Month: September 2006

Review of the 2003 flat season
 
Introduction

A review of the previous season has become a regular "Russellform" feature and I have tried to expand it a bit this time round.  When looking back at the 2003 flat season I have taken a particularly personal view.  The horses mentioned are those that I backed or tipped, sometimes successfully, sometimes less so.  Most will have appeared on my list to follow for the season.  I hope you will read and enjoy.

Alba Stella proved a fairly useful performer for Sir Mark Prescott winning handicaps at Folkestone and Newcastle.  She was below form in listed races on her last 2 starts.

The horse that came 3rd to Airwave in the Temple Stakes back in May, Acclamation, proved a much more profitable horse to follow than the filly.  He was arguably a little unlucky when 2nd of 20 (at 16/1) to Choisir in the King's Stand Group 2 at Ascot but had to wait until the beginning of August before registering his first win of the campaign when dead heating with Chookie Heaton at Doncaster.  To be honest Gerald Cottrell's sprinter made heavy weather of this and at 4/6 (and that shared) was hardly a profitable winner.  Much better was to come though.  After running third behind Oasis Dream over 5 furlongs in the Nunthorpe at York he won twice back over 6 furlongs, first in a listed race at Goodwood (10/11) and then in the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot at the nice price of 9/1.  Like Airwave and Somnus, Acclamation finished the season in the Prix De L'Abbaye where he ran with credit to finish 4th of of 19.

Acclamation has now been retired to stud.  Reflecting on his career, Cottrell said: “We were hoping he could run for another year and it’s going to be sad losing him, we won’t have another one as good as him."

  
“I wish he had had a clear run in the King’s Stand. He was slowly away and was flying at the finish and should have won. He’s so placid, eats well and was so easy to train.”

The flying filly Airwave produced one of the most remarkable finishes of the season to take the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Sandown. She gave the rest a 7 lengths start and still cut them down with contemptuous ease.  Jockey Dane O'Neill even had time to take a breather when he drew level with the leader before asking the filly to quicken again. 5/2 was a generous price for the day and Henry Candy's speedster looked set to win further sprint honours.  Sadly things never quite dropped right after that stunning display at Sandown.  She was beaten into 2nd by the ultra tough Aussie raider Choisir in a Group 1 at Ascot and then 3rd behind Oasis Dream and Choisir in the July Cup.  She ran creditably enough after a training setback to come 3rd to Somnus and Oasis Dream at Haydock before failing to get a clear run in either The Diadem or the Prix De L'Abbaye.
Akshar won 3 handicaps at Goodwood (7/2) , Epsom (5/2) and York (6/4).  At Goodwood he was chased home by Macadamia and at York just held off the challenge of the fast finishing Howle Hill who has won for us recently over hurdles.  His best run was probably in a Group 3 race at York when 3rd to the very smart Godolphin horse Naheef.  His only disappointing run was in the Cambridgeshire when he ran much too freely and faded out of contention.

Ed Dunlop's Anani only won once in 5 starts in the UK, and that at cramped odds.  He fared rather better on his travels though, winning a listed event in France and finishing 2nd of 10 in a Group 3 race at Frankfurt.

Anticipating trained by young Andrew Balding won his maiden at Beverley at 7/2 and a "D" class Salisbury handicap at 6/1.  He was also a creditable 4th to No Refuge in the Tote Gold Trophy at Goodwood.

Arakan  proved a smart performer winning twice from 7 starts, a Warwick maiden (4/6) and a handicap at York beating another from our list, Bigalothegigalo (5/4).  Arakan proved much better than handicap class when running 2nd in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and was then a very unlucky loser when 2nd to Nayyir with Tante Rose 3rd in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.  He was badly hampered at the distance and had to be switched and just failed to get up. He ran well on his final start of the season when again a bit squeezed for room in the Group 2 Victor Chandler Stakes at Newmarket behind Just James and Nayyir.

 
Arcalis from the Ramsden stable proved a most successful list choice running consistently well in middle distance handicaps.  He gained 3 wins and 3 placed efforts from 10 starts with the wins coming at odds of 4/1, 4/1 and 3/1.  He was also a very good short head 2nd of 18 to Tug of Love in a steadily run event at Doncaster.

Asian Heights won the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes before being sidelined again with an injury.  He has suffered from injuries throughout his career and that has restricted him to just 8 runs.  He has won 5 of these though. Although he has an awkward head carriage he seems genuine and is usually held up for a late run.

A Very Good Year  trained by Terry Mills is a big strong colt with plenty of scope.  He won at 13/8 and 7/1, on the second occasion beating Texas Gold and Currency in a 17 runner handicap at Kempton.  He was then 2nd of 13 to Mazepa in a handicap at Ascot when running on late after failing to get a clear run.

Hughie Morrison's talented Baltic King suffered in this respect more than once but still proved a profitable horse to follow with 2 wins from 9 outings at odds of 6/1 and 4/1. The wins came in handicaps at Leicester and Ascot and this progressive 3 year old also finished 2nd twice and ran 3rd in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster.

Banjo Bay had failed to notch a single win from his 8 starts when I followed him during 2002.  He ran 7 times in 2003 and only once finished in the first 10 (he even unshipped his rider in one race.)  However his only first 10 finish was a winning one at Goodwood at odds of 20/1.

I included both Beauchamp Ribbon and Beauchamp Rose on the list to follow. The name is derived from the village where the owner lives, Compton Beauchamp.  Sadly Beauchamp Rose suffered a fatal accident but Beauchamp Ribbon ran up a hat trick of wins in mid season.  Things looked far from promising at one point when the filly's first 5 runs ended in defeat and she showed signs that she may have an unreliable temperament. However first time blinkers did the trick when she won her sixth outing in a class G seller at 4/1.  Two further victories followed at 4/6 and 4/1 before her form dipped again with 4 defeats.  As I "bailed out" before the last of these Beauchamp Ribbon made me a small profit for the season.

Big Bad Bob won once in England when odds on but his other two successes came abroad in a listed race at Deauville and a Group 3 at Baden Baden.

Bollin Eric , a big strong sort, won the St Leger last season but the resultant Group 1 penalty this entailed proved a bit of a millstone in Group 2 and 3 company this time round.  He did manage to shoulder his penalty to win the Group 3 Lonsdale Stakes at York which was a fine effort. There were other good performances from Tim Easterby's four year old, notably a third in the Hardwicke Stakes (Group 3) at Ascot.  He has now been retired to stud.

Bollin Janet is a 3 year old filly trained by Tim Easterby.  She only won once from 7 starts but that was at 11/1 in a "C" handicap at Haydock paying her way with something to spare.

Brian Boru won the St Leger under Jamie Spencer.  He had disappointed in both the Epsom and Irish Derbys but improved to finish 2nd in the Great Voltigeur at York before going on to his classic victory.

Byron  proved a good choice winning 2 out of 4.  The first win was when odds on in a decent Newmarket maiden but his best performance was in his final run when winning the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury at the very nice price of 9/1.  The two defeats both came in Group 2 company.

Celtic Mill notched up a couple of wins for us in handicaps at Pontefract and Hamilton at odds of 8/1 and 3/1.  He did appear to start the season well handicapped after a winter all weather campaign that saw him win 3 times at Wolverhampton.  He also ran 2nd to Quito in a Newcastle handicap and won at odds on after I had removed him from the list to follow.

Sir Mark Prescott put in a remarkable training performance to prepare Chivalry  to win the Cambridgeshire on his seasonal debut.  I had kept Chivalry on the  list for a second season after he had won 4 times for me in 2002. In the Cambridgeshire it was generally thought that the firm ground would be against him and he was allowed to start at 14/1.  Given a marvellous ride by the evergreen George Duffield he just held on to win by the shortest of short heads.  He has since been sold and started his hurdling career with a win.

I was rather chuffed with myself in 2002 as I followed Mick Channon's CD Flyer until he won at 10/1 and then dropped him on the basis that he wasn't very likely to go in again.  Like so many of these old sprinters he would have made a profit for me again this year as he won twice from 10 starts in handicaps at Haydock and Goodwood at odds of 6/1 and 14/1 respectively.  He was apprentice ridden on both occasions.

Coat of Honour proved a useful handicapper winning at Pontefract and Brighton.  He improved further when a neck 2nd of 10 at Haydock on his latest start and looks the sort to continue to progress and win more races.

Colisay was 4th in the Lincoln and ran another blinder next time out in a competitive Sandown handicap to finish runner up., especially as he was poorly drawn and had to come around the outside. He deserved to win a decent prize and did so next time out, again in a Sandown handicap at 6/4.  He also ran much better than the bare form suggests when 10th of 32 in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot from an unfavourable draw.

Collier Hill is an old friend and certainly did not let us down. He won his first 2 starts of the season, handicaps at Hamilton and Haydock, both at 8/1.  The Haydock win was in the Old Newton Cup where another tough, genuine performer, Waverley was 2nd.  Of his remaining 4 runs by far the best was when 3rd to a couple of other list representatives, Haranpour and No Refuge, again at Hamilton.

I omitted Danehurst at the start of the season but reintroduced her just in time to win her only remaining race in the UK.  This was at Chester in September when she produced an extraordinary effort to win a 6f Listed contest.

After forfeiting ground with a poor start, the five-year-old mare still looked hopelessly placed many lengths behind the leaders as the field turned for home. She then had to be switched at least twice to get a run and still had five lengths to make up on Golden Nun passing the furlong marker.

To her enormous credit she then responded to her jockey’s strong riding to produce a late burst which got her up to win a couple of strides before the post. Those who managed to get the 21’1 offered in running on Betfair about the even-money chance deserved every penny.

Amanda Perrett's Dawn Invasion had been a real money spinner in 2002 with a 50% strike rate and some fat starting prices.  He only ran 3 times in 2003 but won the 3rd start at 16/1 when he found his form with a vengeance without much help from the handicapper.  This was a fine win under top weight in a class B handicap at Newmarket.

Definite Guest is a 5 year old grey gelding trained by Richard Fahey.  He scored twice from 11 starts picking up handicaps at York and Newbury.

John Gosden's 5 year old Demonstrate only ran twice in the UK and won a 6 furlong listed race at Windsor at 2/1 in May.

Desert Opal is a sturdy colt won 3 out of 7 at odds of 11/8, 7/4 and 11/4.  The latter runs were in handicaps over a mile at Newbury and Haydock.  He is clearly suited by some juice in the ground and was described by Steve Drowne, who rode him at Haydock, as "a nice sort of horse waiting to happen."

Echoes in Eternity got off to a pretty inauspicious start showing precious little in three defeats.  She then found her form to win a listed race at Yarmouth (11/1) and followed this with a game win in the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket (9/1) holding off the determined challenge of Macadamia.

Far Lane had come 2nd to Beauchamp Pilot in the Cambridgeshire the season before and hopes were high that he could go on from there.  He did just that winning a valuable 20 runner handicap at York and then winning twice at Newmarket in October, the first a Group 3 and the second a listed race where he did well to shoulder his Group 3 penalty and still beat Bustan.  The winning odds were 7/1, 9/2 and 6/1.

I followed Fearby Cross for a while at the back end of 2002 much to the detriment of my wallet.  With the excellent benefit of hindsight though, he was a winner waiting to happen in 2003.  His 3 career handicap wins had come off marks of 70, 73 and 75.  The last of these (off 73) was in September 2001 but up until the end of last season he was still on 72. The handicapper relented this season though and had dropped him down to 62 and with a claimer taking off a further 3 lbs we should have all been on him at 8/1 in an apprentice handicap at Newmarket.  In fact a 3 lbs penalty wasn't enough to stop the 7 year old winning again at HQ under an excellent ride from Lisa Jones, this time at 6/1

Fire Up The Band ran consistently well but rather found himself in the uncertain zone between handicaps and listed events.  He won twice and was placed 4 times from 7 starts.  The wins came in handicaps at Ascot and Newmarket at odds of 3/1 and 4/1 respectively. There were other fine efforts in defeat, notably when 2nd three times, to the progressive Patavellian in the Stewards Cup, Ian Balding's Dubaian Gift in a listed race at Doncaster and finally behind Quito in the Ayr Gold Cup.

Frizzante had a fine season with 4 wins from 6 starts.  He promptly romped home at Leicester first time out at 16/1 when no tipsters went for her.  I was on next time when she carried 10 stone to victory at Doncaster at 6/4.  A couple of unlucky defeats followed.  First she finished strongly to take 4th from a poor draw in the Stewards Cup and then again when well backed in the Ayr Gold Cup she was again given little chance by the draw.  I was rewarded further with 2 wins at Newmarket at 10/11 and 11/10.

I also made a small profit from a Sir Michael Stoute handicapper Funfair.  This gelding won his first race of the season in a handicap at York at "Burlington Bertie".  He failed to win in his remaining 3 starts but was second in a big field handicap Sandown.

Not all my selections from Sir Michael's yard paid off but another Stoute horse that did buck the trend and show a profit for me and that was Gamut with 2 UK wins from 4 runs.  The wins came at Newbury and Windsor at odds of 6/4 and 5/4.  His best run though was when runner up to Vinnie Roe in the Irish St Leger.  This was an excellent effort with Gamut beaten by a length.  Another of the A list horses Bollin Eric put in a high class run to finish 4th.  Sadly Gamut was not able to give Pat Eddery a winning farewell on the last day of the flat.

Another horse to make a decent profit was a Luca Cumani 3 year old called Giuliani.  This one won on her handicap debut at Windsor at 7/1 in the mud.  She failed to justify favouritism when 2nd under Kieran Fallon on her second run and was unplaced when tried in a visor on her only other start.  She is likely to go over hurdles having been snapped up by a national hunt stable at the Newmarket sales.

Generally I did OK with the sprint handicappers.  Greenslades was one sprinter to make a profit for me.  Rather like his stable companion Pomfret Lad, Greenslades did little in most of his runs but popped up at a good price for his only win.  He won 1 of his 4 starts and that at 6/1 in a handicap at Windsor. 

Hallion has had his injury problems suffering from a split pastern and as a result probably started the season on an attractive mark.  He is probably hard to keep fit and only ran 4 times but would have paid his way when having to dig deep  to make all under Willie Ryan in the Thirsk Hunt Cup at 16/1.  His other notable effort was a 3rd behind Polar Bear and Nashaab at Ayr.
  
Hasanpour is a tall, useful-looking colt who won a maiden and a handicap, both at Hamilton.   An unexposed and progressive sort trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he won his handicap beating No Refuge by a neck in an 11 runner field making virtually all at odds of 11/4.  I understand he has since been purchased by J.P. McManus for 150,000 gns and will be one to look out for when running over hurdles.

Hathrah was hardly profitable winning once from 4 starts at that at 4/9 favourite.  Her win was in a maiden but she also ran well in good company when runner up in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster and in a listed event at Newbury.  She is, I feel, open to further improvement.

One lister worth a mention here is the ill fated Hawk Flyer.  Sir Michael Stoute's 3 year old picked up a couple of wins before finishing a creditable 3rd in a rather rough Group 3 at Goodwood. It was in the Great Voltigeur at York where Hawk Flyer really showed his potential running a fine race coming from behind, keeping on strongly for third and pulling well clear of the rest. Though he seemed to hit a ‘flat spot' and took time to get going, it is worth bearing in mind that he only made his debut in June, whereas the two who beat him (Brian Boru was 2nd) were both Group 1 performers as two-year-olds. On the strength of this run Hawk Flyer was tipped as a potential St Leger winner but sadly it was not to be as he was fatally injured in an accident at home.

 
Indian Haven was a horse I followed as a 2 year old and I was pleased to see him follow up a win in the Free Handicap at Newmarket with a surprise victory in the Irish 2,000 gns at The Curragh.  This was a triumph for his trainer, the unsung Paul D'Arcy and jockey John Egan.

Inglis Drever was a winner for my list to follow in 2002 and was also beaten in a couple of photo finishes but he did even better in 2003 winning 3 from 5.  The 3rd win was in a 1 mile 7 furlongs handicap at Newmarket.  This was something of a consolation prize after the horse had missed the cut in the Ebor where he was a strong ante post fancy.

Islington gets a mention here and there in this review.  Apart from the Breeders Cup her other win was in the Yorkshire Oaks when she beat John Gosden's Ocean Silk by a length.  Sir Michael Stoute's excellent filly finished 3rd twice in top company.  Once behind Nayef over an inadequate trip in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot and then behind High Chapparal in the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.  This latter run was a cracking effort where Kieren Fallon was inclined to blame himself for not making his challenge earlier

Tim Easterby's Jeepstar (sound like a T Rex single) got off to a most unpromising start but ended up with 2 wins and a number of placed efforts from his 10 starts. The wins came in handicaps at Ripon and Musselburgh at odds of 11/2 and 9/2.  He seems game enough although he has given some trouble in the preliminaries.

There was no more spectacular winner in 2002 than Just James who came from being tailed off 2 furlongs out to swoop to victory with a quite remarkable turn of foot.  He actually won 2 of his 6 starts, including the Group 3 Jersey Stakes with both wins at odds of 20/1.  You leave a horse like this out at your peril and Just James certainly made me pay for omitting him this time round.  He won the last of his 5 starts, again showing a late turn of foot to win a Group 2 race and account for 3 current “listers” into the bargain, Nayyir, Arakan and Trade Fair.

Kalaman won 2 of his 5 starts but at odds of evens and 10/11 the latter in listed company at Kempton in May.  There is little doubt that he was an unlucky loser when 2nd in the St James Palace Stakes (Group 1) at Royal Ascot.  After an inexplicably poor run at York he was given an overconfident ride by Christophe Soumillon in a Group 3 race at Newmarket.  This was a 4 runner race that turned into a tactical battle.

 
Richard Hannon's Kings Point won twice from 5 starts.  There was plenty to like about his first couple of placed efforts and he confirmed that promise with consecutive wins at Goodwood and Newmarket at 8/15 and 6/1.  The latter win was in a Group 3 race. In his final start he disappointed in a Group 2 race at Goodwood were he may not have been suited to the ease in the ground.

Lateen Sales was talked up as a classic contender pre season but finished last in the 2,000 guineas. He bounced back from that with a pillar to post win in a 4 runner listed race at York (7/4).  He also won a Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte over 9 furlongs in very soft ground.

Lingo, trained by Lynda Ramsden looked a likely type to follow having paid his way in 2002 with 3 wins.  He duly won a couple of handicaps in April at odds of 3/1 and 2/1, the latter a class B event at Epsom under Kieren Fallon.  Lingo has moved to Jonjo O,Neill who has high hopes of him as a hurdler.

A horse who nearly gave me one of my biggest wins of the season was Local Poet.  He had been featured in "Steve Taplin's" excellent "2 year olds" book and on his first couple of outings finished 6th and 2nd. He was unconsidered for the 23 runner 2 year old Trophy at Redcar, starting at 25/1.  On the day I was switching between TV channels as there was racing on both sides and I switched across to the Redcar race just in time to see Local Poet burst clear of the field and go several lengths clear.  Alas, it was not to be as the ultra tough Peak to Creek cut him down getting up close home to win by a head.

Lochridge did his young trainer Andrew Balding proud.  She had much to live up to, her dam having won 15 times including thr Prix De L'Abbaye (twice) and the Stewards Cup.  Lochridge is certainly on the right lines to emulate her illustrious mother's achievements and won 2 handicaps and a listed race, the latter at Pontefract where Simianna was 4th.  She also ran a lifetime best when 3rd to Acclamation in a Group 2 at Ascot.

I always keep an eye on list horses from previous seasons and several have performed well.  For example Macadamia beat 31 rivals to win the Royal Hunt Cup

A 2 year old to show a profit was Mick Channon's Mahmoom with form figures of 211.  Both wins were at 4/6.  Mahmoom is held in high regard by Mick Channon and looks the type to make a 3 year old.

A late profit maker was Malvern Light who won on her 2nd outing at 6/4 in the last week of the season.  She is a half sister to winners in Italy and Turkey.  Her win came in a 16 runner maiden at Nottingham impressively by 5 lengths.  She looks a useful prospect for next season.

We get older and we start to realise that there are certain ambitions that will not be fulfilled.  I was beginning to think that backing a 66/1 winner was up there with keeping goal for England and playing Hamlet at the Globe.  That was until I walked into William Hill's near Euston Station to find that Marakabei had prevailed in the 1.45 at Yarmouth.  Rae Guest's mare was given a peach of a ride by Jamie Mackay and obviously relished the soft ground in this listed race.   This was actually her second win of the season, the first coming at 12/1 (after I had, in my infinite wisdom, taken an early price of 10s). She will obviously be hard pressed back in handicaps now and it would come as no surprise to see her retired to the paddocks.

Midas Way, trained by Roger Charlton, managed one win from 6 starts but that at 16/1 in a Salisbury handicap in June when Anticipating was 2nd.

Morson Boy  was a typically genuine Johnston gelding who won 3 of his 4 starts, all on Yorkshire tracks at odds of 100/30, 5/6 and 7/2.  This Lear Fan colt is a likeable sort and likely to develop into a smart stayer.

Mr Dinos won the Ascot Gold Cup in fine style for Paul Cole . His was a triumphal procession up the straight after stalking Persian Punch, and looked value for more than the bare margin, coasting the final 100 yards and leaving the impression that another circuit would have been enjoyed.  His Ascot win came at 3/1 after he had earlier won the Group 2 Henry ll Stakes at Sandown at 6/1.

Another to make a profit was Marcus Tregoning's Mustajed.  This colt had been described as a "sure fire 2 year old winner" by his trainer and he didn't disappoint, winning on his only start in a Newbury maiden at 15/8.  He looks sure to improve and win more races.

Of the 2002 listers that I did not retain for 2003 Naahy probably had the best season winning 3 times from 9 turf starts. The best of these was probably a B handicap at Goodwood in May where Desert Opal was 4th.  He was also just beaten a short head in a listed race at Epsom Andrew Balding's Rimrod.  All in all Naahy proved a very useful and game performer for his trainer Mick Channon.
Nayyir showed a decent profit winning one of his three Uk Starts at 6/1 in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes. He had suffered a severe form of colitis at the end of 2002.

Nevisian Lad  also showed a profit as his won 2 out of 5 at 5/6 and 4/1.

Staying with the sprinters, Native Title was probably one of the most "unpickable" winners of the season.  I had him my list last season when he was trained by Michael Blanshard and I always thought he was about to land a big win but he never really delivered.  In all he ran 10 times in 2002 and won but once, at 9/2! Hardly a profitable horse to follow and I duly left him out of calculations this time around.  He changed stables in 2003 and went to the sprint maestro, Dandy Nicholls.  After a "siter" he promptly won the Ayr Silver Cup at odds of 66/1 ridden by Joanna Badger.  Not for the first time Nicholls had revitalised an apparent failure.

Needwood Blade was a successful "lister" in 2002 and hit a rich vein of form again in 2003 picking up successive wins at Newmarket.

Firstly he won the listed Abernant stakes over 6 furlongs and showed his versatility by then winning over the minimum trip in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes.  Seb Sanders took the ride both times.

No Refuge, another Sir Mark Prescott 3 year old opened his account in the Swedish National Day handicap at Wolverhampton.  His second win was at Lingfield despite a 13lbs hike in the weights.  This was the race where Beauchamp Rose suffered a fatal injury.  A determined victory in a class E handicap at Hamilton  provided win number 3 and despite rising rapidly through the ratings, like many from his stable over the years, he remained progressive after coming into his own over middle distances and landed a valuable handicap at Goodwood over 12 furlongs.   He next headed for the Swedish Derby with its pot of money, finishing 3rd behind a horse called Organiser that started at the interesting price of 695/10. He rounded off the season with a 2nd at Hamilton where he was unable to reel in the gutsy winner Hasanpour, another from the list to follow,  who prevailed by a neck.  No Refuge finished the season with form figures of 13112132 with the best winning price being 7/1 at Goodwood.

Another profitable big race winner was leading sprinter Oasis Dream, a winner of 2 of his 4 UK starts at 9/1 and 4/9.  Both were in Group 1 races, the July Cup and the Nunthorpe.  The latter was a scintillating performance travelling strongly in front and needing to be merely nudged along to go clear from The Tatling.  He has now been retired to stud.

Ocean Silk only ran 4 times in the UK winning twice at 15/8 and 6/1. The second of these was in a listed race at Goodwood but she also ran creditably in defeat when 2nd to Islington in the Yorkshire Oaks, 2nd again in the Ribblesdale and when 3rd in a Group 2 at Longchamps.

It all got off to a flying start when Oldenway, the first bet of the season won at 2/1.   This consistent handicapper is trained by Richard Fahey.

Oopsie Daisy  falls into the "profitable" category with a 9/1 win her only success from 7 starts.  This came in "D" handicap at Newmarket and was the only time she finished in the first 3.

Own Line failed to win in his first 6 runs and I decided tom axe him from the list to follow.  He promptly won next time at Catterick at 6/1 – Oh well!

The list got off to a great start when Pablo came with a sweeping run to take the Lincoln Handicap at 5/1 with another list horse Colisay in 4th. Pablo was disappointing in his three subsequent starts, two of them in listed company.

The consistent filly Penny Cross ran 10 times, winning 3 and being placed in the other 7.  The wins came at Beverley twice and Carlisle at 4/1, 7/4 and 1/2.

I put Persian Majesty on the list on the strength of a win in her only start as a juvenile.  She only ran once last season as well winning a listed race at Ascot at odds of 8/1.  An ideal horse for this system.

Polar Bear, trained by Willie Haggas had had 3 runs prior to the start of the new season and looked to be on a lenient mark.  He proved this with 2 impressive wins.  The first came in a 3 year old handicap at Newmarket over 7 furlongs at 100/30.  He followed up at Ayr over a mile when ridden by Tony Culhane at 2/1.  Nashaab and Hallion filled the minor places that day.

Pomfret Lad showed very little in 4 runs and then popped up at 25/1 making all the running at Newbury in a 7 furlong handicap at Newbury under Darryl Holland.  After failing to follow up next time I decided to remove him from the list, especially as Peter Makin's stable were obviously not right.

The progressive filly Pongee was well placed by Luca Cumani to win her first 4 starts.  Her best win was probably the last when stepped up in trip to land a class D filly’s handicap at Salisbury.  She had a stiff task on her only other outing finishing 7th of 10 in a listed race.  She is a game sort that may do better still.

One of my "old boys"  was involved in one of the closest finishes of the season.  Prins Willem was on the 2002 A list.  He is owned by Dutchman Chris Van Hoorn and sports orange silks, the same colours as the Dutch football team.  With Kieran Fallon on board for the first time Prins Willem just got up to dead heat with Starry Lodge on the line in the Autumn Cup handicap at Newbury.

David Chapman's Quito won 3 from 22 starts but these wins were at odds of 7/1, 14/1 and 20/1.  The final win was in the Ayr Gold Cup when Tony Culhane weaved him through the field to lead in the dying strides to pip Seel of Approval and the Dandy Nicholl's trained Fire Up the Band.  The other wins came when beating Smart Predator going away at Thirsk over 7 furlongs and over the same trip when heading the front running Celtic Mill in the final furlong.  He did actually record a win at Musselburgh in April but that was before I added him to my list to follow.  There were plenty of other creditable runs apart from the wins.  Quito just failed to make all at Doncaster in May when caught on the line by Grey Cossack.  He was 9/1 that day in a 19 runner field and there were plenty of other occasions where each way support would have paid dividends. Examples were when 3rd of 14 at Haydock  at 16/1 and 4th of 22 at Doncaster at a remarkable 50/1.

Refuse To Bend, was a game winner of the 2000 Guineas under a fine Pat Smullen ride.  He also won twice at Leopardstown.

Researched  was quite a late choice for the list but more than paid his way with 2 wins and 2 seconds from 6 starts.  The wins came in a B handicap at York (4/1 favourite) where Far Lane was 2nd and in a valuable race at Goodwood (8/1).  The other 2nd was when not getting the best of runs at Newbury in a 6 runner field where Mr Fallon was not at his best!

Reveillez was admirably consistent with 2 wins and 5 placed efforts from 10 runs.

Taking nothing away from Russian Rhythm, who is a top-class filly as she demonstrated when winning the Lowther Stakes at York last August, but the route Thuillez took on Pascal Bary’s filly Six Perfections in the 1000 gns was nothing short of remarkable. Having been bumped with two furlongs to run, Six Perfections was almost last and her rider momentarily appeared to accept the situation. However, once switched to the very wide outside, she made up ground hand over fist and I have no doubts that she would have prevailed comfortably with a clear passage up the stands’ rail had her rider shown some patience.

Russian Rhythm went on to land a Group 1 hat trick, taking the Coronation stakes and The Nassau Stakes. She also ran a game 2nd to the 5 year old colt Falbrav at Ascot.

The key to Sabeeh seems to be the ground.  He bolted up at Ripon to win his maiden by 13 lengths but then ran miserably at Royal Ascot.  He then quickened clear to win a conditions race at Doncaster but again disappointed on his last run in the Horris Hill at Newbury.  Both his defeats came on fast ground and he clearly needs ground on the soft side.  His wins came at 13/8 and 9/2.

Mark Johnston's 3 year old, the big grey Shanty Star won 2 of his 3 starts at 5/1 and 7/2.  The best win being the latter in the Queens Vase (Group 3) at Ascot.  I seem to remember that he may have sustained an injury after that.  If he can be kept sound he looks the sort to do well in the top staying races as a 4 year old.

Shield won the Sandown Classic Trial at 4/1.  Tragically he then had to be put down after he was found with a fractured pastern after a routine swim, part of the training programme designed to bring him back to full fitness following a disappointing run in the Derby.

One win from 19 attempts hardly seems to qualify Simianna for a special mention on the face of it.  The bare statistics do not tell the full story however as she was given few favours by the handicapper but put up a string of fine efforts in defeat.  Her only win came at Newmarket at 11/2 but she repaid each way support 5 times at odds of 22/1, 10/1, 16/1, 6/1 and 20/1.  She stayed on strongly to take 6th in the Stewards Cup from an unfavourable draw and came with a final furlong flourish to take the same finishing position in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster where Corridor Creeper, Baltic King and Quito occupied the 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. Add a close 3rd in the Ayr Silver Cup and you can see that this was not a bad season for this very genuine mare.

While the 2000 Guineas made for excellent viewing for yours truly with Refuse to Bend a winning bet, the fillies equivalent twenty four hours later was exasperating. Admittedly when French jockeys cross the English Channel for our major races they are invariably on a hiding to nothing but the relatively inexperienced Thierry Thuillez even surpassed that with the ride he gave Six Perfections. Rather like the 2000 Guineas last year when Hawk Wing was not only beaten by Rock of Gibraltar but also the draw, a Classic had not been won by the best horse.
 
I was particularly pleased to see old Smart Predator pick up no fewer than 5 sprints in good style including the historic "greys" only race at Newmarket where I thought he was a "good thing" at 11/4.

Somnus gave me 3 wins at good odds.  His first success came in a conditions event at Haydock (6/1) and this was followed up in a listed race at Newbury (5/1).  Made favourite in a similar race at Newmarket Tim Easterby's sprinter was unable to get a clear run and although flying at the finish just failed to collar his stablemate Fayr Jag.  His best performance though was saved for the Group 1 Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup when encountering his favoured rain softened ground he accounted for top class rivals Oasis Dream and Airwave at odds of 12/1. He disappointed slightly when 7th in the Prix De L'Abbaye proving perhaps that 6 furlongs is his trip.

Spanish Sun won her only start in the UK when she triumphed in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot (9/2) beating Ocean Silk. 

Stormont was a prime example of how not following the foreign runs can be a problem.  The grey failed to win in 6 starts in the UK but landed a Group 2 race at Baden Baden. Stormont seems to
be a rather delicate character and lives in a dust free box and is treated with ice and a herbal diuretic on race mornings.
With a system like this it does not always pay to concentrate solely on the big trainers. I included Striking Ambition from Giles Bravery's yard this year on the strength of some progressive 2 year old form when he won twice. He soon repaid my confidence with a 12/1 win in a listed race at Ascot at the end of April.  He followed up in a similar race at Newbury at 11/4.  Both races were over 6 furlongs.  These wins came from just 4 runs in the UK so I had a handsome profit from this one.

Tante Rose won the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury in April at the tasty price of 6/1.   Her best efforts though were a close 3rd to Nayyir in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and a 7th of 11 to Just James at Newmarket when hampered in the final furlong.

Overall we were down on numbers of winners but there were some major individual success stories. The "prize" for the most wins goes to Sir Mark Precott's Tempsford with 5 from 7 starts.  Tempsford is a typical Prescott 3 year old with three duck eggs behind him as a juvenile.  A winner on his debut at Wolverhampton he went on to win at Lingfield, Catterick, Nottingham and again at Wolverhampton at distances between 12 and 14 furlongs.  For a horse with such a high strike rate Tempsford proved remarkably good value with only one of the wins at odds on, and that 10/11.

I added a batch of mainly unraced 2 year olds to the list mid season but they did not do that well, partly because of the fast ground conditions that prevailed during the Autumn.  One exception was Michael Bell's Temple Place who  cost a lot of money by the standards of his trainer, he is by Sadlers Wells out of a mare who won 7 races and is a half sister to 8 winners.  Michael Bell describes this horse as "the jewel in the crown" of his 2 year olds.

He promptly romped home at 20/1 on his second outing breaking the course record at Windsor.  3rd when upped in class at Ascot he should be seen to even better effect as a 3 year old.

Another "old boy" that did well was The Judge a lister from 2002 who also won 3 times including a couple of claimers.  After the last of these he was claimed to go hurdling with Lenny Lungo.

The juveniles were largely rather disappointing.  Two that showed some class and landed some decent races were Three Valleys and Sabeeh.  The former won 3 of his 4 UK starts 4/5, 7/1 and 2/1 and his wins included the Coventry Stakes and the Group 1 Middle Park. That Middle Park win is under something of a cloud because of a failed drugs test. His only defeats came at The Curragh and when 2nd to surprise package Milk It Mick in the Dewhurst.  He remains a prospect for the 2,000 next year.

Top Dirham won at Epsom and Beverley for Sir Michael Stoute in 2001 but  was out of form in 2002 when I put him on the list.  Now trained by Mick Easterby he bolted up at Thirsk in June. Later in the month he added the Persimmon Homes Carlisle Bell to his tally.

Another to gain a profitable win at Salisbury was the John Dunlop trained Top Tenor whose only win came in a class "E" handicap at the Wiltshire track at 12/1.  He ran 5 times in all with form figures of 04123.

The most profitable 2 year old was Torcross, trained by Marcus Tregoning.  This filly won a maiden at Leicester at 14/1 and was 4th of 12 in a Listed race at Newbury on her only other start where she was certainly not disgraced. Another list horse, Hathrah, was 2nd in this race and in fact only won once from 4 starts and that at odds on.  Nonetheless she ran a pleasing race at Newbury and should win races next season.
 
Trade Fair is a horse I have followed throughout his career so far and I was rewarded with 3 wins from 5 runs (at 5/4, 10/11 and 1/4).  Sandwiched in between a couple of listed races was the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.  Trade Fair has turned into something of a 7 furlong specialist but next season may be tried over sprint distances.
 
 
Another list horse from 2002  Unleash  took time off from a hurdling campaign  to take the Northumberland Plate. 

The Ed Dunlop trained Urowells was a profitable list choice.  After finishing 4th to Henry Cecil'c Tuning Fork at Haydock he won a 13 runner maiden at Newbury in May (7/2).  I understand that he has since been gelded and he may progress further next season.
One of the more profitable list horses was Waverley.  This 4 year old colt only ran 4 times but picked up the Duke of Edinburgh handicap over 12 furlongs at Royal Ascot at 14/1.  On his next outing he was 2nd of 19 to Collier Hill at Haydock.  When Waverley won at Ascot he very gamely held off a challenge from Sir Michael Stoute's Researched when it seemed for all the world as if Kieren Fallon's mount was going to sweep past.

Staying with the Fallon theme I should have spotted the significance of his booking on Alan Swinbank's What-A- Dancer.  This is a very difficult horse to win with as I found out to my cost in 2002 when he failed to win from 11 starts.  The problem is that he needs extreme waiting tactics. Alan Swinbank seldom leaves his money behind when he goes for a touch, and the booking of Kieren Fallon for the talented but slightly tricky What-A-Dancer sent the signals out early that this was the day. In fact it needed all the champion’s tactical skill to keep the six-year-old covered up until the last moment, but then strength in the saddle won the day as he edged ahead of Cloud Dancer and the somewhat less animated Jamie Spencer.

The list horses performed heroics in the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita in October. Six Perfections surely deserved her success in the Group 1 mile race after her bad luck earlier in the season, while the high class Islington just collared another list horse, L'Ancresse to win her race.  High Chapparal, who had been 3rd in the Arc dead heated with Johar in the Breeders Cup Turf.

Continue reading “Review of the flat season 2003” →

A Review of the 2002/3 jumps season
 
This is very much a personal look back at the horses that won for me (and a few that didn’t) or that caught my eye for one reason or another.  

Abalvino (9) – An old favourite of mine, Abalvino is a bold jumping handicap chaser who ran 6 times last season, and although only winning once, was very consistent.  His form, figures were 332210.  His well deserved win came in a class C handicap at Newbury. Abalvino ran another cracking race in defeat when only collared close home by Harvis. 
 
Alvino (6)  Henrietta Knight’s gelding went on the A list partly as a result of bumper form and partly because his dam was a top class staying hurdler.  Alvino only ran twice 10 2002/3.  He finished distressed after his first outing in 3rd place on unsuitable ground but came in at 11/4 on good ground at Ludlow. 
 
Another General (8) A horse with an impressive strike rate.  He won 4 out of 5 in 2002/3 and 2 out of 3 last season as a novice chaser.  He started with a 2nd at Taunton and followed up with wins at Ayr and Doncaster.  One of the secrets to this horse seems to be that he needs a break between races. 

A Piece of Cake (10) Was another very profitable runner who won 3 of his 6 races at 7/4, 11/4 and 20/1.  The first 2 of these were at Ayr ridden by Fergus King beating Hugo De Grez by 1/2 length on the second occasion.  His last run was arguably the best when the grey jumped soundly and stayed on well to take the Scottish Borders National over 4 miles at Kelso under Alan Dempsey. He almost certainly improved for the step up in distance. I arrived in Ladbrokes just in time to see this race and I was the only punter in the place to have backed the 20/1 winner.  One of the season’s better moments!
 
Ar Muin Na Muice (7)   Apparently the name means “on the pig’s back” in gaelic.  When trained by Caroline Hutchinson in Ireland this chestnut mare won 3 out of 4 bumpers.  Won 3 novice hurdles for Jonjo O’Neill last season (odds of 1/3, 1/2  & 11/8) The last of these was in a valuable handicap at Newbury  where Glenmoss Tara was 2nd.  Ar Muin Na Muice looks a chasing type although she has not always been the most fluent of jumpers.  

Armaguedon (5) A bumper horse with Lenny Lungo described as “a big rangy sort.”  Won at Ayr and Newcastle before possibly being found out by the heavy conditions when 3rd in the Christmas bumper at Chepstow.  Possibly failed to get home when down the field at Aintree in April.  

Armaturk (6) Useful hurdler and novice chaser from 2002/3 Armaturk only managed one win, which came in a 4 runner event at Wincanton.  Went on to contest a valuable chase in Japan without success.
 
Ask Henry (7) Half brother to Valley Henry and former winning pointer.  Won at Chepstow in January and was a good second to Stormez at Newbury.   

Atlantic Crossing (6) A nice sort trained by Peter Beaumont. After showing some speed in bumpers won a couple of novice hurdles at Carlisle and Haydock, beating Valleymore in the latter. 
Atum Re (6)  Paul Webber has always thought highly of this horse.  Won once at 10/1 at Wincanton but largely disappointing in his other 3 starts.  

Azertyuiop (6) A smart hurdler in 2001/2, won all his 4 novice chases, culminating in an 11 length victory in the Arkle at Cheltenham with Impek and Isio filling the minor places. The ex French flat and hurdles winner looks a possible future Champion Chaser.  Two of his wins were at 5/4 with the others odds on.
 
Bacchanal (9) One of the saddest moments of the season was the death of Bacchanal when falling at Cheltenham.  He had always been a high class performer winning the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham (2000) as the Feltham Chase (Kempton) and the AON Chase (Newbury).  Third to Best Mate oin the King George.  I backed him when he won over hurdles at Newbury but then came the fatal fall.  

Baracouda (8) One of my more surprising profit makers was Baracouda.  Amazingly he was allowed to start at 9/4 for the Stayers Hurdle at the Festival and duly obliged from Iris’s Gift.
 
Barryscourt Lad (9) This former hunter chaser won the Great Yorkshire chase at Doncaster at 9/2.  As he only ran 3 times this gave me a decent profit.  He was ridden by Roddie Green at Donny who commented that the horse was “bloody brave” and “stays all day.”  Unfortunately the horse sustained an injury at Doncaster that kept him out of action for the rest of the season. 

Barton (10) Prior to the start of the season Barton had won 14 of his 19 races and the classy ex hurdler had looked an outstanding novice chaser.  His reappearance in 21002/3 was delayed by a torn ligament in his foot and he showed little form in his 4 starts. 

  
Beethoven (7) Noel Chance’s gelding had looked a horse with a bright future after winning a bumper and a novice hurdle in 2001/2.  A novice chasing campaign looked on the cards but tragically the horse collapsed and died after his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow in December.
 
Behrajan (8) Top class chaser who gave me a 7/1 winner when prevailing at Ascot in December carrying 11 stone 12. Went on to finish 5th behind Best Mate in the Gold Cup.
  
Benbyas (6) One of my old favourites from 2001/2 where I made a good profit backing him.  I left him off my list this time but still followed his fortunes.  He won at Doncaster beating Full Irish by 19 lengths and was also a good 3rd to Chauvinist in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot.  He is a very genuine sort, loves to bowl along in front and jumps superbly. 

Best Mate (8) From a quality point of view the star of the A list has to be Best Mate who gave me my second winning Gold Cup bet in succession, albeit at a shorter price this time round.  Henrietta Knight’s champion won all 3 of his races and was only odds on once.  A true star.
 
Bolt Action (7) Impressive winner of a 15 runner novice on his hurdling debut at Chepstow but fatally injured next run at Wincanton.  He was a hugely impressive winner of his only point to point and impeccably bred, his dam being a former Irish Grand National winner. He was an exciting prospect.
 
Bourbon Manhattan (5) There were certainly good reports about this Alan King gelding before he saw a racecourse and he confirmed that promise by winning bumpers at Taunton and Newbury.  He was 6th of 25 in the Cheltenham festival bumper behind Liberman on ground that was probably a shade too quick.  Looks the sort to do well over hurdles next season.  

Brooklyn Breeze (6) Lenny Lungo’s gelding recorded wins  at Aintree, Musselburgh, Ayr and Perth, all ridden by Tony Dobbin.
 Brooklyn Breeze looks open to further improvement and is potentially useful. His first win came in a bumper and the others in novice hurdles.
 
Byron Lamb (6) Tony Dobbin nominated this horse has one to follow.  Had shown fairly useful form in 2001/2 winning a bumper and 3 novice hurdles.  He has taken to fences well and won at Ayr twice and Hexham.  His best effort was when runner up to Vol Solitaire at Kelso. 

Camp Nou (6) Won 2 out of 5 at 7/2 and 6/4.  A fair handicap hurdler.
 
Campaign Trail (5) This one had shown a modicum of ability on the flat and was not knocked about in 4 novice hurdles during 2001/2.  As a result he looked to be starting the season on a fair handicap mark.  He obviously appreciated the testing conditions at Carlisle when winning a class D handicap there but sustained a bad cut and was not seen again until January when he was dropped back to novice company and won at odds on.  He looks to be still on the upgrade.
 
Carbury Cross (9) A very smart handicap chaser at his best but failed to win in 7 starts last term, occasionally showing some reluctance to compete.  His best runs were when 6th to Be My Royal in the Hennessy and 7th in the Aintree Grand National where he ran well for a long way.
 
Chicuelo (7) Much was expected of Martin Pipe’s Chicuelo after he won the big summer steeplechase at Market Rasen.  Without quite living up to his pre season billing he still won 4 times from 7 starts, and his shortest price was 4/5 (twice).  He is normally visored and his jumping is not always the most fluent. 

Chives (8) Ran well enough in good company.  He was runner up on 3 occasions to Kingsmark at Haydock, Mini Sensation in the Welsh National and Valley Henry in the AON chase at Newbury.  He then ran a very creditable 7th to stable companion Best Mate in the Gold Cup before being pulled up in the Grand National where he burst a blood vessel.
  
Chopneyev (5) Richard Phillips had a good season with this ex French flat horse that had not been disgraced in Pattern-class company in his native country.  He won 3 of his 6 starts last season, the 3rd coming in a grade 3 handicap at Sandown where he rallied after a bad mistake 2 out.  He was also a very good 2nd of 12 to Korelo in a valuable Ascot handicap on his next start.
  
Cloudy Grey (6) I started to follow this grey after reading a glowing report in an interview with Emma Lavelle.  He won a couple of bumpers at Hereford and Haydock in good style before finishing a good 2nd to Best Mate’s full brother Cornish Rebel in a high Class bumper at Newbury.  Seems to have a bright future.
   
Coolnagorna (6) A winner of a couple of bumpers at Cork before joining the Jonjo O’Neill stable.  He turned into a very smart novice hurdler winning at Chepstow (beating Tana River), Sandown (beating Thisthatandtother) and Newbury (by 29 lengths).  He finished 2nd in the Royal & Sun Alliance novice hurdle at the Cheltenham festival but was disqualified and placed last for causing interference. It was a tragic loss for his connections when he fell and broke a leg and was destroyed on his next run at Aintree.
 
Cornish Rebel (6) Full brother to Best Mate who picked up well to win a grade 2 bumper at Newbury before disappointing in the championship bumper at Cheltenham.  

Cracking Dawn (8) Robert Alner’s former multiple Irish Point to point winner won a novice chase at Haydock in November at 9/4 on his only start.
 
Crimson Pirate (6) Half brother to Lenny Lungo’s Contracts Scotland.  Trainer Ben De Haan put this one forward as a horse to follow in a stable interview.  Second to Calling Brave at Kempton on his hurdles debut in November he confirmed that promise when a convincing winner of a maiden hurdle at Huntingdon 4 months later.  Described by his trainer as a “big Baby” he should continue to progress.  

Dancing Bay (6) A dual purpose horse with Nicky Henderson who won a couple of novice hurdles.  Odds on both times.
 
Dark N Sharp (8) Did me proud in 2001/2 winning at Aintree and finishing 3rd in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham festival.  Failed to win in 6 starts last season but ran well on occasions, notably when 3rd behind Young Devereaux and Seebald at  Kempton, 3rd to Parlashan in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham and 3rd at Aintree off a 13lbs higher mark than when winning the same race the year before.
 
Desmond Tutu (6) Won 3 of his 8 starts including novice hurdles at Exeter and Wincanton.
 
Direct Access (8) From the point of view of my A list system Direct Access was very profitable.  He won well first time out at Kelso at 4/1 and on his only other run he was pulled up in the Hennessy when quietly fancied despite being 7lbs out of the handicap.
 
Do L’Enfant D’Eau (4) This ex French horse with Philip Hobbs probably went in to a lot of horses to follow lists on the basis of flat and hurdles form in his native country.  He had been narrowly beaten by Golden Flight at Auteill.  He certainly didn’t disappoint winning 5 times.  The 4th of these was a handicap hurdle at Newbury where Reviewer was 2nd and the last a novice handicap hurdle at Warwick beating Indien Royal by 7 lengths carrying 11 stone 12.  He looks a tough, progressive and useful juvenile.  

Double Honour (5) A horse I had followed on the flat where he had been runner up in the Group 2 Goodwood Cup.  He won novice hurdles at Huntingdon and Exeter (twice) and was also 3rd to Foreman at Kempton.
 
Drombeag (5) An Irish Point to point winner who won the second of his two bumpers for Jonjo O’Neill at Carlisle.  

Dungarvan’s Choice (8) An old favourite of mine.  He failed to make an impact in his first 2 attempts in novice chases but galloped his rivals into submission at Newbury when reverting to a handicap hurdle, winning at 9/2.  On his only other run he finished 2nd to handicap good thing Valleymore at Uttoxeter giving away lumps of weight.
 
Epervier D’or (5) This was another ex French horse that looked to have potential to do well here.  He had won over hurdles at Enghien and looked a god chasing prospect in the hands of Paul Nicholls.  He quickly rattled off 3 straight wins in novice chases at Wetherby, Exeter and Kempton, beating the useful Got One Too in the last of these. Subsequently 2nd to Farmer Jack at Kempton.  Has since died.  

Eternal Spring (6) Won a falsely run 4 runner event at Cheltenham beating Classified in December. Fell in 3 of his other 4 starts.
 
Europa (7) I decided to keep this useful chaser on my A list and he paid his way with 2 wins out of 4 starts at odds of 7/4 and 13/8, both at Doncaster.  He is sometimes let down by his jumping.
 
First Love (7) The Queen’s horse, First Love failed to live up to some of the hype about him, only winning 1 of his 4 starts, and that at 5/6.  He is a fine jumper but seems to lack a turn of foot and he can take a strong hold.  He is probably best allowed to stride on in front.  

Flame Creek (7) Is another horse that I have followed for some time and he made me a nice profit winning 3 out of 5 at odds of Flame Creek 4/5 100/30 & 9/4.  His best run was when winning a Grade 2 race at Haydock in January.  He duly took his chance in the Champion Hurdle but disappointed both at Cheltenham and in the Scottish equivalent.  He was reported to have been suffering from a respiratory infection.  The plan now is to send him novice chasing and he ahs already had a couple of facile victories.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see Noel Chance send him back over hurdles in the autumn however.
 
Fondmort (7) Along with the likes of Armaturk and Dark ‘N Sharp, I kept Fondmort on the A list from the previous season.  He only won once but that was at the nice price of 5/1 in the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham.  He also ran well when 2nd to Poliantas at the sametrack.  He is usually a sound jumper.
 
Forest Gunner (9) Forest Gunner won 2 of his 3 starts but I only latched onto him after the first win.  He is a sound jumper and stays well.  He also seems to get on well with his rider, the trainer’s wife Carrie Ford who is able to claim 5lbs at the moment.  He could be interesting in handicap company next season.
 
Fork Lightning (7) Half brother to the temperamental chaser Moving Earth and an Irish pints winner.  He proved a fairly useful novice hurdler for Alan King winning at Kempton and Cheltenham.
 
Full Irish (7) I have followed this horse since he made his debut in a bumper at Perth in April 2001.  He was second that day to another debutant, Keen Leader.  After a successful season in 2001/2 in novice hurdles Lenny Lungo had difficulty in placing the horse last season. He started the season winning a 3 runner handicap hurdle at Sedgefield off 10 stone 6.After that he would asked to carry big weights in handicaps and as he is only a small horse this is always going to be a problem.  It is doubtful whether he has the size or scope to make a top chaser.
 
Glenmoss Tara (8) Described by trainer Nicky Richards as a “lazy sort” Glenmoss Tara faced a fairly easy task when winning in style at Catterick in her hurdling debut.  She followed up with two further wins in the North before coming 2nd of 16 to Ar Muin Na Muice at Newbury.
 
Golden Goal (7) Venetia William’s chaser had done really well for me in 2001/2 and looked to be on the right track for the new season when finishing a fine 2nd to Poliantas at Wincanton, with Fondmort back in third.  Sadly he later died on an accident at home on the gallops.
 
Grey Abbey (9) An old favourite of mine, Grey Abbey failed to win on his 4 starts.  He put in creditable efforts when tiring in the closing stages in a grade 2 chase to finish 4th to Marlborough and when 3rd at Cheltenham.
 
Hand Inn Hand (7)  I retained Hand Inn  Hand on my list from 2002 and was rewarded  with 4 wins.  Hand Inn  Hand’s most valuable win was in a Grade 2 event at Kempton where he won at his longest price of 3/1.  Henry Daly’s charge took his chance in the Arkle where he was 5th behind Azertyuiop.
 
Hersov (7) Nicky Henderson’s Hersov won the first 2 of his 3 starts as a novice chaser and made me a profit.  He was put forward in  stable interview by trainer Nicky Henderson as his best horse to follow. Beat Over The Storm by a neck at Kempton. 

Horus (8) It isn’t often that you get good odds about a Pipe/McCoy horse.  Horus, a former start pointer went off at 3/1 when winning at Newbury and followed up at Cheltenham at 5/2.  Failed to show quite the same sparkle in 4 subsequent starts he gave me a profit, which is the main thing.
 
Hunter’s Tweed (7) An example of the theory that you should never give up on a horse (well almost never) was Hunters Tweed.  Peter Beaumonts charge failed to trouble the judge in any of his first 5 starts and was looking an expensive flop. He went on to win 2 of his last 3 starts though at odds of 9/2 and 6/1.  In fairness he was not winning out of turn as his form figures in those first 5 races were 23332.  

Hussard Collonges (8) Peter Beaumont’s high class chaser ran well without winning.  He was 2nd to Marlborough in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, 5th in the Hennessey giving plenty of weight away to those in front of him and 2nd to Truckers Tavern in the Peter Marsh at Haydock when conceding over a stone.
 
Ibal (7) Ibal had been a useful handicap hurdler and put in some good performances in novice chases last season winning 4.  These included a 10 length victory over First Love in a 3 runner event at Sandown.
 
Impek (7) Henrietta Knight’s former decent hurdler took to chasing admirably winning 3 of his 5 starts, only once at odds on.  He was disappointing when last of 3 finishers behind Le Roi Miguel.  He is an edgy sort and has been troublesome at the start. 
Inching Closer (6) Purely from a profit point of view few did better than Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding Inching Closer who won 2 of his 3 starts at 4s and 6s in handicaps at Haydock and Cheltenham, the latter being the 24 runner Pertemps final.
 
In Contrast (7) This Philip Hobbs trained hurdler is another horse that I have followed for some time.  He ran well in top class company last season including a 6th in the Champion Hurdle behind Rooster Booster.  He sole win came in the 5 runner Scottish Champion Hurdle where he beat Thisthatandtother.
 
Inca Trail (7) Inca Trail was bound to attract plenty of interest last season, being a full brother to best mate.  As things turned out he only won 1 of his 5 starts and that was long odds on.  He was a very creditable 3rd behind Rhinestone Cowboy and Liberman in a bumper at Cheltenham in November and 2nd to Lord Sam on his hurdles debut the following month.  He went on to win a maiden hurdle at Ludlow before finishing 8th in the Supreme Novices at the Festival.  It will be interesting to see how he progresses. 

Indalo (8) Venetia Williams gelding won a couple of novice hurdles and a handicap from his 9 starts.  Tends to make jumping errors. 

Irish Hussar (7) I have followed this horse for quite a while. He won 3 of his 5 starts the best price being 3/1.  Irish Hussar turned into a smart novice chaser and ended the season with a win in a Grade 2 at Aintree.
  
Iris’s Gift (6) Jonjo O’Neill had a marvellous season and his hurdler Iris’s Gift gave me the most wins with 6 from 7 starts, although all bar one were odds on.  Possibly his best run was his only defeat when he ran Baracouda to 3 parts of a length in the Stayers hurdle at the Festival. He had looked a novice out of the top drawer at Cheltenham and showed there was absolutely no fluke about that effort, when following up at Aintree in the Martell Cognac Novices Hurdle. He is one of the best staying hurdlers around, novice or not, and is also a great chasing prospect.
 
Isio (7) Ex French gelding and useful hurdler in 2001/2. Proved to be a smart novice chaser winning 3 times.  Reportedly difficult to train.  Best run when 3rd in the Arkle behind Azertyuiop and Impek.
 
Ivanoph (7) Consistent handicap chaser whose only win last season came at Wincanton in November.  Second on 3 occasions including a 2nd of 5 to Abalvino at Newbury.
 
Jakari first went into my notebook when finishing 5th in a bumper at Ascot behind Beethoven and First Love in February 2001.  A minor injury limited him to one run (which he won) over hurdles in 2001/2.  He came back with a bang last season winning 2 of his 6 races at 9/2 and 5/2.
 
Joly Bey (6) Bought from France by Anthony Bromley and thought by some good judges to be a decent chasing prospect. Won 4 times from 9 starts last season.  On his last run he was 3rd behind Irish Hussar and It Takes Takes Time in a grade 2 at Aintree.  Good jumper. 

Joss Naylor (8) won 3 of his 4 starts.  Two were odds on and the last 5/4.  He had been a smart hurdler who was runner up to Ilnamar in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and he made a promising start to his chasing career.  He bear Jakari by 13 lengths on his second run at Bangor and beat Tarxien by a short head at Cheltenham on his 3rd.
 
Keen Leader (7) looked likely to be one of the stars of the season based on his 2001/2 hurdles form.  After falling first time out at Cheltenham he strung together 3 wins at Haydock, Wetherby and Ascot. Disappointing when 5th behind One Knight in the Royal Sun Alliance.  Possibly found the ground too fast for him.  He certainly has a poor record at Cheltenham.
 
Kingscliff (6) Kingscliff gave me a winner in what turned out to be a highly successful Cheltenham Festival from a personal point of view.  He was a most impressive winner of the Foxhunters Chase at odds of 11/4.  It is reported that he will switch to handicaps next year and he looks a very exciting prospect.
 
Kingsmark finished 4th in the Aintree Grand National in 2002.  He only ran twice last season, winning the first of these in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase at Haydock, his favourite course.  Chives was 2nd and Grey Abbey 5th.  Kingsmark won at 100/30.
 
Kombinacja (5)  This mare came here from Poland with a big reputation having won the equivalent of the Fillies triple crown in Poland.  Disappointed in her two runs over hurdles last season but has since won twice in the Summer season so there may be better to come.  

Kopeck (5) Purely from a profit making point of view Kopeck was my “horse of the year.”  I wasn’t sure what to expect from this aptly named brother to the ill-fated Rouble.  Connections paid 75,000 guineas to secure him and he paid some of that back when coming in at 33/1 at Ascot.  He only ran once after that, finishing last after reportedly coughing in the week prior to the race.  I wonder what will happen to him now that his trainer has retired? 

Korelo (5) I added this one to me B list mid season.  Won 3 times including 2 valuable handicaps.  Beat Chopneyev in heavy ground at Ascot in February and followed up in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in gruelling conditions.  Failed to land the double 4 days later when 5th of 30 in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.
 
Latalomne (9) Failed to win from 4 starts but best remembered last season for falling 2 out in the Queen Mother Champion Chase when holding every chance having fallen at the same fence the year before.  

Le Duc (4) This ex French horse proved expensive to follow after joining Paul Nicholls with high expectations.  He tended to find rather less than expected when it mattered until coming good on his 7th and final start to win a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Aintree beating Spectroscope.
 
Le Roi Miguel (5) Ex French, athletic individual who impressed when winning a novice hurdle at Newbury in 2001/2 and as a result went onto many lists to follow.  In his first 2 novice chases he was beaten by One Knight and Impek respectively and then fell at the Cheltenham Festival.  He confirmed his earlier promise though with a powerful display to take the Martell novice chase at Aintree beating Vol Solitaire and Impek.
 
Liberman (5) A dual bumper winner in Ireland before joining Martin Pipe Liberman was 2nd to Rhinestone Cowboy at Cheltenham in November before returning to the Gloucestershire track to win the Cheltenham Festival bumper.
 
Laouen (5) won a bumper for Lenny Lungo in 2002 and progressed to score 4 times from 5 starts over hurdles, his best price being 9/4.
 
Lord Moose (9) I backed Lorde Moose when he won a handicap chase at Sandown in November at 9/4.  He also ran particularly well when 2nd to the mighty impressive Killusty also at Sandown.  Generally his career has been plagued by injury.
 
Lord Sam (7) I had high hopes of Lord Sam at the start of the season on the basis of some very encouraging bumper form.  He didn’t let me down winning his first 3 runs.  Despite his 100% career record none of these wins were odds on, showing the benefit of supporting smaller, but capable trainers.  Lord Sam lost nothing in defeat on his last outing finishing a very creditable 4th to Hardy Eustace in the Royal & Sun Alliance novice hurdle at Cheltenham.
 
Man Murphy (7) was well placed by his trainer and won 5 of his 7 starts, mainly early in the season.  Only 2 of these were odds on, which made him a profitable A lister.  Ironically his luckiest victory was when 1/3 and left in the lead at the last when trailing by 8 to 10 lengths.
   
Maybe The Business (7) A former winner between the flags Maybe The Business won a couple of bumpers in 2001/2, including a victory over Lenny Lungo’s Laouen at the Scottish National meet at Ayr.  Showed some promise over hurdles winning at Folkestone in between less impressing performance but collapsed and died after his 5th run at Doncaster.
 
Midland Flame (8) A son of Un Desperado, with Henrietta Knight.  Was a fair hurdler but the long-term future was always going to be over fences.  He had run quite well earlier in the season, including a 3rd to Isio but by far his best run was his last, winning a valuable 16 runner handicap novice chase at Aintree.
 
Mini Sensation (10) I was financially involved in the 2 races that Mini Sensation won last season.  He was gambled on from 20/1 down to 8s when landing the Welsh National from Chives, with my selection, Gunner Wellburn back in 3rd.  I had my money on his though when he was pushed clear to readily win the National Trial at Uttoxeter.  He is a real mud lover who excels in a test of stamina.
 
Mister Wellard (6)  Went on my A list after winning the Perth Festival bumper.  Easy winner of a bumper at Taunton in October and looked a bright prospect before being fatally injured at Exeter on his second hurdles outing.  

Montalcino (7) Smallish gelding and useful hurdler. He impressed on his chase bow beating First Love by 15 lengths at Newbury.  Sadly he was fatally injured in his next race.  

Moscow Flyer (9) I had a successful Cheltenham Festival betting wise and Jessica Harrington’s chaser gave me a winner at 7/4 in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.  A superb jumper and worthy champion.  

Moss Harvey (8) Useful hurdler, Moss Harvey made a successful start to his chasing career with wins at Fakenham and Kelso. Very disappointing on 2 subsequent starts jumping Badly to the right.  Returned to hurdles and finished a respectable 4th of 16 at Haydock.  

Mr Woodentop (7) Trained by Lenny Lungo, Mr Woodentop won 2 of his 3 starts but was odds on both times.  A winner of all his 4 completed starts over hurdles.  A real national hunt bred horse that stays well but is not over quick.  Won twice at Ayr, once in a handicap hurdle over an extended 3 miles and then in a weak chase. Jumped badly on final start and was pulled up at Carlisle.
  
Nas Na Riogh (4) Ex French filly who won 3 of her 7 starts last season. Well clear of the rest when 2nd to Jonjo O’Neills Spectroscope on British debut at Kempton. Won novice hurdles at Sandown, Chepstow and Fontwell.  Fell in the Triumph Hurdle but otherwise not out of the first 3.  A tough sort that relishes testing ground. 
 
Native Emperor (7)  Jonjo O’Neill proved a trainer to follow and his Native Emperor scored once from 4 starts at 13/2.  This came in a Listed handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on his first outing.  Also a good 2nd to the ill fated Bacchanal in a Grade 2 hurdle at Newbury.  

No Collusion (7) Spent much of 2001/2 as a training companion for stablemate Looks Like Trouble but managed to win a bumper at Newbury as well.  Won novice hurdles at Hereford and Fontwell.  Was 2nd on 2 other starts.  Has had breathing problems.
 
Novi Sad (5) My first bet of the season was on Novi Sad in a bumper at Market Rasen.  He finished 5th – an inauspicious start. Patience was rewarded however when the horse managed to win 2 of his 9 starts at the very attractive odds of 12/1 and 8/1.
  
Old California (4) I followed Old California as a 3 year old on the flat when trained by John Dunlop.  He won twice then and duly obliged first time out over hurdles at Fontwell and looked a good prospect before falling fatally in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.  A great loss to his connections.
 
One Knight (7) won on his chase bow beating Le Roi Miguel and Hand Inn Hand at Chepstow.  He then jumped badly when beaten at Newbury but went on to win twice at Exeter and then take the Royal and Sun Alliance (won the year before by Hussard Collonges).  One Knight was a particularly profitable selection as he only lost once and his wins came at 11/4, 11/8, 1/2 and finally 15/2 at Cheltenham.  Although his jumping sometimes gives cause for concern he remains a promising staying chaser.
 
Palarshan (5) Although all winners count equally from a system point of view it is always nice to get a big race winner.  Palarshan is a horse I have monitored since reading a favourable report from Anthony Bromley at the start of the 2001/2 season.  He had been harshly treated by the handicapper on his hurdle form and as a result connections sent him novice chasing.  On his first 2 outings Palarshan finished second to other A listers, Impek and Vol Solitaire.  He went on to win his last 2 races, the second of these being the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival.  Dark N’ Sharp was 3rd and Vol Solitaire 4th in that race.  Palarshan came in at a very rewarding 8/1. 

Rhinestone Cowboy (7) Jonjo’s Rhinestone Cowboy was hyped up after a series of ridiculously easy wins culminating in an effortless demolition of Thisthatandtother at Wincanton.  Sent off as 5/2 favourite for the Champion Hurdle “The Cowboy” was no match for Rooster Booster on the day, finishing third.  It represented a good effort for a novice who owed his position at the head of the market more to hype and potential than actual achievement. It will be fascinating to see how he progresses.
 
Sh Boom (5) A son of Alderbrookhe moved from Kim Bailey's yard to join Jonjo O'Neill.  Made a good start to his hurdling career, winning twice and finishing 6th (promoted) of 19 in the Royal and Sun Alliance Novices at Cheltenham.  

Sharpastrizam (8) won 6 times in 2001/2 but failed to win in any of his 5 starts last season.  This was probably just a case of being too high in the weights as he never dropped down to his highest ever winning mark.
 
Silver Knight (5) Trained by Tim Easterby.  Won novice hurdles at Hexham and Catterick and creditable 3rd of 5 to Brooklyn Breeze at Perth.  Not the easiest of rides.  Winning odds were 9/2 and 11/10. 
 
Sir Rembrandt (7) Won both his races which is just what you need for my A list system.  He is an interesting chasing prospect with Robert Alner and won his races at 4/1 and 7/2.  The wins were in novice chases at Newbury and Cheltenham, beating It Takes Time and The Villager on the second occasion.  Looks a potentially top class chaser.  

Rose D’April (6) won 2 out of 5 starts at 2/1 and 11/10. 
 
Seebald (8) His  form figures were 222f21.  He was twice second to Young Devereaux, conceding lumps of weight both times.  His other seconds were also in the highest company, behind Edredon Bleu and Native Upmanship.  Always game in defeat and deserved his win on last start in a valuable chase at Sandown.  

Shotgun Willy (9) A classy chaser that I have followed for some time.  Won impressively first time out in March in the Red Square Vodka Chase at Haydock to put himself among the leading contenders for the |Grand National. Disappointing at Aintree where asked to carry 11 stone 9.  5th of 19 when reappearing at Ayr in the Scottish National.
   
Skippers Cleuch (9) Looked a future star in his bumper and novice hurdle career and returned to action last season after a long lay off through serious neck and back problems.  Started the season with wins in novice chases at Kelso and Wetherby but disappointed when upped in class on 2 subsequent runs.  It remains to be seen if he can recapture his old sparkle.
 
Slooghy (FR) (7) Picked out a a “dark horse” to follow by Anthony Bromley.  He had run well in defeat 3 times and deserved his win in a Newbury handicap when out battling Martin Pipe’s Ravenswood at the very nice price of 10/1.  Tough and progressive he should be a chasing type.
 
Spectroscope (4) This 310,000 gns yearling ran with a bit of promise on his only run on the flat as a 2 year old and I duly put him on my flat A list for 2002. After 3 abysmal efforts as a 3 year old I cut my losses and gave up on him.  Needless to say he suddenly found a remarkable change of form and won a handicap at Goodwood at 5/2 to land a big gamble.  How does Jonjo O’Neill get away with this sort of thing?  Having learned my lesson I stuck with him when sent over hurdles.  He won 3 of his 6 starts, all odds aginst and the last one was 20/1!  He made a promising start to his hurdles beating Nas Na Riogh at Kempton in one of two wins at that track.  His best performance was when capturing the 27 runner Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.  Ran another good race when head 2nd of 19 to Le Duc on his last start in a Grade 2 event at Aintree.,

Stars Out Tonight (6) A fairly typical Henrietta Knight steeplechaser. After fair form as a hurdler won 2 of his 4 starts as a novice chaser at Exeter and Wincanton at odds of  5/2 and 5/6.  

Strong Flow (6) Looked a decent recruit to Paul Nicholls’s yard having won an Irish point to point.  He was 2nd on his first start at Southwell and an impressive winner of his only other start at Taunton. 

Supreme Glory (10) There will always be a place in my heart for this fine steeplechaser since I backed him at 10/1 to win the Welsh National in 2001.  He seemed to have lost some of his form until running an absolute blinder to finish second in the Grand National at 40/1. 
 
Supreme Toss (7) 3rd to Thisthatandtother in a bumper 10 2001/2 this gelding with Richard Phillips looked one to follow last year.  He proved just that winning all his 3 novice hurdles at Warwick Leicester and Uttoxeter.  On the last of these runs he beat Ar Muin Na Muice by 14 lengths.  May well be capable of better still.  

Tana River (7) This ex Irish point-to-point winner was 2nd on his first 2 outings over hurdles, catching a real tartar in Coolnagorna on the second of these.  Emma Lavelle’s gelding went on to reel off 3 wins on the bounce at Exeter, Leicester and Sandown.  The last of these was a remarkable performance carrying 11 stone 12 in a Grade 3 when showing a fine turn of foot in the mud to sweep through and win from an impossible looking position.
   
Tees Components (8) Something of an enigmatic character, a former bumper winner who has also won on both turf and all weather on the flat.  Thought at one time to be too injury prone to race over hurdles was sent out by Mary Reveley to win 2 of his 4 starts last season, including an effortless victory in a Grade 2 event at Doncaster.  Folded tamely on his subsequent start behind Iris’s Gift.  He has since won in the summer season outclassing his rivals at Kelso.  

Telemoss (9) This smart ex-hurdler was one of my main hopes for 2002/3 season as a novice chaser.  He obliged by winning his first 3 starts without coming off the bridle.  Upped in class on his next start he was last of 4 behind Tarxien in a Grade 1 race at Sandown.  He reportedly broke a blood vessel.
 
Temple Dog (7)  an Un Desperado gelding was 7th in the Championship bumper at the 2002 Cheltenham Festival and kept up the good work in 2003 by winning all his 4 novice hurdles. He looks a chasing type and certainly looks open to further improvement.   

The Bajan Bandit (8) Failed to fulfil the promise of his bumper and hurdle wins last season. Won a couple of novice chases at Carlisle and Ayr but ran poorly when upped in class.  Was found to have a nasal discharge after one of his poor runs.
 
The Biker (6) Was 3rd in a top class bumper at Punchestown and looked a likely star when moving to Martin Pipe. Made all to win both his novice hurdles.
 
The Villager (7) Won 3 times in 2001/2 and I had him down as a likely type for handicap hurdles last season. As it turned out he won his first handicap at Chepstow (10/11) before going novice chasing winning at Bangor and Exeter.  Also ran well in defeat when 3rd to Sir Rembrandt and It Takes Time in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham and 2nd to hand Inn Hand with Hunters Tweed 3rd at Haydock.
  
Thisthatandtother (7) Excellent bumper form from 2001/2 (4th in Cheltenham Festival Bumper) highlighted him as a horse to follow.  He won 3 novice hurdles, all at Wincanton, the last being a grade 1.  He was also 2nd on 3 occasions, to Coolnagorna, Rhinestone Cowboy and In Contrast in the Scottish Champion hurdle.  He looks the type to make a chaser.
   
Tom Costalot (8) A tough reliable handicap chaser who jumps soundly.  Trained by Susan Nock.  He battled on gamely from the last to land a handicap chase at Warwick with his other win coming at Cheltenham.  His winning odds were 5/4 and 11/4 from 6 starts.
 
Tramantino (4) A winner on the flat when trained by Henry Candy Tramantino showed an impressive turn of foot to win on his hurdles debut from Nas Na Riogh at Newbury but failed to progress from there and was largely disappointing.
 
Truckers Tavern (8) An old favourite of mine who is held in the highest regard by his trainer Ferdy Murphy.  Fel at the first at ascot but went on to land the Peter Marsh at Haydock at 9/2 in a thrilling finish with Hussard Collonges.  He was then a good 3rd behind Valley Henry and Chives in the Newbury AON Chase but the best was yet to come,  Although unfancied at 33/1 he put in a tremendous run on unsuitable ground to finish second to the imperious Best Mate in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
 
Turgeonev (8)  Turgeonev who failed to win in 8 starts.  His highest ever winning mark is 131 in January 2002 but he started last season on 148 and had only dropped down to 140 by the end of April 2003.  He had proved a moneyspinner for me in 2001/2 winning 4 times.
 
Unleash (4) I had Unleash on my flat A list when trained by Sir Mark Prescott where he did well for me.  Looked a likely hurdler when going to Philip Hobbs and after a couple of “sighters” won at Ludlow and Stratford.  Since the end of the jumps season he has won another hurdle and also the prestigious Northumberland Plate on the flat.
   
Valley Henry (7) Paul Nicholl’s chaser is another that I have followed closely for some time.  He again had a good season winning 3 from 6. The best of these was in the Grade 2 AON Chase at Newbury where he beat Chives and Truckers Tavern.  His jumping has let him down on occasions but he jumped well that day and enjoyed the sound surface.  Ran a good 4th to Best Mate in the Gold Cup. Valley Henry is a talented if slightly fragile horse mentally.
  
Vanormix (4) Vanormix had run 4 times on the flat in France finishing runner up once before joining Martin Pipe.  He won a couple of novice hurdles at Exeter but is best remembered for parting company with AP McCoy at the last fence at Cheltenham where McCoy lost an iron and fell off.
 
Vol Solitaire (5) Won 5 from 9 including a win at 3/1.  Paul Nicholl’s Welsh Champion Hurdle winner had always looked a chasing type.  His wins included a Novice Chase at Cheltenham and he ended the season with a convincing win in a Grade 2 race at Ayr.  He proved best going left handed and was suited by a step up to two and a half miles in his last start.  Sadly he has since died after an accident in a field at home.
 
Warjan (6) I retained Warjan on my list from the previous season.  Warjan is lightly raced and I get the feeling he may be hard to train.  Anyway he won at Sandown first time out at 8/1.  He didn’t do a great deal in his subsequent 3 starts but – job done as far as my profits were concerned.
  
Young Devereaux (10) An A list horse from 2001/2 came back better than ever last season after a lengthy absence through injury winning valuable handicaps at Ascot and Kempton.
 
Young Ottoman (7) Trained by Victor Dartnell Young Ottoman had a consistent season in novice chases.  He started with a 3rd behind Sir Rembrandt and Ask Henry at Newbury and won at Plumpton before coming 3rd in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival over 4 miles.  A consistent horse with a good attitude.  

Continue reading “Review of jumps season 2002/03” →

Review of the flat 2002

The successes

My “horse of the year” was probably Macaw.  Trained by Jim Goldie last season, Macaw is only a small colt but he won handicaps at York, Newmarket and Goodwood.  Better still he won at odds of 20/1, 7/1 & 4/1, from only 9 starts.  He has now been sold to race in America where he was 4th in his first race at Belmont. 

There were plenty of other multiple winners.  Affaire D’Amour won 4 of his 7 starts including once at 12/1.  Another Mark Prescott horse to win 4 was Chivalry, all wins coming on minor tracks and the best SP being 5/2.  
Generally, Prescott is worth following.  Another 3 year old, Froglet, won 3 of his 6 starts, including one at 4/1.  He didn’t quite manage to emulate his mother who won 5 on the bounce in the July of 1996.

By far the classiest horse to win 4 times was Islington.  She was only 8th in the Oaks but was most impressive in her next 2 runs winning both the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and the Yorkshire Oaks.  She also ran with credit in the Arc finishing 5th.  Staying with the classic contenders, Mark Johnston’s Bandari ran away with the Lingfield Derby trial.  He also won the Great Voltigeur at York beating Highest, but disappointed in the Derby, and finished 3rd to Bollin Eric in the St Leger.  Bandari seems an edgy, nervy sort but genuine enough.  Another Johnston colt, Simeon, also did well for me.  He won a minor event at Ripon, a Haydock handicap and a classic trial at Sandown.  He also ran a good third to Sulamani in the Prix Du Jockey Club but disappointed a bit after that and was sold out of Johnston’s yard.

Sprinter Bandanna gave me 4 wins and all at nice prices, 13/2, 3/1, 5/1 and 8/1.  This is a tough mare that is effective at 5 or 6 furlongs.  Three of the wins came at Bath.  Another sprinter that gave me a decent profit was the progressive Feet So Fast.  Trained by Willie Musson, this gelding won valuable handicaps at Lingfield and Newmarket before going on to win a 10 runner conditions event at Ascot.  He was bought out of Musson’s yard, possibly to run abroad.

Two of John Dunlop’s horses, Persian Lightning and King Eider won 3 apiece. Persian Lightning progressed steadily and his wins included handicaps at Leicester and Haydock.  He is probably best between 10-12F. Unfortunately I was not on King Eider when he won at 14/1. He was a fairly useful handicapper who stays 2miles.

 Staying with the handicappers, Mary Reveley’s My Line won 3 from 9 starts, 2 of his wins coming at Carlisle and the best price being 11/2.  Alec Stewart’s useful performer Selective also paid his way with 3 wins, one of these at 9/1.

Two of the more successful 2 year olds that I followed were Bakewell Tart and Steelaninch.  Both won 4 times.  The latter proved a useful performer whose wins included nurseries at Ascot and Newmarket.  He has since been sold for 100,000 gns.  Bakewell Tart’s wins included a nursery on the AW at Wolverhampton when ridden by claimer Hayley Turner and a listed race in Milan! The best winning price for both of these juveniles was 13/2.

 Naahy, a Mike Channon 2 year old won 3 times but I missed the best of these (5/1).  I managed to catch all 3 wins for another successful juvenile, Airwave.  This one looks a very smart sprinter in the making with his best win coming in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket when he beat the highly rated Russian Rhythm. 

 Desert Deer won 3 of his 6 starts.  He beat Common World into second place at Newbury and also won a listed race at Newmarket running on in tenacious fashion.

Of course things don’t always go according to plan. I put Derwent on my list at the start of the season.  He turned out to be a very useful type winning 3 including once at 10/1.  He was however he was never given much of a chance by the “experts” and I never backed him.

 And the failures

 I will not dwell on these for obvious reasons.  What you don’t want on your list to follow is a horse that runs up a sequence of losses.  A good (or bad) example was Harbour House.  This 3 year old of Mick Channon’s failed to win in 9 starts before I finally gave up on him.  What-A-Dancer also proved frustrating.  Although Alan Swinbank’s 5 year old ran some good races, notably when a head second in a rated stakes at Newbury, he did not register a single win in 11 starts.

Keeping the faith

 Despite these examples there are times to “keep the faith.”  Mid way through the season I “axed”, La Paz, Macadamia, Red To Violet and Spectroscope.  La Paz promptly won a Kempton maiden at 7/1.  Worse was to follow, Red To Violet won twice at 9/2 and 6/1 and Spectroscope, who had shown very little up to that point won at 5/2 and 4/1 with both wins coming at Goodwood.  Spectroscope has since performed well in novice hurdles.    Macadamia did even better than these with a 9/1 win.  Perhaps the best example of not sticking to my guns was when 2 year old Landescent won on his 8th start at 25/1 (after I had relegated him).

 Sprinters

Sprint handicappers often come in at good prices (at least that is one of my theories).  I have already mentioned Bandanna.  Idle Power won at 9/1 on his 11th start (I did keep faith with this one), while CD Flyer came in at 10/1.  This was Mick Channon’s handicappers first win for 3 years so I promptly ditched him on the basis that I had had my win out of him.  Another 10/1 winner was Cashmere, a lightly raced progressive sort, while Peter Makin’s Canterloupe won a Windsor handicap in August at 16/1.

 I had high hopes of Mr Mahoose and Torosay Spring but neither of these really paid off.  Mr Mahoose seems a bit of a quirky sort and difficult to win with although he did oblige in a handicap at Yarmouth in July at 5/2, but this was from 6 starts.  His best effort was when an unlucky second of 23 in an Ascot handicap.  Torosay Spring won a minor event at 7/4 but failed to get her head in front in two subsequent starts.

Dandy Nicholls dominated the sprinting game last season but I did not have much luck with his horses.  I had the classy Continent on my list for most of the season and finally gave up on him just before he won the July Cup at 12/1.  His other win was in the Prix L’Abbaye at Longchamp and my system only covers horses running in the UK. He was also 2nd in the Nunthorpe but is hard to catch on the right day as he is often slowly away and needs to come late. I also put two other Nicholl’s trained sprinters on the list.  Veteran Further Outlook failed to register a win and although Flak Jacket won twice, I missed him on the most profitable of these (12/1).
 
The lister that I really missed out on though was Jimmy Noseda’a Just James who won 2 of his 6 starts, both at 20/1.  I wasn’t on either time.  The first of these came in a competitive 20-runner handicap at Newmarket in astonishing circumstances.  Just James was last and detached with a couple of furlongs to go but burst through to win by three parts of a length.
Vita Spericolata was a good example of the ups and downs you get following the sprinters.  She made all to beat Smokin’ Beau a neck at Chester (11/1) but that was the only win from 12 starts.

The most bizarre set of results came from Peruvian Chief.  He won at 12/1 on his 18th outing.  The bare facts don’t tell the whole story however.  He was 2nd at Newmarket at 33/1, beaten a short head.  He was also beaten ¼ length when 14/1, 1 ¼ lengths at 9/1 and was third to Needwood Blade beaten 1 length again at 9/1.

 A couple of successful sprinters that I did not cash in on as much as I would have liked were Needwood Blade and Smokin’ Beau.  Needwood Blade won 3 from 9 including odds of 7/1 and 9/1.  He is a smart performer who won a rated stakes at York and a listed event at Newmarket.  Smokin’ Beau is only small but he is tough, genuine and consistent and won 4 of his 11 starts including one at 10/1.  His wins included a listed race at Goodwood and a rated stakes at Newbury.  I didn’t have my money on for all of these though!

 Other handicappers

It has occurred to me that it might be an idea to put more handicappers on my list to follow, as if you pick the right ones they do tend to win at decent prices.  For example Beauchamp Pilot won 3 of his 8 starts including odds of 9/1 and 4/1.  He won the Cambridgeshire and was in the frame in the Royal Hunt Cup and the John Smith’s Cup at York.  He was also 3rd in a listed race at Newmarket to another favourite of mine, Smirk.  Smirk was 7/1 that day and he also won a Goodwood handicap at 12/1.
Both these are really genuine sorts.  One that showed some signs of temperament was Common World.  He paid his way for me however winning a couple of handicaps, one at 7/1. He was also placed in listed company at Ascot.

Champion Lodge proved an ideal lister winning 2 out of 9 at odds of 9/1 and 12/1 and proving the value to be had following the smaller stables.  His wins came in large fields at York (where he overcame a bad draw) and Newmarket. The Judge, trained by Paul Cole was one of my first runners.  He was strongly fancied for the Lincoln but ran disappointingly; perhaps the ground was against him.  He then took a decent 21 runner handicap at Newbury before making no show in his remaining 2 starts. His win was at 12/1, again showing how the right handicapper can show a handsome profit.

One that I never seemed to catch on a winning day was Judge Davidson who won 2 out of 7, one of them at 11/2.  I even managed to miss my old friend Tees Components.  I put him on the list mid season thinking he might win the Cesarawitch.  He failed to justify heavy support there but promptly romped home in a B handicap at Newmarket at 4/1 when I wasn’t on him.  Such is life!
Marlo was a model list horse.  He won 1 of his 6 starts coming home by a short head at Yarmouth at 14/1.  You can’t say fairer than that.

 A few personal favourites

I was thankful  for Junkanoo who gave me my first winner of the season. Mary Reveley’s gelding won an 18 runner event at Nottingham at 3/1 and didn’t run again. 

Prins Willem gave me a nice 10/1 winner.  James Fanshawe’s 3 year old progressed into a fairly useful handicapper and actually won twice.  He is owned by a Dutchman and runs in the orange colours of the Dutch national football team.

You wont find the name of Florentine Flutter up there with the likes of Rock of Gibraltar but he did a good job early in the season for me winning a Haydock maiden at 8/1.  He was pulled up on his next outing and after another poor run was sold for just 7,500gns.

Although Dune didn’t actually pay his way he was a model of consistency.  He won a 0-70 Classified Stakes at Thirsk and despite going up steeply in the weights won a valuable 18 runner handicap at Haydock.  He was in the frame in all his other 7 starts.  Dune was trained by Roger Charlton as was Blagovest who proved a profitable choice.  He won 2 of his 4 runs, one of them at 5/1.  His best run was when winning a 12 runner handicap at Newmarket.

Loveleaves was another to make me a nice profit.  On the list as a result of a promising run on her only start as a 2 year old she won 1 of her 3 starts last season at 11/2.  Miss Corniche was also a profitable maiden 3 year old coming in at 9/1 in a listed event at Yarmouth.  At least she would have been profitable had I managed to place the bet on that particular day!  Can’t blame the horse though – she did her bit.

2 year olds

I kicked off the season with an A list of 50 2 year olds. I have already mentioned Bakewell Tart, Steelaninch, Naafy and Landescent elsewhere. I had plenty of other successes from this batch.  Profit wise Cap Ferrat did a good job winning one of his 2 starts at 5/1.  Revenue and Rimrod both had good seasons.  Although Revenue only registered 1 win, this was at 14/1 in a minor event at Royal Ascot, just the job.  He ran well all season finishing in the frame in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, the Gimcrack, Flying Childers and the Cornwallis at Ascot.  Rimrod also showed a profit with 2 wins from 5 including a listed race at Goodwood.

Tizzy May was a fairly typical “early” type from the Hannon stable who gave me 2 wins.  Irresistible also won twice but at cramped odds.  He was also 2nd to another “lister” Airwave in a listed race at Ayr.

Sharplaw Venture and Oblige were two of my best 2 year old selections.  The former won 2 out of 4 at odds of 12/1 and 4/1, the former coming in a 25 runner field at Ascot.  Oblige did just that at odds of 5/2 and 17/2, the latter coming in a Haydock nursery. 
As the season progressed I added further juveniles, usually prior to their first outing.  I was particularly pleased with Saturn who progressed to win twice in 4 starts at 3/1 and 11/2.  At the same time I added Gerard Butler’s Commission to the A list and he won a minor event at Sandown (7/2) before coming 5th in a Group 3 at the same course.  Derby entrant Shuhood did even better yet winning his sole start at 5/1. Audience was another that went straight on the A list and won twice, the first at 6/1.
Another successful A list 2 year old was Geoff Wragg’s filly Ego.  She won 2 of her 4 starts, both at 2/1.
 
The juveniles added to the list mid season did pretty well on the whole. For example Muqbil of John Dunlop’s won impressively first time out at 4/1.

There were numerous other first time out wins but sadly few were backed.  Adekshan (3/1) won at Yarmouth, ridden by Fergal Lynch for M Stoute, Henry Cecil’s Apex Star won both his starts.  Barzak, trained by Roy Bowring won his only start at 11/1.  Bowring reckons this is the best horse he has ever trained. Indian Haven was another from a small stable that won first time out (9/4).  
Camlet, a half sister to Gossamer won on her debut at odds of 10/1.  Due Respect, trained by Richard Hannon won on the last of his 3 starts at 13/2. 

Midas Way won the second of his two starts at 10/1.  Roger Charlton’s colt looks likely to improve further.  Another Roger Charlton horse, Quartet won on his debut at 10/1 but was a bit disappointing in his next run behind Saturn at Newbury.  I added Roger Charlton’s Famous Grouse to the list after an eyecatching 2nd on his debut and he won his 2 remaining starts, both at Nottingham.  Other Roger Charlton winners were Rocket Ship (4/6 only run) and Trade Fair (1/2).
There were plenty of good reports about John Gosden’s Wondrous Story and the filly duly won at the second attempt in a maiden at Salisbury at 7/1. 

I added Tim Easteby’s Go Tech to the list after he had caught the eye in his first 2 runs, and he went on to register 2 wins at 5/1 and 3/1 as well as finishing 2nd twice in nurseries.

 

Following trainers
 
In the main for my system I concentrate on the horse rather than the trainer.  However I did have a bit of a plan to include in my lists 3 year olds trained by Mark Prescott and both John and Ed Dunlop.

I have already mentioned Chivalry, Affaire D’Amour and Froglet from Mark Prescott’s yard.  Unleash, now running over hurdles with Philip Hobbs won twice and Plateau paid his way by winning 1 of his 3 starts at 4/1.  Another Prescott 3 year old, Blue Mantle, won 2 out of 4 including a 6/1 win but was subsequently sold to race in Ireland. 
Albanova was probably the best of these Prescott horses, winning her first 3 starts including a listed race at Chepstow.  I also included Parachute who appeared well handicapped.  He didn’t run on the turf but I see that he has run up a hat trick on the all weather since Christmas.

Overall I had less success with the Dunlop horses.  Ajeel won a handicap at Yarmouth and then ran a respectable 2nd to Macaw at Newmarket. King Eider and Persian Lightning have been mentioned already.  Contact Dancer and Old California both did well.  The former won twice at 5/1 and 11/4 and ran a solid race in heavy ground at Doncaster in November when second to Knavesmire Omen.  Old California won his first 2 races including a 4 runner B handicap at Haydock but was subsequently a bit high in the weights and has gone to Martin Pipe for whom he has already won over hurdles.

Dawn’s Sharp Shot just had one run as a juvenile and won a Sandown maiden first time out at three at 8/1.  She subsequently showed nothing in a couple of runs in handicaps.

Unraced 3 year olds

These are probably not a great idea for this type of system.  They tend to be “talked up” and start at cramped odds.  Rosa Parks is a good example.  This filly was a leading fancy for the 1,000 gns but although she ran well enough in good company her only win from 7 starts came in a maiden at 4/5.

There were a few successes, notably Oval Office of Henry Cecil’s who won both his starts accounting for Dryden House first time at Goodwood and following up at Sandown.  Funfair was an easy winner of a maiden at Carlisle and was then a gutsy winner of a valuable handicap at York at 15/2.  Suleiman won a maiden on his debut and was second in his other 2 runs  including a very creditable effort at Longchamps.  Of the rest Bustan won his first 2 starts, the second at Newmarket when beating Al Moulatham at odds of 11/2.

Grecian Glory won at odds on on her debut but did not show a profit overall.  However, Alrayihah won on her second outing at 11/4 at Goodwood despite not being suited by the sharp track.  She did not race again.

Lastly, Richard Hannon’s Hero’s Journey won 2 of his 4 starts, the second coming in a listed race at Kempton.
 
A touch of class
 
It’s always nice to back the winner of a big race and my horses to follow did manage a few.  They won 2 classics but I wasn’t on either of them. 

I was still pleased to see Bollin Eric win the St Leger for Tim Easterby from 2 other “listers” Highest and Bandari.  Gossamer won the Irish 1,000gns but of course I was only betting on UK races.  Asian Heights won 2 of his 3 runs in the UK at odds of 6/4 & 5/4 so paid his way for me, while High Pitched won a listed race at Newbury at 4/1.
Mick Channon’s Queens Logic may well have gone on to great things had her career not been cut short by illness and injury.  She had just the won run last season winning at 1/3.

Coshocton and Jelani  ran well in  the Epsom Derby with Hawk Wing 2nd.  Sadly Coshocton who had earlier won a listed race at Newbury at 9/1 broke a leg and had to be destroyed during the race but Jelani was 4th.  Jelani later won a 3 runner listed race at Haydock at 4/1 but unfortunately my selection that day was Bollin Eric.

Hawk Wing showed a significant loss to level stakes as his only win was in the Eclipse when 8/15 favourite.
Naheef, trained by Bin Suroor, a flop in the previous season’s 2000 gns, won the Group 3 Winter Hill stakes at Windsor (6/4) but did not show a profit for the system, neither did Nayef, who won 1 of his 3 starts at odds of 6/4.  Nayef, trained by Marcus Tregoning, won the Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) beating Golan by ½ length.

Tholjanah ran in the Derby but hopes that he might land a classic didn’t materialise.  He did however win a listed race at Newmarket at 3/1 in his last run of the season.

Other Group race winners were King of Happiness (Craven Stakes) and Fight Your Corner (Chester Vase) while Brian Meehan’s colt Kaieteur won a Group 1 event in Munich.

The Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York saw the first 5 places go to “list” horses, all 5 separated by less than a length.  For the record the 5 in finishing order were, Bandari, Highest, Bollin Eric, Bustan and Systematic.
 
Highest, who has been mentioned in passing several times did win twice and was runner up in his 4 other starts.
Geoff Wragg’s filly Monturani won 2 listed races at 11/8 and 15/8 from 3 runs so showed a nice little profit.

Some odds and ends

I will end with a few random comments about horses that warrant a mention but do not fit neatly into any of the earlier categories.
Gerard Butler’s Playapart was talked of as a classic contender and duly won his first run of the new season at 6/1 but he didn’t really progress after that.

Jimmy Fitzgerald’s Raison Garde only won 1 of his 7 starts but that came first time out at Pontefract at 16/1. I wasn’t on it though.

I had hopes for Dryden House, Prince Hector and Native Title.  Dryden House won 2 of her 7 starts before being sold to race in France. Her wins came at 5/2 and 7/2.  I kept thinking that Native Title was being lined up for a big gamble but in the end he only won once in 10 starts and that at 9/2.  Prince Hector was likewise a bit disappointing in his first 2 runs but Amanda Perrett’s 3 year old did win a class C handicap on his third outing at 7/4.

I have mentioned Roger Charlton a fair number of times in this report and his 3-year-old Tikkun proved a useful addition to my list.  He overcame a serious foot injury to win first time out at Doncaster at the rewarding price of 15/2.  He spoiled his chance by running a bit too freely in his 2 subsequent runs.  L’Affaire Monique also showed a nice profit, running twice in the UK and winning the first of these, a Chepstow fillies maiden, at 11/2.

Fragrant View was runner up to Islington in a maiden and beat Highest in a similar event at Chester but did not show a profit overall and neither did Heir To Be who won once in 5 starts in an 18 runner handicap in heavy ground at Nottingham at 3/1. 
 
Meshaheer was on the “list” from the start and broke even winning once out of 6 starts at 5/1.  He won a 7f listed race at Newbury with another one of “my horses” Suggestive a length away in third.  Earlier Meshaheer had finished 3rd to Just James in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes.

Ghannam ran with a great deal of consistency including 3 seconds but his only win was at evens so he was not ideal from a system viewpoint.  His win came in a maiden at Thirsk , he then overcame a bad draw to run Macaw to a length and was a respectable 4th of 10 in the Hungerford Stakes. 
Another very consistent, but not very profitable horse was Sociable who finally won on his 9th and final outing of the season at 11/2 in a maiden at Sandown after finishing 2nd 4 times.

One frustrating aspect of the season was losing out on winners of races abroad.  The likes of Gossamer has already been highlighted.  The grey Double Honour only recorded an odds on win in the UK but won a listed race in Hamburg by 16 lengths.  I was pleased to see Double Honour go on to do well over hurdles. 
Other winners abroad were Love Regardless who won twice in Germany, Music Club who won a listed race at Longchamp and Wareed who won a Group race, also at Longchamp.

But to finish on a bright note one horse that fully justified my confidence in him was Greenslades.  His trainer Peter Makin had a wretched time with his stable suffering a virus.  His Canterloupe gave me a 16/1 winner and Greenslades won 2 of his 3 starts with the last coming at 8/1 in a Class B 6 furlong handicap at Ascot, again showing that sprint handicappers can come in at decent prices.

Continue reading “Review of the flat 2002” →

 

Review of National Hunt season 2001/2.

 

With the new national hunt season soon to gather momentum, now seems an opportune moment to take a look back at some of last seasons jumpers.  I will approach this in alphabetic order.

Abalvino (8) P Webber Won a bumper as a 5 year old.  Last season he won twice from 7 starts but perhaps his best effort was when 2nd to Tiutchev at Sandown when 4lbs out of the handicap.  Thought to prefer right handed tracks he did win going left last season.  Normally a good jumper who likes to dominate.  Best at around 2 miles.

Another General (7) R Phillips  A forrmer bumper winner who won 4 times over hurdles last season.  In the first of these he beat Polar Red by a neck at Leicester.  The first 3 wins were in heavy or soft ground but he handled good to soft well enough when winning over 3 miles at Newbury in March.  AZ chaser in the making, Another General impressed with his hurdling and his resolute attitude.

Armaturk (5) P Nicholls  A winner over hurdles both in France and England, Armaturk proved useful over fences last season with Paul Nicholls exploiting his 4 year old's weight allowance. He beat Impek a neck over hurdles in October at Kempton before going on to win 3 of his 5 starts over fences.  Both his defeats came at Cheltenham.  He was 2nd to Seebald in a Group 2 ijn November before finishing 3rd to Moscow Flyer in the Arkle. He made all at Newbury at th end of December when main rival Europa lost any chance with a bad blunder 3 out.  A facile win at Warwick followed but his best performance was in winning the Group 1 Martell novice chase at the Aintree festival, reversing form with Seebald.  Armaturk is a genuine, progressive sort who is particularly well suited by sharp, flat tracks.

Asador (6) P Nicholls   A winner 3 times over hurdles in France he broke down on both front legs on his first run in this country in the 2000 Triumph hurdle.  Won novice chases at Newton Abnbot, where both his main rivals fell at the last, and Plumpton.  In between he fell at the last when in command at Taunton.  It seems that he must have soft ground and as he has a tendency to jump left he is better going that way.  His jumping was not always foot perfect and he was pulled up in the Grand Annual handicap at the Cheltenham festival.  He wears a ring bit and is reportedly difficult to train.

Barton (9) T Easterby  Very much the apple of trainer Tim Easterby's eye.  Barton was a winner 9 times over hurdles.  The best of these were an impressive 9 length victory in the Royal and Sun Alliance at Cheltenham in 1999 and a 14 length win over Best Mate in bottomless ground in the Martell at Aintree in 2001.  Bounce Back was 4th in the latter race.  Barton could only finish 2nd to October Mist on his chase debut at Wetherby last season but followed up with 4 consecutive wins against indifferent opposition.  Critics were quick to burst the bubble when he ran disappointingly behind Moscow Flyer at Cheltenham.  The trainer reported that he had a bout of colic before the Cheltenham run but the defeat may have been more down to the trip of 2 miles. He was truly impressive in his last run of the season when cruising to victory in the 25 furlong Mildmay novice chase at Aintree "without touching a twig."

Beethoven (6) N Chance – Started his career by winning an Ascot bumper beating First Love and followed this with a second to Irish Hussar in a similar contest at Sandown.  Won on his novice hurdle debut at Ascot.  His final appearance last season can be ignored when he was pulled up behind Keen Leader as the ground was desperate and the stable may have had a virus.

Benbyas (5) J Eyre  A winner twice over the flat and runner up on all 3 starts over hurdles in 2000/1, the front running Benbyas proved a genuine and consistent hurdler last season.  He won twice at Wetherby before beating Tikram to take a £17,000 handicap at Cheltenham in game fashion.  He put up another fine run from the front when 3rd to the useful Copeland of Martin Pipe's in the valuable Tote Gold Trophy handicap at Newbury in February and was 4th of 21 in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham.  Genuine, consistent and a good jumper.

Best Mate (7) H Knight  Best Mate has never been out of the first 2 in his career.  His trainer has always claimed that he goes on any ground and over any distance.  He was given a superb ride by Jim Culloty to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in flawless fashion and has been hailed as one of the major talents of recent times. Obviously a very special horse Henrietta Knight has enthused about him since buying him after he won a point to point in Ireland.

Bounce Back (6) M Pipe  A high class hurdler in France he joined Martin Pipe to run in novice chases.  He was not fluent when winning at Chepstow in his second outing when visored first time.  Proved to be something of an enigma in subsequent starts, often failing to deliver when apparently travelling well.  Lived up to his name by "bouncing back" in his last start when winning the Attheraces (formerly the "Whitbread") Gold Cup.  Martin Pipe had the horse entered in the Grand National and the trip obviously suited at Sandown.

Byron Lamb (5) N Richards A half brother to Lord Lamb and Mr Lamb and a full brother to Sir Lamb. Beat Lenny Lungo's Mr Woodentop to win his bumper.  He then failed to justify favoritism on his hurdles debut when 3rd at Doncaster but proceeded to  run up a hat trick of wins in novice hurdles, twice at Ayr and then at Carlisle.  According to his trainer "he's got all the gears."  Likely to go novice chasing now.

Carbury Cross (8) J J O'Neill  Went into last season on a winning run of 5.  Ran 6 times last season and may have been an unlucky loser in the Scottish national when he unseated his rider at the 20th when going as well as anything.  Had earlier run a cracker when blinkered first time at Cheltenham in a valuable 3 mile handicap where he was 2nd.  He then turned the Martell V.S. handicap at Aintree into a procession winning by 18 lengths.

Chives (7) H Knight  Described by Henrietta Knight as "a lovely big horse" and "every inch a chaser" Chives began the season by scoring twice over hurdles. He was not foot perfect when winning on his chase debut over 3 mile sat Stratford and fell early in the Sunbury novices chase at Kempton which represented a step up in class. A win at Wincanton was followed by a creditable 3rd in a decent race at Warwick.  Chives finished the season in style running a blinder to come 3rd behind Hussard Collonges in a gruelling Royal and Sun Alliance chase at the Festival.

Contract Scotland (7) L Lungo  Finally broke his duck in his 6th and last race last season, encountering good to firm ground for the first time.  He has won both his starts so far this season before as his trainer put it, going on his Summer holidays.  Can be expected to go novice chasing when making his reappearance.

Cruise the Fairway (6) B Powell – Tough, genuine and lightly raced over fences.  Won over 3 miles in a novice chase at Newbury in December and lost little in defeat when runner up to Frosty Canyon, again at the Berkshire course.

Dark N'Sharp (7) R Phillips  Ex German, he won 3 of his 5 starts over hurdles in 2000/1.  He fell at the last on his chase debut at Huntingdon and was then just touched off in a thrilling finish at Doncaster by Hit and Run.  He then ran a blinder from 6lbs out of the handicap when 3rd in the Cheltenham "Grand Annual."  Was driven clear to win the Red Rum handicap chase at Aintree by 9 lengths  and followed up with a fluent win at Ayr.  Looks likely to do well over 2 miles in the coming.                         

D'Argent (5) A King D'Argent is bred to be a 3 mile chaser but won 2 of his 3 starts over hurdles last season, at Doncaster and Exeter, both in "national hunt" events.  Lightly raced and open to improvement.

Direct Access (7) L Lungo  Direct Access was hyped up as a future star after winning all his 4 starts over hurdles in 2000/01.  This was particularly creditable as he stands at 17.1h and is not built for hurdles.  He has been rather disappointing since going over fences however.  He won twice at Carlisle before falling when travelling well in a decent race at Cheltenham. He failed to justify favoritism in either of his last 2 starts.  He was giving weight to a decent rival in the first of these and may not have been suited by the firm ground in the second.

Dungarvan's Choice (7) N Henderson  A very game and consistent gelding. Winner of a Chepstow bumper in November 2001, Dungarvan's Choice failed to settle on his hurdles debut at Chepstow and was second but he went on to win at Huntingdon, a track hardly suited to his galloping style.  He was always handy when winning his next race at Sandown but was down the field in the Supreme novices hurdle at Cheltenham.  Lightly raced, Dungarvan's Choice looks an interesting prospect for staying chases.

Enhancer (4) A Swinbank Bought for 23,000 gns Enhancer won on his only start in a  Musselburgh bumper in February. Half brother to the useful jumper Redemption.  A promising start.

Europa (6) T Tate  Had won 2 bumpers and 2 novice hurdles coming into last season.  Looked a good chasing prospect but was a little disappointing.  He did win twice, at Hexham and Catterick but his jumping sometimes let him down.  He struggled to win a small race at Perth in May and he does not seem to have progressed as expected.  Said to lazy and blinkers may be an option.

Exit Swinger (7) M Pipe – Useful chaser who won a handicap at Newbury in December.  Other notable performances were when 4th to Turgeonev in the Group 2Victor Chandler at Ascot and when 2nd off top weight in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham.

Fasgo (7) P Nicholls – A winner over hurdles at Chepstow and fences at Sandown.  A former winner between the flags for Richard Barber.  A stayer who likes soft ground

First Love (6) N Henderson  Formerly owned by the Queen Mother, now by the Queen.  A real chasing type he won a couple of novice hurdles at Sandown.  Slightly disappointing in defeats at Huntingdon and Ascot, although in the former race he appeared not to stay two and a half miles.

Flame Creek (6) N Chance  Marked down as a horse with a future when showing a fair turn of foot to win a Wincanton bumper.  He was a warm order to win his opening novice hurdle at Folkstone but was turned over by a 100/1 shot.  He hung left that day and a blunder 2 out didn't help the cause.  After a 3 month break Flame Creek reappeared to win stylishly at Cheltenham and has since won a decent little race at Kelso beating Monkerhostin and Cita Verda.  Regared by his trainer as a speed horse he will be going over fences now.

Fondmort (6) N Henderson  Fondnort had winning form in France and won on his British debut in 2000/1 getting the better of Impek by a neck.  Showed good form in novice chases last term winning 3 out of 6.  Won a Group 2 race at Sandown and also won twice at Kempton.  Finished 5th in the Arkle and may be best on right handed tracks.3rd to Armaturk in his final race at Aintree when the stable were below par.  Could be one to watch in Handicaps in the coming season.

Forto (7) Dai Williams.  Forto had some decent handicap form on the flat in Germany and made a promising hurdles bow when 3rd to Pipe hotpot Tucasas at Sandown.  Won his last 2 starts over hurdles at Ludlow and Fontwell. 

Frosty Canyon (9) P Webber – Can be a chancy jumper.  He was 4th behind Hussard Collonges at Cheltenham in the Royal and Sun Alliance.  Seems suited by Newbury where he won in February taking the notable scalp of Japhet. 

Full Irish (6) L Lungo Won 5 of his 6 starts last season.  He won a bumper at Sedgefield where Mary Reveley’s Man Murphy was 3rd and followed this with another bumper success, this time at Haydock where he beat Eurotrek.  Fell when looking a probable winner on his hurdles debut, he went on to score 3 times in novice hurdles. 

 Gola Cher (8) A King – A winner of 3 of his 5 starts in 2000/1, he won 2 out of 4 last term.  Won a Group 2 at Chepstow and ran a fine race on defeat when 2nd to Silver Streak at Cheltenham in December.  Followed up by winning and Kempton and was reported as being “not himself” by his trainer when pulled up in the William Hill at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Golden Goal (6) Venetia Williams – Ex German Golden Goal failed to win over hurdles but always looked “every inch a chaser.”  The Venetia Williams trained gelding opened his account on his chase bow at Haydock.  He subsequently struck up a profitable partnership with the excellent Norman Williamson who road him to victory 3 times.  A win at Plumpton was followed by a game success in the Scilly Isles (Group 1) chase at Sandown where Martin Pipe’s Bounce Back was 3rd.  He completed the hat trick in the Pendil Novice Chase at Kempton (Group 2).  Ran well for a long way when 4th at Cheltenham in the Cathcart, possibly suited by a flatter track. 

Granit D'Estruval (8) F Murphy  Made a very promising reappearance last season when taking a 3M 2F handicap chase at Carlisle in soft ground. After being outclassed by Bacchanal in a 3 horse race and then pulled up at Leopardstown he was given a confidence boosting outing over hurdles winning over an extended 3 miles at Uttoxeter.

Grey Abbey (8)  F Murtagh – Grey Abbey won 4 times in 2000/1, the last win coming in the Future Champions Novice Chase at Ayr.  After winning at Ayr on his second outing last season he ran disappointingly on a number of occasions.  A wind operation seemed to do the trick however and he came back to his favourite track at Ayr to win a 20F handicap chase giving a fine jumping display.  After finishing 3rd at Doncaster he carried 12 stone to victory at Wetherby beating Heidi II and Meadowbank.  A bold front running display saw him beaten just over 2 lengths into 3rtd place in the Scottish National.  Grey Abbey is a game chaser who jumps and stays really well and is best when allowed to dominate. 

Hand Inn Hand (6) H Daly  – Henry Daly’s charge made a belated reappearance in February after an injury has sidelines him for 3 months.  He confirmed the promise of the previous season by winning readily at Ascot over 2 miles in soft ground.  His final run can probably be ignored as it came too soon after his Ascot effort.  A winner of 2 novice hurdles in 2000/1, Hand Inn Hand possesses a turn of foot and is a horse of some potential when put over fences. 

Hussard Collonges (7) P Beaumont – This French bred gelding galloped his rivals into the ground in a Wetherby novice hurdle on Easter Monday 2001.  Described as a  big old-fashioned chasing type.  After finishing runner up to Mini sensation Hussard Collonges jumped well to win a novice handicap chase at Wetherby. His finest hour came when taking the Royal and Sun Alliance chase at the Cheltenham festival.

Idaho D’Ox (6) M Pipe – Ex French , Idaho D’Ox made a successful British debut in October strolling home in a bad race at Exeter.  He put in some consistent displays after that, including a 3rd behind Polar Red in very heavy ground at Cheltenham and a 2nd to Hand Inn  Hand at Ascot.  He then carried 12 stone to victory in a novice hurdle at Wincanton, and finished the season with a 2nd to the progressive Intersky Falcon. 

Il Athou (6) S Sherwood – Il’Athou won twice in 2000/1 and again had a successful campaign last year winning 3 of his 4 starts.  He jumped impressively to win novice chases at Bangor and Huntingdon before making all to win a 3 horse group 2 event at Ascot, from Monkerhostin and Imaginaire. Set off much too fast in the Arkle and was pulled up. 

Ilnamar – (6) M Pipe – A winner in France over both hurdles and fences, Ilnamar came good in his final two races last year.  He stayed on strongly to win the Coral handicap hurdle at the Cheltenham festival beating Joss Naylor.  He started at 25/1 that day and was not Mr Pipe’s first string.  He turned a competitive handicap into a procession.  He went onn to take the Martell hurdle at Aintree. 

Impek (6) H Knight – Beaten a neck by Armaturk on his seasonal reappearance over hurdles under an over confident ride from Jim Cullotty at Kempton, he continued to run consistently.  He was again slightly unlucky at Sandown in the Imperial Cup when narrowly beaten by Polar Red under an inspired ride by A P McCoy.  He jumped faultlessly to win on his chasing debut at Huntingdon in May.  He is an interesting chasing prospect.  He is said to be temperamental and not the easiest horse to train.

In Contrast (6) P Hobbs – In Contrast had won 2 bumpers at Cheltenham and was considered a decent hurdling prospect coming into last season.  Expectations were realised as he won 4 of his 7 starts.  His first win was at Cheltenham where he beat the well regarded Henrietta Novice Robber Baron.  He then won at Newbury beating a useful Henderson newcomer in Isio.  He was a faller at Ascot next rtime when probably not suited by the right hand track.  His 3rd in the Supreme Novices at the festival behind Like A Butterfly was a smart performance.  Westender was 2nd that day but In Contrast reversed the form with Martin Pipe’s hurdler beating him by 8 lengths to take the Martell Novice Hurdle at Aintree.  In his final race he won over an extended 2 miles 5 furlongs at Cheltenham.

Inching Closer (5) Ferdy Murphy – A winner on the flat, Inching Closer made a successful start over hurdles last season with a win at Uttoxeter.  His other win came when upped in trip to 3 miles 3 furlongs at Sedgefield in March.  Probably best on good ground, both his wins over hurdles were in the soft. 

Isio (6) N Henderson – A French import that had won a flat non-thoroughbred race in the provinces there.  Ran a cracker on his UK debut when 2nd to In Contrast at Newbury and was second again at Taunton behind Martin Pipe’s ex German Samon.  An easy win followed at Taunton but the consistent Isio had to settle for second again at Kempton behind the talented but erratic Hitman.  The gelding was rewarded for his consistency with wins in novice hurdles at Newbury and Ayr, beating Khan Kicker on the latter occasion.  Isio is likely to go novice chasing in the new season. 

It Takes Time (8) M Pipe – This former Irish bumper winner was unbeaten in his 3 races during 2000/1.  Last season he won 4 of his 8 outings.  An easy win in a handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot was followed by 2 victories at Cheltenham.  In the first of these in the Tote handicap he had the useful Brother Joe in second place.  He finished a more than creditable 3rd to top stayers Barracouda and Bannow Bay in the Group 1 Bonus print Stayers hurdle at Cheltenham and ended the season with a win at Sandown.  A tough and smart staying hurdler. 

Iznogoud (6) M Pipe – A Group 1 winner at Ascot over hurdles Iznogoud scored his first win over fences at the same course at the expense of Valley Henry.  Hi sbest run was when 2nd to Hussard Collonges at the Cheltenham festival. 

Jakari (5) H Daly – Only ran once last season when pushed out to win a NH novice hurdle at Uttoxeter in November.  A minor injury sidelines him after that.  He is a scopey chasing type who could go well in the coming season. 

Keen Leader (6) J J O’Neill – Former Irish points winner who won a bumper at Perth on his sole start in 2000/1.  Proved a star turn last season winning his first 3 races over hurdles.  The best of these was when he galloped his rivals into the ground in heavy going at Uttoxeter in February.  Fell 3 out in the Sun Alliance novice hurdle at Cheltenham when holding every chance.  Keen Leader is an exciting chasing prospect. 

Khan Kicker (6) Ferdy Murphy – Khan Kicker had some form in bumpers in his native Ireland.  He had some problems with his jumping in his first season in the Uk and was a faller on his second outing.  He improved as the season progressed however.  He ran Mary Reveley’s Man Murphy to a length and a half at Carlisle in January and showed his liking for soft ground when winning at Musselburgh.  He was upped in trip at Haydock when fourth behind the enterprisingly ridden Mr Cospector.  He made jumping errors that day and may also not have got the trip.  He finished the season well, winning at Kelso and finishing a good second to the progressive Isio. 

King on the Run (9) – V Williams Lightly raced over the years and a winner of 6 races in his career.  He won his only start last season at Kempton coming away in good style in the straight to win with something in hand.  A progressive handicap chaser who runs well when fresh. 

Lord Moose (8) H Daly – This son of Mister Lord has been plagued by injury and missed all of 2000/1.  He had further problems last season but did win a handicap at Newbury and is fit could be one to follow in the coming season. 

Man Murphy (6) Mary Reveley – Won 3 times over hurdles last season having started his career with a win in a bumper at Catterick in January 2001.  3rd in his first run in a bumper behind Lenny Lungo’s highly regarded Full Irish he also ran 3rd to Benbyas in a novice hurdle at Wetherby. 

Mini Sensation (9) J J O’Neill – This full brother to Shotgun Willy won his first 2 novice chases at Wetherby and Bangor, beating Hussard Collonges by 8 lengths on the latter occasion.  He lost some form mid season but showed his liking for a thorough test of stamina when runner up in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter. 

Monkerhostin (5) O Sherwood – This ex French bay gelding produced e decent run when 2nd to Fondmort at Kempton over Christmas but seemed to have lost some confidence on his following run and went over hurdles for the remainder of the season, winning races at Sedgefield and Stratford. 

Montreal (5) M Pipe – A chasing type who won twice in handicap hurdles last season at Ascot and Sandown, having to dig pretty deep on both occasions.  A gritty type who should be suited by 3 miles over fences. 

Mr Woodentop (6) L Lungo – This son of Roselier is bred to be a 3 mile chaser but managed to win 3 novice hurdles last season. These wins included a 3 mile contest at the Ayr Scottish National meeting where he accounted for Paul Nicholl’s Whitenzo. 

Noble Justice (6) R Hodges – Noble Justice has run just 4 times in his career, all at Wincanton.  The winning pointer was twice placed over hurdles before winning a 2 mile 5 furlong novice chase under Tony McCoy. 

October Mist (8) Mary Reveley – Both October Mist’s wins came at Wetherby. In the first he beat Barton by one and a half lengths when Tim Easterby’s horse was making his chasing debut.  In the second he just edged out Stormin Native by a short head in a thrilling finish.  He was rather disappointing later in the season and may have lost some confidence as a result of a fall in a race won by Turgeonev, again at Wetherby. 

Polar Red (5) M Pipe – Polar Red looked a promising hurdles recruit, having won 5 times on the flat.  He was second in each of his first 3 efforts over hurdles but came good big style on his fourth run and his first in handicap company.  In bottomless ground at Cheltenham, and visored first time he destroyed a decent field.  He followed this up by winning the Imperial Cup at Sandown narrowly from Impek, under a brilliant ride from A P McCoy, despite a 23lbs hike in the weights.  He failed to complete the “double” in the County hurdle at Cheltenham that probably came too soon after his effort at Sandown. 

Poliantas (5) P Nicholls – Poliantas was a winner over hurdles in France and won three novice chasers last season for the Paul Nicholls yard.  

Premier Drive (9) G Moore – Premier Drive had decent hurdles form, as evidenced by a 3rd to Telemoss (level weights) in a handicap at Hexham last May.  He was second in his first 2 novice hurdles and then fell at Kelso.  He followed this with more consistent performances, 3rd to Direct Access at Carlisle and second behind Europa at Hexham. Such consistent form was rewarded with back-to-back successes at Leicester.   After breaking a blood vessel and being withdrawn at the start on his next outing he made all to win at Hexham.  In his last run he was pulled up in a hot novice chase at Perth won by the consistent Waterberg. 

Ravenswood (5) M Pipe – Rather like his stable companion Polar Red, Ravenswood was a decent flat performer, finishing a close 4th in the Northumberland Plate.  His jumping let him down on his first 3 runs and as a result he was given a lenient handicap mark.  This was exploited by his astute handler and Ravenswood promptly ran up a sequence of 3 wins, at Newbury, Aintree and Ayr.  Lightly raced and improving young hurdler.

Robber Baron (5) H Knight – Described as an “absolute Machine at home” this son of Un Desperado was rather disappointing.  He made a promising hurdles debut when second to In Contrast and may have found the track on the sharp side next time out at Ludlow. He was 6th at Aintree on his last run in April.  He was reported to be coughing during the middle part of the season. 

Rouble (6) J Gifford – This very promising young horse was tragically killed in a fall at the Cheltenham festival.  Prior to that he had won well at Ascot, Sandown and Fontwell. 

Royal Auclair (5) M Pipe – Martin Pipe’s gelding crumpled on landing in the Rising Stars Novice Chase when tanking along 15 lengths clear.  A win at Exeter over St Pirran was gained in workmanlike fashion and followed by a win in the Timeform novice handicap chase at Cheltenham and an even better performance to win a competitive Cathcart at the same venue.  Royal Auclair is a bold jumper that relishes some cut in the ground. 

Saint Par (4) P Nicholls – This grey gelding was placed over fences before joining the Nicholls yard and his long term future is no doubt over the larger obstacles.  He finished last season though with 3 straight wins over hurdles proving himself a tough and genuine type.  His wins came at Chepstow, Uttoxeter and Ayr where he beat Cita Verda. 

SH Boom (4) K Bailey – One of the first crop of the Champion Hurdle winner Alderbrook and half brother to a couple of useful hurdlers. Ran in a two bumpers, winning the second of them at Towcester. 

Sharpastrizam (7) P Beaumont – A most progressive chaser who won 4 times last season on good ground or faster.  He is an exceptionally good jumper. 

Shoshen (6) A King – Shosen was placed in his first two starts over hurdles but really cam egood in his third run at Newbury when he was pushed out to score by 9 lengths from a Martin Pipe runner.  According to his trainer Shosen will be even better over fences. 

Southern Star (7) H Knight – This former winner over hurdles looked a promising recruit to novice chasing with a couple of easy wins at Bangor and Cheltenham.  His fencing gave cause for concern in some of his subsequent starts but he out of a fine effort on his last appearance when 2nd to Barton at Aintree with the useful French chaser Japhet back in third. 

Spring Margot (6) Venetia Williams – Spring Margot was a useful hurdler in 2000/1 winning 3 novice events as well as a bumper.  He continued going the right way over fences last season winning 4 of his 6 starts.  His first 3 wins came at Market Rasen, Fontwell and Ludlow and he went on to win at Aintree in April on his handicap debut. 

Stormin Native (7) A Crook – Stormin Native was a fine big horse that put up some solid performances last season winning at Ayr and Haydock.  His jumping was excellent and it was ironic that he should fall at Perth and sadly have to be destroyed. 

Supreme Glory (9) P Murphy – Supreme Glory was made one of the leading fancies for the Grand National after impressively winning the Welsh equivalent at Chepstow.  Eventual Aintree winner could only finish third that day while 10/1 chance Supreme Glory was foot perfect in victory.  Unfortunately the Supreme Leader gelding suffered a leg injury and had to miss Aintree.  Supreme Glory is an excellent staying chaser who finished third in the 2000/1 Scottish National and won over 3 and a half miles at Stratford on his reappearance last season.  He also gave a good account of himself when staying on strongly to take 5th place in the AON chase at Newbury. 

Tees Components (7) M Reveley – Tees Components has the potential to be a national hunt star, but that potential will most likely never be realised.  He has had leg problems, which mean that he will almost certainly have to be campaigned on the flat from now on.  He won 4 bumpers in total, two of them last season.  The best performance was in easily winning the prestigious Christmas bumper at Chepstow where he was always travelling well and was always going to prevail once he hit the front.  He has since won on the all weather at Lingfield. 

The Bajan Bandit – (7) L Lungo A multiple bumper winner “The Bandit” was a slightly disappointing 10th in the Royal & Sun Alliance hurdle at a time when the stable was not firing.             He got back to winning ways at Ayr beating Mounthooley by 7 lengths.  He is a strong galloping chasing type and will no doubt be going over fences this season. 

Truckers Tavern (7) Ferdy Murphy – Truckers Tavern made a big impression over fences last season.  After running up a hat trick of wins Truckers Tavern came second to Harboiur Pilot in the Dr P J Moriaty Novice Chase at Leopardstown.  In the Arkle where both the ground and the trip were against him he stayed on really well to finish fourth behind Moscow Flyer.  Continued success over fences seems assured. 

Turgeonev (7) T Easterby – Turgeonev was a revelation in 2 mile chases last season thanks in aprt to a change of tactics.  Waiting tactics proved successful and he ran up a 4 timer at Newcastle, Wetherby (twice) and Ascot.  The best of these was the win at Ascot in the valuable Victor Chandler chase. He probably failed to quite see out the trip at Cheltenham where he was pulled up in heavy ground over 2 miles 5 furlongs.  2nd to Kadarann at Ayr on his last run. 

Vol Solitaire (4) P Nicholls – After wins at Leicester and Cheltenham, Vol Solitaire scored a notable victory in the Welsh Champion Hurdle beating Copeland.  He almost added the Scottish equivalent but was just edged out by Milligan.  He is a big chasing type who should prosper over fences in the coming season

Continue reading “Review of jumps season 2001/2” →

 

 

Review of the 2006/7 jumps season

The 2006/6 jumps season will be best remembered as a season of change.  We lost some great old favourites with the demise of Best Mate and Rooster Booster, the legendary Martin Pipe decided to call it a day, Paul Nicholls took the trainers crown and both Moscow Flyer and Baracouda were retired after distinguished careers.

Once again the Irish captured many of the top prizes.  Three of the biggest races of the season went the way of the Irish with Kicking King, Brave Inca and War of Attrition taking the King George, Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup respectively.

The 2006 Gold Cup had been billed as a clash between Best Mate and Kicking King pre season.  Neither actually made it to Prestbury Park with Best Mate tragically suffering a heart attack at Exeter and Kicking King out through injury after Christmas.

Although injury restricted Kicking King’s season he did have his moment of glory when winning the King George.  However the fact that he only won by a neck from the fast closing Monkerhostin may show that even in victory he was not quite at his best.

If I had to nominate a “horse of the year” it would be a close run thing between War of Attrition and Brave Inca.

War of Attrition has always looked a horse with stacks of ability and there were early signs that he could be a serious threat to the main contenders at Cheltenham when he beat Kicking King over 2 miles 6 at Punchestown in October.  A couple of runs in Ireland followed including a second behind Beef or Salmon in the Lexus chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.  That was over 3 miles and although he went straight to Cheltenham I was pretty hopeful that he would get the extra 2 furlongs.  As it turned out he was always travelling and jumping well in the Gold Cup and ran out quite a comfortable winner from Hedgehunter, with another Irish Horse, Forget the Past completing an Irish 1-2-3.

To emphasise his superiority War of Attrition rounded off his season with a win in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April where Beef or Salmon, never at his best at Cheltenham, chased him home.  War of Attrition has more pace than the majority of staying chasers and there is every reason to suppose that he is an above average Gold Cup winner.

In 2004 War of Attrition and Brave Inca fought out the finish of the Supreme Novices with Brave Inca just getting the better of the argument by a neck. That race produced both the major champions of 2006 as Brave Inca won the Champion Hurdle.  He had been my long term fancy for the race and had won 3 of his 4 races leading up to the festival.  The last of these was in the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown at the end of December when he beat old rival Mac’s Joy by a length.  Brave Inca and Tony McCoy looked a formidable combination all season and a typically battling performance saw the partnership prevail in the big race.  Mac’s Joy lost nothing in defeat and chased the winner all the way to the line.  The two met again at Punchestown and after Brave Inca had won on their last 5 clashes no one would begrudge Mac’s Joy his success as a change of tactics by his jockey Barry Geraghty paid off.  Rather than waiting with Mac’s Joy he set sail for home from 3 out and, on ground that was probably a little quicker than he would ideally want it, Inca Trail never looked like reeling in the winner.

It was another vintage year for the Irish hurdlers and right up there with the best of them was the mare Asian Maze. After an absence through injury she started he season with a promising 2nd to Mac’s Joy in the Red Mills Trial at Gowran Park.  She then rather surprisingly went for the Champion Hurdle rather than the World (formerly stayers) Hurdle and was a faller.  Compensation was not far away though as Asian Maze galloped her rivals into submission in the Aintree Hurdle trouncing Hardy Eustace who had been 3rd in the Champion Hurdle.  This was a performance of some quality.  She went on to land the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown over 3 miles and she looks an exciting prospect for the future.

My list of Irish horses to follow was quite remarkably successful with almost all of them finding their way into the winner’s enclosure. 

One of the Irish winners on my list that gained a rather surprising win was Sir OJ.  He came with an astonishing late run to land the Robin Cook Memorial Handicap at Cheltenham at odds of 16/1 flashing home past a tiring leader on the run in. 

He won at Naas in a Grade 2 after that but was a faller in the Grand National where in truth he was always likely to lack for the necessary stamina anyway.

I had high hopes for Accordion Etoile, a decent hurdler starting out on a jumping career. Things began well enough when Paul Nolan charge just got up on the line to pip the Martin Pipe trained Tamarinbleu at Cheltenham in November.  His jumping had not been fluent that day and it let him down when he blundered away his chance in his next 3 runs.  He jumped much better on his final outing when winning a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Fesival.  Good ground is an important factor for him which is likely to dictate his racing plan for next season as mid winter conditions in Ireland are unlikely to bring out the best in him.

I have already given a mention to Forget the Pat who was 3rd in the Gold Cup.   He also won Grade 2 Chases at Gowran Park and Fairyhouse. 

Other horses to note from the Irish section of my list to follow were Missewed hat, The Railway Man, Mansony, Mr Nosie and Southern Vic.

Missed That had won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2005 and connections decided to send him straight over fences.  After a far from impressive debut he rattled off 3 wins including a couple of Grade 1 novice chases at Leopardstown.  He then never really got into the race in the Arkle and he was a faller at Fairyhouse, but he was back on the winning trail with a resounding success at the Punchestown Festival.

Mr Nosie won 3 times and was 4th in the Royal and SunAlliance Novice Hurdle while The Railway Man justified his place on my list to follow by winning twice, the second of these at 16/1.  Most of the leading Irish horses were seen in the UK but Southern Vic who won 4 times from 6 starts raced exclusively in Ireland.

In the UK there was a shift in the balance of power with Paul Nicholls claiming the trainers title from Martin Pipe, who announced his retirement at the end of the season during hannel 4s Morning Line programme.

Nicholls had been increasing the quality of his string year by year, particularly with his French imports and was I feel a popular winner.  He is also very open about his horses chances when interviewed by the media.

Kauto Star was probably the main long range Nicholls hope for championship glory at the Cheltenham Festival. Injury had restricted his chances the previous season but he had shown himself to be a horse with immense potential and with Moscow Flyer aging, and Azertyuiop and Well Chief on the easy list the Queen Mother Champion Chase looked a realistic goal.

As is often the case with jumpers things didn’t go quite as planned.  His campaign started well enough when he finished 3rd to Monkerhostin in the Haldon Chase at Exeter, giving weight to the winner.  The race of course will always be remembered as Best Mate’s last.  Kauto Star’s next stop was the Tingle Creek where he turned the tables on Monkerhostin easily enough and the Champion Chase seemed a very real aim.  Unfortunately come the big one at Cheltenham Kauto Star was a faller at the 3rd and didn’t race again.  He remains a horse of some potential and hopefully he will be back challenging for honours next season.

From the point of view of my list to follow the too most prolific Nicholls runners were Neptune Collonges and Star De Mohaison, like Kauto Star both were French imports.

The grey Neptune Collonges won 4 of his 7 starts over hurdles and is expected to do even better over fences, particularly when he gets his preferred soft ground.  Three of his wins, at Sandown, Wetherby and Haydock came in Grade 2 company but arguably his best runs were in defeat.  At Christmas he ran a blinder when 2nd to My Way de Solzen in the Long Walk Hurdle which was rerouted to Chepstow.  The subsequent exploits of the winner make this some performance in hindsight.  Neptune Collonges missed Cheltenham but ran at Aintree where he was 3rd to the redoubtable Black Jack Ketchum.  This was on good ground showing that he does not absolutely have to have it soft or heavy.  Neptune Collonges was already a winner over fences before coming to the UK so was denied a novice chasing season. He looks an exciting prospect for the better races over fences in 2006/7.

After winning at Aintree in October Star de Mohaison finished 2nd and 3rd in races won by The Listener, before getting back in the winning track when 1/3 favourite at Fontwell. His season will be remembered though for an almost unprecedented  spring double.

He was a relatively unconsidered 14/1 shot for the Royal and Sunalliance chase at the Festival but in a race where many were let down by their jumping Star de Mohaison jumped like a stag and really only Idle Talk, another from our list to follow posed any likely threat at all over the last couple of fences.

He then went to Aintree and won the Mildmay Novices.  Again he was chased home by a couple of horses from our list to follow, Turpin Green and Copsale Lad, but again, although he had to dig deep on the run in he showed accuracy of jumping and real pace to mark himself down as a novice of some potential.  Only one other horse had completed this particular Cheltenham and Aintree double and that was the ill fated Monsieur Le Cure.

Sticking with the French imports Alan King enjoyed plenty of success with Halcon Genelardais and, especially from My Way de Solzen. Halcon Genelardais fell at the last fence on his UK debut at Aintree and then finished 4th at Bangor before running up a hat trick of wins in soft ground novice chases, the best of which was a Grade 2 at Wetherby.  Very soft ground may be the key to this horse and the Welsh National could be a suitable long term aim.

My Way de Solzen ended the season with form figures of 21112.  His first run was a handicap hurdle where he finished well and was only beaten a neck.

There was much better to come though as he went on to take the Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow, getting the better of Neptune Collonges in a race where the hot favourite Inglis Drever was disappointing and was well beaten when falling.  My Way de Solzen then made all to beat Dancing Brave at Fontwell on his way to a memorable victory in the World Hurdle.

My Way de Solzen won a thrilling race at Cheltenham just holding off the fast finishing Golden Cross ridden by flat jockey Johnny Murtagh.  This was a gutsy display on ground that was not as soft as he would have liked.  This was though a pulsating race run at an end to end gallop with Chocolate Thornton excelling on the winner. As a horse to follow My Way de Solzen couldn’t be faulted as his wins at Chepstow and Cheltenham came at 12/1 and 8/1 respectively.  Mighty Man was sent off 4/1 favourite for the World Hurdle and finished a creditable 3rd.  Mighty Man started the season unbeaten from 4 starts but his campaign was dogged by ill luck for much of the time. He just got up to beat The Market Man by a head at Cheltenham in December giving Richard Johnson his hundredth winner of the season but his next two races proved frustrating.  Firstly, on New Years day The French Furze was allowed to slip the field and established a massive lead which Mighty Man just failed to cut down, going under by 3 parts of a length, he was then arguably unlucky in the Cleeve Hurdkle, run at Sandown when he flew home in second after meeting with some interference.

He made up for the disappointments on his final run at Aintree where he reversed the Cheltenham form with My Way de Solzen, the pair of them pulling well clear of the rest of the field. Ridden much closer to the pace this time Mighty Man clearly appreciated the track and the good ground.  My Way de Solzen, a taller bigger animal looks likely to go chasing next season while Mighty Man may well be kept to hurdles.  Mighty Man was actually the first horse to be unsaddled in the new Aintree winner’s enclosure.

Another horse from our list to follow that just failed at Cheltenham was the grey Monet’s Garden. Nicky Richards’ star apparently does not take too much racing and therefore it was no surprise that he only ran 4 times during the season.  His only reversal was in the Arkle at the Festival when he finished 2nd to Voy Por Ustedes.  In fact he was the only horse to give that winner a race.  His other wins came at Ayr (twice) and Carlisle, all at long odds on.  Monet’s Garden jumps particularly well and seems quite versatile when it comes to trip.  It is said that he is best on a flat track.

Robert Alner’s grey gelding The Listener is related to a couple of jumpers that have featured in my list to follow previously, Fork Lightning and Distant Thunder. He won his first 3 novice chases in decent company, beating Star de Mohaison twice but having jumped really well in those races fell on his 2 subsequent starts, the second of which was the Royal and SunAlliance at the Festival.

Racing Demon started the season in most people’s lists to follow after his second to No Refuge at Cheltenham the year before and he was a hugely popular winner on his first start of the season at Exeter in the race after Best Mate’s demise.  Wins at Sandown and Exeter again followed, but although made favourite for the Arkle he could only finish 7th, confirming the suspicion that his future probably lies in staying chases rather than speed events.

Sir Mark Prescott’s flat stable has provided jumps trainers with some decent hurdlers in recent years and the latest to come off that conveyor belt was Straw Bear.  He had the right sort of profile having won 3 times on the flat up to 11 furlongs and shown a liking for soft ground.  He notched up 3 wins in novice hurdles under Tony McCoy, the best of which was a Grade 2 at the Aintree Grand National meeting.  He lost nothing in defeat when a neck second to Noland in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham and ended his campaign with another second in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival and remains an exciting hurdles prospect for trainer Nick Gifford.

An otherwise excellent Cheltenham festival was marred by the deaths of 9 horses.  Three of those fatalities occurred in the National Hunt Chase for amateur riders, including Millenaire from my list to follow. He had been a profitable selection winning 3 novice chases at odds of 9/2, 7/2 and 4/1 ridden each time by AP McCoy.

Other multiple winners on the list were Cerium, The interestingly named Senorita Rumbalita and Rasharrow. The trouble with putting Lenny Lungo’s horses on a list to follow is that they tend to “mop up” in the North at skinny prices but fail to win on their trips down south.  Rasharrow rather came into this category winning at odds of 1/4, 1/5 & 4/6 at Kelso, Ayr and Perth but losing in between at Sandown and Cheltenham.  In fairness he was highly tried on those occasions and he ran well enough in his final novice hurdle win at Perth to suggest that he could do well over fences.

Like Rasharrow, Senorita Rumbalita boasted winning bumper form from the previous season and went on to score 3 times in novice hurdles.  Mind you, that should by rights have been 4 wins but on her debut at Wincanton her saddle slipped jumping the last and she parted company with Andrew Thornton allowing Barton Park to take the race at 100/1.  Her best win was at Sandown where she should a good turn of foot to collar Mister Quasimodo close home at odds of 11/2.  She went on to run with great credit at Aintree where she was 4th to Straw Bear.  Cerium was not in the front rank of Paul Nicholl’s novice chasers but he did land races at Warwick, Aintree and Wincanton.

The list to follow also supplied some big priced winners, the most profitable being Florida Dream, a full brother to the great Florida Pearl.  While not having his illustrious relative’s class he did his job as a horse to follow with wins at 8/1 and 20/1.  His jumping was not always the best but first time blinkers may have done the trick for the first win at Huntingdon.  His second success came in a handicap chase at Wincanton where he led the field a merry dance and made just about every yard of the distance under top weight.  This was a gallant performance from the front having set a pretty fearsome tempo.

Another horse to win by making all the running was Andrew Balding’s Briareus.  He put in a smart performance to win a grade 2 hurdle at Wincanton at 14/1, really turning the proceedings into a bit of a procession and pulling 14 lengths clear of the second, Royal Shakespeare.  He was not disgraced when 6th in the Champion Hurdle but is really built for chasing and will almost certainly be seen in that sphere next term.

Three other notable big priced winners were Go For Bust, River Alder and Valley Ride, all showing that sometimes one win is enough to ensure a profit from following a horse.  Nicky Henderson’s Go For Bust won once in 7 starts in a handicap hurdle at Ludlow at 18/1, River Alder won a  handicap Hurdle at Kelspo at 20/1 from only 3 starts while Valley Ride was a 10/1 winner at Bangor from 6 starts.  Having said that, Valley Ride should have recorded another win when he lost a race at Stratford in October in quite bizarre circumstances. 

In a dramatic conclusion to a competitive handicap Valley Ride swerved badly right under the whip on the run-in and unseated his rider Tom Doyle ten yards from the line when clear in the lead.

Howard Johnson had enjoyed a dream of a season in the previous year but found things much tougher this time with his horses running below par for much of the time.  I had a fair sprinkling of his horses on my list to follow but most disappointed.

Inglis Drever looked on course to defend his World Hurdle title when winning with ears pricked at Wetherby first time out and went on to get the better of Baracouda at Newbury but things went wrong after that and he never made it to the Festival, while No Refuge only registered one win, a grade 2 hurdle at Windsor in mid November.  Two of the Johnson horses that paid their way for me were Lennon and Galero.  Lennon won twice with the second win coming in a handicap hurdle at Perth right at the end of the season which he won at 9/1.   Galero won a novice chase at Musselburgh at the same odds under an excellent ride from Graham Lee. Both horse and jockey did well to fend off the challengers up the straight. This was a gritty victory and he is certainly a horse with size and stature.

I didn’t have much luck with Martin Pipe’s horses on my list.  The giant Bannow Strand won a couple but didn’t really fulfil his considerable potential and Standin’ Obligation was probably the most successful of the Pipe horses with 3 wins.  The best of these came in a competitive big field handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in November.  From a betting point of view his most profitable win came in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in April where he fairly romped home at 14/1 under Timmy Murphy.

Restless D’Artaix looked a useful prospect for Nicky Henderson when winning cosily at Newbury in a novice hurdle on his second run after finishing a  promising 3rd on his UK debut at the same venue.  He didn’t run again so presumably must have had some sort of problem.

Villon had an even more restricted season running just once.  Villon had won a couple of bumpers and also twice over hurdles and there were high hopes for him over fences.  He duly obliged in a beginners chase at Uttoxeter beating Roman Ark but like Restless D’Artaix was not seen again.  The problem now will be that he has lost his novice status for next season without having gained much experience.

Another Lenny Lungo inmate Brooklyn Breeze paid his way for me.  Although better known as a chaser he landed a handicap hurdle at Aintree in October coming off the pace with a strong finish under Gary Berridge at odds of 13/2.  He showed the benefit of a wind operation here but only ran twice more, which included a decent 4th to Sir OJ in the Robin Cook Memorial Chase at Cheltenham.

Handicap hurdle races have never really been my forte but this year I seemed to do OK with my selections in them.  Ursis looked a likely horse to follow from Jonjo O’Neill’s yard.  A winner on the flat in France he had won with some ease on his hurdles debut at Wetherby the previous season.  After a “sighter” at Chepstow he justified favouritism in a handicap at Wetherby making all in October, and after a  3 month break cruised to victory at Chepstow making light of a 6 lbs rise in the weights.  His winning odds were 6/4 and 3/1.  Another successful “U” was Undeniable, a thoroughly genuine and consistent chaser from Sue Smith’s yard. He unseated once in 8 starts but was in the first 3 in all his other races winning twice.  The first of these came over 2.5 miles at Huntingdon where he was running 11 lbs below his hurdling mark, and then at Carlisle over 3 miles.  In between he was 3rd in the Kim Muir at the Festival.

I have already mentioned Mister Quasimodo.  A dual bumper winner he proved a useful novice hurdler winning at Chepstow and Exeter, the latter at odds of 6/1.  His best effort was when 2nd of 11 to Noland in a listed event at Exeter.

The Reveley family have provided me with a few winners over the years and this season I followed Keith Reveley’s Into the Shadows.  This mare won handicap hurdles at Huntingdon and Ayr and managed to sandwich a win on the all weather at Southwell in between.

I normally manage to spot when a horse from my list to follow are entered but in the case of All in the Stars I didn’t realise he was running until I noticed him about halfway round at Fontwell on the TV in November.  Held up by young conditional Daryl Jacob he came through to win the 3.5 mile handicap chase nicely in the end at 8/1.  He then contested the Hennessey where he finished well in 5th behind Trabolgan.  His jumping was not the best that day and again let him down when he stayed on stoutly to finish second to Royal Auclair in the Mears handicap, a listed race, in December. A second deserved success did come his way in the Country Gentleman’s Association Chase at Wincanton in February again at 8/1.  He went to Ayr well fancied for the Scottish National but ran no sort of race and was pulled up.

Another handicap chaser to show a profit for me was staying chaser Rosie Redman who won at Kelso in April at 7/1, a race she had won the season before.

I have already mentioned some of the principle races at the Cheltenham Festival.  Two winners from my list to follow that gave me particular satisfaction were Reveillez (in the Jewson) and Non So (Racing Post Chase).  I had followed both horses for a number of years.  Reveillez was a decent handicapper on the flat and also a winner over hurdles and he landed a gamble in the Jewson. He came to the festival having won a small novice chase at Folkestone and jumped and travelled well for Tony McCoy to repel a determined challenge from Copsale Lad up the run in.  Mick Fitzgerald, who was on board Copsale Lad rode Non So to a comfortable and deserved win at 14/1.  The horse whose name in Italian means “I don’t know” had been an unlucky loser of a coupe, of decent races the previous season.

Three horses that were involved in memorable finishes were Cornish Sett, King Killone and Turpin Green. 

Paul Nicholl’s Cornish Sett ran consistently in good company for most of the season and won a novice chase at Newbury in November a couple of days before my birthday.  I best remember him for a terrific finish to the Vodaphone Gold Cup when he dead heated with Horus.  Horus has led most of the way bur Cornish Sett collared him up the run in only for the Pipe horse to fight back again.  It was a result to smile about as neither horse deserved to lose.  The post race presentation featured messrs Nicholls and Pipe both with a hand on the trophy.

King Killone’s win in a novice chase at Newcastle was really in stark contrast to Cornish Sett’s epic battle as he came home in splendid isolation, the only one of the 5 runners to finish.  A 9/1 winner for my list to follow nonetheless.  He has earlier won a four runner novice chase at the same track beating odds on favourite Wild Cane Ridge by a short head in a race where another of my list horses, Galero, was pulled up.

I had high hopes for Turpin Green trained by Nicky Richards.  He got off to a winning start getting the better of Sue Smith’s Rebel Rhythm in a gruelling battle up the hill at Carlisle but that proved to be his only success. Having watched that race at Carlisle you really wouldn’t have questioned the horses resolve but he made a right mess of things two runs later in the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown.  He came to the last with the race in the bag but tried to refuse and ended up climbing over the fence and losing all momentum allowing Napolitain to steal the race. He was then 5th behind Reveillez in the Jewson but went a long way to redeeming himself with a good effort in 2nd place behind Star de Mohaison at Aintree.

Copsale Lad has received a couple of mentions along the way.  His best efforts were when chasing home Reveillez and Star de Mohaison in big races but he did also win a  couple, of novice chases, both over 21 furlongs at Lingfield.

Rebel Rhythm is a horse I have always liked.  After his losing effort behind Turpin Green at Carlisle he won at Wetherby but struggled after that and may have had breathing problems.  He did end the season on a winning note though with a comfortable 28 length success at Market Rasen.

Crow Wood, a winner of 7 races on the flat took to hurdles quite well winning twice, including the fiercely competitive 17 runner Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh in February.

Rimski and Penneyrose Bay kept the list to follow ticking over during the early part of the season.  The front running mare Penneyrose Bay won novice hurdles at Worcester (3/1) and Wincanton (11/4).  She went chasing later in the season and ran 2nd in a  beginners chase at Stratford.  The grey Rimski won twice at Chepstow, the second in the Persian War novice hurdle a grade 2 contest over 2.5 miles.  Hr didn’t really live up to that early promise as the season unfolded but did finish 6th in the Royal and SunAlliance.  The pick of his later efforts was probably when 2nd to Standin’ Obligation in an 18 runner handicap in April.

I decided to keep Alderburn on my list to follow for a second season after he had done OK for me first time round winning a maiden hurdle from Penneyrose Bay at 15/2.  He won a couple of novice chases and justified his inclusion on the list.

Exotic Dancer had looked a talented horse the previous season and I was particularly impressed with his close up third in the Aintree Hurdle at a time when Jonjo O’Neill’s string had been under something of a cloud.  I decided to keep him on my list for another year in the hope that he would make a novice chaser.  In the event his jumping tended to let him down but he did manage to win one of his 4 starts, beating Bewley’s Berry, another horse from the list, in a 4 runner event at Cheltenham.

Billyvoddan and Idle Talk both got their novice chasing careers off to a promising start.  Billyvoddan won two of his 6 starts, beating Reveillez in the second of these at Leicester.  Idle Talk also won twice but his best effort was in defeat when chasing home Star de Mohaison at the Festival.

Charlie Egerton’s cutely named Mr Pointment had won a bumper at Bangor the year before and had a light campaign in 05/06 winning novice hurdles at Market Rasen and Fakenham. And put in a career best when 5th in the Royal and Sunalliance hurdle, where Glasker Mill another from the list to follow was 7th and Rimsky 6th.  Glasker Mill is with Henrietta Knight so will be a chaser in time a feeling enhanced by the way he won over the fixed brush hurdles at Haydock in January.  He is owned by Trevor Hemmings.

The BHB Order of Merit scheme has its detractors and I must admit that its finale did become a bit of a fiasco but the eventual winner Royal Shakespeare, although short of top class gave his all throughout the season.  In search of the Order of Merit crown he was sent to the races 12 times, all in good company, and although only winning twice he was never disgraced.  His best win was in a Grade 2 at Wincanton early in the season.
Going into the last day of the season Monkerhostin was 4 points behind Royal Shakespeare, who edged ahead of him at Ayr on the previous Saturday.  At one point it looked as though both horses would go for the Celebration Chase at Sandown on the last day of the season even though Royal Shakespeare had never jumped a fence in public.  In the end neither horse ran and connection agreed to share the prize money.

I will end this year’s review with my favourite race of the season.  The Grand National saw a couple of horses from our list to follow claiming places. Clan Royal was well fancied on the day and quite rightly so.  A narrow and possibly unlucky second to Amberleigh House on 2004 and carried out when leading in 2005 he was campaigned over hurdles during the to protect his handicap mark.  He actually won over timber at Market Rasen in March showing his wellbeing but on the day at Aintree just found a couple too good.  He will be 12 next year and his chance has probably gone but he will go down as a real Aintree specialist, in the same vein as the likes of Spanish Steps, and a horse that deserved to win a National.  I fancied Nil Desperandum each way at a big price but lost confidence on the day and deserted him.  Having come 6th in 2005 he again ran a big race to finish 4th at 33/1.  This was his last run under Irish trainer Frances Crowley as the horse will be trained in England next season.  No doubt another visit to Aintree will be on the cards.

 

 

 

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