The National Hunt season has been in full flow for around 2 - 3 weeks now & the biggest race of the season so far takes place this weekend in the shape of Cheltenham's Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase so as a prelude to that I want to put forward my 5 relatively Dark horses for the 2013 / 2014 Jumps season. So here goes in no particular order:
1) Another Sensation 4yo B G Martaline x Powder Card
J.P.McManus / J.O'Neill
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A lovely big horse who I was lucky enough to see make his in the end inauspicious English debut at Sandown in December 2012. On the day he was the talk of the course & was extremely well backed 5/2f. He travelled & jumped well in behind runners & when he was still going well fell 3 out. He did not reappear until the Festival (Fred Winter) when again well backed, he again ran well to a point but in the end was well beaten. He has yet to win a race in 4 starts but clearly is held in a decent regard, he is well handicapped off 128.
I would imagine the top 2 mile handicap hurdles might well be on his agenda with races like The Ladbroke at Ascot, Betfair Hurdle at Newbury & maybe an Imperial Cup at Sandown.
2) Goulanes 7yo B G Mr Combustible - Rebelgione
R.S Brookhouse / D.Pipe
Not so much of a Dark horse as the others in this list but he is my favourite jumps horse at the moment. I first saw him at Newbury in March last year when I was completely taken by him in the paddock. A big strong chaser in the making. His point form was decent as well so I was more than happy to have a punt at 20/1 on him, he of course won & I have followed him ever since.
I am convinced he will win the Welsh National this year before trying a Grand National he is made for those big staying races. The Welsh National appeals as he will love the really soft ground that Chepstow gets in December & he is a relentless galloper. I have a lovely ante post slip that I placed after he won at Newbury in 2012 that he would win a Welsh National by 2014, He is entered at Cheltenham this Saturday for which I am sure he will run well before heading to Chepstow a few days after Xmas.
3) Foundation Man 6yo B G Presenting - Function Dream
P Hickey / J.O'Neill
Grand old style Jumps horse who as always promised to be a better chaser. Has returned in good form this season winning well last week at Kempton, he looks as though the further he goes the better he will be needing all of the 2m4f trip last week & finding the tight Kempton track not in his favour which is even more encouraging that he won.
The big tracks with big fences like Haydock, Aintree, Cheltenham, Newbury, Chepstow, Warwick & Uttoxeter will be right up his street in years to come, from his low mark of 114 he should get better the further he goes. I fully believe that he will be contesting big staying handicap chases by the end of the season. Being by Presenting would suggest that better ground is what he wants but as his mum Function Dream excelled on deep ground & his half brother Captain Chris also goes well on bottomless there must be a good chance that really soft ground will help him. I could see him ending up in Warwick's Classic Chase or Haydock's Peter Marsh this season before tackling the top staying races next season.
4) Owen Mc 5yo B C Oscar - They Call Me Molly
J.P.McManus / N.Meade
No bumper horse impressed me more than Owen Mc last season, he hacked up in 2 decent Fairyhouse races in Nov & Dec 2012 but was not seen since after picking up a slight injury. He also clearly impressed J.P's connections as well as he was added to his collection of good horses. He should have no bother picking up a maiden hurdle before being tried in Graded company. Hopefully he will make it to next year's festival with the Supreme the likely aim or perhaps one of the Handicap Hurdles.
5) Port Melon 5yo Br G Presenting - Omyn Supreme
C.G.Roach / P.Nicholls
An ex English pointer who was extremely impressive in both his wins last season at Tredudannon & Woodford. He was not seen again & has now gone to Paul Nicholls who rates him highly according to his recent RP stable tour. One of my friends who is a keen pointing fan was most impressed by this strong young horse & the time backs that up. He has been entered up in Novice Hurdles recently & wherever he runs I expect him to win, he is entered in a Graded Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham over the weekend which is a positive sign.
Ante Post Selections for 2013 / 2014 NH Season
Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase Grade 3
Ante Post Selections for 2013 / 2014 NH Season
Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase Grade 3
I have been & remain incredibly keen on Rajdhani Express who to me is the perfect fit for this event. A second season Novice who won at the Festival & has been prepared for this race since that victory.
Rajdhani Express 11/1 William Hill
Hennessy Gold Cup Handicap Chase Grade 3
A race which is dominated by second season chaser & more recently by the class horse of the race. Invictus is an obvious contender but at current prices I am happy to leave him alone. Lord Windermere will appear later in this Ante Post selection but at the prices he is tempting but the one I like at this stage in David Pipe's Grey Our Father who has won first time out on each of his three racing seasons, rated 147 he will receive a tempting weight. He has failed to deliver after that first win which is disappointing but first time out this Grey will be a force to be reckoned with.
Our Father 12/1 Bet 365 / BetVictor / Stan James / Ladbrokes
King George VI Chase Grade 1
Stats in recent years have been shot through the roof with the legend that is Kauto Star winning 5 & Long Run now a dual winner.
Before this 7 year olds had a fabulous record so with Long Run running his first disappointing race on these shores at Wetherby & Simonsig having been ruled out the race looks open.
At current odds I like the returning Al Ferof who will hopefully win at Ascot next weekend before going to Kempton & at slightly longer odds Mount Benbulben appeals, some say he jumped awkwardly at Down Royal before unseating but I did not see it that, to me he looked ring rusty & in need of his seasonal reappearance. Kempton should suit this powerful horse who finally won a Grade 1 over fences at Punchestown in April.
Al Ferof 12/1 Generally available
Mount Benbulban 20/1 Generally available
With so many new hurdling prospects on the radar Hurricane Fly faces an uphill task this season.
I have long been a Jezki fan & remain so, he was extremely impressive at Down Royal in a race that was not run to suit him yet he still won. I fully expect him to beat the Hurricane in the Morgiana this weekend.
Melodic Rendezvous was awesome last Saturday & warrants a huge threat if staying 100% all season, his price reflects his trainer's lack of top class success rather than this animal's raw ability. Our Conor was as an impressive Triumph winner as I have seen but I am now concerned about his slightly injury which is always a worry as to how bad it actually is & it is likely his odds may well improve over the next few weeks rather than decrease.
Jezki 8/1 Generally available
Ryanair Chase Grade 1
Benefficient appeals at this stage already a Festival winner is a very backable price as his season will be geared around this race. He is no good over 3 miles anyway so his run at Wetherby is best forgotten.
Benefficient 20/1 Generally available
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Grade 1
Carraig Mor appeared out of the blue to the majority the other week at Uttoxeter but I had been hearing good things over the last few months & before that had won his Point To Point in Ireland beating a now useful hurdler in Mount Gunnery. He is the current favourite for the event at 12/1 but that still appeals as I fully expect this lovely young horse to remain unbeaten before the Festival.
Carraig Mor 12/1 Paddy Power
Ladbrokes World Hurdle Grade 1
At Fishers Cross is the heir apparent to the returning legend of the jumps that is Big Buck's. Big Buck's is the biggest price for this event that he made his own in recent seasons, he is reported in great shape but he may not reappear until the Festival so his price will not likely change much unless At Fisher's Cross disappoints. A speculative selection for me is little Medinas who I have been a fan of for a while in fact I backed him for the Coral Cup last season. He ran an excellent race only getting caught on the line by the mercurial Tidal Bay at Wetherby recently showing that the 3 mile trip holds know fears or the step up in company.
Medinas 40/1 Generally available
Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Grade 1
Bobs Worth will again be hard to beat around his beloved Cheltenham & remains a cracking price at 3/1 but I am looking for a bigger price for chasings Blue Riband so I will take two stabs at the pie with one of my other favourite horses First Lieutenant who has long appealed as a Gold Cup winner. Another Irish raider also appeals & he is Lord Windermere who won last season's RSA Chase many wrote that performance off, to me he won very well jumping superbly & staying on powerfully up to the line. I fully expect him to have improved again over the close season.
First Lieutenant 20/1 Paddy Power / William Hill
Lord Windermere 25/1 888Sport / Winner
Previous course form over the big fences & Grand National form is a big asset these days.
My two long term fancies are Walkon who excelled over the big fences in the Topham & is being aimed at the big one next April. I have no doubt that he will stay the extended 4 miles.
My other fancy is Soll who improved quickly at the end of last season & got into the National field late after bolting up at Sandown, he ran a superb race jumping boldly before making some minor mistakes & fading to 7th. He will be given a lighter preparation this time around & rates an excellent long term wager.
Walkon 66/1 BetVictor / Stan James
Soll 50/1 BetVictor / Stan James
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