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1. Black Bamboo (JJ Murphy)
It was a relatively light season for this talented seven-year-old with four runs from the middle of February. However, that doesn’t mask the fact he ran at all three big spring festivals making progress on each occasion. But for me it was the big one that got away, the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. Given exaggerated hold- up tactics, the son of Fame and Glory made stealthy headway down the hill, and gained on the leaders hand over fist when he totally missed out the second last. Back on an even keel he still ran on well to finish 6th of the 21 runners, beaten by 11 lengths. I reckon that mistake cost him at least half a dozen lengths if not more. Sixth of 21 over three miles at Aintree and then third of 17 at Punchestown, back at two and a half miles in the EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final, he reappeared at Killarney in July, back over three miles and was just edged out by Zeeband. Trip is no problem, which is no surprise given his breeding, but I fancy a drop back to a fast run 2m 4f will suit and any further improvement could bring a graded event within reach.
2. Hymac (Harry Fry)
Winning a bumper, and a strong staying second on his final point-to-point start, were just bonuses for this son of Ask who was always going to progress once he saw a fence under rules and then run over a distance of ground. He jumped poorly on his opening run over the larger obstacles at Chepstow, but maybe that was down to the pace in the race over two and a half miles, and he gradually left that run way behind until given a proper test of stamina. That came over three and a half miles at Cheltenham in April, when he enjoyed the rhythm of that race, jumping smoothly and efficiently, before making ground up down the far side of the track for the final time. Turning for home, Hymac forged clear with Midnight Our Fred, before staying on strongly up the hill to record a length and a half success. That run came on good ground, but he’d already shown an aptitude for a deeper surface and the key to future success is surely running over a stamina sapping trip. A mark in the mid-120’s will need improving to make it into the Welsh National field, but I suspect there is plenty more left in his lung-busting tank and he is an exciting staying prospect for the top handicaps.
3. Quai De Bourbon (Willie Mullins)
Quai De Bourbon looked pretty ordinary on two runs over hurdles in France and was then sent to Willie Mullins. But we know what the maestro can do, and on his Irish debut he waltzed home to the tune of 4.5 lengths in a Naas maiden hurdle, and followed up dropped to the minimum trip at Clonmel. That second win showed Mullins he was more of a galloper than a speed merchant, and sent off at only 4/1 for the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, he stayed on dourly in the closing stages after being badly outpaced down at the second last before running the smart Better Days Ahead to two lengths. The gelding didn’t need to run to that kind of level to get back to winning ways when landing a novice hurdle at Ayr on fast ground. However, his hurdling career is only the start of this story, as he has the perfect physique for jumping a fence, and I suspect even before he has jumped an obstacle in public the Brown Advisory could be his long term aim to really put his sire on the breeding map. Patrick Mullins seems sweet on him too though for the National Hunt Chase in Paddy’s NH Preview Show.
4. Patriotik (Evan Williams)
The most recent entry to run in the 10, this grey gelding was a huge eye catcher in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on October 12th. Extensively raced as a novice, his campaign last year included a soft ground point-to-point success and a two and a half mile novice hurdle win at Ffos Las. He ran well under his penalty twice, back at the West Wales track, including on a quicker surface before being put away. Backed from 25/1 to 14/1 for this valuable two and a half mile event, the five-year-old travelled well through the race, making stealthy headway on the bridle from the middle of the back straight until turning for home. The pace then noticeably quickened, and on drying ground, it was no surprise to see he was badly outpaced. It took him time to get back on an even keel under pressure, but he rallied to an extent that he was only beaten 15 lengths, and closing at the line. It doesn’t take an oracle to guess he needs further in a well run race and probably on deeper ground. Unlikely to go up for this run I suspect a mark in the low 120’s can be readily excavated on testing ground.
From: The Horse’s Mouth Podcast: National Hunt Season Preview on the Paddy Power Racing YouTube Channel.
5. Regent’s Stroll (Paul Nicholls)
A well-made and tall individual, I was really taken by this stoutly bred gelding when I saw him in the parade ring for his second start at Newbury, having won on his debut at Ascot, despite a slowly run race being against him. Still looking a shade green going to post, Cobden had him in the first three all the way around, until he was clearly outpaced at around three and a half furlongs out and for a moment looked in trouble. The first of the leading bunch to come under pressure, he responded well and hit the front a furlong and a half out, he fairly bounded clear inside the final 200 yards. Those two runs were merely an education and a starting point for him, as he clearly has a big engine inside. You fancy that two and a half miles may be a minimum for him over timber and this strong galloper is an exciting prospect.
6. Rocheval (Lucinda Russell)
With her two Grand National wins, and a tremendous record with staying chasers, Lucinda Russell is viewed by many as purely a stayer of horses from that domain, but with this son of Kapgarde, she has an above average young timer-topper to go to war with this season. Easy winner of his sole bumper at Aintree, and equally as impressive landing a juvenile hurdle at Ayr in December, the four-year-old visited the race track on just one more occasion when despatching his two opponents with relative ease in a conditions race at Carlisle despite a sloppy jump at the final obstacle. Plenty of give in the ground is reportedly very important for him, and his trainer is eyeing a run in much higher grade in the four-year-old hurdle at Cheltenham at the Showcase meeting. If the going isn’t suitable then he is likely to stay up north for another minor event before being raised in class on his favoured surface.
7. Royal Infantry (Dan Skelton)
Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott provided the first seven home in the Weatherby’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, and it was this son of Soldier of Fortune that was the first British entry home, staying on at the one pace, finding the race an insufficient test of stamina which was no surprise based on his breeding and previous wins. Those wins came at Doncaster and then in a Listed event at Newbury. In the latter race, he came from way off the pace to win very readily, and although none of his nine rivals won again after that race, visually he looks a real galloper. Novice hurdles await, and I think a minimum of two of a half miles will be his calling, although word from the yard is that he will start off over the minimum trip.
8. Salvator Mundi (Willie Mullins)
It was no hidden secret this son of No Risk At All was being touted as something special well before he landed at Closutton, after he ran the other of our ‘top 10’ Sir Gino, to a length and three quarters as a three-year-old in France. However, it was a full 11 months further down the line before we saw him again. Pushed in at the deep end for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, he was a relatively weak 17/2 shot, and went as if he needed the run for fitness and experience, briefing making a dangerous move between the third and second last before his effort petered out. His sights were duly lowered when he made all to win an ordinary Tipperary maiden hurdle by a distance. I have it on good authority his work has been of the highest order and he’s strengthened up since last year and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle could well be his season aim.
9. Sir Gino (Nicky Henderson)
We will end with two players from the famous Seven Barrows’ yard, and while all eyes will of course be on stable mate Constitution Hill as he bids to regain his Champion Hurdle crown from State Man, this youngster could prove the surprise package. Word from Lambourn is that the Hill has recovered well from several issues at the start of the year and is pleased in his work. The outstanding hurdler of his generation, he will be eight come next March, but if he does come back to his best I think it’s fair to say he won’t be beaten and has been very heavily backed in the ante-post markets based on his well being and work. However, I always want to oppose a horse returning from the best part of a year on the sidelines with several problems, and although he will be a five-year-old, I fancy his stable mate to make a big improvement this year. It’s been well documented before their second season, ‘juvenile’ hurdlers have a horrendous record against their seniors, but Sir Gino has a huge engine and the scope physically to improve massively on what he’s achieved so far, as indeed he must do to make a mark at the highest level. His high cruising speed, allied to slick jumping could see him become the biggest danger in this division to the former champ, and this five-year-old could prove the value each-way play for next March.
10. The Carpenter (Nicky Henderson)
I was at Newbury in March 2023 when this grey gelding attempted to follow up his win in a novice hurdle at Exeter and I was hugely impressed by his demeanour in the parade ring and in the race. Always going well under Nico among the first three, once asked for more effort, the now eight-year-old lengthened his stride and easily pulled 11 lengths and more clear of his nine rivals.
He once again travelled strongly when entering the world of handicapping, and defied an opening mark of 134, for a workmanlike success at Uttoxeter six weeks later. Such was the high standard of his home schooling over fences that Henderson sent him straight to Ascot for his chasing debut where he went off the 13/8 second favourite. However, he continually jumped to his left and could not get into rhythm. After a pulled up effort at Exeter, the yard found he had more than one niggly issue, which was stopping him duplicating his schooling promise. With those problems sorted, I’m told he’s working nicely and a mark in the early 130’s looks sure to excavated by his astute handler.
* 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
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