IT’S the most wonderful time of the year!
The jumps proper kicks off today at Chepstow and the hunt for the next crop of stars has started.
I fancy OLD PARK STAR to climb to the top of the tree this year for Nicky Henderson — and here are the other 11 horses in my deadly dozen.
DOUJADOU
Trainer: Rebecca Curtis
Form: 1231-
Wants: Test of stamina
THIS strapping lad looks made for fences. He bumped into future Grade 1 winners Bossman Jack and Le Frimeur over hurdles before routing his rivals at Ffos Las in April. He is already rated 129 and there should be plenty more to come now the bigger obstacles are in front of him. The tougher the stamina test, the better he could become.
EVEN THO
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Form: 11-
Wants: 2m4f-plus
ANOTHER one off the Mullins production line. She blew away a field of smart mares at Punchestown and had already shown she could staywell when winning at Limerick on debut. There is stamina all through her pedigree and Graded races beckon.
HARRY LOWES
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Form: 13512-
Wants: 2m4f hurdles
HE could be one of this season’s Skelton handicap projects. He won at Exeter and Bangor then ran a cracker at Aintree despite making a costly mistake when about to challenge. He starts off 128 which makes him dangerous. Skelton is likely to keep him over hurdles for now and the Greatwood has the look of a possible target.
KABRAL DU MATHAN
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Form: 1222/114-
Wants: 2m4f, decent ground
FORGET the Stayers’ Hurdle, it stretched him too far. Kabral Du Mathan had looked electric before that, bolting up at Haydock then travelling all over his rivals in the Relkeel at Cheltenham. Chasing is the next move and he is seriously exciting. Skelton plans to start at two miles but anything around two-and-a-half may prove his sweet spot. Arkle or Manifesto are his big targets.
KHRISMA
Trainer: N Henderson
Form: 2121P-4
Wants: 2m, soft
KHRISMA could be one to catch right in a big handicap. She won twice on soft last season, including when beating future Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Final winner Charisma Cat, before throwing away her chance with a bad mistake at Kelso. She then ran a fine fourth in a big Punchestown handicap despite traffic. She is handicapped to win something big.
LE FRIMEUR
Trainer: Harry Derham
Form: 1/11-1
Wants: At least 2m4f, soft
LE FRIMEUR kept improving last season and signed off by storming home in the Grade 1 staying novice hurdle at Punchestown for Harry Derham. Connections are leaning towards keeping him over hurdles although he has shown he can jump a fence from his Pointing days. There’s a lot more to come whichever road he goes down this season.
MONDOUI’BOY
Trainer: Ben Pauling
Form: 26/1147-
Wants: Softish and 2m4f+
HE has novice chaser written all over him. He won at Ludlow and Ascot before running a belter to finish fourth in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. Aintree looked one race too many afterwards. Ben Pauling is clearly excited about sending him over fences and it is easy to see why. He stays three miles but a bit shorter could suit better early. There should be a big prize in him.
NO DRAMA THIS END
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Form: 111P1-
Wants: 2m4f
NO DRAMA THIS END was one of the stars of last season’s novice hurdle crop. He won Grade 2s at Cheltenham and Sandown before taking the Challow at Newbury with an impressive front-running display. He had a nightmare start in the Turners at the Festival but bounced back at Perth. Now rated 144, he goes chasing with a big reputation. He should be a proper top-level novice chaser.
OLD PARK STAR
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Form: 323-1111
Wants: 2m, decent ground
OLD PARK STAR achieved plenty over hurdles but chasing is surely his game. He went four-from-four over timber for Hendo and capped it by landing the Supreme at Cheltenham after earlier taking a Haydock Grade 2. He has speed, stamina and attitude, which is a pretty handy combination. The Arkle at Cheltenham looks the obvious aim but do not be surprised if he proves even better over two-and-a-half miles or a bit more.
PRINCE RUPERT
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Form: 1-
Wants: Good ground
PRINCE RUPERT could be anything. The beautifully-bred son of Golden Horn made a winning debut in a Kempton bumper, travelling strongly before quickening clear without being asked for everything. He looked to have plenty of gears and Henderson should have no trouble starting him over two miles. If he takes to hurdles as expected, he could easily muscle his way into the Supreme picture.
THE BLUE ROOM
Trainer: Olly Murphy
Form: 241/12P-
Wants: 3m
DO not give up on The Blue Room. He looked smart when winning at Chepstow and was travelling nicely behind No Drama This End in a Sandown Grade 2 before a bad mistake two out wrecked his chance. Things went flat after that but fences could be the making of him. Trainer Olly Murphy has long had him marked down as a chaser and three miles should suit. He could climb quickly through the ranks.
THE MOURNE RAMBLER
Trainer: Noel Meade
Form: 112-
Wants: Good ground
THE Champion Bumper winner has a serious engine. The Mourne Rambler was impressive at Leopardstown then showed a cracking turn of foot to win at Cheltenham under Colin Keane. He was beaten at Punchestown afterwards but only narrowly and he had already done plenty in a short space of time. Good ground clearly suits and he looks made for two-mile novice hurdles. The Royal Bond at Fairyhouse could be a handy stepping stone to another Festival tilt.
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