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Horses to follow

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  • 07-08-2018 3:28pm
    #1
    del roy
    Registered Users Posts: 2,272 ✭✭✭


    A summer jumps horse who it can pay to follow into autumn . . .

    Angel Of Harlem
    Olly Murphy
    Showed bits and pieces of form on soft and heavy ground for her previous trainer, but the combination of better ground and a first-time tongue tie resulted in a much improved performance as she made a winning debut for her current yard at Market Rasen. Although subsequently beaten at odds-on off the same mark at Southwell, she was unfortunate to run into the rejuvenated subsequent winner Mister Fizz, the pair pulling forty lengths clear of toiling rivals. Upped just 7lb, this first foal of a 130+ Listed hurdle winner still looks well treated off a mark of 112 at Newton Abbot this afternoon. Looking further ahead she has the option of running in mares' and novice hurdles and should have plenty of opportunities over the coming months.


    A horse to follow in nurseries . . .

    Silver Dust
    Richard Fahey
    Richard Fahey consistently wins nurseries – over the past three years the Malton handler has landed no less than 29 domestic two-year-old handicaps during August and September. In Silver Dust he looks to have an ideal project to work with. The son of Clodovil showed improved form on his second start at Carlisle, shaping with promise in a race that is already working out well. A subsequent defeat when hampered at the start in a five-furlong race over Ripon's undulations is easily excused and his opening mark of 72 seems very fair.



    A well-bred unraced two-year-old . . .

    Fresno
    Aidan O'Brien
    Galileo has clicked remarkably well with speedier mares, but few will have had the immense talent of this colt's dam Moonlight Cloud, a six-time Group 1 winner. That whets the appetite for Fresno, a chestnut colt in training with Aidan O'Brien for a partnership of Moonlight Cloud's owner George Strawbridge and Coolmore. He holds entries in the National Stakes and Derby.


    An all-weather horse to follow . . .

    Phoenix Of Spain
    Charlie Hills
    Charlie Hills's colt is easily the most exciting prospect I've seen on the all-weather recently. On his latest start he could have won a Wolverhampton novice by eight lengths rather than two and a half if he'd been ridden out on what was only his second outing. While the bare form is nothing out of the ordinary, the son of Lope De Vega left the impression he'd be well worth chancing in much better company next time, although that may mean a switch back to turf.


    An overseas class act . . .

    Bateel
    Francis Graffard
    A brave winner of the Prix Vermeille last September before going down fighting behind Hydrangea on British Champions Day, Bateel is that rarity, a six-year-old mare who is still progressing. Francis Graffard and owners Al Asayl Bloodstock passed on both the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the King George on account of the searing summer and, although the daughter of Dubawi is effective on a quick surface, she has reserved her absolute best for when there is ease in the ground. Her reappearance is likely to come in either the Yorkshire Oaks or the Prix Jean Romanet three days later, while the 40-1 available for the Arc is a borderline insult for Bateel, who could be about to enjoy the sort of late career bloom enjoyed by the great Pride.



    An Irish dark horse . . .

    Mount Everest
    Aidan O'Brien
    This beautifully bred Galileo colt was the paddock pick of a potentially hot Curragh maiden on Irish Derby weekend and emerged with some credit and with the promise of plenty more to come. He was slowly away, settled towards the back of the field and while he made only some modest late headway he was not knocked about in doing so. He has the sort of Group 1 entries one likes to see and the improvement he could find is immeasurable.


    A Flat handicapper for the autumn . . .

    River Glades
    Mark Johnston
    Mark Johnston excels with staying three-year-old handicappers and River Glades looks likely to enjoy a fruitful autumn having been gelded since his last run. The son of Cape Cross is without a win since scoring by six lengths over 1m6f at Wetherby in April and caught the eye staying on powerfully in second when tried over a furlong shorter at Hamilton last time. Joe Fanning attempted to make all but River Glades wasn't able to break his rivals from the front and just got done for speed by Ingleby Hollow. River Glades is in desperate need of a return to further and could rack up a sequence when upped to 2m.


    An Irish class act . . .

    Riven Light
    Willie Mullins
    Riven Light was the star of the Galway festival, overcoming a host of potential negatives to repeat last year's victory in the valuable Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap. It was a stunning performance under a big weight on his first appearance since incurring a serious injury in Australia last October. His next entry is in the Group 3 Royal Whip over 1m2f at the Curragh on August 26, a likely stepping-stone to a range of international options at a higher level. There is also the intriguing long-range possibility of a return to hurdling for the 139-rated gelding.


    A Newmarket dark horse . . .

    Al Hilalee
    Charlie Appleby
    With the boss in town, Godolphin rolled out a number of exciting prospects at the July meeting, including this striking son of Dubawi.
    Al Hilalee was overlooked by jockey William Buick in favour of the flashier worker Art Du Val (who was withdrawn), but showed he had plenty under the bonnet himself during the 7f maiden.
    Looking green and having to do much of his own running before joining his closest rivals in the closing stages, Al Hilalee ran out an emphatic winner despite his obvious inexperience.
    The Racing Post Trophy was mentioned as an end-of-season target for Al Hilalee and he looks capable of plenty more.


    A Topspeed horse to follow . . .

    Lord Riddiford
    John Quinn
    Lord Riddiford clocked a smart time when completing his hat-trick at Goodwood on Thursday and may not have finished winning yet. Never headed, John Quinn’s progressive sprinter answered his jockey’s every call when challenged persistently throughout the final furlong to prevail by a neck.
    He had earlier scored at Windsor and Chelmsford and has raced exclusively at the minimum trip. Suited by decent ground this admirably tough three-year-old may try and extend his successful sequence at York later this month.


    A late-developing three-year-old to follow . . .

    Recollect
    Luca Cumani
    Having shown bits and pieces of promise, this lightly raced colt relished the step up to a mile at Leicester last month when winning for the first time. He looked set to win with something to spare only to idle late on, so in the short term there is mileage in his 4lb higher mark, and taking a longer view he is just the type to continue to improve, given his attractive pedigree and patient manner in which trainer Luca Cumani brings his horses along.


    A Flat horse turning his attention to hurdles . . .

    Bailarico
    Warren Greatrex
    With five handicap wins on the spin you might think Sir Mark Prescott trains Bailarico. You'd be wrong. Cheltenham Festival winner Warren Greatrex has enjoyed a fine summer on the Flat, chiefly because of this son of Dubawi, a Darley cast-off, who won a point-to-point before being picked up by new connections and shrewdly placed by the Lambourn ace. Decent ground seems important to the five-year-old, who appears to stay forever, so could have an impact in long-distance novice hurdles when his attentions are switched from the Flat.


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