Matty Sutcliffe has provided some big winners of late, but takes a long term view as he provides us with his ten to follow for the jumps season ahead.
MR HOPE STREET – Dan Skelton
MR HOPE STREET has been brought along steadily by Dan Skelton, having troubled to threaten the judge by no more than thirteen lengths in his first six starts, but he fared a different proposition when upped to 2m4f, drawing away clear in two handicaps in the shape of a very progressive handicapper.
He’s an athletic, rangy son of Jet Away who will undoubtedly improve for a fence next season, but he strikes me as one with at least 20lbs in hand over hurdles for this season and that may even underestimate him. Noel Fehily’s racing syndicate have subsequently bought him which further demonstrates his potential, and he can pick up some nice prizes this season.
Since beginning this piece, Mr Hope Street has finished second in a C4 handicap at Carlisle over 2m4f. He bumped into an equally progressive sort for Fergal O’Brien in Plaisir De Flos who was racking up a five timer in the process and Harry Skelton didn’t give Mr Hope Street a particularly great ride, so I’m still of the opinion that he’s a well handicapped sort and it’s interesting that he’s been given two entries in a pair of Pertemps Qualifiers. Given he’s only rated 108, he’s not a given to run as he’d likely be racing from a fair way out of the weights, but it does give us a clue as to what they think of him and I’d imagine we won’t see the best of him until going over three miles.
BENTLEY’S RETURN – Chris Gordon
BENTLEY’S RETURN is still a maiden after seven races under rules, but I suspect they’ll be sending him chasing this season and if so, then a mark of 107 will wholly underestimate him. He was 0-4 in bumpers, but the form of some of those has worked out very well, including a twelve lengths 4th to subsequent Mares’ Novice winner Golden Ace on ‘22 Boxing Day with the second and third now rated 132/128 respectively, and he was ahead of subsequent G3 2nd Pic Roc when second in a Wincanton bumper next time out.
We only saw him three times last season, all coming after short breaks, so I presume he’s not the easiest to keep right. But there was enough promise in all of those to suggest he’s capable of winning races. He was backed on hurdles debut though had to recover from a terrible mistake seven out, and he improved for that next time out when a staying on third at Plumpton despite taking a keen hold throughout, finishing a nose behind one now rated 122 and ahead of one rated 119. Better could’ve been expected when a 6/1 shot for his handicap debut, but he was again keen enough and was put away for the season.
By Mahler out of a King’s Theatre mare, his pedigree backs up the visual suspicion that chasing will bring out the best of him, and given he’s been off since February I’d imagine he’s matured plenty since. I’d like to see him start over short trips to see whether he’s settling more, but should that be the case then he can land a couple of 2m4f chases on flat tracks on good ground.
DARTMOOR PIRATE – Anthony Honeyball
Anthony Honeyball was kind to the column last season, with Forward Plan and Blackjack Magic notably landing a couple of nice wins for us and Sam Brown placing at long odds, and DARTMOOR PIRATE can become the next Honeyball star going over fences.
The 45K EBF Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown in March is always a race I like following, in 2022 we saw Crambo win it and the likes of Etalon and Cuthbert Dibble who placed go on to improve, Complete Unknown won it in 2022 and a plethora of those in behind have turned into smart types, McFabulous won it in 2020, the list is endless. I think last season’s renewal will subsequently throw up some smart form, and Dartmoor Pirate’s effort in 4th when faring the best of those to come from midfield rates him a solid contender for chasing this season. Already we’ve seen the 2nd and 3rd climb 9lbs/7lbs since, and the 5th bolted up on chase debut at Stratford last month.
Prior to that, Dartmoor Pirate was second to Tellherthename and Steel Ally in novices’, with that pair going on to be rated 135 and 134, and he looks well handicapped off a mark of 123 for this season. He’s by Black Sam Bellamy from the family of some smart types, and is entered this Sunday in an incredibly hot looking Novices’ Chase at Sandown. If declared, it will be a key indicator to see where he’s at though it’s worth noting he needed the run last season.
LEITRIM CHIEF – James Ewart
Winning races with this lightly raced eight-year-old is inevitable, and he can improve stacks this season once sent up in trip over fences.
Originally with Stuart Crawford in Ireland, LEITRIM CHIEF was a seven-length third on bumper debut at Navan in 2022 behind Ash Tree Meadow, who’s gone on to become a 158 rated chaser. He was sent off 2/1 favourite on hurdles debut for James Ewart in March 2022, only beaten five lengths with horses who peaked or are currently rated around 125.
He missed all of the following season, and was understandably keen enough when a four length fourth on reappearance last year, finishing two lengths behind one now rated 122. He made his chasing debut in a competitive handicap chase at Ayr, though jumped poorly throughout in rear. The winner is now rated 140, and he was only eight lengths behind Ballycoose who was second to Sharjah in the Ayr Champion Chase last time out, so the form has at least worked out.
Though beaten nine lengths when last seen in April, he was given a poor ride in rear by Brian Hughes and was detached by some twenty lengths when hampered by two fallers two out, but he kept on strongly under hands and heels with the progressive winner going on to win twice since.
He’s a half-brother to Master’s Hill who peaked at 144 over fences for Colin Tizzard and Now This Is It who peaked at 140 for Stuart Crawford, who both flourished once going up in distance, and I’d expect Leitrim Chief to have at least 15lbs in hand once sent over middle distances for James Ewart. He’s had his wind tweaked again, and I’m quite excited about what this unexposed eight year old can achieve beyond his lenient mark of 104 this season, though he ideally wants better ground.
CENTREOFATTENTION – Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson had a season to forget last term, with multiple issues throughout his yard but in turn, I think he’ll have a stellar season this time around. There’s not been much noise around CENTREOFATTENTION, who I’m hoping will rank highly in the novice hurdling division this year.
He’s by the French sire Choeur Du Nord, the same one as Jeriko Du Reponet for Henderson/JP, and he is a strikingly similar black gelding with a lovely physical makeup about him. He was a £65,000 buy from the Goffs Spring Sale, and made a winning debut in a bumper at Wincanton in January. He was very raw and babyish there, taking a while to wind up and get into top gear but he won a shade cosily under hands and heels, displaying a nice turn of foot once getting the hang of things despite running green once hitting the front.
That bumper form has worked out strongly, he was giving 5lbs to the second who’s now rated 121 over hurdles, the third won cosily on his hurdling debut, the fourth was second next time out and arguably should’ve won his hurdles debut, and the fifth is rated 117 after winning cosily on his hurdling debut in March for Paul Nicholls.
I never like throwing around the ‘C’ word around this time of year, but the 33s for the Supreme/ Gallagher might be worth chipping away at with spare change prior to his hurdling debut, as should he win then given connections’, he’s likely to shorten up for both immediately.
He’s entered at Exeter this Friday in a race that JP won with Sporting John in 2019, and was won by Bravemansgame in 2020.
KINTURK KALANISI – Thomas Gibney
Thomas Gibney had an unforgettable season last year, winning the Irish National with Intense Raffles who I was going to include in this as a potential Gold Cup or Grand National candidate, but when going through some of his runners I thought KINTURK KALANISI was a less obvious candidate who could pick up a top handicap this season.
The six-year-old son of Kalanisi only made his hurdles debut last December, beaten ten lengths behind the subsequent Aintree Bumper second Blizzard Of Ozz and looking in need of further. He was then sent straight up to three miles on heavy ground at Cork, where he posted an RPR of 120 when beaten three lengths by Largy Hill, who went on to take a G3 at Thurles in February and could fare well in the staying novice chase division this season.
Kinturm Kalanisi backed that effort up when second to Lucky Lyreen in a Punchestown Maiden Hurdle, who won a 10K Fairyhouse Handicap off 125 next time out. He finally broke his maiden at the fourth time of asking over hurdles when winning a heavy ground 2m6f contest at Navan, pulling two length clear of the second who’s won twice since, now rated 129. He showed plenty of promise when third in two Listed handicap hurdles at Fairyhouse/Punchestown, with the latter coming in open company behind two high class horses in Maxxum and Ashdale Bob. He was unlucky not to finish closer than four lengths there, having jumped a touch poorly and having an interrupted trip late on, but the way he hit the line suggested there was plenty left to work with and it was an excellent effort for one on just his second handicap start.
Three miles is clearly his trip, I’m hoping they don’t go chasing this season and instead keep him over hurdles for one more, as I think he could be the perfect candidate for the Pertemps in March. I’d say he’ll end up a 145+ horse by the end of the season with natural progression.
FOU DE TOI – Willie Mullins
I try and steer clear of the trainers towards the higher echelons of National Hunt racing in columns such as these, as everyone’s already aware of what they have by now. But like Centreofattention, FOU DE TOI seems to have gone slightly under the radar, now under the handling of Willie Mullins and in the Donnelly silks.
The son of Motivator was acquired from France this season, having shown plenty of promise when third in a three year old hurdle at Auteuil. The form has worked out well, with the first and second winning Listed juvenile hurdles next time out, and what’s perhaps most notable is that Gaelic Warrior finished third in the same contest in 2021 prior to his infamous defeat in the Fred Winter for Wililie Mullins.
Progeny of Motivator have somewhat halted in the National Hunt sphere, but in recent seasons we’ve had the likes of Pentland Hills winning the Triumph Hurdle, Modus won a Listed bumper at Cheltenham in 2014 before finishing second in the Champion Bumper, Buzz was second in the G1 Aintree Hurdle and Stormy Ireland was a dual Graded winner including the Punchestown Mares Champion Hurdle, so he can get some high class NH stock.
Mullins trained the full brother Follow The Brave who won a bumper at 13/8F before being sent off 2/1 against Marine Nationale, though presumably picked up an career threatening injury there having been lame afterwards. The fact that Mullins has purchased Fou De Toi suggests he must’ve originally liked the brother, and I’m surprised that he’s available at 33s for the Triumph at this stage, a race he no doubt will have been bought with in mind.
QUEENSBURY BOY – Harry Derham
If this horse wasn’t owned/ridden by David Maxwell, I actually think he’d be 10/1 in the ante-post markets for the likes of a Gallaghers or an Albert Bartlett. The beautiful brown son of Doyen was a 3m Castlelands P2P winner for Denis Murphy, faring best of those racing in midfield early on and got up by a length to beat Quebecois, who subsequently sold for £320,000 to Paul Nicholls and the McNeils and has already developed into a leading Novice Hurdler having bolted up at Chepstow.
QUEENSBURY BOY made a winning bumper debut himself on heavy ground at Chepstow in December, getting up by a length to be a potentially smart type in Rocking Man, who was second next time out to Jurancon who’d already won two bumpers and has also come out and fared well in a novice hurdle at Worcester, beaten 3/4L by the well regarded The Kemble Brewery.
Queensbury Boy then went to Punchestown for a contest won by the likes of Ballyburn and Dysart Dynamo in recent seasons, and he ran an excellent race to finish second having made up a huge amount of ground in rear to be beaten a length by Wingmen, pulling seven lengths clear of the third. Wingmen was a short-priced favourite on hurdles debut at Down Royal prior to being a non runner on account of a stone bruise, but that likely signals where he stands toward the higher echelons in the Elliott pecking order of novices.
By Doyen out of a Westerner mare, it’s no surprise that Queensbury Boy was doing his best work late on over two miles and I think he can make up into a high class Novice Hurdler for Harry Derham and David Maxwell, with the latter suggesting the former has said all last season he was ‘best horse in the yard’. He’s likely to start over 2m3f-2m5f, but I’d imagine he’ll make up into a Graded three miler in time, potentially in the Albert Bartlett.
ROMEO BROWN – Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith
We’re unlikely to see any of Sue Smith’s horses running well around this time of year, as historically they’ve always come to hand later in the season, as demonstrated by Prairie Wolf in last year’s GG Ten To Follow column, who climbed 19lbs come the end of the season after improving for fences. I still think that one has scope off that mark and will pick up a nice prize over fences, but I can’t put him in two years in a row so I’ve opted for a more exposed horse from the yard who’s extremely well handicapped to land a nice pot and is a must for your trackers.
ROMEO BROWN has been a revelation for connections since joining from Phil Kirby in 2021 on a mark of 101, peaking at a mark of 128 and landing 16k/22k/26k class two pots in the process, latterly at Aintree in December when making all to win at 50/1. His form tailed off thereafter, including running out in a Pertemps Qualifier at Huntingdon and falling at Doncaster, and he’s subsequently dropped to a mark of 113. There was some promise and optimism that the fire still burns last time out, when running very well to a point over an inadequate two miles at Carlisle on seasonal debut, trading short in running before weakening out of things two out and beaten an eventual eleven lengths. Given the yard tend to come to hand later on, that was a promising effort and suggested he’s still got more than enough ability to land a couple of races for the yard this season. He’s entered over 2m5f at Kelso and over 2m1f at Aintree on Saturday. The former is over a winning C&D, and the latter is a qualifier for the Go North Sea Pigeon Series, and the yard tend to target similar finals such as with Prairie Wolf two seasons ago, finishing 2nd in the Go North Cab On Target Final at Kelso. I’d be more inclined to suggest they’ll get him qualified for the final, but there’s certainly races to be won with him this season.
NOBLE ANTHEM – Adrian Keatley
I thought I’d lost the plot when tipping up a Starspangledbanner at 50/1 to win a C2 Novice Chase at Cheltenham last time out with last seasons’ Grand Annual third Path d’Oroux in, but my sanity was saved when NOBLE ANTHEM traded joint favourite in running at the last, before beaten two lengths by one rated 29lbs higher, giving him 5lbs.
I initially stated that if Robbie Dunne makes the running on him then I’d struggle to see him not there at the finish, and I still think that had he done then he’d have won. That said, he did bleed from the nose and it was a very hopeful bet. However, it warranted a place in my Ten To Follow as off a mark of an unrevised mark of 115 he can do some serious damage in two miles chases this season. Despite being predominantly flat-bred, he’s an astute jumper with plenty of size about him as documented when taking a Sedgefield Class 4 in October, and I’m amazed that on RPR’s there was only a 3lbs difference to his third at Cheltenham!
It’s certainly concerning that he bled last time out, but I’d imagine he’ll be given some time off to recover and if they can keep him right this season then I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end up a 130-rated chaser.
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