The Jumpers are Coming 2020/2021

IAMAMORON wrote: »

He fell twice at Leopardstown and was also unplaced in hurdle behind Samcro and was unplaced at St Cloud as a 3 year old. All his best runs are on right handed tracks.

https://www.irishracing.com/horse?name=Real-Steel&prt=540341

All things considered his Gold Cup run was extraordinary.

Eitherway I don't think he is good enough for a Ryanair, he is not a Grade 1 horsie.

Hmm I'm not sure why having been to Leopardstown every xmas meet for about 7 years on the spin I thought it was a right handed course.

zpehtsfd wrote: »

So every horse that wins a Triumph is a stayer. Ok then.

Even though you quoted me, you misquoted me. I said invariably they end up stayers.

One triumph hurdle winner has won the champion in 30 years, (Katchit) 2 triumph hurdle winners have won the champion hurdle in 50 years (Katchit and Krebensis). 53 years to be precise. One triumph hurdle winner has won a Grade 1 2m hurdle following his triumph win in the past 10 years.

One has won the grand national. Tiger Roll. Two were second in the stayers hurdle (Celestial Halo, Mysilv) One won the Irish Grand National (Commanche Court). One won the Long Walk hurdle (Paddy Return). One was placed in the Long Walk (Zarkandar). One has won two Aintree Foxhunters (Katarino)

Yes, you are far far more likely to be a stayer if you can win the Triumph. Ok then.

RivetingRoger wrote: »

I am all over Laurina for the Mares Chase
Made for her

roger

that horse is finished

oh yea and she cant jump

hound

RivetingRoger wrote: »

Wait and see.....................

i love the optimism but i can agree with you one this one.


benie for the mares chase would interest me alright !!

Morgans wrote: »

Even though you quoted me, you misquoted me. I said invariably they end up stayers.

One triumph hurdle winner has won the champion in 30 years, (Katchit) 2 triumph hurdle winners have won the champion hurdle in 50 years (Katchit and Krebensis). 53 years to be precise. One triumph hurdle winner has won a Grade 1 2m hurdle following his triumph win in the past 10 years.

One has won the grand national. Tiger Roll. Two were second in the stayers hurdle (Celestial Halo, Mysilv) One won the Irish Grand National (Commanche Court). One won the Long Walk hurdle (Paddy Return). One was placed in the Long Walk (Zarkandar). One has won two Aintree Foxhunters (Katarino)

Yes, you are far far more likely to be a stayer if you can win the Triumph. Ok then.

Yes more likely but not invariably as you stated before and again in this post.

Since you corrected yourself you didn't really need to give me a history lesson but since you did you forgot the mention the ones that were placed in a CH and one of my old favorites Detroit City who went on again to win at Aintree. GLTU

zpehtsfd wrote: »

Yes more likely but not invariably as you stated before and again in this post.

Since you corrected yourself you didn't really need to give me a history lesson but since you did you forgot the mention the ones that were placed in a CH and one of my old favorites Detroit City who went on again to win at Aintree. GLTU

I think we can safely add Our Connor to the list of 2 milers as well.

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

GO ON THE PERCY

today will finally prove he cannot win a gold cup

race fit over the other two

plus kemboy wont like the ground

lets hear the excuses afterwards

Slattsy wrote: »

I dont know who either of them are, but they can go fúck themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFNv6fLAgac&ab_channel=RacingPost

Paul Nicholls is on fire. Races big and small are being mopped up by Team Ditcheat, yet the 11-time champion trainer is also embracing patience and restraint perhaps more than ever before.

Read what he says and it's obvious that, despite his sizzling form, it really is not all about now, nor indeed the Cheltenham Festival.

Nicholls is building for the future with a nursery class of exciting young four-year-olds, most of whom will race only in bumpers this season.

They are the future. In the present he has a host of stars, including the sport's highest-rated performer, Cyrname, who underlined his coach's genius when showing himself to be potent over three miles and on a left-handed track in the Charlie Hall Chase.

Cyrname now heads to the King George, as does the race's hat-trick-seeker Clan Des Obeaux. They will attempt to give Nicholls an astonishing 12th victory in the Christmas showpiece and form part of a mighty chasing squad that also includes Champion Chase hero Politologue, public favourite Frodon and Real Steel, one of a sizeable group to have been transferred from the yard of Willie Mullins.

With exciting young hurdlers like McFabulous also on his side, Nicholls is set to stay hot as the weather gets cold.

Race in focus

The Cheltenham Gold Cup. It's a race I've been lucky enough to win four times and I would love to make that five. Cyrname and Frodon are obvious candidates but Real Steel could also end up in the mix.

Rival to watch

Envoi Allen will end up unbeaten. He's different class.

Stable* *profile* *
Yard* *Manor Farm Stables, Ditcheat, Somerset
Second yard Highbridge Farm, Alhampton, Somerset
Started* *training* *October 19, 1991 *
Horses* *in* *yard* *150 *
Members* *of* *staff* *52 *
Head lad Clifford Baker
Assistant trainer Harry Derham
Ass*istant head lad David Rochester
Pupil assistant trainers Natalie Parker, Charlie Davies
Assistant head lass Kate McCormack
Travelling head girl Kate Nutt
Assistant travelling head girl Trudie Smith
Jockeys Harry Cobden, Sam Twiston-Davies, Bryony Frost, Sean Bowen, Brendan Powell, Harry Skelton
Conditionals Lorcan Williams, Bryan Carver
Amateurs Will Biddick, Natalie Parker, Angus Cheleda, Keagan Kirkby, Charlotte Summersby
Personal assistants Hannah Roche, Sarah West
Finance Lina Chadburn
Stable sponsor Morson Group
Website paulnichollsracing.com
Twitter @PFNicholls * *

Winners in Britain

2019-20* *96 *
2018-19* *135 *
2017-18* *127 *
2016-17* *171 *
2015-16* *122 *

Profit/loss* *to* *£1* *stake* *

2019-20* *-£90.17
2018-19* *-£52.21 *
2017-18* *-£132.84
2016-17* *-£78.39
2015-16* *-£73.23 *

Prize-money* *2019-20*
£2,341,313

Alcala
Ten-year-old gelding by Turgeon (sire) - Pail Mel (dam)
Owner: Owners Group 016
Form figures: 26/F129-
Racing Post Rating: 159c; Official rating: 139c
A fun horse for his owners and he delivered them a winning day in a hunter chase at Haydock in February. That sort of race has given him a second life and he'll continue down that road.

Amour De Nuit
8g Azamour - Umthoulah
Andrew Williams
51242/1
RPR 147c 144h OR 139c 140h
He'd been off for quite some time with a leg injury before winning at Plumpton. The idea was simply to give him a run over hurdles before he went back chasing but he won quite nicely and surprised us a bit, so he'll now have another run over hurdles in a 2m4½f handicap hurdle at Newbury next Saturday before reverting to fences.

Ashutor
6g Redoute's Choice - Ashalanda
The Stewart Family
312113
RPR 144c OR 139c
We kept him on the go through the summer and he did well. After enjoying eight weeks at grass he has come back in with a view to running after Christmas. He took well to fences and I could see him improving enough to run in the Grand Annual.

Ask For Glory
6g Fame And Glory - Ask Helen
Colm Donlon & Mrs P K Barber
119/41-5
RPR 139h OR 138h
This is an interesting horse. His wins in a point-to-point, bumper and novice hurdle all came on soft ground but on quicker ground at Cheltenham last month he was flat out and choked. As a result of that we've given him another wind operation. He'll be back after Christmas and the likelihood is we'll send him novice chasing.

Atholl Street
5g Jeremy - Allthewhile
Trevor Hemmings
6-1
RPR 117h
He was big and weak last season but had a wind op in the summer and has matured nicely. He'll improve loads for his Taunton win last week and I'll now try to find a similar race. He wouldn't want the ground too soft but one day he'll make an awesome chaser.

Barbados Buck's
5g Getaway - Buck's Blue
The Stewart Family
275-21
RPR 125h
He just shows you how much horses need time because he hosed up at Southwell on Friday. Bryony [Frost] said there's huge improvement to come from him. He should win some more nice staying hurdles this season and he'll be a super 3m chaser in time.

Black Corton
9g Laverock - Pour Le Meilleur
The Brooks Family & J Kyle
23242-4
RPR 166c OR 160c
His wind has always troubled him slightly, so we sorted that out before he ran a nice race on his return at Ascot. He'd missed work and showed he might just have been a bit behind some of ours who have been winning. He'll improve for that. I'm not sure where he goes next but his main goal will probably be Sandown's Oaksey Chase – it's a race that's made for him and he won it in 2019. He isn't the biggest horse but he jumps brilliantly and would be the same size as Seagram, so I wouldn't rule out a tilt at the National and before that the Becher Chase.

Blackjack Kentucky
7g Oscar - My Name's Not Bin
Owners Group 026
3/2212-4
RPR 116c OR 130c
The ground wasn't soft enough when he started out over fences at Chepstow last month. He was made favourite but as well as the conditions not being right he also needed the run, which is generally the case with him. He'll continue in beginners' chases.

Bob And Co
9g Dom Alco - Outre Mer
David Maxwell Racing Limited
5P3/P11-
RPR 150c OR 146c
He could take high rank in this season's hunter chase division. He's had a wind op since winning a couple of races in the spring.

Bravemansgame
5g Brave Mansonnien - Genifique
John Dance and Bryan Drew
1/36-21
RPR 132h OR 131h
A winning point-to-pointer who was bought to be a chaser. Last season he was big and backward but after we sorted out his wind he shaped with promise at Chepstow before winning nicely at Exeter. Next week's 2m4f novice hurdle at Newbury is the plan and there will then hopefully be a return visit for the Challow. He's going to be awesome over fences next season.

Brelan D'As
9g Crillon - Las De La Croix
John P McManus
35/U28-P
RPR 147c OR 143c
A minor problem in the spring caused him to miss the festival but he was back for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, in which he ran okay until getting tired. He'll be out again in three weeks.

Brewers Project
6g Aizavoski - Shaylee Wilde
The Hon Mrs Townshend
1/4F-4
RPR 115h
He'd been going beautifully at home, so I thought he would win at Chepstow last week, but he was a bit keen and probably wants better ground. I'm sure he's better than that.

Cap Du Mathan
5g Kapgarde - Nounjya Du Mathan
The Stewart Family
42/6331-
RPR 124h OR 128h
He's had a few niggly problems and hasn't run since he bolted up in a Plumpton maiden hurdle in January. Given he has a nice mark of 128, I want to give him one handicap hurdle outing over Christmas and then he'll be novice chasing. I really like him and feel there's a lot to come from him.

Capeland
8g Poliglote - Neiland
Mrs Kathy Stuart
D1450-U
RPR 162c OR 150c
He tipped up on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot but may well go back there on Saturday for the race he won last year.

Cat Tiger
6g Diamond Boy - Miss Canon
David Maxwell Racing Limited
21211P-
RPR 147c OR 145c
Another horse who should do really well in hunter chases. He won a couple of nice races over hurdles under his owner, David Maxwell, and before that he had winning form over fences at Auteuil. We haven't yet run him over fences here but we're looking forward to that happening.

Chavez
4g Yeats - Rock The Baby
Malcolm C Denmark
1
RPR 110b
This Chepstow winner is one of a really nice bunch of four-year-olds who went through our pre-training set-up managed by Will Biddick, who now has a similar group of three-year-olds. I've learned it's best not to run that sort of horse until the autumn as a four-year-old. My intention is to give them two or three runs in bumpers and then put them away again before they go novice hurdling next season and then chasing the following season. It's great to have a production line of such lovely horses who have time to mature and grow into their physiques.

Christopher Wood
5g Fast Company - Surf The Web
Ms Sharon Kinsella
04910-3
RPR 145h OR 143h
He won a decent handicap hurdle at Musselburgh in February and had the pace to win on the Flat under Megan [Nicholls]. He's a big horse and needed the run at Bangor last week. Ideally he wants a flattish track but he should continue to win plenty of races.

Cill Anna
5m Imperial Monarch - Technohead
The Stewart Family
73111-0
RPR 135h OR 134h
She always needs a run or two to sharpen her up but the ground was also quicker than she likes at Wincanton, where she had a good blow. She'll go for either the 3m handicap hurdle at Haydock on Saturday or the Listed mares' hurdle at Kempton the following Monday. After that we'll discuss whether she stays over hurdles or goes chasing. There's still a lot of improvement in her. She wants a trip and soft ground.

Star quality
Clan Des Obeaux
8g Kapgarde - Nausicaa Des Obeaux
Mr & Mrs P K Barber, G Mason & Sir A Ferguson
152/218-
RPR 178c OR 171c
He looks like he's improved physically and at eight years old he's entitled to be at his best now – I do think he's a better, stronger horse. As you'd expect, he goes for the Betfair Chase on Saturday –unless the Haydock ground is desperate, in which case we could reroute to Ascot – and then on to the King George. Sam Twiston-Davies will ride him at Haydock as I suspect Harry will partner Cyrname at Kempton, with Sam on Clan again. He definitely won't go back to Cheltenham and he won't even have an entry in the Gold Cup. It would be a waste of a run as he doesn't like the place. After Christmas I think he'd have the boot to go for the Ascot Chase, although his big target in the second half of the season will be the Punchestown Gold Cup. I think that would suit him down to the ground.



Confirmation Bias
5g Presenting - Bonnie Parker
Colm Donlon
12-4
RPR 118b
After winning on his debut at Wincanton last November he finished second at the same track on Boxing Day. We sent him up to Ayr for his hurdles debut in October but he didn't enjoy ground that was really soft. He's a lovely chasing prospect but he'll win novice hurdles first.

Cut The Mustard
8m Al Namix - Tadorna
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
61212F-
RPR 144c OR 137c
A nice mare who has only been with us for a month. She fell on her last start in Ireland, so we've been doing plenty of work on her jumping. She could possibly be ready to run in the middle of next month and we may consider the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham. She'll be perfect for mares' chases.

Star quality
Cyrname
8g Nickname - Narquille
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
11/12F-1
RPR* *181c *OR* *176c *
You never know if the sort of fall he suffered at Ascot will leave a mark, but his schooling was great and we couldn't have been more pleased with him at Wetherby. To see him win on the bridle was very rewarding. Funnily enough, although he's looked like a quick horse, he isn't really that fast and at home all he's ever done is suggest he wants a trip. In his Ascot wins he's stayed on strongly at the finish, so I felt sure he'd stay three miles, but until we saw him do it we couldn't be sure. The left-handed thing was just something in his head when he was a young lunatic. He'll now go to Kempton, where he wasn't at his best last year, perhaps partly because of the hard race he had at Ascot and partly because he just wasn't right. After the King George I suspect we'll train him for the Gold Cup. For that race you need a horse who can travel and doesn't mind going up and down hills. He won't be flat out around Cheltenham and he should be able to fill his lungs running down the hill – just like Kauto used to do – before coming up the straight.



Danny Kirwan
7g Scorpion - Sainte Baronne
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
10/22/6-3
RPR 127h OR 134h
I know he's still a maiden over hurdles but this is a nice horse. He had some good bumper form but he's been fragile, which has meant I've never really had the sort of clear run with him I'd have liked. He needed the outing at Aintree last month, but he'll have come on for it and will hopefully lose his maiden tag over hurdles next time out before he jumps fences.

Danny Whizzbang
7g Getaway - Lakil Princess
Mrs Angela Tincknell
11/133-7
RPR 148c OR 145c
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I shouldn't have run him in the Badger Beers. I was keen to give him a run before the Ladbrokes Trophy but they went flat out at Wincanton and it wasn't his day. He bled but it was only minor and out of one nostril. I think he'll still be fine to go to Newbury, which is his sort of place as he wants a big, galloping track with cut in the ground.

Diego Du Charmil
8g Ballingarry - Daramour
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
5/122-33
RPR 164c 150h OR 156c 148h
A tough horse and one of the favourites in the yard. He isn't the easiest to place because of his rating but he ran another good race in the Elite Hurdle. The Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas could be a target.

Diese Des Bieffes
7g Martaline - Chanel Du Berlais
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
112551/
RPR 141h OR 141h
He's coming back from a few problems and is still around a month off a run. He'll go novice chasing.

Dolcita
5m Saint Des Saints - Orcantara
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
32/132-2
RPR 135h OR 136h
She finished second in the mares' novice hurdle at last season's festival, so she was understandably a short price for a three-runner race at Hereford last week. Unfortunately she bled that day, so she's going to have a breathing operation this week and then we'll change her training routine and look to get her back on the track after Christmas.

Dolos
7g Kapgarde - Redowa
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
12714-4
RPR 166c OR 160c
In my opinion he wasn't far off a personal best at Cheltenham in October. I want to try him in the Peterborough Chase because I think going up in trip on a fast track will suit him.

Dr Sanderson
6g Jeremy - Guydus
John P McManus
5/P525-1
RPR 140c OR 139c
He isn't the biggest horse in the world and doesn't want the ground to be too soft, which is why we took him out of a race at Ascot a few weeks ago. He's a good, fun horse but not one who'll end up in Grade 1 company.

Duc Des Genievres
7g Buck's Boum - Lobelie
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
482F5-2
RPR 166c OR 160c
The 2019 Arkle winner is another horse sent to us by Jared Sullivan. He had a wind op in the summer and has been keen at home, which made me think he'd need the run at Cheltenham on Sunday, mainly to take the freshness off him, so I was pleasantly surprised. He ran a fantastic race and there will be lots of improvement to come. The Desert Orchid Chase should suit him but he'll have to be entered in all the top 2m chases.

Ecco
5g Maxios - Enjoy The Life
Colm Donlon
13200-8
RPR 140h OR 133h
He needs to pull his finger out a bit. In his defence, he did win two races last season, one of them at Ascot, where he'll hopefully return this week. He's become a bit lazy and may need blinkers but is definitely capable of winning off 133. He wants good ground.

Eglantine Du Seuil
6m Saddler Maker - Rixia Du Seuil
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
33540-5
RPR 150h OR 146h
A lot of Jared's horses had some time in pre-training with Noel Fehily, so they came to us a bit later than some others in the yard. She ran a nice race on her first start for us at Wincanton and she'll come on a lot for that. I do think she needs to come down a few pounds but if she does she could win a nice handicap.

Enrilo
6g Buck's Boum - Rock Treasure
Martin Broughton & Friends 4
1513-21
RPR 143c OR 140c
Kempton's flat track will play to his strengths and I'm looking forward to running him in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase, which will be his next run. He didn't have too many outings over hurdles, but he did well, and he's really taken to jumping fences. He's going to continue making physical improvement and could certainly be a horse for what used to be the RSA Chase, but it's worth stressing not every good horse has to go to Cheltenham.

Eritage
6g Martaline - Sauves La Reine
Mrs Angela Tincknell
/F5126-1
RPR 139c OR 136c
He was left in front when a winner at Ludlow but he was staying on at the time. Ideally he needs a more galloping track, so we're looking at the novice handicap chase at Newbury's Ladbrokes Trophy meeting. He'll get further than two miles once he learns to relax and I think he'll win plenty of races over fences.

Estelle Ma Belle
6m Air Chief Marshal - Ozalid
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
2-1
RPR 120h OR 120h
She hasn't been the easiest to train but won easily at Ffos Las on her first start for us and is now being aimed at the Listed mares' novice hurdle at Newbury next week. Her jumping wasn't really up to scratch but Lorcan Williams has done loads of schooling on her, which is why he was in the saddle at Ffos Las. She's fragile and has to go left-handed but she has a huge engine.

Fabulous Saga
8g Saint Des Saints - Fabalina
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
231177/
RPR 147h OR 145h
We're going to send him novice chasing. He's obviously had problems and we need to get him fit but he's a big, strong horse. He's six weeks off a run.

Famoso
4g Fame And Glory - Mucho Macabi
P K Barber and P J Vogt
4
RPR 87b
He started 8-11 favourite for a Chepstow bumper but disappointed us. I think he'll leave that form well behind and I'm now going to get him going over hurdles because I think he wants a trip.

Fast Buck
6g Kendargent - Juvenil Delinquent
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
3/11258-
RPR 140h OR 142h
Another horse who's had issues and, once again, it's just a case of getting him fit. We may give him one run over hurdles – although I don't think he's particularly well treated off 142 – before he goes chasing.

Fidelio Vallis
5g Saint Des Saints - Quora Vallis
J Hales
7F11-24
RPR 136h OR 138h
He's quite a keen horse who loves to bowl along. I was mortified he got beaten in the Listed race at Kempton but the mare he was trying to give 7lb to, Mrs Hyde, went on to defeat Verdana Blue, which means the form now looks much stronger. He hated the track and ground at Cheltenham on Sunday and will now go novice chasing on flat tracks.

Flash Collonges
5g Saddler Maker - Prouesse Collonges
The Gi Gi Syndicate
1
RPR 119h
Last season he was a big, backward horse and always too heavy to run. He's needed all the time in the world and when he ran at Exeter I knew he'd be green, so we were pleasantly surprised not just that he won but travelled so well. There's enormous improvement to come from him and whatever he does over hurdles this season will be a bonus. He really is a chaser.

Flemenstide
5g Flemensfirth - Keep Face
P K Barber and P J Vogt
2
RPR 118b
He was so backward we could hardly train him last season and when he went to Sandown it was his first time away from here and his first time on grass. I was absolutely thrilled he ran so well, running green but staying on strongly. I'd like to give him one more bumper run but as he's going on six I think it will then be novice hurdles. He'll want two and a half miles over hurdles and will ultimately be a staying chaser.

Flic Ou Voyou
6g Kapgarde - Hillflower
Colm Donlon
222-111
RPR 137h OR 137h
We can pat ourselves on the back for placing him well to win three on the bounce. The Listed novice hurdle at Haydock on Betfair Chase day will be his next race. He could win a few more nice races over hurdles this season, but I'm definitely not saying he's going to be winning a Supreme, so we've not ruled out switching him to fences sooner rather than later. *

Star quality
Frodon
8g Nickname*-* *Miss Coun*try
P J Vogt
1/3314-1
RPR* *177c OR 169c *
I truthfully didn't expect such a wonderful performance at Cheltenham in October but he just loves that track and is so game. You can be sure he'll be heading towards the Gold Cup. I'm not shouting out that I think he'll win the Gold Cup but I do think he'll run a solid race and I could easily see him being in the frame. He gets into a rhythm around Cheltenham, which Clan Des Obeaux and before him Silviniaco Conti were never able to do. His next race will be the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree but he could also go to the King George, which I'm sure Paul Vogt would love to see. Once we get past Christmas we'll work back from the Gold Cup and maybe look at the Cotswold Chase along the way.



Gala De Corton
4g Secret Singer - Pour Le Meilleur
Gordon & Su Hall
3
RPR 102b
A backward half-brother to Black Corton who finished an encouraging third at Ludlow. Lorcan Williams said he had a job pulling him up, so he'll appreciate a stiffer track and softer ground.

Getareason
7g Getaway - Simple Reason
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
370/07-3
RPR 139c OR 137c
We were thrilled with his run at Sandown and he'll improve for it. I think he'll have no trouble winning a novice handicap chase.

Getaway Trump
7g Getaway - Acinorev
Owners Group 023
33P-314
RPR 150c OR 144c
I think after his disappointing run at Cheltenham he wants two and a half miles and a flat track. He'll now go to Fakenham this week and at some point he'll win a nice race, although he could be braver when jumping, so I may try him in cheekpieces.

Get The Appeal
6m Getaway - Lady Appeal
Middleham Park Racing IX
D/176-0F
RPR 116h OR 111h
She'd have won at Exeter but for falling two out. There's a mares' handicap hurdle at Market Rasen this week that could be right for her.

Give Me A Copper
10g Presenting - Copper Supreme
Done, Ferguson, Mason, Nicholls & Wood
1/4F4/17-
RPR 150c OR 146c
We think he got cast in his box a week before the Badger Beers, which meant we had to miss that, although the ground would have been too quick for him anyway. I'll give him an entry for the Becher Chase and he can head there fresh, which is when he tends to be at his best. He could obviously be a National horse.

Glajou
4g Network - Toscane
Middleham Park Racing & Peter Lamb
5337-24
RPR 120c OR 125c
He has me scratching my head. He jumped brilliantly at Chepstow and looked sure to win but then started to look about a bit. I may try him on a flatter track at Southwell for a novice handicap chase. I think at some point he'll click and win plenty of races.

Gold Bullion
4g Fame And Glory - Tornade D'Ainay
Malcolm C Denmark
Unraced
He's out of a half-sister to the very good staying hurdler Crystal D'Ainay and should be ready to run at Christmas.

Golden Gift
6g Gold Well - Five Star Present
Mr & Mrs P K Barber, G Mason & Sir A Ferguson
22/3-U
RPR 118h
He'd have won at Wincanton last month but for coming down at the final flight. He's a decent sort who should win races over hurdles before developing into a nice staying chaser.

Grand Sancy
6g Diamond Boy - La Courtille
Martin Broughton Racing Partners
3341-13
RPR 157c OR 149c
He made a mistake down the far side in the Rising Stars and immediately started choking. I'd put a line through that. Next time we may run him left-handed, which I think suits him better over fences, and that could be in the Grade 2 novice chase over two and a half miles at the Ladbrokes Trophy meeting. After that he'll have to run in open company.

Great Gable
4g Fame And Glory - Mistress Mole
Owners Group 050
Unraced
He's ready to make his debut in a bumper. He's out of a half-sister to Mr Mole, who won some nice races for us.

Star quality
Greaneteen
6g Great Pretender - Manson Teene
Chris Giles
01114-1
RPR 158c OR 158c
He does everything so well at home and ended up winning the Haldon Gold Cup nicely, even though I thought he might be in trouble two out. He'll improve for that and now goes for the Tingle Creek. Unlike some in the 2m chase division, he's come through the handicap ranks, but he could keep progressing. I have a feeling he'll run a massive race at Sandown because he's a real staying two-miler and the faster they go the better it is for him.



Hacker Des Places
3g Great Pretender - Plaisance
Owners Group 068
3-12
RPR 117h OR 132h
He won in France over the summer but then on his first start for us he was beaten by one of ours, Viroflay, something I really couldn't see happening beforehand. He ended up getting a mark of 132 but I've absolutely no idea why – in my opinion it should have been more like 120. I think with time he should be okay.

Dark horse

Hell Red
3g Martaline - Queen Margot
Sir Martin Broughton & Friends 6
2-1P
RPR 118h
At this stage I have no idea what happened on Saturday. It's a mystery. He had done nothing wrong since he won at Chepstow and had worked brilliantly on Tuesday. He wasn't distressed after the race and scoped 100 per cent clean. I've told the owners to put a line through the run.

Highland Hunter
7g Subtle Power - Loughine Sparkle
Thomas Barr
135/81-2
RPR 136h OR 133h
He struggled with his breathing last season, so I thought the wind op would help him, but I still expected him to need the run at Ayr, where he ran very well. He could go chasing straight away or we could be tempted by the 3m handicap hurdle at Haydock on Saturday. He loves soft ground and stays forever.

Dark horse

Hitman
4g Falco - Tercah Girl
Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done
2O1-1
RPR 153c OR 141c
We gave him lots of time after he came over from France and expected him to go very well on his chasing debut at Ffos Las, even though it looked a very good race. I was a bit nervous because he'd run only three times over hurdles at Pau and lacked experience, but aside from galloping into the second-last he jumped beautifully. I believe he's a very nice horse and I'm thinking now of going for the Henry VIII at Sandown. He's still only four and I don't want to give him too hard a season, so he'd need to be one of the favourites for the Arkle for me to think about running him in it.

Jeremy Pass
5g Jeremy - Toulon Pass
John Dance
F/35-
RPR 105b
He'd have won a point-to-point but for falling at the final fence and then ran well in a couple of bumpers for us. Having had a wind op, he's now ready to go in novice hurdles.

Kandoo Kid
4g Kapgarde - Scarlett Du Mesnil
Michael Geoghegan
Unraced
I'm planning to give him his bumper debut at Ascot on Saturday. He's out of a half-sister to Politologue and we like him.

Kapcorse
7g Kapgarde - Angesse
John P McManus
61/7117/
RPR 146c OR 138c
He hasn't run for a long time but should make his comeback at Newbury later this month. We have him in the Ladbrokes Trophy but I suspect we'll run him in the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase, which he won two years ago. He has plenty of ability and should win a nice race somewhere.

Knappers Hill
4g Valirann - Brogella
P K Barber and P J Vogt
1
RPR 110b
Who knows what he beat at Chepstow but Harry Cobden couldn't pull him up afterwards. He may head to Wincanton on Boxing Day before one more bumper run in the spring and then we'll put him away as he needs to develop.

Kumara Plough
4g Milan - Back To Loughabera
The Stewart Family
Unraced
He's a big, strong chasing sort who's ready to make his debut.

Laurina
7m Spanish Moon - Lamboghina
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
14/1PP3-
RPR 158h 150c OR 157h
Our system is completely different to the system she knew when trained by Willie [Mullins], so part of the job with the horses who have joined us is getting them used to how we do things. She's a bit of a challenge but the most important thing is she looks fantastic. She beat Minella Indo over fences on her chasing debut but I believe she then bled twice. We gave her a wind op over the summer and in the last few weeks she's been coming along beautifully in her training alongside Politologue and Next Destination. We've had no problems with her and she's in a happy place after enjoying some schooling over hurdles and fences. The Ascot Hurdle on Saturday will be her first run for us. That's just a starting point and should guide us as to whether she then runs over hurdles or fences. The new mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival could obviously be perfect for her.

Lucky One
5g Authorized - Lady Anouchka
Sullivan Bloodstock & Hughes Crowley
22/4-72
RPR 121h OR 124h
He could be all right and just needs to settle. There's plenty to come from him and he may go back in distance.

Magic Saint
6g Saint Des Saints - Magic Poline
Mr and Mrs J D Cotton
2/517-61
RPR 160c OR 152c
As was the case last season, he needed his first run but he travelled well and bolted up at Cheltenham on Friday. He's going to be hard to place but I'm going to enter him for an open handicap at Ascot on Saturday. After that we'll probably have to look at conditions races.

Malaya
6m Martaline - Clarte D'Or
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
0/3602-2
RPR 142h OR 139h
She ran nicely at Ascot but is handicapped up to her best. I'd be keen to run her in a Listed race over two miles and one day she may go chasing again, although probably not this season.

Manorbank
Arcadio - Kind Word
Owners Group 065
1-
RPR 105b
He should be ready to have his first run for us around Christmas. There was lots to like about his Kelso bumper success in January and we're looking forward to running him in novice hurdles on soft ground.

Master Tommytucker
9g Kayf Tara - No Need For Alarm
A G Fear
F/1FF-21
RPR 157c OR 147c
He's been frustrating because he has so much talent, so it was great to see him put in a clear round and win easily at Huntingdon last week. Before I put him back into a proper race I'd like to give him one more run in a graduation chase, possibly at Haydock on Saturday, although there's a similar race at Ascot next month.

Star quality
Mcfabulous
6g Milan - Rossavon
Giraffa Racing
1/2411-1
RPR 154h OR 153h
A lovely horse who just took a bit of time last season, when he wasn't always the bravest jumping at home or on the racecourse. He ended up handicapping himself very well and won the EBF Final before hosing up in the Persian War. He'll now go to Newbury for the Long Distance Hurdle. If it looked like he wasn't going to be good enough for the Stayers' Hurdle he could go chasing – but I have a sneaking feeling he'll be right in the mix in the Stayers'. We'll know more by next weekend.

Mick Pastor
4g Meshaheer - Mick Oceane
John P McManus
1610-F
RPR 132c 138h OR 137c 137h
He was a bit unfortunate to come down at the final fence at Fakenham, but for which he'd probably have won. We have to get some experience into him and he needs to learn to settle.

Miranda
5m Camelot - Great Artist
Owners Group 034
11P/813-
RPR 135h OR 136h
I think she's just about ready to win again over hurdles. She twice ran well on the Flat last month but she was also good enough to win a handicap hurdle at last year's Kempton Christmas meeting.

Modus
10g Motivator - Alessandra
John P McManus
0370/6-1
RPR 158c OR 150c
To see him win at Aintree after so long off the track was thrilling. Jonjo O'Neill gave him a brilliant ride. I told him he wouldn't blow up and he rode him accordingly. I'm now thinking about the Grand Sefton.

Mon Frere
4g Pour Moi - Sistine
Elite Racing Club
7/54112- (Flat)
RPR 80f OR 75f
Some of the horses who went jumping having raced on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott have done incredibly well and we're hoping this lad can shine over hurdles in the new year. He hasn't run for a while but he had a progressive profile in staying handicaps when last on the track.

Monmiral
3g Saint Des Saints - Achere
Sir A Ferguson, G Mason, J Hales & L Hales
1-
RPR 120h
This is a lovely horse and one I think we're entitled to be excited about because on his only start in France he beat Hell Red. The plan is to give him his first run in Britain at Exeter a week on Sunday before a run in one of the two big juvenile hurdles at Cheltenham or Doncaster in mid-December.

Mondora
3f Montmartre - Clarte D'Or
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
Unraced
We bought her from France, where she never raced. If I don't run her in a three-year-olds' bumper I'll give her a first start in the Listed juvenile mares' hurdle they stage at Aintree on Becher Chase day. She's a half-sister to Malaya.

Mr Glass
4g Sholokhov - Maryota
John Dance
3
RPR 103b
We probably should have made more use of him first time out as all he did was gallop. He's a beautiful horse who should be a lovely prospect for novice hurdles this time next year. It's good to have John Dance as an owner in the yard.

My Way
6g Martaline - Royale Majesty
Chris Giles
4266-14
RPR 141c OR 127c
It wasn't the plan to make the running in the Badger Beers but he jumped off a bit free and was always doing too much out front. When he turned into the straight I thought it was going to be a long way home and he didn't quite finish after the final fence. I'll look for a beginners' chase now and I'm sure there's a nice race in him.

Next Destination
8g Dubai Destination - Liss Alainn
Malcolm C Denmark
11131/2
RPR 152h OR 149h
We've had to treat him with kid gloves as he's had problems. He came into the yard in the middle of June and did lots of steady work before his comeback at Wetherby. I thought it would have been amazing if he finished fourth or fifth but he surprised both Harry and me, running a blinder to finish second. Given he'd been off for a long time, we won't rush to run him but he could possibly go to Newbury for the 3m Grade 2 novice chase on November 28. He could be a really smart novice chaser over a trip if he stays sound. We just need to mind him and not be greedy.

Oscars Moonshine
5g Oscar - Scrapper Jack
Mrs Elizabeth Lane
70-6111
RPR 124h OR 122h
He joined us from Colin Tizzard last season and wasn't really going anywhere in his first few runs for us. Harry was sure he would win races after the horse finished sixth in September and he was right because he won his next three starts. We'll give him a bit of a rest now but I'm sure he can win more races over hurdles before he ends up making a lovely chaser.

Paso Doble
3c Dawn Approach - Baila Me
Graeme & Yvonne Brooks
7-11333 (Flat)
RPR 90f OR 84f
A dual Flat winner for Godolphin in Ireland. He's a big, strong horse, measuring 16.3 hands, and very much the type we hope will make a nice jumper. We need to geld him and teach him his job. I could see him following a path we've trodden before and turning up in the Adonis at Kempton in February.

Dark horse

Petrossian
4g Sageburg - Innisfree Dawn
Malcolm C Denmark
1
RPR 115b
He was very impressive when winning without coming off the bridle at Newbury, making him the best of our young bumper crop at this stage. There's a valuable bumper at Ascot's Christmas meeting but that's not a definite plan. This time next year he'll be awesome.

Pic D'Orhy
5g Turgeon - Rose Candy
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
20/F61-2
RPR 142c 150h OR 150c 150h
Last season was tough for him but if every five-year-old won the Betfair Hurdle, as he did, we'd be happy. He's never been the most natural jumper and his jumping was only ordinary when he finished second first time out over fences at Market Rasen. It looks like he wants two and a half miles – Turgeon's progeny are all stayers in my book. He needs to learn to relax and jump before we drop him into the deep end. By the spring he could be very interesting.

Star quality
Politologue
9g Poliglote - Scarlet Row
J Hales
422/251-
RPR 173c OR 169c
After he disappointed in the Tingle Creek last season we changed his routine. I said to John [Hales] I didn't want to run him before Cheltenham, where I'd have him absolutely right. That's what we did and we're training him the same way for this season's Tingle Creek, after which we'll go straight to Cheltenham. The Champion Chase did fall into his lap a bit but you'll never see a horse jump around Cheltenham better than he did. The plan is for Harry Skelton to stay on him at Sandown, where Harry Cobden will ride Greaneteen.



Pozo Emery
5g Le Havre - Chic Et Zen
The Stewart Family
2-3
RPR 99b
We bought him after he finished second in an Irish point-to-point. I'm certain he's better than he showed when coming home third in a Newton Abbot bumper. He wants a bit of time but he'll make up into a nice horse.

Present Man
10g Presenting - Glen's Gale
Mr & Mrs Mark Woodhouse
84P/P-16
RPR 155c OR 146c
He went from winning a veterans' race at Chepstow to running another good race in the Badger Beers. We'll try to find something similar before the deep winter ground arrives and then he'll come back in the spring.

Quel Destin
5g Muhtathir - High Destiny
Martin Broughton & Friends
18512-2
RPR 142c OR 155c
Megan rode him to win a Flat race last month as a tune-up for his first outing over fences. I've always thought he wants 2m4f and he showed that at Cheltenham on Saturday. We'll find a beginners' chase over that trip next.

Rainyday Woman
5m Kayf Tara - Wistow
S White
32-1
RPR 110b
A lovely, strong mare who surprised me by winning at Stratford so easily. She'll run next in a Listed mares' bumper at Huntingdon on Peterborough Chase day before she goes novice hurdling.

Star quality
Real steele
7g Loup Breton - Kalimina
Mrs Kathy Stuart & Sullivan Bloodstock Ltd
1141P6-
RPR 168c OR 166c
I really like this horse. It looked as though he might win the Gold Cup going to the final fence. I don't know whether he got the trip, but in my opinion he leaps out as a potential Ryanair Chase winner. We'll start him back in the Grade 2 at Ascot on Saturday but I've also made an entry for the King George because Ruby Walsh tells me he thinks the horse is good right-handed. He's a lovely horse and a pleasure to have in the yard.

Red Risk
5g No Risk At All - Rolie De Vindecy
Middleham Park Racing XLIV & A&J Ryan
4/9131-3
RPR 147c OR 144c
He hadn't been back in training for as long as some of mine and that maybe showed on his reappearance when he got a bit tired at Market Rasen. The Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham could be interesting for him as I don't think 144 is an impossible mark.

Roque It
6g Presenting - Roque De Cyborg
Gordon & Su Hall
31/3
RPR 110h
He runs for the owners of Truckers Lodge and is already the winner of a bumper for Olly Murphy. He'll improve tons for his run on Saturday and I'd be surprised if he doesn't finish this season having done well in novice hurdles. Chasing will be his job in time.

Sabrina
5m Yeats - En Vedette
Owners Group 030
218-
RPR 110b
She won an Ascot bumper by a wide margin in February and will be competing this season in mares' novice hurdles. She's needed a bit of time but has plenty of ability.

Saint Sonnet
5g Saint Des Saints - Leprechaun Lady
Colm Donlon
56317-F
RPR 152c OR 147c
With hindsight, I think he probably needed the run a bit on Saturday. He travelled sweetly but got tired from the back of the third-last fence and had a good blow afterwards. We were going to run him at Chepstow in October but the ground was a bit quick and we hadn't been able to take him anywhere for a gallop. I also wonder if, like Magic Saint, we got his trip completely wrong and that perhaps, like him, he needs to drop back to 2m.

Sametegal
11g Saint Des Saints - Loya Lescribaa
Mr and Mrs J D Cotton
8/243-33
RPR 153c OR 141c
He ran a super race at Sandown, where he travelled really well. He's been over the Grand National fences before, so I may give him an entry for the Grand Sefton, but his longer-term aim is the veterans' final back at Sandown in January.

San Benedeto
9g Layman - Cinco Baidy
P J Vogt
173/64-8
RPR 164c OR 147c
A standing dish in the yard and the sort of horse who always has a chance of picking up a nice race somewhere. He's been to Aintree before, so he could run in the Grand Sefton, but before that we may take him to Newbury at the end of this month. He's another fun horse.

Secret Investor
8g Kayf Tara - Silver Charmer
Hills of Ledbury Ltd
11/202-1
RPR 165c OR 162c
If we get a dry fortnight he'll run in the Ladbrokes Trophy. He keeps improving, as he showed when he won at Chepstow, but it wouldn't be worth taking him out of his box for a race on soft ground. He could well get an entry for the Grand National.

Seelotmorebusiness
5g Sholokhov - Land Of Pride
The Stewart Family
11
RPR 114h
It was a bit of a rush to run him at Chepstow last week but Andy Stewart was generously sponsoring the race and understandably keen to have a runner. This was the only suitable horse but it was too soon after his bumper, so I'm pleased he still won. You now won't see him until Christmas. He wants two and a half miles and he'll progress as he matures.

Sending Love
7g Scorpion - Dato Vic
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
1/3P-1
RPR 134h
I don't know why but he completely fell apart and ran an awful race at Wincanton in March. We've done things differently with him this season and I did think he might need the run at Ffos Las the other day but he won easily. I wouldn't be afraid to step him up in class on soft ground and the Winter Hurdle at Sandown next month could be an option. Ultimately he'll make up into a smashing staying chaser.

Shearer
4g Flemensfirth - The Crown Jewel
McNeill Family
2
RPR 110b
He was a bit unlucky not to win at Hereford. Harry Skelton sat on our tail and got a run on us before Shearer jumped the path. That was a very encouraging run. He'll be a lovely novice hurdler in a year and eventually a staying chaser.

Silent Revolution
4g Sholokhov - Watson River
Colm Donlon
2
RPR 108b
The ground would have been quick enough for him when he made his debut at Wincanton but he ran a super race. He'll follow the same route as our other young bumper horses.

Siroco Jo
3g Hurricane Cat - Diana Vertica
P J Vogt
2
He was just beaten on his only start in a French juvenile hurdle. He's a nice, big horse and I expect we'll give him a first run here just after Christmas.

Sir Psycho
4g Zoffany - Open Book
Martin Broughton & Friends 3
4115-59
RPR 141h OR 145h
He was always going to need the run at Chepstow's opening meeting but he ran a nice race. It could be a tough season for him – as we saw at Cheltenham on Sunday – but the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell should be made for him. He'll be chasing next season.

Soldier Of Love
7g Yeats - Monsignorita
Malcolm C Denmark
11112P
RPR 152c OR 144c
What an amazing horse. He joined us rated 113 and is now on 144. After we sorted out his wind he won four times between July and September, and but for Gordon Elliott's horse Galvin he would have made that five wins at Cheltenham last month. His run on Sunday showed he needs a break, so we'll aim to bring him back in the spring and enter him for the National Hunt Chase.

Solo
4g Kapgarde - Flameche
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
2118-4
RPR 145h OR 147h
His impressive win in the Adonis Hurdle caused us all to overreact a little, particularly as last season's juveniles might not have been a vintage bunch. He got a bit lost in the Triumph and was then flat out all the way in the Elite, but after being gelded he was like a tank at Wincanton and probably needed the run. He could face a tough season but he'll win a nice race somewhere if he comes down the handicap a few pounds. He wants a trip and soft ground but he also wants fences, which he'll be jumping next season.

Sonny Crockett
5g Robin Des Champs - Onewayortheother
Malcolm C Denmark
6
RPR 101h
He wasn't ready to run in a bumper last season but now has an outing under his belt having shaped really well on his Chepstow debut. He'll improve loads for that run and, given he's a half-brother to Birchdale, we've got good reason to be hopeful.

Southfield Harvest
6g Kayf Tara - Chamoss Royale
Mrs Angela Yeoman & Paul K Barber
31/21-
RPR 123h OR 127h
He finished third and first in two bumpers and then second and first in two novice hurdles. He's rated 127, which looks a very winnable mark. I could take him to Ascot or Wincanton over hurdles this week but it won't be long before we send him over fences – and he'll definitely end up rated much higher than 127 when he does that. He's a lovely prospect and I like him a lot.

Southfield Stone
7g Fair Mix - Laureldean Belle
Mrs Angela Hart & Mrs Angela Yeoman
2312-12
RPR 152c OR 146c
His time in novice chases is about to run out but he should fare well in handicaps, while he also remains eligible for graduation chases. He was simply beaten by a better horse on the day at Cheltenham last week. He's a lovely long-term prospect.

Stage Star
4g Fame And Glory- Sparky May
Owners Group 044
1
RPR 118b
Another member of our exciting four-year-old team who could hardly have been more impressive at Chepstow. He's already jumping hurdles at home but, like the others, we won't run him over hurdles until next season.

Storm Arising
6g Yeats - Ceol Rua
Barry Fulton & Mrs Angela Hart
3/4430-1
RPR 135h OR 131h
A smashing horse for his owners and it was great to see him win at Lingfield last week. I told Bryony [Frost] not to get there too soon and she gave him a beautiful ride. We may look at one more run over hurdles but he'll be chasing sooner rather than later.

Stormy Ireland
6m Motivator - Like A Storm
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited
1115-22
RPR 139c 150h OR 148c 148h
She's tiny, a pocket rocket pony, but she's certainly tough. The problem at Bangor last week was she was too cautious at the fences – had she jumped the two ditches properly she'd have won. Harry felt jumping those ditches was too much of an effort for her in the ground, so we need to decide if it would be best to stay over fences or go back over hurdles.

Stratagem
4g Sunday Break - Our Ziga
David Maxwell Racing Limited
131-6
RPR 133h OR 140h
I thought he'd put up a big performance at Cheltenham in October but he was run off his feet. He's only a four-year-old but I think he's now ready for fences, so he's due to run in a novice chase over 2m3f or 2m4f. I'm sure he's a nice horse.

Switch Hitter
5g Scorpion - Country Time
Hills of Ledbury Ltd
1/5-21
RPR 125b
He won his point-to-point on good ground, so similar conditions suited him when he won at Kempton last Monday. He'll win another race like that somewhere before going novice chasing next year. He's a good, fun horse.

Take Your Time
5g Dubai Destination - Don't Be Bleu
Owners Group 060
1-31
RPR 114h
He won a point-to-point before joining us and then followed up a third over hurdles at Lingfield by winning at the same track last week. He'll stay three miles over hurdles before he goes chasing.

Tamaroc Du Mathan
5g Poliglote - Thisbee Du Mathan
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
1/2057-
RPR 133h OR 131h
My plan is to run him in a novice handicap chase over the coming days. He was good enough to finish fifth behind Pic D'Orhy, not beaten far, in the Betfair Hurdle. I've been really pleased with the way he jumps fences and would say he's a novice chase winner waiting to happen.

Dark horse
Threeunderthrufive
5g Shantou - Didinas
McNeill Family
21-11
RPR 132h
A lovely horse. He went through our bumper system last season and is now novice hurdling, following up his Lingfield win at Ludlow, where he had to make the running, which wasn't ideal as he's still quite green. I don't think he wants the ground too deep. He's a smart 3m chaser in the making.

Thyme White
4g Anodin - Jane
The Stewart Family
2210-1
RPR 138h OR 141h
He was very buzzy and keen when he first came over from France but he really thrived over the summer and improved physically, as he showed when winning at Chepstow last month. I'm confident he's going to win some nice races over hurdles this season but he's very much a future chaser and that will be his job in a year. We took him out of the Greatwood because of the ground but he may now run in the novice hurdle at Haydock on Saturday.

Tomorrow Mystery
6m Nathaniel - Retake
John P McManus
22/11-13
RPR 137h OR 138h
She's always struggled with her breathing. On good ground at Newbury she made no noise whatsoever, but on ground that had been rained on overnight she choked all the way at Taunton. That just shows you the fine line horses with breathing problems have between being okay and not okay. We may recauterise her palate and then get her back in six to eight weeks. She'll jump a fence.

Truckers lodge
8g Westerner - Galeacord
Gordon & Su Hall
24121-U
RPR 158c OR 155c
It was lovely to see him improve so much last season. He parted company with Lorcan up at Kelso, when he was travelling well on ground that wasn't really soft enough for him as he loves the mud. He's hard to place off 155 but we'll have him ready for the Ladbrokes Trophy just in case we get testing ground. If not, we'll wait for the Welsh National and then something at Haydock in the new year, but his main objective is the Grand National. He's already won a Midlands National and just been beaten in a Welsh National, so we know he stays and gallops, but he also has a touch of class.

Tulin
3g Gleneagles - Talawat
Elite Racing 001
51 (Flat)
He showed a great attitude to win on the Flat in France during the summer and he's taken well to jumping since joining us. With horses such as this it's hard to say much with any certainty until they've run, but we like what we've seen so far.

Viroflay
3g Air Chief Marshal - Red Vixen
The Stewart Family
41
RPR 105h
We took him to Kempton in October for a race in which he started favourite but he was really disappointing, leaving me to think we'd end up running him in some novice handicaps at the smaller tracks. Seven days after Kempton we tried again, this time at Wincanton, where I said to Bryony that based on his previous week's run he would have no chance, but he hosed up. After Kempton Andy texted me and said: "He's useless." After Wincanton he texted me and said: "He'll win the Triumph!" He isn't going to be a Triumph horse but he could possibly be one for the Fred Winter. I've got a feeling he'll keep improving.

Whiskey Lullaby
5m Stowaway - Joie De Cotte
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Whiskey
22-2
RPR 106h
She was second last season to Nicky Henderson's good horse Gran Luna and when we took her to Ayr for her first run over hurdles on really soft ground she ran a race full of promise. She'll be winning mares' novice hurdles for fun.

Wild Max
5g Maxios - Wildfahrte
Owners Group 036
114-41
RPR 133h OR 132h
He built on a promising return at Cheltenham to win a handicap at Huntingdon last week. I think he wants a flat track, so we may consider the Gerry Feilden next week.

Wise Glory
3g Muhaarar - Bint Almukhtar
Arron Banks
211302 (Flat)
RPR 91f 86f
Megan has always liked this horse and bought him for us at the sales. He's already been flying up the hill here and seems to enjoy it. We need to get him schooled and into our system. After we've done that we can think about a juvenile hurdle over Christmas or in the spring.

Worthy Farm
7g Beneficial - Muckle Flugga
Yolo
76112-3
RPR 138c OR 135c
He ran okay at Wincanton but pulled some muscles and came back a bit sore. We'll give him an entry in the Welsh National but before that there's a trial race at Chepstow on December 5, which should tell us if he's good enough to run in it. If he isn't, we'll go back to Wincanton for the race he won on Boxing Day last year. He really wants soft ground.

Yala Enki
10g Nickname - Cadiane
Hills of Ledbury Ltd
7/0313-2
RPR 164c OR 156c
He's a legend, a tough, genuine horse who stays forever. Had the Grand National been staged this year he would have run in it and he'll be entered again. He has been grafting since July 1 because it takes an awful lot of work to get him fit. He ran an awesome race at Cheltenham on Sunday and I'm now thinking of going for the Becher Chase. If he goes well there I'll take him to the Grand National as a fresh horse, maybe via the Taunton race he won last season.

Young Buck
6g Yeats - Pepsi Starlet
The Stewart Family
1/3-1
RPR 134h OR 133h
Andy Stewart has some lovely horses this season and this is another one. He's very much in the mould of Truckers Lodge, in that he gallops, stays and jumps. Following his win at Hereford I'll try to find another 3m novice hurdle and then decide if we should step him up in grade.

Zoran
3c Invincible Spirit - Filia Regina
Owners Group
2-42214 (Flat)
RPR 85f OR 81f
A scopey, athletic colt who did well on the Flat, improving throughout the year. We'll geld him and then get him over hurdles after Christmas.

Two for the tracker

I love Bravemansgame and think he's got huge potential. He won really well last time and should be a nice horse to follow. I'd say exactly the same about Threeunderthrufive.

Expert view
Has there ever been a better trainer of a chaser than Paul Nicholls? After 11 King George wins, six Champion Chases, four Gold Cups and a Grand National, if he isn't top of the tree then I don't know who is.

For the past few years he hasn't been quite as dominant in that sphere as he once was, but that didn't stop him winning the King George and Champion Chase last season and it would take a brave man to bet against him winning the big one at Kempton on Boxing Day again.

The dual winner Clan Des Obeaux is back for more but Cyrname is going to be a tougher nut to crack this year as he clearly wasn't himself after he'd beaten Altior at Ascot prior to Kempton.

Don't rule out Nicholls having the 1-2-3 because in Real Steel he has inherited a horse who looks tailormade for three miles around Kempton. Stop the video of last year's Gold Cup at two out and Real Steel looked sure to be involved in the finish.

The hugely admirable Politologue seemed to love the forcing ride Harry Skelton gave him in the Champion Chase and he will once again be underestimated, while it wouldn't be a huge surprise if recent Haldon Gold Cup winner Greaneteen improved into a legitimate candidate for that race too.

It's hard to know where to start when trying to pinpoint the next potential star among the young horses, although McFabulous is an obvious starting point. He looks to have real star quality about him.

Then there's Hitman, who couldn't have been more impressive when running away with a good novice chase on his debut for Nicholls recently, while Saint Sonnet ran a good deal better than the form book would suggest in the Paddy Power on Saturday. He will leave that form miles behind.

Don't for one minute underestimate the importance that Harry Cobden has had on the yard. He's the the nearest thing I've seen to Ruby Walsh in Britain for many years and the stable's conditional Bryan Carver isn't half bad too.

David Pipe spent a week in hospital recently with rib and spleen injuries after being kicked by a horse, but he's on the mend now and very much looking forward to the November meeting at Cheltenham this weekend, which has been targeted successfully by the family for decades.

Pipe, in good form with seven winners in the last fortnight, hopes to be well represented at the meeting once again, including with new recruit Siruh Du Lac in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

He also has plenty to look forward to in the months beyond, although almost inevitably one or two of the stable's big names are sidelined, among them unfortunately Israel Champ.

While he hasn't topped the 100-winner mark since doing so for the sixth time in 2014-15, there were encouraging signs last season, when the stable's 64 winners before Covid-19 prematurely stopped play was a big step back in the right direction.

Race in focus

Haydock's Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Stayers' Handicap Hurdle – the Fixed Brush Hurdle as it will always be to us here – is a race I've always liked, having won it with Dynaste, Grands Crus and Gevrey Chambertin. I've entered five this time, including Duc De Beauchene, Kepagge and Main Fact.

Rival to watch

An obvious one, but Envoi Allen was tremendously impressive the other day at Down Royal on his chasing debut and he looks the real deal.

Stable profile
Yard Pond House Stables, Nicholashayne, Wellington, Somerset
Started training 2006
Horses in yard 85
Members of staff 35
Assistant trainers Martin Pipe, Gerry Supple
Head lad Oliver Defew
Barn leaders Martin Ayliffe, Ali Galliers-Pratt
Travelling head lads Craig Wylie, Bob Hodge
Jockeys Tom Scudamore, David Noonan
Conditional Fergus Gillard
Amateurs Martin McIntyre, Sean O’Connor
PAs Gail Harrison, Gemma Edwards, James Smith
Lab Esther Salter (technician), Barry Allen (advisor)
Gallops team Mike Broom
Stable sponsor W & S Recycling
Website davidpipe.com
Twitter @DavidPipeRacing

Winners in Britain

2019-20 64
2018-19 44
2017-18 33
2016-17 59
2015-16 80

Profit/loss to £1 stake

2019-20 +0.60
2018-19 -66.42
2017-18 -113.51
2016-17 -194.09
2015-16 -111.92

Total prize-money 2019-20

£734,090

Adagio
Three-year-old gelding
Wiener Walzer (sire) - Aspidistra (dam)
Owner: Bryan Drew And Friends / Prof C Tisdall
Form figures: 1
Racing Post Rating 114h Official Rating -

There were a lot of claims in for him after he won very easily at Clairefontaine in August, so we were lucky to get him. We gelded him and he schooled nicely before his hurdles debut at Warwick on Friday, when he travelled well and picked up to beat the right horses. He's entered at Cheltenham at the weekend.

Brinkley
5g Martaline - Royale Majesty
Brocade Racing
731-
RPR 131h OR 130h

He ran only once for us last season, putting up a lovely performance at Newbury in February. He's had a wind op since and will probably be out in December. He's a real strong galloper and three miles ought to be fine for him.

Bumpy Johnson
4g Imperial Monarch - Country Flora
Brocade Racing
F-1
RPR 109b

He'd gone nicely at home before running in a bumper at Fontwell last month and won impressively there. He looks a nice youngster and he'll probably go hurdling.

Dell' Arca
11g Sholokov - Daisy Belle
Prof Caroline Tisdall
3-73611
RPR 154h OR 131h

He's an absolute star and has won both starts this season under Fergus Gillard. He'd obviously dropped down the handicap and life will get tougher now. He probably finds hurdles a bit easier than fences and I don't think he wants it too soft as he finds it hard work nowadays.

Duc De Beauchene
7g Saddler Maker - Quatia D'Angron
JP McManus
12/0174-
RPR 131h OR 128h

He was very impressive at Cheltenham last November. He never built on it for some reason, but he's a big, strong, powerful horse who is looking very well and seems in good form. I'd imagine he'll stick to hurdles for now and he's not far off a run.

Eden Du Houx
6g Irish Wells - Maralypha
Prof Caroline Tisdall
24134-0
RPR 133h OR 130h RPR 119c OR 130c

He did very well in bumpers but didn't do quite as well as we hoped in novice hurdles. He started over fences at Uttoxeter and jumped very nicely before finishing tired. Scu [Tom Scudamore] thought he was very professional.

First Lord De Cuet
6g Lord Du Sud - Alyce
Potter, Pipe and Pete
/4120-32
RPR 128h OR 126

It looked like he came to win his race at Sandown on Sunday but he knuckled on landing two out and the winner maybe got first run on him. We may try cheekpieces next time. I hope there's a nice race in him.

Dark horse

Gericault Roque
4g Montmartre - Nijinska Delaroque
Prof Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew
4-2
RPR 102b

He ran with a lot of promise when second on his first run for us in a bumper at Newton Abbot last month, staying on strongly. He's had a wind op since then and could go hurdling now.

Induno
6g Flemensfirth - Vast Consumption
RA Bartlett
2/113-
RPR 121h OR 115h

He's had a nice long break since Boxing Day, when he wasn't right, and he's entered at Cheltenham this weekend. He's a good work horse and I think he's on a workable mark. He's quite versatile ground-wise.

Kepagge
6 g Getaway - Miracle Lady
Mrs Sarah Ling
F/111-
RPR 135h OR 137h

He won a bumper and his two novice hurdles last season, although he did his best to get himself beaten at Leicester at 2-9 when he lost his confidence. He's a lovely big, strong horse and may go chasing before long, but he'll start over hurdles at Cheltenham or Haydock.

Ladykiller
4g Kamsin - Lady Jacamira
Prof Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew
3
RPR 106h

He had decent form on the Flat in Germany and he jumped well and travelled well at Southwell on his hurdling debut before finding little. He works very nicely, so hopefully it was just his wind, which has since been attended to.

Leoncavallo
8g Cape Cross - Nafura
ValueRacingClub.co.uk
05/824-1
RPR 147h 147c OR 143h 142c

A really tough and versatile character who is effective on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences. He ran another terrific race in the Cesarewitch last time. He's having a break now but will be ready to run again in February or March.

Maggies Mogul
4f Valirann - Grangeclare Gold
The Angove Family
1-4
RPR 94b

She won her only point-to-point in Ireland and made her bumper debut at Ffos Las, where we were probably too forceful on her. She's a nice mare with a good attitude and better than she showed there.

Star quality

Main Fact
7g Blame - Reflections
Munrowd's Partnership
/311111-
RPR 150h OR 147h

He did fantastically well over hurdles last season and when he came back from a break he was potentially very well treated on the Flat, although it doesn't always work out. We got lucky with the weather, as soft ground is very important to him because of the way he races, and he won three times in 12 days to make it eight straight wins overall since January. He'll now go hurdling again and it will obviously be harder now. He does take a lot of getting cherry-ripe as he's quite a burly horse. He's entered in the Greatwood but it would need to be soft over two miles. He's also in at Haydock next week over three miles, which is unknown territory, but it's an easy track and he runs as though he'll stay.

Make Me A Believer
5g Presenting - Kiltiernan Robin
Prof C Tidsall & Jane Gerard-Pearse
F/1-2
RPR 113b RPR 113h

He put up a good effort in winning a bumper at Chepstow last October but picked up an injury and then Covid intervened. He ran a very nice race over hurdles at Lingfield on his return when he was only beaten by a very good horse in Bear Ghylls and he's had a wind op since then. He's got loads of ability and will make a lovely three-mile chaser one day.

Martinhal
5g Westerner - Gweedara
Mrs Lynne Maclennan
F1-44
RPR 123b RPR 109h

He put up a nice performance when winning a bumper at Huntingdon last season but hasn't finished off either of his races over hurdles this season, which is frustrating. He'll probably go for a wind op now. I'm sure there's more to come from him.

Meep Meep Mag
6m Getaway - Deadly Pursuit
M Lambert & Mrs R White
31321-
RPR 108b

She picked up an injury when winning her bumper at Sedgefield and hasn't run since, but she's getting there now and will be going novice hurdling. She's got a great attitude.

New Age Dawning
6g Stowaway - Captain Supreme
Brocade Racing
2/121/
RPR 130h OR 133h

He won a bumper and a novice hurdle two seasons ago but suffered a leg injury and missed last season. He's probably a month or so off a run but if he stays in one piece he'll make a lovely three-mile chaser.

Night Edition
4g Authorized - Night Serenade
Stuart & Simon Mercer & John Gent
4212-
RPR 132h OR 135h

He did well as a juvenile and ended with a good second at Cheltenham in the Boodles. He's not overbig, but he's grown a bit during his break so hopefully there's more to come. He'll be aimed at some of the big handicap hurdles and could start at Ascot before Christmas.

Panic Attack
4f Canford Cliffs - Toto Corde Meo
Bryan Drew
10-21
RPR 115h OR 119h

She ran well against a good mare until tiring at Huntingdon on her hurdling debut, and then we dropped her back in trip and rode her more forcefully when she won at Uttoxeter. She's hopefully on a workable mark and is entered for the novice handicap at Cheltenham on Friday.

Ramses De Teillee
8 g Martaline - Princesse D'Orton
John White & Anne Underhill
/14110-5
RPR 150h OR 149h RPR 158c OR 149c

He's been a great horse for us and it's hard to believe he's only eight. He's going to be harder to place this season but he ran a decent race at Auteuil last month and could go to Cheltenham at the weekend if it's soft enough. After that it will be the Becher and the Welsh National, and he has options over hurdles again.

Remastered
7g Network - Cathodine Cayras
Brocade Racing
52P33-1
RPR 134h OR 132h RPR 137c OR 132c

He's a real galloper who was always going to be a better chaser than a hurdler. He made a great start over fences in what looked a tricky little novice at Carlisle on Monday as he jumped extremely well and battled back when headed. He goes well fresh, but he'll hopefully back it up and is the sort who might end up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. He needs the cheekpieces just to help him out in the later stages.

Siruh Du Lac
7g Turgeon - Margerie
/1111/PF-
John White & Anne Underhill
RPR 154c OR 150c

His form is all in the book and anyone can see he's a very good horse and a lovely addition to the stable. He had a horrible fall at Cheltenham and came to us not long afterwards, so he's had a long summer break. He's got to improve to win off his mark, but he's working like a nice horse and we're leaning towards the Paddy Power. I'm sure he'll be trying three miles at some stage this season as he gives the impression he's an out-and-out galloper.

Thinking
5g So You Think - Laetoli
Nick Shutts
1/
OR 132h

He won his only hurdle race in France two years ago but hasn't run since, although he was ready just before lockdown started. He's a big, strong individual and a real galloper who will get two and a half miles. He's in the Greatwood but would need soft ground.

Umbrigado
6g Stowaway - Dame O'Neill
John White & Anne Underhill
116/560-
RPR 141h OR 139h

He had a slightly frustrating time last season, but he ran well at Haydock, then wasn't quick enough for two miles next time, and finally wasn't beaten far in my dad's race at Cheltenham. He's a strong traveller who has plenty of ability. He'll probably be sticking to hurdles.

Vieux Lion Rouge
11g Sabiango - Indecise
Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent
0/1997-5
RPR 141h OR132h RPR 160c OR 140c

He's been a great horse for the yard, running in four Nationals and four Becher Chases. He's had a blowout in a veterans' chase and he's now going back to Aintree again for the Becher, which he won in 2016. He's not getting any younger, but he looks a million dollars and is back down to a workable mark again.

Bumper horses

We did well with our bumper horses last season and we've had a nice winner already in Bumpy Johnson. Hopefully there are some more winners to come and worth mentioning at this stage are the four-year-olds Astigar, who is by No Risk at All and came to us from Colin Bowe, and Barrier Peaks, who came from Sam Curling and is a little further away from a run. I also like a nice unnamed Shirocco four-year-old, who came from Tony Costello and is a bit backward still, and a three-year-old by Kapgarde who was bought privately by Tom Malone and looks promising.

Two for the tracker

Gericault Roque should pay his way this season, probably over hurdles. New Age Dawning picked up a leg injury but is doing lots of work and should be worth following over hurdles or fences.

Expert view
The yard has some very interesting horses entered at Cheltenham this week, including Kepagge and Thinking.

Kepagge looks set to go handicapping after just two small-field novice successes so is a complete unknown. His entries include the 3m and 2m5f handicap hurdles on Saturday and the former is a race Pipe won with Grands Crus, who went on to land the Fixed Brush Hurdle at Haydock before running second to Big Buck's in the Stayers' Hurdle.

He is definitely one to keep an eye on, as is Thinking, who thrashed the now 124-rated chaser Yccs Portocervo in a hurdle in France in 2018 and has not been seen since. He's entered in the Greatwood, a race Pipe took with stable stalwart Dell' Arca seven years ago on his first run in Britain.

Two chasers to definitely keep an eye out for are Remastered and
Eden Du Houx.

Remastered may need the cheekpieces to keep him up to his work, but he looked very professional when off the mark at Carlisle on Monday and he was beating a pair who were rated considerably higher than him over hurdles. There is a decent staying pot in him sometime in the future.

Eden Du Houx is a horse I've always liked so it is pleasing to hear that it was just a case of getting tired first time out when he was well beaten at Uttoxeter last month.

He ran a couple of excellent races in big-field handicap hurdles in open company as a novice last season, finishing third at Ascot and fourth to McFabulous at Kempton, and I'm sure at some point he will leave a mark of 130 well behind.

Pogue eile wrote: »

Goshen now not declared for Saturday, will we see him take on Epatante, is their a problem with Goshen or is Moore making it up as he goes along and has no clue?

I'm very much on the latter camp I am afraid.

Not a hope they take on epatante , more bs from moores

I think Kemboy is a model for this. Far above the other three if Willie has him ready, though I doubt any of them are ready today.