Thursday 19th December 2024 - five more winners take us to 30 for the season.

I am delighted that the form of the horses has continued through the month with five more winners to add to the seasonal tally, taking us to 30. 

We appear to be very strong in the novice hurdle department and we started the month with Julius des Pictons winning a maiden hurdle at Plumpton.  He looks a lovely chaser in the making, and although he is bred to want a trip, he showed plenty of speed and we might drop him back to 2m, especially on deep winter ground. 

Laurens Bay deservedly got his head in front in a novice hurdle at Huntingdon, beating a smart flat performer in the process.  He again has the size and scope to develop into a classy chaser next season, but for the moment we’ll look to step him up in trip and perhaps aim him for the EBF Final at Sandown in March.

Holllygrove Cha Cha remained unbeaten when making it four wins from as many starts as she defied a penalty in a novice hurdle at Fontwell last week.  She looks seriously smart, and deserves to step into Listed class now and we’ll aim her for Taunton later this month.

Another to remain unbeaten under rules, is Epic West who also defied a penalty in a novice hurdle earlier this week.  He jumped really well, has a wonderful attitude, and he too looks ready to step up in trip.

Of our other novice hurdlers, Audacious Annie was 2^nd on her hurdling debut, Jackstell was 3^rd and can also step forwards and win one of these, meanwhile Realistic Optimism was 4^th at Windsor, and should be suited by handicaps now.   

I think one of the main reasons we have such strength in depth in the novice hurdlers this season, is the patience we showed last season with our 4-year-old bumper horses, and I think we have some gorgeous bumper horses this season too.

Silver Hill won on his racecourse debut at Market Rasen and could be in line for the £100,000 sales bumper at Newbury in March.  Kosac D’Oudairies was 3^rd in a bumper at Catterick, and looks capable of winning a bumper this season before developing into a staying novice hurdler next season.  Ride Like a Girl was also 3^rd in a Newbury bumper, and she too could be a smart novice hurdler next season, but she shows plenty of pace and might be suited by nicer spring ground where she too can win a bumper this season.  Whilst Tiptoptim was also 3^rd in a bumper on his racecourse debut and is an embryonic chaser in the making. 

Of our other runners this month, Hardy du Seuil was 2^nd on his seasonal return and comeback from injury.  He should be able to step forward from that, and there should be a decent handicap for him this season.  The same comment applies to both Up for Parol and Super Survivor who were 2^nd and 3^rd on their comeback runs in the competitive Pertemps qualifier at Sandown on ITV.  Passing Well was 2^nd at that meeting and could be suited by the Rowland Merrick on Boxing Day.

Torneo was once again 2^nd in a novice chase at Hereford, and although it is frustrating that he keeps hitting the woodwork, he looks a really progressive 2m chaser, and it shouldn’t be long before he gets his head in front this season. 

You Wear It Well was 3^rd in another Listed chase, and once again it just didn’t fall her way as on this occasion, she had a bit too much ground to make up.  I wouldn’t mind dropping her back in trip and riding her more positively next time.  She could be one for the Grade 2 Lightening Novice chase at Windsor in mid-January.

Unfortunately, Ga Law didn’t run to form in the December Gold Cup, but a combination of an ever-increasing handicap mark; the race perhaps coming too soon after a tough race in the Paddy Power; and the softer going not really suiting him meant he just couldn’t accelerate from the 2^nd last.  We’ll give him a moment now, and then consider either stepping up in trip in Grade 2 company, or possible a tilt at the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle.