Prominent National Hunt owner Tim Syder talks Oli Bell through some of his leading prospects for the jumps season.
NICKOLSON
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Olly (Murphy, trainer - click here for Stable Tour) has always loved him. We had a few small issues with him last season meaning we saw him just twice. He was impressive on his hurdling debut at Wincanton where he fairly powered through the line which we were delighted to see. I think he is better than his Warwick run when he did a lot wrong when finishing second. Olly has found an ideal race for him at Carlisle where he will go for the Intermediate Hurdle on October 22. If that goes to plan the Gerry Feilden at Newbury would fit in ideally. The race has a rich history and has been won by some smart horses over the years, including Epatante making her seasonal bow there last year.
SEVARANO
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Sevarano started last season with a bang, winning nicely at Chepstow then under his penalty at Newbury. We had it in our minds to go for the EBF final and the rest of his season was geared towards that. Everything went swimmingly other than the fact we bumped into McFabulous and we’re trying to give him weight! He ran a career-best in second. He will be going over fences in the next couple of weeks and Oliver (Sherwood, trainer) has been very happy with how he jumps. He actually did a few schooling sessions before we put him away last season.
ALPHA CARINAE
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A mare we bought at the Cheltenham sales after she had won her only point start at Stowlin. She gave me my first winner at Newcastle when winning on her bumper debut there in January. She did well for a summer's break, really strengthening up. We hoped she would win at Perth on her hurdling debut and she did it nicely there. She runs under her penalty at Market Rasen on Saturday and let’s hope she makes it four from four.
PILEON
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A horse I own with Martin St Quinton. He came desperately close to winning the Martin Pipe last season, only getting caught on the line. It was very nearly a well orchestrated plan! Rated 143, we will now go novice chasing. Philip (Hobbs, trainer) has been happy with his schooling at home. There is a race at Cheltenham on the October 24 over 2m4f and all being well he will line up there.
KILLER CLOWN
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Ran once in a point-to-point for Colin Bowe, winning well at Corbeagh House and he was second for me in his only bumper at Warwick. Last season over hurdles didn’t go as well as we had hoped, his third at Ascot being his best run. He will make his chasing debut at Uttoxeter on Friday. Emma (Lavelle, trainer) has always had a lot of belief in him.