My horses to follow 🐎

My horses to follow 🐎

My first horse to follow is trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero in Malpas, Cheshire. Malfoy Manor is owned by the successful Noel Fehily Racing Syndacite and is a lovely big horse who I expect will continue to improve throughout the upcoming season. His breeding is attractive, with his sire being Blue Bresil and dam Presenting Diva (Presenting) and having placed second in a competitive point to point at Boulta in Ireland over 3 miles on soft to heavy ground, he proved his ability to be a future staying three mile chaser. He ran in a bumper on his first start for his yard in March, weakening when headed to finish 8th but I imagine after a long break which will have given him the chance to mature and strengthen and over obstacles, he will be an eye catching competitive sort worth tracking.

My second horse to follow is Glory And Honour, trained by Sam England and owned by Ursa Major Racing. Glory And Honour has been a dream horse for his connections, placing in 10 out of his last 13 runs including a win at Cartmel and Doncaster in the Class 3 Bet365 Novices’ Handicap Chase. Despite finishing down the field in his last three runs, he was probably in need of a break which he was swiftly given. He is an 8 year old who clearly loves his racing, always trying his hardest and racing with enthusiasm, and on his favoured good ground he will continue to be competitive throughout the upcoming season.

My third 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 last April. He then made his chasing debut in which he finished fifth but didn’t look to enjoy the soft ground and may well have needed the run. Some Scope then ran at 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 as he achieved back to back wins when recording a fourth victory to his name at Doncaster in gutsy style. He ran well at Doncaster next time out on his unflavoured soft ground, showing a tough attitude when finishing second in a class 2 when 8 other runners were pulled up. Some Scope then ran at Cheltenham in a Class 2 running a good race to finish fourth over 3 mile 2. He is a thorough staying chaser who remains with so much potential to improve further throughout the season. 

My fourth horse to follow is Iroko trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero and owned by JP McManus. Iroko has been a legend for the yard, winning two hurdle races in impressive fashion before making Cheltenham history when winning the Martin Pipe in gutsy style at the 2023 festival. He was an eye catching third in the Sefton Novices Hurdle behind Apple Away and Maximilian, staying on in the run to prove he gets 3 miles. Iroko then went chasing, winning on the bridle on his chasing debut which gathered the attention of the racing world as he made a Grade 2 winner in Golden Sun look ‘pretty ordinary’ in the words of the commentator. Unfortunately due to injury, Iroko needed time off after this but he finished a respectable fifth in the Turners Novices Chase upon his return before giving his owner a 1-2 in the Aintree Mildmay when finishing second to Kim Muir winner Inothewayurthinkin. He has so much class about him and endless potential, with a step back up to 3 miles promising to bring out the best in him. 

My fifth horse to follow is Junkanoo, trained by Gary and Josh Moore and owned by Jacobs Construction and J Harley. Junkanoo is a successful dual purpose horse who made his hurdling debut last year in which he finished an impressive second at Ascot behind Nicky Henderson’s DoddieTheGreat who remained competitive all last season. He was then second at both Plumpton and Kempton before gaining his much deserved victory at Plumpton on his next start. He was pulled up in the Imperial Cup having made an early mistake which affected his confidence and his next run at Kempton was probably one too many for the season. He ran at Sandown on the flat two starts ago and Plumpton on his previous start but will have needed both runs upon his return from a long break. His usual jockey Caoilin Quinn has proved himself as talented and with a devoted groom who will continue to bring out the best in him, I expect him to be in the winners enclosure more times than not this upcoming season. 

My sixth horse to follow is Twin Jets, trained by Paul Nicholls for C W Rodgers. Twin Jets won his first three starts, including a point to point and two National Hunt Flat races at Hereford and Haydock. He won three hurdle races for Milton Harris before proving determined to come third on his chasing debut at Ascot despite jumping left handed throughout. Twin Jets then moved yards to Paul Nicholls, winning on stable debut at Doncaster in a 3 mile Class 3 chase by an impressive 7 lengths before his run next time out possibly came too quickly for him. He has enjoyed a long break and as only a 7 year old, I expect him to remain competitive upon his return. 

My seventh horse to follow is Sea The Clouds, trained by Jamie Snowden for value racing club. Sea The Clouds is a credit to his connections, he is rarely out of the frame and I think he had a massive change of winning last time out but unluckily unseated at the first. He is a seven year old who has raced 17 times, winning 5 and placing in 8 more. He won the Class 3 William Hill Cumbria Crystal Cup Handicap last year, racing prominently and winning gamely ahead of Wonderwall and Hurricane Ali who have both placed in multiple Grade 2’s. He is versified over both ground and distance, having won on good and soft ground and over distances ranging from 2 miles to 3 mile 1. He is an extremely consistent horse and will continue to progress throughout the upcoming season. 

My eighth horse to follow is Bertie’s Ballet, trained by Dianne Sayer for Falcon’s Line Ltd. Bertie’s Ballet won on his debut in a National Hunt Flat race at Newcastle before coming third in a Class 2 National Hunt Flat race at Kelso next time out. Bold Reaction was the winner of this race and has proved to be a talented jumping horse since. He placed in and won another National Hutn Flat race before coming second on his hurdling debut in a Class 2 at Wetherby. Favour And Fortune just one length ahead of him won the Scottish Champion Hurdle last time out and was second in the Grade 1 Formby Novices Hurdle last December. He won at Haydock on his next start before second in the Bet365 Scottish Supreme Novices Hurdle at Musselburgh and was then third in the Tennent’s Novices hurdle on his first attempt at 2 mile 4. He has an entry for Hexham chasing over this distance on Saturday, and proving he takes to chasing naturally he is one to follow throughout the season. 

My ninth horse to follow is Cannock Park, trained by Paul Robson in Hawick. This impressive 6 year old started off his racing career by winning a point to limit, making all, becoming an instant eye catcher when winning by 10 lengths. On his rules debut in a National Hunt flat race, he finished second and was only beaten a length on testing ground when challenging the winner until the post. He had a break of 193 days before his reappearance at Bangor in another National Hunt Flat Race, in which he fell going away by 4 lengths. Behind him in second was Donald McCain’s Panhandle Slim, who has proved himself as a respectable hurdle since. With his usual partner Craig Nicholls in the saddle, he then made dreams come true when winning 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 Grade 1 Formby Novices Hurdle at Aintree, in which he led throughout before weakening but stayed on to finish 3rd with the progressive Making Headway just 1/2 length behind him. He came third in the Bet365 Premier Novices Hurdle just behind Jango Baie in who finished second in the William Hill handicap hurdle. He was unlucky not to win at Newbury next time out and then was outpaced at Sandown. I’m looking forwards to his seasonal return and think he will continue to be consistent in recognised races throughout the season. 

My tenth horse to follow is Jagwar, likewise to Iroko trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero and owned by JP McManus. Jagwar placed second on his debut for Emmanuel Clayeux before also placing second on yard debut at Aintree, only beaten a head by the hugely progressive Paul Nicholls’ trained Inthewaterslide. He went to Haydock in high regard but didn’t look to enjoy the tacky looking ground and lost his right fore shoe during this race, so excuses can be made. Jagwar is a giant of a horse who needs a fence whilst also being given time to learn his job and mature, and despite continuing to make jumping errors at Carlisle, his determination to succeed saw him winning the race. I imagine he would have benefitted from a more prominent ride at Uttoxeter next time out given how keen he was, but he ran well to finish fifth in a Class 2 at Ayr. I think extremely highly of this horse and think he’ll prove a very successful chaser in the future so don’t give up on him yet. 

My eleventh horse to follow is Your Own Story trained by Lucinda Russell. Your Own Story loves a marathon trip, having placed in the Tim Molony Handicap Chase over 3 mile 4, the Quinnbet Novices Chase at Uttoxeter over 3 mile 2, the Alanbrooke Handicap Chase, and most memorably the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase at Punchestown on his last start. He has won over distances ranging from 3 mile 1 to 3 mile 7 and has been a credit to his connections, rarely out of the placing and putting in a huge run in the Scottish Grand National last April to finish sixth. He is a typical National Hunt horse who loves the mud flying and I expect him to be aimed for some big season targets.  

My twelfth horse to follow is Heritier, trained by Lizzie Quinlan for URSA Major Racing. Heritier summarises National Hunt racing for me, he is so consistent and thrives when the mud is flying. He is a credit to connections who love him, winning 5 races for his previous trainers including at Uttoxeter last year and continued to display his ability upon  moving to Lizzie. He has placed in 5 out of 7 races and has been unlucky to get his head back infront. He put in an arguably best career effort when he was only beaten a length in a Class 2 chase at Carlisle in April and was cruising last time out at Hexham before he was unluckily brought down. He is a gutsy brave horse so I’m trusting that fall hasn’t affected his confidence and I think his enthusiasm for racing will see him in the winners enclosure again this season. 

My thirteenth horse to follow is Royal Way, trained by Gary and Josh Moore for Keith Loads. Royal Way began his racing career as a flat horse in France before making his hurdling debut in a Class 2 race at Sandown December last year, finishing third despite losing his right fore shoe as reported by vets. Castelfort and Ithaca’s Arrow ahead of him have consolidated this form by both placing in Class 2 and 3 races since. Royal Way then went to Kempton and finished an eye catching second behind Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino in the Ladbroke Juvenile Hurdle, Sir Gino went on to win the JCB triumph hurdle at Cheltenham and the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree and still remains with so much potential. Royal Way completed a hat trick on his next 3 runs, recording two wins and Ludlow and one at Ascot. He is only a 4 year old who will continue to progress with experience and I imagine his connections will target him towards some prestigious races this season. 

My fourteenth horse to follow is Autonomous Cloud, trained by Fergal O’Brien for Terry Warner and The McNeill Family. Autonomous Cloud joined Fergal in 2022, placing in his first 5 races for the yard before deservingly getting his head in front in a Class 2 3 mile chase at Uttoxeter. He then had a 253 day break before winning on his seasonal return last November at Uttoxeter in the Class 3 Pektron Novices Chase. He was pulled up next time out in the Welsh Grand National, with it reported that he bled from the nose, but he placed fourth next time out in the Class 1 Bet365 Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter over 4 mile 2 on heavy ground and MySilverLining just ahead of him in third had previously won the Group 3 Wigley Handicap Chase at Warwick. He ran with credit in the Scottish National next time out but that was possibly one race too tough for him last season and is one to watch over marathon trips that he enjoys, 

My fifteenth horse to follow is my favourite mare Windtothelightning, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero for owners G C Myddelton and V E C Taylor. She 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. I think she was unlucky not to win again last season as a fall at Haydock, on tacky ground that caused her to misjudge the hurdle, looked to affect her confidence but after a safe trip around Wetherby next time out she ran a huge race again at Cheltenham, coming 7/15 runners but only 2 lengths behind the winner in a tight finish. She came fourth in the Swinton hurdle at Haydock next time out and I believe she has endless potential, she has both the physical talent and perfect attitude to have a really amazing career. I imagine she will go chasing in the near future as she has the scope for it and I know she’ll be a natural.