With the first meeting of the season at Cheltenham tomorrow the jumps season is just about to step up a gear.
Snap Tie was a more than useful hurdler but fell short of the highest class. I always got the impression that he would make a chaser and tomorrow he has the chance to prove it in the 2.55. With the ground in his favour he looks set to make a winning start to his chasing career. He likes Cheltenham and has gone well fresh in the past so there are plenty of plus points.
Tot ‘O Whiskey is another runner from my list to follow. He goes in the 3.30 but is perhaps best watched for the present as he was pulled up on his last start.
The Jigsaw Man is a dual bumper winner with both his successes coming at Stratford. In between these starts he was a creditable second in a bumper at Galway. He looks a nice prospect and makes his hurdles bow in the 5.50 with Tony McCoy in the saddle. Both his wins have come on good to firm although he probably handles any surface.
There is also some decent flat racing, mainly at Newmarket. In the opener at 1.30 House Point looks an interesting runner. He is related to several winners including point of light.
A couple of newcomers to look out for in the 2.00 are Sour Mash and Nibani. Both are more likely to be longer term prospects but they will be worth noting in this race and their future progress should also be followed.
In the 3.10 Glass Harmonium and Palavicini represent my list to follow. Although Rio de la Plata has obvious claims I will go with Glass Harmonium for my selection. He impressed me at Royal Ascot and there may have been excuses for his subsequent defeat.
There are 4 from my list to follow in the 3.45. Splashdown, Mooakada, Hidden Brief and Leocorno all have claims. There may be more to come from the lightly raced Leocorno and she may also benefit from this drop back in trip. She is the selection.
Hevelius (5.35) is a lightly raced type and has dropped a few pounds in the handicap. Not without ability and comes into this with an each way chance.
There are a couple of runners from my list to follow in action at Redcar, 3.55 Blue Lyric and 5.40 Cook’s Endeavour.
One Good Emperor has done enough on hi last couple of runs on the all weather to put him in with a shout in the 6.15 at Wolverhampton while Ruthie Babe should go close in the 6.45.
Today’s pictures are by kind permission of the artist Jane Dunn.
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