These days there is a seemingly endless array of “Guides to the jumps” that vary in quality. One that I have been buying for years is “Jumping Prospects” written by John Morris. John is both passionate about the sport and extremely knowledgeable and his book is the result of meticulous research. The book contains trainer interviews and horses to follow with comments from both the trainers and Mr Morris.
The winners have already started to flow including one at 25/1. This book will provide you with plenty of information for the new season and help to find those all important winners. Nobody could accuse John of being greedy as the book is on offer at the eminently fair price of £15.
Anyway, follow this link to the Jumping Prospects web site.
By late October it always seems to me that flat racing has rather out stayed its welcome so I will start with the jumpers.
Haydock
Races considered
Haydock 4.00 Fergal O’Brien trained his first winner the other day at Carlisle and he saddles Dammam here. This half brother to De Soto has good form in point to points and hunter chases, stays well, acts on the ground and will be partnered by Timmy Murphy. He should go well.
4.35 I had hopes that Moscow Chancer would pay his was this season but he was pulled up last week at Chepstow. I won’t give up on him just yet though.
Punchestown
Races considered
2.15 Nearest the Pin has impressed in his short career so far winning over hurdles at Fairyhouse in a race that has worked out well and finishing runner up at Punchestown in May. Ruby Walsh rides him for the first time.
2.45 A winner 4 times over hurdles Stonemaster has always looked a chaser in the making and was second on his debut over fences a couple of weeks ago.
5.30 Burn and Turn, a course and distance looks one to follow this season.
Kempton
Races considered
8.35 Basset Road has some miserable recent form but is coming down the weights as a result. The sort to sneak a win somewhere while no one is looking!
9.05 Peponi is still a maiden but two runs ago put in an encouraging effort when 4th at Sandown.
Musselburgh
Races considered
3.30 I have had Gordonsville down as a likely winner in one of these staying races but time is running out. He is not on a bad mark and is a course and distance winner , in fact he won this race in 2009 off a mark 1 lb higher.
Nottingham
Races considered
2.30 Loxton Lad has failed to live up to expectations and drops to a seller here.
3.05 Cameron Highland is a full brother to Field of Miracles and a half brother to Sour Mash. The latter horse has won twice in his career so far – at odds of 25/1 and 20/1!
Turf trivia
Jane Thorne was the second woman to ride a winner over fences. Earlier she had finished 2nd in the 1978 Whitbread Gold Cup riding her father’s horse Spartan Missile. Spartan Missile was later to finish 2nd to Alderniti in the Grand National of 1981.
Good luck
ahorse 