Horses to follow part 2

🐎My next horse to follow is Crystal Moon, trained by Alan King for Mrs June Watts. Crystal Moon made a successful racecourse debut in a National Hunt Flat race when beaten only a short head by Nigel Twiston Davies’ Trevada. He showed determination and strength throughout, pulling away from the rest of the group by 7 lengths. Failing to add to this initial promise, Crystal Moon had wind surgery in early 2022, before coming third in a hurdle race at Stratford in a close finish. Stepping down in trip from 2 mile 6 to 2 mile 4 and ready for his chasing debut, Ludlow was next for Crystal Moon. He again ran with much credibility when only beaten 3/4 of a length into second. Crystal Moon then rightfully stepped up in trip to 2 mile 7, when winning his race at Huntington. He jumped and travelled strongly throughout his next race at Doncaster but weakened after the third last and finished third, with the very progressive Gaboriot (see my post about him) 21 lengths ahead of him. He then deservedly won well at Hereford over 3 mile 1 to win the race by 4 lengths, leaving fairly useful chasers behind him. I can imagine this consistent horse to continue progressing throughout his career, and I’m excited to see how well he performs on his next start. Since going chasing, he has always been in the top 3 finishers. 

🐎Next is Junkanoo, trained by Gary Moore for Jacobs construction and J Harley. Junkanoo started off his racing career on the flat, typically running over 1 mile 2, and either won or was placed in 7 races. Starting off at Ascot for his hurdling debut, Junkanoo was impressive with his jumping and travelled strongly throughout, finishing just 2 lengths behind Doddie The Great in a Class two race. Doddie The Great had won 3 consecutive races before his Ascot win, and further consolidated this form when second at Cheltenham only a length behind the highly thought of Go Dante for Olly Murphy. On his second start over hurdles, Junkanoo finished second again, 2 lengths behind Goodwin and 16 lengths ahead of Walks Like The Man who took third place. Kempton was next for Junkanoo, in which he gave his most respectable performance yet. He was prominent throughout the race, carefully tracked the leaders, and was then produced by the talented Caolin Quinn to be beaten only a nose by the more experienced Gentle Slopes in a photo finish. He reversed his form with Goodwin, finishing 3 lengths ahead of him at Kempton, which shows he is still steadily progressing with experience. I think he is a horse who has slipped under the radar and has endless potential so am excited to see how he performs on his next run. 

🐎Windtothelightning is my next horse to follow, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero for owners G C Myddelton and V E C Taylor. Windtothelightning is an extremely eye-catching mare who looks certain of having a bright future in racing ahead of her, having already gained her yard attention due to everything she has already achieved at just 5 years old. She was beaten only a short head on her first start in a point to point, before having wind surgery and coming third on her racecourse debut at Doncaster. She was in touch with the leaders throughout the race and made progressive headway before making a mistake which knocked her confidence, but she was still only 2 lengths behind the winner. She then went to Sedgefield, where she travelled strongly and won the race by 12 lengths. She then won on her next start at Market Rasen by 5 lengths before beating Ruby Island by a neck at Ayr to complete the hat-trick. Cheltenham was next for this tough, admirable mare, in which she jumped and travelled with fluency, only beaten a length to finish 3rd out of the 17 runners. She had a break of 198 days before impressively winning at Wetherby, on her reappearance, by 9 lengths in challenging ground. Wind then went again to Cheltenham for a class two race, in which she came fourth by 3 lengths to Nurse Susan. She looked the likely winner before tiring after the last and was short of room, giving ground to her rivals when having to switch left inside the final furlong. Windtothelightning has endless potential, she has both the physical talent and perfect attitude to have a really amazing career. 

🐎Golden Ace is another horse who deserves to be highlighted, trained by Jeremy Scott for owner I F Gosden. Golden Ace began her racing career in a National Hunt Flat Race, winning the race by a short head to Beat The Bat. This race alone provides Golden Ace with extremely respectable form as Beat The Bat then won on his next start at Chepstow, beating Nicky Henderson’s Choccabloc, before nearly catching Masaccio on the line again at Chepstow, winning at Ascot, and finishing second to Dysart Enos at Cheltenham. Golden Ace went to Ascot on her second start, coming fifth to Politacus before showing her progressive nature when reversing this form at Aintree, when leaving Politacus 3 lengths behind her. Golden Ace finished second to Dysart Enos at Aintree, a horse who has won on all of her starts under rules. Having wind surgery provided Golden Ace with the ability to impressively win on her hurdling debut at Taunton, despite jumping somewhat novicey throughout the race. Behind her were the well supported likes of Lucky Place and Insurrection. I strongly believe that this eye-catching 6 year old has a bright racing career ahead of her and can continue to steadily progress with hurdling experience now on her side. 

🐎My next horse to follow is Springtime Promise, trained by Fergal O Brien for Keeping The Dream Alive. Springtime Promise has won on his 3 last starts, 2 of which were in point to points before making his rules debut for Fergal at Huntington last week. He won the race by 2 lengths to Dan Skelton’s 1/3 favourite in Coco Mademoiselle, travelling strongly and prominently throughout. During the race, he was denied a clear run which caused him to lose ground but he showed his determination by quickly recovering from this setback. Coco Mademoiselle already establishes him with good form, as his form when running under rules reads 1212 and likewise looks like a horse who will continue to progress. When winning in his Portrush point to point, he was 6 lengths ahead of Ballygelly, who won on his next start and when winning at his Moira point to point, he won comfortably by 9 lengths. I think this respectable seven year old should continue to improve for his new yard and has a bright future ahead of him. 

🐎Next to follow is Finn Lough, for trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. Finn Lough won a point to point by 6 lengths, before putting in a brave effort at Wetherby in extremely testing ground on his stable debut. He led for most of the way, travelling strongly and setting the pace, before he lost confidence when making a mistake. He was seen to come on lots for this run when finishing fourth at Ayr, behind the already mentioned progressive types that are Doyen Du Bar and Esprit Du Potier, and then finishing fifth at Doncaster with Henry Brooke reporting he ran too freely. I think that once he gets better ground and when he comes through wind surgery which may explain why he could not fulfil his races with the potential he has hinted at having, he will be an impressive youngster. 

🐎Another horse to follow is Hill Of Tara, trained by Venetia Williams for the B B Racing Club. Hill Of Tara started his racing career by finishing a credible 5th in a National Hunt Flat Race before taking over a year away from racing. Returning from a 443 day break, Hill Of Tara ran 3 times for his yard but unfortunately did not build on his initial promise. However, Venetia Williams persisted with this horse, and returning from a 201 day break, he won on his reappearance at Ffos Las. He beat the well supported Mumbles by 5 lengths, and Venetia reported after the race that he had physically strengthened during his break. Hill Of Tara proved his trainer’s remarks right, as he won again on his next start at Leister. Failing to complete the hat-trick but still running  with credit, he then finished second on his next start at Southwell to Aristobulus. He was then stepped up in trip from 2 mile 4 to 3 mile 1/2, when winning his race at Haydock in particularly testing ground. He made all, travelled strongly throughout the race and kept on well in the home straight. On his most recent start at Hereford, Hill Of Tara showcased his most impressive performance yet, winning by 25 lengths and leaving respectable horses way behind him. This 7 year old is a credit to his connections and I can only see him improving as his season continues. 

🐎Following on comes Charlie My Boy, trained by Kieran Burke for owner Andy Taylor. Despite not showing much with John Jenkins, he had wind surgery before moving yards in early 2023. On his reappearance, he finished second to the 2/7 favourite in Toothless. He was prominent throughout the race, jumping and travelling with credit. Charlie My Boy then finished second again on his next start at Fontwell, finishing a length behind Gary Moore’s He’s A Latchico. He was short of room approaching the last but stayed on strongly regardless, showing his determination to win. Newton Abbot was next for Charlie, where he deservedly won the race despite hanging left throughout. He then stepped up in trip from 2 mile 2 to 2 mile 4 at Aintree, where he followed up his previous win by winning again. He beat Copper Beach into second, who is a horse with respectable form, with the front pair drawing 7 lengths clear of the rest of the field. He failed to complete the hat-trick on his last start in July, finishing fifth, but I think he has many more wins in him so am excited to see how he performs after his break. 
🐎Norman Fletcher is another eye-catching young horse, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies for owners Rushmoor Stud and Mario Stavrou. On his debut at Newton Abbot he finished second, 4 lengths behind the Venetia William’s trained Sole Solution. Sole Solution had the experience that Norman Fletcher lacked, having won on his previous start in a National Hunt Flat Race at Bangor, making his debut even more admirable. Norman Fletcher then raced in another National Hunt Flat Race at Southwell, which he won by 1 length to Cawthorne Banker. Behind him in third and fourth place were Doc McCoy and Smiling Getaway, who have both since won well since - Doc McCoy at Huntington and Smiling Getaway at Ludlow, beating Nicky Henderson’s Between Waters by 2 lengths. He then finished eighth in a 19 horse class 2 race at Newbury, but this was a close race and he didn’t look to enjoy the ground, before winning by 8 lengths on his next start at Ludlow. Despite falling on his hurdling debut at Huntington, Norman Fletcher came second on his next start to Henry Daly’s Wynenot, before winning at Market Rasen in a maiden hurdle. He then backed this win up when winning on his next start at Aintree, in desperately tough ground, jumping and travelling strongly throughout the race to stay on and beat the 2/1 favourite in Goonhilly. Haydock was next for Norman Fletcher, as he courageously led throughout the race, before being caught in the last length by the likewise progressing Bertie’s Ballet. The pair pulled 12 lengths clear of the rest of the field and I don’t doubt that this ‘No Risk At All’ gelding will continue to improve with experience as the season continues. 

🐎My final horse to follow is Shewearsthewellies, trained by Lawney Hill for G C Myddelton. Shewearsthewellies came third in a point to point, finishing behind the useful Smiling Getaway and Redbridge Rosie. She ran keenly on her racecourse debut, before having wind surgery and then coming a credible third at 100/1 on her return to racing. She was pulled up on her next run before having wind surgery again, which seemed to be much more effective this time around as since, she has won three out of her five starts and a close second in another. I think that this consistent mare definitely has many more wins in her and is more than capable of continuing her very respectable form.