We’ve seen a multitude of impressive displays over the past few weeks, and it hasn’t been easy to narrow it down just ten. I’ve tried to include a few lesser known names who are progressing well, rather than focusing solely on the established stars we all already know about.
The Big Westerner
In the Grade 2 Mares’ Novice Chase at Limerick, what the market suggested would be a two-horse race saw Jade De Grugy strongly fancied to account for Henry de Bromhead’s challenger, but that expectation proved wide of the mark. The Big Westerner produced a bold round of jumping throughout and stayed on strongly to win pretty snugly in the end, by two and three-quarter lengths. She looks a real chasing type and should be a big player whichever race her connections opt for next. To my eye, the Brown Advisory looks the most suitable target for her, and soft ground would strengthen her chances.
El Cairos
Many may view this as a strange suggestion given the quality of racing over the festive period, but one of my standout performances came from a horse who fell. He had already shown a good level of ability in his earlier days with Gary and Josh Moore (now with Gordon Elliott), notably finishing fifth in the Cheltenham Bumper, but everything we saw over Christmas suggests he has improved markedly and is a very smart individual. He lined up in a typically strong Leopardstown maiden hurdle on Boxing Day, taking on a rival with plenty of ability himself in Doctor Du Mesnil. The first indication of how highly he is regarded came in the market, with a wave of support seeing him displace the Willie Mullins trained favourite and being backed heavily into 8/15 at the off. He travelled strongly throughout, tracking the leaders, before he and four others pulled clear turning for home. Thanks to the side-on camera angle, we were able to witness El Cairos unleash a devastating turn of foot, quickening past the leaders with little more than a shake of the reins from Jack Kennedy. He got in close to the last but appeared to jump it safely, only to lose his footing shortly after landing, stumbling and taking a nasty-looking fall through the rails. Thankfully, he has come out of the incident none the worse and has since been installed as favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The blistering speed he showed was hugely impressive, and Gordon Elliott has spoken very positively about him. Wherever he turns up next, he will be hard to beat and it will take a top-class performance to deny him in the Supreme.
King Rasko Grey
In the Galopin Des Champs colours, Willie Mullins unleashed another talented individual into hurdling on the 28th at Limerick. He raced prominently under Danny Mullins, travelling smoothly throughout. He jumped well — bar a slight error at the last — and put the race to bed easily under hands and heels when asked. It was a good race too. Smart bumper performer Shuttle Diplomacy finished two-and-three-quarter lengths back, while the seven-length bumper winner Kaiser Ball was well beaten in third. He looks one of Closutton’s leading novice hurdlers, and he shapes as though he will stay further than this, giving him several options at Cheltenham. Wherever he lines up, he will be a major player.
Mambonumberfive
Not the Ben Pauling trained chaser who won at Kempton over Christmas that many people will be focusing on, but I thought Mambonumberfive was hugely impressive. He had already made the perfect start to life over fences, winning nicely at Aintree and Newbury. That form has worked out well and he took another step forward on the 27th in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase, seeing off four previous winners. If you had backed him, you might not have been entirely comfortable throughout, as he made a couple of consecutive errors at the seventh and eighth fences. However, he recovered well and, turning for home, he made really smooth headway from the rear when pushed along before asserting in stylish fashion to win by seven lengths. The ease with which he put the race to bed was striking. Still only five years old, he looks to have plenty more to come and could develop into a genuine top-level performer. The Arkle has been mentioned (whether he’ll prove good enough is another question), but he is certainly one to keep onside wherever he goes and he has a great name too!
Minella Yoga
Paul Nicholls’ impressive grey No Drama This End was an obvious standout on Challow Hurdle day at Newbury, but I was also very taken with his four-year-old Minella Yoga. Purchased for £360,000, he looks a smart individual with plenty of class. He faced a stiff task on his stable/British debut, taking on the stylish course scorer Act Of Innocence, who was sent off the 2/7 favourite. The pair pulled twelve lengths clear of the third and fought out a terrific finish, with Minella Yoga looking in trouble just over two furlongs out. However, he battled back gamely after the last and showed a nice turn of foot to get the better of the favourite, winning by three-quarters of a length. He was in receipt of plenty of weight, but it was still a strong performance to beat an older rival with solid course form. He has been cut to 16/1 for the Triumph Hurdle, although I didn’t get the impression that he is certain to take up that engagement. Whatever the plans, he looks a talented horse to follow in the months and years ahead.
Mossy Fen Road
Harry Derham is a good young trainer who looks set to reach the top of British racing. He is getting his hands on some very smart horses, and Mossy Fen Road looks one of the best of them. He delivered a scintillating performance on Welsh National Day at Chepstow, winning the opener in impressive fashion. There was plenty of money for him and he was backed into even money favourite, so he is clearly well thought of, and rightly so.
He made all at a very strong gallop, topping the speed figures, and his jumping was exemplary throughout. He was in receipt of weight from Spectacularsunrise, but that rival is no mug, having won easily at Kelso and Bangor, so the form has some substance. Mossy Fen Road looks tailor-made for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him each way.
Narciso Has
The Willie Mullins-trained, J.P. McManus-owned four-year-old laid down a clear marker for the Triumph Hurdle with a hugely impressive display on Boxing Day at Leopardstown. It may not prove to be the strongest piece of form, but he could scarcely have been more dominant, storming clear to win by eleven lengths, with previous four-and-a-quarter-length winner Barbizon was left well held back in fourth. Danny Mullins gave him a confident ride throughout, and he travelled strongly and jumped fluently, showing he can handle slightly better ground having previously won on very soft in France. He also looked a strong stayer at this trip, and Cheltenham should suit him well, he looks the type who will be powering up the hill.
Sir Gino
It would be hard to argue against the claim that Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old is the best horse in training. Now unbeaten in seven races, his ability has long been clear for all to see, but he still left a striking impression at Kempton in the Christmas Hurdle.
What makes the performance even more remarkable is that it was his first run in nearly a year, having spent time on the sidelines with a life-threatening infection. That context only adds to how impressive this victory was.He raced prominently throughout, taking a keen hold with his ears pricked, and looked to be thoroughly enjoying himself. He went clear easily before the last, jumped it well, and won with authority by six lengths, defeating the solid Grade 1 mare Golden Ace. It was fantastic for racing to have him back, and he was an absolute joy to watch. Wherever he turns up in March (Champion Hurdle or Champion Chase), he will be very tough to beat and it would be a clash to savour if he takes on The New Lion on Trials Day later this month.
The Jukebox Man
Undoubtedly the highlight of the festive racing, the King George lived up to the billing after such a strong build-up and a truly star-studded field. Admittedly, Harry Redknapp’s contender was one I didn’t particularly fancy beforehand, and I felt he would need to take a sizeable step forward to be competitive against this calibre of opposition, but he did exactly that. I actually backed Banbridge, which was a tough loss to take, losing out by a nose. Anyway, The Jukebox Man jumped beautifully as usual and raced in a handy prominent position, but what really impressed me about the winner was the grit and determination he showed in the closing stages. Headed after the last, he dug deep to fight back and fend off the champion jockey aboard last year’s winner.There is no doubt he is a major player for this season’s Gold Cup, where he will face a different test, but with course form and question marks still lingering over some of the Irish challengers, he certainly cannot be ruled out.
Thistle Ask
The Skelton team are enjoying an outstanding season, even by their own high standards, and Thistle Ask has been one of their leading lights. He has been extremely progressive, winning at Kelso, Wetherby, Exeter and Kempton.He is now 31lb higher than when he lined up at the Scottish track, and his latest performance at Kempton was exceptional. Like many of the Skelton horses, he jumped beautifully. He travelled strongly, and galloped powerfully throughout, winning by ten lengths, heavily eased down at the line. With the way he is progressing, he looks worth a shot at the Champion Chase, and could be a likely candidate for the Clarence House at Ascot along the way. If opting to miss Cheltenham, he would be difficult to beat in The Celebration Chase at Sandown in April or at Aintree’s Grand National Festival.
If you managed to get this far, well done! Hopefully this was an enjoyable read and you agree with some of my thoughts. You can make a note of these horses — this list should throw up plenty of future winners.
