Horses to follow

🐎My first horse to follow is a horse who has stolen my heart, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero in Malpas, Cheshire, Gaboriot takes the number one spot. Owned by Lord Daresbury, he was a useful hurdler in France for Francois Nicolle before being brought over to England for Haydock Park Racing. We often see in French racehorses that they usually need a season to adjust to the differences in training and races in England before showing their true talent. However, Gaboriot showed his potential when coming third at Hereford on his British debut under a steady ride from George Cowley, but still lacking confidence, he failed to follow this form up on his next run when hampered a few times by older and more experienced horses. Still settling into his new surroundings, he showed his stamina and newly found determination when finishing second to Time Leader, who came fifth in the Aintree Foxhunters. He was well looked after under Alice Stevens, and kept on challenging the leader and closing the gap as much as he could. Gaboriot then won at Kempton on his reappearance after a break, putting his head down and galloping to the line to beat Island Run by a neck. He then made this two wins in a row at Doncaster, jumping fluently and travelling strongly throughout, before impressively pulling away from Head On by seven lengths. On his bid to complete the hat-trick at Ludlow, he again showed his mental transformation when powering through his unfavourable soft ground when finishing third in a three way photo finish to Tide Times and Latitude. I strongly believe this half-brother to the amazing Homme Public, who won impressively on his chasing debut, before following this up with a win in the grade two arkle chase at Cheltenham, and a second at Ascot, is an extremely progressive youngster and one to closely look out for. 

🐎My second horse to follow is Some Scope, trained by Richard Hobson for Rubicon Racing. Some Scope won a point to point before running respectively on his first three runs under rules and then winning a hurdle race at Haydock in April. He then made his chasing debut in early November, in which he finished fifth, but didn’t look to enjoy the softer ground and may well have needed the run. Some Scope then went to Catterick and won the race, in which he travelled strongly and looked like the winner throughout. His Catterick win would have provided him with more confidence, and with already good form, he is a lovely big horse who I can imagine would be a progressive staying chaser. He is declared for Newbury on Wednesday with Gavin Sheehan taking the ride, and back on good ground I would be expecting a big run. 

🐎My third horse to follow is the lovely Homme Public, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero for the Nevers Racing Partnership. Starting off his racing career with Francois Nicolle, Homme finished second in both of his starts, before moving to Cheshire. He has since won and been placed in four hurdle races, before impressively winning on his chasing debut in October at Wetherby. Homme jumped impeccably throughout the race, and showed his usual determination to win, when putting his head down and galloping to the line to hold off the useful Geromino for Donald McCain. On only his second start chasing, Homme put on a magnificent performance at Cheltenham to land the Grade 2 Arkle Challenge Trial, keeping on well in the run in to hold off the highly thought of Petit Tonnerre. Homme then took up the challenge of Ascot in December, in which he finished second to the respected Persian Time for Nicky Henderson. He jumped left handed throughout which resulted in him giving ground away to his rivals, so back on a course that suits him more and on better ground, I think he is one that will continue to steadily progress. 

🐎My fourth horse to follow is Doyen Du Bar, trained by Pauline Robson and owned by Eric A Elliot. When partnering with Henry Brooke on his first start in a National Hunt Flat Race at Carlisle, Doyen Du Bar won the race comfortably by 6 lengths. He then continued to show his ability on his next start, in a National Hunt Flat Race at Kelso, being beaten a neck and 3/4 of a length. On his hurdling debut, Doyen finished second two lengths behind Lucinda Russel’s Old Gregorian, before winning at Ayr on his next start. It was at Ayr that he beat the 1/2 favourite in Esprit Du Potier, who then backed this form up by winning next time out. On only his third start over hurdles, Doyen won extremely comfortably at Kelso by 17 lengths, with Craig Nichol in the saddle once again. This eye-catching 8 year old is unbeaten on his favourited soft ground and is one to watch throughout the season. 

🐎My fifth horse to follow is Josh The Boss, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies for owner John Neild. Josh The Boss won a 17 horse National Hunt Flat race at Kempton, finishing with his head infront of useful horses who have helped to establish him some good form. He then finished fourth in another National Hunt Flat Race at Bangor, in what was a very close and hot race. On his hurdling debut, Josh The Boss ran exceptionally well to win by 19 lengths at Warwick, before following this form up again in a class 3 race at Aintree, making his owner and jockey’s dream come true. His performance was seriously impressive, and his solid National Hunt Flat form helped him find the stamina to stay on as well as he did, as hurdles in the home straight were avoided due to low sun.  Sandown was the next step for Josh The Boss, in which he travelled strongly throughout the grade two race, on only his third start over obstacles. He was struggling for room approaching the last fence and subsequently made a mistake when unseating his rider, but his performance prior was extremely respectable on ground he wouldn’t have favourited, which makes me believe this youngster is one to follow. 

🐎My sixth horse to follow is Glory And Honour, trained by Sam England for URSA racing. During his first season for Tom Lacey, Glory And Honour won two races, and was placed in his other five. He seemed to lose his way before landing in the hands of David O’Meara, who he won four races for. Sam England then took over, and he is undoubtedly having his best season yet, winning on his first start for the team, before coming second on his next four starts, and then winning the class 3 Bet365 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase for his devoting connections who think a huge amount of this horse. Glory And Honour finished second to Cruz Control at Newcastle, before reversing this form to prove he is very much still progressing. He has finished with his head infront of the respectable likes of Benson and Vintage Fizz, and is equally as likeable on the flat as he is over obstacles. 

🐎My seventh horse to follow is Kings Justice, trained by Sam Allwood for Mrs Beverley Bostock. Despite not showing much in his first few racing starts, Sam Allwood has persevered with this horse and returning to racing after wind surgery, he put in a respectable effort to come second at Catterick, before winning next time out. The equally progressive Toby Wynne took the ride as the determined Kings Justice powered through the race to beat Okavango Delta by a head. It was a close race that provides solid form for Kings Justice, as Time For A Pint who finished in fifth place won next time out. This horse definitely has ability and the perfect mindset so I can imagine he has many more wins to come! 

🐎My eighth horse to follow is Blazing Soldier, trained by Mark Walford for the Racing To Profit Syndicate. Despite not showing much in two of his point to points, he finished third behind the Ruth Jefferson trained Kerryhill, and Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero trained Let’s Go Joe, who both won on their racecourse debuts. Blazing soldier had a 237 day break, before likewise winning on his racecourse debut at Newcastle earlier this month. He won the race by a neck, leaving the well respected Lucinda Russell trained Two Auld Pals in second place. The pair were inseparable until the most important moment, and for a horse to perform with the determination and courage that Blazing Soldier did on his debut is extremely impressive. He jumped and travelled strongly throughout the race, and looked the likely winner from quite a long way out as he carefully tracked the leaders before taking the race into his own hands.

🐎My ninth horse to follow is Making Headway, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero for Malcolm Jones. Making Headway was an unlucky faller on his first point to point, but this only gave him the determination to go and win his second one, in which he left the respectable Supremely West 8 lengths behind him. On his debut under rules, Making Headway was a real eye catcher, winning in testing conditions first time out under a patient ride from Henry Brooke. The horses behind him in second and third place, To Chase A Dream and Recoded, have both performed well since coming out of the race which only boosts his form. On just his second start, Making Headway gained well deserved attention when finishing a length behind Kamsinas in a  grade two race at Haydock. The front two pair pulled clear of the rest of their competition by 13 lengths, including I Love My Baie in third position who won next time out, beating the 2/7 favourite in Magic Wave by 7 lengths. Making Headway then went to Aintree for the Class 1 Formby Novices Hurdle, in which he jumped with fluency and reversed his Kamsinas form, this time finishing 8 lengths infront of him in fourth place behind the well supported and exciting looking prospect, Jango Baie. This now 6 year old is definitely on the right route to achieve big things. 

🐎My tenth horse to follow for now is Cannock Park, trained by Paul Robson in Hawick. This impressive 6 year old started off his racing career by winning a flat point to point, making all, and winning by 10 lengths.  On his rules debut in a National Hunt Flat race, he finished second, only beaten a length, on testing ground, challenging the winner until the post. He had a break of 192 days before his reappearance at Bangor in another National Hunt Flat race, in which he won going away by 4 lengths. Behind him in second was Donald McCain’s Panhandle Slim, who has proved himself as a respectful hurdler since. With his usual partner Craig Nichol in the saddle, he then won at Cheltenham on just his third start and hurdling debut, beating the well supported 4/7 favourite, The Kemble Brewery, by 9 lengths. His next challenge was the Formby Novices Hurdle at Aintree, in which he led throughout before weakening but staying on to finish 3rd, with the progressive Making Headway just 1/2 lengths behind him. To win on hurdling debut is impressive for any horse, nevermind at Cheltenham, and then to stay on for third on his next run  in a class one makes me believe this young horse has an extremely bright future ahead of him.