Flat horses to follow

🐎My first flat horse to follow is Curious Rover, trained by Katie Scott for URSA racing. Curious Rover is a seriously talented now 3 year old gelding who is not given the attention he deserves. On his debut over 7 furlongs, he finished 1 length third to the respectable 8/13 favourite in Consoling. He then dropped down in trip to 6 furlongs on his second start at Ayr, during which he stayed on strongly to be beaten only a neck by Showhound, despite being hampered inside the final furlong. Dropping in trip again to 5 furlongs on his next start at Catterick, Curious Rover deservedly won the race by 1 3/4 lengths to Nasneen in second. Hamilton was next for this admirable 2 year old, in which he was unlucky to finish 3/4 lengths second to Almarada Pdince. Almarada Prince then won next time out, consolidating Curious Rover’s good form. He then won again at Haydock by 3 lengths, beating the respectable likes of Hedge Fund, Say Hello, and Due For Luck into second, third, and fourth place. Curious Rover then came second in a class 3 race at York, travelling strongly throughout the race to only be beaten a length by Irish Nectar. Newcastle was his latest start, and he again finished second, this time only beaten a neck, by Ganesha. He has since been gelded and looks to have even more potential to what we have seen that is yet to be uncovered. His connections adore him and I wouldn’t be surprised to see his name at the big flat meetings with more experience on his side. 

🐎My second flat horse to follow is Dandy’s Derriere, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero for owners Dandy’s Dreamers. On his debut for Brian Meehan, Dandy’s Derriere was impressively only beaten a head by Cairn Gorm despite not being given a clear run when having to switch left 2 furlongs out. Unexpectedly, he won next time out to beat Semper Augustus by 2 1/4 lengths at Wolverhampton. He was then upped in trip from 6 to 7 furlongs when racing at Sandown, in which he finished second behind the admirable New Mandate. He seemed to become inconsistent, managing to win once more and place twice more for Brian Meehan before moving yards. He continued to seem inconsistent over 7 furlongs but when brought down to 6 furlongs and ridden more prominently with headgear on, he won at Thirsk with jockey Alistair Rawlinson in the saddle. He was beaten 11 lengths on his next start before winning at Newcastle. Dandy’s Derriere then went to Wolverhampton, where he was beaten a neck by the well supported Fiscal Policy in a competitive race. He underperformed on his next run before having wind surgery. On his return back up to 7 furlongs, he failed to show his talent when finishing ninth but it is common for horses after a break to need the run. Dropping back in trip and on his second start after wind surgery, he then won at Wolverhampton and was second beaten 3/4 lengths at Southwell yesterday after running keenly. With headgear applied and when running over his preferred distance of 6 furlongs, Dandy’s form reads 1120012. 

🐎My third flat horse to follow is the legend Sparks Fly, trained by David Loughnane for owner David Lowe. Sparks Fly has already been an exceptional horse for her connections and at only 4 years old, she has such a bright future ahead of her. Despite not showing much over 7 furlongs, Sparks Fly seemed a changed horse when upped in trip to 1 mile when winning at Windsor. She then followed this win up again at Windsor, again at Thirsk, again at Windsor, again at Chester, and again at Ayr - winning an amazing 6 consecutive races. She is versatile, having won on good to soft, soft, and heavy ground. Despite finishing second to last at York in July, which can be justified with having ran so much throughout the summer, she had a 64 day break before bouncing back to win at Haydock under her usual partner, Laura Pearson. Sparks Fly then went to Saint-Cloud, where she was given an amazing ride to win by 12 lengths to Queen Sao, creating her most impressive performance yet. She has had a long season, so I don’t expect her to run until she has had a sufficient break, but I don’t doubt we will continue to see the best of her upon her return. 

🐎My fourth flat horse to follow is Upepo, trained by Tony Carroll for owner A W Carroll. Upepo failed to show much for ex-trained Ms Sheila Lavery, before moving yards in late October of 2023. He was upped in trip from his usual 1 mile and 1 mile 2 to 1 mile 4, winning on his stable debut at Lingfield. On his next start at Southwell, he was held up in rear throughout the race and finished fourth, with the up in triple to 1 mile 6 looking to be unfavourable for him. Dropping back in trip to 1 mile 4, he won on his next start at Lingfield by 2 lengths to Placated, before following this up again at Lingfield earlier this week. Upepo is unbeaten with Rossa Ryan in the saddle and I think he is an interesting one to watch based on the potential he has shown and his tendency to travel strongly and stay on well in his races. 

🐎My fifth horse to follow is the eye-catching Intervention, trained by Michael Appleby for owners The Horse Watchers. Intervention has been fairly consistent throughout his racing career since moving yards from Charles O’Brien to Michael Appleby, with his early 2022 form over his preferred distances reading an impressive 124311122514. Intervention then had a 115 day break before his late 2022 reappearance, during which he either won or placed seven times. Onwards from November 2023, he won four races in a row and has placed on three other occasions. On his latest outing, he was beaten 1/2 lengths in a class 2 race at Southwell after travelling prominently and strongly throughout. I think this now 7 years old still has more potential to be shown, and wouldn’t be surprised if he continued his winning/ placing streak in the near future.  

🐎My sixth horse to follow is Dyrholaey, trained by Archie Watson for Hambleton Racing. Although there isn’t much to talk about with this horse, considering he’s only had one run, he impressively won on his debut at Chelmsford despite being slow away from the stalls and racing wide. He beat Simon Hodgson’s respectable Different Breed by a neck - Different Breed’s form reads 522322, providing himself with already good form. He may be one to watch out for, to see if he can build on his first win with experience now on his side. 

🐎My seventh horse to follow is Lordship, trained by William Haggas for owners Ian & Christine Beard and family. Despite not showing much on his first two starts in 2022, he was gelded and had a break of 188 days before stepping up in trip from 1 mile to 1 mile 2 and finishing second on his return. He finished a length behind Rockit Tommy, who then won on his next start. He then stepped up in trip to 1 mile 3 when coming second again at Haydock, this time behind the useful Andrew Balding trained Fairbanks, who likewise won on his next start. Stepping up in trip again to 1 mile 4, he then won at Chepstow before stepping up to 1 mile 6 to win 2 more races, completing the hat-trick. One of these wins was a class 2 race at Haydock in which he travelled strongly throuoit to beat the useful Flower Of Dubai by a length. He then went to York and Haydock for class 2 races, finishing a close fourth and fifth behind the admirable Middle Earth and Naqeeb. He then bounced back to his winning form when winning another class 2 at York in October, beating the useful likes of Urban Outlook and Dreams Adozen into second and third place. I would expect this youngster to continue to progress throughout his racing career on his reappearance. 


🐎My eighth horse to follow is Native American, trained by Richard Fahey for owners Wathan Racing. He made a winning debut over 6 furlongs at York in a class 3 race, staying on strongly to beat Ticktyboo by 5 lengths despite stumbling upon leaving the stalls. He then followed this win up at the Curragh, defying top weight, to beat Mercian Warrior by 2 lengths. He was in touch with the leaders and travelling prominently throughout before taking the race into his own hands when ridden to lead 1 furlong before the finish. It is clear connections think a huge amount of this horse, as he was taken to Longchamp for his chance in a group one race. He finished a respectable sixth, behind the extremely admirable likes of Rosallion, Unquestionable and Beaucatier. I would expect this eye-catching youngster to continue his winning streak when back on home turf and with more experience on his side. 

🐎My ninth horse to follow is Blindedbythelights, trained by Sir Mark Prescott for Middleham Park Racing. He did not show much on his first three starts but was gelded, before stepping up in trip from his usual 7 furlongs to 1 mile 3, to win on his reappearance at Yarmouth. He won by 3 lengths to the useful Denis Anthony before stepping up in trip again, to 1 mile 4, when coming second to Royal Athena. He continued his winning streak when winning at Newbury next time out, leaving Scintillante, who won next time out, a length behind in second. He had a 74 day break before continuing his good form at Ffos Las, only narrowly beaten by Roost after hanging badly right 1 furlong out. Blindedbythelights then put in a career best performance at Haydock, where he travelled strongly throughout the class 2 race to be beaten only a length by the very respectable Naqeeb. I can imagine this consistent youngster has a bright future ahead of him and goes well fresh. 

🐎My tenth horse to follow is Composite, trained by George Boughey for owners Edward Babington & Phil Cunningham. He came a close fourth on his racecourse debut at Huntington in a National Hunt Flat Race when keen but travelling well throughout the race  before weakening and losing two places towards the finish. Composite was then stepped down in trip from 1 mile 5 to 1 mile 4 to go one place better  in third at Wolverhampton, despite showing his inexperience when slowly away from the stalls and being denied a clear run 3 furlongs out. He then won on his next start at Wolverhampton, keeping on well to comfortably beat the 6/4 favourite in Story Horse by 2 lengths. He followed this up with another win on his next start at Kempton, racing wide and running on well to beat the useful Rogue Lion and Lartigue into second and third. This youngster clearly has the determination and will to win and I don’t doubt that he can continue his good form next time out.