Horse Racing tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s 10 to follow for the new jumps season

*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules.

I’ve gone with a mix of some superstars the making and unexposed novice hurdlers who are not that obvious – yet – from my 10 to follow for the 2020/21 jumps season.

1 Pic D’Orhy (Paul Nicholls)

Won the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last season at 33/1 and is now going novice chasing. Pic D’Orhy has a lot of size and scope about him. Looks to be a chaser that could be top drawer material.

2 Shishkin  (N Henderson)

Won the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival despite lots going wrong for him. He’s beaten all the top novice hurdler in the diviosn so there’s a very good chance that he should be doing the same in the novice chase division. Given the roll of honour of previous Supreme Novice Hurdler who go chasing, Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin looks a top-class recruit to the chasing ranks.

3 Saint Roi (W Mullins)

Won last year’s County Hurdle easily at Cheltenham on just his fourth start over timber and marked himself down as as major player in the hurdling ranks. Has already run this season with another cosy success at Tipperary a couple of weeks ago on his seasonal debut. Don’t be surprised to see Saint Roi heading down the Champion Hurdle route this season.

4 Envoi Allen (G Elliott)

I thought he could have been a Champion Hurdle contender but connections have confirmed that  they are going chasing. Unbeaten in a point-to-point and on all his racecourses starts this far, he is going to attract attention wherever he goes.

Gordon Elliott has said Envoi Allen will be aimed him at the Peter Marsh Chase at the Cheltenham Festival ahead of a crack at the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup if everything goes to plan in his novice season.

5 Monkfish (W Mullins)

A game winner of the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. A massive horse, Monkfish will take some stopping in staying novice chases this season in Ireland ahead of Cheltenham 2021 where something like the RSA Chase could be on the agenda.

6 Pipesmoker (N Henderson)

He’s still a maiden but will be worth following this year as placed behind a couple of smart horses in Chantry House and Sporting John over hurdles in his three-race career. Probably will be better before the ground gets too deep but Pipesmoker one to mark down as he progresses through the season.

7 Santini (N Henderson)

Pipesmoker’s more illustrious stablemate came very close to winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season when finishing with a flourish and just failing to catch Al Boum Photo. Santini is made for the Grand National but with headgear on can be a player in the Gold Cup again. Bound to be a contender in all the top staying chases this term.

8 Boothill (H Fry)

He beat Bothwell Bridge in a Kempton National Hunt lat race last February at Kempton and could be anything. Boothill is worth tracking as he starts out on a juvenile hurdle career this season.

9 Bear Ghylls (N Martin)

I was watching the racing from Warwick one day and saw this son of Arcadio absolutely bolt up by 19 lengths in a good time  in a bumper. Definitely one for the tracker is Bear Ghylls.

10 Ribble Valley (N Richards)

I don’t think we saw the best of him when he stepped up in Grade last season. I was at Wetherby when he brought up the hat-trick over hurdles by slamming Sir Valentine by 11 lengths. Ribble Valley made his debut when sixth to that rival with the likes of Thyme Hill and Mcfabulous in front – and behind – in a Cheltenham bumper so the potential is there.

*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules.

Read More:

• Sprint over to all the top tips and racing previews now
• Ruby Walsh’s 10 to follow for the 2020/21 jumps season
• Paul Jacobs’ 10 to follow for the 2020/21 jumps season
• The latest racing results are just a click away on PP News
• Horse Racing: How to watch racing for free with Paddy Power

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