Bright Forecast 5yo
Trainer:- Ben Pauling
Rating:- 149(H) Form:- 1123
Made a successful start to life under rules winning 2 novice hurdles on the bounce. Tasted defeat for the first time to the hands of Mister Fisher at haydock, lacking the gears to challenge the winner up the home straight. Stepped up in trip on his last outing when coming third at the festival. Looks sure to be a force over fences and with improvement expected after only having 4 runs to date under rules he could well go to the top.
Eden Du Houx 5yo
Trainer: David Pipe
Rating:- N/A Form:- 111
Unbeaten in all three starts this son of Irish Wells has looked impressive. Form of his ascot win looks strong with 3rd glancing queen coming out and winning at Aintree. Looks the type to improve for obstacles even more so when tackling fences the year after. I’d expect this gelding to excel over 2m4f+ as he looks a staying chaser in the making.
Gardens Of Babylon 4yo
Trainer:- Joseph O’Brien
Rating:- 141(H) Form:- 1308
Not exactly the best of form but the reason why this son of Camelot makes the list is hes been crying out for a step up in trip and I’m fully expecting big improvement when he does. If he turns up in a handicap over 2m4f+ off his current mark then he will be hard to beat.
Honeysuckle 5yo
Trainer:- Henry De Bromhead
Rating:- 150(H) Form:- 1111
This mare was one of the most exciting novices last year, with her demolition job in her latest outing the highlight giving her a well earned grade 1 win. If she stays over hurdles then the 6/1 for the mares must be taken as I can’t see any mare beating her. If they decide to take her to fences then the geldings will be struggling to give her 7lbs. I think she could be the real deal, so wherever she goes my money will go too.
Kalashnikov 6yo
Trainer:- Amy Murphy
Rating:- 155 (C) 152(H) Form:- 22U1
The trainer finally stepped this gelding up in trip on his last outing and it turned out to be the right decision as expected when winning the grade 1 novice at Aintree. With a mark of 155 over fences I still think hes capable of winning a big handicap, maybe the Betvictor Gold cup.
Kildisart 7yo
Trainer:- Ben Pauling
Rating:- 156(C) 142(H) Form:- 1141
Another horse to improve lots for a step up in trip. Finished a competitive 4th in the JLT, staying on at the end. Tackled 3 mile for the first time at Aintree and won impressively. Beat Mister Malarky that day by 5 lengths and that horse is being talked up for the ladbrokes trophy yet only has a 2lb swing. Kildisart has plenty more improvement come due to being unexposed over staying trips. Could easily see him being aimed at a handicap hurdle first to save his mark, plus the 142 looks tempting to exploit over hurdles. 25/1 for the ladbrokes trophy looks a great EW bet.
Malone Road 5yo
Trainer:- Gordon Elliot
Rating:- N/A Form:- 111
Easily the horse I’m most looking forward to, has looked every bit of a superstar in his races. Can only see him going right to the top over hurdles and for me the 16s available for the supreme is too tempting. Looks the speedier type than his stablemate Envoi Allen, which makes me even more confident the 2 mile contest will be the choice.
Minella Indo 6yo
Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Rating:- 152(H) Form:- 3211
Certainly an obvious one to choose from last year but he was so good I couldn’t leave him out as I fully expect him to keep progressing an win the RSA come march next year. 14s available for that contest looks a steal and is well worth taking. Having won the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham he then backed that up at punchestown to show it was no fluke having gone to the festival as a maiden.
No Comment 8yo
Trainer:- Philip Hobbs
Rating:- 137(C) 145(H) Form:- 3655
Despite being 8 rising 9 this season he has only ran 4 times over fences so is certainly not fully exposed just yet with 2 of those races being at back to back festivals. His latest run when coming 5th in the Kim Muir was very promising and certainly looks one for all the top staying chasing handicaps with the welsh national perhaps an early season target.
Overthetop 5yo
Trainer:- Olly Murphy
Rating:- N/A Form:11
Olly Murphy has took to training like a duck to water with an extremely impressive first couple of seasons. He looks to have revealed another gem regards to this son of flemensfirth. Winning impressively on his sole start under rules in what looked an above average bumper he looks sure to make his presence felt over hurdles this coming season.
Saldier 5yo
Trainer:- Willie Mullins
Rating:- 153(H) Form:- 531F
I think this gelding could end up being the forgotten horse with Klassical Dream his stablemate being all the rage for the champion hurdle, however on his latest outing he was certainly travelling the best before his last flight fall and we all know what the winner of that race has gone to do. The fact he is only 5 shows more improvement should come this season. 20/1 looks a good EW bet for the champion hurdle.
Secret Investor 7yo
Trainer:- Paul Nicholls
Rating:- 150(C) 145(H) Form:- 2411
This son of kayf tara looks the typical progressive Paul nicholls horse with his last two outings showing big signs of a very good horse. Still only 7 and 5 runs over fences under his belt he looks sure to take another step forward this coming season. I could easily see him winning a big handicap off his current mark for example the Caspian Caviar at cheltenham December meeting.
Shishkin 5yo
Trainer:- Nicky Henderson
Rating:- N/A Form:- 311
The form of his bumper win is nothing to shout about but its the way he put the race to bed in readily fashion when asked to lengthen. He showed signs of a very good horse when doing so and hes certainly in the right hands to get the best out of him. He looks a speedy type so I’m sure he will start off over 2 mile.
Southern Sam 5yo
Trainer:- Oliver Sherwood
Rating:- 124(H) Form:-3251
This gelding has some strong novice form from last season behind the likes of Beakstown and Pistol Whipped. He rounded off a good season with a convincing win on his latest outing. Trainer has said he will go chasing in this coming season, I don’t think he will be reaching the top level, but something like the novice handicap on the opening day of the festival could well be on agenda for this son of black sam bellamy. Will certainly need to win a few races to get high enough in the ratings to do so but I fully expect him to capitalise on 124 over fences.
Thyme Hill 5yo
Trainer: Philip Hobbs
Rating:- N/A Form:-123
He certainly made an eye catching run on his latest outing in the champion bumper staying on strongly up the stiff finish turning the form on his previous conqueror Master Debonair. This gelding scream stayer to me and I fully expect him to be upped to 3 mile by the end of the season with the Albert Bartlett being possibly his main aim having already good cheltenham form.
Antepost bets:
Kildisart 25/1 – Ladbrokes Trophy
Malone Road 16/1 – Supreme
Saldier 20/1 – Champion Hurdle
Minella Indo 14/1 – RSA
sleeracing 