a good stayer over timber winning a maiden and then tackling all the top races.
Cheltenham Festival Lucky 31:
If The Cap Fits – Arkle 20/1
Commander of Fleet – Neptune 16/1
Delta Work – Stayers Hurdle 33/1
Black Op – RSA 16/1
Tower Bridge – 4 Miler 33/1
sleeracing 