It's been a tough season for British jumpers in general but Timeform offer up five horses who could really make their mark at the highest level next term.
AHOY SENOR (Timeform rating: h150p)
Bravemansgame looked like being the best British-trained novice hurdler of the season over longer trips. He completed a hat-trick of wins before the turn of the year when successful in the Challow at Newbury and, after finding the Irish pair Bob Olinger and Gaillard du Mesnil too strong in the Ballymore at Cheltenham, he was expected by many to get back to winning ways when stepped up to three miles for the Sefton at Aintree. But that was reckoning without substantial improvement from 66/1 shot Ahoy Senor who beat the favourite by seven lengths with no apparent fluke about the result. Making just his second start over hurdles for Lucinda Russell, Ahoy Senor put up a tremendously likeable performance from the front, jumping fluently and going with enthusiasm before being driven clear after the last. A point winner in November, Ahoy Senor made his Rules debut when second in a bumper at Ayr in January and turned over an odds-on favourite when making a successful start over hurdles at the same track in March in much the same style that characterised his win at Aintree. He should make a smart novice over fences in 2021/22.
KNAPPERS HILL (b117)
The winner of all three of his races for Paul Nicholls, Knappers Hill ended the season as Britain’s highest-rated bumper horse and looks like making into a smart novice hurdler next season. A host of non-runners left Knappers Hill with just three rivals to beat on his debut at Chepstow in October but the way he made short work of them suggested he’d do better in a higher grade. On much softer going at Ascot in December Knappers Hill duly followed up in a listed contest and, while he faced just a small field again, all five of his rivals had won last time out. Ridden by Megan Nicholls on this occasion, he had a bit too much speed for shorter-priced stablemate Stage Star ridden by Harry Cobden and beat him a length. After missing Cheltenham, the Nicholls pair met again after a break in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree in April. Nicky Henderson’s wide-margin Kempton winner Balco Coastal was all the rage in the betting but failed to settle and, while Knappers Hill was keen himself early on, he showed a willing attitude when it mattered late on, staying on under Megan Nicholls again to beat Peking Rose (who had been fourth at Ascot) by half a length with Stage Star third.
MY DROGO (h156p)
No novice in Britain made a better impression over hurdles than My Drogo but the overriding impression from this rangy gelding’s first season for Dan Skelton is that he’s going to be a really exciting prospect over fences. In view of what he went on to achieve over hurdles, it’s remarkable that My Drogo was sent off at 50/1 for his debut in a bumper at Cheltenham in October but he belied those odds with a highly promising effort in second. Soon switched to hurdles, My Drogo got off the mark straight away in a maiden at Newbury and went from strength to strength in graded company thereafter, winning Grade 2 contests at Ascot and Kelso before his best effort which came in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. The Mersey was My Drogo’s sternest test, facing his biggest field over hurdles and stepping up to two and a half miles for the first time, and he came through it with a very smart performance, travelling strongly throughout, making smooth headway to lead three out and having plenty in hand at the finish where he was nine and a half lengths clear of runner-up Minella Drama. Although successful upped in trip, My Drogo isn’t short of speed and will be just as effective back at shorter.
SECRET REPRIEVE (c145p)
Secret Reprieve might be something of a forgotten horse by the time he’s next seen on a racecourse because he hasn’t raced since January but it’s worth remembering that he was among the top half-dozen in the betting for the Grand National until a couple of days before the race. In the end, he missed out only narrowly on making the line-up at Aintree, ending up as second reserve. Secret Reprieve would have been on the young side for the Grand National, aged just seven and, although technically in his second season as a chaser, was still a novice and lacking experience over fences. He’s certainly young enough to have other opportunities at Aintree and wouldn’t need to improve much more to earn a place in the race next season. Secret Reprieve looked a most progressive staying chaser at Chepstow in the winter, getting off the mark over fences when beating The Two Amigos in the Welsh Grand National Trial and then following up under a penalty from the same rival in the Welsh National itself when strong at the finish over the longer trip. Evan Williams will presumably have the same race on Secret Reprieve’s agenda once more though Aintree must be in connections’ sights again too.
SHISHKIN (c171p)
Shishkin looks the natural successor to Altior as Nicky Henderson’s outstanding two-mile chaser and is one of British jumping’s best hopes in the current era of Irish domination. Shishkin followed in Altior’s footsteps by winning the Supreme Novices’ on his final start over hurdles and he followed a similar path to his stable-companion in his first season over fences after which he remains unbeaten over the larger obstacles. Shishkin made his chasing debut in the same race which Altior had won at Kempton and followed up in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at the same track, a race which Altior also won. After another Grade 2 success in the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster, Shishkin emulated Altior again by winning the Arkle with a top-class performance which established him as the leading novice chaser at two miles in the absence of his biggest Irish threat Energumene. While Shishkin ended his season with another Grade 1 success in the Maghull at Aintree, he was only workmanlike and perhaps not over his exertions at Cheltenham, but that doesn’t detract from Shishkin being Britain’s most exciting jumping prospect for next season.
